Marcos rules out warship deployment in West PH Sea
by aLDen M. Monzon Inquirer.net
Sea (WPS)
Ysabel Jurado represents Los Angeles City Council’s District 14
LOS ANGELES – Filipino American progressive lawyer Ysabel Jurado, who has been elected to represent Los Angeles City Council’s District 14, was sworn into office Monday, December 9 as one of the two newest Council members. Jurado last month overcame incumbent Kevin de León to represent the 14th District, making history as the first Fil-Am to be elected to the City Council. The district encompasses downtown Los Angeles, Boyle Heights, Lincoln Heights, El Sereno and Northeast Los Angeles. Jurado won with 57.17 percent of the vote.
Adrin Nazarian, who represents District 2, was also sworn into office. The City Clerk administered the oaths, followed by
No Filipino affected by 7.0 quake in California, says PH consulate First Fil-Am elected to LA City Council sworn into office
SAN FRANCISCO – The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco has not received reports of Filipinos and Filipino Americans affected by the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that hit Northern California Thursday, December 5.
Consul General Neil Ferrer told Inquirer.net USA the consulate continues to monitor the situation and “stands ready to provide any necessary assistance.”
A powerful earthquake shook parts of California on Thursday, prompting the National Weather Service (NWS) to issue a tsunami warning for the U.S. West Coast.
The quake struck at 10:44 a.m. west of Ferndale, a small city in coastal Humboldt County near the Oregon border, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
Consul General Ferrer said most local residents, including Consulate personnel, received an emergency alert on their
MANILA — President Marcos on Tuesday, December 10, ruled out the deployment of Philippine Navy warships in the West Philippine
NBI admits to start from scratch on probing threat vs VP Sara Duterte
by TeTch Torres-Tupas Inquirer.net
MANILA — National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Director Jaime Santiago has admitted that they will be starting from scratch when it comes to investigating the threat to the life of Vice President Sara Duterte. Santiago made the statement to reporters after only the vice president’s lawyer appeared during the rescheduled probe into death threats to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., first lady Liza
World Bank trims 2024 Philippines GDP target to 5.9%
by LoueLLa DesiDerio Philstar.com
MANILA — The World Bank has downscaled its economic growth forecast for the Philippines this year following the slower-than-expected gross domestic product growth in the third quarter, but expects the economy to post faster economic growth next year. In its latest Philippine Economic Update, the World Bank said it revised downward the growth forecast for the country to 5.9 percent this year from the earlier forecast of six percent.
Gonzalo Varela, World Bank lead economist and program leader of
the equitable growth, finance, and institutions practice group for the Philippines, Malaysia, and Brunei, said in a press briefing on December 10 that the revised forecast reflects the impact of adverse weather events that led to lower than expected growth in the third quarter of 2024.
The Philippine economy grew by 5.2 percent in the third quarter, slower than the 6.4 percent growth in the previous quarter and six percent expansion in the third quarter in 2023. The World Bank’s new growth forecast for the Philippines for 2024 is below the government’s revised six to 6.5 percent growth target for this year.
Araneta-Marcos, and House Speaker Martin Romualdez as well as the death threat to Duterte.
“We are mandated to step in and investigate the threats to them, president down to the chief justice. But she did not specify who, what is the threat, and she doesn’t have a proof,” Santiago said.
In the letter sent to the NBI by Duterte’s lawyers, they said they are hoping that the agency would investigate the matter with the “same attention and vigor.”
Bicam approves P6.352 trillion budget for 2025
by Jean MangaLuz Philstar.com
MANILA — Lawmakers from the House of Representatives and the Senate have amended, approved and ratified the 2025 budget, which amounts to P6.352 trillion.
Budget panels from the Senate and the House met in Manila Hotel on Wednesday, December 11 for the final Bicameral Conference.
Sen. Grace Poe, the Senate’s budget sponsor, said that the first bicameral conference committee saw many differences, with reconciliation seemingly impossible at times.
“Hindi lamang natin napanatili, kundi napataas ang pondo ng ilang mahahalagang ahensya kumpara sa nakaraang taon. This increase reflects our unwavering
Marcos vows to make overseas work a choice, not a necessity
MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to start programs that will make working overseas an option rather than a necessity. Speaking at the 2024 Presidential Awards for Filipino Individuals and Organizations Overseas (PAFIOO) in Malacañang, Marcos acknowledged that millions of Filipinos are migrating internationally for better work opportunities.
“Our dream is to, one day, make overseas work a choice rather than a necessity,” the president said.
“We continue to implement reforms in governance and economic development to provide our people with opportunities here at home,” he added.
Marcos then mentioned current government initiatives that safeguard the rights of overseas Filipino workers and their families, such
Pope Francis elevates Bishop David as 10th Filipino cardinal
MANILA — In a historic ceremony at St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Francis elevated Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of the Diocese of Kalookan to cardinal, making him the 10th Filipino to receive the prestigious and powerful rank within the hierarchy of the Catholic Church.
The ceremony took place during a consistory on Saturday, December 7 at the Vatican, where David joined 20 other new cardinals from six continents. A consistory is an assembly of cardinals presided over by the pope, specifically for the solemn promulgation of papal acts.
At the ceremony, David and 20 other fellow cardinals recited the Creed and took oaths of fidelity and obedience to the Pope and his successors. Papal message
In his address to new cardinals, Pope Francis stressed the importance of humility and unity.
“Walk in the way of Jesus: together, with humility, wonder and joy,” the pontiff said, cautioning against the temptations of worldly prestige and power.
The newly created 21 new cardinals from five continents, including bishops from Algiers, Tehran, Tokyo and Abidjan, many of whom may one day help choose his successor.
In the tenth such consistory since he became pope in 2013, Francis, 87, is seeking again to shape the upper echelons of the Catholic Church in his image, and consolidate his legacy as the leader of a more inclusive and global institution.
Previous posts Cardinal David’s ecclesiastical career spans four decades, beginning with his ordination as a priest in the Archdiocese of San Fernando, Pampanga in 1983.
by Luisa Cabato Inquirer.net
Marcos rules out warship...
PAGE 1
been an agent of escalation of tensions,” he said in a media interview in Bulacan province.
“So we will not do that (sending warships),” Marcos added.
Available option
On Saturday, December 7, Commodore Jay Tarriela, the PCG spokesperson on the West Philippine Sea, said the president may opt to send Philippine Navy warships as a “reciprocal act” following the unprecedented involvement of a PLA Navy vessel in shadowing a PCG craft.
Tarriela was referring to one of the incidents in the West Philippine Sea on Dec. 4, when the BRP Teresa Magbanua, the PCG’s largest vessel, was shadowed by a PLA warship at a distance of 300 yards near Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal, also known as Bajo de Masinloc, off Zambales province.
“This is the first time we have encountered a PLA Navy warship closely shadowing the PCG in Bajo de Masinloc,”
Tarriela then said, adding that the deployment of the PLA Navy “was now becoming part of (China’s) strategy in asserting their position in the [WPS].”
But Marcos on Tuesday said: “We are not at war. We don’t need Navy warships.”
Not being ‘provocative’
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a North Luzon Expressway project inauguration in Pulilan, Bulacan province, the president said the PCG and BFAR would keep conducting resupply missions—and that these should not be seen as intended to raise tensions.
“We are going to continue to perform our mission. We will never be part of an escalation in the situation in the West Philippine Sea,” he said.
Sending Navy warships might be seen as “provocative and will be seen as an escalation,” the president said.
“All we are doing is resupplying our fishermen, protecting our territorial rights.”
“The Philippines does not
escalate tensions. Quite the opposite; the Philippines always tries to bring down the level of tension,” he stressed.
The Philippines refers to the portion of the South China Sea that it claims as the West Philippine Sea.
On Dec. 4, Chinese coast guard vessels fired a water cannon and sideswiped a BFAR boat transporting supplies to Filipino fishermen operating at Panatag, according to Philippine officials.
PCG vessels also faced “blocking, shadowing, and dangerous maneuvers” from a Chinese navy vessel.
Days after the Dec. 4 encounters, Manila filed another diplomatic protest against Beijing, which claims almost all of the South China Sea.
China’s embassy in Manila did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
China’s coast guard said last week that Philippine ships “dangerously approached” Beijing’s territorial waters around Scarborough Shoal. n
Pope Francis elevates Bishop David as...
PAGE 1
His leadership extends beyond national borders, as he currently serves as:
• President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines since 2021
• Vice president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (elected February 2024)
Celebration plans
The Diocese of Kalookan (Caloocan) has announced a thanksgiving Mass scheduled for December 14. (Inquirer.net with reports from Agence FrancePresse and Philippine News Agency)
Marcos vows to make overseas work
PAGE 1
as strengthening labor agreements with foreign countries, campaigns against illegal recruitment and trafficking, and mobilizing the Agarang Kalinga at Saklolo para sa mga OFW na Nangangailangan Fund.
“Our embassies and consulates abroad remain vigilant in looking after our people wherever they may be in the world,” he said.
