rePorts of harassment, violence and other hate incidents fueled by anti-Asian racism in Los Angeles County jumped 31% in 2023, according to the L.A. County Commission on human relations (LACChr). In other words, there were 80 total reports of anti-Asian hate in 2023, a double-digit jump from 2022 which saw 61 reported antiAsian incidents. the latest figure is the second-highest number of anti-Asian hate reported in L.A. County since 2021, which saw 81 total reports; as previously reported in the Asian Journal, 2021 saw an unprecedented spike in anti-Asian harassment, violence, and killings,
PH envoy to US leads assistance to Filipinos facing deportation under Trump
Philippine Anti-organized Crime Commission (PAoCC) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) to intensify their operations against PoGos that are still operating despite the ban. he also called on all local chief executives to coordinate with the DILG in going after PoGos in their respective jurisdictions.
marcos' attendance at the peace and order council meeting came a day after he stood firm on his stance to kick out PoGos from the country and announced the cancellation of all PoGo and internet gaming licenses (IGLs) nationwide.
As it aims for a leaner budget, the incoming trump administration may cut or eliminate several federal health safety nets, including medicaid, the Children’s health Insurance Program, and the supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
these three critical lifelines alone support 88 million low income residents in the Us. Almost half of all children living in the Us — about 40 million — are enrolled in the Children’s health Insurance Program, known as ChIP. more than 34% of people under age 65 identifying as Latino are covered by medicaid. 39% of Black people are covered by medicaid, as are 35% of Native hawaiian Pacific Islanders. roughly 28% of Asian Americans under 65 are also covered by medicaid, according to data from health and human services’ office of minority health. No cuts to Social Security, promises Trump on the campaign trail, President-elect Donald
VICe President sara Duterte has insisted that she will not publicly explain how she spent the millions of confidential funds of the office of the Vice President (oVP) and the Department of education (Deped) when she headed it as she maintained that the money used was for “national security.”
Duterte also stressed that she would only answer to the Commission on Audit (CoA) about how she used her confidential funds and pointed out that the house of representatives had no mandate to question how she utilized
the secret discretionary funds.
speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, December 11 in the oVP central office in mandaluyong City, Duterte refused to explain the unusual names seen in the acknowledgment receipts (Ars) of her confidential funds in the past two years.
“No, no, I will not explain,” Duterte told reporters when asked about the veracity of the names in the receipts.
No records the house said the Philippine statistics Authority (PsA) found no records of them in the national registry.
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sofroNIo Vasquez emerged as “the Voice” United states season 26 winner, becoming the first-ever filipino to have won the competition.
Vasquez bested the remaining four finalists at the two-night finale held on Dec. 9 and 10 (Dec. 10 and 11 in the Philippines).
During the first part of the final round, Vasquez, who is under team michael Bublé, sang sia’s “Unstoppable” and “A million Dreams” from “the Greatest showman.”
Vasquez then shared the stage with his coach Bublé for the second part, performing a duet of “Who’s Lovin’ You” by the Jackson 5. shye, another contestant from team Bublé, came second to Vasquez, while sydney sterlace from team Gwen stefani placed third. Danny Joseph from team reba mcentire took the fourth place, while Jeremy Beloate from team snoop Dogg earned the fifth place.
Prior to the finals, Vasquez sang his heart out to elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” during the “the Voice” United states live show. he also performed a duet with Beloate, singing “every Breath You take”
oN monday, Dec. 9, Ysabel Jurado was sworn in to the Los Angeles City Council, becoming the first ever LA City Council member of filipino descent. In a closed-doors ceremony, Jurado, 34, took the oath of office from the City Clerk to officially start her tenure as the city’s councilmember for District 14. Jurado
PH envoy to US leads assistance...
because not only are we taking stock of the work we have done for the last 11 months and preparing for a new year ahead, but we will need to prepare and strategize in the context of a new U.s. administration," Philippine Ambassador to Washington Jose manuel romualdez said in a statement. "the Philippine embassy and Consulates General will continue to provide consular services to all filipino nationals regardless of their immigration status," they said. the heads of Philippine posts in the U.s. "understand the uncertainty felt by certain segments of the filipino community in the United states
Go after illegal POGOs...
"they will no longer be allowed to wreak havoc. Whoever attempts to operate illegally will deal with the full force of the law," he said in filipino on his official facebook and Instagram accounts on Wednesday, December 11. the chief executive in his state of the Nation Address in July ordered the total ban on PoGos, noting the negative effects of gambling, such as a spike in crime rates, social instability, and exploitation of vulnerable people. these,
following recent pronouncements by the incoming administration," the Philippine Ambassador and Consulates General (PACG) said. "While the exact contours of the incoming trump administration's policies have yet to take shape, the meeting was an important step in ensuring a unified, coordinated, and effective response," the PACG said in a statement on thursday, December 12. "recognizing the right of the U.s. to enforce its own laws, the Philippine embassy and Consulates General will intensify their engagement with relevant U.s. officials to advocate for the protection of the rights of filipinos residing in the U.s. and the promotion of their security and welfare," it read. the PACG added, "the heads of posts reaffirmed their collective commitment to supporting and providing consular assistance to filipino nationals while respecting U.s laws."
he argued, far outweigh the economic and social benefits the gaming industry contributes. Last month, he issued executive order (eo) 74 formalizing the ban on PoGos, internet gaming, and other offshore gaming operations. the eo encompasses illegal offshore gaming operations, license applications, license renewals, and cessation of operations in the country.
Pagcor Chairman and Ceo Alejandro tengco said all remaining PoGo licenses will be revoked by Dec. 15 and that
romualdez said that 250,000 to 300,000 filipinos illegally staying in the U.s. or those without "any kind of status" should voluntarily return to the Philippines or start working on their documents. my advice to many of our fellow men who actually are still here but cannot get any kind of status, my advice is for them not to wait to be deported," romualdez said in a forum with international and local media. n
there would be no more renewal of permits.
As of Nov. 29, there were 53,700 cancelled offshore gaming employment licenses; 18 IGLs voluntarily cancelling their licenses; and 27 IGLs in the process of winding down their operations.
the DILG vowed it will hunt down all underground gaming operators and ordered all local chief executives to submit a report regarding any suspicious activities within their localities, including the possible movement or setup of a PoGo n
VP Duterte firm she need not explain...
“I will not give an explanation because it will entail that I will [have to] explain intelligence operations. It will really compromise how they work,” she said. “so, no, no explanation will be given to members of the house of representatives.” the house committee on good government and public accountability has been looking at the expenditures of a total of P612.5 million in confidential funds by the oVP and Deped in 2022 and 2023. the committee found several acknowledgment receipts that contained names that they and even the public found unusual, like “mary Grace Piattos,” which suspiciously looks like a composite of a local restaurant and a popular snack brand. the PsA confirmed that “mary Grace Piattos” had no birth, death, or marriage records. It said 405 other names were nonexistent.
Legal basis Duterte insisted that she would have to give out secret information if she disclosed the true identities of the recipients of the confidential funds.
“I cannot explain confidential funds because it will entail explaining intelligence
operations, and there is a law that prohibits officials who gathered information because of their office to divulge it in public,” she said.
she referred to the antigraft and corruption law, which penalizes state employees who divulge “information of a confidential character, acquired by his office or by him on account of his official position to unauthorized persons, or releasing such information in advance of its authorized release date.”
the vice president added that any responses she may give about the supposed fictitious names may “add to the cases that may be filed against me.” two impeachment complaints have been filed against her. she also said she had “nothing to do with the preparation of the Ars.”
“It went down to the grassroots level. so, I had nothing to do with the preparation of the Ars. I was up here in the structure, and the money went down for information,” Duterte said. the confidential funds we used for our work had to do with national security. All the programs and projects of the office of the Vice President target poverty alleviation,” she said. “there
is a direct correlation between poverty and national security.”
‘Threats to education’
As for Deped, Duterte explained that “there are still so many threats to education, not just insurgency.”
“We wanted to target projects of the Department of education as well in the most vulnerable areas and schools, that is why we needed confidential funds,” she said.
Lawmakers and observers are comparing not just Duterte’s confidential funds but her entire budget allocations with those of her predecessors. her immediate predecessor, Leni robredo, got P428.618 million with no confidential funds.
All of the most recent vice presidents—Jejomar Binay, Noli de Castro, teofisto Guingona, Gloria macapagal-Arroyo and Joseph estrada—received much smaller allocations during their first full year in office after the election compared to her whopping P2.3-billion budget for 2023.
four of them got confidential funds—Binay (P6 million), De Castro (P6.59 million), Guingona (P5.1 million) and Arroyo (P3 million)—during their second year as vice president. n
Ginagalang ng California ang Kapangyarihan ng Iyong Boto
Maipagmamalaking masasabi ng mga taga California ito: ginawa ng California ang mas higit pang makabuluhang pagpapabuti sa ating mga batas sa halalan at nagpalawak pa ng mga karapatang bumoto nang higit sa iba pang mga estado.
Ang kaugnayan ng tagumpay na ito ay napapalalim pa habang tayo ay naghahandang ipagdiwang ang
ika-60 na taong anibersaryo ng Voting Rights Act sa susunod na taon. Ang makabuluhang batas na ito ay nagsimula na makakalas sa mahabang kasaysayan ng panunupil, pananakot at pagtanggal ng karapatang naranasan ng higit na maraming mga Amerikano sa mga halalan sa maraming mga dekada. Ang aking sariling mga magulang, na naging mga manggagapas, ay tinanggihan ang kanilang karapatang bumoto nang panahon ni Jim Crow sa Timog. Bago lumipat sa Los Angeles mula sa Hope, Arkansas, ang aking mga magulang, David at Mildred Nash, ay hindi makaboto. Ang aking tatay ay nasa hustong gulang na may anim na anak bago siya ay nakapagrehistro para bumoto at nagawang gamitin ang kanyang karapatang bumoto ayon sa saligang batas sa unang pagkakataon dito sa California. Bilang Kalihim ng Estado ng California, hindi ko tinuturing nang magaan ang pag-unlad na ating naisagawa sa nakaraang mga taon. Ako at ang aking mga tauhan ay pinanghahawakan nang buong galang ang tungkulin na matiyak na ang mga halalan ay ligtas, malaya, pantay, at sa maisasagawa ng lahat. Kaya, bago pagtibayin sa Disyembre 13 ang mga kinalabasan ng halalan sa taong ito, nagsagawa kami ng ilang hakbang na matiyak na ang bawat boto ay mabilang. Tiniyak rin naming na ang ang pamamaraan ng pagbilang ng boto ay mapagkakatiwalaan at malaya sa anumang panghihimasok. Upang makaabot sa huling araw nang walang sagabal, inatasan ng California ang lahat ng mga pamunuan ng halalan sa lahat ng mga 58 counties na ibigay ang kanilang opisyal na kinalabasan ng halalan sa isang takdang araw. Sa taong ito, ang araw na yun ay Dec. 6. Ayon sa batas, ang bawat karapat-dapat na botante sa ating estado ay tatanggap ng isang voteby-mail ballot. Ito ay titiyak na ang lahat ng mga rehistradong botante ay maisasagawa ang kanilang karapatang bumoto.
Kahit pa ang hinulog mo ang iyong boto sa tinakdang drop-off box, bumoto sa pamamagitan ng koreo, o tuwirang bumoto sa isang polling center, ang mga boto ay ligtas at mapagkakatiwalaan. At hinahayaang naming makatanggap ng text message, email, o voice call notifications tungkol sa kinatatayuan ng kanilang mga sariling balota sa paggamit ng https://california.ballottrax.net/voter/ Where’s My Ballot? Ang mga balota ng mga taga-Californiang bumoto sa pamamagitan ng koreo ay napangalagaan din. Ang United States Postal Service ay nakipagtambal sa Estado para matiyak na upang matiyak na ang mga balota ay maihahatid sa tamang panahon. Ang lahat ng mga mailed-in ballots ay pinadadala sa pamamagitan ng First Class mail na may isang postage-paid envelope na inilaan sa bawat botanteng rehistrado. Ang Election Security o Kaligtasan ng Halalan ang aming inuuna. Kaya ang aking tanggapan ay nag-ukol
nagpatupad ng isang programang magsasagawa
ito. Para sa karagdagang kaalaman, tumungo
https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ election-cybersecurity Dagdag pa rito, ang California ay nagsagawa ng mga hakbang na pang-iwas upang makatiyak na ang ating teknolohiyang paghahalan ay mapanatiling ang ating mga halalan ay ligtas at pinangangalagaan ang boto ng lahat. Halimbawa, ang mga pamamaraan ng halalan ng county ay hindi nakakabit sa internet na nangangalaga nito laban sa mga cyberthreats. Ang estado ay nagsasagawa rin ng palagian at masusing pagsubok upang matiyak na ang mga pamamaraan ng halalan ay gumagana nang pinakamainam at nagpapahintulot lang ng mga access sa may kapangyarihang mga tao. Ang mga tauhan ay sinanay rin patungkol sa phishing at cybersecurity.
