Nursing home industry wants Trump to rescind staffing mandate
CoVID’s rampage through the country’s nursing homes killed more than 172,000 residents and spurred the biggest industry reform in decades: a mandate that homes employ a minimum number of nurses.
But with President-elect Donald trump’s return to the White house, the industry is ramping up pressure to kill that requirement before it takes effect, leaving thousands of residents in homes too short-staffed to provide proper care. the nursing home industry has been marshaling opposition for months among congressional republicans — and some Democrats — to overrule the Biden administration’s mandate. two industry groups, the American health Care Association and LeadingAge, have sued to overturn the regulation, and 20 republican state attorneys general have filed their own challenge.
Consumer advocates, industry officials and independent researchers agree that the incoming administration is likely to rescind
As health care access passes in state ballots, so do ballot restrictions
As state ballot measures advancing health access are advancing nationwide, so are those restricting ballot access.
In 2023 alone, 75 bills were introduced in state legislatures to make the ballot measure process harder for voters to use; in 2024 so far, there have been 103 such bills.
“Ballot measures are a form of direct democracy, across party lines. they let voters make meaningful change on issues they care about, even if they’re not being addressed in their state legislatures” — particularly health issues, said Avenel Joseph, interim executive vice president of the robert Wood Johnson foundation at a friday, November 22 ethnic media services briefing about ballot access.
The ballot measure landscape
A recent study by health Affairs found that, of the 534 U.s. state referenda and constitutional amendment ballot initiatives passed between 2014 and 2023, 63.5% were health care-related, most commonly
u PAGE 4
Palace: No hand in impeach rap
Catherine S. Valente and red Mendoza ManilaTimes.net
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. had nothing to do with the impeachment complaint filed by civil society groups against Vice President sara Duterte before the house of representatives, malacañang said tuesday, December 3.
In a separate ambush interview, Bersamin reiterated that the marcos camp would not encourage the filing of impeachment complaints. the president has been very clear about his position on this. so any suggestion that is political or instigated by our side, no. that is never true," he added. Bersamin also said the impeachment process could distract the government from doing its work. on monday afternoon, December 2, private
In a statement, executive secretary Lucas Bersamin said the impeachment complaint was "clearly the complainants' independent initiative." he added that endorsement of the complaint was the prerogative of any member of the house of representatives. the office of the President has nothing to do with it. the president's earlier statement on the matter is unambiguous," Bersamin said.
Marcos: Safety of Filipinos is admin’s ‘topmost priority’
by Luisa Cabato Inquirer.net
mANILA — President ferdinand marcos Jr. on Wednesday, December 4 vowed that his administration would continue supporting programs that promote peace and security, as the filipinos’ safety is his administration’s “topmost priority.” speaking at the 33rd Anti-terrorism Council meeting and year-end celebration in malacañang, marcos commended the council for dismantling threats and fortifying the nation’s security.
“By disrupting terrorist organizations and limiting their resources, we have sent an unequivocal message: the safety of our people is our topmost priority,” marcos said. together, we will continue investing in initiatives that balance decisive action with inclusive approaches, ensuring a future where peace is not a fleeting ideal but a continued and lasting reality,” he added. marcos also said local leaders should provide avenues for dialogue to build a safer and more united Philippines.
“these efforts plant the seeds of hope and
Impeachment complaint filed vs Vice President Duterte
House: It’s our constitutional duty to act on complaint by delon PorCalla, Mark erneSt Villezao Philstar.com
mANILA — several civil society groups on monday, December 2 filed before the house of representatives a consolidated impeachment complaint against Vice President sara Duterte, primarily hinged on allegations of misuse of her office’s confidential funds. tindig Pilipinas, magdalo and mamamayang Liberal led by former senator Leila de Lima filed the first impeachment suit against Duterte before the office of house secretary General reginald Velasco, where they accused the vice president of violating anti-graft laws. the complainants include fr. flaviano Villanueva; fr. robert reyes; former peace adviser teresita Quintos Deles; francis Aquino-Dee, human rights advocate and the late President Benigno Aquino III’s nephew; u PAGE 3
culpable violation of the Constitution and other high crimes. Akbayan Party-list rep. Percival Cendaña endorsed the 50-page impeachment document crafted by religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of drug war victims. the impeachment complaint was filed a week after Duterte said in a tirade
state senate District 3, which covers Wine Country, the Delta, North Bay and sacramento Valley.
senate President pro tempore mike mcGuire led the convening session that officially began the upcoming two-year legislative session. senator Cabaldon was sworn into office by the honorable Patricia Guerrero, Chief Justice
With his oath of office, Cabaldon not only embarks on a new chapter in public service but also makes history as the first filipino American to serve in the California senate and the first LGBtQ+ senator elected
Jessica Caloza made history as California’s first Filipina in the state Legislature on Monday, December 3 as she assumed office to represent Assembly District 52. Contributed photo
Former Senator Leila de Lima and Akbayan party-list
First Fil-Am California state Senator...
north of san francisco and stockton.
During the 2024 general election in November, Cabaldon garnered 62.6% of the votes (277,092), beating republican challenger thom Bogue who got 37.4% of the votes (165,742).
Prior to the state senate, Cabaldon brings over two decades of leadership as the mayor of West sacramento, which earned national title of America’s most Livable small City. his tenure was marked by groundbreaking initiatives such as universal preschool, college savings accounts for kindergarteners, paid internships for high school students, and the first-ever citywide program offering free community college with automatic college admissions for every graduating senior.
the former state highway between Capitol mall and highway 50/Business 80 was renamed as the Christopher Cabaldon Parkway in honor of the comprehensive and profound community transformation he shepherded during his long tenure, according to his senate biography. representing nearly one million Californians, Cabaldon will be introducing legislation in the coming weeks important to senate District 3 and the state of California. n
Palace: No hand in impeach...
someone to kill President marcos, first Lady Liza Araneta-marcos, and speaker martin romualdez, if an alleged plot against her succeeds.
the vice president later on said her statement was not a threat, saying she only highlighted the alleged threat to her security. she also said that her remarks were "taken out of logical context."
Authorities, however, considered Duterte's remarks as a threat to the president and a matter of national security.
the president last week told Congress he did not support any impeachment plan against Duterte, believing that it would not benefit the lives of filipinos.
"this (impeachment) is not important. this does not make a difference to even one single filipino life. so why waste time on it?" he added.
Also on tuesday, senate President francis escudero appealed to fellow senators to avoid making any public comments or statements about the impeachment complaint against the vice president.
he said that the filing and endorsing of an impeachment complaint in the house of representatives marks the beginning of a constitutional process designed to ensure accountability among the country's highest public officials.
"In light of this situation, I urge my fellow senators to avoid making any public comments or statements about the allegations presented in the articles of impeachment," the senate chief said.
he added that because the senate is called to serve as an impeachment court, any appearance of bias or prejudgment could compromise the integrity of the impeachment trial and the public's trust in the senate as an institution.
Despite escudero's appeal, sen. JV ejercito said the impeachment would send an unfavorable signal to the international community about the country's political instability. In a chance interview, ejercito said the impeachment process is "very divisive."
"We know the impeachment
is more political than legal," he added.
he also said the perception of instability would keep foreign investors away from the country.
Impeachment in the Philippines is the power of Congress to charge a government official with an impeachable offense formally. once the house of representatives impeaches the official, the senate conducts a trial where the senators act as impeachment judges. If the official is convicted, the impeached official may be either removed from office or censured.
escudero said that although impeachment is often viewed as a political process, senate members must approach it impartially and objectively.
"We must remain steadfast in upholding the principles of justice and fairness, ensuring that every step of the process adheres to the rule of Law. this is what justice requires. this is what our people demand," he said. the former spokesman of exPresident rodrigo Duterte, harry roque, said he was not shocked by the impeachment cases filed against the vice president. n
Nursing home industry wants Trump to rescind...
the rule, given the first trump administration’s “patients over paperwork” campaign to remove “unnecessary, obsolete, or excessively burdensome health regulations on hospitals and other healthcare providers.” Among other things, trump aided the industry by easing fines against homes that had been cited for poor care.
the trump administration has proven itself really eager to reverse overreaching regulations,” said Linda Couch, senior vice president for policy and advocacy at LeadingAge, which represents nonprofit elder care providers.
“We think it’s got a pretty good chance of being repealed, and hope so.”
Issued in April, the staffing regulation requires nursing homes to have registered nurses on-site around the clock — something that the industry has endorsed — and to maintain minimum numbers of nurses and aides. four in 5 homes would have to increase staffing. the requirements would be phased in, starting in may 2026.
even before the election, many experts and activists had doubts that the rule would be effectively enforced, given the poor results in states that have imposed their own minimums. In New York, California, rhode Island, and massachusetts — states with the most robust requirements — many homes remain below the legal staffing levels. Governors have given many homes reprieves, and other homes have found that paying penalties costs less than the increase in payroll for additional staff.
the federal government estimates the average annual cost over a decade to meet the Biden mandate would be $4.3 billion a year, a 2% increase in expenses, though the changes do not include increases in federal medicare or medicaid payments.
“staffing is everything in terms of nursing-home quality,” said r tamara Konetzka, a professor of public health sciences at the University of Chicago.
While the rule’s effectiveness was uncertain, she worried that repealing it would send the wrong message. “We would be losing that signal that nursing homes should try really hard to improve their staffing,” she said.
Advocate groups for nursing home residents, who had criticized the Biden administration rule for not requiring even higher staffing
levels, have since pivoted and are trying to protect it.
“We’re hoping the presidentelect will come in and take a look at the science and data behind it and see this really is a modest reform,” said sam Brooks, the director for public policy for the National Consumer Voice for Quality Long-term Care, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. “We’d be devastated to see it fall.” the trump transition team did not respond to a request for comment. the Department of health and human services did not respond to requests for comment, but in a court filing it argued that nursing homes should be able to reach the required staffing levels.
there is more than enough time to identify, train and hire additional staff,” the Biden administration wrote.
the quality of care in the nation’s 15,000 nursing homes and the lack of adequate staffing for their 1.2 million residents has been a concern for decades.
Inspection reports continue to find homes leaving residents lying in their own feces, suffering severe bedsores and falls, contracting infections, choking on food while unattended, or ending up back in a hospital for preventable reasons. some nursing homes overuse psychotropic medications to pacify residents because they do not have enough workers to attend to them.
Leslie frane, executive vice president of the seIU, the service employees International Union, which represents health care workers, said in a statement that “far too many nursing home owners will not do the right thing and invest in workers without oversight and binding regulation.” the nursing home industry says many homes cannot afford to increase their workforces, and that, even if they could, there is a scarcity of trained nurses, and not enough people willing to work as aides for an average $19 an hour.
