7.18.24-7.24.24 by Philippine News Today

COMELEC UNDER FIRE OVER ‘P1-B BRIBE’ OF POLL FIRM

Chairman Garcia, South Korean ﬁrm deny, condemn allegations

By ALFRED GABOT and CLAIRE MORALES TRUE Editor in chief and Managing Editor

MANILA – Two months before the start of the filing of certificates of candidacies for the May 2025 senatorial, local and partylist elections, the Commission on Elections (Comelec) came under fire from some sectors, including a sitting congressman and a former lawmaker, due to allegations of bribery involving about P1 billion from a South Korean firm which had won the bidding for the supply of election equipment and systems.

Biden-Trump race tightens after slay try, conventions

WASHINGTON/MA-

NILA – US President Joe

Biden and former President Donald Trump are in a tight race following the assassination attempt on the former president and the Republican and Democratic conventions.

This is the view of most pollsters with some indicat-

ing the Biden still leads the race specially among Asian Americans.

The call for Biden, however, to drop out of the race continues, even as he failed to join an event in Las Vegas after getting Covid 19.

Meanwhile, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sent his well

Big majority of Filipinos unhappy with Marcos handling of economy

By Be�ng Laygo Dolor, Editor

MANILA -- Not just a majority but a huge majority of Filipinos disapprove of the Marcos administration’s handling of the economy.

Speciﬁ cally, no less

SAN FRANCISCO -

Many were expecting a regular campaign rally by a presidential candidate that pleasant sunny day in Butler County in Pennsylvania but many who watched in person and in their television screens were shocked when around a dozen of minutes into his speech, former President Donald Trump suddenly reached out to his right ear, ducked, and was promptly surrounded by his Secret Service Agents for pro-

SAN FRANCISCO -- Is there a hidden hatred of Asians against fellow Asians, but of diﬀerent nationalities?

This is a question that needs to be answered in light of a recent event in China, where a Chinese man attacked and stabbed a Japanese mother and child, who were legal residents of China.

It may explain, in

than seventy six (76) percent, or more than three out of four Filipinos, disapprove of the government’s performance where inﬂ ation is concerned.

By Gilda Balan, Ryan Doan-Nguyen, Correspondents

Page 4

some ways, why AsianAmericans have attacked other Asian-Americans, when they should all ideally be united against hate crimes.

That attack which happened last June 24 resulted in injuries to the mother and child. And while both survived, a female bus attendant who tried to protect the Japanese nationals was killed.

Page 6

Cris�na Osmeña Marc Ang

Chris�na Laskowski

By Cesar Antonio Nucum Jr.

Comelec chairman George Erwin Garcia

Padilla ﬁles anti-political dynasty bill

CITY – Senator Robin Padilla has filed a measure seeking to finally fulfill the 1987 Constitution’s mandate to prohibit political dynasties.

Under his Senate Bill (SB) 2730, Padilla said it was time to break the barriers that prevent the best and the brightest from serving the Filipino people.

“Given that this measure complies with the legislature’s mandate to enact an anti-political dynasty law and is a step towards leveling the playing ﬁeld in politics and governance,

the passage thereof is earnestly sought,” he said.

Padilla, chairman of the Senate Committee on Constitutional Amendments and Revision of Codes, cited a Harvard Academy research study in 2011 that showed how political dynasties stem from the tendency of elites to “persist and reproduce their power over time, undermining the eﬀectiveness of institutional reforms in the process.”

He also said a dataset of Philippine local elections from 1988 to 2019 showed the number of governors with at least one relative in oﬃce (dynasty) increased by almost 39 percentage points, from 41 percent in 1988 to 80 percent in 2019. The dynasty proportion of vice governors rose from 18 percent in 1988 to 68 percent in 2019.

The percentage of mayors in the dynasty increased gradually from 26 percent in 1988 to 53 percent in 2019.

Another study by Tusalem and Pe-Aguirre in 2013 noted that congressional funds are higher in areas with more political dynasties, but these provinces also have higher rates of crime and poor governance, as well as lower spending on employment, infrastructure, and health care.

“Political dynasties, in eﬀect, have exhausted resources to attain economic and political dominance while at the same time compromising political competition and undermining accountability,” Padilla said.

Under SB 2730, Padilla proposed that no spouse or person related within the fourth degree of consanguinity or afﬁnity, whether legitimate or illegitimate, full or half blood, to

an incumbent elective oﬃcial seeking re-election, “shall be allowed to hold or run for any elective oﬃce in the same city and/or province, or any party list in the same election.”

If the constituency of the incumbent elective oﬃcial is national in character, such relatives shall be disqualiﬁed from running only within the same province where the former is domiciled or in any, including the same, national position.

“(N)o person who has a political dynasty relationship to the incumbent shall immediately succeed to the position of the latter,” the bill said.

The bill requires any person running for any elective public office to file a sworn statement with the Commission on Elections (Comelec) that he or she does not have a political dynasty relationship with any incumbent public official running for an elective public office in the same city and/or province other than the position earlier mentioned.

A petition to disqualify a candidate on grounds of political dynasty may be filed before the Comelec, which will conduct summary proceedings. The Comelec shall deny due course to any certificate of candidacy filed in violation of the anti-political dynasty act.

While the votes for a respondent shall be counted if the Comelec cannot decide on the petition before the completion of the canvass, his or her proclamation shall be suspended if the basis for disqualification is strong. If the disqualified candidate has been proclaimed, the candidate shall ipso facto forfeit the right to assume the office

14 perish in Mindanao ﬂoods and landslides

ZAMMBOANGA CITY/QUEZON CITY – Several persons were reported killed as heavy rains spawned by the southwest monsoon (habagat) battered a large part of Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) reported.

At press time, the death toll in the ﬂoods and landslides that hit diﬀerent areas in Mindanao rose to 14, twice the number previously recorded in the Bangsamoro and Zamboanga Peninsula regions.

The latest fatalities included a young man who drowned in Pagalungan town of Maguindanao del Sur, another body ﬁshed out of Kabacan River in Cotabato province, and ﬁve more bodies recovered in Zamboanga

City since Saturday.

In its latest situation report, the NDRRMC said one of the two reported fatalities has been conﬁrmed and recorded in Northern Mindanao.

The other fatality from the Davao Region is still undergoing validation, along with reports of two injured and one missing from Northern Mindanao.

Meanwhile, some 80,841 families in 310 barangays in the regions of Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) were aﬀected by bad weather which has been plaguing Mindanao since last week.

Of this, 4,767 families are being served inside 55 evacuation centers while the remainder have either returned home or been aided by friends and relatives.

Some 73 houses were damaged -- 43 of which were partially damaged and 30 were totally damaged.

On Sunday, Department of Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rex Gatchalian and Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Secretary Antonio Lagdameo Jr. led the distribution of family food packs and cash aid to aﬀected families in Balabagan, Lanao del Sur.

This complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure the fast delivery of aid to ﬂoodaﬀected areas.

Marcos approval, trust ratings drop 2 points, Sara up - survey

MANILA -- President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s nationwide approval and trust ratings has gone down by two and ﬁve percentage points, respectively, if the latest Pulse Asia’s latest Ulat ng Bayan survey is to be believed.

Comparing data in March and June this year, Pulse Asia said Marcos’ approval rating went down from 55 to 53, while his trust rating decreased from 57 to 52, respectively.

At the same time, the latest survey also showed a twopoint increase in the approval rating for Vice President Sara Duterte from 67 in March to 69 in June. Her trust rating in both months remained the same at 71 percentage points.

In March, Pulse Asia survey showed the president approval and trust ratings drop by double digits.

“Appreciation continues to be the prevailing sentiment toward the work done” by Marcos and Duterte, Pulse Asia said.

The biggest drop in Marcos’ approval rating was from Luzon at nine percentage points, from 66 to 57. A twopoint decrease in Marcos’ approval was also recorded in Mindanao from 40 to 38.

The President gained a 14-point increase in the National Capital Region from 47 to 61, and a two-point increase in Visayas from 54 to 56, reports of Manila media like GMA News and ABS-CBN stated.

Marcos’ approval rating also dropped by 13 percent among Class ABC while a three-point drop was recorded in Class D.

In the Class E income bracket, Marcos had a four-point gain.

For Duterte, her approval rating went up by 12, 16, and three points in NCR, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. A decrease of seven percentage points was only recorded in Luzon.

Among the economic brackets, Duterte’s approval rating leaped by 17 points in Class E from 65 to 82. However, her approval rating among Class ABC went down by 6. A minimal increase of one point was recorded in Class D.

The same survey showed a two-point increase in Speaker and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez’s approval rating from 34 to 36.

Pulse Asia, however, noted that “a big plurality” — or 45 percent — of Filipino adults could not say if they approve or disprove of Speaker Romualdez’s performance in the previous quarter, ABS-CBN reported.

Romualdez’s trustworthiness also took a hit, with the plurality opinion or 42 percent of Filipinos saying they were undecided.

“Regarding distrust, it is more pronounced toward the

President and the House Speaker (21 percent and 23 percent, respectively) than the Senate President and the VicePresident (5 percent and 8 percent, respectively),” Pulse Asia said.

The Pulse Asia survey was conducted face-to-face from June 17 to 24, with 2,400 adults polled.

It has a ± 2 percent margin of error.

The Speaker’s approval rating in Visayas went up by 26 percentage points from 33 in March to 59 in June. A slight increase was recorded in Luzon (+2%) and a slight decrease was noted in Luzon (-3%).

Romualdez’s approval rating in Mindanao remained the same at 25 percent. Meanwhile, his trust rating gained by four points from 31 to 35.

A huge leap in his trust rating was seen in Visayas with a 30-point increase from 27 to 57. Slight increases were recorded in NCR (+4%) and in Mindanao (+3).

However, his trust rating was down by ﬁve in Luzon. Senate President Francis “Chiz” Escudero, who was elected as the new Senate chief in May, got a nationwide trust rating of 69 percentage points, with 75% in NCR, 71% in Luzon, 67% in Visayas, and 64% in Mindanao. Escudero’s trust rating was high in Class E at 74%, 69% in Class D, and 63% in Class ABC

PASAY

Senator Robin Padilla.

Teodoro stresses need for stronger cyber defenses

AGUINALDO, Quezon City –Defense Secretary Gilberto C.Teodoro Jr. has stressed the need for more formidable cyber defenses amid increasing incidents of attacks against cyber domains and to address critical concerns, especially in information and communications technology.

“Our cyberspace is the most vulnerable in the defense establishment, and the most aggressive attacks come from state and non-state actors. In this age of disinformation, maintaining robust cybersecurity is paramount,” Teodoro said in a statement.

Teodoro issued the statement following his meeting with US Joint Chiefs of Staﬀ chairman Gen. Charles Q. Brown, together with Armed Forces of the Philip-

According to the DND, discussed during the meeting were areas of mutual interest and ways to further strengthen the longstanding partnership between the Philippines and the United States.

“Reﬂecting on the recent talks with US Department of Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III, Secretary Teodoro reiterated the importance of the continued cooperation between the two nations’ defense establishments,” DND spokesperson Arsenio Andolong said in a separate statement.

Teodoro also highlighted the recent signing of the Reciprocal Access Agreement with Japan, expressing optimism for similar agreements with other like-minded countries.

The defense chief concluded by highlighting ongoing eﬀorts to enhance cooperation and streamline transactions between defense oﬃcials and their counterparts.

Brown, for his part, acknowledged the strong relationship between the Philippines and the United States, emphasizing the importance of his visit in sustaining the momentum of bilateral cooperation, according to the DND.

Both oﬃcials expressed optimism about the General Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA), noting that it is on a positive trajectory, Andolong said.

Brawner, on the other hand, expressed the AFP’s satisfaction with the visit of his counterpart, seeing it as a reaﬃrmation of the robust Philippines-US military relationship.

CAMP

pines (AFP) chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

ROBUST DEFENSE TIES. Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. (right) meets US Joint Chiefs of Staﬀ chair Gen. Charles Q. Brown at the DND headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City

Metro Manila to ensure safety, security of residents

PASIG CITY – Defense Secretary Gilberto C. Teodoro Jr. has highlighted the need for the Metropolis to be disaster-resilient to ensure the safety and security of its residents.

“It is vital that we have a resilient Metropolitan Manila, not only its components but also as a whole,” Teodoro said during the ground-breaking ceremony of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Annex Building and its enhanced communications command center in Pasig City.

The facility will serve as an emergency evacuation center in times of di-

saster, aside from being used for training and seminars, according to a PNA report on the event.

Teodoro, who also heads the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), cited the importance of disaster risk reduction and various initiatives to protect the “heart and soul of the Philippines” from natural and man-made calamities.

“We have disaster risk reduction in place, we have a safe Metropolitan Manila area – safe from all sorts of natural and man-made calamities. That’s why po sa resilience program

po ng ating Pangulo (Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.), napaka-importante po ng mga proyekto na katulad nito (That’s why in the President’s resilience program, projects like these are very important),” he added.

He thanked acting MMDA chairperson Romando Artes for his contributions to the administration’s resilience initiatives, including offering the new center as an alternative command post for the NDRRMC and the Office of Civil Defense in times of emergency.

Teodoro also acknowledged the efforts of the MMDA in maintaining

peace, safety, and effi cient transportation within Metro Manila, addressing the challenges faced by the metropolis, such as the need for infrastructure developments and resilience measures, to include the Metro Manila-wide fl ood control project and traffi c control initiatives.

Artes said the MMDA Annex building is more than just an extension of its main oﬃ ce.

“It represents a signiﬁ cant expansion of our commitment to public service and a testament to our dedication to sustainability and resilience,” he said.

Pasay City 4PH project pilots urban renewal in NCR

PASAY CITY– The Pasay City project under the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino Housing (4PH) Program will pilot the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development’s (DHSUD) urban renewal and redevelopment of informal settlements in the National Capital Region (NCR).