During the ceremony, Marcos awarded 13 honorees of the 2024 PAFIOO for bringing pride to the Philippines and Filipinos overseas.
Their contributions include improving the lives of overseas
Filipinos, aiding national development, and promoting the Filipino community worldwide.
Below is the list of the awardees: Lingkod sa Kapwa Pilipino awardees Leo-Felix Jurado, United States of America/Lasam, Cagayan
• Emilio Quines Jr., USA/ Tagudin, Ilocos Sur
• Philippine Nurses Association of New York (PNANY), USA The Neurosurgery Outreach Foundation Inc, USA Pamana ng Pilipino awardees Larry Caramba, Saudi Arabia/Victorias/Negros
Occidental Jane Gerardo-Abaya, Austria/Kalibo, Aklan Roberto Eusebio Lavides, Canada/Gumaca, Quezon
• Melvin Sanicas, Switzerland/Bacolod City, Negros Occidental Banaag awardees
Elvy Barroso, USA/ Ligao City, Albay Zita Cabais, France/ Bani, Pangasinan Elvira dela Cruz, Morocco/Pozorrubio, Pangasinan Kaanib ng Bayan Bader Ahmed Al Zafeen, United Arab Emirates Victor Gaina, Moldova
NBI admits to start from scratch...
PAGE 1
Santiago said another reason why they needed to talk to the vice president was to ask for details about the threats to her life.
He pointed out that the difference between the threat to the vice president’s life and that of the president, first lady, and the House speaker was that for the latter, the information came from Duterte herself.
In a press conference last November, Duterte said if something happened to her, she had already talked to someone who agreed to kill Marcos, the first lady, and Romualdez.
“You might ask, why are you investigating this threat from the VP to the president? Well, she herself said it. We know who made the threat. Whereas the threat against the vice president, we don’t know who made it,” Santiago explained.
Santiago added that the vice president is still welcome to reach out to him in case she changes her mind. n
THE GLOVES ARE OFF. By now, Vice President Sara Duterte is unafraid to show this much hostility toward President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and his allies during a press conference on Oct. 17, 2024 where she threatened to exhume his father’s remains. Photo by Lyn Rillon
Philippine Navy warships BRP Gregorio Del Pilar (PS15) and BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), along with the USS Gabriel Gifford (LCS 10) conduct tactical maneuvers in the West Philippine Sea in this photo taken on November 23, 2023 Armed Forces of the Philippines
Pope Francis places the biretta upon the head of newly-appointed Filipino cardinal Pablo Virgilio Siongco David during an Ordinary Public Consistory for the creation of new cardinals, at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican, on Sunday, December 7, 2024. Screengrab from the Youtube channel of Vatican News
Resources are expanding for older adults on their own
by Judith Graham KFF Health News
Jeff Kromrey, 69, will sit down with his daughter the next time she visits and show her how to access his online accounts if he has an unexpected health crisis.
Gayle Williams-Brett, 69, plans to tackle a project she’s been putting off for months: organizing all her financial information.
Michael Davis, 71, is going to draft a living will and ask a close friend to be his health care surrogate and executor of his estate.
These seniors have been inspired to take these and other actions by an innovative course for such “solo agers”:
Aging Alone Together, offered by Dorot, a social services agency in New York City.
Most of them live alone, without a spouse, a partner,
solo agers don’t feel they have people to talk to as they craft their aging plan, they often will skip the whole process,” said Gerhardt, who endorses a group planning model for these seniors.
That’s the format Dorot has adopted for Aging Alone Together, which is available nationally online free of charge and in person in New York City. More than 1,000 people have participated in the program since it launched in 2021. Dorot is working with partners around the country to expand its reach.
World Bank trims 2024 Philippines...
PAGE 1
Despite the downward adjustment in the 2024 growth forecast for the Philippines, the World Bank expects the economy to expand at a faster 6.1 percent next year and six percent in 2026.
The World Bank’s growth forecasts for the Philippines for 2025 and 2026 are both within the six to eight percent growth goal set by the government for those years.
to maintain gains in poverty reduction,” Zafer Mustafaoglu, World Bank country director for the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam said.
The World Bank expects poverty incidence in the country to decrease to 13.6 percent this year from 15.5 percent last year, based on the lower-middle-income poverty line of $3.65 per day.
It expects the poverty incidence to fall further to 11.3 percent in 2026.
adverse weather conditions that may affect farm output, tourism, construction and industrial activities.
As the country strengthens its resilience against climate change, World Bank senior economist Jaffar Al-Rikabi said it also vital to accelerate digital transformation to sustain growth in the long term.
or adult children to help them manage as they grow older.
Until a few years ago, few resources were available for this growing slice of the older population.
Now, there are several Facebook groups for solo agers, as well as in-person groups springing up around the country, conferences and webinars, a national clearinghouse of resources, and an expanding array of books on the topic.
All address these seniors’ need to connect with other people, prevent isolation, and prepare for a future when they might become less robust, encounter more health issues, and need more assistance.
“Older adults who cannot rely on family members need to be very intentional about creating support systems and putting other plans in place,” said Ailene Gerhardt, a patient advocate in Boston who created the Navigating Solo Network three years ago.
In a survey published last year, AARP — which broadens the definition of older Americans to people 50 and older — examined those who live alone and don’t have living children. Ten percent of those 50 or older meet this definition, AARP estimates. An additional 11% have at least one living child but are estranged from them. And 13% have children who they believe can’t or won’t help them manage their finances and health care.
Preparing in isolation for the future can be daunting. “If
The program consists of six 90-minute, interactive weekly sessions that focus on these seniors’ key concerns: building communities of support, figuring out where to live, completing advance care directives such as living wills, and getting financial and legal affairs in order.
One goal is to help participants identify their priorities and overcome the fear and hesitation that so many older adults feel when peering into their uncertain futures, said Claire Nisen, a Dorot staffer who runs the program. Another is to offer practical tools, advice, and resources that can spur people to action.
Yet another is to foster a sense of community that promotes a “can do” attitude. As Nisen said repeatedly when I took the course in September and October, “Solo aging doesn’t mean aging alone.”
That message resonated deeply with Williams-Brett, who lives with her severely disabled mother, 97, in a twostory brownstone in Brooklyn. Williams-Brett, who is divorced and never had children, expects to be on her own as she grows older. Her mother had a devastating stroke three years ago, and since then WilliamsBrett has been her full-time caregiver.
Overwhelmed by everything on her to-do list — declutter the house, make home repairs, straighten out her finances, safeguard her mother’s health — Williams-Brett told me she’d been struggling with shame and fear. “All the time, I feel
PAGE 4
“The positive outlook that we see for the economy is anchored on private domestic demand,” Varela said, noting that private consumption is expected to remain the main engine of economic activity until 2026, fueled by low and stable inflation, steady overseas Filipino workers’ remittances and a dynamic labor market.
He said private investment activity is also expected to firm up due to reforms undertaken by the country to attract more investors and lower interest rates.
“Strong growth puts the country on a firmer footing
The World Bank said external and domestic risks, however, could affect the growth outlook.
Externally, these include geopolitical tensions and weaknesses in China’s economy, which could weaken global trade, manufacturing and tourism, as well as uncertainty over measures introduced by large economies that may affect global trade.
Within the Philippines, the World Bank cited risks such as higher inflation that could erode incomes and constrain private consumption if it is not well managed, as well as
“Advancing the digital economy, including by encouraging greater adoption of core digital technologies by businesses, can expand the country’s growth potential,” he said. He said increased digitalization could expand market access, build resilience to economic shocks, as well as improve the country’s productivity and competitiveness.
“Investing in human capital is just as crucial for the Philippines to sustain its growth and seize the opportunity for a ‘demographic dividend,’ which will only last for the next 20–25 years,” he said. n
No Filipino affected by 7.0 quake in California...
PAGE 1 mobile devices with a tsunami warning.
The warning said: “A series of powerful waves and strong currents may impact coasts near you. You are in danger. Get away from coastal waters. Move to high ground or inland now. Keep away from the coast until local officials say it is safe to return.”
At least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning, which was later canceled by NWS. The warning covered nearly 500 miles (805 km) of coastline, from the edge of California’s Monterey Bay north into Oregon.
The quake was felt as far south as San Francisco, where residents felt a rolling motion for several seconds. It was followed by smaller aftershocks.
Fil-Am news producer and freelance photographer Vic Valbuena Bareng said he was cleaning his yard in Daly City when he received the emergency alert on his phone.
“We live near the coastline but at a high level so I didn’t
feel any danger. However, there were emergency vehicles gathered at the nearby lookout point and Coastguard helicopters flying above,” Bareng said.
“I walked near the coastline to observe from above but didn’t see any signs of a tsunami. After a few minutes another alert was issued that the tsunami alert was canceled. That’s when I headed back home.”
Numerous cities had put evacuations in place as a precaution, urging residents to move to higher ground or further inland.
