031326 - Las Vegas Edition

Trump dismisses unverified report of Iranian drone threat to West Coast as war with Tehran continues

WASHINGTON D.C. — President Donald Trump said Wednesday he was not concerned by reports of a possible Iranian drone threat targeting California, after a federal intelligence bulletin circulated among law-enforcement agencies warned of an alleged plan involving unmanned aerial vehicles launched from vessels off the U.S. coast.

The internal alert, distributed through the Los Angeles Joint Regional Intelligence Center (LA JRIC), indicated that Iran had “aspired” to launch drones from unidentified ships positioned offshore. Officials said the information cited in the bulletin was preliminary and had not been verified.

Speaking with reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump downplayed concerns that Tehran could attempt a strike on American soil. “No, I’m not concerned,” the president said.

Global Entry resumes as airport

security delays persist during DHS funding dispute

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. government has restored the Global Entry trusted-traveler program after suspending it in late February during a funding lapse affecting the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), even as some airports continue to report unusually long security lines.

Federal officials said the program resumed March 11, ending a pause that began Feb. 22 during the partial shutdown of DHS operations.

Global Entry, administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), allows pre-approved travelers considered low risk to bypass traditional passport inspection lines by using automated kiosks or dedicated processing lanes when entering the United States. Enrollment also includes TSA PreCheck, which provides expedited security screening at participating airports. During the shutdown, DHS temporarily halted Global Entry processing and reas-

Middle

LAS VEGAS

conflict

by AJPress

cannot bring him home because that is not the way it works. We have to ask the assistance of the country where he is in, which is presently Portugal. So, that’s what we have done,” Marcos Jr. said.

He added that the government has already requested a Red Notice through the International Criminal Police Organization to locate Co.

“That’s the process. You do not send your own police to go and pick him up kasi wala namang jurisdiction ang police doon sa kung saan ‘yung ibang bansa. So, they cannot arrest anyone. So, it will have to be with the assistance of the hosting country,” the president commented. Co is considered a central figure in the 2025 flood

MANILA — President Ferdi-

Philippines seen to take heavy beating from Iran war

MANILA — The energy shock set off by the ongoing war in the Middle East is expected to dampen economic growth recovery in the Philippines, as consumer spending could take a hit, analysts warned.

In a commentary, economists at Citi Research said the geopolitical conflict could weigh on consumption on several fronts — from the risk of softer remittances from the Middle East, which hosts over 2 million overseas Filipinos, to

and other retailers, which may see fewer shoppers after the government introduced a four-day workweek scheme aimed at cutting fuel consumption.

Citi said these developments could disrupt the country’s economic rebound, which remains in the “very early stages” after a high-profile corruption scandal had rattled confidence.

Gross domestic product expanded just 4.4 percent last year, missing the government’s target and falling short of market expectations. For now, Citi still expects average inflation this year to remain

for school districts to recruit teachers from abroad.

The issue centers on the H-1B visa program, a U.S. immigration pathway that allows employers to hire foreign professionals in

nand Marcos Jr. has appointed Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco as Presidential Adviser for Sustainable and Resilient Communities, with the Department of Tourism to be temporarily headed by Undersecretary Verna Buensuceso as officer in charge.

This was confirmed by Palace Press Officer Claire Castro to reporters on Thursday, March 12.

MANILA — Sen. Panfilo Lacson expressed confidence that the partial Senate committee report on the flood control mess would get five more signatures to send it to the plenary.

Four senators, so far, have signed the report: Lacson, Bam Aquino, Risa Hontiveros and Francis Pangilinan.

Three senators who withdrew their signatures after a draft report leaked to the press – JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian and Juan Miguel Zubiri – have yet to sign again.

Lacson, however, told One News’ “Storycon” that the committee had already revised the report’s wording to be “acceptable” for them.

“During our executive session, we invited the ombudsman, the Department of Justice and the Anti-Money Laundering Council to enlighten them about the complexities of the report,” he said on Thursday , March 12. The Blue Ribbon committee chair understands that some sena-

“As many areas across the country face increasing climate-related hazards and disruptions that affect local economies and livelihoods, the President has tasked Secretary Frasco to take on this role to help strengthen the implementation and sustained follow-through of priority national initiatives at the community level,” Castro said in a viber message.

“The President expressed his appreciation for her service at the Department of Tourism and conveyed confidence that her experience working closely with local governments and communities will continue to support the Administration’s priorities,” she also said.

Buensuceso has been with the DOT since 2013, where she served as Assistant Secretary, Tourism Attache and Director for East Japan,

and as head of the Marketing Development Group.

Meanwhile, Casto said Frasco did not resign from the DOT but only transferred to a different role.

Speculation about Frasco’s replacement has been going on for a few months now following allegations that the DOT commissioned the publication Philippine Topics to feature her on its cover and publish a story about her.

Lawmakers and netizens also criticized Frasco for alleged “self-promotion” in tourism materials.

Frasco was the former mayor of Liloan, Cebu and spokesperson for Vice President Sara Duterte. She is the daughter of then-Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who backed Marcos presidential bid together with her One Cebu party. n

Middle East conflict pushes...

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close coordination with Filipino communities and host governments.

The Middle East hosts a significant share of the world’s oil production and shipping routes.

As tensions intensified in recent weeks, global crude prices moved upward amid concerns that conflict could disrupt supply flows or threaten maritime routes such as the Strait of Hormuz, a key corridor for international oil shipments.

The Philippines imports most of its petroleum requirements, making the country particularly sensitive to changes in global fuel prices. The Department of Energy has repeatedly warned that geopolitical disruptions in major oil-producing regions can quickly translate into higher domestic fuel costs.

Energy officials said rising oil prices could eventually influence transport costs, electricity generation and logistics expenses across the archipelago.

Economic managers have long identified global oil volatility as a major external risk to inflation. Higher fuel prices tend to feed into transportation fares and electricity costs, which can affect consumer prices and the broader economy.

Officials from the Department of Energy said they are monitoring international market movements

and assessing potential measures should global fuel prices continue to rise.

Labor and foreign affairs authorities are also focusing on the situation of Filipino workers in the Middle East.

The Department of Migrant Workers and the Department of Foreign Affairs said Philippine embassies and labor offices in the region have been instructed to maintain communication with Filipino communities and remain prepared to provide assistance if necessary.

Filipino workers are present across several Middle Eastern countries, including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar and Kuwait. The region has long been one of the most significant overseas employment destinations for Filipinos.

Remittances sent by overseas Filipino workers remain a key pillar of the Philippine economy.

Data from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas show that remittances total tens of billions of dollars annually and support household consumption throughout the country.

A substantial portion of those remittances originates from workers in the Middle East, making developments in the region economically significant for many Filipino households.

Beyond energy markets and labor concerns, officials and analysts are also watching global trade and logistics.

The Middle East lies along important maritime and aviation corridors linking Asia with Europe and parts of Africa. Prolonged disruptions in the region could affect shipping routes, freight costs and supply chains moving across international markets.

Economic planners say higher logistics costs can influence the price of imported goods entering the Philippines, including fuel products, food commodities and industrial materials.

Regional governments are also evaluating the broader economic effects of the conflict. Southeast Asian officials have discussed the potential implications for trade, energy security and economic stability as tensions continue.

For the Philippines, the unfolding situation highlights the country’s exposure to geopolitical developments beyond its borders, particularly those affecting energy markets and the welfare of Filipino workers abroad.

Government agencies said monitoring and coordination efforts will continue as the conflict evolves, with priority placed on protecting Filipino nationals overseas and managing the potential economic effects at home. n

Marcos confirms Zaldy Co is in Portugal...

PAGE 1 control scandal involving billions of pesos lost to alleged corruption.

In September of that year, Co resigned from Congress and denied any involvement in the alleged scam. He was then a noshow to Senate hearings on the issue, citing “medical reasons.”

On Nov. 14, 2025, Co posted a 6-minute video, implicating Marcos and his cousin former Speaker of the House Martin Romualdez in the flood control mess, claiming they had roles in inserting P100 billion in flood projects into the 2025 national budget.

On Nov. 18, the Ombudsman filed graft and malversation cases against Co, several officials of the Department of Public Works and

Highways in Region 4-B, and executives of Sunwest Inc. over the P289 million flood control project in Oriental Mindoro. Later in the year, Marcos announced that Co’s passport was

already cancelled. Sandiganbayan declared Co a fugitive for failing to return to the country amid warrants and for non-compliance with the Independent Commission on Infrastructure’s probe. n

Visa policy shift raises concerns...

PAGE 1

specialized occupations, including teaching. In 2025, the administration of U.S. President Donald Trumpannounced a $100,000 fee for new H-1B visa petitions, a sharp increase from previous application costs that typically totaled several thousand dollars.

Education leaders and immigration experts say the change could affect school systems that rely on international recruitment to address teacher shortages.

Across the United States, many districts, particularly in rural or underserved communities, have turned to foreign educators to fill vacancies in subjects such as mathematics, science, and special education.

In some districts, international teachers account for a significant portion of the workforce. School administrators in several states report that educators from countries including the Philippines and Jamaica have helped sustain staffing levels in communities where domestic recruitment has proven difficult.

Philippines a major source of international teachers

The Philippines has emerged as one of the leading sources of international teachers working in U.S. schools.

Philippine government advisories and migration data have noted that Filipino educators rep-

resent a large share of teachers participating in the J-1 exchange visitor teacher program, which is administered by the U.S. Department of State.

The program allows qualified foreign teachers to work in accredited American schools for several years while participating in cultural and professional exchange activities.

Recruitment agencies and education officials say Filipino teachers are widely sought after because of their English proficiency, professional training, and experience teaching subjects where shortages are common, including STEM fields and special education.

For many Filipino educators, teaching abroad has become part of a broader pattern of global mobility among Filipino professionals working in education systems across North America, the Middle East, and other regions.

School districts warn of financial strain

Education officials say the higher H-1B visa fee could place international recruitment beyond the financial reach of many public school districts.

Administrators note that the cost of sponsoring a single visa under the new policy could approach or exceed the annual salary of a teacher in some states, making it difficult for smaller

districts to continue hiring from overseas. Without access to international educators, some school leaders warn that hard-to-staff districts may face persistent vacancies or may need to rely on alternatives such as larger class sizes, combined classrooms, or short-term teaching arrangements.

Several policymakers and education groups have urged federal authorities to consider exemptions for sectors such as education and health care that rely on specialized workers from abroad.

Implications for Filipino educators

For Filipino teachers seeking employment overseas, any changes affecting international recruitment in the United States could influence future opportunities.

Education analysts note that Filipino teachers have long played a role in addressing staffing gaps in American schools. Their presence has helped sustain classroom instruction in districts facing shortages of qualified educators.

School administrators and immigration experts say the longterm effects of the visa policy will depend on whether adjustments are made to accommodate sectors such as education.

Until then, districts and international teachers alike are watching closely as U.S. immigration rules continue to evolve. n

Philippines seen to take heavy beating...

PAGE 1

within the 2-percent to 4-percent target range of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). However, it warned that price hikes could approach the upper end of that band in April as the conflict in the oil-rich region continues.

Testing household resilience

“The ongoing oil shock presents a headwind for the recovery,” the bank’s economists said. “The resilience of household purchasing power will also be tested, given the hike in fuel prices.”