Susi rin ang VoteCal, ang tanging centralized voter registration system ng estado. Ang pamamaraan ay palagiang updated o binabago at ginagamit bilang pinagkukunan ng mga counties upang mapatunayan ang mga lagda. Ang California ay naglalaan ng kaligtasan sa lahat ng mga lugar ng pagbibilang at tinitiyak na ang mga drop-off boxes ay ligtas at tinatanuran. Ang lahat ng mga pamamaraan ng halalan ay bukas din sa mga pagmamasid tuwing mga tinakdang oras. Sa aking tungkulin bilang Kalihim ng Estado ng California, wala nang mas mahalaga sa akin kundi ang ipagtanggol ang ating demokrasya. Ako ay nangangakong pangalagaan ang mga karapatang bumoto, at pangunahan ang ating estadong itaguyod ang pinakamataas na pamantayang demokrasya sa pamamagitan ng pagpapatupad ng mga patakaran at kaugaliang mapagkakatiwalaan at
GRAND CHAMPION. The CAA Elementary School beats all entries in the street dance competition of the 19th Parol (Lantern) Festival in Las Piñas City on Thursday, December 12. The group received
and a trophy. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
PEACE MEET. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. chats with officials before presiding over the 2nd Joint National Peace and Order Council – Regional Peace and
Californians most in need of in-home health care struggle to access it
ACCess barriers to California’s in-home public health care program are highest for older, disabled and unhoused adults who most need it, a recent study finds.
the report, released by legal advocacy organization Justice in Aging, is based on extensive interviews with over 80 patients, providers, advocates, and state and national policymakers for In-home supportive services (Ihss), Califorrnia’s largest home and Community-Based services (hCBs) program.
hCBs is how medi-Cal, the state’s version of medicaid, pays for personal or in-home care, which includes help for older and disabled adults with daily activities like dressing, eating, and cleaning, to keep them living at home rather than in institutions and nursing homes.
Access barriers
“I pray every day that I can kind of remember, because once you get on these services you have to reapply and recertify,” said one patient cited in the study. “I have to stay on top of my medicaid and any other subsidy I get. I have to literally apply every year. make sure I have all my information, my bank information, and it’s a lot. It is really a lot.” for some individuals (with Alzheimer’s and no family support), when we ask questions, like what (health) plan do you have, or about their finances, they just have a hard time answering some of those questions, so it becomes kind of tricky,” added an Ihss advocate.
“how are they going to be able to follow through?”
over 591,000 Californians get in-home care through Ihss
there are over 550,000 Ihss providers, or caregivers, as of 2021. one provider said “If you have to have multiple providers, it’s really like running a small business. You have to hire, train, figure out schedules and sign time cards. It means that you have precluded individuals that have significant psychiatric illness, substance use disorder, or otherwise, high levels of disorganization… It’s just not feasible for a lot of folks.”
According to the report,
navigating Ihss is most difficult for adults with behavioral or cognitive conditions like Alzheimer’s and dementia, and adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Patients without a trusted family member or friend willing to be their caregiver often rely on word-of-mouth, or hard-tonavigate county registry lists which require patients to sort through and interview caregivers from a list of hundreds to find a match in terms of skill, location, and availability.
What’s more, many caregivers themselves prefer to work for people needing less/minimal physical or mental health care. for caregiver retention, Ihss wages “are a problem, but also it’s the level of care,” said a stakeholder. “People don’t mind coming in doing light housework, or… doing your grocery shopping. But it’s that personal care that we worry about the most — that’s where the biggest problem is, you just can’t get a provider to do that. Not for $15 or $20 an hour.”
Across counties, the average hourly wage for an Ihss caregiver is $17.60 as of December 2024.
While data on caregiver retention is scarce, a 2016 analysis found that roughly half of caregiver-patient pairings tracked in a year were ended for reasons other than a change in the patient’s eligibility.
“We have people that have been in our registry actively looking for providers that might go eight months or a year and run through 600 referrals and not hire anybody,” said a county Ihss employment worker. for “people who are experiencing homelessness and connecting them with a provider, it’s a nonstarter.”
these challenges for unhoused people most often owe to the inability to apply for Ihss while moving frequently; being denied an Ihss assessment by the county while living in a shelter; or being unable to get a caregiver while living in a shelter, either because the caregiver isn’t willing to work there or because the shelter isn’t willing to provide access.
“When someone’s in a shelter and needs Ihss, it’s not that it’s impossible, but it’s really tough to find Ihss workers that are willing to support folks in a
shelter setting,” explained one caregiver. those who can’t access this care face serious harm.
Californians with untreated behavioral health diagnoses including Alzheimer’s or dementia, for instance, account for one-third of all inpatient hospitalizations and one-fifth of er visits. furthermore, in 2022, over half of nursing home residents in California — about 43,000 people — had Alzheimer’s or dementia diagnoses while not receiving the care they needed.
Expanding access Ihss comes in three forms:
Independent Provider mode, where patients employ a caregiver they choose like a family member, friend or local caregiver, paid through the county; Contract mode, where counties contract with a local home care agency to employ caregivers; and the currently unused homemaker mode, where the county acts as the home care agency.
Independent Provider mode is the most commonly used; 72% of Ihss patients employ family caregivers.
however, nearly everyone interviewed in the study said expanding Contract mode would help them get the care they needed by reducing the need to personally navigate Ihss to employ a caregiver.
Currently, san francisco is the only one of California’s 58 counties to use Contract mode, providing contracted in-home care to 1,100 out of the county’s 27,500 Ihss patients.
Los Angeles County is the only one working to add Contract mode, specifically for unhoused people unable to access Ihss
While seven counties including san francisco tried Contract mode in the past, six abandoned it by 2018, citing high costs and insufficient federal or state funds.
san francisco was able to work around these costs by getting additional local and private funding through community organizations whose staff are caregivers contracting with the county; the report recommends that other counties do the same. other ways to expand Ihss access for struggling adults include requiring counties to
Dateline USa
Filipino singer Sofronio...
with the songwriter himself, sting, playing the bass. Tawag ng Tanghalan roots Vasquez, who is an alum of the local singing competition Tawag ng Tanghalan,” was also a four-chair turner during the competition’s blind auditions.
At the “It’s showtime” episode on Wednesday, December 11, Vasquez received accolades from its hosts, which aired the Tawag ng Tanghalan” segment
where he first started his singing journey.
“I-congratulate naman natin ang ‘tawag ng tanghalan’ alumnus na si sofronio Vasquez!” ogie Alcasid announced on the show. “Your showtime family is so proud of you. tatak showtime yan!”
(Let’s congratulate our “Tawag ng Tanghalan” alumnus Sofronio Vasquez… Your Showtime family is so proud of you. You exemplified the ‘Showtime’ brand.) n
at santosme@metro.net. 12/14/24 CNs-3876873# AsIAN JoUrNAL (L.A.)
Sofronio Vasquez Photo from Facebook/@itssofroniovasquez
Critical federal health safety nets are on...
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trump promised not to cut social security or medicare, which primarily serves people over 65. But trump made little mention of medicaid, which provides health insurance to low-income adults and children via ChIP. medicaid is the largest source of federal funds coming into state budgets, and accounts for an average of 56% of a state’s budget. “so if we do see big cuts to medicaid, that will affect all areas of states’ budget, not just their health budget,” said Joan Alker, executive Director of the Center for Children and families and research Professor at the Georgetown mcCourt school of Public Policy foundation.
Early budget resolution
Alker spoke at a Dec. 6 news briefing organized by ethnic media services. other speakers included mayra Alvarez, President of the Children’s Partnership, who discussed the impact of federal cuts to children. richard Kogan, senior fellow at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, discussed impoundment, a littleused process the President could use to simply stop the flow of funds allocated by Congress.
Cuts to medicaid could happen even before Presidentelect Donald trump takes office, explained Alker, explaining that a new, republican-controlled house and senate will likely hit the ground running on a budget resolution in January. Large cuts to medicaid would create serious problems for state governments who would not be able to fill in the gap, she said, noting that such cuts would have a deep impact on America’s aging population.
the cuts will be back-loaded to play out over a 10-year period, noted the researcher. “Congress is usually very good at thinking about ways to structure these kinds of cuts so that the pain is not immediately felt.”
New red tape New red tape is likely to be added, delaying enrollment for eligible people and their children. health care providers who see a lot of low-wage workers, particularly those in rural communities could very likely face cuts in reimbursement, said Alker. “these cuts will be very hard for providers to absorb. so all of these different groups — children, seniors, people with disabilities, low-wage workers — will be put at risk if we see substantial cuts to medicaid,” she said.
medicaid is very popular with voters, polling right behind medicare, one of the federal government’s most popular programs. “Voters don’t want to see big cuts to medicaid. this election was about cost concerns that families have, and they certainly don’t want to be paying more health care costs,” said Alker.
Project 2025 several of the proposals in Project 2025 — expected to be trump’s playbook for his 2nd term in office — would cause irreparable harm to the health and well-being of children, said Alvarez of the Children’s Partnership.
“Children absolutely need healthcare services and the security that coverage like medicaid or medi-Cal in California provides. But they also require a safety net and access to services that include nutrition, economic supports, and more,” she said, noting that the Children’s health Insurance Program, the supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, temporary Assistance for Needy families, and even school lunch programs are at risk for being cut or eliminated.
sNAP, also known as food stamps, provides support to 40 million people. “It’s our nation’s first line of defense against hunger,” said Alvarez, adding that the incoming administration has proposed $4 billion in cuts to the program over 5 years. “this is at a time when grocery prices have increased 24% between 2020 and 2023, and wages have not increased proportionately,” she said.
Public charge the trump administration will likely end the Low Income home energy Assistance Program, also known as LIheAP, which assists low-income families with their energy bills, said Alvarez. she also expressed concern that funding for the Women, Infants, and Children program — WIC — would be reduced.
families eligible for federal health support are likely to disenroll themselves, as they did with trump’s 1st administration, for fear of the public charge rule, said Alvarez. trump attempted to invoke public charge during his first term, threatening to deny adjustment of immigration status, if the applicant had availed of federal benefits. he created a chilling effect in the immigrant community, said Alvarez.
Impoundment is unconstitu-
tional Kogan of CBPP explained another seldom-used process known as impoundment, which allows the President to simply stop the flow of funds already approved by Congress. he stated that impoundment is unconstitutional. trump hinted at his intent to use impoundment during several campaign rallies. “We’re going to bring back presidential impoundment authority, which nobody knows what it is. But it allows the president to go out and cut things and save a fortune for our country,” he said, as reported by NPr Kogan first began researching the legalities of impoundment 52 years ago, as former President richard Nixon used the process to deny funds to social welfare programs. Nixon faced nine lawsuits and lost all of them.
In 1974, Congress approved the Impoundment Control Act, attempting to limit similar presidential actions. President must obey congress “much of the public discussion of impoundment is very confused or often just plain wrong,” said Kogan. “the key takeaway is that presidents have never had the general authority to impound funding enacted into law by Congress, and Congress couldn’t even grant such authority to the president if it wanted to.” first, the Us Constitution does not grant the president the right to impound funds. It is just the opposite. the Constitution says that Congress decides what to spend money on and how much, and that the president’s job is to ‘take care that the laws be faithfully executed.’” he said.
In 1996, Congress approved the Line Item Veto Act, which gave Presidents the authority to make selective vetoes of line items within appropriations bills. A line item veto, effectively an impoundment, would go into effect unless Congress wrote a new law to forbid it. But the supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the Act was unconstitutional.