California Governor Gavin Newsom Thursday proclaimed a state of emergency in the Del Norte, Humboldt and Mendocino Counties to support emergency response to the earthquake. (Jun Nucum/Inquirer.net)
Jeff Kromrey, who
Photo by Jeff Kromrey
Photo by Michael Davis
Gayle Williams-Brett is frequently overwhelmed by the responsibility of caring for her severely disabled mother, who lives with her in a twostory brownstone in Brooklyn. She has often felt entirely alone as a full-time caregiver. Photo by Cornell Antoine
At least 5.3 million people in California were under a tsunami warning, which was later canceled by NWS. Photo by Vic Valbuena Bareng
First Fil-Am elected to LA City Council...
a ceremonial public swearing-
in during Tuesday’s council
meeting.
The clerk last week administered oaths to the four incumbent council members who won new terms in the 2024 elections
“Thank you to every person who joined this campaign, who believed in this vision, and who fought for this victory. We are moving forward together and blazing a trail for the rest of the nation,” Jurado said when she declared victory last month.
Jurado describes herself on her campaign website as a tenants rights attorney, affordable housing activist, single mom and daughter of former undocumented Filipino immigrants.
She attended Pasadena City College and put herself through college at UCLA, where she completed her bachelor’s degree.
She went on to UCLA School of Law, where she graduated with a Juris Doctorate with
specializations in Critical Race Studies and the David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy.
“She did it all as a single teen mom while raising her daughter, Stella,” states her campaign website.
Jurado’s platform focuses on expanding affordable housing,
ending homelessness, supporting small businesses, tackling the climate crisis and building a more just economy for all. As a housing rights lawyer, Jurado fought to stop tenant evictions and stood side by side with community organizations and small businesses that were at risk of losing their leases. n
Bicam approves P6.352-trillion budget...
commitment to prioritize the needs of the Filipino people,”
Poe said in her opening statement.
(We did not just maintain, but we increased the funds of several important agencies compared to last year. This increase reflects our unwavering commitment to prioritize the needs of the Filipino people.)
Poe said that the budget will go to institutions that prioritize social protection, livelihood programs, health, education and disaster response.
“We are also happy to report increases in the budget of the defense, justice, transportation and infrastructure sectors which will bolster the foundation of our nation,” Poe said.
Poe said that the budget more or less remained the same from the Senate version.
Sen. Risa Hontiveros expressed that she and her team would need to go over the budget once more before signing.
Sen. Bato Dela Rosa, the last senator to arrive at the bicam, was also the first one to leave. In a chance interview on his way out, he said he also did not sign the budget.
Sen. Bong Go did not attend
the bicam. Ako-Bicol Partylist Rep. Elizaldy Co likewise called the bicam report a step towards new solutions.
“The initiatives we prioritized is not just a simple step away from traditional ways, but a new view that fits the goals of the government and the people,” Co said in Filipino. Co said that the budget panels of both the House and the Senate looked at the budget meticulously. The bicam for the annual budget has often been held behind closed doors. This bicameral conference was open to the media following calls from lawmakers for more transparency. Concerns on transparency arose following several provisions in the 2024 national
budget that slipped under the nose of some senators.
While Wednesday’s bicam was open, the fine details of the budget were not discussed in public. Instead, the final budget was merely ratified and approved. Meanwhile, House Speaker Martin Rimualdez lauded the passing of the approval of the General Appropriations Bill.
“This partnership ensured that every peso is allocated to programs that matter most in putting food on every table, improving access to health care and education, creating jobs, higher take-home pay of our peace-keeping forces, relief aid to those in need, and building infrastructure that benefits communities nationwide,” Romualdez said in a statement. n
Resources are expanding for older adults...
I’m not doing what I should be well enough,” she said.
Hearing other seniors voice similar concerns during Aging Alone Together sessions, Williams-Brett realized she didn’t judge them as she was judging herself. “I thought, we all have issues we’re dealing with,” she said. “You don’t have anything to feel ashamed of.”
Kromrey, who lives alone in Tampa, Florida, knows he’s fortunate to be healthy, financially stable, and very close with his adult daughter, who will be his health care and legal decision-maker should he become incapacitated.
Kromrey, widowed nine years ago, also has three sons — two in South Carolina and one in West Palm Beach, Florida.
While participating in Aging Alone Together, Kromrey realized he had assumed he’d never have a health crisis such as a stroke or heart attack — a common form of denial.
His daughter and her husband planned to travel from North Carolina to join Kromrey over Thanksgiving. During that visit, Kromrey said, he would
give her passwords to his computer and online accounts, explain his system for keeping track of bills, and show her where other important files are.
“That way, she’ll just be able to take right over if something unexpected occurs,” he said.
Davis is an artist who never married, doesn’t have siblings and lives alone in Manhattan.
In a phone conversation, he said his most pressing concern is “finding something to do that’s worthwhile” now that arthritis has made it difficult for him to paint.
In some ways, Davis is prepared for the future. He has a long-term care insurance policy that will pay for help in the home and a rent-regulated apartment in a building with an elevator. But he recognizes that he’s become too isolated as his artistic activities have waned.
“There are days that go by when I don’t say a word to anyone,” Davis acknowledged.
“I have my friends, but they have their own lives, with their children and grandchildren. I’m turning to Dorot for more social contact. And Aging Alone Together has helped me
focus on the here and now.” For more information about Aging Alone Together, email agingalonetogether@dorotusa. org or visit the program’s website.
A national clearinghouse of resources for solo agers and information about solo-ager groups in the United States is available at the Navigating Solo website. The National Council on Aging has assembled a guide to resources and support for older adults living alone.
Facebook groups for solo agers include Elder Orphans (Aging Alone), Elder Orphans, NYC Solo Agers, and Solo Aging Without Personal Representative. Another online community is the Solo Ager/ Aging Together. Books about planning for solo aging include “Essential Retirement Planning for Solo Agers,” “Solo and Smart,” “Who Will Take Care of Me When I’m Old?” and “The Complete Eldercare Planner.” Several videos about planning for solo aging can be found on YouTube, including this helpful video from CJE SeniorLife. n
Senators attend the final bicameral conference for the proposed 2025 national budget on December 11, 2024. Photo by Jean Mangaluz / Philstar.com
Ysabel Jurado makes history as the first Filipino American elected to the LA City Council.
Photo from Ysabel Jurado’s campaign website
Dateline PhiliPPines
Manny Villar back among Forbes Asia’s ‘Heroes of Philanthropy’
by roMina cabrera Philstar.com
MANILA — Tycoon and former Senate President Manuel Villar Jr. has returned to Forbes Asia’s annual Heroes of Philanthropy list.
Villar, chairman of Vista Land & Lifescapes Inc., is the only Filipino in the 18th annual edition of the Heroes of Philanthropy roster.
The Forbes Asia list consists of 15 entries featuring philanthropists “who have made significant contributions and demonstrated commitment to causes they cherish over the past year.”
In 2020, Villar also made it to the list’s 14th edition.
Forbes selected the 15 entries on the 2024 list for their philanthropic efforts in the past year, making significant donations from their own fortunes.
Corporate philanthropy was not considered, unless the company is privately held and the individual is a majority owner.
Forbes said that Villar, on his end, donated P615 million or $10.4 million last October to build a church and school inside Provence, a residential community about 40 kilometers north of Manila being developed by his company.
Vista Land said Villar’s gift to the local Catholic Church consisted of 1.2 hectares of
land, valued at P613 million and the rest in cash.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the church in the city of Malolos was held last month.
“It has always been my belief that communities flourish when faith and education are at (their) center,” Villar said.
Villar is regarded as the country’s wealthiest individual with an estimated net worth of $17.3 billion.
The former politician had also previously donated more than two hectares of land to Manila’s Saint Jude Catholic School and completed the donation of five hectares to the University of the Philippines with a combined value of P8 billion. n
VP to Filipinos: Be compassionate
VICE President Sara Duterte urged the public to be compassionate as she issued a message on Sunday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception was celebrated on Dec. 9 this year because Dec. 8 fell on an Advent Sunday.
“I join all the Catholic faithful in the solemn remembrance of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception,” Duterte said in a Facebook post. “The enduring faith and steadfast
joy exemplified by the Blessed Virgin Mary demonstrates an example of unwavering love that remains dauntless in the face of challenges and tribulations.”
“We are encouraged today to live up to her virtues of compassion, empathy, and generosity, which underscored the resilience she exemplified in the face of loss and sorrow,” she said.
“May the solemn observance of this day invite us all to join hands in prayer as we extend a helping hand to the needy, show mercy to those who are facing
injustices, and extend love and kindness to our kababayan (countrymen) in the underserved and unserved communities,” she said.
By signing up with an email address, I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
“Let us be guided by our resilience that is rooted in faith in every trying time as we look forward with profound hope and optimism to a better future for every Filipino,” Duterte said.