Global financial markets opened the week in turmoil after crude prices surged past $100 a barrel amid escalating attacks between the United States-Israel alliance and Iran.

Tehran retaliated by striking Middle Eastern neighbors hosting

American troops, and by restricting traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane for global oil exports.

World oil prices have since fallen amid talks of the potential release of emergency stocks.

At home, some oil companies have agreed to stagger the increases in pump prices.

Monetary policy

Already, BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. warned that the central bank could reverse course and raise interest rates if global oil prices stay above $100 a barrel for a long period and the US dollar continues its rally. Both developments, he said, could push inflation beyond the central bank’s target range.

John Paolo Rivera, senior research fellow at the Philippine Institute of Development Studies, said that while risks are still relatively manageable at this stage, the country must prepare for the worst.

“Unless oil prices remain elevated for a prolonged period and significantly erode purchasing power, the economy is more likely to face temporary inflation pressure rather than a sustained stagflationary environment,” Rivera said. He said higher energy costs could push inflation expectations, making BSP more cautious about continuing its monetary easing cycle and may shift toward a pause. n

For Citi, the BSP may defer any additional interest rate cuts, though it did not rule out the possibility of “a shallow hiking cycle” if oil prices stay elevated.

skypassvisa.com/asianjournal

Razon is richest Filipino on Forbes billionaires list

by Richmond meRcuRio Philstar.com

MANILA — Tycoon Enrique Razon Jr. is the country’s richest, based on the Forbes 2026 World’s Billionaires list.

Razon, chairman of port giant International Container Terminal Services Inc., hotel and casino operator Bloomberry Resorts Corp. and East zone concessionaire Manila Water Co. Inc., leads 15 other tycoons from the Philippines who landed in this year’s edition of the definitive ranking of the world’s wealthi

est people.

Razon was the only Filipino who cracked the top 200, ranking 175th with a net worth of $16.5 billion. He was followed by San Miguel Corp. chairman and CEO Ramon Ang who came in at rank 1,189 with a net worth of $3.6 billion and LT Group chairman Lucio Tan who placed 1,223rd with a net worth of $3.5 billion.

Real estate and retail tycoon Manuel Villar, the richest Filipino last year at 117th worldwide, is this year’s fourth wealthiest from the Philippines at 1,376th with a net worth of $3.1 billion.

Members of the Sy family comprised the next four Filipino billionaires on the list, led by Henry Sy Jr. at 1,676 with $2.5 billion, Hans Sy and Herbert Sy tied at rank 2,274 with $1.8 billion each and Harley Sy, who is tied with property tycoon and Alliance Global chairman Andrew Tan at rank 2,386 with $1.7 billion each.

Also tied at rank 2,481 are retail tycoon Lucio Co and BDO Unibank chairperson Teresita

Sy-Coson with net worth of $1.6 billion each. Another member of the Sy family, Elizabeth Sy, and Lucio Co’s wife Susan Co of retailer Puregold were tied at rank 2,600 with $1.5 billion in net worth each.

Completing the Filipino tycoons on the list are Jollibee Group founder Tony Tan Caktiong at 3,185th with a net worth of $1.1 billion and Eusebio Tanco, chairman of STI Education Systems Holdings and digital entertainment company DigiPlus Interactive, who ranked at 3,332 with $1 billion in net worth.

Forbes said this year’s list features a total of 3,428 billionaires, up by 400 from last year and by far the biggest since the list’s inception in 1987. It said the world’s wealthiest people are worth a record $20.1

trillion combined, up from $16.1 trillion in 2025.

The U.S. has the most billionaires with 989 on the list, followed by mainland China with 539 billionaires and India with 229.

Elon Musk topped the list for the second year in a row with a net worth of $839 billion.

Forbes said Musk is the first person ever recorded to reach the $800 billion mark, as he moves toward becoming the world’s first trillionaire.

Larry Page, co-founder of Google, ranked second with an estimated net worth of $257 billion, followed by his co-founder Sergey Brin at third with $237 billion.

Amazon’s Jeff Bezos ranked fourth with $224 billion and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg rounded out the top five with $222 billion. n

Lacson hopes more senators will sign...

1

tors are wary of signing the report due to its sensitive nature. The report recommends that a preliminary investigation be opened against Senators Francis Escudero, Jinggoy Estrada and Joel Villanueva – all members of the minority bloc. The leaked draft suggested the filing of criminal and administrative charges against them.

Other senators, Lacson said, are still testing the waters before affixing their signatures. “Some are asking their fellow senators if they’ve signed already, having been skeptical not necessarily due to the content but are simply reading the room first – just as how the vote for Senate president works,” he stressed. Lacson explained that the partial report can still be amended in the Senate plenary and that its “partial” status stems from the fact that hearings are not yet finished.

16 men face NBI

Sixteen of the 18 alleged former “Marines” who claimed they delivered cash to government officials on behalf of former lawmaker Zaldy Co appeared before the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on Thursday to answer questions over their allegations.

The group, accompanied by their lawyer Levito Baligod, arrived at the NBI office after being summoned by the bureau to shed light on their claims that they served as “bagmen” of Co. Baligod said the group was ready to cooperate with the investigation and provide documents to support their statements.

“But I looked at the subpoena and it appears that what the NBI wants to know is the background of the 18, so we will provide all the information,” Baligod said in an ambush interview.

He said the group would submit their military serial numbers and identification cards to establish their identities and employment.

“They said that eight of them were not employees of Zaldy Co, so we will provide their identifi-

cation cards signed by Zaldy Co to show that they were employees,” Baligod said.

ly helped the alleged ex-Marines with transportation and had no involvement in preparing their affidavit.

Filipino American among US soldiers killed in Kuwait attack

Filipino American among US soldiers killed in Kuwait attack

by niMfa u ruEda Inquirer.net

LOS ANGELES — Filipino

American Chief Warrant Officer

Robert Marzan was among the six US soldiers killed in a drone strike at a command center in Kuwait, according to the Pentagon.

The Pentagon said Marzan was at the scene when a drone strike hit the command center on Sunday, March 1.

Marzan’s sister, Elizabeth, described him on Facebook as a “strong leader” and loving husband, father and brother.

“My baby brother, you are loved and I will hold onto all our memories and cherish them always in my heart,” she wrote.

Marzan’s mother – Natividad “Naty” Macabenta Marzan, who died last year – was from Catbalogan, Samar.

Last deployment

Marzan’s niece, Irene Mary, shared on Facebook that her uncle was “just two months away from coming back home, this was his last deployment after serving in the Army for over 30 years.”

“I don’t understand this unimaginable devastation and deep pain as I struggle to share this. I don’t understand,” she wrote.

Irene Mary described Marzan as a “loving and fun uncle, grandma’s baby, a devoted husband, protective and loving father, baby brother, cousin and best friend to many.”

‘Hero with a servant’s heart’

“You’re our Hero with a servant’s heart, you lead with love and bravery, you gave the ulti-

mate sacrifice for our country, an honorable soldier, and I believe God welcomed you Home with open arms saying ‘Well done, my son, well done,’” she wrote.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and acting Gov. Eleni Kounalakis offered condolences to Marzan’s wife and family in a statement Wednesday, saying flags at the state Capitol will remain at half-staff in his honor.

‘Courageous Californian’

They described him as “a courageous Californian whose service to our nation was marked by honor and distinction.”

The Pentagon released the names of Marzan, 54, and Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, on Wednesday.

Marzan was from Sacramento, California, and O’Brien was from Indianola, Iowa.

The four soldiers previously identified by the Pentagon were: Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa,; Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota; Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Ha-

ven, Florida; and Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska.

All were assigned to the 103rd Sustainment Command, which provides food, fuel, water and ammunition, transport equipment and supplies.

The six members of the Army Reserve, who worked in logistics and kept troops supplied with food and equipment, died Sunday when a drone hit a command center in Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, one day after the U.S. and Israel launched its military campaign against Iran.

Iran responded by launching missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf Arab states that host U.S. armed forces.

“Sadly, there will likely be more, before it ends. That’s the way it is,” President Donald Trump said of the deaths.

Trump will attend the dignified transfers of the soldiers when they arrive in the US, the White House said Wednesday. The ritual honors service members killed in action. (With repots from AP)

The NBI earlier said that based on its initial verification, eight of the 18 individuals were not employed by Co while four were not Marines but drivers and bodyguards.

Baligod, however, maintained that 16 of the group were former Marines while two were former members of the Philippine Army.

The lawyer also defended the group’s joint affidavit, saying the document used collective statements only for portions involving common knowledge among the group. “In the first portion of the affidavit, the pronoun ‘we’ was used because they were all employees. But when it comes to the deliveries, the individuals involved were specified,” Baligod said.

He added that the lawyer who notarized the affidavit, Charlie Pascual, was connected to his law firm as “counsel.”

“That means if they have cases where they need support or assistance, I help them,” Baligod said, adding that he had begun scaling down his law practice.

Harassment?

Former congressman Mike Defensor, accompanied by his legal counsel Ferdinand Topacio, also appeared before the NBI after receiving a subpoena from the bureau.

Defensor earlier said he mere-

Topacio questioned the NBI’s move to summon the group, describing the investigation as harassment. “We are here out of respect for the NBI as an institution, but in our view, what the current leadership is doing is harassment and intimidation of those who are reporting wrongdoing,” Topacio said. “We are here and we respect the NBI, but we are not waiving our rights.”

Individual affidavits

The Office of the Ombudsman has asked the 18 alleged former Marines to submit their individual separate affidavits in connection with allegations that they delivered billions of pesos to several government officials as kickbacks from flood control projects.

The 18 earlier submitted their joint affidavit to the Office of the Ombudsman through Baligod. Complaints have been filed against the alleged ex-Marines and others by several personalities, including National Security Adviser Eduardo Año, former senator Antonio Trillanes IV, Mamamayang Liberal party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, Fr. Flavie Villanueva and Bureau of Corrections chief Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr., over the alleged money delivery scheme. (With reports from Mark Ernest Villeza, Daphne Galvez)

Trump dismisses unverified report...

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“It’s being investigated. We have a lot of things happening, and all we can do is take them as they come.”

Administration officials said the notice represented a routine intelligence-sharing communication rather than confirmation of a specific operational plot.

Federal officials say information remains unverified

Officials from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other federal agencies said the bulletin was based on what investigators described as a single unverified tip.

According to officials familiar with the notice, authorities had no additional information regarding timing, targets, methods or individuals involved in the alleged plan.

White House press secretary

Karoline Leavitt said federal authorities had reviewed the information and found no credible

evidence of an active threat to the U.S. homeland.

Officials noted that intelligence notices are routinely distributed during periods of heightened international tensions so state and local agencies can remain alert while federal authorities assess the reliability of incoming information.

California monitoring developments

Officials in California said they were coordinating with federal partners while emphasizing that no immediate threat had been identified.

Governor Gavin Newsom said the state has heightened monitoring efforts as the conflict in the Middle East continues, with particular attention to drone-related security concerns.

The California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES) said it is working with federal agencies including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Se-

curity (DHS) to monitor developments and review preparedness measures.

Local authorities in Los Angeles and San Francisco confirmed receiving the intelligence notice but said they had not identified any credible or imminent threat.