“I worry about the types of cuts that Congress might make, taking away or reducing health care, food assistance, education aid, or housing support for some or tens of millions of people. But it is Congress’s job to write the budget laws and the President’s job to faithfully follow those budget laws. this is not optional,” said Kogan. (Sunita Sohrabji/Ethnic Media Services)
Federal judge halts Dreamers’ brand-new access to ACA enrollment in 19 states
by Julie Appleby KFF Health Newa
A feDerAL judge in North Dakota has ruled in favor of 19 states that challenged a Biden administration rule allowing — for the first time — enrollment in Affordable Care Act coverage by people brought to the U.s. as children without immigration paperwork, known as “Dreamers.” the move effectively bars those who have qualified for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program in those 19 states from enrolling in or getting subsidies for ACA plans. It does not appear to affect enrollment or coverage in other states, lawyers following the case said tuesday, December 10. the Biden administration is likely to appeal, although a Centers for medicare & medicaid services representative said in an email that the agency would not comment on the litigation. While an appeal may be filed quickly, a final decision may not occur before the incoming trump administration takes office. “they could take a different position on the litigation,” said Zachary Baron, a legal expert at Georgetown Law, who helps manage the o’Neill Institute health Care Litigation tracker.
In the meantime, it is not clear what will happen to Dreamer enrollees in the 19 states whose coverage has already started or begins early next year, although the judge’s ruling does not say it is retroactive, Baron noted. the case was filed in August in U.s. District Court for the District of North Dakota. Previously, the federal government estimated that about 100,000 uninsured people out of the half-million DACA recipients might sign up starting Nov. 1, the sign-up season start date in all states except Idaho. the Biden administration rule,
finalized in may, clarified that those who qualify for DACA would be considered “lawfully present” for the purposes of enrolling in plans under the ACA, which are open to American citizens and what are called “lawfully present” immigrants.
In granting a preliminary injunction and stay, U.s District Judge Daniel traynor, who was appointed in 2019 by thenPresident Donald trump, noted in his monday ruling that the plaintiffs were likely to win on the merits of their argument. states challenging the ACA rule say it will cause administrative and resource burdens as more people enroll, and that it will encourage additional people to remain in the U.s. when they don’t have permanent legal authorization. In addition to Kansas and North Dakota, the states that joined the lawsuit are Alabama, Arkansas, florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, missouri, montana, Nebraska, New hampshire, ohio, south Carolina, south Dakota, tennessee, texas, and Virginia.
“Judge traynor’s ruling is both disappointing and wrong on the law,” said Nicholas espíritu, a deputy legal director of the National Immigration Law Center, in an emailed statement.
“While we study the court’s
ruling to evaluate the next steps in this case, we will continue to fight on behalf of our clients and hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients who have been waiting over a decade to access life-sustaining care under the Affordable Care Act.” DACA was established through executive action in June 2012 by President Barack obama, protecting from deportation and providing work authorization to some unauthorized residents brought to the U.s. as children by their families. It had certain requirements, including that they arrived before June 2007 and had completed high school, were attending school, or were serving in the military. Before the injunction, 19 other states and the District of Columbia filed a brief in support of the Biden administration rule. Led by New Jersey, those states include many in the east and West, including California, Colorado, Nevada, New mexico, New York, oregon, and Washington. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.
But I feel called for this by my community. We [filipinos] are the secondlargest Asian population in southern California and yet we haven’t had a council member ever is wild to me,” Jurado told the Asian Journal in an interview in
“I’ve always been an
council regulations, Jurado’s term will be four years. As a housing rights attorney, Jurado has said that creating permanent solutions to LA’s long-existing housing crisis — while combatting gentrification — is one of her priorities.n
Report: 31% increase in Los Angeles County...
largely due to the CoVID-19 pandemic.
L.A. County’s hate crime report only comprises of incidents reported to law enforcement. Asian and Pacific Islanders (API) are among the least likely to report hate crimes because of “linguistic and cultural barriers, immigration status, unfamiliarity with the criminal justice system and fear that reporting hate crimes could bring retaliation or unwanted publicity,” according to LACChr “hate crimes don’t just target individuals — they harm entire communities,” said Los Angeles County Board of supervisors Chair Kathryn Barger. “they are an attack on the very fabric of who we are, and the shared values that unite us. that’s why this report is so important — it’s more than just data.”
the largest groups of victims in the anti-Asian category were Chinese (37%), followed by Korean (24%), Indians (12%), and Japanese (8%).
Additionally, 58% of these victims were male and 42% were female. regarding the incidents themselves, simple assault was the most common mode of hate at 44%, followed by vandalism (19%), intimidation (18%), and aggravated assault (13%). overall, across all surveyed demographic, reported hate crimes spiked 45% in 2023, from 930 in 2022 to 1,350 in 2023 — the most reported hate crimes since the commission has been recording hate crime statistics.
Black individuals constituted for 49% of the hate crime victims who were targeted because of their race. the county saw 320 anti-Black crimes, which is the
any type of services when somebody is socially unstable, has psychiatric illness and or substance use disorder,” said one provider. “housing, medical
highest number ever recorded. Disturbingly, the county saw a 125% jump in anti-transgender crimes. of the 99 crimes in this area, 97% of them were violent. Crimes targeting specific religions spiked 90%, with antiJewish incidents also reaching a historic high of 272 total reports. 2023 also saw the highest number of reported homophobic crimes — a 48% overall increase — and 73% of these victims were gay men.
“Although the numbers reported today are unprecedented for multiple communities throughout LA County, they signal that more people are coming forward to report hate crimes and are refusing to accept the normalization of hate,” said helen Chin, president of the LA County Commission on human relations. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)
The Biden administration is likely to appeal, although a Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services representative said in an email that the agency would
Dateline PhiliPPines
Climate change intensified back-to-back typhoons in the Philippines — study
mANILA — human-induced climate change fuelled a rare string of back-to-back typhoons that battered the Philippines this year and boosted the chances of powerful storms making landfall, a new study said on thursday, December 12. five typhoons and a tropical storm hit the Philippines in a 23day period across october and November, killing more than 170 people and causing at least $235 million in damage, according to local authorities.
About 20 big storms and typhoons hit the southeast Asian nation or its surrounding waters each year, killing scores of people. however, it is rare for multiple major weather events to hit over such a short period.
to assess the role of climate change in the string of storms, scientists from the World Weather Attribution (WWA) network used modelling to compare weather patterns in today's world against a hypothetical world without human-induced warming.
"our results show that conditions conducive to the development of consecutive typhoons in this region have been enhanced by global warming," they said in a study published late thursday.
the chance of multiple major typhoons making landfall will continue to increase as long as we continue to burn fossil fuels." the research, which uses a peer-reviewed methodology, found climate change made the conditions that formed and fuelled the typhoons twice as likely. Globally, the number of tropical cyclones is not increasing significantly. however, warmer seas are helping fuel an increasing number of strong storms and a warmer atmosphere holds more moisture, which results in storms that drop more rain.
'Difficult to recover' the study found that the warmer climate makes it 25 percent more likely that at least three Category 3-5 typhoons will make landfall in the Philippines in a year. such consecutive extreme events make it difficult for populations to recover," the scientists warned. And the world's current warming trajectory puts the Philippines on course for even worse effects, the study said. tropical storm trami, considered by Philippines civil defence officials as the deadliest storm to hit the country this year,
submerged hundreds of villages in the northern Philippines and displaced more than half a million residents.
super typhoon man-yi, which brought havoc to Catanduanes province last month, also caused a province-wide power outage that authorities are still struggling to rectify.
"While it is unusual to see so many typhoons hit the Philippines in less than a month, the conditions that gave rise to these storms are increasing as the climate warms," said Ben Clarke, a researcher at Imperial College London's Centre for environmental Policy.
the study warned that the repeated storms created a "perpetual state of insecurity", with about 13 million people affected by at least three of the extreme weather systems.
the Philippines needs major investment to tackle the challenges it faces from climate change, the scientists said.
"But of course funding adaptation isn't enough to protect the Philippines from climate change," said friederike otto, the scientist who leads WWA.
"Unless the world stops burning fossil fuels, typhoons will continue to intensify." (Philstar. com)
ago, the
New AFP officers urged: Be steadfast in defending country
by Catherine s. Valente ManilaTimes.net
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. on friday, December 13 urged the new officers of the Armed forces of the Philippines (AfP) to not waver in defending the country in the face of "evolving threats and modern warfare."
In his speech during the AfP major services officer Candidate Course (ms oCC) joint graduation ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City, the president expressed confidence the new officers would stay true to their calling to defend the country and maintain peace.
"Your graduation day today signifies the culmination of your determination, sacrifice, and hard work to overcome the challenges of becoming an officer of the Armed forces of the Philippines. this marks the beginning of your role to ensure the defense of our nation and the safety of all filipinos," marcos said. the president likewise recognized the graduates who received awards and served as inspiration to their fellow officer candidates. may these awards encourage you to excel in your duties and become even more dedicated to serving our beloved Philippines.
Your achievements and success are your contributions to nationbuilding," marcos said.
"Let this be your guiding principle as you step forward: In the face of evolving threats and modern warfare, innovation, technical expertise, and leadership rooted in service will be your most powerful weapons," he said. the president's statement came after the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) reported that several Chinese Navy ships were involved in incidents of harassment in scarborough shoal or Bajo de masinloc. u PAGE A7
MARKET VISIT. Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. (in vest), together with Pasay City Mayor Imelda Calixto Rubiano (2nd from left),
OPiniOn Features
Why meddle in a House
mandate?
The impending return from an Indonesian jail of a Filipino migrant worker tricked into being a drug mule is a spot of good news amid the toxic political scuffle of recent weeks.
the marcos administration announced over the weekend that, following high-level talks and negotiations, Indonesia has agreed to transfer mary Jane Veloso to Philippine custody after almost 15 years on death row. the mother of two was sentenced to death on drug charges after 2.6 kilograms of heroin was found in her luggage in 2010. she narrowly escaped execution in 2015 after last-minute appeals from the Aquino administration, which had arrested and prosecuted for syndicated estafa two individuals involved in recruiting Veloso and slipping drugs in her suitcase without her knowledge.
In Jakarta, Yusril Ihza mahendra, Indonesia’s coordinating minister for law, human rights, immigration, and corrections, clarified that Veloso was not being released from her sentence; only that Indonesia had agreed to send her back to the Philippines “as a prisoner.”
Not an acquittal
“[I]t is not an acquittal, not a pardon,” Yusril said, adding that certain conditions must be met, including recognition of Indonesia’s final court ruling. “once she returns to her country and continues her sentence there, the responsibility for her rehabilitation shifts to her home country,” he added.
the agreement to repatriate Veloso was “reciprocal,” he said: “If one day Indonesia asks for its citizens jailed in the Philippines to be returned, they must consider it.” A permanent ban on Veloso’s return to Indonesia was also part of the deal.
While no date for Veloso’s return has been set, with Philippine officials saying it might happen before Christmas, the prospect has been widely hailed.
CLeArLY the recent passage of a U.s. Congress house resolution serves as a strong statement reinforcing the longstanding friendship, mutual commitment to security and economic partnership between the Philippines and the United states. house resolution 837 was co-sponsored by our friends from both sides of the aisle –Democratic Congressman Bobby scott of Virginia and republican Congressman James moylan of Guam who are both co-chairs of the U.s.-Philippines friendship Caucus – and it reaffirms the United states’ “unwavering commitment” to invoke the 1951 U.s.-Philippines mutual Defense treaty if there is an armed attack in the south China sea against Philippine assets, including those of the Philippine Coast Guard. the bipartisan resolution also
President marcos has expressed “heartfelt gratitude” to Indonesia’s newly elected President Prabowo subianto for his “goodwill,” while the Commission on human rights (Chr) commended the initiative of Philippine authorities “in pursuing justice beyond our own territorial bounds.”
Victim of circumstances for sure, as mr. marcos said in a statement, Veloso must be held accountable under Indonesian law and the Philippines must respect its legal jurisdiction on her case. But given that Veloso, as the president himself described her, is “a victim of circumstances,” the possibility of clemency is an option that he must seriously consider.