A registered nurse earns $40 an hour on average in a nursing home, less than what they could make at a hospital, according to the Bureau of Labor statistics. the Biden administration noted in its court filing it was planning to spend $75 million to recruit and train more workers, and that there were more than 100,000 workers who left nursing homes during the pandemic and could be lured back if salaries and working conditions were better. how many nursing homes could afford the increased cost remains
a mystery because of weaknesses in the government’s requirements for financial transparency. About half of homes lose money, according to their reports to medicare, but some nursing home owners grow rich through clandestine maneuvers to siphon profits into their own pockets.
Last month, owners of Centers health Care, one of New York state’s largest nursing home chains, agreed to pay $45 million to settle allegations by Attorney General Letitia James that they diverted $83 million intended for resident care to themselves during the pandemic. maryellen mooney, a spokesperson for the Centers health Care chain, which denied the allegations, said in a statement that Centers was “committed to fully implementing the settlement terms, including a significant investment in resident care.”
About three-quarters of nursing homes are for-profit. the industry, though, highlights the most sympathetic examples: rural nonprofit nursing homes like Kimball County manor & Assisted Living in Kimball, Nebraska. Its staffing levels for registered nurses are 40% below what the new rule would require, federal data shows.
sarah stull, Kimball’s administrator, said recruitment had always been challenging and that temporary nursing staffing agencies charged more than double what she paid her own staff.
“We had to pay $65 for a nurse aide during covid, and that’s insane,” she said. the government estimated that about a fourth of the nation’s nursing homes would be eligible to apply for hardship exemptions if there were a documented shortage of nurses and aides in their communities compared with the national average.
But Nate schema, the chief executive of the Good samaritan society, which runs 133 nonprofit homes mainly in the rural midwest, estimated that only seven would be likely to qualify for a hardship waiver.
“Philosophically, they sound great,” he said. “But in practicality and how they’re put together, they won’t do much for
Christopher Cabaldon, former mayor of West Sacramento, assumed office to represent California state Senate District 3.
Marcos: Safety of Filipinos is admin’s...
resilience, ensuring that every filipino can enjoy and benefit from the fruits of peace,” he added. regarding international partnerships, marcos said the Philippines is stepping up as a reliable and proactive ally in addressing the global challenge of terrorism.
“these partnerships showcase our nation as both a beneficiary and a contributor to global security, embodying the filipino values of solidarity and shared responsibility all for a peaceful
world,” he said. the president touted his administration’s accomplishments in its antiterrorism program, such as the freezing of assets linked to terrorism and the country’s removal from the financial Action task force (fAtf) Grey List.
It is a list of countries that are actively working with the fAtf to improve their antimoney laundering measures and combat the financing of terrorism regimes. these successes were
made possible through the collaboration of various agencies, private sector stakeholders, and tireless public servants. It reminds us that when we move as one, we can achieve goals that resonate across borders, across generations,” he said. “the work we do requires constant evolution. terrorism, fueled by advancing technology and shifting tactics, demands a response that blends strength with humanity, vigilance with compassion, and strategy with foresight,” he added.
California’s first Filipina in state...
Democrat franky Carrillo who got 33.1% of the votes (53,820).
“As an immigrant and the proud daughter of working-class parents, I’m deeply grateful for the outpouring of support,” Caloza said. “thank you to the voters of Assembly District 52 for placing their trust in me.”
As she assumes office, the assemblymember said she is “committed to serving the needs of all our diverse communities. more importantly, I will work to deliver results for our most pressing
issues—tackling the cost of living, building more affordable housing, creating good-paying jobs, protecting our environment, and investing in our public schools.” In 2019, Caloza was appointed as a Public Works Commissioner where she led infrastructure projects, expanded good-paying union jobs, raised wages for workers, and required equal pay for women while increasing transparency and accountability. she went on to serve as Deputy Chief of staff to the Attorney General at the California
Department of Justice, where she worked to reduce crime and gun violence, helped survivors of sexual assault receive justice, and taken bold action to protect the environment.
As assemblymember, Caloza’s priorities include reducing the cost of living, building more affordable housing, investing in public education, supporting small businesses, protecting a woman’s right to choose, and ensuring California leads the nation and world in fighting the climate crisis.
Impeachment complaint filed vs...
randy
Congressman Gary Alejano.
Last week, President marcos had advised his house allies to refrain from impeaching Duterte, even if the vice president vowed to have him killed if she herself were killed.
our complaint is a clarion call to dismantle the culture of violence, corruption and impunity that has marked the vice president’s leadership,” Villanueva said.
De Lima, first nominee of mamamayang Liberal and who serves as the advocacy group’s spokesperson, accompanied the complainants during the filing and emphasized the gravity of the charges.
“Public office is not a throne of privilege; it is a position of trust. sara Duterte has desecrated that trust with her blatant abuses of power. this impeachment is not just a legal battle, but a moral crusade to restore dignity and decency to public service,” the former justice secretary stressed.
Deles made the same pitch.
“the VP has reduced public office to a platform for violent rhetoric, personal enrichment, elitist entitlement and a shield for impunity. her actions desecrate our institutions and her continued grip on power insults every filipino who stands for good governance and the rule of law,” she said.
the complaint was endorsed by Akbayan party-list rep. Perci Cendaña, who called the move a critical step in the fight for truth and justice. the people deserve a VP who is ethical, accountable and committed to public service – not one who weaponizes authority for personal gain. the effort to hold sara accountable is inseparable from the broader campaign to make her father and their allies answer for their high crimes,” Cendaña said. there are 24 Articles of Impeachment covering alleged violations of the 1987 Constitution, starting from when Duterte was Davao City mayor in 2007 up to the time she was elected vice president in 2022 and served as secretary of the Department of education (Deped) in a concurrent capacity.
they allege that marcos’ former Uniteam running mate in the 2022 elections was “guilty” of “culpable violation” of the 1987 Constitution, as well as “guilty of graft and corruption, bribery, betrayal of public trust and other high crimes.” the complainants included two of Duterte’s two statements: the first in october, when she mentioned that she wanted to cut off marcos’ head, and the latest on Nov. 23, when she vowed to have the chief executive killed if she herself would be killed. these were stated in the Articles of Impeachment 23 and 24, respectively.
No President Marcos intervention Alejano expressed belief that marcos will not intervene in the impeachment complaint that they filed against Duterte. In an interview with “storycon” on one News on monday, Alejano said that while marcos had already said that filing an impeachment complaint against Duterte would be a “waste of time,” the former marine captain thought the president would not stop the impeachment complaint from
proceeding further. the president has his own opinion. I think the president would not use force or abuse (his power over the super majority). he would allow the impeachment complaint to run its course at the house of representatives,” Alejano pointed out.
he recalled that on the issue of the International Criminal Court (ICC), marcos had said that he would not cooperate in the investigation on the extrajudicial killings allegedly committed during the term of former President rodrigo Duterte, but the president has not stopped the process. for Alejano, marcos’ treatment of the impeachment complaint against Duterte would be the same as with the ICC issue.
he would not stop it” if a complaint has been filed, according to Alejano. he is also leaving it to the house leadership how congressmen would treat the impeachment complaint since it is Congress’ constitutional mandate to act on the complaint. the ball is now in the hands of the speaker of the house,” Alejano said.
It’s House mandate Allies of speaker martin romualdez on monday declared that it is part of their mandate or obligation to check on the impeachment complaint filed against Duterte, despite the advise from marcos against acting on it.
“We respect the opinion of the president. his opinion bears so much weight. however, we cannot stop anybody here from filing or any citizen, for that matter, from taking interest in an impeachment complaint,” house Assistant majority Leader and taguig City 2nd District rep. Pammy Zamora said.
“If someone does file, we cannot just sit on it. But of course, we have to hear what the president is saying, but we’ll also have to check the contents of the impeachment complaint,” Zamora added.
Lanao del sur 1st District rep. Zia Alonto Adiong and 1rider party-list rep. rodge Gutierrez agreed with Zamora. Adiong clarified that marcos’ message was an appeal, and reflected his respect for the legislative branch.
“We value his guidance. that’s not a directive; it’s an appeal. And that speaks about the character of the president, respecting the independence of the legislative branch,” Adiong said.
Gutierrez, a lawyer, emphasized that impeachment is a constitutional process and cannot be ignored if a legitimate complaint arises. this is a constitutional mandate. the process of impeachment is under our Constitution. should there be any complaint filed, we are dutybound to hear it out, check the merits and give it due process,” he added.
the neophyte legislator also pointed out that the president’s plea was advisory in nature and did not interfere with Congress’ independence. No more time?
manila rep. Joel Chua, chairman of the house committee on good government and public accountability investigating the P612.5-million alleged misuse of Duterte’s intelligence funds in the office of the Vice President (oVP) and Deped, however, has a more pragmatic view.
With Trump on the way, advocates look to states to pick up medical debt fight
by
“once the president gives an opinion, of course, it would be difficult to muster support for this. But just the same, for me, personally, I see this as a little bit challenging. this is because by february 2025, it will already be campaign period. so, how do we take up the impeachment?”
Chua said.
Velasco, for his part, assured the public that the house would be fair.
“the house is constitutionally mandated to act on any impeachment complaint filed in accordance with the 1987 Philippine Constitution. Pursuant to the Constitution, ‘a verified complaint for impeachment may be filed by any member of the house or by any citizen upon a resolution of endorsement by any member thereof,’ ” he said in a statement.
“It is crucial to underscore that addressing an impeachment complaint is not a discretionary act for the house, but a constitutional obligation. the Constitution prescribes clear steps to ensure fairness and adherence to the rule of law,” he added.
More raps eyed vs VP
meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) is considering filing additional charges against Duterte in connection with recent incidents involving police officers.
At a news briefing at Camp Crame, PNP public information office chief Brig. Gen. Jean fajardo said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group is continuing its investigation into the events that happened on Nov. 23.
“We initially filed cases of direct assault, disobedience to persons in authority and grave coercion. however, we are also examining the possibility of filing administrative and civil cases,” fajardo said.
fajardo confirmed that Duterte holds a license to own and possess firearms and has registered firearms under her name.
fajardo, however, declined to disclose the type of license or the number of firearms registered.
WorrIeD that President-elect Donald trump will curtail federal efforts to take on the nation’s medical debt problem, patient and consumer advocates are looking to states to help people who can’t afford their medical bills or pay down their debts.
the election simply shifts our focus,” said eva stahl, who oversees public policy at Undue medical Debt, a nonprofit that has worked closely with the Biden administration and state leaders on medical debt. “states are going to be the epicenter of policy change to mitigate the harms of medical debt.”