Conflict overseas continues The alert surfaced as the United States continues military operations against Iran following the outbreak of hostilities in late February.

Officials from the Department of Defense said U.S. forces have conducted strikes targeting Iranian military infrastructure, including missile and drone capabilities. Iran has responded with attacks on U.S. and allied facilities in parts of the Middle East, according to defense officials.

Military authorities said the conflict remains concentrated in the region and that there have been no confirmed Iranian attacks on U.S. territory. (AJPress)

Global Entry resumes as airport security delays...

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signed personnel normally assigned to the program to assist with standard immigration inspections at ports of entry.

DAteline PhiliPPines

Japan to release 80 million oil barrels to mitigate global disruptions caused by Middle East war—PM

Japan will release about 80 million barrels of oil from its strategic reserves, equivalent to 45 days of supply, to mitigate global disruptions caused by the Middle East war, officials said ahead of an International Energy Agency-led effort.

by AJPress

JAPAN is dependent on the Middle East for around 95% of its oil supplies and gets around 90% of its oil shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran effectively controls. Shipments via the Strait have been virtually blocked amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.

After Japan’s decision, the IEA on Wednesday recommended the release of 400 million barrels of oil, unanimously agreed to by 32 member countries and the largest such move in the agency’s history, to try to restrain soaring crude prices from the Iran crisis.

“The emergency stocks will be made available to the market over a timeframe that is appropriate to the national circumstances of each Member country and will be supplemented by additional emergency measures by some countries,” the IEA said in a statement.

Japan’s Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi welcomed the IEA decision.

To avoid disruption to gasoline and other petroleum product supplies, Japan will tap its reserves in coordination with the G7 and the IEA but will begin releasing its part from March 16, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a broadcast statement, ahead of the IEA’s statement.

“Rather than wait for formal IEA approval of a coordinated international reserve release, Japan will act first to ease global energy market supply and demand, releasing reserves as early as the 16th of this month,” Takaichi said.

Japan plans to release 15 days’ worth of private-sector oil reserves first and one month’s worth of state oil reserves from around late March, an official with the Minis-

try of Economy, Trade and Industry said separately.

Japan’s planned release will be part of the total IEA coordinated release of oil reserves, the official said.

Japan holds emergency oil reserves equivalent to 254 days of consumption, comprising national stockpiles (146 days), private-sector reserves (101 days), and joint stockpiles with producing countries (7 days)—around 470 million barrels in total.

Gasoline prices up Government and industry data on Wednesday showed that retail gasoline prices in Japan rose by 3.3 yen to 161.8 yen per liter as of March 9.

Japan will curb domestic gasoline prices at about 170 yen per litre on a national average through subsidies, and use pre-allocated government funds to keep prices for diesel, heavy fuel oil, and kerosene in check.

The Nikkei Business Daily reported on Wednesday that Eneos Holdings, Japan’s largest oil refiner, had notified its counterparties of the plans to raise wholesale gasoline prices by 26 yen per liter from March 12 to 18. n

Estrada asks Manila court to lift travel ban

Senator says precautionary hold-departure order unnecessary as investigation into flood control projects continues

by AJPress

MANILA — Philippine Sen.

Jinggoy Estrada has asked a Manila court to lift a travel restriction imposed on him in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities involving government flood control projects. In a motion filed before the Manila Regional Trial Court, Estrada requested the removal of a precautionary hold-departure order (PHDO) that currently bars him from leaving the country while judicial proceedings related to the case continue.

The travel restriction was issued earlier this year as part of preliminary proceedings tied to complaints involving flood control projects overseen by the Department of Public Works and Highways. The order directs the Bureau of Immigrationto prevent Estrada and other respondents from leaving the Philippines unless the court modifies or lifts the restriction. Authorities have been examining allegations that public funds allocated for flood mitigation projects may have been improperly used or linked to infrastruc-

ture works reported as completed but allegedly not built. Investigators from the National Bureau of Investigation earlier submitted complaints involving several individuals as part of the inquiry. The complaints were forwarded to the Department of Justice for preliminary investigation to determine whether criminal charges such as graft or related offenses may be warranted. In his motion, Estrada argued that the travel restriction is unnecessary because he has consistently complied with court processes and has appeared before judicial authorities when required. His filing states that there is no reason for the court to consider him a flight risk. Under Philippine rules on criminal procedure, courts may issue a precautionary hold-departure order during the early stages of an investigation if authorities believe a suspect may attempt to leave the country to evade prosecution. The Manila court has not yet ruled on Estrada’s request. Until a decision is issued, the precautionary hold-departure order remains in effect. n

35 housing bills move forward in Senate push to address Philippines’ housing shortage

by AJPress

MANILA — Facing a housing shortage that affects millions of low-income Filipino families, a Senate committee has advanced 35 proposed measures aimed at expanding socialized housing and speeding up the construction of affordable homes.

The proposals were approved by the Senate Committee on Urban Planning, Housing and Resettlement, which reviews legislation related to housing policy, urban development and resettlement programs for underserved communities.

Lawmakers said the package of bills seeks to remove common obstacles that have slowed housing projects, including difficulties acquiring land, delays in project approvals and gaps in financing for government housing initiatives.

Among the proposals is legis

lation seeking to amend provi

sions of the Urban Development and Housing Act of 1992, the law that established the country’s framework for providing housing to underprivileged and homeless citizens. Supporters say the amendment would strengthen government author-

ity to acquire land intended for socialized housing projects, a step viewed as critical in areas where land availability has limited the construction of affordable housing.

Other measures endorsed by the committee focus on streamlining housing project approvals, improving coordination among national agencies and local government units, and strengthening financing and support mechanisms for socialized housing programs.

Urban development planners have long cited land acquisition challenges, regulatory bottle-

necks and funding limitations as key factors contributing to delays in housing projects across the country.

With the committee’s approval, the proposed measures now move forward for plenary deliberation in the Senate, where lawmakers will determine whether the bills will

FeAtures OPiniOn

Women’s History Month and the unfinished work of equality

EACH March, the world marks Women’s History Month, a time not only to celebrate the achievements of women, but also to examine the cultural and institutional forces that continue to shape their place in public life.

In the Philippines, a country often cited as one of Asia’s more gender-progressive societies, that reflection has taken on renewed urgency after remarks attributed to Bong Suntay, a member of the House of Representatives of the Philippines, drew criticism for referencing actress and television host Anne Curtis in terms widely regarded as objectifying.

Editorial

The reaction was swift and unusually broad. Curtis’ family members, including her sister Jasmine Curtis-Smith and their mother Carmen Ojales Curtis-Smith, publicly criticized the remark, describing it as disrespectful. Curtis herself later rejected what she called a “non-apology” and indicated that legal options were being studied.

Within Congress, the statement was eventually ordered stricken from the official record of the proceedings. Women’s advocates filed an ethics complaint, and the Philippine Commission on Women issued a formal condemnation, describing the comment as an act of sexual objectification inconsistent with standards expected of public officials.

Risa Hontiveros also invoked the country’s Safe Spaces Act, the anti-harassment legislation

FOR years now, a familiar narrative has been circulating in global strategic discussions: the United States is in decline. From academic conferences to political commentary and social media debates, many observers have argued that America’s influence is fading as new powers rise and geopolitical dynamics shift.

This narrative has been particularly popular among some analysts in Beijing and Moscow, who frequently describe a world moving toward a “post-American era.” According to this view, internal political divisions, economic competition and war fatigue have weakened Washington’s ability to lead internationally.

But recent events once again remind the world that reports of America’s decline may be greatly exaggerated.

Ironically, even some Chinese analysts are beginning to acknowledge this. A recent item in the South China Morning Post noted that the United States’ ability to conduct rapid and precise military operations in response to escalating tensions in the Middle East has prompted debate among Chinese strategic thinkers. While

I MIGHT be beating a dead horse and milking an overworked cow, but there are a few things that bear repeating.

The setting: the impeachment hearings for Vice President Sara Duterte. During the proceedings, Quezon City 4th District Rep. Bong Suntay, ostensibly her supporter, spoke in her defense with an analogy that was so faulty, it could have been substituted by any other without losing meaning.

Suntay insisted on announcing how he lusted after Anne Curtis (in Filipino: nag-iinit sa loob) as a way to talk about how harmless words are and how people cannot be condemned for their imagination.

He could have referenced any other situation. To wish for a lot of money by planning to befriend contractors and siphon money out of government con-

commonly known as the “Bawal Bastos Law”, as a reminder that gender-respectful conduct must extend to public institutions and political discourse.

Taken individually, such episodes may appear fleeting. Taken together, they reveal something more enduring: the persistent tension between the Philippines’ legal and political advances for women and the cultural attitudes that sometimes lag behind them.

A country of progress and paradox

The Philippines has long stood out in Asia for its record on gender equality. The landmark Magna Carta of Womenestablished an expansive legal framework protecting women’s rights and promoting their participation in governance and development.

The country has also elected two women presidents, Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, and women continue to hold influential positions across government, the judiciary, and the private sector.

Internationally, global assessments from the World Economic Forum have repeatedly ranked the Philippines among the leading countries in Asia in narrowing gender gaps in education and

the dominant narrative in China has often emphasized American decline, these developments have forced a more sober assessment of U.S. capabilities.

The reality is that no other country today possesses the combination of military reach, technological sophistication, intelligence networks and global alliances that the U.S. commands.

When Washington decides to act, it can mobilize enormous resources across continents within hours. Carrier strike groups, longrange bombers, precision-guided weapons, satellite intelligence and integrated command systems project U.S. power in ways that remain unmatched in the modern world.

Equally important is America’s unparalleled network of alliances and partnerships.

Unlike many other major powers, the United States does not operate alone. It works within a framework of long-standing alliances built over decades, extending across Europe, Asia and the Indo-Pacific. NATO in Europe, security partnerships with Japan and South Korea, the Australia-U.S. alliance and growing cooperation

with countries like India form part of a strategic architecture that multiplies American power.

This alliance network remains one of Washington’s greatest advantages and rather than shrinking, this system of partnerships appears to be strengthening.

NATO has expanded in response to the war in Ukraine. Security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific has intensified as countries seek to ensure stability and freedom of navigation in vital sea lanes. And for the Philippines, these developments are not simply matters of academic debate – they are directly relevant to our national security. To be clear, maintaining a balanced and pragmatic foreign policy will always be important for the Philippines. We seek constructive relations with all countries, including China, while firmly protecting our sovereignty and national interests. At the same time, our longstanding alliance with the United States – formalized through the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty – remains a cornerstone of Philippine defense policy, evolving over decades to meet new challenges through the VFA and EDCA. Coopu PAGE 8

Imagining better leaders

tracts. To wish to be able to eat a lot of fatty food without bearing the consequences on health and appearance. Instead, Suntay chose to remark on how he has lustful desires but chose not to act, and we shouldn’t condemn him for mere thoughts. It turns out: we can. After all, his Bible verse-toting allies in the pro-Duterte circuit can quote from the Gospel of Matthew: If a man looks at a woman and lusts after her, then he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. There might not be a law against thoughts, but there are principles to uphold—surely the Duterte supporters agree, or will they once again pick and choose when morals apply, the way they do it for “thou shalt not kill”?