It is a call echoed by the ecumenical Bishops forum, a fellowship of Catholic and Protestant bishops, who see Veloso as the “symbol” of overseas filipino workers (ofWs) and the myriad suffering they endure “at the hands of merciless persons who take [advantage] of their gullibility while seeking overseas employment.”
While mr. marcos mulls the grant of clemency that only he can decide on, justice officials have assured Veloso’s family that she would not be detained in the same facilities where her illegal recruiters are currently serving their sentence. the family had earlier expressed fears of retaliation from the syndicate behind her plight amid previous threats to their safety. It is a well-considered move, as this ensures that Veloso can finally testify against these felons for qualified human trafficking in a long overdue court case. At the same time, as the Chr noted, the government must uphold the Bangkok rules on the treatment of women prisoners, and “actualize” the efforts needed toward the reformation and possible
calls on the Philippines and the U.s. to “begin joint patrols in the south China sea” and also expressed firm objection to China’s “false sovereignty claims.” the resolution further stated that it welcomes the swift implementation of the enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and “foster a free and open IndoPacific for all.”
“As the only currently serving member of Congress with filipino ancestry, and as co-chair of the U.s.-Philippines friendship Caucus, I am proud to see our bipartisan resolution passed by the house,” Congressman scott said, stressing that the resolution reaffirms the important partnership between the two nations and makes it clear that the U.s. “will stand firmly” with its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.
through the passage of the resolution, the U.s house of representatives has “sent a clear message to our friends in the Philippines: we will protect you,” said Congressman moylan, who called out China for continuing to “harass citizens of
the Philippines through various means, including pressurized water cannons, ship ramming and maritime militias.”
It goes without saying that the Philippines, for its part, will continue to strengthen and upgrade its defense capabilities. to this end, our military modernization program is in full swing, with help from our friends and partners, among them Japan that plans to provide coastal surveillance radar to enhance the Philippines’ maritime security capabilities through its official security Assistance program.
the Philippine Coast Guard is also set to acquire 40 fast patrol craft (fPC) funded through official development assistance from france, with 20 of these vessels to be built locally. With the first vessel expected for delivery by early 2026, these fPC would boost the capabilities of the PCG in search and rescue operations, environmental protection, disaster response, addressing illegal activities and maintaining our maritime sovereignty.
the United states Congress
reintegration of Veloso into mainstream society.
Cautionary tale
Veloso’s case is a cautionary tale on how the government could be more vigilant in safeguarding the rights of our ofWs wherever they are deployed. As often the case, local authorities only learned of her plight upon her conviction; meanwhile, with the language barrier and ignorance of the laws of her host country, she had unwittingly incriminated herself into a death sentence.
A stronger monitoring mechanism, a hotline, and a legal outreach system should be put in place to help ofWs reach out to Philippine representatives when they get into trouble. to its credit, the former overseas Workers Welfare Administration had sent an Indonesian legal team, emissaries, and
recently approved $540 million of long-term military financing for the Philippines. this amount is just the initial tranche as we continue to work on additional funding. But as promised by our own Congress, we intend to put up our own funds as promised by President marcos. We have been clear that we cannot be purely dependent on our allies for our military modernization program. our legislators have given assurances of support through budget allocations as well as legislation, recognizing the critical importance of the AfP modernization program in boosting our country’s defense and security capabilities, and in asserting our sovereignty. We also had productive discussions with the house of representatives’ Deputy speakers, tonypet Albano and raymond Democrito mendoza, who were in Washington, D.C. for the Parliamentary Intelligencesecurity forum (PI-sf) where international parliamentarians and officials from over 100 countries hold discussions and listen to experts on topics
translators posthaste to help extricate Veloso once news of her conviction reached local shores. But even before they leave, ofWs should be thoroughly warned about possible deception, scams, and red flags they should be wary about from their recruiters, dubious characters who may even be their relatives and neighbors, as in Veloso’s case. A briefing on their host countries’ laws and legal system would be helpful as well, and so would a pamphlet listing the services and assistance they can expect from Philippine representatives in consular offices. Veloso’s return, possibly before Christmas, is a gift of hope that magnifies the spirit of the season. With clemency on the table, it becomes witness to the grace of second chances for victims of unscrupulous fraudsters. (inquirer.net)
that include counter-terrorism financing, cybersecurity, predatory foreign investments and other relevant issues.
In my remarks during the forum held at the historic Kennedy Caucus room of the russell senate office Building, I drew focus to the Indo-Pacific where discussions on many issues and flashpoints are of great consequence to us all.
While the first forum in 2014 focused on terrorism and unconventional warfare, the scope has broadened since then with the realization that all security threats are interrelated and intertwined. Undoubtedly, the international security sphere has undergone seismic shifts in the last decade. As I told PIsf chairman robert Pittenger, parliamentary cooperation will be key in addressing challenges, which is why we are looking forward to hosting the next PI-sf in manila next year. for the Philippines, one security issue has been top of mind at all levels: the south China sea. from the president down to our fisherfolk, filipinos
are acutely aware of the dire implications should rising tensions continue unchecked in this most important waterway.
During my interview with Larry Luxner for his article titled “Xi’s aggression in south China sea solidifies U.s.Philippine relations” published by The Washington Diplomat, I categorically stated that China’s sweeping claims in the south China sea on the basis of its “nine-dash line” – which is now “10-dash line” – is “totally unacceptable,” reiterating that the 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling favoring the Philippines is the basis of our claim.
I am confident that even with the incoming trump administration, more and more like-minded nations will continue to express support for the Philippines in our efforts to defend the rulesbased international order in the maritime sphere, specifically in the south China sea – with our position firmly anchored on the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea and the u PAGE A7
the incoming trump administration in the U.s. has promised that it would be radically different from the Biden administration. the primary concern of the Philippines is whether the foreign policy towards Asia and China will remain the same or will take a different direction. In other foreign policy issues, President-elect trump has already indicated he will not follow the same direction as Biden. he has said that he wants an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine. this means that russia will be allowed to retain part of the Ukrainian territory that it is now occupying. President Zelensky of Ukraine has repeated several times that they will never negotiate while russia holds some of their territory. however, the United states has been the biggest
source of military assistance for Ukraine. If this aid is cut off, the question is whether the european nations will be able to provide the necessary aid as a substitute for this assistance. If the eU is unable to fill in this vacuum, then Zelensky might have no choice except to negotiate while russian troops continue to occupy Ukrainian territory. this will be a clear deviation from the present American policy of providing Ukraine the support that it needs. In the middle east, trump has recently said that he does not intend to interfere in syria. In fact, he has gone further by announcing that the events in syria are of no interest to the United states. these are examples of the United states seemingly following an isolationist policy under trump. the question is whether this isolationism will also be the policy in Asia, especially with China.
It is true that trump and his new secretary of state marco rubio have publicly stated that
they consider China as the major competitor of the United states. the question is whether they will be willing to confront any territorial challenge from China. It should be noted that China’s territorial claims in Asia are challenging U.s. allies in Asia, from Japan to the Philippines to India and Vietnam. the potential flash point is, of course, taiwan. China has been threatening to attack taiwan. so far, a certain state of equilibrium has existed between Beijing and taipei. the biggest question is how the United states would react to a Chinese invasion or even a blockade of the island nation.
China’s military modernization has been impressive and is continuing to accelerate. this country now has the largest navy in the world with over 370 ships and submarines. China’s nuclear arsenal is also growing. this potential for conflict has become more dangerous with the addition of an arms race in revolutionary technology. this includes the use
of artificial intelligence, quantum computing, synthetic biology, robotics, advances in space and others.
In 2017, Xi Jinping made a speech in which he declared that China would surpass the United states in these new technologies by 2035. the United states must now face the possibility that it could lose the technological race to its main adversary. the early signs of trump’s China policy show that it is aware of the challenges that China poses for its national security. however, the China challenge is increasingly complicated by its growing cooperation with russia, Iran and North Korea. this is one aspect that we will have to wait and see how the United states can develop closer relations with Putin and russia and, at the same time, consider China as its main adversary.
As far as the Philippines is concerned, the main question is to what extent the trump administration would be willing
to act on the mutual Defense treaty. there was a time when the United states was willing to go to war in the struggle against communism. I still remember when President John f. Kennedy said that their country was willing to “pay any price, bear any burden, in the defense of freedom.” the United states is a different country today. the isolationist message of trump seems to be more acceptable to a nation exhausted by several decades of international leadership and military conflict. this period has seen the rise of populism, isolationism and protectionism all over the world, including the United states.
Whatever is the direction of the U.s. foreign policy, the Philippines will have no choice except to continue to assert its sovereign rights, especially in the West Philippine sea. It must reinforce its alliance with neighboring countries who are also victims of China’s aggression. these countries include Japan, south
Korea, taiwan, Vietnam, malaysia and Australia. even countries in europe are potential allies now that they have become aware of the potential danger of China’s imperialist expansion. the Philippines can also learn lessons from Ukraine: how a small nation can successfully fight a superpower. When russia invaded Ukraine, it thought that the war would be over in three days. But it has now been more than two years and the Ukrainians have remained unconquered. While we hope that the Western world, including the United states, will continue to support our fight for our territorial sovereignty, we must learn the lessons from countries like Ukraine, taiwan and Vietnam – that we must continue the struggle against China’s aggression. (Philstar.com) * * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Marcos to sign 2025 national budget before Christmas – PCO
by luiSA cAbAtO Inquirer.net
PresIDeNt ferdinand marcos Jr. will sign the 2025 national budget before December 25, the Presidential Communications office said on thursday, December 12.
“following standard practice, the Congressapproved national budget bill will be transmitted to the office of the President for review,” it said in a statement.
the national budget for 2025 will be signed before Christmas Day,” the office added.
Last Wednesday, December 11, the Bicameral Conference Committee approved the committee report on the proposed P6.325 trillion national budget for next year. It contains the reconciled and consolidated versions from the senate and the house of representatives. the senate and house contingents have yet to discuss the changes they made to the budget in detail. n
mANILA — Department of education secretary sonny Angara and teachers’ groups have decried Congress’ decision to cut the Deped’s 2025 budget by P12 billion.
“sad to learn that both houses of Congress have decided to decrease by P12 billion the budget the president proposed for Deped for 2025. this reverses a trend in recent years where Congress added even more to the education budget, save for one year during the pandemic,” Angara on thursday, December 12 posted on X, formerly twitter. the bicameral conference committee on Wednesday, December 11 reduced to P737 billion, from P748.65 billion, the Deped’s 2025 funding allocation in the reconciled version of the General Appropriations Bill (GAB). of the amount cut, P10 billion will be slashed from the Deped’s computerization program, which aims to provide public schools with gadgets, equipment, software and training for teachers and students.
“Infrastructure is important, but so is investing in our people and human capital. the digital divide will widen,” Angara lamented. those who do not have
computers will find it hard to catch up,” he said on friday, December 13 on the sidelines of his visit to public schools in Iloilo City. the Deped will explore partnerships with the private sector and non-government organizations to provide technology to public schools, Angara said. of the P6.352-trillion national budget for 2025, P1.1 trillion will be allocated to the Department of Public Works and highways.
“Investing in infrastructure is very important, that’s why we have increased the funds of different agencies in relation to this,” sen. Grace Poe said in her sponsorship speech before the bicam approved the GAB’s reconciled version.
Poe pointed out that despite the budget cut, the Deped’s 2025 budget increased from this year’s P715.3 billion. the utilization rate of the computerization program is at 50 percent in 2023 and 11.92 percent as of June 2024, Poe said, citing the Commission on Audit report. the Deped budget for teaching supplies allowance has been doubled, from P4.825 billion in 2024 to P9.948 billion next year, she noted. the teachers’ Dignity Coalition said the budget cut
will widen the digital divide among students and exacerbate the learning crisis following the CoVID-19 pandemic.
the Alliance of Concerned teachers (ACt) said the budget cut was alarming.