New state initiatives may not be enough to protect Americans from medical debt if the incoming trump administration and congressional republicans move forward with plans to scale back federal aid that has helped millions gain health insurance or reduce the cost of their plans in recent years.
Comprehensive health coverage that limits patients’ out-of-pocket costs remains the best defense against medical debt.
But in the face of federal retrenchment, advocates are eyeing new initiatives in state
legislatures to keep medical bills off people’s credit reports, a consumer protection that can boost credit scores and make it easier to buy a car, rent an apartment, or even get a job.
several states are looking to strengthen oversight of medical credit cards and other financial products that can leave patients paying high interest rates on top of their medical debt.
some states are also exploring new ways to compel hospitals to bolster financial aid programs to help their patients avoid sinking into debt.
“there’s an enormous amount that states can do,” said elisabeth Benjamin, who leads health care initiatives at the nonprofit Community service society of New York. “Look at what’s happened here.”
New York state has enacted several laws in recent years to rein in hospital debt collections and to expand financial aid for patients, often with support from both Democrats and republicans in the legislature. “It doesn’t matter the party. No one likes medical debt,” Benjamin said. other states that have enacted protections in recent years include Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, florida, Illinois, minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey,
support.
President Joe
administration has proved to be an ally in state efforts to control health care debt. such debt burdens 100 million people in the United states, a Kff health News investigation found.
Led by Biden appointee rohit Chopra, the Consumer financial Protection Bureau has made medical debt a priority, going after aggressive collectors and exposing problematic practices across the medical debt industry. earlier this year, the agency proposed landmark regulations to remove medical bills from consumer credit scores. the White house also championed legislation to boost access to government-subsidized health insurance and to cap outof-pocket drug costs for seniors, both key bulwarks against medical debt.
trump hasn’t indicated whether his administration will move ahead with the CfPB credit reporting rule, which was slated to be finalized early next year. Congressional republicans, who will control the house and senate next year, have blasted the u PAGE 4
Addressing claims of threats against Duterte, fajardo clarified that the PNP has not received any official documentation of these threats.
there are reports that the vice president has documented threats, but we have not been furnished with a copy,” fajardo said.
“We presume that the Presidential security Command, which has direct authority over the security of the president and the vice president, has these documents. If the PsC requests our assistance in validating these threats, we will respond accordingly,” she added.
Presidency is fate
“It’s fate, stupid!” this, in essence, was the reaction of one of the members of the “Young Guns” group of administration lawmakers when Duterte claimed she was actually a shoo-in for the presidency in the may 2022 elections.
“then why didn’t she run if she had it in the bag? she should have run. I mean, it’s already 2025 and now she’s claiming the presidency was hers for the taking,” taguig-Pateros 2nd
District rep. Pammy Zamora told house reporters at a briefing on monday.
“As far as I’m concerned, she should have run. We all know in our history that winning the presidency is destiny. It’s really destiny,” she added. (With reports from Evelyn Macairan, cecille Suerte Felipe)
Noam N. Levey KFF Health News
delos santos, uncle of Kian delos santos and other drug war victims; Leah Navarro; sylvia estrada Claudio and former magdalo party-list
New mexico, oregon, rhode Island, and Washington. many measures picked up bipartisan
Biden’s
FOUNDATION DAY. A street dance competition adds to the festive mood at the 161st Pasay City anniversary on Monday, December 2. Other activities were a Christmas-themed parade, job fair and concert.
PNA photo by Avito Dalan
As health care access passes in state ballots...
PAGE 1 concerning abortion and medicaid.
In the November 2024 elections alone, voters in seven states passed ballot measures guaranteeing abortion rights in their state constitutions; voters in Nebraska, Alaska and missouri passed measures approving paid worker sick leave; missourians voted to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour; and measures restricting the ballot measure process failed in Arizona and North Dakota.
“It’s no coincidence that efforts to restrict ballot measure access are increasing while advances for a more just America are passing at the ballot box through policies like paid leave, minimum wage and abortion access,” said Joseph.
“often, these restrictions are made because legislators say it would protect the state from influence by outside politics or money,” she continued. “But elected officials are often more likely to further corporate or partisan interests than are the communities that they represent, who are coming together to collect those signatures … while efforts to restrict ballot measures frequently come from partisan special interest groups.”
In florida this November, for instance, although over 57% of voters approved protecting abortion access up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, the measure failed to pass due to a 2004 constitutional amendment, backed by the GoP and supporting business interests, which raised the threshold to pass constitutional amendments from 50% to 60% of voters.
“Whenever we get community voices not only heard but enacted on, there’s going to be creative backlash, like raising the threshold,” added Joseph. this is because policies directly beneficial to an average person, like the paid leave and minimum wage measure in missouri, may not be as beneficial to corporate interests.”
Missouri the ballot measure process has existed in missouri for over 100 years, and it serves as a crucial check on our legislature, especially in years when the latter isn’t meeting the needs of our people,” said richard von Glahn, political director of
missouri Jobs for Justice.
Before the November 2024 passage of Proposition A, guaranteeing paid sick leave and $15 minimum wage by 2026, as many as one in three working missourians — about 730,000 — lacked access to a single minute of guaranteed paid time off.
“this is part of access to health care, too,” explained von Glahn, who worked as campaign manager for Proposition A. “If you have insurance but you can’t afford to take a day away from work, that insurance isn’t worth anything to you because you can’t use it … living checkto-check.”
In missouri, a full-time minimum wage worker currently makes less than $500 a week before taxes — not a living wage in any county in the state, according to the mIt Living Wage Calculator. to put Prop A on the ballot, nearly 900 missourian volunteers gathered over 210,000 signatures; in the final 10 days of the election, over 1500 volunteers knocked on over 150,000 doors to tell people about the measure, which passed with a 58% majority.
“A leader of this campaign, a fast food worker named fran marion from Kansas City, told a story about when her daughter was sick and staying home from school. she had to leave that child to go to work and put food in the pantry, and her child asked: ‘Why won’t you stay and take care of me?’” said von Glahn. “to feel like you can’t be there for a child in need — no one should have to make those choices.”
over 500 businesses, mostly small, supported Prop A “because they know that safe, fairly treated workers are what drive economic growth by spending their income back in local economies,” he added.
“Nor is it a partisan divide — in rural counties, as many as one in four workers voted both for Donald trump and Proposition A … Ballot initiatives are synonymous with whether or not we’re placing exploitative profit above the needs of workers in our community.”
Protecting ballot access
“Just because we won something on election Day, doesn’t mean the work is over, especially in these coming months,” said Chris melody
fields figueredo, executive director of the Ballot Initiative strategy Center (BIsC) foundation, adding that ballot measures, trends and attacks are tracked nationwide through the BIsC Ballot hub.
“While we make sure that these measures are implemented well, we also may face major attacks” through bills raising the threshold percentage needed to pass measures; requiring more complicated language to get the measure on the ballot; or introducing restrictive geographic distribution requirements that make it harder to get signatures, “especially for underfunded grassroots organizations in rural communities,” she continued.
this November, for example, Issue 1 — an ohio measure which would have created a citizen commission to draw congressional and state legislative districts, thereby making it harder to gerrymander redistricting — failed 46% against a 50% threshold, largely due to confusing ballot language.
Also in this election cycle, florida used taxpayer funds to oppose an approved ballot measure by sending police to the homes of people who signed a validated petition supporting Amendment 4, a ballot measure which would have overturned the state’s six-week abortion ban; although most voters supported it, the measure fell short of the 60% threshold.
“In any other state, 57% would be a significant majority. they were able to get 1 million more votes than Governor ron Desantis,” said figueredo. “We expect to see pushback like this in other states as well, where many down-ballot measures over-perform elected state officials … because people look at these issues without seeing a party ‘D’ or ‘r’ next to them and think, ‘Yeah, I’m struggling to make ends meet. I want to raise the minimum wage, that’s a nobrainer.”
“It speaks to the distress with government institutions that we have now in the U.s.,” she added. “People trust themselves and their communities first, and ballot measures can be a bridge to restore that trust to our democratic institutions by letting people directly improve the material conditions of their health.” (Selen ozturk/Ethnic Media Sevices)
With Trump on the way, advocates look...
proposal as regulatory overreach that will compromise the value of credit reports.
And elon musk, the billionaire whom trump has tapped to lead his initiative to shrink government, last week called for the elimination of the watchdog agency. “Delete CfPB,” musk posted on X.
If the CfPB withdraws the proposed regulation, states could enact their own rules, following the lead of Colorado, New York, and other states that have passed credit reporting bans since 2023. Advocates in massachusetts are pushing the legislature there to take up a ban when it reconvenes in January. there are a lot of different levers that states have to take on medical debt,” said April Kuehnhoff, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, which has helped lead national efforts to expand debt protections for patients.
Kuehnhoff said she expects more states to crack down on medical credit card providers and other companies that lend money to patients to pay off medical bills, sometimes at double-digit interest rates.
Under the Biden administration, the CfPB has been investigating patient financing companies amid warnings that many people may not understand that signing up for a medical credit card such as CareCredit or enrolling in a payment plan through a financial services company can pile on more debt.
If the CfPB efforts stall under trump, states could follow the
lead of California, New York, and Illinois, which have all tightened rules governing patient lending in recent years.
Consumer advocates say states are also likely to continue expanding efforts to get hospitals to provide more financial assistance to reduce or eliminate bills for low- and middle-income patients, a key protection that can keep people from slipping into debt.
hospitals historically have not made this aid readily available, prompting states such as California, Colorado, and Washington to set stronger standards to ensure more patients get help with bills they can’t afford. this year, North Carolina also won approval from the Biden administration to withhold federal funding from hospitals in the state unless they agreed to expand financial assistance.
In Georgia, where state government is entirely in republican control, officials have been discussing new measures to get hospitals to provide more assistance to patients.
“When we talk about hospitals putting profits over patients, we get lots of nodding in the legislature from Democrats and republicans,” said Liz Coyle, executive director of Georgia Watch, a consumer advocacy nonprofit.
many advocates caution, however, that state efforts to bolster patient protections will be critically undermined if the trump administration cuts federal funding for health insurance
programs such as medicaid and the insurance marketplaces established through the Affordable Care Act.
trump and congressional republicans have signaled their intent to roll back federal subsidies passed under Biden that make health plans purchased on ACA marketplaces more affordable. that could hike annual premiums by hundreds or even thousands of dollars for many enrollees, according to estimates by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank.