As the online furor built, so did the defense of Suntay, which was perhaps even worse in both tone and meaning. Why wasn’t anyone castigating Curtis, they said, for posing in revealing outfits and wearing skimpy clothes? How could anyone blame a man

political participation.

Yet legal architecture alone cannot reshape culture. Even in societies that have achieved substantial formal equality, language and behavior often reveal deeper social patterns that evolve more slowly.

patriarchal norms. In the Philippines, as in many parts of the world, traces of machismo culture re

main embedded in everyday language and politi

cal rhetoric.

When women in public life - whether journal

ists, performers, professionals, or political

ures - are discussed primarily through

for lusting after such a woman?

We are hearing, yet again, a woman being blamed for a man’s inability to control himself. That is not to deny anyone’s personal responsibility over how they present themselves—but there, too, is the agency that one has to look away, control their thoughts, and be faithful in all ways to their vows.

We are hearing, yet again, that a woman is responsible for all the actions that will make or break a man’s existence—that instead of raising men to be stronger, of teaching them to be better, of expecting them to be so much more than some paltry bare minimum of existence, we must yet again corral women.

In laying the blame on Curtis, the supporters are telling people that men are so weak that they must be guarded against a woman who dares to exist publicly. The defense is actually saying: Men have no power over themselves.

These supporters should ask themselves whether they should u PAGE 7

The enduring shadow of machismo

Few societies are immune from the legacy of

a room at the

this time last year,

the day

was to return to the Philippines on March 11, 2025, the mood had become tense; the succeeding hours were filled with uncertainty.

Duterte flew to Hong Kong days before to speak at a PDP rally with overseas Filipino workers and had been hearing that he would be arrested – for what exactly was still unclear.

But what was supposedly a regular trip of mostly political rallies and perhaps some wine and dine on the side turned out to be a prelude to Duterte’s historic arrest by the International Criminal Court. At the time, he, his family and friends who were with him, including former executive secretary Salvador Medialdea and some retired generals, had been receiving information that Duterte, upon landing in the Philippines, would be served an arrest warrant at the airport. They did not know if it was ICC-related or from a sedition complaint

WHILE United States President Donald Trump has been epically vague about the goals of his unauthorized war against Iran (The Atlantic says he has offered at least 10 rationales), the one thing he has stressed is America’s unmatched military power in lethality, speed, and precision. His Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth boasts that Operation Epic Fury is the “most precise aerial operation in history.”

Day one of the war began with surgical strikes aimed at decapitating Iran’s leadership. Before this could be confirmed, Trump went on Truth Social to announce the killing of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other key figures.

Largely unmentioned was the bombing that same day of a girls’ elementary school that left about 175 dead, most of them students and teachers. Initial reports said the school stood near a naval facility of the Islamic Revolution-

-

filed by Maj. Gen. Nicolas Torre III, then chief of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group of the Philippine National Police.

Remember that Torre had filed a complaint against the former president for joking about killing senators to make more vacancies for the senatorial candidates he was endorsing.

In the end, Duterte’s Hong Kong cavalry advised the former president that he had two alternative options and both had been “taken care of,” meaning arrangements had already been made. These include: one, flying to China and two, staying in Hong Kong for as long as it is needed instead of going back to Manila where an arrest was imminent. But it was Duterte himself who insisted on facing his fate, or whatever it was that awaited him in Manila, even if it meant being transported all the way to the ICC at The Hague.

“Haharapin ko,” ES Medialdea quoted Duterte as saying.

Duterte’s camp wasted no time. ES Medialdea made arrangements to move their flight back to Manila to early morning, around 5 a.m., instead of 2 p.m. so that there would be time to seek remedies in the courts.

Upon landing in Manila, all

ary Guards Corps (IRGC) in the southern town of Minab near the Strait of Hormuz.

A reconstruction by The New York Times later suggested that the school occupied a compound once used by the IRGC but partitioned for civilian use about 15 years ago. The Pentagon declined to comment, saying the matter remains under investigation.

Part of that inquiry will likely examine whether the intelligence and targeting systems used in the strikes relied on outdated information. As the Times noted in its March 5 report, “one question is likely to be whether the school strike was a mistake or whether it was targeted based on outdated information.”

Attention has therefore turned to the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in modern warfare.

Some reports say the AI tool Claude, developed by the tech company Anthropic, was embedded in systems used by Palantir, a contractor supplying data analytics to the US government. Its more famous rival is ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI. Wall Street Journal reporter

the other passengers were asked to go down first, even though Duterte and his associates were in business class. The jet tube, by this time, was filled with PNP personnel led by Gen. Torre. Duterte arrived at NAIA at 9:20 a.m. via Cathay Pacific Flight 907. While waiting for his wheelchair, retired Gen. Anthony Alcantara, executive director of the Philippine Center on Transnational Crimes, met him on the plane, informed him of the ICC-issued warrant and escorted him to the bridge, according to a report by The New York Times.

A passenger on the same flight said he was scared when he saw the crowd of policemen in the passenger tube, fearing it could collapse due to overcapacity. ES Medialdea said there was no hard copy of the arrest warrant that was shown to them, only a copy on someone’s mobile phone. Amid the tension, he didn’t even have time to look at what was shown to them.

We all know what transpired next. Duterte, with ES Medialdea, who is a lawyer, was brought to Villamor Air Base where he and his family were housed in Maharlika Hall within u PAGE 7

Marcus Weisgerber wrote on Feb. 28: “Within hours of declaring that the federal government will end its use of artificial intelligence tools made by tech company Anthropic, President Trump launched a major attack in Iran with the help of those very same tools.”

Claude was reportedly used for intelligence assessment, target analysis, and battle simulations during the strikes. Hours before the operation, however, the Pentagon declared Anthropic a “supply chain risk to national security” because of restrictions in the company’s terms of use.

Anthropic’s conditions prohibit mass surveillance of American citizens and the use of its AI models in fully autonomous weapons with no human oversight. While the Biden administration had accepted these terms, Trump officials argued that private firms should not impose limits on how the United States military uses their technology. Anthropic refused. Trump ordered federal agencies to stop using Anthropic u PAGE 7

Women’s History

Month...

CFO registration center records highest overseas voter sign-ups

by AJPress

PASAY CITY — A voter registration center hosted by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO) has recorded the highest number of overseas voter registrants among registration facilities operated by Philippine government agencies, according to officials of the Commission on Elections (COMELEC).

The update was shared during the “Votes That Count: Overseas Voting Dialogue with the Filipino Diaspora,” held earlier this year at the Commission on Filipinos Overseas main office in Pasay City.

During the forum, COMELEC

PAGE 6

appearance or desirability, the effect is subtle but consequential. It shifts attention away from accomplishment and toward objectification.

When such remarks come from elected officials, the stakes become higher. Public language helps shape the boundaries of acceptable conduct, particularly in institutions entrusted with national leadership.

The issue, therefore, is not merely a question of etiquette. It is a question of standards.

The digital age of accountability

If the controversy has taken on national resonance, it is partly because civic discourse now unfolds in a far more transpar-

ent environment.

Comments made during legislative hearings no longer remain confined to parliamentary transcripts. Within minutes, they circulate across social media platforms, where citizens, journalists, and advocacy groups scrutinize them in real time. In this new public sphere, accountability is no longer solely institutional. It is also cultural.

A moment for reflection

Women’s History Month invites societies not only to remember the past but also to measure the present.

The Philippines has produced generations of women leaders in politics, civil society, business, and the arts. Their achievements are part of the country’s modern

identity.

Yet moments such as the current controversy reveal that progress is rarely linear. Even as institutions advance toward equality, cultural habits can linger in unexpected places, including the language of those entrusted with public office.

The deeper lesson may be this: respect for women is not simply a matter of law or representation. It is reflected in everyday conduct, especially in the words chosen by those who lead.

As the Philippines and the rest of the world observe Women’s History Month, the episode offers a reminder that the work of equality, like history itself, is never fully finished. (AJPress)

From HK to the Hague...

PAGE 6

the Presidential Airlift Wing.

‘Last chance’

That evening, Duterte, accompanied by Medialdea, boarded a private jet en route to Rotterdam, the Netherlands. During a stopover in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Medialdea again tried to convince Duterte to leave the plane and seek the help of UAE authorities but the former president did not want to do that. It was his last chance to avoid going to The Hague. But Duterte was determined to face the charges, Medialdea said.

The rest, as they say, is history.

A year ago today, Duterte arrived in the Netherlands and was transferred to the ICC detention facility in The Hague.

ES Medialdea, who returned to The Hague for the confirmation of charges last month, was not allowed to see the former president during the February visit. The last time the two saw

each other was when Medialdea visited him in the meeting room at the detention facility a year ago. At the time, Duterte was in high spirits and was fighting boredom by reading, Medialdea said. I learned all this from Medialdea himself, whom I recently met over coffee and donuts at J.CO in Makati, that famed donut chain from Indonesia which low-key tycoon Carlos Chan has brought to the Philippines. During our chat, some diners requested a selfie with ES Medialdea, some of them posing with the trademark fist bump which is associated with the Duterte brand.

Like many of Duterte’s family, friends and supporters, ES Medialdea is hopeful that Duterte will be cleared of the charges against him. They call his arrest a kidnapping.

The former president, Medialdea said, believed that he did what he could to make his coun-

try better. For victims of Duterte’s drug war, however, Duterte’s arrest is the closest to justice they could get.

As for many Filipinos, Rody Duterte’s arrest is a flashbulb memory, one of those big or earth-shaking events where one remembers exactly where they were when it happened.

I was in a breakfast meeting and I thought to myself that this was a historic day for the country.

What happens next is anyone’s guess but for sure, Duterte’s detention will significantly influence the 2028 elections.

*

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*

* * Email: eyesgonzales@gmail.com. Follow her on X @eyesgonzales. Column archives at EyesWideOpen on FB.

Imagining better leaders...

PAGE 6 have voted for someone like Suntay into office. How can he manage legislative affairs if he can’t control something as basic as his thoughts?

So much has already been said about this issue, but there was something else that became apparent last Sunday at Mass. Fr. Jun Viray, SJ, our presider at Our Lady of Pentecost Parish, talked about the overwhelming darkness seemingly enveloping the entire world today.

He used the oft-quoted passage from “The Lord of the Rings,” where the wizard Gandalf counsels a despondent Frodo who wishes that the great darkness did not encroach on his beloved Shire, did not come into his life, did not force him to live in such times.

“And so do all who see such times,” Gandalf says, “But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

The passage is more than a

call to deal with the difficulties of the present rather than dwell on a past of supposed peace. It is a call to have hope in a humanity that has freedom and agency—a humanity that is strong because it chooses to rise above its tendency to despair, because it chooses not to cave beneath the force of sin, because it chooses to fight against the darkness. Fr. Viray went on to talk about changing ourselves this Lenten season (and beyond). Shift the focus away, he said, from ourselves and our weaknesses, but also be aware of our own free will and power to face the darkness together.

To expand this reasoning: we must be inspired by those who are able to surmount their supposed weaknesses, who act and speak nobly—who can see the light in each human being even through the darkness cast by the world.

The darkness could be the war around us, but it is also the darkness within us. It might be

human to succumb to one’s defects and see nothing but death and emptiness in an already broken world—but it is nobler to rise above, to try, to hope.

