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 is also the first openly queer person to lead District 14, which comprises of much of east and northeastern LA and downtown LA.
According to a report in Boyle Heights Beat , Jurado attended her first city council meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 10.
In addition to Jurado, Adrin Nazarian was also sworn into the city council as leader of District 2.
As previously reported in the Asian Journal , Jurado — a Highland Park native and resident — defeated incumbent Kevin de Leon in November by nearly 12,000 votes. Jurado’s grassroots campaign was built on progressive policies and solutions and a promise to serve the people, not corporations.
“I’ve always been an organizer and I never thought I would run for office, it’s true. But I feel called for this by my community. We [Filipinos] are the second-largest Asian population in Southern California and yet we haven’t
‘Law-abiding Filipinos in US not target of mass deportation’
by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com
Mary Jane Veloso returns home after 14 years
MANILA — Mary Jane Veloso, the Filipina on death row in Indonesia who spent almost 15 years in prison for drug trafficking, has returned home early Wednesday, December 18, morning, the Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) announced. BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said the aircraft carrying Veloso landed at Ninoy Aquino
International Airport (NAIA) in Pasay City at around 5:40 a.m.
“The flight, which departed from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta at 12:05 a.m., marked the end of a harrowing chapter in Veloso’s life,” BuCor said in a statement.
During the flight, Catapang noted Veloso “was not in a handcuff or subjected to any instrument of restraint,” citing the rules of general application of the Standard
House tags Duterte, et al. for ‘crimes against humanity’
MANILA — The House quad committee on Wednesday, Dec. 18, said former President Rodrigo Duterte, Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, two former Philippine National Police chiefs and two other ranking police officers should be charged with crimes against humanity in the bloody drug war that killed thousands of Filipinos.
Quad committee chair and Surigao del Norte Rep. Robert Ace Barbers said this was the megapanel’s recommendation as it presented its report to the plenary on the last session day of Congress before it adjourned for the Christmas break.
The 43-page report—culled after 13 hearings from Aug. 16 to Dec. 12—contained a summary of their evidence, legislative proposals and recommendations addressing the interconnected issues of extrajudicial killings, offshore gaming and the illegal drug trade.
Sandigan junks last 6 coco levy civil cases
by
MANILA — The Sandiganbayan has thrown out the remaining six ill-gotten wealth cases involving the alleged misuse of the controversial coconut levy funds against the late President Marcos Sr., his wife Imelda, and the late tycoon Eduardo Cojuangco Jr., due to the prosecution’s failure to even begin its presentation of evidence and witnesses since the cases were filed nearly four decades ago. In a resolution promulgated on Dec. 12, the Second Division junked Civil Case Nos. 0033-B, 0033-C, 0033-D, 0033-E, 0033-G, and 0033-H, against the Marcoses and Cojuangco for “inordinate delay,” a 37year wait which the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG), the complainant in all cases, should have justified.
“There have been many opportunities for the plaintiff to begin its initial presentation of evidence and witnesses throughout these decades, and yet it did not choose to do so,” the antigraft court said in its 42-page resolution.
Allegations It also cited the prosecution’s failure to come to trial
International arrivals reach 5.65M in 2024 so far, short of target
by Rosette Adel Philstar.com
world to our archipelago of over 7600 islands. As of Wednesday, December 18, the Philippines has welcomed close to 5.65 million international visitors. South Korea remains our top source market, followed by the United States, Japan and various other nations,” Frasco said.
Here are the top 10 source markets as well as their percentage shares in the tourist arrival figures:
• South Korea - 1,505,251 (26.66%).
• USA - 889,489 (15.75%).
• Japan - 367,747 (6.51%).
• China - 306,549 (5.43%).
• Australia - 249,130 (4.41%).
• Canada - 210,986 (3.74%).
• Taiwan - 203,428 (3.60%).
• Singapore - 152,008 (2.69%).
• United Kingdom - 150,550 (2.67%).
• Malaysia - 93,236 (1.65%).
Challenges and projections
On Thursday, December 12, Leechiu Property Consultants released a report projecting 6 million international arrivals for the Philippines in 2024, falling short of the DOT’s 7.7 million target. It, however, projected 9.5% annual growth rate that could bring the country back to pre-pandemic levels of 8.2 million arrivals by 2027.
KathLeen de ViLLa Inquirer.net
LA City councilmember Ysabel Jurado Contributed photo
Former President Rodrigo Duterte, Senators Christopher “Bong” Go and Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa. File photo/Kiwi Bulaclac/Presidential photo
by Faith argosino Inquirer.net
by Krixia suBingsuBing Inquirer.net
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‘Law-abiding Filipinos in US...
in the U.S. will intensify their engagements with U.S. officials to ensure the protection of the rights and welfare of Filipinos amid immigration policy changes under Trump.
In a statement on Thursday, December 12, the Philippine embassy and consulates general gave assurance that they “will continue to provide consular services to all Filipino nationals regardless of their immigration status.”
Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez and the consuls general met on Dec. 10-11 to discuss a wide range of issues related to the incoming Trump administration and the emerging immigration policies.
“The heads of posts understand the uncertainty felt by certain segments of the Filipino community in the United States following recent pronouncements by the incoming administration,” they said.
The meeting is an important step in ensuring a unified, coordinated and effective response.
They reaffirmed their collective commitment to supporting and providing appropriate consular assistance to Filipino nationals while respecting U.S. laws.
Romualdez said in November that he and the consuls would meet this month to plan how they can assist Filipinos illegally staying in the U.S. after Trump announced he will carry out his promise of mass deportation of undocumented migrants.
Luzon economic corridor
The top U.S. diplomat in the country believes that the U.S. commitment to the Luzon Economic Corridor will remain in place under the incoming administration of president-elect Trump.
“You can be confident that there is very strong bipartisan support for the US-Philippine relationship, and that goes for the security relationship, the economic relationship and part of what governs that are these very strong people-topeople ties,” U.S. Ambassador MaryKay Carlson said in a media roundtable at the ambassador’s residence.
“I’m very optimistic that across the economic
field, the military field, everything that we do together, culturally, in education, health, foreign assistance. I’m very confident about the future based on our strong ties,” she added.
The U.S., Philippines and Japan announced the Luzon Economic Corridor in April, which will support transformative public and private investments.
Through this corridor, the partners aim to make high-impact investments across multiple sectors to accelerate economic growth, support connectivity particularly between Subic, Clark, Manila and Batangas and ensure adequate economic security and the attainment of selfsufficiency in the Philippines.
A steering group meeting was recently held for the Luzon Economic Corridor with the U.S, Japan and the Philippines.
“But other countries also participated to show what they would could bring to the table, what they were interested in. So for example the U.K, Canada are also interested, Sweden, the Republic of Korea. Many of these countries are already doing work in this region,” Carlson said. n
Sandigan junks last 6 coco levy...
PAGE 1
prepared and multiple pleadings for “unjustified and unmeritorious postponements.”
This latest ruling also effectively wipes out all of the civil charges brought by the PCGG, represented by the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG), against the Marcoses to recover the wealth they allegedly illegally acquired through the coco levy fund.
Two other civil cases in connection with the purchase of First United Bank (FUB), predecessor of United Coconut Planters Bank (UCPB), as well as of San Miguel Corp. (SMC) shares were dismissed by the same division on Dec. 6.
The last six cases pertained to the alleged creation of companies out of coco levy funds; the formation and operation of the Bugsuk project and award of P998 million in damages to agricultural investors; the disadvantageous purchases and settlement of the accounts of oil mills; the unlawful disbursement and dissipation of coco levy funds; the acquisition of Pepsi-Cola, and the grant of behest loans and contracts.
Threat of prosecution
The original complaint was filed on July 31, 1987, and was amended three times. The court then granted the motion by the PCGG to subdivide the cases into a total of eight.
According to the Sandiganbayan, the government held the burden to prove the following: that it followed the prosecution procedures of the cases; that the “complexity and volume” of the issues and evidence at hand caused the “inevitable” deferment of the cases; and that the defendants were not subjected to prejudice by the delays.
It cited the guidelines set in the case of Cagang vs. Sandiganbayan when a party invokes a violation of their right to a speedy trial and disposition.
The government’s response to these claims would have helped its case, but because the prosecution had not sufficiently disproved any of them after all these years, the antigraft court stressed that it had to rule in favor of the Marcoses and Cojuangco.
Unprepared for trial
“Herein, defendants have undoubtedly suffered prejudice due to the lengthy and seemingly interminable threat of prosecution,” the court said.
“Despite the passage of time… the defendants have not yet had an opportunity to present a single witness or any piece of evidence for their defense.”
It added: “It is inevitable for the defense witnesses’ to fade, or for witnesses themselves to become unavailable, and for crucial pieces of evidence to be lost to the ravages of time.”
The Sandiganbayan also pointed to the actions of the government that led to the postponement of the trial.