DHSUD Secretary Jose Rizalino Acuzar said in a PNA report the department’s mandate under Republic Act 11201 includes urban development that

covers transformation of blighted areas into sustainable township developments.

“Hindi lamang po ito pabahay, kundi magiging showcase area ito kung papano natin ita-transform ang mga lugar sa gilid ng mga estero sa mas kaaya-aya at maunlad na komunidad,” he said.

The DHSUD, the local government of Pasay City and the Manila International Airport Authority signed a memorandum of understanding on July 5 for

NKTI probes alleged kidney trafﬁcking

QUEZON CITY – The National Kidney and Transplant Institute (NKTI) is conducting its own investigation on alleged cases of organ traﬃcking.

The NKTI reacted on the National Bureau of Investigation’s arrest in Bulacan of three persons who allegedly buy and sell human organs, including kidneys.

One of the suspects who remained at-large is an NKTI nurse and the alleged gang leader.

“While we conﬁrm that the said nurse is indeed an employee of the NKTI, we would like to assure the public that the management is already conducting its own investigation on the matter,” the hospital

said in a statement.

It also warned the public against entering into transactions outside the hospital with groups, organizations and private individuals “claiming to be from the NKTI.”

Being the National Specialty Center for Renal Health and Organ Transplantation, the NKTI emphasized that it honors “legitimate transactions only” regarding living organ donation, transplantation and deceased organ donation.

“We are also advising our patients and other stakeholders to visit NKTI for legitimate and accurate information about our services and activities,” it said.

the project implementation.

The MOA covers the establishment of a staging area for informal settler families who will need to be relocated during the construction of the project until the permanent housing units are turned over to qualiﬁ ed beneﬁ ciaries.

Development and construction of temporary shelters are ongoing, Acuzar said.

The in-city staging area is strategically located near the airport and about

(From page 1)

So says a recent Pulse Asia survey, the results of which were released to media last week.

The administration has been struggling to shore up business sentiment, with its attempts to tame inﬂation generally considered a failure.

Nowhere is this more apparent than the market price of rice – the country’s principal staple food – which has been hovering at the PHP60/kilo (a little under US$1) mark, far from the promised PHP20/kilo (US$0.34) that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. promised to deliver at the start of his term.

The administration has been taking remedial measures to bring down the price of rice to no avail. In its latest promise, the regime said that PHP29/kilo (US$0.50) would be possible by the end of August.

According to the Pulse Asia survey, the overwhelming majority of Filipinos disapproved of how the Marcos administration was addressing inﬂation, or the rate of increase in the prices of goods and services.

The survey was taken from June 17 to 24, and showed a ﬁve percent increase from the previous quarter’s ﬁgure of 71 percent.

In contrast, a mere ﬁve percent approved of the administration’s performance in controlling inﬂation, while 19 percent were undecided.

The survey also showed that the government’s attempts at reducing poverty had the second highest disapproval rating of 51 percent. This was a nine percentage point hike from the 42 percent registered

two kilometers from the informal settlement and transformed into a township development.

It will be equipped with amenities like open park, playground, and basketball court.

“Ito po ang bilin ng ating mahal na Pangulo, walang madi-displace at unahin ang mga mahihirap nating kababayan (This is the directive of our beloved President --no one will be displaced and prioritize the poor),” Acuzar said.

in March 2024.

It is worth noting that more than a year ago, in April of 2023, a similar Pulse Asia survey had only a slim majority of 52 percent of Filipinos disapproving of the way Marcos was handling inﬂation.

Public grumblings over the administration’s mishandling of the economy are not uncommon.

At a recent queue at one of the country’s largest drugstore chains, a senior citizen complained that she was now spending close to double what she had been paying for essential medication from just two years ago.

“I used to spend PHP5,000 (US$86) a month for my maintenance meds,” she told Philippine News Today, “Now I have to pay PHP8,500 (US$146.55) for the exact same medicines.”

Speaking in the vernacular, the cashier shook her head and said, “There’s nothing we can do about it, ma’am.”

The recent increase in daily minimum wage of PHP35 (US$0.60) was “useless,” she added.

The daily minimum wage is now PHP645 (US$11.12) a day eﬀective this week, from the previous PHP610/day (US$10.51).

On the plus side, 26 percent of adult Filipinos said the administration was doing a good job in improving infrastructure. While 24 percent said the government was delivering on its vow to defend national sovereignty.

The June 2024 Pulse Asia survey used face-to-face interviews with 2,400 respondents aged 18 and above. It has a plus or minus margin of error of two percent, with a 95 percent conﬁdence level.

NEDA pushes Laguna Lakeshore road project

By Jeanne Michael Penaranda

SAN PEDRO CITY, Laguna – Good news to those residing in the Laguna Lake areas of Laguna and Rizal provinces and Metro Manila.

This as the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved key changes to the Laguna Lakeshore Road Network (LLRN) Project and also set terms for the Bohol and Laguindingan airports.

The NEDA said the approval was made during the Board’s meeting last July 15.

During the meeting, the Board approved modiﬁcations to the Phase 1 scope

of the LLRN Project, which now includes the development of connecting roads and interchanges in various locations. These locations encompass Barangay Tunasan in Muntinlupa City, as well as San Pedro, Biñan, and Cabuyao in Laguna.

Initially approved in 2021, the project entails the construction of a 37.5-kilometer primary road and a 12.0-kilometer viaduct from Lower Bicutan, Taguig, to Tunasan, Muntinlupa.

It also includes the 25.5-kilometer shoreline viaduct and embankment from Tunasan, Muntinlupa, to Calamba, Laguna.

Slated to be completed in 2027, the project is expected to stimulate economic

activity in the National Capital Region, CALABARZON, and Central Luzon.

The second phase of the LLRN Project, meanwhile, which will traverse the eastern portion of Laguna Lake from Binangonan, Rizal, to Calamba, Laguna, is currently under a feasibility study and is slated for completion by December 2024.

The project will have an approximate mainline total length of 71.5 kilometers.

“The NEDA Board recognizes the signiﬁcant potential of this project in reducing transportation constraints on existing road networks, promoting economic development in the region, and providing safer, more convenient, and faster travel for road users coming from the north and

south to various tourist and business destinations in Laguna and nearby provinces,” said NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan.

Aside from the LLRN Project, the NEDA Board also approved the negotiated parameters, terms, and conditions (PTCs) for the Bohol-Panglao International Airport Project, and changes to the NEDA Boardapproved negotiated PTCs for the Laguindingan International Airport Project.

The approved PTCs for the upgrade of the Bohol-Panglao International Airport seek to resolve ambiguities in compliance with the recently enacted Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Code, which came into eﬀect after the airport project was approved.

Police chiefs alerted to help Senate hunt vs. Guo, 7 others

the hunt against the mayor, Sheila Leal Guo, Wesley Leal Guo, Jian Zhong Guo, Seimen Guo, and her suspected mother Wen Yi Lin, as well as Dennis Cunanan and Guo’s accountant Nancy Gamo, following the release of the chamber’s arrest order against them.

To date, only Gamo was found in her address and was taken to the Senate by the arresting team on Saturday.

rest warrants issued against Mayor Alice Guo and her other associates, the PNP provided security assistance to the personnel of the Senate Sergeant at Armas last weekend). But as we speak, I don’t have any information whether nagkaroon uli ng attempt na i-serve itong mga warrants of arrest na ito (there was another attempt to serve these warrants of arrest),” she added.

testify before the Senate committee investigating Philippine Oﬀshore Gaming Operators (POGOs) or purge themselves of contempt.

Senator Risa Hontiveros, chairperson of the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender Equality, said the eight were also ordered to appear before her committee on July 29.

CAMP CRAME, Quezon City – The Philippine National Police (PNP) has directed regional directors and police chiefs to assist the Senate in arresting suspended Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo, and seven others.

This came after the Oﬃce of the Senate Sergeant at Arms (OSSA) started

In a press brieﬁng held at Camp Crame, PNP spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo said police chiefs in areas where the accused individuals have addresses have been alerted.

“Dun sa arrest warants na inissue laban kay Mayor Alice Guo at iba nyang associates, associated sa kanya, nung nakaraang weekend nga ay nagprovide ng security assistance ang PNP yung mga personnel ng senate sergeant at arms (As for the ar-

CBCP endorses petition for Padre Pio elevation to int’l shrine

STO TOMAS, Batangas – The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has endorsed a petition to the Vatican seeking to elevate the National Shrine of Saint Padre Pio into an international shrine.

CBCP president Bishop Pablo Virgilio David said the measure was adopted during their 128th plenary assembly in Cagayan de Oro City last weekend.

“We have approved to endorse the application of the National Shrine of Padre

Pio into an international shrine,” he said.

The 12-hectare shrine, located in Santo Tomas, Batangas, is frequently visited by pilgrims from across the country and around the world, especially those seeking healing and refuge.

Originally a small chapel, it became the country’s ﬁrst parish under the patronage of a Capuchin saint in 2003.

Lipa Archbishop Gilbert Garcera said that aside from the CBCP endorsement, the parish has gained support from several heads of episcopal conferences across Asia to become an international shrine.

“We are really convinced there is a need for Rome to recognize it is an international shrine because of the strong devotion to Santo Padre Pio,” he said.

The parish in Santo Tomas was recognized as an archdiocesan shrine in 2008 and was later declared by the CBCP as a national shrine in 2013.

Once the Vatican approves the petition, it will be the second international shrine in the country, the other one is the International Shrine of Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage in Antipolo City.

The OSSA was given 24 hours to serve the arrest orders and detain the eight individuals at its oﬃce until they appear and

The subpoenas were signed by Hontiveros and approved by Senate President Francis Escudero.

Bamban, Tarlac Mayor Alice Guo

INT’L RECOGNITION. The Na�onal Shrine of Saint Padre Pio in Sto. Tomas, Batangas

PHL, US military chiefs tout strong ties, press cooperation

CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City

– The strong military ties between the Philippines and the United States got a

further boost following the visit of US Joint Chiefs of Staﬀ chair Gen. Charles Brown Jr..

Brown met with Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) oﬃcials, led by Chief of Staﬀ Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., at the military headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“The meeting underscored their commitment to (the) Philippine-United States’ long-standing military alliance. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral defense cooperation, strengthening joint military exercises, and addressing regional security challenges,” AFP public

Asians...

(From page 1)

aﬀairs oﬃce chief Col. Xerxes Trinidad said in a statement.

The oﬃcials discussed future initiatives to bolster defense relations and foster greater interoperability.

“Our alliance with the United States remains a cornerstone of our national security. Through continued collaboration and mutual support, we fortify our defense capabilities and ensure the stability of our region,” Brawner said.

The AFP and US Armed Forces also continue to engage in various joint activities, including training exercises,

humanitarian assistance and disaster response operations, further solidifying their partnership and readiness to respond to contingencies.

The assailant was identified as an unemployed Chinese man in his 50s. News reports said that the attacker’s personal difficulties appear to have made him susceptible to ultranationalist online influencers who specialize in stoking animosity towards Japanese and Americans in order to attract followers and generate revenue.

Also last June, four American college instructors were stabbed in a park in Jilin, in northeast China.

China has since shut down social media platforms specializing in nationalist posts promoting hatred of Japan.

An American resident in China told one local newspaper that the spate of recent knife attacks could be the result of stress caused by China’s current economic diﬃculties, including loss of income that drives many Chinese men to desperation.

The same may be said of the situation in the US, when the pandemic resulted in massive loss of jobs and the previous president laying the blame for the virus on China. A good number of the attacks

against Asians and Asian Americans could be attributed to Americans who were either jobless or struggling to make ends meet.

Long before the pandemic, in one of the early cases of a hate crime committed by American men against an Asian American, Vincent Chin. Four decades ago, the 27-year-old was bludgeoned to death by two white autoworkers, fearful that they would lost their jobs to “foreigners.”

One assailant was acquitted of the murder raps, while the other was initially sentenced to 25 years in prison, but the sentence was later overturned. In other words, Chin never received the justice every person deserves.

In the recent China incident, there was an outpouring of support for the Japanese victims as well as the bus attendant who tried to save them, but there were also social media posts attacking Japan. This despite Japanese companies providing employment to hundreds of thousands of Chinese citizens.

Behind the majority of hate crimes, it seems that the real reason is that most attackers are, generally speaking, racists.

This resource is supported in whole or in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Paciﬁc Islander American Aﬀairs as part of the Stop the Hate program. To report a hate incident or hate crime and get support, go to https://www.cavshate.org/.

US Joint Chiefs of Staﬀ chair Gen. Charles Brown Jr. (le�) and AFP chief Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. (right) (AFP)

(From page 1)

tection and emerge on top of the stage again with right side of his face bloodied but managed to punch his ﬁst to the air signaling he was okay.

In the initial investigation, it turned out that a 20-year old native of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania Thomas Matthew Crooks, registered as a Republican and believed to be acting alone as of press time, fired at least five rounds from a firearm owned by his father Matthew while perched in the roof of a building some 450 feet from where Trump was speaking. Former area fire chief Corey Comperatore was killed from the shooting and two other spectators were critically injured. Crooks was then shot by Secret Service snipers and killed on the scene.

Many were appalled that this attempt on the life of a prominent presidential candidate can be carried out despite supposed tight security accorded Trump as a former President himself.

Prominent California Filipino-American Republicans made known their thoughts about the incident.

Cristina Osmeña, a descendant of the famous Osmeña political clan in Cebu that boasts of having had a Philippine President (great grandfather Sergio), Senators (including father Serge, who was part of the great escape from detention during Martial Law) Congressmen, and countless number of politicians and who escribes herself as a little brown immigrant woman and a political refugee who attended Ateneo de Manila and is a UC Berkeley BA in English graduate said: “My initial reaction was muted because the headlines I read said that a crackling sound erupted at a Trump rally. That was the extent of the information initially reported. The story changed in increments. A crackling sound became gunshots and then a former President rushed to safety. Then I read that two were dead. It was not until late at night or the next day that the press started to call the incident an assassination attempt”.