That is probably why many of us were so disturbed by Suntay’s remarks. He was tasked to speak about how people could be damaged by what he saw as mere thoughts, how there was no such thing as mere words. He could have taken the higher road, the nobler route. Instead, he chose to make the hearing about him, his thoughts, and his shortcomings, and then expected us all to applaud the whims of humanity at its lowest. Can we be persecuted for imagining better government officials? (Inquirer.net)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * * iponcedeleon@ateneo.edu

War at the speed of AI...

PAGE 6 tools and barred Pentagon contractors from working with the company. The Pentagon reportedly shifted to systems linked to OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Elon Musk’s AI model Grok, after supposedly finding these to be less restrictive in their terms of use. But because these tools are embedded in larger software platforms, such transitions cannot happen overnight.

Anthropic maintains that Claude was never used to control weapons systems or make lethal decisions without human oversight. Still, the broader picture is troubling. A Fortune magazine headline on March

3 captured this concern thus: “Trump’s strike on Iran and

the new breed of AI wars mean bombs can drop faster than the speed of thought.”

AI can synthesize vast streams of intelligence—from satellite imagery to intercepted communications—compressing the military “kill chain,” from identifying a target to destroying it. Experts say strikes on the scale seen in Iran would have been difficult without such tools. Yet the same speed that enables these operations also magnifies their risks. If the Minab school bombing proves to have been based on faulty or outdated data, it will be a grim reminder of how lethal such errors can be. But there’s a deeper danger. It is not simply that machines can simulate human reasoning;

it is that we may find it too easy to outsource judgment to systems whose fluency and analytical power impress us.

Sociologist Niklas Luhmann observed that modern technology compresses the time between decision and action. Artificial intelligence appears to be doing exactly that in warfare. Responsibility remains human, but the judgment that guides it may no longer be fully our own.

(Inquirer.net)

* public.lives@gmail.com

Director III Jan Jordan Poon of the agency’s Office for Overseas Voting said the registration facility located within the CFO has been drawing strong participation from Filipinos registering to vote abroad.

“The overseas diaspora is one of the backbones of our economy—through their remittances and strategic investments in the Philippines—so it’s only right that they should participate in the elections so that they can also shape and influence policies that are relevant to them,” Poon said.

Poon added that the CFObased center is currently leading in the number of registrants compared with other field registration centers established in coordination with government

departments and agencies.

Dialogue highlights diaspora engagement

The event was organized by the Commission on Filipinos Overseas in partnership with the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) through its Overseas Voting Secretariat, and the COMELEC Office for Overseas Voting. Government officials, Filipino diaspora leaders, civil society representatives and overseas Filipinos participated in the hybrid forum to discuss reforms and initiatives aimed at strengthening overseas voting participation.

Electoral modernization

The dialogue took place as the Philippines continues to imple-

ment reforms to modernize its electoral system.

Beginning with the 2025 elections, the country introduced internet voting for overseas Filipinos, a move aimed at expanding access to the ballot for citizens living or working abroad.

CFO Secretary Dante “Klink” Ang II emphasized the importance of maintaining strong civic engagement among Filipinos overseas.

Officials also reminded overseas Filipinos that voter registration continues as preparations begin for the 2028 national elections, encouraging eligible voters abroad to participate in shaping the country’s democratic future.

Back from US trip, Marcos cites high-level meetings in New York

by Jean Mangaluz Philstar.com

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has returned to the Philippines after a “productive working visit” in New York, United States.

Marcos’ plane landed in the Philippines on Wednesday night, March 11.

In his arrival statement, Marcos recounted addressing United Nations (UN) member states where he stressed the importance of rule of law, multilateralism and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

The president urged international leaders to choose dialogue over division.

“I also spoke about the intertwined destiny of the Philippines and the United Nations, our shared values and principles, and the need to unite in addressing the humanitarian crises around the world,” Marcos said.

“I reiterated our request for support for the Philippines candidature for a non-permanent seat to the UN Security Council for the term 2027 to 2028, highlighting that the Philippines offers a voice from the Indo-Pacific, from developing countries, climate-vulnerable nations, and from middle-income countries and our commitment to South-South cooperation,” he added.

Activities in New York. Reporting on the president’s agenda in the United States, Malacañang earlier said he met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the country’s pursuit for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council.

He stressed, however, that the bid it was not just meant to advance Manila’s claims over the West Philippine Sea, in opposition to China, a permanent member of the security council.

During the working visit, Marcos also spoke before the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women with a message of unity to confront violence against women.

Marcos also had several meetings on the sidelines of the assem-

bly, including a discussion with senior leaders of JPMorgan.

“JPMorgan also provided insights on the rapid advancements in AI and emphasized the growing need for governments and institutions to prepare for the transformative effects of AI on economics, industry and labor markets,” Marcos said.

The president similarly met with a U.S. Medical Glove company, tackling plans to build a manufacturing facility in the Philippines that could generate up to 2,000 jobs.

“It will also allow us to produce essential medical supplies locally and to open new opportunities for Filipino workers in the growing global medical manufacturing industry,” Marcos said.

Power plants have enough fuel, says Meralco unit

by Ian laquI Philstar.com

MANILA — Meralco PowerGen Corp. (MGen),

the power generation arm of Manila Electric Co., said its power plants have sufficient fuel supply despite volatility in global energy markets driven by geopolitical tensions.

In a statement on Thursday, March 12, MGen said its current fuel inventory is more than enough to meet operational requirements and support rising electricity demand in both the Philippines and Singapore.

“MGEN continues to operate its generation facilities with high availability through rigorous plant maintenance, efficient operations and the dedication of our people,” the company said.

“We also have sufficient fuel supply for our existing generation facilities enabling us to meet current operational requirements, support electricity demand and contribute to overall grid stability,” it added.

Investments in new energy capacity

MGen said it is also strengthening regional energy security through investments in new power capacity, particularly large-scale renewable energy projects.

Among these is the MTerra Solar project, a 3,500-megawatt peak (MWp) solar facility paired with a 4,500-megawatt-hour battery energy storage system.

The company said the project demonstrates how renewable energy combined with storage systems

PAGE 6

can serve as a viable alternative to traditional mid-merit power sources that rely on imported fuels.

“Through this project, we have proven that the combination of variable renewable energy with energy storage systems is a viable alternative to traditional sources of mid-merit supply which is reliant on imported fuels,” MGen said.

Energy concerns. MGen issued the statement as global energy markets react to escalating tensions in the Middle East.

The conflict between the United States and Iran has disrupted energy supply routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, where about 20% of the world’s oil supply passes.

The disruption has pushed crude prices higher and prompted several countries to tap their oil reserves amid fears of supply shortages.

Reports of America’s decline greatly...

eration between the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. continues to deepen with expanded joint exercises, improved interoperability and new EDCA sites being developed to strengthen our collective ability to respond to humanitarian disasters and security threats.

This cooperation is set against the backdrop of continuing tensions in the West Philippine Sea, where Filipino fishermen continually face harassment in waters recognized by international law as part of our exclusive economic zone. In this context, the cred

ibility of alliances greatly matters.

Having a reliable partner with the capacity and commitment to uphold international law contributes significantly to regional stability. It also sends an important message that rules and norms governing the global commons must be respected.

Having spent many years in Washington, I have heard predictions of America’s “fading influence” and “decline” more times than I can count. During earlier visits here decades ago, I remember similar conversations with analysts about the U.S. supposedly losing its edge to rising powers. Yet I have consistently observed

America’s remarkable capacity for renewal, proving time and again its ability to adapt to new realities, mobilize its resources and reassert its leadership when circumstances demand it.

The American economy remains one of the most dynamic and innovative in the world, its universities and research institutions continue to drive technological breakthroughs and its military capabilities remain formidable, supported by a defense industrial base that few nations can rival.

Perhaps most importantly, the U.S. continues to attract partners who see value in cooperation and shared principles.

This is not to suggest that America faces no challenges. Like all nations, it must navigate domestic debates, economic competition and evolving geopolitical realities. Yet the continued vitality of American alliances belies the notion that America is rapidly retreating from the global stage, with many countries across Europe and Asia continually drawing closer to the U.S.

Predictions of American decline have surfaced repeatedly throughout modern history – after the Vietnam War, during the economic competition with Japan in the 1980s and again after the global financial crisis. Yet each time, the

United States has demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt, innovate and renew its leadership.

Today’s geopolitical environment is undoubtedly more complex, with new powers rising and technologies transforming both economies and warfare. But recent events demonstrate that the United States remains a central pillar of the international system and a key anchor for stability in many regions of the world.

More than a century ago, Mark Twain famously responded to rumors of his death by saying: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.”

In much the same way, predictions about America’s decline have often proven premature. The United States still possesses extraordinary strengths – not only in terms of military and economic power, but in its network of alliances and its enduring capacity for reinvention. For allies like the Philippines, that reality continues to matter greatly. (Philstar.com)

* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com

My Encounter with Three Nieces of Sen. Ninoy Aquino

As we observe Women’s Month, I encountered the nieces of the late martyred senator Ninoy Aquino: courageous sisters Roxanne Aquino and Jackie Aquino, and Mia Concio.

As a child and during her teens, like any Aquino kid, Roxanne Mendez Aquino, daughter of Sen. Butz Aquino (Senator Ninoy Aquino’s brother), became a witness to the struggles of her Uncle Ninoy. But more than just a witness, she wholeheartedly joined in her Uncle Ninoy’s cause.

For Roxanne, armed with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration (magna cum laude) from the University of the Philippines, it was not easy, but she looks back at those trying moments with gratitude.

“Through more than seven years that Uncle Ninoy was incarcerated in Fort Bonifacio, we, his nieces and nephews, would celebrate his birthday by going to school only for half a day so we could join his family and friends to greet him a happy birthday,” recalled Roxanne.

The celebration in jail was simple but touching. “There was usually a Mass celebrated by Father Toti Olaguer, who delivered fiery sermons. Then we shared a lechon and some cakes sent by friends— not too many in those days, I must say.”

As Roxanne grew up, she became more aware of the problems that beset the country during the Marcos regime. When she was old enough, she couldn’t help speaking her mind against government policies she did not agree with. She was not afraid to be heard. She was very vocal and read what foreign newspapers were saying about the country at that time, and they were not flattering, especially to the Marcos administration.

“I joined relatives in xeroxing the articles and passing them around to people. Some read the articles with gusto, others were simply afraid even to receive them,” she related with alacrity.

For actress-TV host Jackie Aquino, or Jacqueline Suzanne

Mendez Aquino, bonding with young cancer-stricken patients at East Avenue Medical Center was very memorable, heartwarming, and most humbling. I vividly remember that she, together with her daughter Andrea, found time to interact with the children with cancer.

Years ago, she volunteered her time at the Cupertino School for Special Children. She would often leave in tears but always came home remembering to count her blessings. At UP Diliman, she joined ICTUS (In Christ Thrust for University Students), where she taught poor out-of-school youth in Marikina and Krus na Ligas near the UP campus.

