050126 - New York and New Jersey Edition

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Volume 20 - No.18 • 16 Pages

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DATELINE USA

Supreme Court ruling narrows Voting Rights Act in redistricting cases

Decision sets new limits on use of race in drawing congressional districts, reshaping legal standard for vote dilution claims

by AJPress

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Supreme Court on April 29 issued a 6-3 ruling in Louisiana v. Callais, finding that Louisiana’s congressional map creating a second majority-Black district was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander, narrowing how the Voting Rights Act applies in redistricting cases nationwide.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the state’s use of race did not meet constitutional standards under the Equal Protection Clause. The Court held that the Voting Rights Act did not require Louisiana to create an additional majority-minority district and therefore did not justify race as a predominant factor in drawing the map.

u PAGE 4

Senate readies for possible Sara Duterte impeachment trial as House sets plenary vote

Senate leaders prepare for trial logistics pending House action, while Duterte’s legal team and allies dispute the allegations and question the process.

by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippine Senate has begun internal preparations for a potential impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte, convening an all-senator caucus on

Thursday, April 30, as the House of Representatives advances the case toward a plenary vote.

Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III led the closed-door meeting, which focused on procedural rules, courtroom logistics and administrative requirements should the Articles of Impeachment be transmitted by the House. Senate officials emphasized that the chamber’s role remains preparatory until formal transmittal is completed.

DON'T OPEN. The House of Representatives' Committee on Justice, chaired by Batangas 2nd District Rep. Gerville Luistro, votes Wednesday (April 29, 2026) not to open the sealed box submitted by the Bureau of Internal Revenue containing the income tax returns of Vice President Sara Z. Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. Thirty-eight voted to keep it sealed, as against six in favor of opening, citing a National Internal Revenue Code provision which requires that tax documents requested for congressional inquiry be examined in executive session and in aid of legislation. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

Peso nears 62 per dollar as global pressures intensify

Economic managers led by Arsenio Balisacan link the peso’s slide toward 62 per dollar to global dollar strength, rising oil import costs, and risk-off sentiment, while underscoring stable domestic fundamentals.

by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippine peso has come under renewed downward pressure, approaching the 62-to-$1 level as global economic conditions continue to favor the U.S. dollar, while government officials maintain that the movement reflects external forces rather than domestic fra-

gility.

Entalula Beach in the Philippines named No.

1 in World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026 ranking

A remote stretch of Palawan now leads the world’s best beaches, as the Philippines captures global attention with untouched coastlines and striking natural formations.

by AJPress

MANILA / LOS ANGELES

The Senate’s discussions follow the House

Zaldy Co’s asylum move to France complicates Philippine return bid

Palace confirms fugitive former lawmaker is now under French jurisdiction following release in the Czech Republic, adding legal and diplomatic hurdles to efforts to bring him back to face pending cases.

by AJPress

The currency’s decline mirrors broader trends across emerging markets, where capital has shifted toward dollar-denominated assets amid elevated U.S. interest rates set by the Federal Reserve. Higher yields in the United States have strengthened the dollar, prompting outflows from u PAGE

— Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan has been named the No. 1 beach in the world in the World’s 50 Best Beaches 2026 ranking, placing the Philippines at the top of a global list shaped by environmental quality, limited access and consistency of natural conditions.

The 2026 list identifies Entalula Beach as the topranked destination, followed by Fteri Beach in Greece and Wharton Beach in Australia, according to the official ranking published by the World’s 50 Best Beaches organization. A second Philippine site, Kalanggaman Island in Leyte, placed No. 25, giving the country two entries in the

u PAGE 2

Palace: French, Czech envoys tight-lipped on Zaldy

Denied travel request, asset-freeze move, and planned plunder complaints mark a critical phase in one of the Philippines’ largest infrastructure investigations

by Alexis RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines — Despite President Marcos’ personally requesting them for information about flood control scam suspect Zaldy Co, the Czech and French diplomats he met last Wednesday chose to remain tightlipped, explaining their lack of authority to speak on the matter as well as the need to follow asylum-related laws.

Czech Republic Chargé d’Affaires Eva

F rom the F ront P age

Senate readies for possible ...

PAGE 1

Committee on Justice’s unanimous 53–0 vote on April 29 finding probable cause in impeachment complaints filed against the Vice President. The panel consolidated the complaints into draft Articles of Impeachment for consideration by the full House.

House sets plenary timetable

The House is expected to take up the impeachment case in plenary as early as May 11, when session resumes. Under the Constitution, a vote of at least one-third of all members is required to approve the Articles of Impeachment and trigger their automatic transmittal to the Senate.

If the threshold is met, the Senate could receive the articles within days and proceed to convene as an impeachment court.

The complaints cite allegations of misuse of confidential and intelligence funds, discrepancies in the Vice President’s Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and statements interpreted by complainants as threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the First Lady and a former House leader.

House leaders have maintained that the committee’s finding of probable cause was based on documents and testimony presented during hearings, and that the plenary vote will determine whether the case advances to trial.