“Later at night, I started seeing clips on the internet of prominent Democrats making ﬂippant comments about “taking out Trump” and equally violent language from other high-proﬁle people. Is it possible that an introverted 20-year old boy heard these messages and somehow thought it would be acceptable to turn violent words into violent action?” she added.

Osmena said: I think there is no way the assassination attempt was staged. First, the sniper killed an innocent. Second, he died. Third, if he meant to injure Trump’s ear and was oﬀ just a little, he would have killed Trump. That’s too risky to be staged. Finally, Trump didn’t have a motive to put himself at risk. He was already ahead in the polls going into the debate that ﬁnally forced the most loyal Democrats to question Joe Biden’s mental capacity. If anyone was in need of a desperate act, it was not Donald Trump’s campaign.”

“Given the shooter’s experience with ﬁrearms, Donald Trump should be considered extremely lucky he is alive. It might have been the wind or the way he turned his head. In any case, I think it

was a near miss,’ she said. “What I find most puzzling is the lack of effectiveness of the Secret Service. It is typical to secure building rooftops ahead of an event like this. And yet, people in the audience were spotting (and saying) that someone with a gun was on a roof. I believe these warnings happened several minutes before any shots were fired. At the very least, the Secret Service was negligent.”

Osmena added: “I really think the political divisiveness has gone too far. Those who are in leadership positions need to make a concerted eﬀort to dial down the animosity. After all, a democratic nation is not shaped by a population that is always in agreement--it is shaped by a process that allows its population to disagree with civility.”

Marc Ang is described as a politically independent conservative and spends a lot of his free time in activism, with a passion for issues involving race relations, law and order and American exceptionalism. He is also a community organizer in Southern California and the founder of AsianIndustryB2B who specializes in race relations and the minority conservative experience. His statement follows:

“My initial reaction was to hold off judgment until I received more details on what exactly happened. Once it was clear it was an assassination attempt, my speculation that it was a fanatical anti Trump activist was confirmed. The killer was so fanatical he registered as a Republican (despite being a donor to liberal Democrat organizations) to follow Trump around. He ultimately killed not Trump but one of his supporters, a fire chief and loving father who protected his daughters so they could live. That was the saddest part.

“No. the security detail for Trump was not suﬃcient. He had asked for more support from the Biden administration and Biden turned it down. Blood is on Biden’s hands. Also there is word out that one of the Secret Service agents spotted the gunman and was ordered not to act until the damage already occurred. This needs to be investigated further. It shows a terrible lack of judgment by the leadership of that “security” team.

“I find the efforts of Biden to speak with Trump questionable due to the nature of Biden’s mental health condition. Unfortunately, so much comes out of his mouth that I cannot keep track. Just a few weeks ago, he was calling for a “bullseye” on Trump, effectively encouraging violence. The Democrats have contributed to so much rhetoric that certain fringe elements of their base have been whipped up into such a hateful frenzy. Any efforts for “unity” seem insincere and more importantly, ineffective, in light of the way they have treated Trump from the nonstop media assault for 9 years now, and their own hateful rhetoric.

“I hope to see people wake up to how one sided, hyperbolic and deeply personal the left’s criticisms have been on the right. The division stoked by the left is greater than any “insensitive” politically incorrect statements made on the right. This false equivalence needs to be addressed. Let us be ok with political diﬀerences and stop attacking people so

personally. This hatred based on nothing but the cult of personality has gotten us to this point. Can we all agree to disagree and move on without attaching so much negative emotion to politics?

“Trump’s survival and strength will bring more republicans and the right together. The left remains disjointed with an incumbent president who has proven to be a failure. The right will present a great show of unity which will attract many independents and Democrats to join a movement of sanity, realigned proper priorities for the direction of this country and an overall positive message. The strength and resilience of Trump will be contrasted with the left’s career politicians and lack of signiﬁcant accomplishments. This assassination attempt is really just a culmination of the left’s 24/7 campaign of hatred towards Republicans, a singular obsession with the personality in Trump (also called Trump Derangement Syndrome) and the bread and butter values of the everyday American.

Christina Laskowski is a strategic advisor and senior consultant managing and supporting business transformation and technology investments, and her many active social involvements with the Philippines include:President and board member of Science and Technol-

ogy Advisory Council (STAC) Silicon Valley which designed a strategic plan to develop a tech focused entrepreneurial ecosystem which serves as the framework for the Philippines startup ecosystem today; and also initiated memorandum of agreement (MOA) partner to DOST, DTI, DFA that in 2009 was eventually presented to then Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, among others.

Laskowski said: “My ﬁrst reaction was shock but not surprise. When a person poses a risk for people in power, they do all they can to silence the person. They tried to put him in jail and that did not go so well so this seems to be the last resort.”

“My observation is that No, President Biden and his supporters are not sincere in Unity. If so, we would not have had riots and physical destruction take place without consequence. President Biden just made a gesture after the incident. If he and his supporters want Unity, they would not use negative language nor make light of the assassination attempt. The mainstream media downplayed the incident,” she added.

“This is an opportunity for many to wake up and see what is going on. Yes, this is an opportunity to unite and try to save our Country,” she said

PAUNAWA SA HALALAN

LUNGSOD NG PACIFICA MARTES, NOBYEMBRE 5, 2024

IPINAHAHAYAG DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang isang Pangkalahatang Munisipal na Halalan ay gaganapin sa Lungsod ng Pacifica sa Martes, Nobyembre 5, 2024 kung saan ihahalal ang mga sumusunod na Tanggapan at Panukala:

MGA OPISINA NG KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD NA PAGBOBOTOHAN

Para sa isang miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod ng Distrito 1 para sa buong termino ng apat na taon na magtatapos sa Nobyembre 2028; at;

Para sa isang miyembro ng Konseho ng Lungsod ng Distrito 4 para sa buong termino ng apat na taon na magtatapos sa Nobyembre 2028.

PANUKALA NA PAGBOBOTOHAN

IPINAHAHAYAG DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang sumusunod na panukala ay pagbobotohan sa Pangkalahatang Munisipal na Halalan sa Lungsod ng Pacifica sa Martes, Nobyembre 5, 2024:

Dapat bang ipasa ang isang Ordinansa na nagtataas ng transient occupancy tax (binabayaran lamang ng hotel at iba pang panandaliang panuluyan ng mga panauhin) sa 15% na rate upang ipagpatuloy ang pagpopondo sa mahahalagang serbisyo ng Pacifica, tulad ng pulis, bumbero, 911 na pagtugon sa emergency; pagkumpuni ng mga kalye/lubak; mga programa ng kabataan/nakatatanda; paghahanda sa pagtaas ng lebel ng dagat; paglilinis ng mga basura sa mga dalampasigan; at makabuo ng humigitkumulang $720,000 taun-taon na karagdagang kita hanggang sa tapusin ito ng mga botante at dapat sumailalim sa taunang pag-audit?

IPINAHAHAYAG PA RIN DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang pagsisimula ng paghahain ng nominasyon ay sa Lunes, Hulyo 15, 2024 nang 8:30 a.m. at magsasara sa Biyernes, Agosto 9, 2024 sa 1:30 p.m.; at

IPINAHAHAYAG PA RIN DITO ANG PAUNAWA na kung ang mga papeles ng nominasyon para sa isang karapat-dapat na kasalukuyang nanunungkulan ay hindi maihain bago ang Agosto 9, 2024 sa 1:30 p.m., ang mga botante ay magkakaroon ng hanggang Miyerkules ng Agosto 14, 2024 ng 5:00 p.m. na magnomina ng mga kandidato maliban sa (mga) taong kasalukuyang nanunungkulan para sa elektibong katungkulan ng kasalukuyang nanunungkulan na iyon; ang extension na ito ay hindi naaangkop kung saan walang kasalukuyang nanunungkulan na karapat-dapat na mahalal; at

IPINAHAHAYAG PA RIN DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang mga kandidato ay dapat gumawa ng appointment upang makakuha at makapaghain ng mga dokumento sa nominasyon sa Opisina ng Kleriko ng Lungsod ng Lungsod ng Pacifica sa pamamagitan ng pakikipag-ugnayan sa Kleriko ng Lungsod sa pagtawag sa telepono sa 650-738-7307 o sa pamamagitan ng email sa scoffey@pacifica.gov; at

IPINAHAHAYAG PA RIN DITO ANG PAUNAWA na ang botohan ay magbubukas sa pagitan ng mga oras ng 7:00 a.m. at 8:00 p.m. nang Nobyembre 5, 2024. CNSB # 3832133

COMELEC...

(From page 1)

Chairman George Garcia, backed up by Comelec commissioners, officials and employees from the main office and those in cities, towns and provinces nationwide, vehemently denied allegations that he has more than 40 offshore bank accounts through which the alleged bribery were passed on using South Korea and Singapore banks.

Garcia also denied owning any local bank accounts with hefty sums as he signed a waiver to allow the Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMLC) and other investigators to look into the accounts. He added he will give away the money if the accounts existed.

Garcia and the Comelec oﬃcials bewailed the allegations as part of a well-funded campaign to discredit the poll body at this time when they are in a frenzy for the preparations for the May elections that includes for the ﬁrst time that of the Bangsa Moro Autonomous Region.

Comelec Commissioners led by Marlon Casquejo said the alleged attacks against Garcia is a “direct attack” to the poll body.

“Clearly, we see this as a direct attack not only to Chairman Garcia but to the entire institution. As you can see, we our united so we will see to it that those persons who are doing these malicious attacks against our institutions ay mananagot,” said Casquejo.

The Commission on Elections-Employees’ Union (Comelec-EU) on Tuesday rallied behind chairperson George Erwin Garcia amid allegations of graft linked to the poll body’s automation contract for the 2025 midterm elections.

In a statement, the Comelec-EU described the allegations as “a systematic attack on the credibility of the institution” ahead of next year’s polls.

South Korean ﬁrm Miru Systems condemned the bribery accusations against the Commission on Elections (Comelec).

“This is a serious allegation that should not have been made public without any evidence,” the company said in a

Biden-Trump...

(From page 1)

wishes to Trump, who was hurt during an apparent assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally Saturday (Sunday, PH time).

“It is with great relief that we receive the news that former President Donald Trump is ﬁne and well after the attempt to assassinate him,” Marcos said on his ofﬁcial X account Sunday.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family,” he added.

The President said the Philippines condemns all forms of political violence.

“Together with all democracy-loving peoples around the world, we condemn all forms of political violence. The voice of the people must always remain supreme,” he said.

Trump’s right ear was grazed while the gunman was killed, reportedly by a sniper, foreign reports said.

One spectator was likewise killed and two others were injured.

In Las Vegas Biden said he could drop his reelection bid if doctors found he had

press statement.

“This baseless and careless accusation not only maligns our reputation, it also detracts us from all the work that needs to be done with the Comelec for the 2025 National and Local Elections (NLE),” it added.

Miru Systems said it will cooperate with government agencies that would investigathe the issue and may consider pursuing legal action, if necessary.

In a press conference fed live, Garcia said the documents handed over to him by former Caloocan representative Edgar Erice which supposedly contain a list of foreign bank accounts linked to a poll body oﬃcial are dubious.

In an interview, Garcia said the documents from Erice which purportedly came from the Bahamas have “similar fonts” and appeared to be from a single person.

“Binago lang mga account numbers umano ng mga bangko. Kung talagang galing sa iba’t ibang bangko dapat magkakaiba, dapat may logo pa nga (The account numbers were just changed. If it really came from diﬀerent banks, these should be diﬀerent from each other and these should have logos),” he said.

Garcia said he would have these documents veriﬁed to determine the appropriate charges to be ﬁled.

He said the claim of the former lawmaker that these were only sent by a source abroad is unbelievable.

“Falsification po malinaw na malinaw (It’s clear that this is falsification). Falsification of a public or even a private document. Mas mahaba kulong nyan sa (It carries a longer jail term under the) Revised Penal Code (RPC),” he added.

Under Article 172 of the RPC, falsification by a private individual and the use of falsified documents carry a penalty of up to six years imprisonment and a fine of not more than P5,000.

Garcia said he would prove these accounts are non-existent and these do not belong to him.

Meanwhile, the former lawmaker said he received the ﬁles from the Bahamas.

a medical condition, as a top Democrat on Wednesday urged the 81-year-old to step aside.

Biden’s comments were the ﬁrst time he has even slightly opened the door to abandoning the White House race, and came as Representative Adam Schiﬀ, a key ally from California, urged Biden to “pass the torch.”

Biden defended his decision to stay on for a rematch with Republican Donald Trump in November, and explained why he had not handed over to a younger generation after one term.

Biden, tested positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday and is experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old Democrat after the president of UnidosUS, a Latino civil rights organization, said Biden would not be able to speak at a scheduled event due to the diagnosis.

Erice said the ﬁles show that a Comelec oﬃcial received US$1 million from South Korea allegedly from Miru, the poll body’s service provider for the automation system to be used for the 2025 midterm elections.

“At ito ay merong 14 foreign accounts ng isang Comelec official at sa ilan kasama ang kanyang maybahay as co-depositor. Andun din apat na properties na diumano pag-aari ng Comelec official na yun sa Singapore, Hong Kong, US, at Makati (These also have 14 foreign accounts of a Comelec official, and his wife was also named as a co-depositor. It also showed four properties allegedly owned by the Comelec official in Singapore, Hong Kong, US, and Makati City),” Erice said in a separate interview.

people,” the Korean ﬁrm said

“We are steadfast in our commitment to the manufacturing of the new automated counting machines and the various election peripherals in order to ensure a smooth and timely 2025 midterm elections for the Philippines,” it added.