“We’re seeing suspicious increases in presidential and congressional pork barrel and unprogrammed appropriations. these discretionary funds conveniently balloon as we approach the 2025 national elections. the timing and nature of these realignments clearly suggest political motivations rather than genuine concern for public welfare,” ACt chairman Vladimer Quetua said. the education budget must be increased equivalent to six percent of the country’s gross domestic product, as recommended by international standards, he noted. sen. sherwin Gatchalian said Congress did its best in allocating scarce resources and reconciling differing versions of the budget. senate President francis escudero did not reply to The STAr’s request for comment. sen. Pia Cayetano said she was disappointed by the budget cuts suffered by the Department of health (Doh), Deped, Commission on higher education and University of the Philippines. n
Like-minded countries fully support...
2016 Arbitral Award.
While we will keep pursuing preventive diplomacy and dialogue, keeping communication channels open, our policy will remain in exposing the dangerous maneuvers, aggression and harassment
by the China Coast Guard and maritime militia vessels in the West Philippine sea. It is a mistake for some nations to think might makes them right. In the end, it is right that will make might – when you have more and more nations joining the call for what is clearly right.
(Philstar.com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
New AFP officers urged: Be...
on Dec. 4, China Coast Guard and naval ships fired water cannon and rammed Philippine Coast Guard and Bureau of fisheries and Aquatic resources (BfAr) vessels in the vicinity of Bajo de masinloc — a traditional filipino fishing ground within the Philippines' exclusive economic zone (eeZ).
Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the sea (Unclos), an eeZ extends about 370 kilometers from a country's coast.
on Nov. 30, a number of Chinese Navy helicopters hovered over filipino fishermen in the West Philippine sea, prompting the PCG to deploy its ships teresa magbanua and Cape engaño to the area.
Despite the acts of intimidation, the president on tuesday, December 10 said the country would continue to perform its mission and "will never be part of an escalation in the situation in the West Philippine sea.
In his speech, marcos also reiterated the strong commitment of his administration to modernize the military. to all the members of the AfP, be assured that this Administration remains committed to transforming our AfP into a world-class force that is a source of national pride and national security," he said. marcos said the transformation
Gets namin ang aming customer mga Pilipino
of the AfP would begin with investments in its talents, specialists and leaders who would bridge the gap between tradition and innovation.
"We will modernize your equipment, enhance your training programs, ensure that you are equipped to face challenges not just of today, but also of the future," he said.
"Because together, we will build an AfP that will stand as a beacon of strength, of alliance, resilience, and technological excellence," marcos said.
the president also acknowledged the trainers, the mentors "who guided all of these graduates on their journey towards becoming officers of the major services of the AfP." this year's major services officers' candidate course graduation has 610 graduates. of the figure, 362 cadets are from the Philippine ArmyKatarakian Class 61-2024, 173 from the Philippine Air forcesigmandigan Class 2024, and 75 from the Philippine Navymangisalakan Class 42-2024. the ms oCC is a one-year program for baccalaureate degree holders to be commissioned as officers in the Philippine Army and Philippine Air forces as second lieutenants. It is also for the Philippine Navy as ensigns. the program includes basic combat and officer training. n
12/14/24
CNs-3877162# AsIAN JoUrNAL (L.A.)
Ian Veneracion leads the ensemble cast of Rein Entertainment’s ‘Drug War’
MANILA — Ian Veneracion
leads the ensemble cast of Rein Entertainment’s upcoming crime action series “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence.” He plays Father Tom Carillo, a priest who finds himself in the middle of the chaos, conflicts and moral complexities surrounding the country’s war on drugs.
From the makers of the awardwinning “Bagman,” the series is inspired by true events that happened during the Philippine war on drugs — a key campaign promise of former Pres. Rodrigo Duterte — which both gripped the nation and gained global attention. Produced by Lino Cayetano, Philip King, and Arlene Cuevas, and written and directed by Shugo Praico, it also stars Romnick Sarmenta, Jane Oineza, Lotlot de Leon, Yayo Aguila, Harvey Bautista, Ryan Eigenmann, Joem Bascon, and Volpi Cup Best Actor John Arcilla in a special appearance.
At the Asia TV Forum and Market (ATF) held over the weekend at Marina Bay Sands, Singapore, “Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence” became the only Filipino content showcased on the main stage of the event. The STAR and other Filipino press outlets were given a sneak peek of the pilot episode of the series slated for release in 2025. Now on its 25th year, the ATF is considered the region’s leading international content market for buying, selling, financing, distribution and coproduction.
they uncover dark secrets from the drug war in the Philippines, Tom must confront his own past apathy to seek redemption and bring justice for a life lost too soon.”
For the main star, Ian took on the project — his second with Rein Entertainment after Nanahimik Ang Gabi” — because the material also resonates on a deeply personal level.
“I think most of us know someone who knows someone who has been, you know, part of that, the stories there,” Ian shared during a Q&A session at the ATF.
“Of course, this project has a lot of different layers, the social aspects of it. But for me, as a Filipino, I’m not really interested in political personalities. I’m interested in policies that have to be put in place, (policies) that are lacking.
Though there have been congressional hearings on EJK and drug war, the producers clarified that the series steers away from the polarizing politics or political debates on it, choosing instead to focus the narrative on the lives that have been caught in the crossfire and have become collateral damage.
The official synopsis reads:
“‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence’ follows Father Tom Carillo, a once-privileged priest who’s lost everything, as he teams up with a guilt-ridden cop, Yana Macabeo (Jane Oineza).
“Together, they fight to expose a deadly conspiracy shrouding the truth behind the mysterious death of Kiko Agustin (Harvey Bautista), a former protégé of Tom’s. As
“And I think for me, as an actor, I had to take this because it’s a very painful story to tell, and it is the story of my people, of our people.”
He also elaborated on his character, Father Tom, saying: “He’s from a privileged background and is a parish priest in a province. He runs a rehabilitation center in the community and encounters this problem… And so it’s very challenging. But I’m also very excited about it.”
The series was shot in contrasting locations — Caliraya Lake’s serene setting and Manila’s gritty slums, where, according to Ian, “real stories took place.” Portraying a priest allowed him to see, particularly the latter set
Lead star Ian Veneracion graces the international launch of ‘Drug War: A Conspiracy of Silence,’ the latest series from the Filipino production outfit Rein Entertainment, at the Asia TV Forum and Market. The 25th edition of the region’s leading international content market for buying, selling, financing, distribution and co-production at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. Photo courtesy of FDCP and Rein
Success story: Triple triumphs scored for client...
Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel (right) was able to earn triple victories for Patrick (left) on an encore episode of Citizen
job and after the aunt was able to provide additional evidence and documents, the Department of Labor approved the labor certification application, and eventually, the immigrant petition for an alien worker was approved.
Patrick was also able to apply for lawful permanent status and was able to
Catriona Gray’s philanthropic legacy
BEFORE being crowned Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray was deeply involved in various charitable initiatives and advocacies. These included HIV awareness, supporting child cleft repair surgery and comprehensive cleft care, and aiding abandoned and traumatized children.
One organization she has worked with extensively since 2016 is Young Focus, a nongovernmental organization that supports children and their families in the Smokey Mountain area of Tondo, Manila. During her reign as Miss Universe, Gray brought significant attention to Young Focus, highlighting its mission and work.
Young Focus emphasizes education as a means to overcome poverty, enrolling children and young adults in school. The organization began in 2008 with 225 beneficiaries in Smokey Mountain. Today, it supports 936 beneficiaries.
Despite the surge in support and awareness for Young Focus during Gray’s Miss Universe journey, momentum eventually waned. To get more support, Gray organized a fundraising event to benefit the organization.
The fundraising event, titled “Catriona Gray’s Legacy Ball,” was held on Nov. 22 at the City of Dreams Manila ballroom in Parañaque City. The private event was a success, attended by donors and invited guests.
“My heart is so full. I’m incredibly grateful to everyone here supporting Young Focus. Seeing so many people donate has been so fulfilling. This journey has been long, but it continues to grow. I’m super happy — it’s so rewarding,” Gray said in an interview after the ball.
While Gray didn’t set a specific fundraising goal, she noted that donations and pledges were coming in steadily leading up to
Chelsea Manalo excited to come home after Miss Universe 2024 stint
by armiN P. adiNa Inquirer.net
MISS Universe-Asia Chelsea Manalo cannot wait to celebrate her victory with the Filipino people more than a month since she left for her fateful international pageant journey.
The tourism management graduate and model from Bulacan returned to the country on Monday, Dec. 9, from Los Angeles in the United States where she stayed briefly after the 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
“I’m excited, and looking forward to being around the whole fans again, being with my friends, with my family in the Philippines, and to celebrate the victory, the history that we have, the title that we have for the Philippines as Miss Universe Asia,” Manalo said. She also said that she already misses Filipino food and the country’s weather, as well as the warmth of the people. “Our culture is really different, being Filipino. Now I can feel, and be more proud to say, how Filipinos are, what they always tell about us,” she said.
“In Miss Universe, a lot of girls told me they’ve been to the Philippines, they love the Filipino people, they love our culture. And now I understand why. That is why I miss our weather, our food, and of course, how hospitable we are towards people. I miss those,” Manalo continued.
The Miss Universe title may have gone to Denmark’s Victoria Kjær Theilvig, but Manalo posted history for the Philippines as the first-ever recipient of the Miss Universe Asia title. “It’s such an honor, not just for the country, but
for me to represent the Philippines.
I hope I did everybody proud,” she said.
“It’s always been about giving back to the people. It feels good because more doors have been opened to women who want to pursue pageantry in a different way, that it’s not all about how we look like, but rather our personality, our intentions, our advocacy,” Manalo said of her history-making feats, being the first black woman to represent the Philippines in Miss Universe and snagging the first continental title for Asia in the international pageant.
Manalo said that as Miss Universe-Asia, she will travel with Theilvig and the other continental queens to different countries for a year to promote the organization and its projects.
“If we have projects in different continents as well, we can traveal with the other queens. I did hear that we will be traveling to Thailand
next year, there’s no month yet, and also in Europe around May or June,” she shared. Also crowned as continental queens alongside Manalo are Peru’s Tatiana Calmell as Miss Universe Americas, Nigeria’ Chidimma Adetshina as Miss Universe Africa and Oceania, and Finland’s Matilda Wirtavuori as Miss Universe Europe and Middle East. Manalo also added that she is looking forward to more projects with the Miss Universe Philippines organization when she returns home. “With their advocacy, I’m pretty much excited to work with that as well,” she said.
The national organization will hold a homecoming parade for Manalo before Christmas. She is also expected to appear for a victory press conference, and a string of media guestings upon her arrrival.
Why Nadine Lustre is fascinated with horror
by Charmie Joy PaguloNg Philstar.com
MANILA — Is Nadine Lustre the new horror queen?
“I’m honored. But two films pa lang naman kasi and I feel like it’s too early. I don’t know. But if you want to call me horror queen, it’s OK. Thank you. Haha!”
Nadine reacted when asked about it during the presscon and special cinema screening of “Nokturno” at the Gateway Cinema 18, powered by Gomo. Nokturno” director Mikhail Red and Nadine’s coactor Wilbert Ross were also present at the event. Nokturno,” now streaming on Prime Video, is Nadine’s second starrer horror film following the 2022 Metro Manila Film Festival horror flick “Deleter,” also helmed by direk Mikhail. “Deleter” bagged the Best Picture, Best Director (Mikhail Red), Best Actress in a Leading Role (Nadine), Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Visual Effects and Best Sound awards at the MMFF.
“Nokturno,” on the other hand, is produced by Viva Films, Evolve Studios and Studio Viva, which also stars Bea Binene, Eula Valdez and JJ Quilantang.
Nadine takes on the lead role of Jamie, an overseas worker who comes home from Dubai following the sudden and violent death of her sister, Joana (Bea).
Despite being distant from her hometown and estranged from her mother, Lilet (Eula), she feels compelled to return to comfort and protect her traumatized younger brother, Julius (JJ).
What begins as a homecoming soon becomes a fight as Jamie discovers a curse to her family linked to the “Kumakatok”— mysterious figures who knock on doors in the dead of the night. Anyone who answers their call is doomed to die within three days, or lose a loved one in their place — a tragic end that Joana could not escape.
As Jamie digs deeper into her family’s dark history, she must confront not only the supernatural curse but also her mother’s deteriorating mental state, which hides long-buried secrets.
As the “Kumakatok” close in, will Jamie find a way to heal and protect her broken family or will the curse claim them all?
Nadine made sure that her character as Jamie in Nokturno” veers away from her previous role as Lyra in “Deleter.”