(ManilaTimes.net)
Top leaders’ ratings plummet amid turmoil
by WiLLiam b depasupiL ManilaTimes.net
THE satisfaction and trust ratings of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Vice President Sara Duterte and two other top officials of the government dropped to all-time lows during the fourth quarter, a non-commissioned survey by the Issues and Advocacy Center showed.
The non-commissioned fourth quarter Pulso ng Pilipino survey, conducted from Nov. 1 to Dec. 5, showed that the satisfaction ratings of Marcos and Duterte dropped to an all-time low of 33 percent and 32 percent, respectively, from 46 percent and 52 percent during the second-quarter survey conducted last June 10 to 17, 2024.
The same survey also showed a similar downspin to the satisfaction ratings of Senate President Francis Escudero and Speaker Martin Romualdez, with 37 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in stark contrast to the 53 percent and 42 percent they got, respectively, during the second quarter.
The center said the turbulent conditions precipitated by the political bickering involving the country’s top two officials, the damage caused by recent
typhoons, reports of graft and corruption in high places, the unending impasse at the West Philippine Sea, unchecked inflation, and unfulfilled election promises all combined to trigger a steep drop in both the performance and trust ratings of the top five officials of the country.
In the same survey, the trust ratings of Marcos and Duterte plunged to 37 percent and 36 percent, respectively. Similarly, the trust ratings of Escudero hovered at 27 percent, while that of Romualdez was at 23 percent.
The Pulso ng Pilipino also said that one of the major factors in the perceptible decline in public confidence is due to the perceived
lack of efficiency and competence in governance in the way the top two officials of the country have been performing their functions.
“Most glaring of these slip-ups was when the president himself boasted about the completion of 5,500 flood control projects and Typhoon Carina slammed into the Philippines, leaving 22 people dead and causing widespread flooding, landslides, power outages and 600,000 people displaced,” the survey company said.
Midway into the president’s term, the people have yet to see the retail price of rice drop to P20 per kilo, a major campaign promise. n
CHOICES. Rice varieties sell between PHP45 and PHP80 per kilo at a retail store in San Andres, Manila on Tuesday (Dec. 10, 2024). President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act 12078 on Monday (Dec. 9) to amend the Rice Tariffication Law as the government moves to ensure stable food supply and lower rice prices. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Tycoon Manny Villar (2nd from right) is the only Filipino in the 18th annual Forbes Asia roster of philanthropists who have made significant contributions and demonstrated commitment to causes they cherish. Illustration also shows (from left) Daniel Tsai of Taiwan, Eduardo Saverin of Singapore, Abhishek Lodha of India, Solina Chau of Hong Kong and Tadashi Yana of Japan. Forbes Asia image President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Vice President Sara Duterte.
photos by Alfred Frias
To impeach or not to impeach
THE road is long and uncertain for those seeking the removal of Vice President Sara Duterte via impeachment, but impeachment is by no means the only path in the pursuit of accountability for the P612.5 million in confidential funds allegedly misspent under her leadership.
The reality is that impeachment is not just a constitutional instrument to make high officials answerable for wrongdoing. Too often, it serves as a bargaining chip for partisan gain or monetary benefit; in other words—a political tool. But the allegations leveled at Duterte, being imbued with public interest, require a legal response and potentially, a judicial reckoning.
Which results in a glaring contradiction: Why must Congress seek a political remedy for a fundamentally criminal matter? More importantly, why must the alleged squandering of taxpayer money be left to politicians’ whims and agenda?
Impeachment, as our history has shown, has its uses and advantages, but it is a double-edged sword that one must wield with an abundance of caution.
Highest treachery
The two impeachment complaints filed against the vice president last week offered contrasting approaches in their bid to oust the second most powerful official of the land. The first complaint, filed by civil society leaders and a relative of a drug war victim, employed an all-but-the-kitchensink strategy, heaping on Duterte a litany of accusations that invoked all possible grounds for impeachment, except treason. The second, filed by progressive activists, elected to zero in on one—betrayal of public trust—as it focused on the Office of the Vice President’s (OVP) 11-day spending spree of P125 million in confidential funds in December 2022.
On top of this, both complaints took issue with the unaccounted spending in 2023 of P375 million and P112.5 million in the hard-to-audit secret funds by the OVP and the Department of
Education (DepEd), respectively, during Duterte’s tenure. What stands out in the allegations is the chilling resemblance to other funding shenanigans, like the P10billion pork barrel scam masterminded by Janet Lim-Napoles, the country’s poster child for largescale corruption, who is now serving time for multiple convictions while still on trial for other charges.
Ghost beneficiaries
In a wide-ranging conspiracy that implicated top lawmakers and officials, Napoles was accused—and found guilty in some cases, including plunder, for orchestrating the diversion of congressional allocations to ghost projects with fake beneficiaries.
A similar trail of questionable transactions has now emerged in Duterte’s funding controversy, including the curious cases of Mary Grace Piattos and Kokoy Villamin, who are both listed as signatories to receipts used by the OVP and DepEd to liquidate their respective expenditures.
The Philippine Statistics Authority has since confirmed suspicions that Piattos and Villamin do not exist, at least in its birth, marriage or death records, and the agency is now in the process of checking hundreds of other signatories. It only adds to the cloud of doubt surrounding Duterte’s use of public funds that she has responded to congressional inquiries with stonewalling tactics and defiance.
Let us not forget that confidential funds are intended for pressing national security concerns. That the OVP and DepEd, both civilian agencies, were even granted these funds reflects serious flaws and misplaced priorities in public spending. And like the pork barrel scam, the Duterte scandal
demonstrates the dangers of intertwining political and financial interests in the budgeting process and the absence of robust oversight mechanisms in the use of such appropriations.
Misspent peso
But the stakes are too high for this issue to be brushed aside as partisan squabbling, as President Marcos suggested when he said impeaching Duterte was a “waste of time.”
On the contrary, the House of Representatives and the Senate must act decisively on the impeachment complaints, lest they be seen as enablers of malfeasance. If anything, their inaction would render the House inquiries a toothless spectacle. As former Bayan Muna Rep. Teddy Casiño put it: “[This] impeachment complaint is a challenge to Congress to show its independence,
that it can stand on the side of the people.” It’s too early to say whether the president’s position has doomed the chances of Duterte’s impeachment, but there is precedent for the House and the Senate defying the presidential line. In either case, her critics should know that impeachment is not the only way to hold Duterte to account—the VP is not immune from criminal suits.
Whether in trial courts or the halls of Congress, the government is duty-bound to unmask each ghost beneficiary, account for every misspent peso, and punish all erring officials. Anything less would be a failure of justice and a betrayal of the very public trust that Duterte stands accused of undermining. (Inquirer.net)
WE are so accustomed to seeing spouses and siblings from the same families dominate our political system that we often view the government itself as a family, with its top officials as the nation’s parents. This perspective makes it unsettling to witness open quarrels between the president and vice president. Public disputes, personal accusations, and threats between them make us uncomfortable. Our instinct is to urge reconciliation for the sake of national unity. Nothing could be more naïve and misguided, particularly in a society striving for modernity. Government is not a family. The
Philippine Constitution defines the nation as a democratic state, with power divided among three co-equal branches: the executive, legislative, and judiciary. While these branches are expected to cooperate, a key aspect of their function is to serve as checks and balances against one another. In addition to this structure, a modern political system relies on periodic elections where rival parties compete for power. Political authority is not inherited but earned through the electoral process. Those who win the most votes form the government. Such a scheme does not render the opposition powerless; beyond the elections, its role is to hold the government accountable, critique its policies, and offer alternatives. Conflict and debate among leaders are thus normal and necessary in a modern political system. What should worry us is the
Government is not a family Can we eradicate corruption?
absence of dissent, or the prevalence of a climate of uncritical consensus among those in power. Robust opposition and open disagreements are signs of a healthy democracy. Looking back, one wishes there were more legislators, judges, and ranking civil servants who were bold enough to call out the excesses of the government under former president Rodrigo Duterte. But as we have seen, their silence or timidity turned them into unwitting enablers of a corrupt and oppressive regime.
This context frames Vice President Sara Duterte’s public fallout with President Bongbong Marcos. How should we respond to this bitter split between former allies? If we identify with the “UniTeam” coalition they formed for the 2022 elections, we might urge them to reconcile. But if we oppose the continuation of
the toxic Duterte legacy, this rift would be less troubling. Indeed, it is a political development we should welcome.
The Marcos-Duterte alliance was, from the beginning, a marriage of convenience, not a partnership based on shared ideals or a coherent vision for the country. Their collaboration was entirely pragmatic—a strategy to advance their individual political goals.
For Mr. Marcos, the partnership was particularly advantageous. Having lost the vice presidential race to Leni Robredo in 2016, his presidential bid in 2022 clearly depended on Sara Duterte’s support, or, at the minimum, on her assurance that she would not herself seek the presidency. Whether this arrangement was formalized in a written agreement or governed by informal understandings about campaign finances, joint rallies, or power-sharing
in the event of victory, any perceived betrayal is irrelevant to the public. What matters now is the fallout’s impact. The breakdown of this alliance has opened the door to congressional inquiries into controversies surrounding the past Duterte administration. These hearings have shed light on critical issues, including human rights abuses, the anti-drug campaign, the corruption of the police, death squads, offshore gaming syndicates, the manipulation of local government units, and the misuse of public funds. They have also exposed the opaque use of confidential and intelligence funds by agencies like the Office of the Vice President.