Erice said it is now up to Garcia on what to do with the information showed in these documents.

“We have had nothing but a professional relationship with everyone in the Comelec, including the highly respectable Chairman George Garcia. Over the past year, we have worked to dutifully meet all requirements of the Terms of Reference, which have been crafted speciﬁcally for the needs of the Filipino

In March, Comelec and Miru signed the P17.99-billion contract for the procurement of a new automated election system for the 2025 elections. The contract covered around 110,000 machines and peripherals including ballot boxes, laptops, and other printing requirements for the polls.

As part of checking the capability of Miru, Comelec commissioners travelled to South Korea and saw the demonstrations of the machines and systems.

Last week, SAGIP party-list Representative Rodante Marcoleta last week questioned the contract awarding amid the alleged existence of 49 oﬀshore bank accounts which received money from South Korean banks

SB-10 and my annual physical examination

Last Tuesday, July 2, 2024, I had my annual physical check-up or examination with my personal physician Dr. Fei Yang Liang, MD, with Kaiser Permanente at Hickey Blvd. in Daly City, California.

Before meeting Dr. Liang inside his examination room, his assistant took my blood pressure (which was normal) my pulse, my weight and temperature (which was normal ). Using his instrument, Dr. Liang examined my eyes, ears, tongue. He had me have a deep breath and he examined my chest and back.

Dr Liang said that I am very healthy with my present age (I’ll be 77 years old on August 18, 2024). He advised me to continue my regular exercise and walking with my beloved wife Virginia Jimenez Madlaing in the park and along ocean beach. He also advised me to continue monitoring my blood sugar level and blood pressure. Dr. Liang commended me for maintaining a healthy lifestyle like drinking 7-8 glasses of good water daily; avoiding carbonated drinks; stopped eating processed and fast-foods; eating more fresh fruits and vegetables; sleeping 7-8 hours at night; and attending regular Bible Classes and Worship Services at the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California (research showed that those who attend worship services regularly have increased life span of 7-10 years).

I didn’t tell Dr. Liang that I’ve been taking SB-10 health food supplement several weeks before my annual physical examination. After few days of taking the SB-10 food health supplement, my beloved wife monitored my blood pressure and blood sugar level regularly. My blood sugar level ranges from 97 to 110. My blood pressure ranges from 101/68 to 118/72, which are all normal now, an improvement from my pre-diabetic condition before taking the SB-10 food health supplement. As a result, Dr. Liang instructed me to stopped taking the prescribed medicine LOSARTAN (50 MG). HYDROCHLOROTHIAZIDE 12.5 (MG tablet) for high blood pressure. This was the exciting news from my latest annual physical examination!

As book author, columnist, and founder of FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, my beloved wife and I delivered the ﬁve bottles of SB-10 pre-ordered by Dom from Vallejo, California, on our way to the Secretary of State, Notary Public Section in Sacramento, California, to submit notarized documents for apostille, last Thursday, July 11, 2024

Dom pre-ordered the ﬁve bottles of SB-10 after reading my column, “MSS Client Discovers Healing Power of SB-10; Aborts Dialysis,” I mentioned in the column the experience of our MSS Client Becky who re-ordered ﬁve more bottles of SB-10. Becky told me that after taking the SB-10 for few weeks, her Vietnamese lady physician was surprised by the result of her lab tests. Her blood sugar level and her blood pressure were all normal. Becky didn’t tell her Vietnamese lady physician that she had been taking the SB-10 food health supplement before her physical examination.

I also gave Dom an autographed copy of my latest bestselling book “LONGEVITY TIPS” subtitled “Secrets You Discover and Do for Good Health and Longevity” now available at Amazon in Hardcover ($15.95 per copy plus shipping and handling); Paperback ($12.95 per copy plus shipping and handling) and E-book ($6.95 per copy). Dom was so thankful and appreciative for the autographed book.

Foreword was written by Dr, Yvonne P, Bulong, MD, from Baguio City, Philippines. Included in the back page is our group picture with boxing legend and former Philippine Senator Manny Pacquiao during our Courtesy Call and Prayer Session with the WE CARE Ministries Team inside his mansion in General Santos City, Sarangani, Philippines last February 19, 2016.

Included in the updated “LONGEVITY TIPS” are more articles about SB-10 like “Amazing SB-10 Food Health Supplement,” “More Readers Find Solution to Health Problems with SB-10,” “Neighbor, Others Discover Healing of Various Ailments through SB-10.”

Issues BBM will virtually ignore in his SONA

The annual dog and pony show that is the State of the Nation Address is coming up, and already the pre-SONA dramatics are already known. There will be no Sara Duterte present as the current vice president and recently resigned Education secretary already said that she will instead serve as “designated survivor.”

If it was a joke, it was in bad taste. It means that she is waiting for “something” to happen to the president, that being an event that will propel her to the presidency.

So maybe it wasn’t a joke, in which case there is reason to be afraid.

In a recent chat with friends, talk turned to politics as it sometimes will, and we all shared the same feelings about the president and the VP.

We generally do not like Bongbong Marcos, as he is considered a “weak leader” – the ﬁve of us could only shake our heads in sad agreement – but that a Sara Duterte presidency would be dangerous for the country. There is no reason to believe that she will rule any diﬀerently from her father, whose presidency was not only dismal and riddled with corruption, but also heavily anti-US and pro-China.

That’s the one thing that we agreed on, in that Marcos did the right thing in tweaking back to the US as a favored friend in global politics.

No, the US is not the perfect friend and ally, but it is inﬁnitely better than the People’s Republic of China, speciﬁcally Xi Jinping’s China. It should be noted that in our high school and college years, we were all left-leaning activists who cheered when our Student Council president hijacked a plane and headed to Beijing (which was then known as Peking, if memory serves).

(Side note: Since China oﬃcially changed its name to Beijing, why do they still call their signature dish Peking duck?)

Anyway, Marcos Jr. still considers China as a bit of a friend of the Philippines despite its non-stop bullying of the country’s ﬁshermen and Coast Guard.

As this is being written, a large Chinese ship has been conﬁrmed by the US as “patrolling” the country’s waters oﬀ Batangas. That’s my home province of Batangas, which is why this bit of news hurts like crazy.

I daresay that if the Philippines had a Batangenyo president, we would take decisive action as we would consider the Chinese ship’s presence in our waters not just an aﬀront, but an outright invasion, an act of war.

But the president is not our kabayan, and he is expected to pay lip service to the need to maintain diplomatic ties with our powerful neighbor.

He will very likely say during his SONA that the administration’s recent statement calling for both parties to engage in more conversation and less aggressive actions as having succeeded in coercing China to tone down its actions and send fewer ships to our waters.

And speaking of China, the president’s problems with POGOs or Philippine Overseas Gaming Operators will also not receive the complete attention it deserves.

So many quarters have called for an immediate and absolute ban on the damn POGOs, yet the Marcos regime has been taking its own good time pussyfooting on the matter.

To be clear, all POGOs are Chinese controlled. And they are all owned by Chinese gangsters. All of them.

This is one area where China is in complete agreement with Filipinos. They have told the Philippine government on multiple occasions that they should get rid of the POGOs and deport the owners and employees back to China, where they may face a fate akin to death.

The owners, of course, are certainly millionaires, even billionaires. So the Chinese Communist Party will twist their arms until they are forced out of their sockets to surrender all their wealth to the nation.

Is Trump destined to be the next president? What happens to Biden?

First, former president Donald Trump was indicted twice. Second, he was sentenced as a convicted felon. Third, the Supreme Court gave him immunity for acts performed in oﬃ ce during the January 6 insurrection. Fourth, he performed superbly in the Biden vs Trump presidential debate. And then 5th, on Saturday, he escaped an assassination plot.

As I See It, all these point to the fact that he is going to the White House for the second time come November general election! In fact, the sympathy vote will add up to the plus factors he already got. Can we call this destiny?

So, all these developments are in his favor leading President Joe Biden by 5 to 7 points, according to the latest polling going to the GOP party convention Monday declaring Trump as the party nominee. The gap may even go up, according to speculations.

By all means, the party will capitalize on the latest tragedy (assassination attempt) as a strong campaign material to catapult him to the presidency… maybe blaming the administration, the system, or even to the extent of blaming Biden for peace and order problem… that no one is safe, even a former president. The packaging, of course, will be very subtle or direct, depending upon the campaign headquarters decision on what to do and of course, by Trump.

Okay, Biden, in his reaction to the assassination attempt, said this is the time for all Americans to unite and be one to ensure safety and violence.

“With the nation in shock a day after a gunman tried to assassinate former President Donald Trump at his campaign rally in Pennsylvania,” President Joe Biden “called on Americans to “lower the temperature” in politics. In a rare Oval Oﬃ ce address on the eve of the Republican nominating convention, Biden said that Americans “must stand together.” (Elizabeth Both, NBC News)

Biden, we found out, also pulled out all negative TV ads against Trump as a gesture of fairness as a result of the assassination attempt. All these point to the fact that Biden don’t want to add up to the problem and would want all Americans to unite and be one in facing all the challenges ahead of us in view of the latest development… and decide voting based on issues, not on personalities.

It will even have to be diﬃ cult for Biden to shape his campaign strategies from hereon. According to one reporter: “Saturday’s assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump is expected to put President Joe Biden and his campaign even further on their back foot, curtailing their messaging and transforming a race in which Biden was already perceived to be faltering.” (Tal Axelrod, ABC News)

Same reporter said: “Biden will likely not be able to message as aggressively as usual, particularly on Trump’s supposed threat to democracy, while democratic strategists predict that the former president will get a polling boost from the shooting and this week’s Republican National Convention, where he will formally accept the GOP presidential nomination.” (Tal Axelrod, ABC News)

Okay, it seems that Trump’s campaign became brighter while Biden became dimmer. However, it all boils down to messaging by both campaigns in reaching out to American voters as to whom they want to vote this coming November.

As I See It, Trump will be hammering on peace and order and safety in his campaign while Biden will zero in to unity issue and continue doing damage control in his campaign.

To commemorate our 50th Wedding Anniversary and my upcoming 77th Birthday on August 18, 2024, my wife and I are oﬀering FREE autographed copies of the latest updated “LONGEVITY TIPS” (paper-

As for the POGO employees, they can all hang for all the CPP cares. They will be treated as second or third class citizens, unless they have some wealth to surrender, in which case they will be coerced to likewise give up whatever wealth they have amassed for the right to continue breathing.

Yet another issue that Marcos

(Continue on page 20)

In either case, both campaigns will still be challenging and competitive considering that it’s still four months away and many things will still happen within that period of time. These are unforeseen circumstances, just like the assassination attempt, that might happen that will change the political landscape between now and November. However, should Biden decide to step down as the Democratic Party candidate, then it will be a diﬀ erent ball game altogether. The party needs to come up with their nominee, maybe Vice President Kamala Harris, being the next in rank; or other prospec- (Continue on page 20)

(Continue on page 20)

BETING DOLOR

“

ART GABOT MADLAING Health & Wealth

ELPIDIO R. ESTIOKO As I See It

Remittances from overseas Filipinos

up over 3% in May to $2.8 B

MANILA – Personal remittances from overseas Filipinos (OFs) went up by 3.7 percent in May this year, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

Data released by the BSPshowed that personal remittances from OFs during the month rose to US$2.88 billion from US$2.78 billion in May 2023.

The BSP attributed the increase to higher remittances from land-based workers with work contracts of one year or more, and sea- and land-based workers with work contracts of less than one year.

Personal remittances cover cash sent through banks and informal channels and also remittances in kind.

The BSP said cash remittances coursed through banks amounted to US$2.58 billion in May 2024, up by 3.6 percent than the US$2.49 billion recorded in May 2023.

“The expansion in cash remittances in May 2024 was due to growth in receipts from both land- and sea-based workers,” it said.

For the ﬁrst ﬁve months of the year, personal remittances amounted to US$14.89 billion, higher by 3 percent than year-ago’s US$14.46 billion.

Of the total, cash remittances amounted to US$13.37 billion, up by 3 percent from the US$12.98 billion registered in the same period last year.

The United States was the biggest source of remittances, followed by Singapore and Saudi Arabia.

Sought for comment, Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief economist Michael Ricafort said the continued growth in remittances is a “good signal for the overall economy.”

“The Philippine remittances from overseas workers have consistently been the fourth largest in the world after India, Mexico, and China, amounting to more than USD40 billion per year -- a sign of resilience and has always been a growth driver for the Philippine economy for many years,” he said.

For the coming months, Ricafort forecasts the modest growth in remittances to continue due to the further reopening of the economy.

He added that since overseas Filipino workers families still need to cope up with relatively higher prices, this would also require the sending of more remittances.

Philippine banks’ total assets up more than 12% to P25.62 trillion

MANILA – The total assets of the Philippine banking sector went up by 12.4 percent as of end-May this year to P25.62 trillion, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) reported.

Data released by the BSP showed that the total assets of the country’s banking sector amounted to P25.62 trillion, up from last year’s P22.78 trillion.

It was also higher than the P25.48 trillion total assets recorded in April this year.

“This is again more than twice faster than GDP (gross domestic product) growth, largely attributed to the sustained double-digit growth in the net income of banks, considered among the most proﬁtable industries in the country,” Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation chief econo-

mist Michael Ricafort said.

“This is also similar, but faster than loans growth at nearly +10% year-on-year in recent months as well as the continued growth in bank deposits that help the booking of more loans as the economy recovers further with no more Covid-related restrictions since the Covid state of public health emergency was ﬁnally lifted since July 22, 2023,” he added.

Ricafort said this will support the recovery of some businesses hit hard by the pandemic such as tourism and other related-allied industries.