Direk Mikhail gave Nadine references as a peg for her role in her newest film. “From ‘Deleter’ to Nokturno,’ magkasunod lang siya na taon so I think in a way, I need to find a way na magkaiba si Lyra and Jamie. I took note of Lyra’s nuances and iniisip ko, ‘OK, these are the things na hindi ko pwedeng gawin
this time around.’”
Filming “Nokturno” was more challenging for Nadine than “Deleter” because it involved different elements.
Nadine explained, “Honestly, I feel like yung ‘Deleter’ (easier) because sobrang contained yung location. We don’t go out often from the location. Our scenes are usually in the office so I think it’s easier. But for ‘Nokturno,’ ang daming elements na kasama — like the rain, scenes outside. Shooting is a bit different.” She mentioned different conditions that occurred while they were filming — like the weather condition and crowd control — which made it more challenging to shoot. But what piqued Nadine’s interest in doing horror movies is its “interesting process” in executing the scenes. “My favorite genre is horror. So aside from manonood ako ng horror movies, matatakot ako sa horror movies, at least this time around I’m part of the story. And it’s fun because the process is very interesting. I mean aside naman from the usual filmmaking process, for ‘Nokturno,’ marami ding prosthetics. Gustong-gusto ko rin pag sinasabi ni direk na yung wala kaming kabatuhan ng eksena,” she said. “Alam mo yung mga scenes kasi yung tinatakot namin yung sarili namin just to bring
scene
So it’s very interesting for me. And I really
setting. It’s a normal setting, for example, ‘Deleter,’ is in an
Pinoy.
Nadine Lustre with co-actor Wilbert Ross and director Mikhail Red at the presscon and special screening of ‘Nokturno,’ now streaming on Prime Video.
Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@ catriona_gray u PAGE B3
Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo. Photo Courtesy of Miss Universe Philippines Organization
A new version of Vice Ganda in ‘And The Breadwinner Is...’
by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net
THIS Christmas, Vice Ganda — whose box-office triumphs have all been in the comedy genre — steps into the spotlight with a fresh and emotionally charged role in “And The Breadwinner Is...” An official entry in the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF), the Jun Robles Lana-directed movie goes beyond comedy, tackling the struggles and triumphs of breadwinners with heart and humor.
“And The Breadwinner Is...” revolves around a selfless and confidently beautiful breadwinner named Bambi (Vice) who has committed her entire life as an OFW in Taiwan in order to provide for her dysfunctional family.
When Bambi returns home to reunite with her family after many years, she is greeted with an underwhelming welcome by her loved ones who are burdened with problems and in debt. In the hopes of finally turning their dream life into reality, Bambi gambles on a promising opportunity for a chance to claim P10 million — but it comes with a life-changing price.
Known for his iconic comedic roles, Vice takes on a more nuanced character in this film.
Playing Bambi required stepping out of his comfort zone, but he rose to the challenge, seeking acting workshops and collaborating closely with his co-stars.
“I was fine stepping out of my comfort zone, but my fear was not being able to live up to expectations, so I had to make sure I delivered. That’s why I requested acting workshops with Direk Jun and Tita Malou [de Guzman]. I couldn’t face these brilliant actors armed only with arrogance. I was so insecure, and I thought that was okay. But then I told myself I needed to do something,” admitted Vice.
While Vice’s comedic talent is well-established, drama presented a new terrain.
“I know comedy well — I’ve mastered it. I can do ad-libs. But drama? That’s something new to me, so I needed to start understanding it. I had to learn something so that when I got to the set, I wasn’t relying purely on confidence. It was a humbling experience. From Day 1, I already knew I wasn’t the best on that set, so I had to work on myself to at least keep up with them,” he added.
Director Lana praised Vice’s performance and promised the audience will see the comedian in a new light.
“At first, Vice had some hesitation and fears, knowing she would be working with
exceptionally talented actresses like Gladys Reyes, Eugene Domingo, and Malou de Guzman, and that the film involved intense dramatic scenes. But believe me when I say Vice is a brilliant actor — she just hasn’t fully realized it yet,” Robles Lana noted.
The director drew comparisons to the late Dolphy, emphasizing the unique power comedians bring to dramatic roles.
“When a comedian cries, you witness true devastation. It’s like Tito Dolphy — he didn’t do many dramatic films, but those performances are the ones that stayed with us. Vice possesses that same kind of power. As Bambi, she’s funny and delightful, but at the same time, she’s heartbreaking and deeply moving. Balancing such extreme emotions is no easy feat, and I can honestly say that Vice Ganda delivered and accomplished it with absolute mastery,” he continued.
The drama-comedy movie is a story for and about breadwinners as it explores their joys, pains, struggles, and realizations — a story that according to Vice, is both inspiring and relatable to all Filipinos.
“It’s our story, your story, and surely the story of someone you know and hold dear. It’s not far from home, not far from reality, and not far from what you already know. This story is for every breadwinner who never gives up for their family,” Vice pointed out. Apart from Vice Ganda, “And The Breadwinner Is...” also stars Malou de Guzman, Joel Torre, Jhong Hilario, Gladys Reyes, Maris Racal, Anthony Jennings, Kokoy De Santos, Lassy Marquez, MC Muah, Via Antonio, Kiko Matos, Argus Aspiras, Kulot Caponpon, and Eugene Domingo.
Co-produced by Star Cinema and The IdeaFirst Company, catch “And The Breadwinner Is...” in the 50th MMFF in cinemas nationwide beginning Dec. 25.
Catriona Gray’s philanthropic...
‘Green Bones:’ A tale of redemption and hope
by iza iglesias ManilaTimes.net
FROM the creative minds behind last year’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Best Picture winner “Firefly,” GMA Pictures and GMA Public Affairs present “Green Bones” — a film that promises the story of redemption, hope, and the human spirit.
Co-produced with Brightburn Entertainment and distributed by Columbia Pictures, “Green Bones” is directed by Zig Dulay, the award-winning filmmaker behind “Firefly” and notable TV dramas like “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”
The movie is written by National Artist for Film Ricky Lee and MMFF 2023 Best Screenplay winner Anj Atienza.
“Green Bones” follows the story of soon to be released prisoner Domingo Zamora (Dennis Trillo) who was incarcerated for the murder of his sister. His release is put in jeopardy by newly assigned prison guard Xavier Gonzaga (Ruru Madrid) who makes it his personal mission to keep Zamora behind bars.
Madrid’s character Xavier, jaded from the tragic death of his own sister in a senseless crime, does not believe criminals could hold such a bone in their body. His suspicions about Trillo’s character Dom Zamora are fueled by the latter’s strange behavior inside the
penal complex, even as the prisoner’s reputation is that of an already reformed man.
In the film’s press conference, National Artist Lee shared of the film’s central theme, “This is a film about hope amidst dark times. A movie that shows how, even in the darkest skies, stars will still appear. It tells us that even in a place as condemned as a penal colony, in the battle between good and evil, goodness will always prevail.”
The movie’s title draws from the belief that finding green bones in a person’s remains signifies they were inherently good in life.
For Madrid, this belief deeply resonated with him and became the driving force behind his decision to accept the project for his MMFF debut.
“There’s a saying that if a person is cremated and green bones are found among the ashes, it means they lived
a virtuous life. Personally, just the idea alone is already so meaningful. It makes us reflect on how we live in this world and aspire that, no matter what happens in our lives, we hope to someday leave behind green bones,” Madrid explained.
Meanwhile, Trillo — who is making an MMFF comeback — said with the film’s theme, “Green Bones” is set to inspire audiences this holiday season.
“I really don’t know if there’s scientific evidence that finding green bones in someone’s remains means they were a good person in life. But in this case, it’s not just because our film is called Green Bones — I want to believe in this idea. It serves as a reminder to always do good so that when the time comes, we can achieve green bones in the afterlife. It’s a good reminder to live a virtuous life because this film is about hope,” Trillo said. PAGE B5 and during the event. “Hopefully, it’s a substantial amount. I want to thank our media partners for amplifying Young Focus’s message. If anyone watching or listening — especially companies or schools — wants to get involved, I encourage them to do so,” Gray added. She further expressed hope that the Legacy Ball would become an annual event, potentially benefiting other groups in the future. “It’s a wonderful way to bring people together to give back to the community and make an impact,” she said.
Organized in partnership with Cornerstone Entertainment and directed by John Prats, the event featured music, fashion, and purpose. Performances included G22, P-Pop boy group Yes My Love, and Patrick Quiroz, who opened the show with “You Will Be Found.” Piolo Pascual performed “Till There Was You” and “Be My Lady,” followed by Richard Poon’s rendition of a Christmas medley and “Kahit Maputi Na Ang Buhok Ko.” Meanwhile, Radha also performed as Cornerstone talents — including G22, Perlas Funtanares, Sofia Jarling, Roxie Smith, and Isabel Oli — modeled creations by designers Mak Tumang, Manny Halasan, Russ
Cuevas, Jearson Demavivas, Ulysses Caragayan, and Dia Ali, all close friends of Gray in the fashion industry. Gray herself took the stage to sing “When You Believe” by Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey. In her speech, she emphasized the event’s purpose, “By being here tonight, you are showing these kids that their dreams are worth pursuing. Every child deserves someone to believe in them. When you believe, you help them see how we can overcome obstacles together.” Young Focus provides a holistic approach to child development. Its programs include school sponsorships, catch-up classes for students who have dropped out, nutrition initiatives for families, and training in computer and career skills. The organization also offers counseling and other comprehensive support. For as little as P1,500 per month, individuals can sponsor a child’s education, empowering them to pursue a brighter future.
“It’s a long-term plan to lift children and their families out of poverty. But you have to start somewhere. I trust Young Focus wholeheartedly and have worked with them for eight years. If you want to get involved, I encourage you to do so,” Gray finally said. (ManilaTimes.net)
Dennis Trillo as prisoner Domingo Zamora and Ruru Madrid as prison guard Xavier Gonzaga. YOUTUBE SCREENSHOTS/GMA PICTURES
The cast of ‘And The Breadwinner Is…’ with director Jun Robles Lana (sixth from left) and scriptwriters Daisy Cayanan (second from right) and Jonathan ‘Jumbo’ Albano (rightmost)
Viewers will get to see more than just Vice Ganda’s famed comedic self with many heartfelt moments in Star Cinema and Idea First Company’s MMFF co-production. Photo from ABS-CBN
Sharon Cuneta’s star shines bright in prime time comeback with ‘Saving Grace’
by iza iglesias Inquirer.net
THE country’s “Megastar”
Sharon Cuneta returns to primetime television after a twoyear break with “Saving Grace,” an adaptation of the acclaimed Japanese drama series “Mother.”
Directed by FM Reyes and Dolly Dulu, “Saving Grace” reimagines the beloved Japanese original, which has inspired adaptations in countries such as South Korea, Turkey, Thailand, and France.
In the Philippine version, the series follows the story of Teacher Anna (Julia Montes), who confronts her troubled past while finding her purpose. Her journey takes a dramatic turn when she encounters Grace (Zia Grace), a young girl abused by her mother Sarah (Jennica Garcia) and stepfather Chito (Christian Bables). Determined
The Megastar portrays Miranda Valdez, a public service host and advocate for mothers in the drama series tackling child abuse. Photo from Instagram/@REALLYSHARONCUNETA
to protect Grace, Anna sacrifices her dreams, only to be mistaken as her abductor.
The plot thickens as Sarah turns to Miranda Valdez (Cuneta), a renowned public service host and advocate for
mothers, to help locate her missing daughter. The series also features Janice de Belen as Anna’s mother Helena and Sam Milby as journalist Julius. In an intimate interview, Cuneta shared the challenges of portraying Miranda, a complex character driven by guilt and a relentless pursuit of success. For Cuneta, the role was both demanding and transformative.
“I’ve never played a character like this before,” she revealed. In some scenes where Miranda needs to be sharp or assertive, I took inspiration from Cherie Gil, though with my own approach since she’s in a class of her own,” Cuneta explained.
Drawing inspiration from the revered Cherie Gil’s assertive style, Cuneta added her unique interpretation to Miranda’s personality, “She’s very guarded because she carries a lot of guilt.
Ian Veneracion leads the ensemble...
location, from a different lens.