“There are various instances where plaintiff Republic came unprepared for the set trial, prayed for unjustified and unmeritorious postponements, and moved that the hearings and proceedings be suspended pending the
Supreme Court’s action on their interlocutory motions,” it said. These motions merely deferred the initial presentation of evidence, and worse, the government “did not see it fit to go to trial” even after the resolution of some of their motions, noted the antigraft court.
“All told, the proceedings in these cases were attended by vexatious, capricious, and oppressive delays resulting in the violation of the defendants’ right…. under Sec. 16, Article III of the Constitution, and as such, this court must dismiss them against the defendants,” the court concluded.
Lost cause The resolution was written by Associate Justice Geraldine Econg, the division chair, and had the concurrence of Associate Justices Edgardo Caldona and Arthur Malabaguio.
Danny Carranza, secretary general of the farmers’ group Kilusan Para sa Tunay na Repormang Agraryo at Katarungang Panlipunan (Katarungan), expressed dismay over the Sandiganbayan’s decision.
“Oftentimes justice is elusive, especially when power changes hands in favor of the same people who cannot be expected to correct the wrongs in the past,” Carranza told the Inquirer in a text message on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
He said the coco levy cases “could have, should have, been decided before the Marcos family returned to power.”
“Unfortunately, everything is possible now, including the reversals of the cases that should have favored the return of coco levy (funds) to coconut farmers as beneficial owners,” Carranza said.
He added: “We cannot expect the complete return of the coco levy now, nor ever. If there are still other pending cases on the coco levy fund, we expect that these same cases will not be decided in favor of coconut farmers.”
Dindo Divida, a coconut farmer from San Narciso town, Quezon, and a member of Katarungan also shared his frustrations: “We are used to being toyed with by the legal system. Justice is truly elusive for the poor.” Quezon farmers are believed to have been the biggest contributors to the coco levy fund, which was collected primarily during the martial law years under the regime of the late Marcos Sr. Investment expansion
The coco levy was imposed by Marcos Sr. on the produce of farmers between 1973 and 1982, supposedly to develop the
coconut industry. After raising P100 million, the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) established the Coconut Investment Fund on behalf of the coconut farmers.
In 1975, then President Marcos issued Presidential Decree No. 755, which authorized the PCA, whose board included Cojuangco, to use the levy funds to buy 72.2 percent of First United Bank. Cojuangco became its president and chief executive officer. With the PCA and UCPB in their control, Cojuangco and his associates could buy companies and mills placed under the Coconut Industry Investment Fund (CIIF), a group of 14 holding companies whose assets included 47 percent of SMC. In 1986, shortly after the Edsa People Power Revolution, all coco levy-acquired assets were sequestered by the PCGG, and cases were filed in 1987 against the Marcoses and their associates. For farmers’ benefit In December 2001, the Supreme Court ruled that the coco levy funds were “public in character” but left it to the Sandiganbayan to decide who owned the assets acquired with the funds.
In January 2012, the high tribunal declared that the coco levy fund belonged to the government for the benefit of the country’s coconut farmers.
The Supreme Court also affirmed a 2004 ruling of the Sandiganbayan that awarded a 24-percent block of shares in SMC (originally 27 percent but diluted and reduced because of SMC’s expansion) registered in the name of the CIIF and its holding companies to the government, which holds it in trust for the country’s coconut farmers.
On Feb. 26, 2021, Republic Act No. 11524, or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Trust Fund Act, was signed by then-president Rodrigo Duterte, creating a trust fund for some 3.5 million coconut farmers who own not more than five hectares of land and belong to the poorest sector in the country. On June 2, 2022, just weeks before the end of his term, Duterte signed Executive Order No. 172, or the Coconut Farmers and Industry Development Plan, to serve as the basis for using the P75-billion coco levy fund through various programs and projects.
In 2022, the Department of Finance said the Commission on Audit reported that
with
Research
and
SAFETY CHECK. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil (right), Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando (center), Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis Castro (2nd from left), and other government officials huddle during a joint inspection of pyrotechnics stalls in Bocaue, Bulacan on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024. Authorities reiterated their commitment to confiscate illegal fireworks, urging the public to avoid online purchases and prioritize Philippine Standards-certified products. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Removing a splinter? Treating a wart? If a doctor does it, It can be billed as surgery
by elisAbeth RosenthAl KFF Health News
When George Lai of Portland, Oregon, took his toddler son to a pediatrician last summer for a checkup, the doctor noticed a little splinter in the child’s palm. “He must have gotten it between the front door and the car,” Lai later recalled, and the child wasn’t complaining.
The doctor grabbed a pair of forceps — aka tweezers — and pulled out the splinter in “a second,” Lai said. That brief tug was transformed into a surgical billing code: Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code 10120, “incision and removal of a foreign body, subcutaneous” — at a cost of $414.
“This was ridiculous,” Lai said. “There was no scalpel.” He was so angry that he went back to the office to speak with the manager, who told him the coding was correct because tweezers could make an incision to open the skin.
When Helene Schilders of Seattle went to her dermatologist for her annual skin check this year, she mentioned her clothing was irritating a skin tag she had. The doctor froze the tag with liquid nitrogen. “It was squirt, squirt. That’s it,” Schilders told me. She was “floored” by an explanation of benefits that said the simple treatment had been billed as $469 for surgery.
Assuming the bill was a mistake, she called the doctor’s office and was told that surgery had indeed occurred — because the skin was broken in the process. Hence surgical CPT code 17110, “destruction of 1-14 benign lesions.”
Schilders complained to her insurer, who provided a document informing her that “surgery is classified as something entering the body, such as a Q-tip entering the ear canal or a scalpel during surgery.”
Huh? “I have had surgery, and this is not it,” Schilders said. In common vernacular, “surgery” evokes images of physicians and nurses leaning over an operating table, gowned and masked, as they address a problem deep in the body. Removing an appendix or a tumor. Replacing a knee.
Clipping a leaking aneurysm in the brain. It most probably involves a scalpel or specialized instruments and surgical skill.
More and more minor interventions, however, have been rebranded and billed as surgery, for profit. These tiny interventions don’t yield huge bills — in the hundreds rather than the thousands of dollars — but, cumulatively, they likely add up to tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars for doctors and hospitals annually. The surprise bills often catch patients off guard. And they must pay up if they haven’t met their insurance deductible. Even if they have, “surgery” generally requires a coinsurance payment, while an office visit doesn’t.
“There’s more pressure to make money, and the idea is you can charge more if it’s a surgical procedure,” said Sabrina Corlette, founder and co-director of Georgetown University’s Center on Health Insurance Reforms. “The payer should be reviewing this and saying this is run-of-the-mill. But there’s not a lot of incentive to do that.”
Corlette surmised that the codes employed in the instances mentioned above were intended for rare, complicated cases in which the removal of a splinter or a skin lesion — or 14 of them — required special skills or time. But the codes’ use has ballooned, covering the complicated and the commonplace. The use of code 17110 billed from doctors’ offices has gone up 62% from 2013 (1,739,708) to 2022 (2,817,190).
The blizzard of surgeries-
in-name-only is a symptom of a system that has long valued procedures far more than intellectual work in its payments to medical providers. That merits rethinking, and there are some hints that the incoming presidential administration might be interested in doing so.
The current payment calculation system has its origins in the late 1980s, when a team led by an economist at Harvard University’s public health school, William Hsiao, created what’s called the Resource Based Relative Value Scale, or RBRVS, to rationalize Medicare’s payments to doctors. It allocated reimbursement using a formula that included physician work, practice expenses, and malpractice expenses. It concluded “that the work per unit time (a measure of intensity) for invasive services is about three times that of evaluation/management.”
In other words, it enshrined the notion that “invasive services” — procedures or surgery — were by far the most valuable.
An American Medical Association committee that includes physicians from an array of specialties periodically suggests updates to those codes (and federal regulators accept them, in many years, over 90% of the time). Since surgeons are overrepresented on the committee, the valuation of anything defined as an operation has only increased, giving billers the incentive to classify even the most mundane interventions as surgery. Experts of all political stripes have spent years critiquing the
Critical federal health safety nets are on the Trump administration’s chopping block
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 U.S. Almost half of all children living in the U.S. — 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 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 little-used process the president could use to simply stop the flow of funds allocated by Congress.
Cuts to Medicaid could happen even before President-elect 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
u PAGE 8
CHRISTMAS TRADITION. Colorful giant
Mary Jane Veloso returns home...
Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners as adopted by the First United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.
Catapang added that Veloso had “no intention of escaping or harming herself as she was eager to return to the Philippines.”
“From the airport, Veloso was transported to the Correctional Institution for Women (CIW) in Mandaluyong City, where she will be mandatorily housed at the Reception and Diagnostic Center for 5-day quarantine and a 55-day orientation, diagnostic evaluation, and initial security classification,” the BuCor said.
The agency also assured Veloso’s family that they would be able to visit her in time for Christmas “after her standard five-day quarantine period for a new person deprived of liberty, wherein she will undergo a comprehensive medical and physical examination.”