“Possible cut in Fed rates and local policy rates for the coming months and years would further boost trading gains and other investment income of banks,” he said.

You may need to apply for naturalization now

Now is the best time to apply for naturalization. With the coming election on November 5, 2024, the processing of naturalization is just taking three months. Becoming a U.S. citizen will give you more government beneﬁts such as medical and many beneﬁts available only to U.S. citizens. Many people waited for so long and now they have been given the best opportunity. If you delay your application for naturalization you may not have this opportunity in the future.

When applying for naturalization, there are problems many applicants encountered during the interview process. This is because the immigration oﬃcer looks at how you ﬁrst get your green card and what actions you have made while a green card holder. Listed below are some of them:

1. Proving good faith marriage. You will be surprised that you are applying for naturalization and yet the USCIS is considering you as a green card applicant although your marriage happened ten years ago. If you obtained your green card through marriage, no matter how many years have passed, they always asked questions and documents about whether your marriage is bona ﬁde and what joint documents support this marriage.

2. Proving family relationship if you were petitioned by your parents, siblings or as derivative of your parents. You should be able to show proof of your relationship through marriage certificate, birth certificate, divorce or death certificate, whichever documents applied to your case.

3. If you were involved is a crime, no matter how minor you think it is, they will always look for documentation if you have been convicted and if you served your sentence.

4. There are crimes that will make you deportable when applying for naturalization. This will include committing two crimes of moral turpitude or an aggravated felony. Theft is a crime involving moral turpitude. There is waiver available, and you should talk to an immigration lawyer.

5. Green card holders who obtained their green card through misrepresentation may also be sent to removal proceedings. These include those who committed marriage fraud or declared as single but married. If you have this kind of problem, you need to talk to an immigration attorney to ﬁnd if you qualify for a waiver of fraud or misrepresentation.

6. Failure to ﬁle and pay your income tax may also disqualify you for naturalization. If you have a payment plan agreement with the IRS and you keep paying the monthly payments, you may be able to get approved. Again, you need to consult with an immigration lawyer about your situation.

7. Failure to pay child support. You may be d. ed if you fail to pay for child support.

8. If you stayed outside the U.S. for more than 180 days in a single year, you may be denied naturalization.

9. If you lack the required period of residency, you may also be denied.

So that you will not have a problem when applying for naturalization, you should consult with an immigration attorney to avoid possible problem along the way.

Note: This is not legal advice and presented for information purposes only. If you have immigration problems the Law Oﬃces of Crispin C. Lozano can help you ﬁnd a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

1. PETITION FOR CAREGIVERS

Our Law Firm entered into agreement with Care Home Facilities in the U.S. to process applicants for Caregivers in the US

You may qualify if you six months experience as Caregivers Applicants Inside the United States or in the Philippines or other countries may qualify.

Bankruptcy Basics

We also process Bankruptcy cases.

1. Bankruptcy will improve your credit within one year because your unsecured debts are discharged. Although the bankruptcy will be in your records for 10 years, not ﬁling bankruptcy will make your credit even worse until most of your debts are paid.

If you have immigration problems the Law Oﬃces of Crispin C. Lozano can help you ﬁnd a solution before your problem gets worse, which could lead to deportation and family separation.

Chris Caday Lozano, Esq. is an active member of the State Bar of California, the American Immigration Lawyers Association and San Francisco Trial Lawyers. He has practiced immigration law, bankruptcy, and income tax representation since June 1999. His contact phone is 1-877-456-9266, email: info@CCLlaw.net Website: www.crispinlozanolaw.com/ with oﬃces in Hayward and Cerritos, CA.

California Jobs First: Five new television projects to

SACRAMENTO – As part of the California Jobs First initiative, the California Film Commission (CFC) today awarded $58 million in tax credits to support ﬁve television projects through the state’s Film and Television Tax Credit Program.

The productions – a recurring series, a limited series, and three new series – are expected to generate approximately $386 million for California’s economy across the 438 ﬁlming days occurring throughout the state.

“California’s iconic entertainment industry continues to create jobs in our communities while fostering creativity and economic growth. Through this tax credit program, we’re keeping thousands of jobs here in California and helping the industry expand in the state,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.

The projects receiving awards today include 20th Television’s legal drama “All’s Fair,” Faith Media Distribution’s “Lot Patrol,” HBO Original Drama Series “Latitude,” and more.

What Colleen Bell, Director of the California Film Commission, said: “We are pleased to see these new projects taking advantage of California’s unparalleled resources and talent pool. During the ﬁrst half of 2024 alone, the Film and Television Tax Credit Program has attracted twelve new and one relocating television series to California, creating essential jobs for the industry and sustaining the livelihoods of thousands of cast and crew members. It’s a testament to our resilience and the critical role of ﬁlm and television in our state’s economy.”

‘Pulang Araw’ shown on GMA, Netflix

The range of emotions while shooting the production was like a rollercoaster ride for the main cast of “Pulang Araw,” a GMA and Netﬂix drama. This highlyanticipated wartime series stars Barbie Forteza, Sanya Lopez, David Licauco, and Alden Richards, and also features Dennis Trillo.

At a press conference at the Peninsula Manila, Barbie, Sanya, David, and Alden revealed the most memorable scenes in the original series that traces the intertwined lives of four childhood friends during the Japanese occupation in the Philippines, according to a Malaya report.

In the series, Barbie, who plays Adelina, and Sanya, as Teresita, are vaudeville performers during the war. Barbie shared her experience of how taxing it was to be a stage performer during a scene that they shot for the whole day. Even during wartime, vaudeville stars were expected to remain professional and continue performing while the city was being bombed.

“Gumaganun ako,” she said, gesturing with her hands. “Automatic na, hangga’t nag-a-action si Direk Dominic [Zapata].”

Sanya recalled, according to Malaya, an intense scene where she even swallowed a drop of perspiration from her co-star. “Ang alat be,” she told Barbie in jest.

“Ayoko munang i-disclose kasi baka ma-preempt pero masasabi ko na na pagkabigat ng eksena na ‘yun. May moment pa nga doon na sobrang intense ng eksena, na dire diretso lang ‘yung pagkuha nito… Magka-cut lang kami kapag ‘yung ibang angle na. May moment pa na habang ginagawa namin ‘yung eksena na ito, nakalunok pa ko ng Paris ng kaeksena ko.”

She also enumerated her other experiences — being pricked by a needle and feeling exhausted to the point of not being able to get out of bed. “Parang nag workout ako buong maghapon tapos puro pasa ako,” she added. “Pero ang masasabi ko wala akong regrets nung ginawa

ko yun. Hindi ko naramdaman. Nakaka-excite lang mapanood sa Netﬂix.”

Alden revealed that he did most of his own stunts. As Eduardo, the actor had many physically demanding scenes that required him to wear a harness and be near explosives.

“Usually kasi, for safety purposes kumukuha ng body double yung set, para just in case doon sa mga explosion scenes ‘yung double ‘yung gagawa,” he explained. “Ayoko yun. I make it a point na ako talaga ‘yung malapit sa explosives… kasi while doing those scenes, nakakadagdag siya sa experience, kasi hindi ka lang umaarte, kasi talagang nasa tabi mo lang ‘yung explosives, ako ‘yung nagpa-harness, ako rin ‘yung nagpatalsik, so that really adds to the experience of doing this and ‘yun ‘yung mga naappreciate ko.”

David, who plays the Japanese Hiroshi, valued every scene as he feels fortunate to be part of the project. “Halos lahat ng scenes favorite ko. I just love working with Direk Dom and I super appreciate him. Everytime may eksena ako, tinatanong ko, ‘Direk OK ba?’ ‘Very good, very good.’ ‘Uy, very good ako.’ Kasi alam ko napakahirap ng teleseryeng ito, napakahirap ng role ko kaya super thankful ako kay Direk.”

Vice Ganda, Vic Sotto movies lead first Metro filmfest entries

Vice Ganda and Vic Sotto will be back in the Metro Manila Film Festival after skipping last year’s ﬁ lmfest.

This as the movies of the two top grossers in the past ﬁ lmfests and three other movies were chosen as oﬃ cial entries this year.

Vic will appear in Michael Tuviera s action-drama “The Kingdom” alongside Piolo Pascual, who appeared in last years horror ﬂ ick “Mallari.”

Vic’s last MMFF headliner was 2019s “Mission Unstapabol: The Don Identity” with Maine Mendoza.

Host-comedian Vice Ganda’s comeback movie “And The Breadwinner” Is

directed by Jun Robles Lana was also selected for MMFF 2024. Eugene Domingo, Jhong Hilario and Maris Racal will join Vice in the ﬁ lm.

Last year’s Best Director winner for GomBurZa Pepe Diokno will adapt a ﬁ lm version of Himala: Isang Musical with Aicelle Santos reprising her role as Elsa.

The other two fi lms in the fi rst batch of entries based on scripts are Zig Dulays Green Bones starring Sofi a Pablo and Dennis Trillo; and Kerwin Gos Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital starring Jane De Leon and Enrique Gil.

Metro Manila Development Au-

thority Chairman Romando Artes conﬁ rmed 39 scripts were submitted for consideration, hence the decision to have 10 ﬁ lms in competition like last year, rather than the regular eight.

The 10 competing ﬁ lms of MMFF 2023 collectively brought in P1.069 billion, beating the previous record held by the 2018 edition, a feat mostly attributed to the Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera movie “Rewind” currently the highest-grossing Filipino ﬁ lm of all time.

The 2018 MMFF had a collective box oﬃ ce of P1.061 billion across nearly 1,200 cinemas, whereas the 2023 edition only opened in 800 theaters as several were still closed from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, though the goal is to open in 900 cinemas this year.

2024 is the MMFF’s 50th year and Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna launched it at the Manla City Hall where the ﬁ rst ﬁ lmfest was launched by then Mayor Antonio J. Villegas.

It was announnced that this year several cinemas will screen select past festival entries for only P50.

The ﬁ rst ﬁ ve entries:

1. “And The Breadwinner Is ...” by ABS-CBN Film Productions, Inc. & The Idea First Company starring Vice Ganda and Eugene Domingo

2. “Green Bones” by GMA Pictures starring Soﬁ a Pablo and Dennis Trillo

3. “Strange Frequencies: Haunted Hospital” by Reality MM Studios, INC., starring Jane de Leon, Enrique Gil, Alexa Miro and MJ Lastimosa

4. “Himala, Isang Musikal” by Kapitol Films/Unitel starring Aicelle Santos and Bituin Escalante

5. “The Kingdom” APT/Mzet and MQuest starring Vic Sotto and Piolo Pascual

The announcement of the ﬁ ve

script-based entries was made during the grand launch of the 50th Metro Manila Film Festival with the theme “Sine Sigla sa Singkwenta.”

The launch was hosted by Jake Ejercito and Isabelle Daza. The event was attended by MMFF Executive Committee led by Metro Manila Development Authority chairman Don Artes, members of entertainment media and guests, including First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos.

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan was also present and delivered the opening remarks.

Last year, only 800 plus cinemas were opened and the Cinema Exhibitors Association of the Philippines (CEAP) will look into the possibility of opening 900 cinemas for this year’s MMFF.

Aside from the much-awaited MMFF 50, a number of events leading to the annual festival have been lined up such as masterclass workshops for students in Manila, Cebu, Davao, celebrity golf tournaments, the launch of a coﬀ eetable book, and more.

“Hindi ko po masasabing pressure, pero we are elevating the bar, hindi lang sa kalidad kung ‘di sa box oﬃ ce. Hopefully, kami ay umaasa mapapabalik natin ‘yung mga nakapanood noong nakaraang taon and hopefully mas marami pa ngayong taon,” Artes said.

The annual parade of stars will be on December 15. The MMFF Sponsor’s Night will happen on December 21 and the Gabi ng Parangal will be held on December 27. Filipino-American visual artist Jefrë will craft this year’s trophy for the MMFF Awards night.

The deadline for the fi nished fi lm submission where the other offi cial MMFF entries shall be chosen will be on September 30

Vice Ganda Vic So�o

Biden maintains lead among Asian American voters despite drop in support

BySunita Sohrabji Ethnic Media Services

SAN FRANCISCO - President Joe Biden continues to outpace his challenger, Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump, among Asian American voters, but support for the incumbent has dropped by 8 points from 2020, according to the 2024 Asian American Voter Survey released July 10.

The survey was conducted by AAPI Data, and released jointly by APIA Vote, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

“Our survey explores critical aspects of Asian American voter engagement, an inﬂuential voting bloc which could be the margin of victory in many races,” said Christine Chen, executive director of APIA Vote, at a press brieﬁng July 10.

Biden Trumps Trump

Asian Americans are the fastest-growing electorate in the nation. In 2020, more than 7.6 million Asian Americans turned out to vote, an 11% increase over 2016.

If the election were being held today, 46% of Asian American voters surveyed said they would be inclined to vote for Joe Biden, versus 31% who would vote for Donald Trump. In a major shift however, nearly one in four respondents said they would vote for a third party candidate, or remain undecided. Chen said this a huge untapped opportunity, up for grabs by either party.

In down ballot races, 50% of Asian Americans said they would vote for Democrats in congressional races, while 30% said they would vote for Republicans.

Top Concerns

68% of Asian Americans surveyed said they absolutely planned to vote in November. Filipino Americans were the most committed: 75% said they would absolutely vote, while Japanese Americans ran a close second with 73%.

“The last few years have been full of intense changes for everyone, Asian Americans in particular,” said John Yang, president and executive director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice|AAJC. “As a community we have faced anti-Asian rhetoric, harassment, and threats to our livelihood, and as a result Asian Americans are more engaged than ever,” he said in an interview with Ethnic Media Services shortly after the survey was released.”

Top concerns for Asian American voters in the upcoming election are the economy, education, national security, and immigration, said Yang. “Elected oﬃcials owe it to the communities they serve to listen actively and support policies that positively aﬀect and support them.”