She says that if she were to be born again, she would like to be a Santa Claus: “I want to make underprivileged children happy and provide good education for a better quality of life,” she says with a gleam in her eyes. She followed in the footsteps of her father, Butz Aquino (who appeared in over a dozen movies, TV dramas, and commercials before plunging full-time into politics). She appeared in Moises Platon, Circle of Fear, Days of the Wild Ones, Dahil Mahal Kita, The Dolzura Cortez Story, Kuratong Baleleng, Mulanay, Kristo, Jones Bridge Massacre,

Epimaco Velasco: The NBI Story, You and Me Against the World, Iskul Bukol, Oh My Ghost, Faces of Love, and Teach Me To Love, among others. She and her sister Roxanne, and brother Bobby, grew up— like any Aquino child—as witnesses and participants in Ninoy’s cause. She says she was not afraid to be heard. She was very vocal. She read what foreign newspapers were printing about the country, since it was subversive to print those articles locally. She would photocopy those articles and pass them around, especially to her grade school teachers. For her, it was not a time to sit down and relax but “a time to be vigilant.”

Multi-talented writer Mia A. Concio has been helping me cheer up less fortunate kids. I remember she was one of those personalities (OPM icon Jose Mari Chan often joined me) who brought joy to children with cancer at East Avenue Medical Center in Quezon City. She even spent her birthday with them.

Born Aurora Crismina Aquino Concio, or simply Mia, daughter of ace director Lupita Aquino Kashiwahara (Ninoy’s sister and one of my favorite film directors), remembers what her mom Lupita would say about her Uncle Ninoy:

“Mia, look at your Uncle Ninoy. He didn’t do anything. Do not cry. Be brave. This Ninoy Aquino is a role model. Try to apply your life in that mold. Ang ating kahirapan ay maliit lamang kung ikukumpara mo riyan.”

Mia was then 12 or 13 years old when they used to visit their Uncle Ninoy in jail. They experienced being bodily searched and photographed.

“Uncle Ninoy made kuwento. He was smiling. I have 50 first cousins, but he made it a point to go to each one of us. He told me, ‘Kumusta ka na? Nagdadalaga ka na.’ I also remember his trials— he called the military court a kangaroo court. He didn’t eat for 40 days, and we went to Mass every day in Greenhills. You couldn’t break him, and he was indeed larger than life for us,” clearly recalls Mia, who obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication Arts from Ateneo de Manila University in 1982 and later pursued an MBA course at the University of San Francisco in California.

When her Uncle Ninoy went to the U.S. for his bypass operation, he “would go to San Francisco to visit us.” She still recalls that they ate at her Uncle Ninoy’s favorite restaurant, Max’s Fried Chicken in San Francisco. Mia returned to the Philippines

a few days after the August 21, 1983 shooting, and she became active in street rallies. She went to the grassroots to understand how to address poverty and create economic opportunities for everybody. She was writing and going to the provinces—in the Cordilleras, Negros, Laguna, and the Cavite area. She believes that her Uncle Ninoy’s assassination was the seed that later bloomed into flowers.

“Each of us should be like a seed. It doesn’t end at the EDSA revolt; it’s just the beginning. With confidence, courage, and faith, we can overcome everything. We can bring ourselves to God. Uncle Ninoy became very spiritual. Though he experienced isolation from the world, he didn’t crumble. Instead, he trusted his life to God.”

Mia A. Concio is a noted screenwriter of Kailan Ka Magiging Akin, Got 2 Believe, All My Life, and Everything About Her. She is the stepdaughter of actress and ABS-CBN executive Charo Santos-Concio.

Guesting in Jigo Live! It was my third time to guest on the show of broadcast journalist Jigo Postolero. I appeared on the Jigo Live! show at Abante Radyo Tabloidista on March 13, 2026,

Friday, at 10 p.m. The livestream can be watched on the Facebook and YouTube pages of Abante Radyo Tabloidista. I was with Nirro Marcelo, chairman of the awards committee for the 4th Philippines Finest Business Awards and Outstanding Achievers.

Marissa Z. Burgos’ Early Birthday

From SM City BF Parañaque, I went to visit Marissa Z. Burgos of Don Galo, Parañaque—best friend of my sisters Victoria and Aurora—where we all grew up. I brought a cake given to me by Ms. Lecille Badion

ASIAN

by CharMIe Joy Pagulong Philstar.com

“SING Galing Sing-Lebrity

Edition” finalist Alexa Miro is focusing on her career as an actress and singer after her breakup with Ilocos Norte First District Representative and presidential son Sandro Marcos.

“My heart is taking a rest. So, I’m single. And I’m career-focused right now,” she told The STAR in an exclusive interview.

In their relationship, which lasted for five years, Alexa said she didn’t have any regrets. “Wala akong masasabing regrets because we both gave it our all naman. So, even though there were mistakes in the relationship, kahit may mga times na nasaktan namin yung isa’t isa in the past, I think ang nabaon naman namin from that are lessons, and we came out better people.”

One of the lessons Alexa learned from their relationship was the value of inner strength. As she elaborated, “Sandro has that. He has solid inner strength and he passed that on to me. It taught me to endure and overcome many trials and problems.”

When asked about the qualities that she is looking forward to in a future partner, Alexa laughed and said, “I want someone who’s driven and has big dreams. Someone who doesn’t give up easily when faced with life’s challenges. Someone who’s family-loving and funny because laughter is the best medicine. So, if he makes you laugh, para lang kayong naglalaro araw- araw at gagaan lang yung buhay.”

Alexa Miro has no regrets on 5-year relationship with Sandro Marcos BINI

Kris Aquino visits Malacañang for lunch hosted by First Lady

by AJPress

MANILA — Television host and actress Kris Aquino visited Malacañang Palace on March 6 for a lunch at Bahay Pangulo hosted by First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, marking Aquino’s first known visit to the Palace since 2016.

The lunch, described as a belated birthday gathering for Aquino, was organized by Filipino designer Michael Leyva, with the First Lady hosting the gathering at the presidential residence. Photos shared online showed Aquino arriving with her sons, Josh and Bimby. During the visit, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. also greeted Aquino. Aquino has largely stayed out of the public spotlight in recent years while undergoing treatment for autoimmune illnesses, making the appearance notable among supporters and observers of Philippine public life.

Despite no longer being together, Alexa had a heartfelt message for Sandro: “Wherever you are I hope that you are always taking good care of yourself and nakakaya mo lahat ng pinagdadaanan mo and I believe in you.” Aside from Alexa, dubbed

the “Bombshell Songstress” in TV5’s “Sing Galing Sing-Lebrity Edition,” the other finalists are Johannes Rissler, Sexbomb member Monic Icban, Nikki Valdez, Jay Gonzaga and CJ Navato. The show airs every Saturday night at 8 and Sunday at 6:45 p.m. on TV5, Sari-Sari and Buko Channel. It is also streamed live on the “Sing Galing” Facebook, YouTube and TikTok accounts. Joining TV5’s singing reality game show has taught Alexa to simply enjoy her “God-given talent,” she furthered. “First of all, you have to enjoy whatever it is that you’re doing. You enjoy your God-given talent because kapag yun meron ka na agad. It feels like you’re not working or feeling the pressure of the competition because you love what you’re doing and kapag may pinaglalaban ka na bigger than yourself.”

Although Alexa had a passion

for singing as a child and her mother is a professional singer, she never took it seriously or had formal training until her stint in “Sing Galing.” “For the longest time hindi ako kumanta and I never thought I could join a singing contest. I thought I was singing just for fun. I never took it seriously until I was given the chance to join ‘Sing Galing’ and because it’s for charity also. So, I took it seriously and it’s a good discovery about myself, that I have other avenue(s) or path(s) that I could explore in my career,” she reflected. Alexa’s musical heroes are Mariah Carey, Selena, Whitney Houston, Zsa Zsa Padilla and Nina, among others. She hopes her singing career will continue after ‘Sing Galing,’ adding that she would be happy for whoever wins the competition.

Rachel Alejandro hopes to elevate women through film roles

by JeSSICa

RACHEL Alejandro hopes that portraying powerful women on screen will help push Filipino singers to the next level, as she takes on a new role that reflects both the empowering and dark sides of the music industry.

Fresh from winning Best Supporting Actress at the Manila International Film Festival (MIFF) in Hollywood for the musical drama “Song of the Fireflies,” Alejandro returns to the big screen in “Songs for Selina,” which opens in local cinemas on March 18.

In the new music-themed film, Alejandro plays Emily Santos, a ruthless record producer whose influence can make or break rising artists. The role, she said, highlights how powerful women in the industry shape the careers of Filipino performers.

“I play powerful, influential women whose support and influence can bring Filipino singers to the next level,” Alejandro said in a statement, comparing her role in the new film to her character in “Song of the Fireflies.”

The two projects, both centered on music in the Philippines, were developed around the same time. In “Song of the Fireflies,” Alejandro portrayed Equet Butalid, a real-life patron who supported the internationally acclaimed Loboc Children’s Choir. In contrast, “Songs for Selina” explores the more menacing side of the recording industry. In the film, Alejandro reunites with writer-director Dean Rosen, who co-wrote the historical drama “Quezon’s Game,” where she portrayed former First Lady Aurora Quezon. Their professional relationship goes back years, including when they shared the stage in the musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

In the film, Alejandro reunites with writer-director Dean Rosen, who co-wrote the historical dra-

ma “Quezon’s Game,” where she portrayed former First Lady Aurora Quezon. Their professional relationship goes back years, including when they shared the stage in the musical “Monty Python’s Spamalot.”

The film follows Selina, a singer, and Maya, a composer, as they navigate ambition, friendship and the pressures of the music business. Alejandro said the story highlights the importance of women supporting one another.

“The theme of female friendship is very strong. The film shows how women have the power to raise each other up to our full potentials,” she said. However, the film also touches on the realities of show business, including how some artists are pressured to hide their identities

or conform to marketable images, such as in the case of love teams.

As the country marks Women’s History Month, Alejandro said stories about influential women — whether uplifting or flawed — can spark conversations about the role women play in shaping the entertainment industry. “Songs for Selina” stars Alejandro, Javier, Rachel Coates, Jay R, Audie Gemora, Nicole Laurel, Gian Magdangal, Gab Pangilinan, Bendeatha, Anne Guathier, Lean Mamonong, Tami Monsod and George Schulze III. The film is presented by HomeWorkZ Entertainment and distributed in the Philippines by Black Cap Pictures, with music by Rosen and Jay R.

The meeting also drew attention to an extended family connection between the Araneta and Cojuangco clans. According to the First Lady’s official biography, Araneta-Marcos’ maternal

aunt, Rosario “Sari” Cacho, married Pedro Cojuangco — the elder brother of Kris’ mother, former president Corazon Aquino — linking the families by affinity rather than blood. While described as a private gathering rather than an official engagement, Aquino’s return to Malacañang — long associated with her family’s place in Philippine political history — drew interest online and among observers of public life.

named among 2026 Rising Women Ambassadors

The global list celebrates a new generation of women shaping the future of music across genres and cultures

by gavIn MartInez Inquirer.net

FILIPINO pop sensation BINI continues to strengthen its presence on the international music scene after being named one of music distribution company The Orchard’s 2026 Rising Women Ambassadors.

The list places the “nation’s girl group” alongside a diverse lineup of female artists from around the world.

The global list also celebrates a new generation of women shaping the future of music across genres and cultures.

Alongside BINI, this year’s ambassadors include artists such as K-pop’s IVE, PLG Chanty, Chiara Civello, Jerry Heil, Bic Runga and Corazón Serrano, among many others from across Latin America, Asia, Europe and beyond.