Veloso’s family from Nueva Ecija, along with lawyers and supporters from the Save Mary Jane Task Force, however, failed to personally meet her at the airport after she was immediately escorted to a vehicle that transported her to the CIW.
Veloso’s return follows an agreement between Jakarta and Manila, which was announced by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” R. Marcos Jr. and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) last November 19.
Veloso was sentenced to death after she was caught carrying 2.6 kilograms of heroin inside her suitcase at Yogyakarta airport in Indonesia in 2010.
Veloso maintained she was unaware of the contents of her luggage as it was only handed to her by her recruiters, identified as Julius Lacanilao and Maria Cristina Sergio. n
International arrivals reach 5.65M in 2024...
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PAGE
“The decline in Chinese tourist arrivals, from 1 million in 2019 to fewer than 244,000 in 2024, remains a significant challenge, and other source markets have yet to fully compensate for this shortfall,” it said.
When asked if the Philippines would revise its target or remain committed to achieving it, Frasco said the DOT is considering various factors that have impacted projections, including visa liberalization delays and geopolitical issues.
Frasco said the Philippines had anticipated welcoming 2 million Chinese visitors with the implementation of an electronic visa system. However, this initiative was suspended by the Department of Foreign Affairs, slowing inbound travel from China. She expressed hope that visa liberalization efforts would soon be expedited.
Despite challenges in meeting arrival targets, Frasco emphasized a shift toward prioritizing “quality over quantity” in tourism metrics by focusing on visitor receipts, spending patterns, length of stay, and tourism-driven employment.
“In a post-pandemic world, and knowing what we know now about the importance of quality and sustainability, we have graduated from measuring tourism merely on the number of people arriving, but rather on the more important numbers, how much are tourists spending in the Philippines? How long are they staying? Are they coming back again and again?
The answers to these questions place the Philippines above and beyond its competitors,” Frasco said.
Economic impact
The tourism chief also said “the Philippines is doing exceptionally well” as it generated P712 billion in tourism receipts from January to December 15 this year—a 119% recovery rate from preCOVID-19 pandemic in 2019. According to the 2024 tourism report, tourists are staying longer in the Philippines. Compared to the average of nine nights in 2019, tourists are now staying an average of over 11 nights in the country, and over 70% of tourists coming to the country are repeat visitors. Their expenditure per arrival amounts to USD $2,073. “Truly our tourists have come to love the Philippines,” she said. Frasco expressed optimism that tourism receipts for this year
would surpass P697 billion— higher than the P600 billion recorded in 2019—despite falling short on arrival numbers.
“We are being pragmatic in the projections. And so we view that while we may not be able to reach the 7.7 million by the end of the year, we will certainly overcome the number P697 billion in tourism receipts. And this number, to my mind, is far more important, considering that it is the visitor receipts that give jobs to our fellow Filipinos, that supports local tourism businesses and will ultimately sustain tourism livelihood in the Philippines,” she said.
Last year, the Philippines logged a total of 5,450,557 visitor arrivals and visitor spending of P482.54 billion—a significant improvement as tourism continues its recovery trajectory post-pandemic. n
House tags Duterte, et al. for ‘crimes...
“What began as a separate investigation by individual committees soon uncovered a web of interconnections—a Pandora’s box of crimes and abuses that tested the very foundations of our institutions,” Barbers said.
“The most chilling revelations pertain to the extrajudicial killings that have scarred our nation’s history,” he said. “These investigations brought to light a harrowing narrative of abuse of power and institutional impunity during the Duterte administration.”
De Lima’s input
Former Sen. Leila de Lima, who was also one of their resource persons, recommended filing charges against Duterte for violating Republic Act No. 9851, or the Act on Crimes against International Humanitarian Law, Genocide, and other Crimes Against Humanity.
Duterte, Dela Rosa and Go have consistently been identified as among the main architects of the drug war following the template lifted from their hometown Davao City where the former President was a longtime mayor.
In a preliminary report he read last Thursday, Dec. 12, Antipolo Rep. Romeo Acop said the quad committee found that Duterte appeared to be the “center” of a “criminal enterprise” that used the drug war to cover its own involvement in the narcotics trade.
Dela Rosa said he was not surprised by the quad committee’s recommendation.
“I expected that [because] their real intention was to demolish the Dutertes and their allies,”
Dela Rosa said in a radio interview.
“If Go and I fail in our reelection bids next year, nobody would oppose the impeachment efforts against Vice President Sara Duterte,” he said.
Barbers pointed out that Duterte himself, during their Nov. 13 hearing, assumed full responsibility for the implementation of the brutal campaign that rights groups say killed between 12,000 to 30,000 Filipinos. The Duterte administration officially acknowledged slightly more than 6,000 deaths in the drug war from 2016 to May 2022.
“The former president unequivocally confirmed the existence of the reward system targeting drug personalities and using leftover campaign funds to finance and support the reward system, in contravention of Comelec rules concerning the return of excess campaign funds,” Barbers said.
Albayalde, Sinas, etc
The five other police officers recommended to be charged with violating RA 9861 are former PNP chiefs Oscar Albayalde and Debold Sinas, former Cebu police chief Royina Garma, former National Police Commissioner Edilberto Leonardo, and Go’s aide, Herminia “Muking” Espino.
Garma, Leonardo and Espino are believed to have had a hand in crafting and implementing the reward system that incentivized drug war killings.
The quad committee also recommended charging Garma, Leonardo, Police Lt. Col. Santie Mendoza, former PNP officer Nelson Mariano, Police Senior Master Sgt. Jeremy Causapin, and one alias “Loloy” with masterminding the 2020 killing of Wesley Barayuga, a former board member of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office then headed by Garma.
Barbers said the panel also recommended that Duterte, Garma, Leonardo, former PNP officers Arthur Narsolis and Gerardo Padilla be charged with conspiracy to murder for their alleged involvement in the killing of three Chinese nationals inside the Davao Prison and Penal Farm on Aug. 13, 2016.
Pampanga meth haul
Other recommendations:
• filing charges against Empire 999
process — it’s common sense that the fox (physicians) should not be guarding the henhouse (payments). President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for Health and Human Services secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has signaled that he might rethink that approach, according to the health-industry publication Stat. Kennedy has not outlined an actual plan to replace the current process, but he is reportedly exploring if the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, a government agency, could do it instead.
Absent reform, on it goes. Anthony Norton of Puyallup, Washington, took his 3-year-old
incorporators Willie Ong, aka Cai Qimeng and Yang Jiazheng, aka Aedy Tai Yang, who were linked to 360 kilograms of methamphetamine (“shabu”) seized in a Mexico, Pampanga, warehouse in 2023.
• further investigation of former presidential economic adviser Michael Yang, allegedly a central figure in a web of illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators (POGOs); Yang’s brother, Antonio Yang, owner of multiple businesses in Cagayan de Oro City, including Philippine Sanjia Steel Corp., which was allegedly involved in rice smuggling and human trafficking.
• further investigation of Davao Rep. Paolo Duterte, Davao City Councilor Nilo Abellera Jr., former chief of presidential task force for media Paul Gutierrez, former National Irrigation Administration administrator Benny Antiporda, Jojo Bacud, “Tita Nanie” and Allen Capuyan. They were identified as members of the so-called “Davao Group” linked to the illegal drug trade.
• further investigation of former presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, Whirlwind Inc. incorporator Cassandra Li Ong and former Bamban Mayor Alice Guo for their alleged links to illegal POGOS
The House adopted the report. It will forward it to the “relevant agencies” for action.
Biggest step yet
Should this indeed lead to indictments, this would be the biggest step taken by the Philippine government to give justice to victims of extrajudicial killings in Duterte’s brutal war on drugs.
The government was scored for the lack of prosecution and investigation of the alleged perpetrators. This was why the victims’ families turned to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to charge Duterte for crimes against humanity in relation to the drug war.
This would also be the first instance where a state official would be prosecuted for crimes under RA 9851. There has only been one conviction for violating this law—Junaid Awal of the Maute-Islamic State terrorist group.
“This is a defining moment for this Congress. It is an opportunity to uphold the rule of law, protect our nation’s sovereignty, and deliver justice to those who have been wronged,” Barbers said.
Human rights committee chair and Manila Rep. Bienvenido Abante said in his sponsorship speech that “the time for reckoning has come.”
‘Competent evidence’
“After 13 rigorous and thorough hearings, we are confident that we have gathered competent evidence to make the appropriate recommendations … [There] was systematic violation of human rights and blatant disregard of due process,” he said.
Public order and safety chair and Laguna Rep. Dan Fernandez said that aside from recommending the criminal charges, he wanted to highlight “the abuse and suffering of trafficking victims at the hands of these evil operators” of illegal POGOs.
“The trauma, deaths, would never be rectified by laws alone. Let us not leave them by the wayside,” he said.
Abang Lingkod Rep. Joseph Paduano, who chairs the committee on public accounts, said the quad panel had identified “compelling evidence” that called for prompt legal action, especially in relation to foreigners using fraud to obtain fake Philippine documents.