Will Biden Support Continue?

The survey was conducted from April 4 to May 26. 2,479 registered voters participated, either by telephone interview, or a self-administered online survey. Chinese, Filipino, Indian, Japanese, Korean, and Vietnamese voters were included in the survey. Several Southeast Asian and South Asian communities were not surveyed.

Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and executive director of AAPI Data, told EMS that the organization currently lacks the ﬁnancial resources to survey all communities within the Asian American umbrella, but hopes to be able to do so in the future.

In the two weeks following a disastrous debate performance, Biden has faced a chorus of voices urging him to drop out of the race. Many have urged him to push Vice President Kamala Harris to the top of the ticket.

Asked if support for Biden would further diminish among respondents if the poll was retaken this month,

Ramakrishnan said no.

Vietnamese American Gains

“Biden lost support among Asian Americans well before the debate. And it doesn’t look like the debate has changed much of that dynamic,” he said, adding however that Trump has not gained from Biden’s loss. “What we saw was a signiﬁcant jump in the people who say they want to vote for someone else. That said, Biden still beats Trump in a head-to-head match-up among Asian Americans.”

Biden lost ground most signiﬁcantly with Indian Americans, with a 19 point drop. Just 46% said they would vote for the President this fall. In 2020, 65% of Indian Americans surveyed said they would vote for Biden. The President got the highest amount of support from Chinese Americans: 54% said they would vote for Biden, nearly consistent with 2020.

Biden also gained a small amount of traction with Vietnamese Americans, who traditionally vote Republican: 40% said they would vote for Biden, a jump of 4 points from 2020.

Trump Support

Trump on the other hand lost signiﬁcant ground with Vietnamese Americans: just 33% said they would vote for him this year, down from 48% in 2020, a drop of 15 points. Ramakrishnan attributed the trend to a younger, more progressive group of Vietnamese Americans. He noted also that Biden, like Trump, views China as an adversary, which resonates with the older generation.

Trump gained a few points with Asian Americans overall: the largest gain — 7 points — was among Chinese Americans. He also gained 4 points with Filipino Americans.

The Harris Question

Harris’ favorability among Asian Americans was surprisingly low. Just 13% said they viewed the potential Presidential candidate favorably, while 31% viewed her somewhat favorably. 42% of Asian Americans surveyed said they viewed Harris unfavorably.

In a poll released July 9 by the ﬁrm Bendixen & Amandi Inc, Harris slightly leads Trump: 42%-41%. The survey showed 12% undecided and 3% support going to third-party candidates.

Ramakrishnan acknowledged a drop in support for Harris by Asian Americans, but added that could change in the course of the election cycle. “I think you’ll probably see another burst of activity and potentially another burst of pride if it looks like she will be a major party presidential candidate,” he said.

President Biden

NCR wins 17th straight Palaro overall crown, Calabarzon regains 2nd

CEBU CITY – The National Capital Region (NCR) dominated the Palarong Pambansa 2024 taking the overall championship for the 17th straight time with 98 gold medals, 66 silvers, and 74 bronzes .

NCR got its best haul from gymnasts Elaiza Yulo (5 golds) and Maxine Amira Bondoc (5), swimmers Sophia Garra (5) and Alessandra Therese Martin (5), all rising as some of the event’s most bemedalled athletes, while the NCR boys secondary basketball team also reclaimed the crown in a heated ﬁnale against Central Luzon.

The ﬁnal day saw NCR’s Far Eastern University (FEU) Diliman football squad and Rizal High School secondary girls’ softball team delivering the last two gold medals of the tournament.

FEU Diliman triumphed in a thrilling 5-4 victory over Tañon College of San Carlos City from Western Visayas at the Dynamic Herb-Borromeo Sports Complex.

After absence during the opening ceremony of Palarong Pambansa 2024 on July 9, Vice President Sara Duterte attended the closing ceremony at the Cebu City Sports Center

In her speech at the closing ceremony, Duterte thanked all the local government units, government oﬃces, and private sectors who supported the success of the Palarong Pambansa.

She also congratulated the athletes for their participation and performance in their respective sports.

Calabarzon, after a stunning defeat to resurgent powerhouse Western Visayas last year in Marikina City, rose back to its usual second place with a 57-5153 gold-silver-bronze split, hiked by a 12 combined golds from just two phenomenal secondary level swimmers, top gold hauler TJ Amaro (7) and Jasmine Mojdeh (5).

Western Visayas slipped back to third after barely missing Calabarzon with 56 golds, one of the last being a successful title redemption in girls secondary volleyball by Bacolod Tay Tung High School. The region also amassed 41 silvers and 41 bronzes.

Davao Region settled at a far fourth with 32 golds, 25 silvers, and 35 bronzes, as host Central Visayas claimed ﬁfth with a 29-42-39 split.

Other notable results are Caraga’s 12th-place ﬁnish

with 11 golds, a whopping 7 coming from wrestling alone.

Debutant guest “region” National Academy of Sports (NAS) also got a historic gold in taekwondo poomsae, on top of 5 silvers, and 2 bronzes, while the Philippine Schools Overseas (PSO) earned one bronze, also in taekwondo.

Meanwhile, Western Visayas ruled the para games tally with 24 golds, 21 silvers, and 14 bronzes, boasting a sizeable lead in all columns.

Calabarzon was a far second with a 13-9-9 split, while NCR completed the podium with 9 golds, 8 silvers, and 5 bronzes.

Manila claimed the top spot in the Top Performing School Division Oﬃces, followed by Iloilo at second, and Pasig City at third.

Ilocos Norte now prepares for the 65th Palarong Pambansa in 2025, as Governor Matthew Marcos Manotoc and Laoag City Mayor Michael Marcos Keon accepted the hosting responsibilities during the closing ceremony.

The Palarong Pambansa 2024, featuring 34 sports events, welcomed over 12,000 athletes from 19 delegations, including newcomers National Academy of Sports (NAS) and Philippine Schools Overseas (POS).

The event marked a historic return to Cebu City after three decades since its last hosting in 1994.

Acting Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said during a press conference that 12,000 athletes, coaches, and school oﬃcials joined Tuesday’s closing ceremony with Vice President and outgoing Education Secretary Sara Duterte.

In her speech at the closing ceremony, Duterte encouraged the delegates to bring with them the “Cebuano trait” as they leave Cebu City after the event.

“Bring to your respective communities the distinct Cebuano trait of pride or value. Cebuanos are known for their ‘garbo’ for one’s culture, talents, faith, and family. It is the same garbo that we always take to heart as we pursue life with excellence, integrity, values, and enduring love of country,” Duterte said.

The acting mayor also thanked the provincial government for the P8 million pledge to fund the closing event at the Cebu City Sports Center.

“The city government has been able to save P8 million because the province (of Cebu) will shoulder the cost of the closing ceremony,” he said.

The student-athletes are expected to have a memorable closing ceremony as the provincial government will treat them to a colorful and lively “Pasigarbo sa Sugbo” and an innovative show of lights to highlight the event.

Pasigarbo will feature more than 20 festivals showcasing the best of Cebu.

Graton Punch A Bunch, Up To $500,000 Smokin’ Hot 777 Slot

Tournaments, B-Side Lounge, Red Dragon Baccarat

Progressive, Concerts & More in July!

ROHNERT PARK, Calif. – Graton Resort & Casino

Continue the summer fun and excitement at Graton Resort & Casino. July brings even more opportunities to win big and enjoy star-studded entertainment. Don’t miss your chance to participate in the thrilling Punch A Bunch promotion and the Up To $500,000 Smokin’ Hot 777 Slot Tournaments. Join us and keep the summer luck alive at Graton Resort & Casino!

Every Friday in July, join us for Punch A Bunch. Drawings every hour, 7pm –11pm. Play for a chance to win your share of $235,000 in prizes! Play. Punch. Win. 200 winners guaranteed.

Now – August 29th, Thursdays from 1pm – 6pm, don’t miss the Up To $500,000 Smokin’ Hot 777 Slot Tournaments. With

top prizes up to $15,000 in cash, and 40 winners guaranteed at each tournament, the stakes are high. Plus, Fortune winners will enjoy double the prize amount, while Royalty & Chairman winners will triple their winnings! All reward members get one free entry into the tournament.

Graton Resort & Casino is celebrating summer with the opening of its latest music venue, B-Side Lounge. Located within Bistro 101, this exciting new space features live entertainment, weekend DJs, Sunday brunch parties, and more. B-Side Lounge oﬀers guests a glamorous full bar, premium lounge seating and a lively dance ﬂoor. The menu includes a selection of local craft beers on tap and specialty cocktails, as well as nonalcoholic drinks.

Introducing the latest sensation… Red

Dragon Baccarat Progressive! This thrilling new game takes the excitement of traditional baccarat to unprecedented heights with an innovative prize wheel feature. Whether you’re a seasoned baccarat enthusiast or new to the game, Red Dragon promises to deliver an unmatched blend of strategy, suspense, and unparalleled rewards. Join us to be part of the next big win! Exclusively at Graton Resort & Casino.

Get ready for an unforgettable evening of music and culture from the spectacular Vietnamese Summer Show on Friday, July 12 at Graton Resort & Casino! This special event brings a vibrant mix of traditional melodies and contemporary hits from some of Vietnam’s most celebrated artists. Don’t miss out on this night of exceptional

entertainment and unforgettable memories! Also, mark your calendars for August 8 & 9 and enjoy a fantastic performance by Sharon Cuneta at Graton Resort & Casino. Reserved seating tickets available now at www.gratonresortcasino.com.

About Graton Resort & Casino

Located in Sonoma County, Graton Resort & Casino has a commanding presence among the rolling hills of Northern California’s wine country. Owned and operated by the Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria, Graton Resort & Casino features table games, the latest slot machines, upscale and casual dining, plus entertainment options for visitors and locals alike. For more information, please visit www. gratonresortcasino.com or call 707-5887100.

Manilatown Heritage Foundation Launches “Flipping the Boat” to Celebrate Filipino Maritime Heritage and Commemorate the Fall of the I-Hotel

San Francisco, CA – The Manilatown Heritage Foundation, in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime Museum, proudly announces “Flipping the Boat,” a year-long community engagement project and event. This initiative aims to honor the power and agency of Filipino-American and other Bay Area residents, drawing on maritime heritage to inspire community leadership and solidarity.

“Flipping the Boat” hosted free monthly intergenerational workshops from November 2023 through July 2024 at the International Hotel Manilatown Center. These workshops taught participants to create and decorate small boats, symbolizing their dreams and wishes for themselves and the city of San Francisco. The small boats have formed an art installation at the Center, reﬂecting the community’s aspirations.

Workshops incorporated Philippine ancestral art, culture, and environmental sustainability practices, providing a hands-on understanding of maritime traditions and even a sharing of personal maritime family histories and connections. While the Maritime Museum lectures focused on Filipino-American Connections with SF Maritime, Making of the “Grace Quan”, and Celestial Navigation. This initiative will culminate in a signiﬁcant event on August 4, 2024, commemorating the 1977 eviction of the I-Hotel tenants, many of whom were merchant seamen, longshoremen, and ﬁshermen.

The August 4th event activities will begin at 3PM with a gathering event at the Maritime Museum. This project aims to grow into an annual multicultural event, fostering intergenerational connections and empowering the Filipino-American community to reclaim their maritime heritage. Participants

will then join together in a group celebration that launches their miniature boats in Aquatic Park—symbolically reclaiming ancestral connections to the waterways. In honor of the use of Ramaytush Ohlone land, special guest Ramaytush Ohlone elder Gregg Castro will sing the Fog Song at Aquatic Park. Participants will then walk together through Aquatic Park, North Beach and Chinatown to the International Hotel Manilatown Center, with the event culminating in a screening of Curtis Choy’s classic documentary, “The Fall of the I-Hotel” and a remembrance ceremony for the I-Hotel evicted tenants.

“As stewards of pre-colonial Philippine art and culture, we recognize the signiﬁcance of our maritime history,” said Caroline Cabading, Executive Director of the Manilatown Heritage Foundation. “Flipping the Boat” aims to revive our community’s maritime leadership and provide a platform for creative expression and cultural education.”

“Flipping the Boat” highlights the rich maritime history of the Filipino-American community, drawing parallels to their role as master navigators and boat builders in Philippine ancient times. It addresses the current socio-economic challenges, advocating for greater Filipino representation in leadership roles within the maritime industry.

This initiative not only commemorates the historical signiﬁcance of Manilatown and the I-Hotel but also strengthens community bonds through shared cultural experiences. The workshops and events oﬀered opportunities for families to learn, create, and celebrate together, fostering a sense of belonging and empowerment.

For more information about “Flipping the Boat” and the Manilatown Heritage Foundation, please visit manilatown.org.

FilAm US Senate aspirant urges US to waive US visa for Filipinos

HONOLULU, Hawaii – “Let us make Hawai’i a Paradise again.”

Lawyer Emmanuel S. Tipon, the ﬁrst Filipino to run for the United States Senate representing Hawaii, is making waves, especially among voters of Filipino descent, due to his sterling credentials and platform of making Hawaii, now battered by dwindling number of tourists and increasing crimes, a strong state and a paradise again.

“My vision of Hawaii is a landscape of beautiful scenery instead of homeless encampments, smoothly paved roads, aﬀordable homes, enough well-compensated jobs, crime-free neighborhoods, and scores of other things that make life in Hawai’i enjoyable,” Tipon stressed in a statement he issued to support his candidacy which he echoed in his radio program over KNDI 1270 AM band and on Facebook live.

“Love Americans First” is my motto,” he added. “The U.S. government must help Americans ﬁrst before helping others. Those who have less in life should have more from Uncle Sam. The U.S. must stop subsidizing Ukraine with $61 billion. Give Hawai’i $5 billion.”