CORRUPTION is ultimately paid for by the poor, Pope Francis once said. We remember his words as we marked International Anti-Corruption Day on Monday, December 9.
It’s true in the past, and still true now. It’s true in rich countries and in the poorest of nations. Indeed, it is the poor who suffer the most because of corruption.
It’s true everywhere and especially true in this nation of 120 million.
More than 20 million Filipinos – that’s a significant number by any indication – still live below poverty line.
It”s no surprise. Corruption in this country is impossibly entrenched and as so many observers have pointed out, we seem to be losing the battle against corruption in recent years.
I had a different topic in mind for today’s column. I was not planning on writing about
corruption again. Never mind that Dec. 9 was supposed to be AntiCorruption Day. After all, I had written about corruption many times over the past 20 years I’ve been working as a journalist. The problem is still as bad as ever and there seems to be no end in sight. But it is precisely because corruption continues to exist that the fight against it must continue. Thus, here I am again writing about corruption.
During the administration of Rody Duterte, I’ve heard horror stories from tycoons and businessmen of how brazen corruption was – from supply deals to flood-control projects; from local government permits to the construction of government buildings; from ghost projects to ghost employees. We are hearing the same things again now.
You name it, the Philippine bureaucracy has it. Colonial roots I often wonder how did we get here. Was corruption bequeathed to us by our colonizers?
One story from the past offers an answer although in reality, there could be many answers.
For instance, there was that story about the corruption discovered by Fernando Bustamante, the first field marshal to serve as governor-general of the Philippines.
“The first step he took after taking office in 1717 was to examine the state of the Royal Treasury; whereupon he uncovered a nest of corruption revolving around the colony’s only economic activity: the Manila-Acapulco Galleon Trade,” according to an article published by the National Museum of the Philippines.
Corruption in these early days involved smuggling of goods to employing rent-seeking practices. It involved the foreign traders and locals.
Then and now, it is very, very disheartening that corruption remains a major problem in our country.
One reason for this is our selective and slow justice system. There are no big fishes behind bars unless you are the sitting president’s political foe, as what happened to former justice secretary Leila de Lima, who would later on be cleared of the
charges against her.
Ghost employees
We have also heard of brazen acts of corruption-related crimes which continue to escape justice.
What has happened, for instance, to the two Monetary Board members involved in the ghost employee scandal of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas?
Even some of our current crop of lawmakers include ex-convicts.
We need a justice system that really brings to justice those found guilty of stealing taxpayers’ money.
Whatever happened to the Pharmally scandal and what will happen to VP Sara Duterte’s confidential fund issue, or should we call it the MaryGrace Piattos deal?
These are questions we need to keep on asking as we mark yet another Anti-Corruption Day.
The youth I am hopeful that in time, when more and more young people become eligible to vote, they will make better decisions and choose better leaders.
I am also keeping my fingers crossed that they would be more vigilant in holding our leaders
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Moreover, these investigations reveal how political favoritism undermines budget scrutiny and how vulnerable civil servants are to political pressure. None of these would have been possible if the Marcos-Duterte alliance had remained intact. Government is not a family, nor should it function like one. We don’t choose our parents, and we might feel compelled to keep them together for the sake of stability. But in a democracy, we elect our leaders and hold them accountable. The nation benefits when its leaders debate openly, argue over policies, and expose one another’s shortcomings. Silence and unchecked harmony can be far more damaging than vigorous dissent. (Inquirer.net)
accountable for their actions.
The theme of this year’s International Anti-Corruption Day commemoration is appropriate – Uniting with Youth Against Corruption: Shaping Tomorrow’s Integrity.
Why the youth?
The United Nations explains it in an article on this year’s commemoration:
“Young people have dreams and aspirations, but corruption erodes the fabric of society, stifles progress and deprives them of educational opportunities, job prospects, engagement in public life, success in sports and access to health care and other essential services. Additionally, it contributes to environmental degradation and climate destruction.
“Our world confronts numerous challenges, tragedies, inequalities and injustices, many of which are tied to corruption,” it said.
There are 1.9 billion young people in the world and fighting corruption is vital for the future of nearly a quarter of the global population.
A seat at the table
“Young people have a clear vision and innovative ideas for a future free from corruption. We must give them a seat at the table, listen to their voices and
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection
* * * 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.
* * * public.lives@gmail.com
involve them in the process. By empowering youth to actively engage in and help lead future anti-corruption efforts, we can create lasting change.”
Therefore, it said, the campaign for International Anti-Corruption Day 2024 to 2025 focuses on the role young guardians of integrity play as advocates, raising awareness about corruption and its impacts on their communities. In the Philippines, the Filipino youth are involved and active. They are everywhere offline and online for instance, using their platforms on social media and advocating for issues they believe in.
This is very encouraging. After all, it is they who will inherit our world.
As the UN said, “building a just world and a sustainable planet is only possible if corruption doesn’t stand in the way. United, we can combat corruption.” (Philstar.com)
* * *
The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on Twitter @eyesgonzales. Column archives at
Sara Duterte eyes hiring of private security due to distrust in military
by crisTina chi Philstar.com
MANILA — How far will Vice
President Sara Duterte go to distance herself from military protection? As far as hiring private security guards if the Armed Forces pull out her entire security detail.
Duterte told reporters Wednesday, December 11 that she would not accept replacements from the Armed Forces if they remove her current security personnel, saying she would rather "seek security arrangements outside" the military.
She shared her plans during a press conference after hosting the media for lunch at the Office of the Vice President's headquarters.
If Duterte proceeds with her plan, it marks a sharp departure from decades of practice in which the country's second-highest official relied on elite military and police units for protection.
This comes after AFP chief
Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. announced on November 27 the replacement of Duterte's security detail, including its commander Col. Raymund Dante Lachica. The move followed a commotion at the Veterans Memorial Medical Center (VMMC) that prompted the Philippine National Police to sue Duterte and her security personnel for assault and
disobedience.
Duterte said she sent a letter last week to Brawner outright refusing to be protected by a new team of military personnel.
"If they remove personnel, they shouldn't replace them. Just leave whoever remains, and if none remain because they remove everyone, I already said I will seek security arrangements outside of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," she said.
Duterte said she is not concerned about potential accusations of creating a private army. The individuals she will hire will be "professional security services" and, unlike military troops, not bring guns all the time, she said.
"That is one option that we are preparing for in case there is a pullout of the entire security detail from the Armed Forces of the Philippines," she said.
Trust issues. Duterte defended her decision to seek private security, citing issues of trust.
"Security is fundamentally a trust and confidence position. It's difficult to entrust your life to somebody you really do not know and it's just put there by somebody who you do not trust as well," she said.
"I don't trust anyone right now except myself," Duterte quipped.
The vice president also criticized the AFP's move,
emphasizing the military's constitutional duty to protect the country's top leaders. She said: "I told them that there is a line of succession. You're supposed to protect your number two, your one and two because that is your reserve. Because one day, if you don't protect your two, one day, you have no one."
The AFP earlier said they received a subpoena from the PNP requiring members of Duterte's security group to be investigated due to the incident at the VMMC last month. A video presented by the Philippine National Police to the media showed Lachica physically pushing the PNP doctor-in-charge during the transfer of OVP chief-of-staff Zuleika Lopez.
Necessary change. Brawner has clarified that the change in personnel was necessary as the military troops being investigated "can't fulfill their role" of protecting the vice president.
In 2022, 433 people served in Duterte's security and protection group, a 455% increase from the 78 detailed military personnel assigned to Vice President Leni Robredo during her last full term in 2021, according to the Commission on Audit (COA).
Duterte's security detail increased to 443 in 2023, according to COA's annual audit report. n
Senators deny coup to unseat Escudero
by Bernadette tamayo ManilaTimes.net
SENATORS on Monday,
December 9 dismissed rumors of an impending coup against
Senate President Francis Escudero and plans to replace him with Sen. Cynthia Villar. Escudero declined to acknowledge the rumor. "I don't comment on rumors. Besides, as I always say, 'It's just a rumor until it happens.'"
"Trabaho na lang muna tayo ( Let us just focus on our work )," Escudero said in a text message when asked about the rumors.
Villar was surprised that her name was dragged into the issue. "Ako ang mag-se Senate president? [Pa]tapos na ang Senado nanggugulo pa tayo ( Who me? I'll become Senate president? The Senate is about to go on recess, and we're still creating trouble )," she said. Senate President Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada and Sens. JV Ejercito and Ronald Dela Rosa described the rumor as "mere gossip."
In separate interviews, they said they have not signed any resolution seeking Escudero's removal.