It was actually Barbers’ and Paduano’s joint inquiry into the Mexico, Pampanga, shabu bust that triggered the formation of the quad committee in August this year, after they found that Michael Yang was allegedly related to the Empire 999 warehouse incorporators. n
daughter to a doctor this year because she had a bothersome plantar wart on her foot. The doctor applied a chemical ointment to the wart in the office every two weeks and covered it with a Band-Aid. When the child arrived for a third visit, Norton was informed he had an outstanding balance of $465 (in addition to the $25 office visit copay already paid) because the application was “surgery.” CPT code 17110 again.
“It made no sense,” Norton later recalled. The billing office assured him it was surgery, he said, “because the ointment penetrates the skin.” Norton wondered: “When you extrapolate that, is putting on Neosporin or calamine
surgery, too?”
We are now in an era in which a neurologist spending 40 minutes with a patient to tease out a diagnosis can be paid less for that time than a dermatologist spending a few seconds squirting a dollop of liquid nitrogen onto the skin.
Lai was so angry at being charged more than $400 to pull that splinter out of his child’s hand that he went on a crusade, returning to the dermatologist’s office when his calls were ignored, accusing it of fraud and threatening to complain to his insurer. Only then, he said, did the doctor’s office waive the surgical charge — and kick him and his family out of the practice. n
HOME AT LAST. Migrant worker Mary Jane Veloso poses for photographers at the Correctional Institution for Women in Mandaluyong City where she was taken right after arrival from Indonesia on Wednesday morning, Dec. 18, 2024, with her two sons to her right and Bureau of Corrections Director General Gregorio Catapang Jr. and Department of Justice Assistant Secretary Mico Clavano behind. Veloso was convicted of drug trafficking and sentenced to death in 2010 until the government finally convinced Indonesian authorities to allow her to serve out her sentence in the Philippines.
PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Passengers heading to their respective provinces for the Holy Week break flock to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 on March 27, 2024. Photo by Joan Bondoc/ STAR
Dateline PhiliPPines
DOH reminds Filipinos to spend Christmas season healthily
by diAnne sAmpAng Inquirer.net
MANILA — With Christmas and New Year parties fast approaching, the Department of Health (DOH) has reminded Filipinos to spend the yuletide healthily through moderate consumption of unhealthy food and proper exercise.
According to Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa, DOH’s Ligtas Christmas campaign promotes three components: healthy eating, exercise, and discipline; safe travel; and avoiding firecrackers.
Herbosa said many Filipinos with high blood pressure make an excuse to eat what is prohibited for them because Christmas festivities only happen once a year.
“We are reminding everyone not to overeat this Christmas — too much rich food, too much oil, too much fatty food. This is our program: eating healthily and doing physical exercise,” Herbosa said in a media forum in Quezon City on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
A report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) in October showed that Filipinos had a higher risk of dying from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) than other people from the Western Pacific region. NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory diseases may not be infectious but continue to account for most causes of death around the world, according to the WHO.
Herbosa also said Filipinos
must practice “biyahealthy,” a portmanteau of “biyahe” (travel) and “healthy,” by ensuring that activities such as walking and riding a bike contribute to a healthy body.
He also said that road accidents remain a top safety concern.
“Many people will drink this Christmas… This doesn’t match because they will drive on their way home. Many of those who get injured come from two-wheeler vehicles,” he added.
Meanwhile, the DOH’s Iwas Paputok (avoid firecrackers) campaign seeks to promote safety, especially among children.
Herbosa said the DOH is recommending a community fireworks display, so children will not be tempted to play with firecrackers. n
8,000 foreign Pogo workers still in PH with tourist visas, says BI
MANILA
— Less than two
weeks before the Dec. 31 deadline for Philippine offshore gaming operator (POGO) hubs to cease operations, around 8,000 foreign POGO workers who downgraded their work visas to tourist visas have yet to voluntarily leave the country, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).
Of the approximately 33,000 foreign POGO workers registered with the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp., an estimated 23,000 to 24,000 have voluntarily departed the country after downgrading their visas, Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
“But there is a substantial number (of workers who still remain in the country); I think about 7,000 to 8,000,” he said during the BI’s year-end press briefing.
Viado clarified that the foreign nationals working in POGOs were not limited to Chinese individuals but also included those from other Asian and Southeast Asian countries.
“There are even some from Africa. So it involves various nationalities—it’s not confined to just one nationality,” he said.
‘Unaccounted for’
But Viado also pointed out that a small portion, around 1,000 foreigners, remained “unaccounted for” as they had not yet applied for the voluntary downgrading of their visas.
“But we will continue to seek them out also,” he said.
Following President Marcos’ order to ban POGOs in the country, which he announced during his State of the Nation Address in July, the BI, under the directive of the Department of Justice, allowed foreign Pogo workers to voluntary downgrade their work visas (9g) until Oct. 18.
After that window, those who volunteered to downgrade to tourist visas were given until Dec. 31 to voluntarily leave the country.
The grace period, according to officials, should give them enough time to wind down their business before totally closing operations.
The visas of the 1,000 workers still unaccounted for were canceled.
The cancellation came with an “order to leave,” but Viado said
they still have until Dec. 31 to downgrade.
“Beyond Dec. 31, if they fail to downgrade, visit our office, and leave, they will be blacklisted and subject to deportation proceedings. That is what will happen to those who fail to voluntarily depart and downgrade within the period specified by the bureau and other agencies,” the BI chief added.
‘Guerrilla’ operations
With the deportations ongoing in batches, Viado said the bureau remained on the lookout for large POGO operations still defying the ban by splintering into smaller, “guerrilla”-style operations.
“We continue to pursue them, in cooperation with other agencies involved in this matter, in line with the president’s directive to sustain efforts in shutting down and cracking down on these POGO companies,” he said.
President Marcos issued a warning last week to those still running guerrilla or rogue POGO and internet gaming licensees (IGLs) after the cancellation of their licenses.
He earlier directed local governments to intensify their intelligence-gathering on POGO remnants in their communities. n
Rainy Christmas seen in most of PH due to amihan
MANILA — Many parts of the country will experience rainy weather this Christmas due to the northeast monsoon, locally known as amihan, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said.
In a press conference on Wednesday, Dec. 18, Pagasa Deputy Administrator for Operations & Services Juanito Galang said Metro Manila as well as Northern and Central Luzon may experience light rains due to the effects of the amihan According to Pagasa, light rains are classified as having a rainfall intensity of 2.2 millimeters (mm) per hour.
“Sa nakikita natin, halos apektado siya ng northeast monsoon. So mga light rains dito sa most part ng Northern at Central Luzon, kasama ng Metro Manila,” Galang explained. (Based on our observations, it is largely affected by the northeast monsoon. Light rains are expected across most parts of Northern and Central Luzon, including Metro Manila.) Galang also noted that parts of Southern Luzon and Visayas will experience moderate
to occasionally heavy rains, ranging from 2.5 to greater than 7.5 mm per hour.
“Pero itong southern part ng Southern Luzon and Visayas, makakaranas pa rin ng moderate to occasionally heavy rains. Kaya ingat pa rin po ang mga kababayan natin sa may Bicol region at Visayas area,” he added.
(However, the southern part of Southern Luzon and Visayas will still experience moderate to occasionally heavy rains. We advise our fellow citizens in the Bicol Region and Visayas area to remain cautious.)
Meanwhile, Pagasa weather specialist Samuel Duran clarified that Tropical Depression Querubin, now a low pressure area (LPA), will not have any direct or indirect influence on the weather in Metro Manila and Northern Luzon leading up to Christmas.
Instead, rainy conditions during this period will be caused by the shear line and the northeast monsoon.
“Based din po sa position ng bagyo, nandyan siya banda sa may Mindanao, so ang mas nakikita nating posibilidad ay ‘yung shear line at ’yung amihan ang talagang magpapaulan dito sa Metro Manila and northern
part ng Luzon,” Duran explained.
(Based on the storm’s position, it’s currently near Mindanao, so what we see as the more likely cause of rain in Metro Manila and the northern part of Luzon is the shear line and the northeast monsoon.) Duran further said rainy weather is likely to persist as Christmas approaches due to the potential movement of the LPA, which may enhance the shear line.
“Kung hihina ito into a low pressure area, possible siya na mag-track, or tumungo, or tumawid dito sa may bandang Mindanao. And ‘yung mga models na tinitignan natin at based na rin sa analysis ng ating tropical cyclone forecasters, yung pagkilos ng LPA pwede niyang ma-enhance ‘yung ating shear line,” the state weather specialist said.
(If it weakens into a lowpressure area, it’s possible for it to track, move toward, or cross near Mindanao. Based on the models we’re monitoring and the analysis of our tropical cyclone forecasters, the movement of the LPA could enhance the shear line.)
“So kapag nagka ganon at bumagal din siya, most likely
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS. Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) Secretary Leo Tereso Magno (3rd from left) leads a souvenir group photo with about 200 youth leaders from across Mindanao participating in the
18, 2024. Organized by the MinDA, the two-day forum aims to equip the youth with skills and knowledge on disaster resilience and preparedness. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
by Jane Bautista Inquirer.net
by Jown ManaLo Inquirer.net
End the export of Filipinos
PRESIDENT Marcos has a dream: to “make overseas work a choice rather than a necessity” one day.