“I will help you achieve these. I am Emmanuel Samonte Tipon. I am a U.S. citizen. I was born in the Philippines. The U.S. government gave me a Fulbright scholarship to Yale Law School where I earned a Master of Laws degree. I am articulate, friendly, have a sense of humor, inspire hope, and open-minded,” Tipon said.

Tipon, an Ilocano like many Filipino Hawaiians who considers himself a loyalist to the late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and is personally known to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta Marcos, already has strong support and attention, particularly due to his number one proposal –

no more US visa for Filipinos to travel to the United States just like in the past.

“If the US had waived US visa for Japanese nationals, once the Americans’ fierce enemy during the war, why can’t US give that benefit also to the Filipinos who fought side by side with them during the fight against the Japanese Imperial Army?” said Tipon, a Philippine bar topnother who was a Fulbright and Smith-Mudt scholar to Yale Law School where he obtained a Master of Laws degree specializing in Constitutional Law.

Tipon recalled that for four decades in the past when the Philippines was colonized by the Americans in May 1898, Filipinos were considered US nationals although with no citizenship rights like right to vote in US and were free to travel any time and without limitations to the United States.

At present, Filipinos have to shell out a big sum, almost $200 ($185 or P10,000 plus to be exact), fee for a US visa application which, when not granted, is not even refundable, said Tipon in an interview with Manila Times.

Tipon, who is a graduate of the University of the Philippines and placed third in the 1955 bar examinations, expounded on his “no US visa” plan and other proposals during

Social Security Update

HOW WE SERVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

By G. Samson Social Security Public Aﬀairs Specialist in the Bay Area

We strive to deliver great customer service with helpful information for everyone. This includes improving access for underserved communities. We aim to reduce language barriers and increase access to Social Security programs, services, and beneﬁts. If you are a person with Limited English Proﬁciency (LEP), know that we have the resources available to help you in your preferred language. We encourage you to learn about the resources that are available to serve LEP communities. What resources are available?

We provide beneﬁt information in Spanish at SeguroSocial.gov that includes:

• Retirement.

• Disability.

• Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

his weekly program over Honolulu’s KNDI 1270 AM band every Thursday at 8:00 a.m. which is simulcast on Facebook.

According to records available on the website of the United States Embassy in Manila, in 2023 alone, the embassy issued some 450,000 non-immigrant visas, 110,000 of which were for sea and air crew.

This means that at a fee of $185 per applicant, the US Embassy in Manila collected a total of $83,250,000 in US non-immigrant visa fees alone in 2023. At P56 exchange rate for a US dollar then, this totals to P4,662,000,000 (P4.6 billion). At the exchange rate of 57 pesos to a dollar, this could be P4,745,250,000 (P4.7 billion). (At today’s rate of 58.40 to US$1, this totals to P4,861,800,000!)

Aside from non-immigrant US visas, the US Embassy in Manila also issued 30,000 visas for immigrants in 2023 alone and collected $5,550,000 or a total of P316,350,000 for that at P57 per a US dollar, making a grand total of P5,061,600,000 that year.

This does not include US visa application fee of $205 from $190 for temporary workers and $315 from $205 for treaty trader or treaty

investor, US Embassy records showed.

It is ironic, Tipon said, that while Filipinos are paying $185 for a US visa application, US citizens can enter the Philippines visa-free if they stay only for no more than 30 days. Balikbayans or Filipinos who have been naturalized as US citizens may also enter the Philippines without a visa provided they have a passport valid for six months beyond the intended stay in the Philippines.

The Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs added that foreign spouses and their children may also avail of the no-visa privilege if they are travelling with the Balikbayan, subject to the presentation of a proof of affiliation like marriage certificate for spouse and birth certificate for children.

Filipinos in the United States who are now 4.5 million account for 40.9 percent of the total cash remittances by overseas Filipinos from over 100 countries of almost $34 billion through the banks in 2023. Other top senders are Filipinos in Singapore (7.1%), Saudi Arabia (6.2%), Japan (5%), United Kingdom (4.7%), United Arab Emirates (4.3 %), Canada (3.6%), Qatar (2.8%), Taiwan (2.7%) and South Korea (2.5%).

Tipon, who practices federal law, with emphasis on immigration law and appellate federal criminal defense,. said it is feasible for US to drop the expensive US visa fee for Filipinos.

“There’s even no need for a law to do this, only a directive from the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with clearance, of course, from the US President,” said Tipon, who is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, New York and the Philippines. (Alfred Gabot)

We oﬀer publications in languages other than English. Our non-English publications and other resources at www.ssa. gov/multilanguage are available in more than 12 languages. The multilanguage website also lists resources to support you in your preferred language.

Our free interpreter services are available, by phone and in person, in more than 200 languages. These services are accessible by calling our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting a local Social Security office and asking for an interpreter in your preferred language. Diversity is one of our nation’s greatest strengths. We want to ensure an inclusive environment for everyone we serve. Our Language Access Plan affirms our commitment to increase access to benefits and services for people who prefer a language other than English. To learn more, we encourage you to visit www. ssa.gov/site/languages.

Health & Wealth...

back). For your FREE autographed copy, just send $9.95 (for mailing, shipping and handling) in check or money order to: ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email: artmadlaing@hotmail.com

For your initial supply of 5 bottles of SB-10, with FREE autographed copy of “LONGEVITY TIPS”, just send $140 (in check or money order) to ART G. MADLAING, 730 Madrid Street, San Francisco, CA 94112 Tel. (650) 438-3531 or (415) 584-7095 or email: artmadlaing@hotmail.com These Special Oﬀers are only good in the United States.

(ART GABOT MADLAING is accredited and commissioned Notary Public and licensed Real Estate Broker (DRE# 00635976) in California since 1081. He is the founder of MOBILE SIGNING SERVICES, FITNESS FOR HUMANITY (aka FITNESS FOR CHRIST) and ACAPINOY. Art is active Evangelist with the GOLDEN GATE CHURCH OF CHRIST in San Francisco, California USA.)

Jr will skirt through in his SONA is that pesky thing called inﬂation.

Having little if any understanding of both micro and macro-economics, he will just say that his administration continues to do all it can to tame the wild beast that has seen the prices of goods and services skyrocket.

Never mind his promise to bring the price of rice down to P20 per kilo, but which is now hovering at P60/kilo.

Good job, boy. Take a damn bow.

And incidentally, it is not only rice that is almost beyond the reach of the poor and the lower middle class. This week, it was announced that the market price of chicken is P250/kilo. It was less than P200 a little more than a month ago.

It’s that old devil inﬂation again, ladies and gentlemen.

Junior will, of course, ignore all the red ﬂags and insist that the Philippine economy is doing great and that all his foreign trips have resulted in billions -- nay, trillions – of pesos in…uh…promises. Not commitments, ok, just “interest” in various growth industries.

One recent ﬁgure had somewhere between 20 to 25 percent of those promises ending up in actual commitments.

So Junior will say these things take time. OK ngarud?

So expect local media to focus more on what the country’s lawmakers will be donning on SONA day, especially the ladies. It’s become an annual fashion show to the point that even the gents dress to the nines and preen like peacocks.

Since most lawmakers have already sold their souls to the chief executive, expect a decent number of standing ovations for the magniﬁcent Mr. Marcos.

This coming SONA will be his third. So three more to go before he steps down, or ﬁnds a way to extend his stay in the presidential palace.

Hopefully, by the end of his term, his VP will no longer be a viable bet for the highest oﬃce in the land. More importantly, there must emerge a truly competent leader who will take us to the promised land of tamer inﬂation, corruption , and Chinese incursions in our waters, especially my beloved Batangas.

As I see It

Or any part of the Philippines for that matter. In the meantime, I think I’ll invest in a honey bee farm. Maybe I can train my bees to sting any member of the China Coast Guard who enter our waters.

out in the open convention of the Democratic Party.

How about, thinking it loud, tapping former Democrat now an independent Robert Kennedy, Jr. who is an independent presidential candidate as guest candidate? Or, independent thinking Republican Liz Cheney, also as a guest candidate? Of course, it will be difficult on the part of the Democratic Party to accept having either of the two as guest candidate. It’s hard to imagine but just presenting an alternative solution to the party nominee… that is if they will accept it.

Well, maybe that’s a wishful thinking, but it’s worth considering… although it is a remote possibility, right?

Okay, as to Trump, he went on releasing the name of his running mate at the opening of the GOP convention. Trump has chosen Freshman Ohio Senator J.D. Vance, 39, to be his 2024 running mate on the Republican White House ticket. He is the bestselling author of “Hillbilly Elegy,” who went from suggesting that Trump is “America’s Hitler” to embracing the power of the MAGA machine, according to author Kyler Alvord.

“After lengthy deliberation and thought, and considering the tremendous talents of many others, I have

Sky River Casino Heats Up July with Exciting Promotions

This July, Sky River Casino is thrilled to announce a lineup of thrilling promotions designed to oﬀer its guests the chance to win big and enjoy incredible rewards. Join for an unforgettable summer ﬁlled with action-packed gaming, valuable giveaways, and exciting tournaments. Here’s what’s in store:

$120,000 Weekly Blackjack Tournament

Running every Thursday from July 11th through September 26th from 6PM - 11PM, the $120,000 Weekly Blackjack Tournament allows players to compete for a share of $10,000 in prizes each week, including a guaranteed $5,000 winner in promotional chips. Sky River Rewards members get their ﬁrst entry free with the option to re-buy for $50 as many times as desired.

Stars & Stripes Swipe & Win

portunities to win big this July at Sky River Casino. Mark your calendars and get ready for a month ﬁlled with excitement, rewards, and unforgettable moments.

Join Sky River Rewards

Sky River Rewards, is one of the most hi-tech rewards programs among casinos in Northern California, allowing guests cardless play, cashless wallet, and more. The Sky River Rewards card is your key to receiving points for all your activities and those points can be redeemed for Free Play or dining credits. Become a Sky River Rewards member now to receive $15 Free Play. To activate your Free Play, visit any slot machine and place a bet. Sky River Rewards enrollment can be done online using a computer, tablet, or phone with a camera.

About Sky River Casino

Sky River Casino invites its guests to celebrate Independence Day with the Stars & Stripes Swipe & Win promotion on Thursday, July 4th, from 12 PM to 8 PM. Earn 500 Tier Credits and swipe your card to win Free Play, Sky River Points, and more. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the holiday while winning fantastic rewards!

Recent Father’s Day Jackpot Win

The excitement at Sky River Casino continues to build following a recent $374,151 jackpot win on Father’s Day, June 16, 2024. A guest from Pittsburg, California hit the Triple Diamond Progressive jackpot while playing Blackjack near Rock Bar, adding to the casino’s reputation for holiday luck. “While every day is a winning day at Sky River, holidays tend to be even luckier for our guests,” noted Sky River Casino’s President Michael J. Facenda. This signiﬁcant win sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling July, with multiple promotions offering guests more chances at life-changing prizes.

$1,000,000 Road to Glory Giveaway

The $1M Road to Glory Giveaway continues to oﬀer SRR members daily chances to earn entries by playing Slots and Table Games. Redeem one free daily entry at the Promotion Kiosk and earn 100 Bonus entries every Monday and Tuesday.. Join every Saturday from 7 PM to 10 PM for Road to Glory Drawings, where winners will spin the wheel for a chance to win prizes ranging from $1,500 Free Play to $15,000 Cash or a choice of a new Lincoln Nautilus, GMC Sierra, or Ford Mustang GT!

For more details and rules on the July promotions, visit SkyRiver.com.

Don’t miss out on these incredible op-

decided that the person best suited to assume the position of Vice President of the United States is Senator J.D. Vance,” Trump posted on Truth Social during the roll call vote of the Republican National Convention. (Kyler Alvord) Vance was one of three names elevated to finalist status in recent weeks, alongside North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.

While Biden calls for unity, Trump’s supporters kept on chanting: “Fight… fight… fight” during the 1st day of the GOP convention, and Trump, after the assassination attempt calls for unity. Isn’t this a contradiction?

So, fellow American voters, make up your mind! I think I go with Biden saying to vote for the candidate according to issues, not according to personalities! We are matured enough to vote discreetly, not emotionally! Let’s think of the future of America… for our children, for our grandchildren… and for all generations to come!

The November general election will be fun! God bless America!

Sky River Casino was built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe. The casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq ft of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80+ table games, and 18 bars and restaurants. To learn more, visit www.SkyRiver.com.

(From Page 11)

and Jay

Global childhood immunization levels stalled in 2023 leaving many without life-saving protection

GENEVA/NEW YORK – Global childhood immunization coverage stalled in 2023, leaving 2.7 million additional children un- and undervaccinated compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019, according to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF.

The latest WHO and UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage (WUENIC) – which provide the world’s largest and most comprehensive dataset on immunization trends for vaccinations against 14 diseases – underscore the need for ongoing catch-up, recovery and system-strengthening eﬀorts.

“The latest trends demonstrate that many countries continue to miss far too many children,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “Closing the immunization gap requires a global eﬀort, with governments, partners, and local leaders investing in primary healthcare and community workers to ensure every child gets vaccinated, and that overall healthcare is strengthened.”

According to the ﬁndings, the number of children who received three doses of the vaccine against diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTP) in 2023 - a key marker for global immunization coverage - stalled at 84% (108 million). However, the number of children who did not receive a single dose of the vaccine increased from 13.9 million in 2022 to 14.5 million in 2023.

More than half of unvaccinated children live

in the 31 countries with fragile, conﬂict-aﬀected and vulnerable settings, where children are especially vulnerable to preventable diseases because of disruptions and lack of access to security, nutrition, and health services.

Additionally, 6.5 million children did not complete their third dose of the DTP vaccine, which is necessary to achieve disease protection in infancy and early childhood.