And during trump’s first term, he backed efforts in republicanled states to restrict enrollment in their medicaid safety net programs through rules that would require people to work in order to receive benefits. GoP state leaders in Idaho, Louisiana, and other states have expressed a desire to renew such efforts.
that’s all a recipe for more medical debt,” said stahl, of Undue medical Debt.
Jessica Altman, who heads the Covered California insurance marketplace, warned that federal cuts will imperil initiatives in her state that have limited copays and deductibles and curtailed debt for many state residents.
“states like California that have invested in critical affordable programs for our residents will face tough decisions,” she said.
KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
SEASON OF GIVING. The “Pamas-Cong Handog” Christmas bazaar of the House of Representatives in Batasang Pambansa Complex, Quezon City, photographed on Tuesday, December 3, includes items donated by lawmakers. The bazaar will be open until Dec. 5. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
DAteline PhiliPPines
House can expedite VP Sara impeachment process – De Lima
by Jown ManaLo Inquirer.net
mANILA – the house of representatives can fasttrack the proceedings on the impeachment complaint against Vice President sara Duterte, if they wish, former senator Leila de Lima said on tuesday, December 3.
De Lima, who also serves as the complainants’ spokesperson, said that despite challenges and time constraints, particularly with many house members preparing for the 2025 midterm elections, they can still expedite the impeachment process if they prioritize it.
“Naisip po namin ‘yan, na may constraints sa time. Pero ang pananaw ko po is kung gugustuhin nila, gagawan nila ng paraan. Kung gugustuhin nila, pwede nilang i-fast-track,” de Lima stated in a teleradyo interview.
(We realize that there are time constraints. But my view is that if they really want to, they will find a way. if they want to, they can fast-track it.)
on monday, December 2, house secretary General reginald Velasco explained that
the impeachment proceeding will take at least 130 days. According to Velasco, he and house speaker martin romualdez have 10 session days to act on the impeachment complaint.
After which, the house Committee on rules and the Committee on Justice will each have 60 days to deliberate.
“All in all, there are 130 days for this process. that’s days only, but some are session days. so that’s what any impeachment complaint would face,” Velasco stated.
De Lima, however, pointed out that the house need not wait for the 10-session-day period to pass before the impeachment complaint can be referred to the proper committees.
“Pwede naman hindi i-maximize ‘yung period na ‘yan. Pwede nilang bilisan, depende na ‘yan sa determination din nila,” she expressed.
(They don’t have to maximize that period. They can speed it up; it depends on their determination.)
she also mentioned that if the house is willing to act on the complaint promptly, it can file its own resolution of impeachment
with the approval of one-third of its members.
“And then alalahanin niyo po, may isang third mode na sa tingin ko mas mabilis, ‘yung diretso na mismo ng Kamara, house of representatives, na magpasa sila ng sarili nilang resolution of impeachment na aaprubahan ng one-third of their members,” de Lima said.
(And then remember, there’s a third mode that i think is faster, which is directly through the House of representatives, where they pass their own resolution of impeachment, which can be approved by one-third of their members.)
De Lima, during the interview, reiterated that there are a total of 24 articles of impeachment in their complaint.
Among the 24, she highlighted that the most serious grounds for impeachment include the “misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, unliquidated expenses and cash advances, notices of disallowance and suspension, and charges from the Commission on Audit.”
All of which, according to De Lima, are considered acts of graft, corruption, and even plunder. n
SMC leads 7 Philippines firms in Forbes top employers list
by RiChMond MeRCuRio Philstar.com
by John Eric MEndoza Inquirer.net
mANILA — former presidential spokesperson harry roque may have left the country through illegal means, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) said on tuesday, December 3.
BI Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said roque “likely left the country via illegal means, possibly aided by unscrupulous individuals.”
“It’s impossible that he left via formal ports. his name is in the BI’s Lookout Bulletin, and he is a very well-known public figure. You can spot him miles away,” he added.
Viado also said the BI is looking to file a falsification of
public documents complaint against roque. he most probably falsified immigration clearances to be accepted by his destination country,” he added. roque’s exact whereabouts are currently unknown despite revealing that he had his counter-affidavit notarized in Abu Dhabi, the capital city of the United Arab emirates. his counter affidavit was lodged in response to the qualified human trafficking complaint filed against him which stemmed from his alleged “active participation” in the operations of the raided Lucky south 99, a Philippine offshore gaming operator in
Porac, Pampanga suspected of engaging in illegal activities. roque has vehemently denied this, saying the charge is a “political harassment.” he argued that there was no evidence indicating that he participated in the acts of trafficking nor was it established that there was a conspiracy. he is also facing an arrest order from the house of representatives after being cited for contempt and ordered to be detained due to his failure to submit documents that would justify the alleged sudden increase in his wealth. flight is an evidence of guilt,” Viado said. n
mANILA — seven Philippine companies, led by diversified conglomerate san miguel Corp. (smC), have been included in this year’s roster of the World’s Best employers by forbes magazine.
smC ranks the highest among filipino firms on the forbes 2024 list at No. 89.
As one of the country’s largest employers, smC had a direct workforce of 53,184 employees as of the end of 2023.
“for each job created within the san miguel ecosystem, many additional jobs are generated through suppliers, distributors, retailers and other business partners. At present, we have more than 100 major facilities in the Asia-Pacific region,” smC said. meanwhile, Ayala Corp., the country’s oldest conglomerate, is ranked 273rd on the list of 850 firms.
two companies in the banking and financials services industry – metropolitan Bank & trust Co. and Land Bank of the Philippines – are at No. 415 and No. 454, respectively.
taipan Lucio tan’s Lt Group Inc. is ranked 694th, while the Century Pacific Group of the Po family is 701st.
“We are deeply humbled to be included on forbes’ World’s Best employers list, alongside companies whose workplace cultures and achievements greatly inspire us. An engaged workforce is essential in creating shared value and driving positive impact. We see it as our responsibility to create a culture that fosters growth, sparks purpose and promotes teamwork,” Century Pacific food Inc. President and Chief executive officer ted Po said.
Completing the filipino companies on the 2024 forbes World’s Best employers list is Alliance Global Group Inc., the listed conglomerate of tycoon
and samsung electronics at No. 3.
Completing the top 10 are Adobe, BmW Group, Delta Air Lines, Airbus, IKeA, Lego Group and IBm the forbes’ list is based on independent surveys conducted globally with over 300,000 employees across more than 50 countries in partnership with market research firm statista. forbes said the respondents were asked whether they would recommend their company to family or friends. they were also asked to rate their companies based on such criteria as salary, talent development and remote work options. forbes said participants could also rate companies they knew through their own industry knowledge and through friends and family members who have worked there. n
Andrew tan. overall, topping this year’s list is microsoft, followed by Alphabet at No. 2
METRO SITUATION. Traffic is light to moderate at the EDSA-Ortigas Avenue flyover in Quezon City on Monday afternoon, December 2. Heavier volume of vehicles is expected this month because of the Christmas season frenzy. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
OPiniOn FeAtures
Impeaching
the VP
As Vice President sara Duterte expected, an impeachment complaint was filed against her on Monday, December 2. The landmark complaint was filed by various sectoral groups as well as relatives of several victims of drug killings, and endorsed by Akbayan party-list Rep. Perci Cendaña.
these are groups and persons who are not expected to heed what congressmen have described as an appeal by President ferdinand marcos Jr. to his house allies not to waste time in impeaching the vice president. marcos, acknowledging that he sent the message, explained that Duterte’s impeachment would distract the house and the senate from pressing matters and would not benefit any filipino.
Editorial
those who filed the impeachment complaint obviously disagree, believing that the vice president deserves to be ousted for offenses that fall under key categories including culpable violation of the Constitution, betrayal of public trust, corruption and bribery. they also point out that the legislature is supposed to be an independent branch of government and cannot be ordered around by the executive. Certain congressmen also said they did not see marcos’ message as a marching order to his allies led by his cousin, speaker martin romualdez, but merely an opinion and appeal.
Impeachment in this country, as the public has seen, is a political process. If the super majority
ALthoUGh the inauguration of Donald trump as the 47th president of the United states will take place on Jan. 20, 2025, it’s quite clear what the incoming administration’s immigration policy is going to be based on the president-elect’s “Agenda 47” that says mass deportations will be executed, and the public statements of former Immigration and Customs enforcement Deputy Director thomas homan, who has been appointed as “border czar.”
An article published by the New York Post lengthily discussed the new border czar’s priorities for mass deportations and strongly advised foreign nationals illegally staying in the U.s. to voluntarily go home to their countries of origin.
“No one’s off the table,” homan warned. “If you’re in the country illegally, you got a problem.”
the former New York police
IN a country previously disrupted – and set back for years – by failed coup d’états, one can understand why businessmen get the jitters whenever the military gets involved or, in the recent case, when they are dragged into the ongoing and messy family feud.
Last week, business and civic organizations expressed concern over the worsening conflict between the marcoses and the Dutertes. they issued a strongly worded joint statement titled “Upholding the rule of Law.”
Businessmen know all too well that even coup rumors or ramblings in the military alone are enough to send jitters to the country’s financial markets. remember that 1989 coup, said to be the most serious attempt against the administration of then President Corazon Aquino? Businessmen estimated that the mutiny caused the economy some $1.5 billion. so when an ex-president or some political force tries
in the house of representatives would flex its muscles, it could vote overwhelmingly in favor of an impeachment complaint and forward the articles of impeachment AsAP to the senate for trial. But this would reinforce accusations that the chamber is merely engaged in a partisan act whose aim is to eliminate Duterte from the presidential race in 2028 and give marcos’ preferred successor a better chance. the country has seen a president tried by impeachment, although Joseph estrada was ousted through people power. renato Corona was ousted as chief justice after conviction by the impeachment court. merceditas Gutierrez narrowly avoided ouster by impeachment, and thus got to keep her retirement benefits as ombudsman. Last year, she even bagged a seat as a member of the board of trustees of the Government service Insurance system. sara Duterte has become the first vice president to face an impeachment complaint. As several congressmen have pointed out, acting on a verified impeachment complaint is not discretionary on their part but their
Trump immigration policy spelled out
officer and U.s. Border Patrol agent had earlier issued a strong statement addressed to “the millions of illegal aliens that Joe Biden released in our country in violation of federal law,” telling them, “You better start packing now. Because you are going home.”
homan’s warning is explicit: “If you’re in the country illegally and you got an order for removal, or even if you don’t have one, if you’re in the country, leave on your own. Because when you leave on your own, there’s no penalties. But if we actually have to deport you with a formal order for deportation, there’s a 20-year ban. that means you can’t get a visit visa, you can’t get a tourist visa. If you have a U.s. citizen child that lives here, he can’t petition for you. so, it’s better to leave on your own rather than getting a formal order of removal.”
this was precisely what I was saying during my initial media interviews following the victory of Donald trump at the polls, advising those facing immigration problems that if there is no legal path for them to stay in the U.s., they have to
seriously start thinking about going back home – voluntarily, so they can still have a chance to come back at some point legally.