Speaking at a ceremony in Malacañang last week to honor individuals and organizations for excelling in their fields and championing overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), the president cited reforms in governance and economic development that, he said, would provide Filipinos with more and better opportunities here.
Editorial
It has been 50 years since the Labor Code was passed, and as the Philippines emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic that hindered migration globally, “the country is doubling down on its ambitions to serve as a provider of workers to the world,” the MPI said.
But he also recognized that Filipino talents would continue to cross international borders in search of better-paying jobs. “Against this backdrop, the Philippines remains committed to ensuring that the rights and well-being of our overseas Filipinos and their families are safeguarded at all times, wherever they may be,” Mr. Marcos said. And there’s the rub.
Cornerstone of economic policy
As dramatic as it sounds, it’s hard to take the president’s “dream” seriously when a cornerstone of his administration’s economic policy is precisely geared toward the exportation, or exploitation, of Filipino workers, whose remittances help keep the economy afloat. It’s even harder to appreciate his vision in the face of the realities that push our compatriots to seek greener pastures abroad.
As the think tank Migration Policy Institute (MPI) noted in an article published in January, the Philippines has relied on international migration as an economic engine since the enactment of the Labor Code under Presidential Decree No. 442, signed by Mr. Marcos’ late father and namesake in 1974.
That law explicitly mandates the government to “promote the overseas employment of Filipino workers through a comprehensive market promotion and development program,” and “to recruit and place workers for overseas employment on a government-to-government arrangement and in such other sectors as policy may dictate.”
FOLLOWING the instructions of President Marcos, our team at the Philippine embassy in Washington, D.C. is going full blast with our economic diplomacy efforts as we continue our engagements with U.S. legislators and government officials. In fact, we discussed this extensively during our strategic planning session with Philippine consuls general all across the United States, including Guam, on how we will be moving forward relative to the incoming Trump administration. We see a number of opportunities in exploring potential joint ventures in various sectors between U.S.
DONALD Trump’s re-election against the backdrop of a record marred by criminal allegations and accusations of immorality can speak volumes for the powerful strategies and the messaging capacity to resonate with certain segments of the electorate.
Reflecting elements of the Philippine political landscape, Rodrigo Duterte and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. both emerged victorious in previous elections despite controversial backgrounds and strong opposition. By examining the messaging, public relations tactics and socio-political contexts in each case, the power of great PR shines through in influencing voter perception and behavior.
The power of a strong persona and identity politics
Trump’s re-election, like the political successes of Duterte and Marcos in the Philippines, was dependent on a strong, unconventional persona that
Another indicator of the government’s intentions to continue pursuing overseas employment was the creation of the Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) in December 2021.
10 million OFWs in 200 countries
Born from the ashes of multiple fragmented agencies, the DMW claims to protect OFWs and facilitate reintegration. But its very existence underscores an inherent contradiction at the center of the government’s policies on overseas employment: Instead of creating livelihood opportunities at home, the administration continues to institutionalize migration as a solution, reinforcing the unofficial labor export policy that began in the 1970s.
As a result of such a policy, an estimated 10 million Filipinos now live and work in more than 200 countries, many in temporary or irregular status, according to the MPI report. In 2022, more than 1.2 million OFWs were deployed, more than double the figure in 2020, when much of the world had closed its doors to migrant workers at the height of the pandemic.
Unfortunately, despite the president’s declaration, it’s unlikely that the government will turn its back on OFW remittances, which account for nearly 9 percent of the gross domestic product, in lieu of substantive reforms. Remittances soared to record levels in 2022, reaching $32.5 billion, providing a lifeline to an economy that is still recovering from pandemic shocks, the MPI report said. Yet, this dependence on OFWs comes at a high cost.
Economic diplomacy
and Philippine investors. A very good example of a successful joint venture is Amber Kinetics, a global leader in the design and manufacture of long-duration flywheel energy storage systems. I recently visited their facility in Union City, California and was given a briefing on the company’s cutting-edge technology that provides safe, sustainable and reliable energy storage solutions for the modern grid.
Former country chairman of Shell in the Philippines Edgar Chua is the CEO of Amber Kinetics. During a tour of the facility, I spoke with chief technology officer and co-founder Dr. Seth Sanders, who said they are expanding operations in the Philippines where their innovation hub is located. Their facility in Batangas manufactures, assembles and
tests flywheels, while their demo site is located at the De La Salle University in Laguna. Amber Kinetics is a modest company, but it has huge potential because of the role it plays in global efforts to transition towards a clean energy future. It also has a significant role in advancing the Philippines’ renewable energy sector because its investment and innovation in energy storage are transforming the country’s energy landscape, driving sustainability and supporting our transition to a greener future.
Armscor Global Defense is another company that has joint ventures in the United States, with facilities in Nevada, Montana and Utah. This is an example of a quid pro quo business engagement since it will be beneficial to both the
Filipino workers are sent to war zones in the Middle East, caught in the crossfire among combatants, or become victims of illegal recruiters and traffickers, facing potential execution in countries where capital punishment is imposed. Mary Jane Veloso, whose death sentence was commuted by Indonesia and who is set to be transferred to the Philippines, stands as a rare exception to the fate suffered by OFWs on death row abroad.
Preserving workers’ dignity
Such vulnerabilities are the natural consequence of a system that prioritizes dollar inflows over the safety and welfare of the people.
If the president truly aspires to redefine the future of Filipino labor, he must walk his talk by stopping the government’s reliance on labor export and fixing
U.S. and the Philippines – which is how we are going to approach our economic diplomacy agenda with the Trump administration.
These are the kinds of economic activities that we want to see more of in the future, with joint ventures in various sectors that include semiconductors, digital, infrastructure and artificial intelligence.
Our main thrust is economic diplomacy that would help the country achieve economic prosperity that can translate to economic security. To this end, there have been a lot of positive developments like the P1.25billion partnership between Ramon Ang’s New NAIA Infra Corp. (NNIC) and Manny Pangilinan’s Manila Electric Company (Meralco) to upgrade the power supply at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
This collaboration will ensure a reliable supply of electricity at NAIA and will “directly improve functionality, safety and the
Explaining Trump, Duterte and Marcos
gained the support of a particular audience. The PR campaign that supported Trump, Duterte and Marcos all focused on themes of “toughness” and the ability to incite radical change. Even though each politician has tainted reputations, the person in question tended to get a certain “champion of the people” image across, one who would “stand up” to the elites, the status quo and the mainstream media.
In Trump’s case, his PR strategy set the story that he was victimized and unfairly targeted by political foes. The campaign “swept under the rug” claims of criminal conduct and portrayed it as an effort to silence a populist leader. Duterte, in the same vein, postured himself as an “outsider” who could take some fight against the “clash” system, more so with his populist anti-drug war advocacies. Similarly, Marcos Jr. deployed PR tactics to restore the reputation of the Marcos family by repositioning them as victims of politics and HIMSELF as a victor in a struggle for a reputation of “strong” leadership. In each of these three examples, each leader successfully positioned himself as an underdog fighting for the “little
guy,” which increased his appeal and eclipsed his negatives.
Control of narrative
The dominance over the media narrative is a critical factor that explains the electoral success of Trump, Duterte and Marcos. These leaders utilized a directto-audience approach on social media to circumvent traditional media channels. This style enabled them to communicate directly with their supporters, create or push counter-narratives, and discredit mainstream media as biased or out-of-touch. Trump’s use of X, formerly Twitter, Duterte’s reliance on social media platforms and Marcos’s broad network of influencers on the internet all contributed to what had become an echo chamber for their message, amplifying their messages and shutting them off from public criticism.
Duterte and Marcos used PR tactics that blurred lines between truth and propaganda very effectively. Duterte’s infamous Facebook-centric campaign created a deluge of proadministration content not only in promoting him as a “man of action” but also casting suspicion over mainstream media’s credibility.
the structural weaknesses that drive migration: corruption, red tape, the patronage system, and government neglect.
Decades of dependence have created a vicious cycle where families invest heavily in education not to keep talent in the country but to export it, and where nurses, doctors, engineers, teachers, and skilled workers are seen as commodities rather than valued pillars of society. In the end, the president must transform his dream into a vow and a call to action. Ending the labor export policy is not just about economics—it is about preserving the dignity of Filipino workers. Above all, it is about proving to our people they hold the same potential to thrive at home as they do on foreign soil. (Inquirer.net)
passenger experience, setting the foundation for a world class airport that every Filipino can be proud of,” said NNIC President Ramon Ang.
I have known Ramon for a long time, whom I fondly call “Don Ramon” considering how he has transformed San Miguel into what it is today. Our good friend, the late SMC chairman Eduardo “Danding” Cojuangco, had great admiration for Ramon’s business acumen and his vision, and many would agree that without him, SMC would not be what it has become today – one of the biggest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Enhancing power reliability at NAIA will help “empower the tourism and travel industry, support economic growth” and transform NAIA into a worldclass facility, said Meralco chairman Manny Pangilinan.