Estrada said no one approached him to supposedly support Escudero's ouster. He supported Escudero to unseat Sen. Juan Miguel Zubiri last
year as Senate president, creating a major Senate reorganization.
"Who would have the courage to approach me?
I've been supportive of the leadership of Senate President Escudero," he said in a chance interview.
Estrada said it is important that Escudero remains at the helm of the Senate in case the House of Representatives impeaches Vice President Sara Duterte and elevates the impeachment complaint to the Senate.
"At least a lawyer will preside [over the impeachment trial]," Estrada said in Filipino. Ejercito said his fellow
senators are satisfied with Escudero's leadership. "So, I don't think there's truth to that rumor."
"I think it is difficult to entertain coup or change in leadership because of the work that we have to do," Ejercito said.
Dela Rosa, in Filipino, said, "I haven't heard of any [coup]."
But if it is true that Villar would be tapped to replace Escudero, Dela Rosa said he would "automatically" support her. "We're very close. But, there's no such thing."
"So far, we're OK with Senator Chiz (Escudero). We have no problem [with him]," he added. n
Coalition declares allegiance to Marcos
and people," he added.
The alliance expressed optimism that its solidarity would inspire broader unity among Filipinos, aligning with the "Bagong Pilipinas" ( New Philippines ) vision of Marcos. n
EDUCATIONAL GETAWAY. Children enter
Senate President Francis Escudero ManilaTimes.net photo
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OPM band Ben&Ben is over the moon as their latest milestone lights up Times Square in New York City: a billboard showcasing their newest album, “The Traveller Across Dimensions.”
The band shared the news on social media, saying they hope they made their parents proud.
“Ma, nasa Times Square na yung album (Mother, the album is already on Times Square) [crying emojis] hope to make you proud,” the nine-piece band wrote on their caption.
The billboard marks a major achievement for the group, as they continue to gain recognition for their music and growing fanbase.
According to marketing experts, having one’s billboard displayed in Times Square is a significant achievement, as the location is one of the most iconic and highly crowded areas in the world.
known as The Benjamins, as they were only initially headlined by twin brothers Miguel and Paolo Benjamin. In 2016, the band decided to add new members and change their band name to Ben&Ben.
Meanwhile, the band’s keyboardist Pat Lasaten and bassist Agnes Reoma have recently tied the knot in Los Angeles, California.
by Anne PAsAjol Inquirer.net
SOFRONIO Vasquez emerged as “The Voice” United States Season 26 winner, becoming the firstever Filipino to have won the competition.
Vasquez bested the remaining four finalists at the two-night finale held on Dec. 9 and 10 (Dec. 10 and 11 in the Philippines).
During the first part of the final round, Vasquez, who is under Team Michael Bublé, sang Sia’s “Unstoppable” and “A Million Dreams” from “The Greatest Showman.”
Vasquez then shared the stage with his coach Bublé for the second part, performing a duet of “Who’s Lovin’ You” by
The Jackson 5. Shye, another contestant from Team Bublé, came second to Vasquez, while Sydney Sterlace from Team Gwen Stefani placed third.
Danny Joseph from Team Reba McEntire took the fourth place, while Jeremy Beloate from Team Snoop Dogg earned the fifth place.
Prior to the finals, Vasquez sang his heart out to Elvis Presley’s “If I Can Dream” during the “The Voice” United States live show. He also performed a duet with Beloate, singing “Every Breath You Take” with the songwriter himself, Sting, playing the bass.
Tawag ng Tanghalan roots Vasquez, who is an alum of the local singing competition
“ Tawag ng Tanghalan ,” was also a four-chair turner during the competition’s blind auditions.
At the “It’s Showtime” episode on Wednesday, Dec. 11, Vasquez received accolades from its hosts, which aired the “ Tawag ng Tanghalan ” segment where he first started his singing journey.
“I-congratulate naman natin ang ‘Tawag ng Tanghalan’ alumnus na si Sofronio Vasquez!” Ogie Alcasid announced on the show. “Your Showtime family is so proud of you. Tatak Showtime yan!”
( Let’s congratulate our “Tawag ng Tanghalan” alumnus Sofronio Vasquez… Your Showtime family is so proud of you. You exemplified the ‘Showtime’ brand. )
In March, the Filipino indie folk-pop band was tapped to perform as a special guest in the Manila leg of Ed Sheeran’s +-=÷× Tour (pronounced The Mathematics Tour).
For the first time, Ben&Ben’s songs were also recently featured in a live musical via the staging of “One More Chance: The Musical.”
Last year, their song “Sa Susunod Na Habang Buhay” was also popularized in the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry, “Rewind,” starring reallife couple Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera.
Ben&Ben rose to fame for their hits “Kathang Isip,” “Ride Home,” “Leaves,” and “Lifetime,” among others.
The OPM band was formerly
Aside from the aforementioned, Ben&Ben is composed of Poach Barretto, Keifer Cabugao, drummer Jam Villanueva, and percussionists
Toni Muñoz and Andrew De Paon.
Miguel and Paolo also recently sat down and interviewed Lin Manuel Miranda and Barry Jenkins for the upcoming “Mufasa: The Lion King.”
Ben&Ben’s newest billboard at Times Square Photo from Instagram/@benandbenmusic
Sofronio Vasquez
Photo from Facebook/Sofronio Vasquez
My encounter with Manny and Cynthia Villar
My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
RoGelio Constantino Medina
IT was nice to see again host Audrey Gorriceta as I was amazed by the other hosts of Rise and Shine Pilipinas at People’s Television Network that early morning. It was my first time to meet Patrick de Jesus, beauty queen Meiji Cruz, Dianne Guerrer and Fifi delos Santos. I was with the awards committee chairman Nirro Marcelo of the 2nd Southeast Asian Premier Business and Achiever Award.
Though it was a brief interview experience at PTV’s Rise and Shine Pilipinas, I considered it memorable. I wanted to talk about science journalism and the successful representation of the Philippines in which it topped the 2024 Science Journalism Forum’s Leaderboard, defeating African and European representatives.
Hopefully, next guesting.
* * *
Having gone to Tsukuba Science City years ago was very memorable to me. I was the first Filipino journalist to interview Asia’s first astronaut, Dr.
Mamoru Mohri of Japan, for the defunct Far Eastern Economic Review in Hongkong.
* * * Filmmaker Emille Joson has made a positive impact through her family’s humanitarian foundations and cooperatives (Alaga Producers Cooperative) and empowering films for women. Her films and recent family religious concerts have been mostly praised online. One of her works captured the international audience, including some Hollywood celebrities. Her debut short film, “Adivino,” graced the Philippines’ cinema in 2012 and had a surprising streaming resurgence internationally in the wake of the #MeToo movement one decade later. This feminist horror short film tells the story of a con-artist fortune teller who becomes entangled with her battered female friend’s mess. In spite of the short film’s controversial characters, it swept dozens of awards, including a historic nomination in the 37th Metro Manila Film Festival Student Short Film Category. Since then, Joson has continued to receive many accolades. She has worked with A-list celebrities in critically acclaimed projects like “Sakaling Hindi Makarating,” “My Second Mom,” “C1
Originals: The Comeback,” and “Pagari: Mohammad Abdullah.” She has become known for her unique approach to writing and selective taste in movie projects, as a filmmaker who is unafraid to tackle diverse, taboo, and intricate themes, showcasing a bold and daring artistic vision in her storytelling. Thanks to her brilliant way of writing, she made Filipinos proud by having her short film gain its own following outside the Philippines.
* * * David Valencia, grandson of the late Batangueño journalist and columnist Teodoro Valencia, is a product of Paref Southridge School and UP Diliman and a doting Christian father to his three children. He and his wife were recently in the United States for a mission.
He treasured the KBP (Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas) pin of his grandpa Ka Doroy that his mom had given him.
*
* * Two persons I would never forget: my editor Kerima Polotan-Tuvera and my boss Teodoro Benigno.
Mindanao-born Kerima Polotan-Tuvera, a Filipino fiction writer, essayist and journalist, was my editor at the Evening Post. She wrote the biography of former First Lady Imelda R. Marcos. She was married to newsman Juan Capiendo Tuvera, executive assistant and speechwriter of the late Pres. Ferdinand E. Marcos.
Her 1952 short story, “The Virgin,” won two first prizes at the Philippines Free Press Literary Awards and at the Palanca Awards. Her short stories “The Trap” (1956), “The Giants” (1959), “The Tourists” (1960), “The Sounds of Sunday” (1961) and “A Various Season” (1966) all won the first prize of
the Palanca Awards. The 1961 Stonehill Award was bestowed on Polotan-Tuvera for her novel “The Hand of the Enemy.”
On the other hand, Press Secretary Teodoro Benigno, was my boss at the Office of the Press Secretary in Malacañang. I remember I was trained by him and he had even asked me to compose letter-reply in the French language. He was with the Agence France Presse for 37 years, serving as Manila Bureau Chief from 1962 to 1987. He was awarded the French Legion of Honor in 1989. He started as a sportswriter and police beat reporter for the Manila Tribune in late 1940s.