While the Department of foreign Affairs, Department of migrant Workers and other concerned government agencies are looking at every avenue possible to help those facing deportation, this is the best advice to give them at this time. heads of post at Philippine consulates in the U.s. will be coming to Washington, D.C. next week precisely to discuss how we can properly advise filipinos who are facing possible deportation. the DfA and the DmW are also coordinating to outline plans and support mechanisms for an estimated 350,000 to 370,000 undocumented filipino immigrants working and living in the United states. I’ve always believed that following the law is ultimately the only legal remedy.
Last tuesday, November 26, homan announced that they are putting a plan in place and that they are “not waiting until January” to secure U.s. borders. In an earlier podcast by the
President-elect’s son, Donald trump Jr., homan also disclosed that people can expect to see “shock and awe” on Day 1 of the (second) trump administration. officials from sanctuary cities are bracing for a possible funding shutdown by the federal government. In New York City, preparations are underway to close down migrant shelters such as the tent complex at the floyd Bennett field in Brooklyn that houses 2,000 asylum seekers. the shelter has caused a lot of division, with critics demanding that it be shut down, saying it has disrupted the surrounding communities with an increase in shoplifting and mendicancy. Across New York City, there are over 57,000 migrants housed in emergency shelters.
Lawyers representing employers are also telling their clients to be prepared, given the statement by the trump administration’s border czar that “worksite operations have to happen” because many undocumented immigrants are either sex trafficked or are forced into labor, he said. employers are being advised
Toxic politics and stability
to persuade the military into rebellion – or something like it – he is no doubt threatening the stability of our constitutional order and country.
said the business groups in their statement: “the resolution of political disagreements must adhere to legal and democratic processes. resorting to threats, incendiary rhetoric or any form of violence has no place in a nation founded on the rule of law. to this end, we strongly urge all public officials and political leaders to demonstrate restraint, uphold the dignity of their offices and prioritize the welfare of the filipino people above political interests.
“the Armed forces of the Philippines plays a vital role in safeguarding the Constitution and protecting our nation from threats, both internal and external. We call on the AfP and all institutions to remain steadfast to their constitutional mandates and to ensure that all their actions are grounded on the principles of legality, impartiality and service to the nation. Deviations from their mandate will definitely erode confidence in our country’s business environment and worse, it could endanger the very foundations of our
democratic society.”
signatories are the management Association of the Philippines, shareholders’ Association of the Philippines, makati Business Club, the financial executives Institute of the Philippines, Justice reform Initiative, Ateneo de manila Law Alumni Association, energy Lawyers Association of the Philippines, filipina Ceo Circle, Institute for solidarity in Asia, Institute of Corporate Directors, Integrity Initiative Inc. and the Philippine Women’s economic Network.
they also called on Congress and other investigative agencies to conduct their inquiries with impartiality.
“Accountability must be pursued within the bounds of due process, ensuring that justice is not only done but is seen to be done,” they said. they also called on the public to remain vigilant and steadfast in upholding the rule of law amidst political tensions. the strength of our institutions and the resilience of our democracy depend on our collective resolve to remain loyal to the Constitution and reject efforts to erode public trust in good governance,” they said. the organizations have reasons to worry.
Family feud
After all, the family feud between the Dutertes and the marcoses seems to be worse than the geopolitical tensions surrounding the West Philippine sea.
my reading of the statement of these organizations – some of them aligned with the yellows, at least once upon a time – is that they continue to find the politics of the Dutertes as toxic. they knew they had to speak up soon after Duterte urged the military to take a stand and correct marcos’ fractured governance. At the same time, they want fairness in the investigations and in the search for accountability involving sara Duterte. the federation of filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Inc. likewise continues to push for a pro-investment climate. In the group’s statement lauding the passage of CreAte more, ffCCCII president Dr. Cecilio Pedro said a business friendly environment would only flourish when businesses are assured of stability, fairness and competitiveness in the marketplace. moving forward, however, businessmen must speak up soon enough and not only when sh*t hits the fan. otherwise,
to check the I-9 forms of employees to verify their identity and authorization to work in the U.s managers and business owners who harbor or hide undocumented workers face up to 10 years in prison for violating immigration laws. they could also be fined up to $250,000 and upon conviction of a federal felony, their assets used in the commission of the crime and all proceeds could be seized.
Data from the April 2024 Department of homeland security report written by Bryan Baker and robert Warren covering 2018 to 2022 show that the biggest number of “unauthorized immigrants” come from mexico, followed by Guatemala, el salvador, honduras and the Philippines at number 5.
“What people don’t understand is that we can’t just put them on a plane,” homan said, explaining that those facing deportation will go through a process that could take weeks – or longer – which means they will be placed in detention cells until they are deported. there will also be a “targeted approach” that would prioritize
the deportation of individuals known as, or suspected of being, national security threats, along with those who have a criminal history and are already in detention, and those who were given “due process at great taxpayer expense and the federal judge ordered them removed, but they didn’t leave, and they became a fugitive.”
According to the New York Post, individuals who are on the federal terrorist Watch List and special Interest Aliens, those from countries of foreign concern, are all priorities. homan said he will be working very closely with the fBI and the intelligence community to identify and find these individuals.
As the trump border czar put it, “the overarching theme is millions of people entered this country illegally – which is a crime.” (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. * * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
our politicians will think that businessmen are oK with all the politicking, the violence and the corruption. Weren’t a lot of them as quiet as lambs during the administration of rody Duterte? for now, we’re getting the feeling that President marcos is trying to ease the tensions by calling off efforts to impeach VP sara. that, or he is just trying to distance himself from the issue.
It could also be that both camps recognize that everyone will benefit from a holiday ceasefire. how long this apparent peace will last is still anyone’s guess.
Unfortunately, history has shown us that in this country, stability just depends on a powerful few, driven by their whims and quirks and vested interests. rarely is it about the country and our countrymen. (Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * *
Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.
ManilaTimes.net
The family feud between the Dutertes and the Marcoses seems to be worse than the geopolitical tensions surrounding the West Philippine Sea. Philstar.com file photo
AFP says no confirmed threat vs VP Duterte, but vows to give protection
by Faith argoSino Inquirer.net
mANILA — the Armed forces
of the Philippines (AfP) has not received any “confirmation” or any information on the alleged threat against Vice President sara Duterte, who earlier revealed that she tasked someone to “kill” President ferdinand marcos Jr. and two of his family members, should she be assassinated.
Despite this, Col. francel margareth Padilla, AfP spokesperson, assured that the military will protect Duterte “with all its troops and assets.”
“As of this time, we have no confirmation on that, but as I said any po na statements that are given, we look into that,” Padilla said in a press briefing on tuesday, December 3.
“We have specialized units to verify these things. We’ll be performing our mandate accordingly of protecting her with all of our troops and assets in terms of providing security for the vice president,” she added.
on the other hand, AfP public affairs office chief Col. Xerxes trinidad said the AfP will wait for the result of other agencies’ ongoing investigation regarding Duterte’s kill threat.
“I think there’s an ongoing investigation coming from the different [agencies], the Armed forces of the Philippines will be cooperating and would like to wait out for any development from that part,” he said.
In an online press conference last November 23, Duterte revealed the alleged threat against her life, saying that she asked someone to kill marcos, his wife, first Lady Liza Aranetamarcos, and house speaker martin romualdez in case she ended up dead.
Due to this statement, civil society organizations filed the first impeachment complaint against Vice President sara Duterte before the house of representatives’ office of the secretary-General on monday
afternoon, December 2. the 50-page impeachment complaint crafted was by religious leaders, sectoral representatives, and families of drug war victims and was endorsed by Akbayan party-list rep. Percival Cendaña. Aside from this, Duterte, along with the head of her security group Col. raymund Lachica, is currently facing direct assault, disobedience to the persons in authority, and grave coercion complaints before the Department of Justice. this development came after Quezon City Police District medical and Dental Unit chief Lt. Col. Jason Villamor filed a complaint against the Duterte and Lachica for an incident during the transfer of office of the Vice President (oVP) chief of staff Zuleika Lopez from the Veterans memorial medical Center (VmmC) to the st. Luke’s medical Center in Quezon City. earlier, the national police said they obtained a video that showed Lachica physically assaulting Villamor during the transfer on November 23. Lopez was rushed to VmmC
Pres. Marcos: War against corruption far from over
by cathErinE S. ValEntE ManilaTimes.net
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. on tuesday, December 3 said that the war against corruption is “far from over” due to gaps in implementation, evolving political climates, and systemic vulnerabilities in the bureaucracy.
marcos issued the statement as he reiterated the Philippines’ position to collaborate with the United Nations in fighting corruption. speaking during the 5th state Conference on the United Nations Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) Implementation and review in malacañang, marcos stressed the country would remain as a “proactive member of the global community” in fighting corruption.
“By learning from and working with other nations, we strengthen our anti-corruption mechanisms while reaffirming our place as a proactive member of the global community,” he added.
In 2014, marcos said that the government institutionalized the Integrity management Program (ImP), providing a clear anti-corruption framework. It served as a tool to enhance both individual and systems integrity across the bureaucracy.
“however, a decade into its execution, several challenges persist and prove to be unexpectedly complex,” the president said.
“Gaps in implementation, evolving political climates, and systemic vulnerabilities remind us that the war against corruption is far from over,” he added.
marcos said the Philippine government must encourage the practice of core values that help promote integrity.
“We must shift away from merely enforcing compliance with laws, rules and regulations, to steering our people towards the practice of integrity in their daily lives,” the president said. marcos said the government employs a “two-pronged approach” in the fight against corruption — digitalization and people participation.
he said streamlining and digitalizing government processes would minimize the avenues of corruption as government transactions became more transparent and accessible to the public.
the initiative was being undertaken through the New Government Procurement Act, which establishes standardized electronic bidding and payment systems through the enhanced Philippine Government electronic Procurement system, the president said. the integration of data analytics with the procurement process facilitates informed decision-making by procuring entities and the identification of suspicious, fraudulent, and non-competitive practices. this will in turn provide transparency and proactive government monitoring, thereby ensuring judicious government spending,” marcos said.