I have said on several occasions that a stable and reliable supply of electricity is
crucial in attracting investors to sustain growth and transform the economy, and the country’s biggest private electric distribution company can help bring economic progress to many parts of the country. As pointed out by Meralco senior vice president Arnel Casanova during a financial forum with The Monday Circle to discuss the economic and business landscape, a primary objective is to “make the Philippines competitive in the global economy, particularly in the context of becoming digital.” In terms of food security, for instance, power is needed for cold storage. In the area of health care, power is crucial for hospitals to operate very well, for quality of life to be better and for businesses to thrive.
The Philippines is really in a good place today, judging from the positive economic outlooks from international financial institutions like the World Bank
u PAGE 8
Marcos’ campaign utilized the social space to “rewrite” the Marcos regime narrative to frame his father’s rule as positive. This is similar to Trump’s re-election campaign, which exploited his “fake news” narrative to discredit negative coverage. From a public relations perspective, controlling the narrative enabled these leaders to create an “alternative reality” for their followers, in which criticism and allegations did not apply to them.
Appeal to emotions and national identity
A classic PR strategy that Trump, Duterte and Marcos utilized was the appeal to emotions, especially in terms of nationalism and identity.
Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan cleverly tapped into the disillusionment of globalization and demographic shifts with the promise of a nostalgic ideal of America that appealed to a great many voters.
Duterte presented his campaign as promising to “restore peace and order” by tapping into the fears associated with crime and drugs as embracing a strongman who would defend at all costs the people he serves. Marcos, by
nostalgia for his father’s regime, framed the Marcos era as a “golden age” for the Philippines – a narrative that PR campaigns pushed in hopes to attract voters who are disillusioned by current political elites. This appeal to national identity is particularly powerful because it extends beyond scandals and controversies the candidate might be involved in. A leader who is perceived as fighting for the “soul” of the nation or an idealized version of that country will have people blinded to personal failures.
The PR tactic here is to elevate the candidate above personal qualities and place them within a bigger nationalistic narrative so criticisms can seem irrelevant or unpatriotic.
Strategic deployment of scapegoating and anti-system sentiment
A common denominator between the three – rump, Duterte and Marcos – is their exploitation of scapegoating for PR purposes. Trump blamed “the radical left,” the “deep state” and undocumented immigrants for America’s ailments, playing to fears and locking in his voting base.
This tactic creates a strong sense of “us vs them” among supporters, who see their candidate as the last defense against these perceived threats.
Distrust in the system has, in particular, become a potent PR strategy in recent years: the assertions of election fraud by Donald Trump and of media bias by Rodrigo Duterte echo classic campaign rhetoric of Ferdinand Marcos, which portrayed him as a victim of an unjust political order. The narratives were constantly hammered home by the PR teams to whip up support, cultivating a sense of collective victimhood among their followers and garbing their leaders with trappings of resistance.
Lessons in PR: Harnessing controversial but effective strategies
The reelection of leaders like Trump, Duterte and Marcos illustrates that PR campaigns, particularly when accompanied by social media, can be effective in shaping popular perception. A lesson for political PR practitioners is that winning is not tantamount to a perfect reputation. It is winning and holding onto a strong,
Duterte pointed to drug addicts and criminals. Marcos tapped into a deep-seated list of grievances against liberal democratic elites. By identifying enemies that were already unpopular or viewed with suspicion, they tapped into preexisting prejudices and redirected voter anger.
BaBe Romualdez
Babe’s Eye View
ManilaTimes.net photo
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ORMEDO L. LUGO, Plaintiff v. LESBIA LUGO, Defendant.
NUMBER: 24CU026123C TO
PERSONS:
Cokk
Cokk
Cokkie Ramos Regal b. Elijah Javan Villegas to Elijah Javan Regal THE COURT ORDERS that all persons interested in this matter appear before this court at the hearing indicated below to show cause, if any, why the petition for change of name should not be granted. Any person objecting to the name changes described above must file a written objection that includes the reasons for the objection at least two court days before the matter is scheduled to be heard and must appear at the hearing to show cause why the petition should not be granted. If no written objection is timely filed, the court may grant the
without
NOTICE OF HEARING Date: 01/27/2025 Time: 8:30 AM Dept. 61 Superior Court of California, County of
WEST BROADWAY DEPT. 61 San
CA 92101 A copy of
Order to Show Cause shall be published at least once each week for four successive weeks prior to the date set for hearing on the petition in the following newspaper of general circulation printed in this county. Asian Journal: 12/04/2024 NO HEARING WILL OCCUR ON ABOVE DATE: SEE ATTACHMENT
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2. Check (a), (b) or (c): : : : : : : : : :
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS LUZERNE COUNTY, PA No. 00349-2024 CIVIL ACTION – LAW IN DIVORCE COUNTER-AFFIDAVIT UNDER SECTION 3301(d) OF THE DIVORCE CODE
1. Check either (a) or (b): (a) I do not oppose the entry of a divorce decree. (b) I do not oppose the entry of a divorce decree. Check (i), (ii), (iii) or all:
The parties to this action have not lived separate and apart for the required separation period: two years for parties that separated prior to December 5, 2016, and one year for parties that separated on or after December 5, 2016.
I do not wish to make any claims for economic relief. I understand that I may lose rights concerning alimony, division of property, lawyer’s fees, costs and expenses, or other important rights if I do not claim them before a divorce is granted.
I wish to claim economic relief, which may include alimony, division of property, lawyer’s fees, costs and expenses, or other important rights.
I UNDERSTAND THAT IN ADDITION TO CHECKING (2)(b), I MUST ALSO FILE ALL OF MY ECONOMIC CLAIMS IN WRITING AND SERVE THEM ON THE OTHER PARTY. IF I FAIL TO DO SO BEFORE THE DATE SET FORTH ON THE NOTICE OF INTENTION TO FILE THE PRAECIPE TO TRANSMIT RECORD, THE DIVORCE DECREE OR ORDER APPROVING GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE MAY BE ENTERED WITHOUT FURTHER NOTICE TO ME, AND I MAY BE UNABLE THEREAFTER
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NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9022863
Garza’s Janitorial And Floor Care Services located at 1205 Calla Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1708. Registrant: Robert Garza, 1205 Calla Ave, Imperial Beach, CA 91932-1708. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/17/2024.
Signature: Robert Garza. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/18/2024. AJ 1568 12/06, 12/13, 12/20, and 12/27/2024. AJSD 1568
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023898
A CAB located at 16229 Stonebridge PKY #412, San Diego, CA 92131. Registrant: Ali Emami Taleghani, 16229 Stonebridge PKY #412, San Diego, CA 92131. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 12/04/2024. Signature: Ali Emami Taleghani. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/04/2024. AJ 1570 12/06, 12/13, 12/20, and 12/27/2024.
Critical federal health safety nets...
3
groups — children, seniors, people with disabilities, lowwage 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 lowincome 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 dis-enroll 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 unconstitutional
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 U.S. 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)
LEGAL SERVICES
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023979
SALIE’S PLACE located at 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste A1, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Rosalie Navales, 3403 E Plaza Blvd Ste A1, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/01/2024. Signature: Rosalie Navales. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/05/2024.
AJ 1572 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1572
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024479
Happy Little Feet Childcare located at 852 49th St, San Diego, CA 92102. Registrant: Rubicelia Leander, 852 49th St, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 05/21/2024. Signature: Rubicelia Leander. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/12/2024. AJ 1578 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1578
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023977
SD Custom Transfers located at 7798 Gaston Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Mark Anthony Gustilo, 7798 Gaston Dr, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE. Signature: Mark Anthony Gustilo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/05/2024. AJ 1573 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1573
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9022621
Centennial Realty Financial Services located at 9026 Penticton Way, San Diego, CA 92126. Registrant: Ed M. Bermudez, 9026 Penticton Way, San Diego, CA 92126. This business is conducted by An Individual. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 01/09/2020. Signature: Ed M. Bermudez. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/13/2024. AJ 1579 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1579
that projects the economy growing at an average of six percent over the period from 2024 to 2026.
According to World Bank country director for the Philippines Zafer Mustafaoglu, “strong growth puts the country on a firmer footing to maintain gains in poverty reduction,” but warned about the country’s vulnerability to extreme weather events like typhoons.
Knowing the economic impact of natural disasters, President Marcos has called on the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, other
concerned agencies and local government units to “develop innovative solutions” that are science-based, sustainable and future ready.
The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC), which is a partnership between the Philippines, Japan and the United States to develop infrastructure projects such as railways, port modernization and upgrades, semiconductor supply chains and others aimed at driving economic growth, is also attracting interest from countries like Australia, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom to participate in development projects under the
LEC. We have positive vibes and confidence that under the Trump administration, the economic relationship between the Philippines and
Explaining Trump, Duterte and Marcos...
memorable brand. Both of these leaders employed controversial strategies that polarized voters, but their populist, nationalist and anti-institutional narratives proved more compelling than the voices warning about moral or legal issues.