* * *
One night in November 2006, I was about to enter the Manila Peninsula Hotel’s john when I was surprised to see business tycoon Manny Villar (former Senate president) about to enter the restroom too. And I gave way to him as a sign of respect. I followed him afterwards.
The first time I saw him was years ago when I lived in BF Resort Village, Las Pinas City. It was during his 49th birthday on December 13, 1998, with a thanksgiving party for his constituents. He was then a congressman. A short program was then held in Club Italia’s tennis court inside the village. Another group also held a program in the Villar’s tree nursery.
Manny Villar, one of the wealthiest and most influential figures in the Philippines, told me that he used to be a squatter in Moriones in Manila’s Tondo. He was also a vendor selling shrimps in Divisoria. A day before his birthday, he visited his former house in Tondo and a school where he studied –and he gave scholarships to deserving poor students.
City of San Diego expands shelter under short-term action plan
will soon open new sheltering opportunities after hosting listening sessions with those experiencing homelessness and shelter providers. On Monday, December 9 the city’s Homelessness Strategies
and Solutions Department (HSSD), along with the SDHC and Regional Task Force on Homelessness (RTFH), provided an update to City Council on their Short-Term Action Plan for homelessness. The blueprint addresses the planned closure of the Golden Hall shelter at the end of this month as well as the loss of shelter beds from The Paul Mirabile Center, which will soon be converted from traditional shelter beds to beds dedicated to sober living. Located in East Village, the Paul Mirabile Center is operated by Father Joe’s Villages. Everyone currently staying at the Paul Mirabile Center will transitionin-place to the planned sober living program.
In anticipation of these changes, the city has been working with shelter residents for months on individual transition plans. With 235 spaces added to the city’s Safe Sleeping Program and 263 new shelter beds, shelter residents were able to choose where they wanted to go.
“These additions to our shelter system have ensured that no one impacted by the closure of Golden Hall or the changes at the Paul Mirabile Center will return to the streets,” said San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. “Even as we navigate challenging budget constraints, we are continuing the work we’re doing to address homelessness.”
Approximately 263 Cityfunded shelter beds will be coming online soon at three locations:
• Veterans Village of San Diego – 40 shelter beds for veterans experiencing homelessness. 130 beds for single adults and seniors, operated separately by Father Joe’s Villages.
• TURN Behavioral Health Services – 56-bed noncongregate shelter focused on those with alcohol substance abuse.
• San Diego Rescue Mission – 37 beds at the South County Lighthouse Interim Shelter in National City for those who identify as male or non-binary/
I remember his birthday wish was for the country to recover from economic crisis and for every Filipino, especially the poor, to have a better future in the coming years. “Even if you’re a squatter and if you’ve the patience, hard work and determination, you can have a bright future,” remarked the down-to-earth taipan. He has given essence to the value of instilling entrepreneurship among today’s Filipinos to speed up progress in the country. He admitted that “it takes time for an entrepreneur to reach success, but once he reaches success, he has his own business and he is independent, he is the master of his own fate.”
For him, education is not important in entrepreneurship. “It is better if you have education. But, if you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.”
* * * Congratulations to Andrew Fordy S. Espiritu, son of singer
major
11
Yap
E (who
and
who graduated recently at De Montfort University Leicester Southville International School Affiliated with Foreign Universities with Bachelor of Arts in Business and Management (Second Class Honours Class of 2024).
* * * I am glad to know that my former student at Mabalacat City College, Erna Kayla Flores, placed 3rd (91.25%) in the recent Customs Broker Licensure Exam. I remember in my subject, she obtained a final grade of 99%.
* * * 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
City of San Diego provides
gender.
During the shelter transition process, the RTFH provided funding focused on diversion efforts to help quickly connect clients to additional resources.
The city and SDHC are continuing to vet responses to a Request for Information and a Request for Qualifications for properties suitable for shelter use issued earlier this year.
“Over the last three months we’ve hosted seven listening sessions to hear from individuals staying at existing city shelters, shelter staff and outreach workers to inform these new additions,” said Sarah Jarman, director of the city’s Homelessness Strategies and Solutions Department. “Their input is vital as we continue to explore additional expansion of services.”
Also on Monday, the City Council officially accepted a $29 million California Homeless Housing, Assistance, and Prevention Round 5 (HHAP-5) grant. The city was made aware of the allocation in February. The money will be used to support a variety of existing programs including multiple emergency shelters, the Safe Parking Program, Family Reunification Program and coordinated street outreach.
Looking ahead, the city plans to expand the Safe Parking Program to provide additional space for people living in their vehicles. Site preparations continue for a new lot along Harbor Drive near San Diego International Airport, expected to be operational sometime early next year.
In all, the city’s sheltering system funds approximately 1,900 beds, in addition to 760 spaces at the Safe Sleeping Program (https://www.sandiego. gov/homelessness-strategiesand-solutions/services/safesleeping-program) and 220 spaces in the Safe Parking Program (https://www.sandiego. gov/homelessness-strategiesand-solutions/services/safeparking-program).
(City of San Diego Release)
New webpage explains how to best manage landscaping and brush to protect homes and property
SAN DIEGO – The City of San Diego is reminding all San Diegans about the importance of properly maintaining trees and landscaping to protect their homes and communities from wildfire risks. On a new webpage, San Diegans can learn the basics of brush management to reduce the risk of fires and give firefighters more time and room to respond to a fire. The webpage also provides key steps to follow for people who live near environmentally sensitive lands.
“All San Diegans are encouraged to evaluate their property and take action to mitigate the risks of wildfire damage,” said FireRescue Chief Robert Logan. “The new webpage offers valuable recommendations and resources.”
Within San Diego’s geographical boundaries, there are more than 500 linear miles where homes meet dense vegetation in canyons and other open-space areas. It is critical property owners who live near these areas maintain at least 100 feet of defensible space around their homes and habitable structures. Defensible space is the buffer zone between a building and the surrounding area and is divided into two zones, identified as Zone 1 and Zone 2. A new Zone 0, which can be considered the third zone, asks for homeowners to have no vegetation or brush within zero to five feet from structures. Zone 1 extends 35 feet from a home, and Zone 2 extends 65 feet out from the end of Zone 1. Both zones require different brush management practices, especially since Zone 2 often consists of undisturbed vegetation that may be subject to protections for environmentally sensitive lands. This includes coastal sage scrub, maritime succulent scrub and coastal sage-chaparral habitats.
To minimize the impact on the threatened and endangered plants and animals that can live in these areas, such as the California gnatcatcher and the western burrowing owl, now is the time to conduct brush management, which must occur between Aug. 16 and Jan. 31 to avoid the breeding season. To conduct brush management outside of this time, an exception must be granted by the city.
To see if they live near environmentally sensitive lands, also known as the Multi-Habitat Planning Area (MHPA), community members can view the map at https://webmaps.sandiego.gov/portal/apps/webappviewer/ index.html?id=d77da895df084249b1ae7a2c10794470. To learn if they live near open space, San Diegans can view the Parks and Recreation Open Space webpage at p https://webmaps.sandiego.gov/portal/apps/storymaps/ collections/59f80edf3b6d40b7b8e30cdaf7e9304d?item=6.
“The species and habitats living on our environmentally sensitive lands enhance the region’s quality of life,” said City Planning Director Heidi Vonblum. “We can all do our part to save lives and property from wildfire while also ensuring that we protect sensitive plants and animals by taking a few extra steps, such as conducting brush management outside of breeding season.” Community members can visit the Guide to Brush Management webpage (https://www.sandiego.gov/planning/work/brush-
Andrew
has his first
concert on December
at Quezon City’s New Frontier Theater)
Mylene
Espiritu,
From left: Patrick de Jesus, Meiji Cruz, Rogelio Medina, Nirro Marcelo, Audrey Gorriceta, Diane Guerrer and Fifi delos Santos.
Kerima Polotan-Tuvera (left photo) and Teodoro Benigno (right photo)
Rogelio Medina (center) with former Senate President Manny Villar and current Senator Cynthia Villar at their home in BF Resort Village in the city of Las Piñas. Photos courtesy of Rogelio Medina
Andrew Fordy Espiritu (left) with his proud parents Mylene and Andrew E (right photo).
David Valencia in New York City Director Emilie Joson
Erna Kayla Flores, a former student of the author at Mabalacat City College in Pampanga.
Japanese astronaut Dr. Mamoru Mohri, the subject of an article the author wrote for the Far Eastern Economic Review.
State boosts critical battery storage project at Camp Pendleton with $42 million investment
SACRAMENTO – California is boosting battery storage projects across the state – an important part of the state’s transition to 100% clean electricity.
California on Wednesday, December 11 approved a $42 million grant to International Electric Power to build a long-duration energy storage project at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton in San Diego County. The project will provide electricity to the statewide grid and backup power to the base for up to 14 days in the event of power outages. The installation will help enhance the resiliency of California’s electricity grid, the region, and the base, providing a replicable model that can be applied broadly.