“By streamlining and digitalizing processes, we are improving the efficiency and fostering trust and accountability between government and the public,” he added. marcos also emphasized empowering the people to participate in good governance through the electronic freedom of Information platform.
“through the electronic freedom of Information platform, citizens now have avenues to exercise their right to vital government information. our national budget, which is detailed to the project level, is published online, allowing our people to know how much and for what public funds are being spent on,” marcos said.
“the New Government Procurement Act also includes measures that ensure the accessibility of procurement processes and contract implementation information; engage observers and Civil society organizations in procurement; and make all procurement-related conferences available for public viewing,” he added. the UNCAC is an international anti-corruption treaty ratified, accepted, approved and acceded to by 180 countries.
It aims to promote and strengthen state Parties’ measures to prevent and combat corruption more effectively and efficiently; to facilitate and support international cooperation and technical assistance in preventing and fighting corruption, including asset recovery; and to promote integrity, accountability and proper management of public affairs and properties.
the government signed the convention on Dec. 9, 2023, and was subsequently ratified by the senate on Nov. 6, 2006. n
Average salary of Filipinos to increase by 5.5% in 2025 — study
by doMinique FLoRes Philstar.com
mANILA — the average salary of filipinos is expected to rise by an average of 5.5% in 2025, according to a consulting firm’s study on remuneration trends and policies.
If the average monthly wage of a filipino is P18,423, as reported in the 2022 occupational Wages survey by the Philippine statistics Authority (PsA), a 5.5% increase would translate to an additional P1,013.
In the latest study by Global consulting firm mercer, Philippine companies were found setting aside 1% of their total payroll budget for promotions.
this salary increase included filipinos’ individual work performance, a company’s competitiveness in the job market, salary ranges and inflation.
Citing a “competitive talent market,” the study noted that most surveyed firms plan to adjust their compensation structures — which may include basic salary, allowances, bonuses and other incentives — for 2025.
What firms are doing. mercer found that 9 in 10 surveyed organizations already offer “short-term incentive plans,” such as bonuses. meanwhile, just over 1 in 5 Philippine firms provided “long-term incentives,” such as stock options, in 2024 — slightly up from 19% in 2023.
for health issues due to a panic attack. Prior to this, she was detained at the house premises after the committee on good government and public accountability cited her for contempt last November 20 for committing undue interference in the panel’s hearing. the committee is probing the alleged misuse of the oVP and the Department of education’s confidential fund under Duterte’s watch. the panel ordered the release Lopez over the weekend, after her 10-day detention period. n
the study also revealed that these companies earmarked an additional 3% for “market adjustments,” which encompass changes in salary and benefits to address labor market conditions, inflation and other factors.
the average salary increase of 5.5% in 2025 underscores the competitive landscape for talent and highlights the ongoing commitment by organizations in the Philippines to invest in their workforces,” mercer Philippines business leader floriza molon said in a statement.
Why an increase? mercer said that key factors driving
While modest, more companies were also observed offering “flexible benefits” this year compared to six years ago, with a 9-percentage-point increase from 10% in 2018.
“It is crucial for hr leaders to adopt a holistic approach to total compensation. this includes salary adjustments, short- and long-term incentives, as well as addressing the evolving wellbeing needs of employees,” molon said.
Energy sector with the highest pay
Among the industries surveyed, jobs in the energy sector are the highest-paying
in the country and have the lowest voluntary attrition rate (8%), meaning employees are less likely to leave. the study found that the high-paying jobs in the energy sector offer about 45% higher annual base salaries compared to other industries. meanwhile, the shared services and outsourcing industry had the highest voluntary attrition rate at 17%, more than twice that of the energy sector, indicating a greater likelihood of employees leaving this industry. mercer said the high voluntary attrition rate may have been a result of a younger, more assertive workforce seeking career advancement opportunities. shorter tenures, averaging just three years, were also observed in the shared services and outsourcing industry. this is in stark contrast to the consumer goods industry, where the average tenure is nine years. mercer said this suggests a “higher turnover rate” and weaker job stability in the shared services and outsourcing industry. the study’s findings stem from mercer’s total remuneration survey 2024, which analyzed remuneration trends and policies across 2,258 job positions from 482 companies in the Philippines, each with an average of 1,000 full-time employees. n
Col. Francel Margareth Padilla, Spokesperson of Armed Forces of the Philippines, speaks to the members of the media during the AFP press briefing. Inquirer.net file photo
Sofronio Vasquez secures Top 5 spot in ‘The Voice US’
by Jessica aNN evaNgeLista Inquirer.net
fILIPINo singer sofronio Vasquez continues to raise the Philippine flag as he made it to the top 5 of “the Voice U.s.” with his heart-rending performance of elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream.” the “Tawag ng Tanghalan” alum announced on his social media that he made it to the finale of the singing competition as he asked for continued prayers, as he is now one step closer to claiming the ultimate title.
“We mADe It to the fINALe [U.s. and Philippine flags],” he began. “thank you so much to my filipinos everywhere and in America who gave so much love and support. And of course, I want to say Maraming Salamat to my hometown, Utica, Upstate New York, mohawk Valley, and everyone! Grabe kayo one last vote next week for the finale. Please continue to pray for me.”
In an interview with People magazine, Vasquez shared that he was holding back tears because he didn’t want to appear “too emotional” during his last performance.
Vasquez previously wowed the audience with his rendition of
Why
roy orbison’s “Crying,” which led him to advance to the top 8. At the time, he also received a standing ovation from his coach, michael Bublé. Aside from the Philippine bet, shye, another contestant from team Bublé, also made it to the top 5 with her performance of
the Joke” by Brandi Carlile. Also included in the top 5 roster are Danny Joseph, whose coach is reba mcentire, Jeremy Beloate from team snoop Dogg, and sydney sterlace from team Gwen stefani. the finale is set to take place on Dec. 9 to 10.
‘Uninvited’ is a film you can‘t ignore, according to producer
by NathaLie tomada Philstar.com
for the producer of the metro manila film festival (mmff) 2024 entry “Uninvited,” the drama thriller topbilled by Vilma santos, Aga muhlach and Nadine Lustre, is a risky but necessary project for taking on difficult themes rarely addressed in mainstream Philippine cinema. from the trailer, viewers are introduced to the characters of Vilma (as Lilia/eva), Aga (Guilly) and Nadine who are present at a lavish celebration at an opulent mansion, which spirals into a night of “intrigues, buried secrets and shocking revelations.” the star-studded cast also includes tirso Cruz III, mylene Dizon, elijah Canlas, Gabby Padilla, rK Bagatsing, Lotlot de Leon, Ketchup eusebio, Cholo Barretto, Gio Alvarez and ron Angeles.
the production and creatives are led by Bryan Diamante of mentorque (same group behind the 2023 mmff entry “mallari”) as executive producer and Antoinette Jadaone of Project 8 Projects as producer. reign de Guzman, omar sortijas and Catsi Catalan are on board as supervising producers, while Irene Villamor is the creative producer. Dan Villegas directs from the screenplay of Dodo Dayao.
“It’s overwhelming, but the pressure is on,” Diamante said during an interview at the recent grand party-themed launch of the film. “We’re just starting, and I’m telling you the nine other (mmff) entries are really good, too, so we have to up our game. that’s why we’re also relentless with ‘Uninvited,’ because a lot of filipino audiences have to watch this film.” this means, they are eyeing both domestic and overseas screenings for the film when the mmff opens on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
“I’m hoping that we could have simultaneous screenings worldwide on Dec. 25. We’re not only targeting the Philippine audiences but also the international audiences,” he said. they are working anew with Warner Bros. as their film distributor.
Despite targeting a wider cinema release for “Uninvited,” he acknowledged that one of the challenges would be the film’s rating. he said they’re hoping for an r-13 rating.
“We can’t say yet (about the target number of cinemas) because it’s going to be a
challenge for me when it comes to the rating. I hope that we’re open also to this kind of film,” Diamante said, adding, “Actually, ang lalim ng pelikulang ito. Nakita niyo yung grandness (from the trailer), but it has a lot of things to say.”
As the trailer suggests, one of the sensitive topics it will explore is abuse of women. feeling ko ha, part of our culture that cannot advance is because we never tackle yung mga bagay na (tinatago and sensitive)... I was really happy, although it’s really a risk for all of us. Gusto ko matapang yung pelikula ito (We want this film to be brave),” he said. the film originated from a concept by the star for all seasons herself, Vilma, which eventually grew into a fullfledged cinematic project. she proposed the idea for a narrative that would unfold within 24 hours.
Diamante said, “this movie, we never thought magkatotoo. Kami ni Ate Vi nung nag-uusap kami, she just wants to create a film, and ako naman gusto ko gumawa ng pelikula (wherein) ibibigay namin lahat. And then we were able to submit (to mmff), sabi ko, try natin kasi andyan na yan eh. Let’s try to submit it. Sabi niya (Vilma), ayoko nga ng pressure, ‘di ba. Eh nung sinubmit namin, natanggap so that’s what happened.”
In asking Vilma, who was vocal about not wanting to be pressured to participate in this year’s mmff, to do “Uninvited,”
Diamante said it was “mallari” that gave him the confidence to do so.
“Pitch ng pitch ako sa kanya because of course, she’s done 200 films. When you present (things to her), even if she’s not saying it, (she would hint that) nagawa ko na yan. Kaya sabi ko talaga sa kanya, ‘ma’am, just tell us what you want.’” meanwhile, the producer refrained from disclosing the production budget, but he
hinted at the scale of the project.
“Definitely, cast pa lang andun na tayo. I’m really fortunate that every organization, or company, or every person that we tapped to do this film, they all said yes. We’re very fortunate on that,” he said.
“Kung expensive, I think the filipino audience deserves this type of caliber ng ganitong pelikula.”
Aga and Nadine were deliberate and first choices despite the risks the story posed. “It’s very sensitive, it can actually make or break their careers,” Diamante said. “Pero nung nagsama-sama sila, I was there at the shoot. ibang klase.” he shared an anecdote about Aga’s dedication to his role as the main antagonist in the film.