Furthermore, it has changed the concept of “truth” from the public’s point of view by deploying counter-narratives and information flow control. Here, the power of PR in influencing political discourse is palpable, also showing how a
Rainy Christmas seen in most of PH...
habang papalapit ang ating pasko ay halos tuloy-tuloy ‘yung mga pag-ulan natin,” Duran underscored. (So if that happens and it slows down, most likely, as Christmas approaches, we can expect
LEGAL
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024089
TJ BAJA LOCKSMITH located at 1211 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911. Registrant: Joel Mariscal Morales, 1211 4th Ave, Chula Vista, CA 91911. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Joel Mariscal Morales.
Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/06/2024. AJ 1574 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1574
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023925
Ava Massage & Beauty Spa located at 2858 Main St, San Diego, CA 92113. Registrant: Ava Luxurious Beauty LLC, 4815 Ebony Ridge RD, San Diego, CA 92102. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 12/04/2024.
Signature: Christina Xueman Xu. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/04/2024. AJ 1580 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1580
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9022909
a. Black Rose Tattoo located at 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078.
b. Black Rose Tattoo SM located at 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078.
Registrant: Duffield Art Collective LLC, 277 S Rancho Santa Fe Rd, San Marcos, CA 92078
This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Matthew Duffield. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/18/2024. AJ 1575 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1575
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023385
Health Quest Community Care located at 8090 Parkway Drive Ste 100, La Mesa, CA 91942. Registrant: H Squared Health INC, 8090 Parkway Drive Ste 100, La Mesa, CA 919421070 56th St, San Diego, CA 92114. This business is conducted by A Corporation. REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Huy Thanh Ho.
Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/25/2024. AJ 1585 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1585
continuous rains.) Pagasa, however, stated that no new tropical cyclones are expected to develop in the country until next week, based on its current forecast. It then advised the public to continue monitoring official forecasts and updates for any changes in the weather conditions.
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024308
American Smoke Shop #5 located at 2502 S. Santa Fe Ave, Suite A2, Vista, CA 92084.
Registrant: The High Country Pro Glass INC, 2502 S. Santa Fe Ave, Suite A2, Vista, CA 92084. This business is conducted by A Corporation.
REGISTRANT HAS NOT BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) ABOVE.
Signature: Raged Saco. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/10/2024. AJ 1576 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1576
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9024292
Perez Landscaping located at 1537 Q Ave Apt 6, National City, CA 91950. Registrant: Francisco Perez Badillo, 1537 Q Ave Apt 6, National City, CA 91950. This business is conducted by An Individual.
REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 06/13/2012. Signature: Francisco Perez Badillo. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 12/10/2024. AJ 1587 12/20/2024, 12/27/2024, 01/03/2025, and 01/10/2025. AJSD 1587
The state weather bureau announced the onset of amihan on November 19, signaling cooler weather across the country. n
FICTITIOUS BUSINESS
NAME STATEMENT NO. 2024-9023631
Manifest Eats And Catering located at 6231
Madeline Street 182, San Diego, CA 92115. Registrant: Manifest Success LLC, 6231 Madeline Street 182, San Diego, CA 92115. This business is conducted by A Limited Liability Company. REGISTRANT FIRST BEGUN TO TRANSACT BUSINESS UNDER THE NAME(S) AS OF 11/26/2024. Signature: Charles Washington. Statement filed with Recorder/County Clerk of San Diego County on 11/27/2024. AJ 1577 12/13, 12/20, 12/27/2024, and 01/03/2025. AJSD 1577
SAN DIEGO
Pia Wurtzbach, Zig Dulay among 2024 TOYM awardees
by Jessica ann evangelista Inquirer.net
BEAUTY queen Pia Wurtzbach and director Zig Dulay have been announced as among the recipients of the 2024 The Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awards.
During the announcement ceremony in Quezon City on Sunday, December 15, Wurtzbach was named as one of this year’s TOYM awardees for her noteworthy contributions to humanitarian service and social work.
Since winning the Miss Universe 2015 title, the beauty queenactress has been actively involved in humanitarian work, speaking out against cyberbullying and supporting people living with HIV. Meanwhile, Dulay was recognized for his remarkable contributions to arts and culture for film and television. He is known for his work in the award-winning film “Firefly” and series “Maria Clara at Ibarra.”
Aside from Wurtzbach and
Pia Wurtzbach and Zig Dulay (right) are
Dulay, the other eight exemplary Filipinos who have just been named the newest recipients of the prestigious TOYM awards are as follows:
• Jenica Beatriz DizonMountford (Humanitarian Service and Social Work)
• Billie Crystal Dumaliang (Environmental Leadership and Community Development)
• Roscinto Ian Lumbres (Forestry, Agriculture, and Other
Applied Sciences)
• Venazir Martinez (Arts and Culture)
• Jose Gabriel Mejia (Arts and Culture)
• Pia Ranada (Journalism and Mass Communications)
• Dennis Umali (Veterinary Medicine)
• Brent Andrew Viray (Rural Medicine and Surgery).
Bienvenido Tantoco III, Chairman of the TOYM foundation, underscored that this year’s awardees have reached “high levels” in their respective fields.
“When I compare winners from the past and the ones today, I see a few differences. In the past, which was maybe a more linear and binary world, it was enough to be excellent in one chosen field. The winners of this year have reached high levels of mastery include sometimes three chosen fields that on the surface look like these fields have no logical relationship with one another,” he said.
“With that, they need our encouragement to stay on their path. They need an extra boost to continue to be on purpose and also on character,” the chairman added.
Since its inception in 1959, TOYM annually honors Filipinos between the ages of 18 and 40 who have made significant contributions to their field and community.
Sharon Cuneta, Kiko Pangilinan bond with Bongbong Marcos, wife at Malacañang concert
Megastar calls BBM ‘my favorite in their family’
by HannaH mallorca Inquirer.net
POLITICS took a backseat at the annual “Konsyerto sa Palasyo” where Sharon Cuneta and her husband, former Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, were among the guests of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos in Malacañanang on Sunday night, December 15.
The fifth concert edition was held at the historic Kalayaan Grounds, coinciding with the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) where some celebrities whose films are participating in the festival took to the stage and were honored.
Cuneta shared their interaction with the Marcoses on her Instagram page, saying it was an event filled with “nothing but love and other friends.”
She also recalled some of her unforgettable memories when she was in Malacañang, saying it was the place where she saw a disco “for the very first time,” and saw then visiting Pope Paul VI, among other memories.
“When we arrived tonight, I got the warmest hug from the FL (Araneta-Marcos), like no time had passed! And then, of course, the warmest, biggest hug from the president. With some side kwento (stories), just like old times! Thank you so much again, Mr. President and Madam First Lady,” she said.
She further said that Marcos has always been her “favorite in their family.” Marcos and Pangilinan — who is seeking reelection in the 2025 mid-term polls — came from two opposing political camps in the 2022 presidential elections, where the latter ran for vice president, losing to Sara Duterte-Carpio. Marcos and Duterte eventually won an overwhelming lead over Pangilinan and his presidential running mate, Leni Robredo. Celebrating the 50th MMFF
Other celebrities who graced the event were Vice Ganda, Gladys Reyes, Kokoy de Santos, Francine Diaz, Seth Fedelin, Ruru Madrid, Arjo Atayde, Julia
Montes, and Sylvia Sanchez. Also invited to the star-studded concert were Julia Barretto, Enrique Gil, Lorna Tolentino, JC Santos, Chanda Romero, and Aicelle Santos.
The 50th edition of the MMFF will be held from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7, 2025, with 10 competing entries, namely, “And the Breadwinner Is…,” “Green Bones,” “Uninvited,” “Espantaho,” “The Kingdom,” “My Future You,” “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” “Topakk,” “Isang Himala,” and “Hold Me Close.”
One of its most awaited segments include the Parade of Stars which will be held in Manila on December 21.
Trevor Magallanes confirms divorce with Rufa Mae
by Jan milo severo Philstar.com
ACTRESS Rufa Mae Quinto's husband Trevor Magallanes revealed that they are in the process of getting divorced.
In his Instagram story, Trevor said that he needs to explain the status of his marriage with Rufa.
"Hey guys, I felt like I need to explain myself based on social media and all that. I want to make myself clear that Rufa Mae and I are in the process of a divorce," he said.
"You may be aware that divorce can be very devastating to the children but also to the parents. That said, my marriage has been a s*** show and I am sorry for that," he added.
Trevor said that he wanted to spend more time with their daughter Athena after the divorce.
"All that matters to me at this time is getting through the divorce as best as I can and spending time with Athena. Happy holidays!" he wrote.
Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo open to showbiz opportunities
by armin P. adina Inquirer.net
CHELSEA Manalo revealed that a lot of doors have opened for her after being proclaimed as the first-ever Miss Universe Asia at the recently concluded 73rd Miss Universe pageant in Mexico.