These trends, which show that global immunization coverage has remained largely unchanged since 2022 and – more alarmingly - has still not returned to 2019 levels, reﬂect ongoing challenges with disruptions in healthcare services, logistical challenges, vaccine hesitancy and inequities in access to services.

Low vaccine coverage already driving measles outbreaks

The data further show that vaccination rates against the deadly measles disease stalled, leaving nearly 35 million children with no or only partial protection.

In 2023, only 83% of children worldwide received their ﬁrst dose of the measles vaccine through routine health services, while the number of children receiving their second dose modestly increased from the previous year, reaching 74% of children. These ﬁgures fall short of the 95% coverage needed to prevent outbreaks, avert unnecessary disease and deaths, and achieve measles elimination goals.

Over the last ﬁve years, measles outbreaks hit 103 countries – home to roughly three-quarters of the world’s infants. Low vaccine coverage (80% or less) was a major factor. In contrast, 91 countries with strong measles vaccine coverage did not experience outbreaks.

“Measles outbreaks are the canary in the coalmine, exposing and exploiting gaps in immunization and hitting the most vulnerable ﬁrst,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “This is a solvable problem. Measles vaccine is cheap and can be delivered even in the most diﬃcult places. WHO is committed to working with all our partners to support countries to close these gaps and protect the most at-risk children as quickly as possible.”

Global HPV vaccine coverage among girls increased substantially

The new data also highlight some brighter spots in immunization coverage. The steady introduction of new and under-utilized vaccines, including for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningitis, pneumococcal, polio and rotavirus disease, continue to expand the breadth of protection, particularly in the 57 countries supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

For example, the share of adolescent girls globally who received at least 1 dose of the HPV vaccine, which provides protection against cervical cancer, increased from 20% in 2022 to 27% in 2023. This was largely driven by strong

introductions in Gavi-supported countries, such as Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Nigeria. The use of the single-dose HPV vaccine schedule also helped boost vaccine coverage.

“The HPV vaccine is one of the most impactful vaccines in Gavi’s portfolio, and it is incredibly heartening that it is now reaching more girls than ever before,” said Dr Sania Nishtar, CEO of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. “With vaccines now available to over 50% of eligible girls in African countries, we have much work to be done, but today we can see we have a clear pathway to eliminating this terrible disease.”

However, HPV vaccine coverage is well below the 90% target to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health problem, reaching only 56% of adolescent girls in high-income countries and 23% in low- and middle-income countries.

A recent poll of over 400,000 users of UNICEF’s digital platform for young people, U-Report, revealed that over 75% are unaware or unsure of what HPV is, underscoring the need for better vaccine accessibility and public awareness. When informed about the virus, its link to cancers, and the existence of a vaccine, 52% of respondents indicated they want to receive the HPV vaccine but are hindered by ﬁnancial constraints (41%) and lack of availability (34%).

Robust local action needed to reach everyone, everywhere with vaccines

Heart of Hope

The nobility, treasured peace, respect, and love of fellowmen and other Christian virtues that reigned over America after the second world war is now marred by extreme hate and violence from the liberal elements of our society, staining our soil with our own blood.

The radical shift in paradigm in the thinking and behavior of some of our own people, who had turned leftist, socialist, fascist, and terrorists, have severe health eﬀects on our people and on our nation as a whole. The inordinate mental anguish and depression caused by this bitterness and hostility in our midst, some designed by our top politicians running for ofﬁce and their socialist sponsors, have deep seated consequences on our body and psyche.

I am perplexed as to why even educated members of our society, from the Oval Oﬃce to The Congress and to our people, could not agree, and are diametrically opposed on vital issues that are transparently clear: whether the borders are open or close; whether open borders allowing more than 10 million unvetted illegal trespassers, some of them rapists, child molesters, killers, drug smugglers, COVID-19 carriers, and terrorists, is a good or bad, right or wrong, policy; whether to allow illegal immigrants and non-citizens to vote when the Constitution clearly confers this sacred right only to American citizens, and on other controversies, whose answers are lucidly obvious to the majority and the international community. The issues are so plain and the choice so obvious, even a 5th grader could instantly provide us with the right responses.

Why and how some people cannot discern red from yellow and green, or the truth from falsehood, right from wrong simply because they belong to one political party or the other baﬄes me to no end. Obviously, party aﬃliation twists and corrupts the mind, disabling some people from seeing and accepting the truth and the goodness in our opponents.

People on either side of the spectrum who are fanatics and bigots are blind to the naked truth, casting wisdom, objectivity, principles, compassion, and justice aside. They are causing confusion and havoc in America, robbing the people and the nation of peace and security, exacting a grave toll on our physical and mental health, especially on our children.

Preparing for the November 6, 2024, national elections, spotlighting the wonderful brilliance of democracy when the

Hatred in America

American people will once again express their free will in choosing their leaders though the ballot boxes peacefully, without coercion and violence, the whole world was stunned, appalled, and repulsed, by the cowardly attempt at assassinating President Trump on Saturday, July 13, 2024.

The former president, at the podium at the rally in Butter, Pennsylvania, was uttering these words “take a look at what happens…” when shots rang out, one of the bullets grazing his right ear. He ducked instantaneously, signaling presence of mind, quick thinking, and agility. A few degrees turn of his head would have killed him on the spot. It was, indeed, a miracle, a divine intervention that saved President Trump.

Whether the bullets that missed his head by millimeters were the ones that killed Corey Comperatore, a Buffalo firefighter considered a hero, or injured the other two victims, no one knows yet. And neither do we know at this time the motive of the 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, PA, and if he had planned and acted alone in this contemptible act.

One thing is for certain, the false and dangerous narratives of the political enemies of Donald Trump, the liberal news and TV media and President Biden, who loudly proclaimed the former president deserved a bullet, to be a “bullseye” target on the crosshair, had to be terminated because Trump “is a modern Hitler”, that his election would mean the end of democracy, that he is an existential threat to the United States, that Trump would be a fascist dictator when elected and will refuse to leave oﬃce after his term, etc., had obviously played a signiﬁcant role in inspiring TM Crooks to target President Trump.

Incendiary and disingenuous statements from either side not only disgust people who love this nation, who are intelligent and just, and who know the truth, but they also motivate criminal mentality and sinister behavior among mindless bigots, unhinged individuals, and demented fanatics.

For the health and survival of America as a people and as a nation and to regain the trust and respect of other nations around the world who are looking up to the United States as their powerful ally for political, economic, and moral leadership, America needs to heed the wake-up call amidst itself today. As the world leader, America should heal itself from within soon before it self-destructs in an Armageddon of our own doing, to the contemptuous cheers and joy of its four major foes around the globe.

As a people in this divided, confused, and volatile environment, we need to do some serious soul-searching to analyze ourselves individually and as a society, manage the anger within our heart, and motivate our fellowmen with our own

Christian values to renew our faith in the goodness of man, to achieve understanding, compassion, and harmony in our nation.

People who blindly relegated their ﬂawed priorities and misguided loyalty to any political party ﬁrst, placing their allegiance to our Constitution, fellow Americans, our nation, and to the truth second, have long been leading the United States to the wrong path of guaranteed self-desecration and eventual cataclysm.

Personally, as a citizen of this once great nation, I grieve as I witness the gradual decay of America for at least the past half a century.

As I advocated in the Ode in my book on Amazon, “Where is My America,” which I dedicated to our beloved land of the brave and of the free:

“This madness must stop!”

“Where is my America of yesteryears, where godliness, respect for law and order, compassion, love of fellowmen, tolerance, and kindness abound, where ALL lives mattered and meritocracy valued, and when integrity and dignity were sacred, sometimes chosen more valuable than life?”

“I miss my America, land of the wise and the noble free, during its golden years of greatness, and the wonders of its tenderhearted souls.”

“In supplication, gripped by sadness, buoyed by a ray of hope, I pray for God to wake and shake us all from this repulsive and horrifying nightmare and bless us with wisdom, compassion, and care to fulﬁll our common aspirations and noble dreams as One, for America’s best eons yet to come.”

Let us all pause for a moment, take a good deep breath, look at the mirror, say a prayer for America, regroup as a nation, and start our healing…and allow God to bless the United States of America once again!

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United NetworkUSA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, Astronaut Gus Grissom, renowned educators, scientists, and political and business leaders (Wikipedia). Websites: www.FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

PHILIP S. CHUA

Recipe of the Week

Kinilaw na Bangus

Here is the recipe of my version of Kinilaw na Bangus.

Ingredients:

1 medium sized bangus,descaled, deboned

4 medium sized onions, peeled, sliced thinly

3-4 thumb sized ginger, skinned, sliced thinly

3-4 red hot chili, sliced thinly

3-4 long green sili, cut in half lengthwise, deseeded, sliced thinly 10-12 kalamansi, juice extracted

2 cups, white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground peppercorns

salt

To marinate the Bangus Skin

1/2 head garlic, crushed, peeled, coursly chopped

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon salt

To fry the Bangus Skin cooking oil

Method:

Using a spoon carefully scoop out the meat from the butterflied boneless bangus. Place the fish skin including the tail and head in in a marinating bowl. Rub the inside on the fish skin with the chopped garlic, ground peppercorns and salt. Add in the ½ cup vinegar and let marinate for at least 15 minutes, keep aside until ready to fry. Cut the bangus meat into cubes, place in a bowl, add in about 1 cup of the white vinegar. Let it soak for at least 15 minutes, then drain the liquid using a sieve, lightly press the meat against the sieve to drain all the excess liquid. Using the same bowl toss together the bangus meat, ginger, onion, red chili, green long sili, ground peppercorns, kalamansi juice and remining vinegar. Season with salt to taste. Keep aside. Now cut off the tail and head from the marinated bangus skin. Cut the skin into wide strips. Keep aside. Heat generous amount of cooking oil until it start to smoke. First fry the bangus skin in batches until crisp. Next fry the bangus head and tail. Keep aside until ready to serve.

To serve arrange the bangus tail and head on a platter. Place the kinilaw/bangus meat in between the tail and the head. Top the kilawin with the crispy fried bangus skin and serve.

Bitaog Beach, famous for its powdery white sands, is among the sought-after resorts in Unib Island, locally known as “Lalaking Bukid,” in the province of Dinagat Islands. (Photo courtesy of Erwin M. Mascariñas)

Dinagat Islands: Hidden paradise

SAN JOSE, Dinagat Islands – The provincial tourism oﬃce of Dinagat Islands disclosed an unprecedented surge in tourist arrivals, particularly during the ﬁrst quarter of this year, indicating a promising trend for the local tourism industry.

Local visitors to the islands saw a remarkable 47.2 percent increase compared to the same period last year, while foreign visits skyrocketed by an astounding 356 percent, showcasing a growing interest from international travelers in this hidden paradise, PNA’s Alexander Lopez reported.

Overall, Dinagat province experienced a 51.9 percent boost in tourist visits during the ﬁrst quarter of 2024, underscoring the allure of its natural wonders and cultural richness.

The province was featured during the weeklong Suroy Surigao Plus tourism promotion campaign, which concluded on July 9, alongside Surigao City and the mainland Surigao del Norte province.

The promotion campaign, which aims to transform Surigao City and mainland Surigao del Norte from mere jump-oﬀ points to neighboring islands into destinations with exciting new tourism products, was joined by social media inﬂuencers from Cebu, travel and tour operators from Davao City and media personalities from the Caraga Region.

Created only in 2006, the province is one of the smallest island provinces in the country with a total land area of 1,036.34 square kilometers (400.13 sq mi).

Located to the northeast of Surigao del Norte, in mainland Mindanao, the Dinagat Islands are separated physically from Awasan and Nonoc Islands of Surigao del Norte by the narrow, 15 kilometers (9.3 mi) long, Gaboc Channel. It takes about 75 minutes to cross from Surigao City Port to San Jose Port by pump boat.

The province has seven towns and consists of the eponymous Dinagat Island and surrounding islands and islets, including Cabilan Island in Dinagat, La Isla Aga and Lalaking Bukid in Basilisa, Kisses Islets in Libjo, and Hibuson, Stingray Islet, and Puyo Islet in Loreto.

Mount Redondo on Dinagat Island is

the highest point of the province reaching 939 meters (3,081 ft) above sea level.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to be part of this tourism campaign, which will further bolster Dinagat Island’s tourism prospects,” said Governor Nilo Demerey Jr.

Demerey described Suroy Surigao Plus as an essential promotional tourism campaign that will attract more visitors to Surigao City, mainland Surigao del Norte, and Dinagat Islands by showcasing the diverse attractions that await travelers.

In the ﬁrst quarter of 2024, the island province welcomed 6,190 local visitors, compared to 4,205 in the same period last year.

Dinagat Islands, in the same quarter this year, also welcomed 301 foreign visitors compared to 66 recorded in the ﬁrst quarter last year.

“The opening of the Dinagat Islands –Siargao Island route early this year is also a big factor in our increased tourism visit,” Demerey said.

The route, he added, oﬀers visitors from Siargao cheaper fares and less time of travel if they wish to visit the Dinagat Islands.

Pristine beaches

The surge in tourism can be attributed to the Dinagat Islands’ pristine beaches, rich biodiversity, and warm hospitality, which leave a lasting impression on visitors and inspire them to return and explore more of the island province’s oﬀerings.

Among them is the enchanting Unib Island, locally known as ‘Lalaking Bukid,’ a hidden gem that boasts two breathtaking beaches with ﬁne white sands that attract travelers from far and wide.

Unib Island’s natural wonders include Pagkawasan Garden Resort and Bitaog Beach Resort, which are known for their tranquil atmosphere and pristine waters, making them must-visit attractions in the Dinagat Islands.

“So far, in my almost three years of tour guiding, these two resorts in Unib Island are frequented by visitors who come to Dinagat Islands,” said Al Pondoc, a trained and accredited tour guide,

ALLURING.