“Sa set nga, si sir Aga, nakikita ko nagsasalita mag-isa, tapos tumitingin sa akin, tumatawa, ‘Ano, siraulo tingin mo sa akin ano? Ganito ako ka-invested dito.’ that’s the journey of the character. We never held back because if you hold back, the reality of what we wanted to show… I know that there are compromises, but we don’t compromise that. We really have to have that journey of the character,” he added. on the technical side, Diamante revealed how they went allout to ensure the film’s quality. “We made sure mabibigay namin lahat. Mapapansin mo there’s a difference in the look… It’s because we invested in the technical (aspects),” he explained. “Actually, last year with mallari,’ Alexa 35 camera was first used in the country, so we’re using Alexa 35 now. We’re also using customized lens. tumataginting din yung lente palang, pwede na pagawa ng pelikula (the cost itself can already finance an entire film). But that’s how invested we are.” he believes that this level of investment is crucial in feeding the passion of filipino creatives and talents.
by tessa mauricio-arrioLa ManilaTimes.net
WheN the announcement
came that Vic sotto — famously called "Bossing" by fans and colleagues — was taking on a serious role for the first time in his decades-long career, it was met with surprise and curiosity.
Known as the king of comedy, his name has been synonymous with laugh-out-loud antics and holiday cheer at the metro manila film festival (mmff). But this year, in "the Kingdom" — an ingeniously reimagined tale of an uncolonized Philippines — Bossing dons the heavy crown of a ruler torn between tradition and change, cracking not a single joke from beginning to end.
At the grand launch of the movie, the t-Zone asked Bossing how exactly the film's director, mike tuviera, convinced him to take on such a transformative project. "Actually, takot ako," sotto admitted with his trademark candor. "I was scared! It's a serious film — something out of my comfort zone."
he animatedly revealed that his children — Danica, oyo Boy, mayor Vico, Paulina and tali — had actually played a part in his decision, urging him for some time now to try something different.
"they told me, 'Dad, gumawa ka naman ng (why don't you make a) serious movie?' Yung mala(something like) 'Godfather,'" the ever-doting father to his wellknown brood recalled.
"I kind of agreed with them and even joked I could do my version of that grumpy tom hanks movie which was popular at that time and call it 'A man Called sotto,'" the ace comedian quipped in perfect timing.
so when Direk mike eventually presented 'the Kingdom's' concept to Bossing, he said to himself, "this could be it. this is what my children have been asking for."
Pausing as if to reflect on how his big leap turned out, the revered funnyman humbly reported, "I did my best... I don't know if I did good. But I hope my best was oK."
Direk mike, who directed Bossing in the action-comedy mission Unstapabol" — incidentally, the erstwhile mmff regular's last big box office entry to the festival in 2018 — informed the t-Zone that he was unequivocal in his vision for the film.
"If Bossing said no, there would be no 'the Kingdom,'" he stated firmly.
Direk mike went on to share that Bossing's wealth of acting experience and depth of character made him the only choice for Lakan makisig, the embattled monarch at the story's center.
this isn't just about spectacle; it's a family drama," he explained. "At its heart, it's about relationships and the sacrifices they demand, and I knew only Bossing could bring that to life."
the plot of "the Kingdom" unfolds in Kalayaan, an alternate Philippines untouched by colonization. the film finds Bossing's Lakan makisig grappling with the weight of his throne as his family becomes entangled in betrayal and political strife. the drama intensifies when sulo, an outcast from a farming family, played by Bossing's co-lead Piolo Pascual, emerges as a reluctant hero.
As tensions within the royal family escalate and the Kingdom of Kalayaan is thrust into a battle for its future, pitting tradition against progress, sulo's unexpected connection to the monarchy forces him to confront his past and embrace a destiny tied to the fate of the realm. With Lakan makisig wrestling with his legacy as ruler, the two men ultimately find themselves at the heart of a story that explores loyalty, sacrifice, and the power of redemption.
Now, besides Bossing's compelling genre crossover, his unexpected but much-lauded pairing with showbiz's one and only Piolo Pascual is undoubtedly another huge come-on to the movie. Naturally, the next question is, how did they get along, indeed?
happily, the bond between Bossing and Piolo, as they themselves confirmed, emerged strong — palpable, actually, even during the launch.
Both actors shared, however, that they had to keep their distance at the beginning and through the most part of the film for a reason.
"It was intentional," Piolo explained. "We stayed in character to keep the tension real. And it worked."
When asked how he felt working with Bossing, Piolo didn't hold back his admiration, just like Direk mike.
"Piolo is a seriously good actor. I'd watch him during takes and think, 'Ang galing!' (He's so good). I mean, he's the real deal," the veteran actor averred. With such a strong support cast — Cristine reyes, sue ramirez, Cedrick Juan and sid Lucero among others — "the Kingdom" promises to be a standout in the mmff lineup for all these reasons. Its narrative of power, family and sacrifice, coupled with lush visuals of a Philippines that might have been, certainly gives it an edge that sets the movie apart from traditional holiday offerings. And, of course, Bossing's much-awaited leap into drama, bolstered by Piolo's intensity, is a must-see, besides marking a new chapter in his storied career. that mind, Bossing, who was almost speechless from all the praises of Direk mike and the dramatic genre's gem in Piolo, turned on the humor again to wrap up this Q&A with the t-Zone.
Asked how felt when he finally completed "the Kindom," the one and only Vic sotto quipped, "It really tired me out!" then, with a glint in his eye, he quickly added, "so after this, Piolo and I will do a comedy. siya naman ang mahihirapan (it'll be his turn for a challenge), and that will be our next movie together. A joint production of mQuest Ventures Inc., m-Zet tV Productions and APt entertainment Inc., "the Kingdom" opens in theaters this December 25.
"Bossing is incredible. I've always been a fan, but seeing him tackle this role with so much dedication was inspiring. Watching him deliver his lines — sometimes as long as mine — was like witnessing a master at work," Piolo genuinely replied. Bossing, in turn, revealed he likewise became a fanboy during filming.
‘Hello, Love, Again’ worldwide gross reaches P1.4B by aNN PasaJoL Inquirer.net
“heLLo, Love, Again” made another record as the Kathryn Bernardo and Alden richards starrer has so far earned P1.4 billion in sales globally. the feat was celebrated by productions companies star Cinema and GmA pictures through their respective Instagram pages on monday, Dec. 2.
“thank you for making this journey of love truly remarkable and we hope you continue to come home and fall in love again!” it said, showing a photo of Bernardo and richards in a group hug with film director Cathy Garcia-sampana.
“hello, Love, Again,” which premiered last Nov. 13, is still showing in 700 cinemas worldwide. It earned the biggest first-day ticket sales of P85 million, and achieved the highest single-day gross of P131 million last Nov. 16. the film became the highest-grossing filipino movie of all time just 10 days after its opening. It surpassed the 2023 film “rewind,” which recorded a worldwide gross of P924 million. moreover, “hello, Love, Again” closed the 2024 Asian World film festival in California, which also recognized Bernardo as its snow Leopard rising star awardee. the movie is the sequel to the blockbuster film “hello, Love, Goodbye,” which also held the highest-grossing filipino title prior to “rewind.”
Sofronio Vasquez has made it to the finale of The Voice. Photo by Griffin Nagel/NBC via Facebook/Sofronio Vasquez
Besides Bossing’s genre crossover, his unexpected pairing with Piolo Pascual is undoubtedly another compelling come-on to the movie. ManilaTimes.net photo
The lead cast with director Dan Villegas and producer Bryan Diamante (rightmost) of Mentorque. Photo courtesy of Mentorque Productions
“Hello, Love, Again” stars Kathryn Bernardo and Alden Richards. Photo from Instagram/@starcinema
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IN an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” this sunday, December 8, leading U.s
and
jobs in the
states. recently taped at Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in the Philippines, this “Your Tanong my Sagot” episode answers some of the most frequently asked questions in immigration law today, providing valuable insights on navigating pathways for healthcare professionals.
three attendees posed their questions to Atty. Gurfinkel: mildred, an rN, asked how she could secure employment in
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Citizen Pinoy tackles pathways for Filipino...
PAGE 9
U.s. without taking the NCLeX and whether it was possible to reapply for a tourist visa to find an employer. Joan, a Nursing Assistant, wondered how she could pursue work in the U.s. without a family member to petition her. meanwhile, szarmaine, an Infection Preventionist Nurse and single mom, asked for the fastest route to a U.s. nursing job.
Atty. Gurfinkel answers these questions and more in “Your Tanong, my Sagot” at the Bonifacio Global City in the Philippines. Watch this encore episode of Citizen Pinoy this sunday at 6:30 Pm Pt (9:30 Pm et through select Cable/satellite providers), right after tV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWanttfC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)
sACrAmeNto — following Governor Gavin
Newsom’s proclamation, the California Legislature convened the first day of a special session to provide legal resources to protect California values, the state’s economy, fundamental civil rights, reproductive freedom, clean air and clean water, and working families — including immigrant families. the special session, which will establish a new litigation fund, comes in response to the incoming federal administration's signaled policy proposals that would harm Californians.
“California is a tent pole of the country – from the economy to innovation to protecting and investing in rights and freedoms for all people. We will work with the incoming administration and we want President trump to succeed in serving all Americans. But when there is overreach, when lives are threatened, when rights and freedoms are targeted, we will take action. And that is exactly what this special session is about – setting this state up for success, regardless of who is in the White house,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement provided by his office.
“With potentially billions of dollars in federal funding on the line if the president-elect follows through on his promises, we must be – and we are – ready to act on day one," said Attorney General rob Bonta. "I am looking forward to working with governor and the legislature to ensure my office has the resources we need to meet to the demands of the moment and robustly defend California’s people, progress, and values.”
“Where we can work with the incoming federal administration, we will,” senate President pro tem mike mcGuire. “Where the rights, safety, and economic security of Californians may be in danger, we will be prepared and we will respond. New and returning members of the senate all took a solemn oath today to defend California. We believe in that oath. And we will act accordingly with the Governor and our colleagues in the Assembly.”
“While we always hope to collaborate with our federal partners, California will be ready to vigorously defend our interests and values from any unlawful action by the incoming trump Administration,” said Assembly Budget Chair Jesse Gabriel. “We know from President-elect trump’s statements – and from the more than 120 lawsuits that California filed during the first trump Administration – that we must be prepared to defend ourselves. We’re not going to be caught flat-footed.”
Fact sheet in special session proposal
New litigation fund the governor is working with lawmakers to establish a litigation fund to bolster the state’s legal resources in response to the incoming federal administration's signaled policy proposals that would harm the state. Working with the legislature, the governor is proposing a new litigation fund of up to $25 million for the California Department of Justice (DoJ) and state agencies to defend California from unconstitutional federal overreach, challenge illegal federal actions in court, and take administrative actions to reduce potential harm.
Why this matters the governor’s proposed legal investment has the potential to yield significant returns for California families and protect billions of dollars in state funding. the new litigation fund will help safeguard critical funding for disaster relief, health care programs, and other vital services that millions of Californians depend on daily. It will also position the state to defend against unlawful federal actions that could jeopardize not only tangible resources but also immeasurable protections, such as access to reproductive health care, access to clean air and water, and fundamental civil rights.