The 25-year-old tourism management graduate from De La Salle-Araneta University has been modeling professionally since she was a teenager, and now she could embark on a career outside the fashion industry.
“Maraming pumapasok na (I have been receiving so many) opportunities like showbiz, hosting, modeling international, theater, singer, so marami (there are a lot),” she told INQUIRER. net in a sit-down interview after her homecoming press conference mounted by Bingo Plus at the Empire Studio at Estancia Mall in Pasig City on Saturday afternoon, December 14.
La Bulakenya” faced journalists and online content creators five days since coming back from Los Angeles, California, in the United States, where she stayed for a little while after the international competition in Mexico, to relax and catch up with family and friends.
Manalo also shared that she would still want to continue working with the Miss Universe Philippines organization (MUPH) “on the advocacy that is close to my heart, which are the youth.”
The first black woman to represent the Philippines in Miss Universe finds her new international title as an honor.
“It is dream come true [that] I will forever treasure. It goes not
just to me, but I am extending this beyond, to each and every Filipino and women,” Manalo said. She also profusely thanked everyone who supported her in her journey to the Miss Universe pageant, which has been transformational for her personally.
“I think I have already become that woman that has brought that power and influence for so many women. You can dream much more than just Miss Universe,” she shared. When asked how different is the Chelsea Manalo now from the person who got on the plane to Mexico in late October, she said: “She is strong-willed, more powerful. She already knows how to navigate challenges in her life. Now she is becoming
a person who has so much influence and opportunity that she can extend too.”
She is confident that her title as Miss Universe Asia will also take her to ventures outside pageantry.
“It will reinvent me as a better person. I hope it takes me to a greater and more beautiful person, and take me to more opportunities,” she said.
The national pageant is about to roll out its 2025 edition early next year, with several ladies hoping to succeed Manalo already chosen, while many others are about to get crowned. And the reigning queen is positive that she will relinquish her title to somebody “who is very powerful, strong, with a heart, and with the dignity and heart of a Filipino woman.”
Pia Wurtzbach
Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach
among 2024 TOYM awardees. Inquirer.net photo
Miss Universe Asia 2024 Chelsea Manalo Inquirer.net photo by Armin Adina
Rufa Mae and Trevor Magallanes Philstar.com photo
(From left) Kiko Pangilinan, President Bongbong Marcos, Liza Araneta-Marcos, and Sharon Cuneta during the 5th “Konsyerto sa Palasyo.” Photo from Instagram/@reallysharoncuneta
Christmas in the eyes of 8 children
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio Constantino medina
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 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 photographerwriter 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
City’s Stormwater Department sending flood preparedness pamphlets to over 10,000 residents who live or own property in floodplains
SAN DIEGO
– The City of San Diego is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of residents living in floodplain areas by distributing educational pamphlets with vital information on how to prepare for potential flooding.
The informational brochures, which will be sent to about 10,000 residents who live in or own property in a floodplain, contain essential guidelines on emergency preparedness, evacuation plans, flood insurance and other critical flood-related resources.
“Flooding can have a devastating impact on our community, and it’s crucial that our residents are wellprepared,” said city Stormwater Department Director Todd Snyder.
“These educational flyers provide the necessary information to help families protect themselves, their homes and their property. We encourage everyone to take steps to prepare before the next big storm.”
The pamphlets include important tips on:
• How to protect your property
• What steps to take before, during and after a flood
• Understanding your potential flood risk
• Purchasing flood insurance
• How to contact the city for needed services.
Residents are encouraged to review the information and implement measures to protect against flood damage.
At the same time, the city is taking steps to prevent flooding and ensure the safety and wellbeing of residents. Maintenance teams with the Stormwater Department have been clearing vegetation and trash from channels throughout San Diego.
Following the emergency declaration issued in response to the January 2024 rain event, the city conducted emergency maintenance on about 18 miles of channels citywide, including 12 miles in the Chollas Creek watershed. The extent of this maintenance work was only
made possible by an emergency declaration that allowed the city to proceed with maintenance without environmental permits, which can typically take 1-2 years to secure.
The city’s emergency channel clearing resulted in the removal of more than 9,800 tons of debris.
Mayor Todd Gloria included more than $8 million in funding in the Stormwater Department budget this fiscal year to maintain those 18 miles of channels ahead of the upcoming rainy season.
For more information and resources on how to properly prepare before a storm, please visit the city’s Storm Preparedness webpage (https://www.sandiego. gov/storm-preparedness). To find out if your home is in a floodplain, go to sandiego.gov/floodplain.
Residents are asked to report illegal dumping and trash near creeks or stormwater infrastructure on the GetItDone app, by calling 619-235-1000 or by emailing swppp@sandiego.gov. (City of San Diego Release)
Increase applies to all employees who work within San Diego city limits
SAN DIEGO – Many San Diegans could see more money in their paychecks when the city’s minimum wage goes up in the new year. Effective Jan. 1, 2025, employees who perform at least two hours of work in one or more calendar weeks of the year within the geographic boundaries of the city will receive a minimum wage increase from $16.85 to $17.25 an hour. The
of hard work and advocacy to put more money directly into the pockets of hardworking San Diegans,” said Mayor Todd Gloria. “By raising the minimum wage, we are helping working families deal with the rising cost of living and better make ends meet.” The minimum wage in San Diego has
medical care of a family member. Employers may limit an employee’s use of earned sick leave to forty hours in a benefit year. Updated notices for posting at the workplace are available on the city’s Minimum Wage Program webpage (https://www.sandiego. gov/compliance/labor-standardsenforcement/minimum-wage). Every employer must post these notices in a conspicuous place at any workplace or job site. Contact the City’s Minimum Wage Program at SDMinWage@ sandiego.gov or 619-235-5912 with any questions or to file a complaint. (City of San Diego Release)
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.”
* * * 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 open-minded 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 heard he left Benilde and is now teaching in Madrid.”
Another prof is Chef Joel Erfe (“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 Michelinstarred 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
‘Tis the season for scams
THE holiday season is prime time for scammers, with thousands of older adults scammed each year in San Diego County. San Diegans over the age of 60 often become victims of scams, on average losing over $30,000, according to the FBI’s 2023 Elder Fraud Report. Older adults are often retired with no way to recover their life savings, whereas younger adults have more time to remedy their financial situation.
For years, local law enforcement lacked the tools and resources to investigate these cases and there was less connection between the FBI and the county’s Adult Protective Services (APS), which was receiving thousands of suspicious reports a year. In 2021 the law changed, allowing the agencies to share that vital information.
That same year, county Aging & Independence Services (AIS), the District Attorney’s Office and law enforcement representing jurisdictions throughout the region teamed up with the FBI to create the Elder Justice Task Force to investigate older adult scam cases and bring criminals to justice. To date, the task force has helped recover $3.3 million and both the District Attorney and U.S. Attorney’s office have
successfully prosecuted the criminals involved.
Experts say scammers use layered schemes and fool people in different ways. Phone calls, texts, email and pop ups that appear to be legitimate communications from a bank, family member or government agency are ultimately tricks to steal money. They also note that no government agency will urge anyone to pay something immediately, especially with a wire transfer, gold, bitcoin or gift cards. If you feel like you’re falling for a scam, follow these guidelines:
• Stop engaging
• Hang up, or close the device window
• Look up the business online and call that number
• If it’s a friend or family member, call them directly using a number you have used before.
“No one should be embarrassed if they fall victim to a scam, it can happen to anyone,” said Jessica Salazar, supervisor for the financial abuse unit at the county’s Adult Protective Services. “It’s important as soon as you realize something is wrong to call your financial institution and let them know in detail what happened. That is the best way to try and
get your money back.” Salazar is part of a team focused on investigating older adult scam cases. Her team is busy with a steady flow of cases and collaborates with other teams in APS to manage the heavy caseload. The county provided 33 Don’t Get Hooked trainings for more than 700 San Diegans across the region between July 2023 and June 2024. Older adults, caregivers, family and friends of those most at risk learned about common scams, protection strategies, what to do if scammed, and signs to watch for to determine if a loved one is being scammed.
“Every day in San Diego more than a dozen seniors are likely walking into their banks after being traumatized by scammers and are trying to withdraw their life savings, convinced that their financial accounts have been compromised,” said Scott Pirrello, deputy district attorney.
If you or a loved one has been scammed, report your case to local law enforcement and file a report with the FBI at www. IC3.gov. To report any type of suspected financial elder abuse, please contact the APS Hotline at 800-339-4661.
(Cassie N. Saunders/County of San Diego Communications Office) File photo/www.countynewscenter.com
Chino Hansel Philyang, a writer of children’s books
From left: Stephenie Anne, Mark Deniz, Princess Denisse and mom Christina Camille and Christian Ong
From left: Luis Jaime, mom Lheng, Lowella (with flowers) and Lara
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.”
Alyssa Domilyn Aquino, a brave cancer patient Sofia de los Santos Mendoza