The California Energy Commission’s award is part of the state’s Long-Duration Energy Storage Program, funded by Governor Gavin Newsom’s historic multi-billion-dollar commitment to combat climate change. The program invests in demonstrations of nonlithium-ion technologies across the state to create a diverse portfolio of 8-hour-plus energy storage technologies. This is the largest grant awarded under the program. Adding more battery storage is a critical part of the Governor’s build more, faster agenda delivering infrastructure upgrades throughout the state. Find projects building your community at build.ca.gov.
“Since the beginning of my administration, California has been on the front lines of the global battery revolution. We’ve ramped up battery storage
capacity by more than 1,600% –bringing us a quarter of the way to meeting our projected need. Battery storage projects like this one at Camp Pendleton are vital to building a reliable and resilient electric grid in the face of climate extremes,” Gov. Newsom said in a statement released by his officel The project, to be installed at the Camp Pendleton’s Haybarn Energy Reliability Center, will initially provide 6 megawatts (MW)/48 megawatt hours (MWh) of long-duration energy storage. Plans call for the system to later be expanded to a 50 MW/400 MWh installation.
As part of the Haybarn Energy Reliability Center, the project awarded on Wednesday will help support the Marine Corps’ largest West Coast expeditionary training facility, encompassing more than 125,000 acres in San Diego County. The base is one of the Department of Defense’s busiest installations, offering a broad spectrum of training facilities for active and reserve Marine, Army, and Navy units as well as national, state, and
County awarded
local agencies. It supports more than 70,000 military and civilian personnel and their families.
It is expected to be operational in summer 2027 and will help support grid reliability, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by replacing fossil fuel powered back-up generation, and demonstrate solutions that can be scaled and replicated to meet the state’s climate and clean energy goals.
California’s clean energy leadership
The state is projected to need 52,000 MW of energy storage capacity by 2045. Today, it’s a quarter of the way there.
Typical battery storage, which mostly encompasses lithiumion technology, has an industry standard of 2 to 4 hours of discharge. Long-duration energy storage can currently provide power for up to 100 hours.
California has more than 13,300 MW of battery storage installed today. Within the past six years, the state has grown its battery storage capacity by more than 15 times, up from just 770 MW in 2019.
The recent surge in battery storage has significantly enhanced California’s ability to maintain grid stability during extreme weather. Throughout the summer of 2024, battery storage reliably discharged to support the grid during the net peak hours – a critical stretch of the day when the sun sets and solar resources rapidly go offline.
Battery storage discharge to the grid increased from 6,000 MW this spring to more than 8,000 MW this summer.
(CA Governor’s Office Release)
grant to waive permit fees for home cooking program
ARE you interested in becoming a home kitchen operator?
The county’s Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) received a grant from the state to waive permit fees for those who want to operate a Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operation (MEHKO).
MEHKOs are home kitchens that operate as mini restaurants. The opportunity to run a business without the overhead costs and infrastructure required of a traditional brick-and-mortar restaurant facility is a gamechanger for the existing MEHKOs participants.
“There are so many people that have been able to enter the food industry and fulfill lifelong dreams about business ownership and provide food to the community that previously were unable to,” said executive director of the COOK Alliance Roya Bagheri, Esq.
All existing MEHKO permits at the start of the program were provided a fee waiver for their next health permit renewal. All remaining funding will be put toward offsetting new MEHKO permit fees. Fee waivers will be issued on a first come first served basis and will continue until available funds are exhausted or the waiver period ends, whichever comes first. The waiver period runs through May
2025. To date, there have been 31 new MEHKO permits that have been issued as part of the fee waiver since the start of the fee waiver period. The county used 70% of the money that is available to offset permit fees for new MEHKO operators.
The program supports equitable access to self-employment to help avoid high start-up costs for many underrepresented groups, such as women, immigrants and people of color, to use their skills to generate income through a traditional restaurant space.
New operators interested in starting a MEHKO are required to submit a Health Permit Application,
Standard Operating Procedures, and Food Safety Manager Certificate at the time of application. DEHQ oversees the MEHKOs program and ensures food safety through inspections, permitting and oversight of the rules of the program.
DEHQ is committed to supporting San Diego’s home cooks and offers several resources to support those interested in the MEKHOs program. Visit the Home Kitchen Operations webpage at https://www.sandiegocounty. gov/content/sdc/deh/fhd/food/ homekitchenoperations.html to learn more.
(Shauni Lyles/County of San Diego Communications Office)
Community gardens grow veggies, fruit, flowers and friendships
bring to life.
AIS used state funds to buy supplies like fertilizer, shovels, trowels, garden sheds and more. In all, AIS supports more than 20 new and existing community gardens in various ways.
The Bayside Community Center worked with several partners to build the garden located within Linda
New golf cart sized machine will test for treatable diseases in record time
A ONE-of-a-kind machine that works twice as fast as current practices when testing for diseases is heading for the County of San Diego’s new Public Health Lab, allowing epidemiologists to more effectively fight the spread of diseases.
On Tuesday, December 10, the County Board of Supervisors approved the spending of $240,000 to acquire a Diasorin Liaison XL and supporting supplies and equipment.
The golf cart sized piece of equipment can test for tuberculosis, chickenpox, shingles, measles, mumps and rubella.
The faster testing is particularly important for tuberculosis (TB) where local cases are trending up.
The machine’s automation features reduce staff hands-on time by 75 percent. The Diasorin Liaison XL will be ready for use when the new county Public Health Lab opens in late spring 2025.
Unlike traditional skin testing for TB, the Diasorin can test a person’s blood to aid the diagnosis of latent TB infection.
“The biggest challenge in preventing TB is that many people are unaware they have it,” said Dr. Ankita Kadakia, MD, County interim
public health officer. “Latent or dormant TB can be easily treated, yet an estimated 85% of active TB cases come from untreated latent TB. Latent TB sleeps in someone’s body until they develop conditions such as immune suppression which causes the TB to wake up and cause disease. We estimate 175,000 people in San Diego County have latent TB infections.”
The machine’s speed is expected to increase the number of tests for TB. It will find greater numbers
(Cassie
Phishing scams can be hard to spot
SCAMMERS love a good disguise. One day they show up texting you about a delivery you missed, the next they say you need to sort an issue with your Netflix account. Here’s how to avoid these phishing scams.
Phishing emails and text messages often tell a story to trick you into clicking on a link or opening an attachment. Maybe it’s an unexpected email or text message pretending to be from a company you know or trust, like a utility company asking you to make a payment. Or maybe it’s an unexpected party invitation that looks like it’s from a friend or family member.
Don’t click on links or download attachments in these messages. It might lead to a request for personal information, like your Social Security, credit card, or bank account number — and identity theft. Or, the link or attachment could download harmful malware onto your device.
How can you spot these
scams? If you get an email or text message that asks you to click on a link or open an attachment, ask yourself: Do I have an account with the company or know the person who contacted me?
If the answer is “No,” it’s likely a phishing scam. While real companies might communicate with you by email, legitimate companies won’t unexpectedly email or text with a link to update your payment or account information. For other signs of phishing, check out the Federal Trade Commission’s “How to
recognize phishing” at https:// consumer.ftc.gov/articles/howrecognize-and-avoid-phishingscams#recognize. If the answer is “Yes,” contact the company using a phone number or website you know is real — not the information in the email. Or contact your friend directly on a separate email or text string to confirm it’s really them. They’ll understand if you’re suspicious about that unexpected invitation to click a link. (Ari Lazarus/Consumer Education Specialist, FTC)
the residents met each other working at the garden instead of the complex where they live. And that’s where community gardens really live up to their name — they create community. They grow food but they are also places to meet people, socialize, learn new skills and forge friendships.
Intergenerational gardens like these are located throughout the region, with one at the Spring Valley Community Center and another at the Lakeside Community Center. The County Library branch in Ramona also has one.
If you’re interested in learning about an AIS supported community garden near you, contact Intergenerational Coordinator Pam Plimpton at pam.plimpton@ sdcounty.ca.gov. Additional county-related gardens are located at the
“It’s so important to have a place where people can gather and make lasting connections,” said Aging & Independence Director Jennifer Bransford-Koons. “No matter what your age, community gardens allow everyone to work together side by side, as well as learn from, and about each other, in ways that foster that sense of community we all need.”
Sweetwater Community Garden in Bonita, the Tijuana River Valley Community Garden, Los Peñasquitos Canyon Preserve and Rancho Guajome Adobe.
The county also supports the Master Gardener Association of San Diego County. Visit their website (https://www.mastergardenersd. org/community-gardens/) to find additional garden locations, and how to start or restore a community garden.
These efforts reflect the county’s commitment to sustainability. It is core to the county’s mission and part of the new county vision: a just, sustainable and resilient future for all.
(Tracy DeFore/County of San Diego Communications Office)
Malcom Suggs, a MEHKO participant, shares what his business is about in a YouTube video. Screen capture from Suzanne Bartole video