During President-elect trump’s first term, his administration made multiple attempts to withhold federal funds from California and harm the state. from 2017 to 2021, the California DoJ filed 122 lawsuits against the trump administration in
response. the state invested approximately $42 million to support this litigation. this legal action not only safeguarded California’s values and residents but also delivered tangible financial benefits.
for example, in just one successful case, the federal government reimbursed California nearly $60 million in federal public safety grants as a result of litigation. In another case won against the trump administration for delaying energy efficiency standards, the state's victory was estimated to generate over $8 billion in energy savings for consumers over the next three decades. In another separate case, the state’s litigation protected billions of dollars in federal funding for California’s public health care and other federally funded programs that provide crucial health, education, and labor services. What comes next
Proposed legislation is expected to be introduced in the state legislature. In the coming weeks, the legislature has indicated it will hold committee hearings on the legislation. During this process, the governor will actively collaborate with legislative leaders and the attorney general to refine and advance the measure. the legislation is expected to reach the governor’s desk and be signed into law before January 20, 2025.
Working with the incoming Trump Administration
While the state is prepared to lead efforts to challenge any unlawful actions by the federal government, Governor Newsom is committed to working with President-elect trump wherever there is common ground to improve the lives of nearly 40 million Californians. Last month, Governor Newsom traveled to Washington, D.C., for a series of meetings at the White house and on Capitol hill to discuss the approval of key initiatives to improve health care, mental health, and clean air in the state, as well as the approval of disaster relief funds. Governor Newsom looks to build on that momentum to continue to deliver for millions of Californians who rely on essential federal funding and programs that support their daily lives.
Bigger picture since 2019, California has set a national example in advancing civil rights, reproductive health care protections, climate action, and support for working families, including immigrant families. this session aims to ensure California’s resilience — the state’s progress will continue, no matter who is in the White house. more information on the special session can be found at https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/11/07/ special-session-ca-values/.
(cA Governor’s office release)
the Philippine Consulate General in san francisco invites the filipino American community to its final exhibition for 2024 entitled “Kara o Krus,” an art exhibit featuring six filipino visual artists from the Philippines and the United states, from December 9-13, 2024.
Curated by renowned artist and curator Jes evangelista, “Kara o Krus” presents recent artworks from artists, who interprets the “kara o krus” or “heads or tails” as dual forms of filipino identity: living in the Philippines and in the United states; expression of one's individual culture in the Philippines vs. expression of the filipino culture in another country; and desire to experience other countries vs. desire to return to the home country. these different perspectives of the art exhibit’s theme will be expressed by six accomplished and award-winning artists: Jes evangelista, Karen f Concepcion, and myk Velasco from the Philippines; and mike Carrion, mel Vera Cruz, and michael sacramento of the United states.
Join the consulate for the art exhibit’s opening on December 9, 2024, 6:00 p.m., at the Kalayaan hall, Philippine Center, 447 sutter street, san francisco, California 94108. register for the exhibit's opening at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ kara-o-krus-a-group-exhibit-of-filipino-artists-insan-francisco-tickets-1102626227729. (PcGSF release)
Szarmaine (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel
Joan (left) with Atty. Gurfinkel
the Department of health, in partnership with the Commission on Population Development and the forum for family Planning and Development Inc., held recently the 2024 National Conference on family Planning discussing innovative strategies, enabling policies, and collaborative efforts to improve family planning services and sexual and reproductive health across the Philippines. health secretary ted herbosa delivered Pres. ferdinand r marcos Jr.’s opening remarks. mayors from urban and rural areas in the Philippines, officials from state and private agency partners, and other key local and foreign stakeholders graced the two-day event. they particularly tackled strategic directions to strengthen the implementation of Universal health Care Act and the responsible Parenthood and reproductive health Act of the Philippines in pursuit of better family planning and population management in the country. I had the opportunity to meet the indefatigable man of the hour. few people know that Doh secretary herbosa is the great grandnephew of our national hero, Dr. Jose P. rizal, who served in the barrios when he was exiled, and for that “we can cull great inspiration of selfless service and patriotism.” Lucia rizal is the mother of his grandfather.
Ted Herbosa, the indefatigable man of the hour
As an emergency doctor, herbosa has witnessed the struggles of the ordinary filipino to access healthcare services as well as the gaps that the government can bridge for the people that it serves. that experience honed his perspective and competencies in the field. having an on-the-ground training, he was molded to act with conviction and dedication in every step of the way. “In times of crisis, you cannot think solely of yourself, as the people already own you. service lies at the heart of this profession, and though there might have been more economically benefiting opportunities in other places, I stood by my oath to serve the people,” he said to this columnist.
* * * the late Atom founder Agapito “Butz” Aquino was honored November 30 during the 2024 Annual honoring of martyrs and heroes at the Quezon City’s Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center. other honorees were ramon Alcaraz, Adolfo Alcances, serge Cherniguin, Ceferino Gaddi, roberto Jimenez, and manuel Quiambao. Guest of honor was Quezon City mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte.
* * * Global icon and sparkle artist heart evangelista headlines GmA Pinoy tV with “heart World.” set to captivate audiences as it peeks into her vibrant life beyond the glitz and glam, this feel-good, vlogstyle show is produced by heart herself. through a mix of personal storytelling, an exhilarating fashion week, behind-the-scenes
access to her glamorous lifestyle, and snippets of her private life in manila, each episode unveils the woman behind the public persona.
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thanks to sam Azurel for giving me an opportunity to receive the Amerika Prestige Awards hollywood’s Inclusive media excellence recognition and to my fashion designer niece Ann K. Isip with her hubby robert Bourque who represented me.
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* * It was nice to know other recipients of the 2nd southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever (sAPBA) Award through radio and tV guestings. Photographer Jamin Lim and I got to meet awardees elyza and robert rivera, hosts of Pilipinas Ngayon Na! at DWIZ. then Patrick saburit of the Kylledmed Philippines and I met awardee marc Logan (host of Patokitok Kalogan at DWAN Am 1206) and DJ Gabby. Later, engr. Alyssa Joy finca of the finca engineering services and I met awardee Jigo Postolero, host of Jigo Live at Abante radyo tabloidista. Last November 28, awards committee chair Nirro marcelo, saleha Pangarungan sacar of the National Commission on muslim filipinos and I were guests in awardee People’s television’s rise and shine Pilipinas.
I was joyful when my friends salvacion Paparon of sheanne roll Up Door Construction services, Chairman D. edgard A. Cabangon of ALC media Group and comedy bar owner Andrew De real are awardees of the 2nd sAPBA Award to be held on December 8 at Winford resort and Casino manila. other awardees are broadcasters/ vloggers and radio/tV hosts Wej Cudiamat, Annabelle surara and earlo Bringas of Net 25’s radyo Aguila, Braggy Braganza of 97.9 home radio, Dennis Antenor Jr., Conrado Cagas tacgos Jr. (Johnny Bukol), DJ mama Colleen, DJ Kuya machete (Joey sarmiento), DJ Gil-
bert delos santos, richard James B. merck, PtV’s Audrey Gorriceta, miles ocampo, Vhong Navarro, Jhong hilario, retired PNP Lt. General rhodel sermonia of UNtV’s Wonderful Pinas, Isko moreno of IsKoVerY NIGht, Ambet Nabus, Dominic Almelor, Gretchen fullido, Atasha muhlach, Niño myrrh C. tarinay, and Carlo Lorenzo. Awarded singers-actors are freddie Aguilar, Lae manego, Carmela Betonio, Jos Garcia, hagibis, michael Pangilinan, Bugoy Drilon, Daryl ong, Jona, Andres muhlach, and comedians mC, Lassy, Kuya Isaac sabaw (Ishaku Ishaya monday), and marian rivera.
the other list of recipients are: Alexander John fong, media house express, 97.9 home radio, Aliw Channel 23, DWIZ-Am William Jones, Janice Delima, shirley B. Belangel, Bon Jheo exconde, Dr. elva evasco-Auza, edwin Lisa, Conelen Carino, ravve Jay and mherie Vic Prevendido, Ira Patricia malaluan, Julia mendoza, Jeff madarang, Jane Darren Genobisa, Cindy madduma, Keyrol Cabuso, Catherine Veluz-Zeta, Jomerle evardone matutino, Angelo estera, hazel may e. Baliguian, Dr. Jesus recasata Jr., NWoW International trading Corp., JP
Catering services, Intele Builders and Development Corp., Lucky GhL Advertising, JfBV, matty’s themed events, sapporo Products Inc., Lagniappe Printshop, eyeleen hair and make up by Aileen sebua, Gown and events management by touting, Jam Lim enterprises, Cave Beach resort, Alegre de Pilipinas, the metropolista, Light tV, rCP ritmo tambore, Win radio, Bhylinn’s modern fashion, edwin Lisa Brows and Aesthetics, Venice handicrafts Wooden Kiddie stools and furniture, Links Digital, through the Glass Creatives, Densol’s Catering, Joyice Philippines, DWAN 1206 Am top 5 mga Kwentong marc Logan, sCPm trading, Kpanfuel International trading, Uno Construction International, Kherk roldan Whitelabel seo solutions, mJ-Am trading, Better Boneless, the Brewed Buddies Coffee & tea Creations, Altech Autogate Int. Philippines Inc., smrD Credit Collection services, faces and Curves, G-film rental
* * * the first time I met actress Deborah sun was when I joined Jeanne Young’s spin-A-Win show on rPN Channel 9 years ago. Just recently I met her during the premiere night of efren reyes Jr.’s
“Idol: the April Boy regino story” at Grand Duchess Ballroom of Great eastern hotel in Quezon City. she has never changed for she remains humble, approachable and kind. more about her in a future issue of this column.
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com
From left: Julio Diaz, the late Jaclyn Jose, Deborah Sun and Vandolph
Heart Evangelista stars in “Heart World.”
Rogelio Constantino Medina’s awards from the Amerika Prestige Awards 2024.
Robert Bourque and Ann K. Isip The late Butz Aquino (center) with daughters (from left) Jackie and Roxanne.
DOH Secretary Ted Herbosa
From left: Alyssa joy Finca, Jigo Postolero and Oggie Medina
From right: Dr. Patrick Saburit, Oggie Medina, host Marc Logan and DJ Gabby
& Capitol medical Center Inc., mariel Nicole santiago of Genuine Diamonds Ph, Charlomagne Arceta, Datu Kasan A. Karon Jr., Viomix Philippines, Phisavong World travel and tours, and Atty. Persida Acosta.