“As Father Tom, I saw the longing for hope of the people there, the spiritual thirst. It breaks my heart sometimes,” Ian recounted. He shared a moment where he noticed medals hanging in a poor family’s home, triggering emotions he wouldn’t have accessed as himself.
“It was downloading that part of me ‘na di ko pa na-touch before. (When I saw) yung mga nakasabit na medals, it’s like you’ve unlocked this universe or ocean of emotions that you can only unlock from those kinds of perceptions ‘pag ibang tao ka But if you just continue being you, you’ll only have access to the emotions that you feel you have access to.”
The seasoned actor compared this to his role as a corrupt police chief in “Nanahimik ang Gabi,” saying, “If I went there as that character, I would have seen entry points, exit points. But as Father Tom, I saw something else entirely.
“And you can’t go through a character without the emotional journey of the character that you play. So ako na-excite ako kasi naramdaman ko yung lahat
na naramdaman ni Father Tom Carillo at medyo masakit at mabigat.”
One of the most challenging scenes he has filmed so far was a eulogy. He couldn’t rehearse the lines because “I would choke up.”
“I had to request if I could just say the lines during the take,” he admitted.
Playing a priest wasn’t about presenting an idealized figure but exploring the human side, particularly his internal struggles. Hindi yung facade niya in front of the people… I wanted to get into his faith, which is shaken because of things happening.
Kinukwestyon niya, totoo ba, paninindigan ko ba to? The human side of this, I’m more interested in that — more than just the costume, the habits and the rituals. Gusto ko yung sa loob na nangyayari sa kanya,” said Ian who follows an intuitive approach to acting. “I’m not about analyzing things. I go through the emotions and let’s see what happens.”
For him, acting also offers a respite from being himself. “Pardon my vocabulary, but it’s a complete mindf**k. You’re the one manipulating your mind, but you’re also the one being manipulated. I love it because
I get to rest from being myself. I’m so tired of being myself,” he joked.
With over four decades in the industry, Ian continues to find joy in self-discovery through the craft. “I started my career when I was five or six years old, and I’m turning 50 next year. Up to now, I’m still discovering things,” he said. He credited the late director Peque Gallaga for introducing him to the craft side of acting during the film “Hiwaga sa Balete Drive,” where he worked alongside greats like Charito Solis, Gina Alajar and Joel Torre.
“I was a 13-year-old kid. Alam mo sa utak ko talaga, what am I doing here? Nakikita ko may process (sila). Because of course, they’re masters of their craft. Then with me, I’m just winging it, you know. Like I didn’t know the homework, that was how I felt. So we had workshops… nakita ko yun pala craft side ng actor.
“I thought the celebrity side is what you aim for. Yun pala that’s just baloney. You wanna be there for the craft, tell stories and stuff like that. It becomes a selfdiscovery thing, and you never stop discovering and even now, every day when we shoot.”
Ben&Ben featured on Times Square billboard
by JessiCa aNN evaNgelista Inquirer.net
OPM band Ben&Ben is over the moon as their latest milestone lights up Times Square in New York City: a billboard showcasing their newest album, “The Traveller Across Dimensions.”
The band shared the news on social media, saying they hope they made their parents proud.
“Ma, nasa Times Square na yung album ( Mother, the album is already on Times Square ) [crying emojis] hope to make you proud,” the nine-piece band wrote on their caption.
The billboard marks a major achievement for the group, as they continue to gain recognition for their music and growing fanbase.
According to marketing experts, having one’s billboard displayed in Times Square is a significant achievement, as the location is one of the most iconic and highly crowded areas in the world.
In March, the Filipino indie folk-pop band was tapped to perform as a special guest in the Manila leg of Ed Sheeran’s +-=÷× Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour).
For the first time, Ben&Ben’s songs were also recently featured in a live musical via the staging of “One More Chance: The Musical.”
Last year, their song “ Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay ” was also popularized in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Rewind,” starring real-life couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.
Ben&Ben rose to fame for their hits “ Kathang Isip ,” “Ride Home,” “Leaves,” and “Lifetime,” among others.
The OPM band was formerly known as The Benjamins, as they were only initially headlined by twin brothers Miguel and Paolo Benjamin. In 2016, the band decided to add new members and change their band name to Ben&Ben.
Meanwhile, the band’s keyboardist Pat Lasaten and bassist Agnes Reoma have recently tied the knot in Los
Angeles, California.
Aside from the aforementioned, Ben&Ben is composed of Poach Barretto, Keifer Cabugao, drummer Jam Villanueva, and percussionists Toni Muñoz and Andrew De
Paon. Miguel and Paolo also recently sat down and interviewed Lin Manuel Miranda and Barry Jenkins for the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
Ben&Ben’s newest billboard at Times Square Photo from Instagram/@benandbenmusic
Overcoming the presumption of unenforceability of premarital agreements
MANY spouses in California enter into a marriage thinking that having a fully executed premarital agreement is a “bullet proof” way of protecting their assets in case of a divorce in the future. However, it is not as simple as that. Although a premarital agreement offers some protection, the court needs to make certain findings if it’s enforceability is contested by the other spouse. Family Code section 1615, subdivision (c)(section 1615(c)) creates a presumption “that a premarital agreement was not executed voluntarily” unless the trial court makes five designated findings. A premarital agreement is presumed to have not been executed voluntarily, and is therefore unenforceable, unless the trial court finds in writing or on the record that the agreement satisfies the requirements of section 1615(c) (1) and (2). Last v. Superior Court 94 Cal. App. 5th 30. 311 Cal. Rptr. 3d 791. Family Code Section 1615 (c) provides: For the purposes of subdivision (a), it shall be deemed that a premarital
agreement was not executed voluntarily unless the court finds in writing or on the record all of the following:
(1) The party against whom enforcement is sought was represented by independent legal counsel at the time of signing the agreement or, after being advised to seek independent legal counsel, expressly waived, in a separate writing, representation by independent legal counsel. The advisement to seek independent legal counsel shall be made at least seven calendar days before the final agreement is signed.
(2) One of the following:
(A) For an agreement executed between January 1, 2002, and January 1, 2020, the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and advised to seek independent legal counsel and the time the agreement was signed. This requirement does not apply to nonsubstantive amendments that do not change the terms of the agreement.
(B) For an agreement executed on or after January 1, 2020, the party against whom enforcement is sought had not less than seven calendar days between the time that party was first presented with the final agreement and the time the agreement was signed, regardless of whether the party
is represented by legal counsel. This requirement does not apply to nonsubstantive amendments that do not change the terms of the agreement.
(3) The party against whom enforcement is sought, if unrepresented by legal counsel, was fully informed of the terms and basic effect of the agreement as well as the rights and obligations the party was giving up by signing the agreement, and was proficient in the language in which the explanation of the party’s rights was conducted and in which the agreement was written. The explanation of the rights and obligations relinquished shall be memorialized in writing and delivered to the party prior to signing the agreement. The unrepresented party shall, on or before the signing of the premarital agreement, execute a document declaring that the party received the information required by this paragraph and indicating who provided that information.
(4) The agreement and the writings executed pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (3) were not executed under duress, fraud, or undue influence, and the parties did not lack capacity to enter into the agreement.
(5) Any other factors the court deems relevant. Although § 1615, subd. (a), places the ultimate burden of proof on the party claiming u PAGE B6
‘Green Bones:’ A tale of redemption...
He added, “I believe it’s important to always give hope to someone who wants to change because, of course, they want to correct their mistakes. Even if they fail once or twice, as long as they truly want to change and make their lives better, that’s what matters.”
The movie delves into themes of redemption and transformation, with the stars offering messages of hope to Persons Deprived of Liberty
(PDLs).
“Always remember, no one has the right to judge your future. Mistakes don’t define you. Trust in God and believe in your decision to change,” Madrid said.
“There’s always hope as long as you’re alive. Everyone makes mistakes, but through those, we grow. PDLs deserve the chance to change, just like anyone else,” added his costar.
Apart from Trillo and Madrid, “Green Bones” also stars
Michael de Mesa, Ronnie Lazaro, Wendell Ramos, Alessandra de Rossi, Mikoy Morales, Royce Cabrera, Sofia Pablo, Sienna Stevens, Kylie Padilla, Pauline Mendoza, Gerhard Acao, Raul Morit, Victor Neri, Ruby Ruiz and Enzo Osorio, with the special participation of Iza Calzado and Nonie Buencamino.
“Green Bones” is distributed by Columbia Pictures for Sony Pictures Releasing International. It premieres Dec. 25 as part of the 10 Metro Manila Film Festival lineup.
The true essence of joy
ReveRend Rodel G. BalaGtas
DEAR Beloved Friends,
As we gather on this Third Sunday of Advent, the theme of joy resounds through our readings, perfectly aligning with the spirit of the season. As Christmas approaches—the Incarnation of the Son of God, the Word Made Flesh—let us remember that our joy transcends festive gatherings and gift exchanges; it arises from the profound gift of faith we have received in Jesus.
The prophet Zephaniah calls us to rejoice: “Shout for joy, O daughter of Zion! Sing joyfully, O Israel! Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem!” These words remind us that true joy is not just a fleeting emotion; it is a deep-seated celebration of our relationship with God.
In our Second Reading, from the Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, we hear the powerful exhortation: “Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: Rejoice!” Dianne Bergant beautifully
explains that the joy Paul advocates is not merely happiness derived from life’s pleasures; it is a joy grounded in faith in Jesus Christ—a joy that remains steadfast in all circumstances.
To experience this true joy, we must live with a spirit of kindness and generosity. Paul urges us: “Your kindness should be known to all!” True joy flourishes when we approach the season of Christmas with spirituality and charity, rather than letting it be solely defined by material possessions. In the Gospel of Luke (3:10-18), John the Baptist provides practical guidance to those asking, “What should we do?” He encourages them to live their daily lives with integrity, engaging in their responsibilities with a concern for others. John challenges us to recognize that our joy is intertwined with our awareness of and care for those around us.
Paul also reminds us that joy is rooted in a life free from anxiety. He calls us to “have no anxiety at all,” and instead to offer our prayers and requests to God with thanksgiving. In return, we will receive “the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,” guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. God desires for us to celebrate joyfully as a community,
recognizing that He dwells among us in our parish and in our relationships. I encourage you to share how Jesus is incarnate in our community through our various parish events and your interactions with one another. Reflect on the many graces present in your lives, your families, and our parish. This reflection is the key to cultivating a deep sense of gratitude toward God. As we journey through Advent, let us consider how our faith in Jesus has transformed our lives and share our joy with others. Remember, joy is a gift that multiplies when shared. In our sharing, we build connections, listen to one another, and embody the spirit of a synodal Church, where every voice is valued. May this season be filled with true joy, and may we find abundance in sharing our blessings, especially with those in need. Have a joyful Advent! In Christ’s love, Fr. Rodel “Odey”
and
of
Priscilla Meirelles named Noble Queen Nations 2024
by KathleeN a llemit Philstar.com
MANILA — Manila-based
Brazilian beauty queen Priscilla
Meirelles has another crown to her name as she was given the new title Noble Queen Nations 2024.
Meirelles, who is married to actor John Estrada, was among the two queens bestowed with a new title by the Noble Queen of the Universe 2024 pageant.
Actress Teresa Loyzaga is named with the other new title: Noble Queen Worldwide 2024.
“I am so touched and honored to be crowned Noble Queen Nations 2024,” wrote the Brazilian beauty on Instagram today. “Let’s aspire to inspire one another, to support and celebrate women as the queens
they are, because real queens fix each other’s crowns.”
The coronation was held last December 8 in Quezon City.
The organization also named its other queens: Chinggay Bilaos (Noble Queen Universe 2024), Naito Asuka (Noble Queen International 2024), Roxanne Velasco (Noble Queen Globe 2024), Sinclaire Castro (Noble Queen Earth 2024), and Kimberly Torres Robson (Noble Queen Tourism 2024).
The organization said that beyond beauty, Noble Queen of the Universe “promotes respect for all, strengthens sisterhood and empowers women to help and uplift communities across diverse societies.”
Prior to her new title, Meirelles was crowned Miss
Manila-based Brazilian beauty queen Priscilla Meirelles is crowned Noble Queen Nations 2024 as seen in her Instagram post on December 12, 2024
Photo from Instagram/@primeirelles
Globe International 2003 and Miss Earth 2004 in a pageant held in Manila.