For BINI, the recognition comes at an exciting moment in their career as the eight-member group continues to expand its reach beyond the Philippines.

The group is also gearing up to perform at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in April 2026. They are set to appear on the opening day of both weekends, April 10 and April 17, becoming the first all-Filipino

girl group to take the Coachella stage.

New music

BINI recently returned with a fresh release for 2026, dropping their comeback single “Unang Kilig,” a track that taps into the bright, nostalgic energy that first endeared them to their fans.

Known for their signature bubblegum pop sound, the song serves as a playful nod to the

by Jan MIlo Severo Philstar.com

HEART Evangelista emerged as one of the popular global fashion influencers at the recently concluded Milan Fashion Week in Italy.

On Instagram, influencer marketing platform lefty. io released its list of the Top 5 digital stars who generated the highest online engagement for leading fashion brands during the Milan Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2026 (Women’s) shows held from February 24 to March 2.

Heart was among those in the Top 5, recording a 2.5% average engagement rate and generating $8.6 million in Earned Media Value (EMV), making her the only Filipino included in the ranking.

Joining Heart on list of “Top Key Voices” for Milan Fashion Week F/W 2026 (Women’s) were Thai actress Faye Peraya, Thai actress-singer Namtan Tipnaree, Thai actor-model Naravit Lertratkosum, and Karina (Yu Ji-min) of K-pop girl group Aespa.

The platform also reported that among brands featured during Mi-

lan Fashion Week, Gucci ranked first with $56.4 million in EMV, followed by Prada with $48.1 million, Fendi with $20.3 million, Ferragamo with $18 million, and Dolce & Gabbana with $16.5 million.

“And while the brands provided the stage, creators drove the engagement,” the influencer marketing platform for leading luxury and lifestyle brands explained in its Instagram post tagging the Top 5 influencers, including Heart. Another fashion, luxury, and beauty industry analytics firm, Launchmetrics, ranked Heart as the top influencer who generated the most conversation during the Paris Men’s Fashion Week and Haute Couture Week.

According to Launchmetrics, Heart recorded $23.5 million in Media Impact Value (MIV) during Paris Men’s Fashion Week and $8.5 million in MIV during Haute Couture Week.

Earlier this year, the actress, entrepreneur, and artist further cemented her status as an international fashion icon after being included in lefty. io’s “Top 10 Key Voices” for the January 2026 Paris Menswear Fashion Week — also

Philip S. Chua, MD,

METFORMIN, a very popular biguanide class of oral medication approved by the US-FDA as a first-line drug in the management of type 2 diabetes. It lowers blood sugar levels, improves insulin resistance, reduces glucose production in the liver, and helps in weight loss. Metformin is also used “off-label” for polycystic ovary syndrome; it regulates the menstrual cycle and improves fertility. Metformin is linked to boosting longevity by “improving metabolic health, reducing inflammation, and activating pathways that mimic caloric restriction.”

Recent studies at Stanford revealed the following new data about amazing Metformin:

• “Long COVID Prevention: Multiple studies, including the COVID-OUT trial, show that metformin reduces the risk of long COVID by 40-60% if administered early in the infection. It is believed to have antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties.

• Brain Mechanism Revealed: Contrary to long-held beliefs that it only works in the gut/ liver, studies show metformin crosses the blood-brain barrier, affecting the hypothalamus, reducing hunger, and helping regulate blood sugar.

• Anti-Aging Properties: Research suggests metformin may be neuroprotective, reducing amyloid-B accumulation and TAU protein, which could delay Alzheimer’s disease and age-related cognitive decline. Another study indicated that older women on metformin had a 30% lower risk of mortality before age 90.

• Weight Management: The drug is effective in treating weight gain associated with second-generation antipsychotics in youth.

• Long-Term Side Effects: Long-term use of metformin is associated with a deficiency in vitamins, requiring monitoring.

• Interaction with Exercise: Emerging, yet debated, evidence suggests that while metformin helps with glucose control, it may blunt some of the fitness and cardiovascular improvements usually gained from exercise.”

– SD+2

P-Cancer: 10 triggers Pancreatic cancer, a most deadly disease, is one of the most difficult to diagnose because of the location of the pancreas, way

FEATURES Wonders of Metformin

deep behind other organs, hard to palpate, even if enlarged. By the time itis clinically obvious, it is usually in an advanced state. Worldwide, there are about half a million cases a year, in the United States, about 67,000, and in the Philippines, about 3,100. The 5-year survival is about 10 percent, and deaths usually occur within 4-6 months from the time of diagnosis.

Here are ten triggers for pancreatic cancer: smoking, alcohol, obesity, diabetes, soft drinks, high-heat grilled meats with burnt edges, red meat in general, history pf pancreatitis, age (60-80), family history, genetic predisposition, premalignant lesions (like pancreatic cyst).

Common symptoms of pancreatic cancer, many of them subtle: unexplained weight loss, upper abdominal or back pains, jaundice (yellowish skin discoloration), loss of appetite, pale, floating stools, and new onset of diabetes.

Abstaining from smoking, alcohol, and red meat, eating a plant-based diet with enough protein, a liberal amount of coldpressed olive oil, and a healthy lifestyle as a whole, with exercise and stress management, will reduce one’s risk of pancreatic and other cancers and metabolic diseases.

Night lights

Studies show that nearly 56 percent of Filipinos in the Philippines sleep less than the recommended 7-8 hours per night, making the country the most sleep-deprived in Asia. Nearly 6 out of 10 Filipinos struggle with sleep, compared to about 30 of Americans in the United States.

Good health requires enough restful sleep and satisfying rest.

One of the various reasons for impairment of sleep is the presence of light, especially blue light from our electronic devices, cellphones, computers, etc.

“Separate research has linked nighttime light exposure to, yes, sleep disruption, but also negative effects on cardiac, metabolic, cognitive, and mental health. It’s also linked to higher cancer risk.”

“One of the things that we’ve started to understand more is that our circadian rhythms are closely linked to our overall health,” according to Jennifer Martin, PhD, sleep researcher and professor of medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. “Our digestion has a circadian rhythm. Even our cells dividing have a circadian rhythm.”

The best ambiance for sleep

hygiene is a totally dark room (some use sleep-mask), quiet, comfortable temperature, with loose clothing, and no less than 4 hours after a meal, and no television watching before bedtime. Sleep is vital to health and longevity.

AI in medicine

Artificial Intelligence is a boon to humanity and to the world. Like any wonderful tool, AI technology could pose an extreme danger to society in the wrong hands. Strict government and community safeguards around the world are prudent to harness the best in AI and protect the public as well.

In medicine, AI enhances medical treatment by accelerating diagnostics, personalizing care plans, and optimizing the operational workforce. It analyzes vast datasets to detect diseases like cancer earlier, assists in precision medicine by tailoring treatments to genetic profiles, powers robotic surgery for greater accuracy, and reduces administrative burden.”

While cold AI can provide powerful and efficient technological modalities, healthcare providers will comfort the patients with warmth, understanding, and compassion. Nothing can beat the human touch.

* * *

The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

* * *

The main objective of this column is to educate and inspire people live a healthier lifestyle to prevent illnesses and disabilities and achieve a happier and more productive life. Any diagnosis, recommendation or treatment in our article are general medical information and not intended to be applicable or appropriate for anyone. This column is not a substitute for your physician, who knows your condition well and who is your best ally when it comes to your health.

*

* * 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 Network-USA, 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, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, David Letterman, distinguished educators, scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com. On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com.

The viral rise of Ilocos empanada

A northern Philippine street food finds new life in the U.S. as home-based cooks build a coast-to-coast cottage-food enterprise around the regional specialty.

by AJPress

A BRIGHTLY colored street snack from northern Philippines is gaining commercial momentum across the United States, driven largely not by restaurant chains but by home-based food entrepreneurs.

Ilocos empanada, long associated with Batac City and Vigan, is now being produced by dozens of small-scale sellers from California to New York. Many operate under cottage food laws, selling through pre-orders, community markets and social media announcements.

While some Filipino restaurants, and at least one food truck, have begun offering the dish, much of its recent visibility comes from independent home kitchens responding to rising demand.

A regional identity rooted in Ilocos Empanadas were introduced to the Philippines during the Spanish colonial period, but in Ilocos the dish evolved in a distinct direction.

In Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, rice flour replaced wheat as the base of the wrapper. The shell is tinted orange with annatto and deep-fried until crisp. Traditional fillings include shredded unripe green papaya, mung bean sprouts, Ilocano longganisa and a whole egg cracked directly into the center before sealing. The empanada is typically served with sukang Iloko, a cane vinegar seasoned with garlic and chilies.

In Batac, the Batac Riverside Empanadaan functions as a centralized hub of empanada vendors, reinforcing the city’s longstanding branding as a culinary origin point. Festivals and tourism campaigns have further elevated the dish as a civic identifier.

Subtle distinctions between Batac and Vigan styles remain part of regional culinary discussion.

Why it is trending now

Market observers point to several converging factors behind the empanada’s expanding presence in the United States.

Visual impact. The vivid orange shell stands out in digital formats and short-form video.

Texture appeal. The rice-based crust produces a crisp bite that translates effectively on camera.

Low barrier to entry. Compared with opening a full restaurant, producing empanadas from a licensed home kitchen requires relatively modest startup capital.

Growing interest in regional cuisine. Filipino-American consumers increasingly seek dishes tied to specific provinces rather than generalized Filipino offerings.

The home-based model has been particularly influential. Sellers often announce limited “drops” online, with orders frequently selling out within hours. Fulfillment typically occurs through scheduled pick-ups, weekend markets, or community

Food creator Vince Vasquez of The Taste Bud and Filipino-American chef-restaurateur Leah Cohen sample Ilocos empanadas in the San Francisco Bay Area, spotlighting the northern Philippine specialty as it gains attention across U.S. food circles. Photo from The Taste Bud Instagram account

and church events.

Food analysts note that similar grassroots growth patterns have helped other culturally specific dishes gain broader recognition.

A vendor sells freshly fried Ilocos empanadas at a street stall in Laoag City, Ilocos Norte, where the orange rice pastry filled with papaya, mung bean sprouts, longganisa and egg is a popular regional specialty. (Photo by Yvette Tan / Wikimedia Commons)

A growing micro-enterprise network In Ilocos, empanada vending supports tourism and local small businesses. In the United States, the growth pattern has taken shape primarily through:

• Licensed cottage-food operations

• Social media-based pre-order systems

• Frozen empanadas sold for home frying

• Cultural festival and community event booths

• Select restaurant and food truck menu placements

Because the wrapper is rice-based and each empanada is assembled individually, scaling production requires careful moisture control and consistent oil temperature. Vendors say ensuring the egg cooks properly without compromising shell integrity remains a technical challenge.

The labor-intensive preparation has limited large-scale industrial production, preserving the dish’s handcrafted character even as demand grows.

A reflection on Filipina history

The history, progress, and everyday realities of women in the Philippines

by KhuShI SaMtanI Philstar.com

LONG before recognition became official, resistance came first. International Women’s Day is not simply a celebration; it is a reflection of the progress women have long fought for, and a reminder of the discomfort and inequality that made that fight necessary. Before there were boardrooms and ballots came the women who refused to be silenced. And behind the freedoms that many take for grant

ed today are the generations of women who organized in factories and on city streets, who demanded their right to vote, to work, to study, to lead, and to be seen—not just in the home, but in history, too.