Overcoming the presumption...
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the premarital agreement is unenforceable, it does not raise a presumption that the premarital agreement is enforceable. It contains a series of objectively ascertainable factors that, if found by the trial court, would overcome the presumption of involuntary execution. Section 1615, subd. (c), in effect creates a presumption that a premarital agreement is unenforceable on the ground it was not executed
voluntarily. In Last v. Superior Court, the trial court granted the wife’s request for temporary spousal support even though there was a premarital agreement which waives spousal support. The trial court did not adjudicate the issue whether the parties’ premarital agreement, which included a provision by which the wife purported to waive any right to receive spousal support in the event the marriage ended
in dissolution, was enforceable but granted the husband’s request to bifurcate that issue. A premarital agreement is presumed to have not been executed voluntarily, and is therefore unenforceable, unless the trial court finds in writing or on the record that the agreement satisfies the requirements of Fam. Code, § 1615, subd. (c)(1) & (2). Because the husband did not ask the trial court to conduct a facial review of the premarital agreement and make findings under § 1615, subd. (c)(1) & (2), and because the trial court made no such findings, the agreement had to be deemed to have been involuntarily executed at the time the trial court ordered temporary spousal support. As a result, the trial court retained authority under Fam. Code, § 3600, to award temporary spousal support to the wife.
Last v. Superior Court 94 Cal. App. 5th 30. 311 Cal. Rptr. 3d 791.
In light of the above, it is important for the spouse trying to enforce the premarital agreement to ask the court to make the five findings pursuant to Family Code Section 1615 (c) (1) through (5).
Please note that this article is not legal advice and is not intended as legal advice. The article is intended to provide only general, non-specific legal information. This article is not intended to cover all the issues related to the topic discussed. The specific facts that apply to your matter may make the outcome different than would be anticipated by you. This article does create any attorney client relationship between you and the Law Offices of Kenneth U. Reyes, APC. This article is not a solicitation.
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Attorney Kenneth Ursua Reyes is a Board Certified Family Law Specialist. He was President of the Philippine American Bar Association. He is a member of both the Family law section and Immigration law section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association. He is a graduate of Southwestern University Law School in Los Angeles and California State University, San Bernardino School of Business Administration. He has extensive CPA experience prior to law practice. LAW OFFICES OF KENNETH U. REYES, APC is located at 3699 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 700, Los Angeles, CA, 90010. Tel. (213) 388-1611 or e-mail kenneth@ kenreyeslaw.com or visit our website at Kenreyeslaw.com (Advertising Supplement)
SB19’s Josh joins outreach program for Manila kids
by Kristofer PurNell Philstar.com
MANILA — Josh Cullen of the P-pop boy band SB19 joined an outreach program organized by the Sony Music Group in Tondo, Manila.
The program, in collaboration with Reach Out and Feed Philippines Inc., was part of Sony’s “Season of Giving” campaign where the label and some of its talents give back to communities.
This year’s program aims to address malnutrition and the environmental challenges contributing to poor health in vulnerable areas.
Josh joined the Tondo program that took place at the San Pablo Apostol Parish, performed songs from his debut solo album “Lost & Found” and SB19’s hit track “Gento” as kids were invited onstage to join him for a viral dance challenge. In a speech about
overcoming hardship, Josh talked about his humble beginnings and gave words of encouragement about reaching one’s dreams.
Top cap off the event, Josh joined Reach Out and Feed Philippines Inc. in distributing gifts to the kids who joined the party games. He shared in a statement
that being involved in causes that reflect his values keeps his work authentic.
“This experience has shown me how even small collective efforts can lead to real, meaningful change,” Josh added. “I’m grateful to be part of a campaign that not only provides support but also brings joy to the community.”
Sharon Cuneta’s star shines bright...
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As the breadwinner, she had to give up so much to succeed.”
According to the veteran actress, her directors encouraged her to use lower tones in her delivery to convey Miranda. She also drew on her maternal instincts to bring depth to her performance.
Despite these challenges, Cuneta conveyed Miranda’s nuanced advocacy for single mothers, hinting at the pain her character hides beneath her strong exterior.
“People know I’m very empathetic and sympathetic, and I like taking care of people. In a way, that has helped me portray Miranda. Even in her toughness, she has that soft spot. Part of her drive is to keep her show’s ratings up, but a big part of it is her sincere desire to help — because she’s carrying something heavy within herself,” Cuneta added.
The challenging role marks Cuneta’s much-anticipated return to primetime, alongside Julia Montes, after their collaboration in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano.” In fact, accepting “Saving Grace” as her comeback project was an easy decision influenced
by her bond with Montes.
“Julia is the only one I had worked with before in Ang Probinsyano. We became really close, and we grew even closer after that. We never lost touch — she’s like a daughter to me. It’s like I gave birth to her, that’s how close we are,” Cuneta shared.
“When we work together, there’s no effort required. If we have a scene, we just look at each other, and the raw emotions are there, always present. It’s so easy to support each other,” she added.
Apart from Montes, Cuneta also praised the ensemble cast, calling them “a dream to work with,” and expressed admiration for Zia Grace.
“It’s been wonderful collaborating with Janice, Jennica, and Christian — everyone gave their best, including the kids and all the supporting talents. It’s truly a team effort.
“And then there’s the magical presence of Zia. Over 200 children auditioned for the role, and she was number 120.
The moment you see her, you’ll understand why she got it. She’s only six years old, but her emotional depth is incredible.
You can’t quite explain where it comes from, but she has it. She’s quick to learn, very intelligent, and truly understands what’s needed. She won us over right away with her professionalism. She’s clearly been raised well, with her parents always there to support her on set,” she continued.
Since its premiere on November 28, “Saving Grace” has captured audiences, topping Prime Video’s charts in the Philippines. Cuneta expressed pride in the show’s early success, describing it as “just the beginning.”
“The magic of the show lies in its story, which has already been adapted successfully in eight other countries. I think it’s the Filipino touch and the unique way we approached it that makes it resonate. I’ll never forget what Direk FM Reyes reminded us — that we’re no longer performing just for a Filipino audience. Being on Prime Video means the series is accessible worldwide,” she continued.
Produced by Dreamscape Entertainment, the series now streams exclusively on Prime Video, with two new episodes released every Thursday.
SB19 member and singer Josh Cullen Photo from Instagram/@josh_cullen_s
(People, Events,Places)
I GOT randomly the innocent opinions of eight kids of Christmas (December 25) by asking two questions: (1) How do you spend your Christmas? and (2) What is your idea of Christmas? Here are the kids’ replies: Kian Co, 11, Grade 5, who is part of the cast of Metro Manila Film Festival entry “Espantaho”: (1) “We’ll be going to the church, then we’ll eat outside and later my mother and I will go to the cinema to watch a movie.” (2) “For me Christmas is the birthday of Papa Jesus so we’ve to visit Him in the church with our family.”
Elia Ilano, 14, Grade 9, is this year’s FAMAS best child actress: (1) “I spend my Christmas with my family and loved ones po. Usually, we go out of town before Christmas but on Christmas Eve we spend it in the house after going to Mass. On Christmas Day, we go to my grandmothers’ houses... I prefer to spend Christmas with the most important persons in my life.” (2) “My idea of Christmas is spreading kindness, continuing our family tradition and a moment of gratitude. It is a time to share your blessings to others, to be with my loved ones on this very
Christmas in the eyes of 8 children
special day and a time where we reflect and thank God for everything He gave us po.”
Natalia Rosen D. Orsal, 9, Grade 3, is the daughter of photographer-writer Noel Benesisto Orsal: (1) “My family and I always spend it in my aunt’s house in Bulacan. We buy gifts for each other, play games, and sing along. My cousins and I also play with our new gifts.” (2) “Big Christmas tree with lots of ornaments, gifts under the tree, and lots of decorations around the house. The birthday of Jesus. Lots of food. And baby Jesus in the manger.”
Sofia D. Mendoza, 8, Grade 3, is the granddaughter of Oly delos Santos, wife of the late PNP spokesperson Chief Superintendent Napoleon delos Santos Jr.: (1) “Open gifts, play and pray.” (2) “Sleep, go to church, eat... I am just a kid. I don’t know so much about the world.”
Lowella Jamima D. Gonzales, 13, is a Grade 8 student at St. Paul College Paranaque: (1) “I spend my Christmas with family and friends.” (2) “My idea of Christmas is the season of giving, it’s the time to be with your loved ones. It is also the time to give back and be thankful for the blessings God gave us.”
Mark Deniz Cansino, 13, Grade 8, is a Philstagers actor: (1) “I spend Christmas with my family.” (2) “Experience the magic of Christmas.”
Sheanne Marie Faye Pedroso, 8, Grade 3, is the daughter of Salvie Collado Paparon, golden awardee of the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award: (1) “I spend Christmas at home with my family.” (2) “Giving gifts and feasts.”
Allysa Domilyn Aquino, 12, is a leukemia patient from Pangasinan: (1) “I spend my Christmas with my family.” (2) “To have food as long as we’re together, to play games with cash prizes of P10 or P20 or biscuits and candies, and to sing and pray since it’s the birthday of Jesus.”
* * * For Chino Hansel Philyang, author of 18 books on children, this is his Christmas viewpoint on the two questions above: (1) “I spend Christmas as a time for meaningful connections and as acts of kindness. Apart from celebrating with family and friends, I dedicate part of the season to bringing joy to children through the gift of books. Visiting communities, schools, or charities to share storybooks has become a cherished tradition. There’s nothing more heartwarming than seeing a child’s face light up when they receive a book — a gateway to imagination, learning, and inspiration. This act not only spreads joy but also plants the seeds of knowledge and creativity
in young minds.” (2) “For me, Christmas is about embodying the spirit of generosity, love, and hope. It’s a season to reflect on what truly matters and find ways to touch the lives of others, especially children. Gifting books during this time symbolizes more than just a present — it’s a gift of opportunities, dreams, and empowerment. Books can transport children to faraway lands, teach them about different cultures, and inspire them to achieve their goals. By giving books, we’re not only spreading holiday cheer but also leaving a lasting impact that resonates far beyond the season. Christmas becomes a celebration of stories — both shared and created — that enrich lives and nurture the next generation.”
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Camille Coronel-Ong’s education at De La Salle College of St. Benilde has equipped her with the necessary skills to become a better person with a clear purpose and a drive to spread positivity in her endeavors. The school has instilled in her an openminded approach towards life, enabling her to view situations from various angles and make well-informed choices.
“The diverse learning opportunities at Benilde have exposed me to a multitude of ideas, beliefs, and cultures, expanding my knowledge and understanding of the world and
its diverse population. Through my education at Benilde, I have developed into a responsible and respectful individual, valuing the perspectives of others,” she told this writer.
Camille took Bachelor of Science in Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management major in Culinary Arts. “My time in college was truly memorable and among the happiest days of my life... Whenever our class gets cancelled, we would often head to Tagaytay to relax and unwind. I feel incredibly fortunate to have formed strong bonds with some of my friends during college. Most of them are now living abroad, pursuing their studies or careers, yet we remain in touch,” she revealed.
She could not forget her prof, Chef Anton Gomez, who imparted culinary knowledge and life lessons: “Even after our classes, he would take the time to talk to me and my boyfriend (who is now her husband) about being wise in
life. I
Another prof is Chef
(“He had a way of making our classes enjoyable and uplifting, always reminding us to focus on the good things in life.”). Lastly, Chef Sabrina Gan who supported her during her internship in Italy. She studied Italian Food Style Education in Turin, Italy and had her internship in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Isola d’ Asti, Italy. After college, she started as a baker and later became a sous chef in a known steakhouse restaurant. Now she is running her own cake business, “Tsokoñata,” known for its chocolate piñata cake in the Philippines.
* * * 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
Rogelio Constantino Medina
Sisters Sheanne and Michaela in a New York City Times Square billboard (left photo); Sheanne Pedroso (right photo) Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
Kian Co with Judy Ann Santos in a movie poster for “Espantaho.”
Sofia de los Santos Mendoza
From left: Luis Jaime, mom Lheng, Lowella (with flowers) and Lara