An institutional call to action

This legacy is formally recognized annually in the Philippines. Republic Act No. 6949 declares March 8 as National Women’s Day, while Proclamations No. 224 and 227 (both issued in 1988) designate the first week of March as Women’s Week and the entire month as Women’s Role in History Month.

With a requirement from government agencies and private institutions to actively commemorate and support women’s contributions, this stands as a reminder that recognition here is not incidental but institutional. And yet, even with this formal acknowledgement, the women who raise our children, run our companies, shape policies, and sustain communities are, to this day, often undervalued.

Although it began in the early 20th century as a labor movement advocating for safer working conditions and suffrage, the significance of International Women’s Day in the Philippines has taken on a distinctly local taste

This is why International Women’s Day calls us to reinstate our gratitude and calls us to action in honoring the past victories of women, while acknowledging the inequalities that continue to exist.

From a labor movement to a call for equality

Although it began in the early 20th century as a labor movement advocating for safer working conditions and suffrage, the significance of International Women’s Day in the Philippines has taken on a distinctly local taste.

It appears in workplace panels and university forums, in barangay-led seminars on women’s rights, and in social media campaigns that feature Filipina frontline workers, educators, and entrepreneurs. It can be seen in protests calling for accountability for gender-based violence, corporate campaigns highlighting female executives, and government buildings illuminated in purple.

March 8 is more than just a symbolic day; it’s a time when discussions on equality shift from policy documents to public forums.

Women in (people) power

However, visibility has always

been important in the Philippines. During the People Power Revolution in 1986, one of the most notable examples of that visibility took place. Alongside EDSA, women served as organizers, religious leaders, and civic mobilizers in addition to being supporters of the peaceful revolt that brought democracy back.

March 8 is more than just a symbolic day; it’s a time when discussions on equality shift from policy documents to public forums

Corazon Aquino, the nation’s first female president and the first woman in Asia to head a country after a democratic revolution, came from that movement. Her presidency changed the perception of leadership itself in addition to shattering a political ceiling. A woman who was widowed, publicly grieving, yet unshakeable, became the symbol of the country’s change.

Since Aquino, women have remained highly apparent in Philippine public life. The country has since elected another female president, produced business executives and journalists whose impact goes well beyond its borders, and appointed women to the Supreme Court and cabinet. Large percentages of women graduate from college and work in sectors such as healthcare and education.

All day, every day, therapist, mother, maid On paper, gender parity in the Philippines is frequently among the best in Asia; this fact is proudly reported every March.

However, growth here has always been a little stickier than the figures show. A woman can lead a company by day and still be expected to manage the household by night. The concept “ilaw ng tahanan,” or the woman as the family’s emotional center, hasn’t vanished—it’s just evolved to fit contemporary circumstances.

The pressure to be the primary carer, the reliable one, and the selfless one does not necessarily go away with professional success

The pressure to be the primary carer, the reliable one, and the selfless one does not necessarily go away with professional success.

The story is identical in terms of economic realities. Wage disparities still exist, especially in contract and informal work, where a large number of women are employed. Remittances from the millions of Filipinas who work abroad as nurses, carers, and domestic workers support their families and the country’s economy. Although their labor is vital, it is rarely shown as power.

Recognizing how far we’ve come

So what does progress really look like? It looks like women in cabinet meetings and barangay halls, in classrooms and courtrooms. It looks like girls growing up believing leadership is normal.

But it also looks like quieter shifts: more equitable partnerships at home, safer public spaces, fairer pay. International Women’s Day is not just about celebrating visible success; it is about asking whether that success is reaching far enough. International Women’s Day, then, is not just about measuring what remains to be done. It is about recognizing how far Filipino women have already come. It is about honoring the generations who fought to be heard, and celebrating the ones who are now shaping policy, culture, business, and community life in ways that once seemed impossible.

Progress may be layered and unfinished, but it is real. And today, that reality deserves both reflection and celebration.

Are Bea Alonzo, Vincent Co tying the knot soon? Wedding

by hannah MallorCa Inquirer.net

IF marriage banns posted by the St. Peter the Apostle Parish, Manila were to be believed, actress Bea Alonzo will soon tie the knot with her beau Vincent Co.

Alonzo and Co‘s names were posted during the livestream of the parish church’s marriage banns on March 8. To note, marriage banns serve as an official announcement that an affianced couple intends to wed based on Catholic traditions.

However, the couple themselves have yet to confirm their marriage plans.

“Dear parishioners, we are announcing the marriage banns of the proposed marriage of… Ferdinand Vincent Pe Co, 44 years old, son of Lucio L. Co and Susan Sy Pe …, who will be married to Phylbert Angelli Escalante Ranollo, 38,” the church’s commentator said, as their names flashed onscreen.

The church announcement further disclosed that the couple now share the same address in the luxurious part of Paco, Manila.

Alonzo confirmed in August 2025 that she is in a relationship with the Puregold president, although they were spotted together on multiple occasions months prior, particularly at events organized by the supermarket chain.

A month later, the actress said she has “nothing to clarify” when rumors about her engage-

banns say so

ment to the Puregold scion made rounds. She also reiterated that she wants to keep her romance with Co private.

“Alam mo, inuunahan ng mga tao ang lahat ng pangyayari sa buhay ko. I have nothing to clarify, and I want to keep things private. There’s nothing to say, actually. I’m very happy,” she said. “Huwag na kayo maghintay kasi wala namang grand reveal. I want to focus on my personal life being private right now.”

(You know, a lot of people are pre-empting certain events in my life. I have nothing to clarify, and I want to keep things private.

There’s nothing to say, actually. I’m very happy. You don’t have to wait because there won’t be a grand reveal. I want to focus on my personal life being private right now.)

The “One More Chance” star was then hit with pregnancy rumors in October of last year, which she vehemently denied, saying that the photos and videos were taken from a bad angle. Alonzo is set to be the lead star of the upcoming Kapuso drama “Whispers from Heaven” with Tom Rodriguez, although its premiere date has yet to be announced.

AREA15 unveils Oddyssey nightlife concept in Las Vegas

by AJPress

LAS VEGAS — AREA15 has introduced Oddyssey, a new nightlife concept designed around immersive, room-toroom experiences rather than a traditional nightclub format.

The venue, unveiled in early March, features interconnected chambers that allow guests to move through different themed environments, performances and music settings throughout the evening.

AREA15 officials said the concept reflects changing nightlife preferences, emphasizing interactive experiences and social engagement rather than large, single dance-floor venues.

“Las Vegas has never stood still, and neither will we,” said Winston Fisher, CEO of AREA15.

“Oddyssey is just the beginning. We’re building large-scale nightlife experiences that focus on bold ideas and genuine human connection.”

A central feature is Oddyssey Manor, a 90-minute theatrical cocktail experience operating Thursday through Sunday evenings. Guests move through multiple immersive rooms featuring performers such as aerialists, actors and specialty entertainers while sampling curated cocktails integrated into the narrative setting. Each guest receives several tasting-size cocktails before selecting fullsize signature drinks.

The project was developed with Egan Productions, led by experiential entertainment designer Jason Egan, whose previous immersive attractions include Escape IT and the John

Wick Experience at AREA15. Creative direction is led by immersive theater artist Mallory Gracenin.

Late evenings transform the venue into Oddyssey Noir, a dance-driven environment featuring underground DJs, break-

dancers and cabaret performers interacting directly with guests. Oddyssey is open to visitors age 21 and older. Oddyssey Manor operates from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m., while Oddyssey Noir runs Friday and Saturday nights from 10:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.

Culinary structure and appeal Ilocos empanada’s appeal lies in contrast. The crisp rice shell fractures on first bite. The green papaya adds mild sweetness, while garlic-forward longganisa provides savory depth. The egg binds the filling into a cohesive center, and cane vinegar resets the palate with acidity.

The combination of crunch, richness and tang distinguishes the empanada from other fried pastries and contributes to repeat demand across generations. A recipe grounded in tradition For households seeking a Batac-style version:

Dough

2 cups rice flour

1–2 tablespoons annatto pow-

der or annatto-infused oil

1 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon neutral oil

1¼ cups hot water

Combine dry ingredients. Gradually add hot water and knead until the dough becomes smooth and pliable.

Filling 2 cups shredded green papaya

1 cup mung bean sprouts Cooked Ilocano longganisa, crumbled

1 egg per empanada

Garlic and onion

Lightly sauté the aromatics and keep the filling relatively dry before assembling.

Flatten the dough thinly, add the filling, crack the egg inside, fold and seal tightly. Deep-fry at about 350°F until crisp. Serve with cane vinegar seasoned with garlic and chili.

Clarita’s Authentic Ilocos Empanada operates a pop-up booth at a community event, reflecting the growing number of homebased vendors bringing the northern Philippine specialty to

markets and festivals across the United States. (Photo from @ clarita_ilocosempanada Instagram account)

From street stall to homebased enterprise The renewed popularity of Ilocos empanada reflects a broader evolution in Filipino-American food markets. Regional specificity is gaining prominence, and province-based dishes are expanding through decentralized production rather than corporate rollout.

From Batac’s roadside stalls to licensed home kitchens in Los Angeles, New Jersey and New York, the empanada’s expansion illustrates how traditional foods can adapt to modern small-business ecosystems. Its coast-to-coast growth suggests commercial staying power, anchored not by mass production, but by individual cooks turning a regional specialty into a viable enterprise.

Embassy, MWO Shine a Spotlight on OFWs During International Women’s Day Celebrations

by AJPress

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an

activity that marked International Women’s Day and National Women’s Month in the Philippines, the Philippine Embassy and Migrant Workers Office welcomed OFWs to a day-long program on March 7.

Labor Attaché Saul De Vries welcomed the participants and underscored the dynamic coop

eration among community members and the role of the Department of Migrant Workers in the promotion of women’s rights and labor rights, regardless of a person’s immigration status.

Deputy Chief of Mission Felipe Cariño III mentioned the special role of women OFWs in society-building, even as modern-day challenges, like exploitation and economic displacement, confront them. Government and the community should play a role in advancing women’s rights as human rights, and, beyond acknowledging the underlying issues, secure change through international agreements and multi-sectoral cooperation to uplift and empower women, he added.

About 50 kababayan participated in activities that were arranged in cooperation with community partners for the protection and promotion of the health and welfare of female OFWs. These included a cancer awareness session conducted by cancer warriors Ms. Cherry Somes and Ms. Josie Ziman of Filipino American Cancer Care, followed by a session on financial education led by Ms. Jessica Palmiano-Bellota,

and an introduction to basics of Jiu jitsu by Mr. Grant Tran and his team from Calo Terra Academy, in cooperation with the office of Police Attaché General Moises Villaceran, Jr.

The event also featured a tribute to migrant women in the Marilag Awards: Women of Inspiration, which featured four kababayan who embodied Filipina grace, public service and charity as they served their communities in the Caribbean

and

Philippines. Throughout the year, the Embassy and MWO actively engage with community members in the promotion of migrant rights and welfare through activities that empower members, promote a dynamic diaspora, and ignite meaningful interaction between and among community members on critical issues and current events.