Senate outlines trial readiness

During the caucus, senators reviewed operational considerations including security arrangements, staffing, rules of procedure and the physical setup of the chamber should it transition into an impeachment court.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson has said funds remain available for impeachment proceedings under continuing appropriations, indicating that the chamber is financially prepared if a trial proceeds.

The Senate has not set a definitive trial schedule. Officials noted that timing will depend on when and if the House transmits the Articles of Impeachment.

The Supreme Court has previously clarified that while the Constitution directs the Senate to proceed with an impeachment trial, the timing of such proceedings falls within the chamber’s discretion, provided

Peso nears 62 per dollar as ...

developing economies, including the Philippines.

Balisacan said the peso’s movement is largely externally driven, noting that core indicators such as growth, remittance inflows, and the business process outsourcing sector remain stable.

Global dollar strength reshapes capital flows

Investor preference for dollar assets has intensified amid persistent inflation concerns in the United States, reinforcing the dollar’s strength against regional currencies. Safe-haven demand has also increased due to geopolitical uncertainty, amplifying depreciation pressures on the peso.

Oil import burden widens trade gap

Rising global oil prices have added strain to the Philippines’ external position. As a net fuel importer, the country requires more dollars to

it acts within a reasonable period.

Duterte camp disputes allegations

Vice President Duterte has denied wrongdoing. Her legal team has challenged both the substance of the complaints and the conduct of the House proceedings, arguing that the allegations are unsupported and politically motivated.

Supporters of the Vice President have echoed those concerns, framing the impeachment effort as part of a broader political conflict.

At this stage, no court has ruled on the merits of the allegations, and impeachment remains a constitutional process distinct from criminal prosecution.

Next phase depends on House vote

With the House preparing for a plenary vote as early as May 11, the impeachment effort now enters a decisive phase. A one-third vote would elevate the case to the Senate, where senators would sit as judges in a formal trial.

Until that threshold is reached, the Senate’s preparations remain provisional, and the allegations against the Vice President remain unproven. n

Zaldy Co’s asylum move to France ...

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said Philippine authorities received information indicating that Co is under French jurisdiction while his asylum petition is being processed, a development that limits immediate enforcement options by Philippine authorities.

Co, who once chaired the House appropriations committee, is facing graft and malversation charges in the Philippines in connection with alleged irregularities involving flood-control projects in Oriental Mindoro. The cases are pending before the appropriate courts, and the allegations have not been adjudicated.

Custody opportunity lost in Europe

The situation follows Co’s earlier detention in Prague, where he was reportedly held over immigration-related concerns after attempting to cross a border with insufficient travel documentation.

Acting Justice Secretary

Fredderick Vida confirmed that by the time a Philippine team reached the Czech Republic to coordinate with authorities, Co had already been released. Officials said the absence of a formal police cooperation framework and the lack of an active Interpol Red Notice at the time constrained the government’s ability to secure his transfer.

Authorities have since indicated that efforts are underway to complete the documentation required for international coordination mechanisms.

Political and diplomatic response

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has expressed dissatisfaction over the missed opportunity to take Co into custody and has directed agencies to pursue all available legal and diplomatic avenues.

Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson described the development as a “lost opportunity,” urging the government to move more

swiftly in similar cases where fugitives are temporarily held abroad.

Next steps under French process

Under French procedures, asylum claims are evaluated by national authorities, and applicants remain under the jurisdiction of the French government while their status is being determined. The process can take weeks or longer depending on the complexity of the case.

Philippine officials have said any future request for Co’s return will need to proceed through formal legal channels, including diplomatic engagement and coordination with international law enforcement systems, subject to the outcome of the asylum proceedings.

For now, Co’s case has shifted from a domestic enforcement matter into a broader legal test involving cross-border cooperation, asylum protections and the limits of international custody mechanisms. n

Entalula Beach in the Philippines ...

global top 50.

In its official citation, the ranking described Entalula as “Palawan’s overlooked slice of heaven,” highlighting the beach’s defining features and relative seclusion.

finance energy purchases, widening the trade deficit and increasing demand for foreign exchange.

Inflation pressures test policy balance

A weaker peso raises the cost of imported goods, particularly fuel and food inputs, creating pass-through inflation risks. This complicates efforts by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas to maintain inflation within its target range. Analysts also point to the 62-to-$1 level as a psychological threshold that could influence market sentiment.

Measured response from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas

Officials have signaled a calibrated approach, emphasizing that current conditions do not indicate structural weakness. The central bank retains tools to smooth excessive volatility while balancing inflation control with

economic growth.

Remittances and exports offer partial offsets

A weaker peso provides limited support through higher peso-equivalent remittances from Overseas Filipino Workers. Export-oriented sectors may also gain some price competitiveness, although higher input costs can offset these benefits.

Outlook tied to shifts in U.S. monetary policy

The peso’s near-term trajectory is expected to remain closely linked to global developments, particularly U.S. interest rate policy and commodity prices. Officials indicate that any easing by the Federal Reserve could help stabilize emerging market currencies.

Policymakers remain focused on containing inflationary effects and maintaining macroeconomic stability as external pressures persist.

According to the listing, Entalula is distinguished by towering limestone cliffs rising behind a stretch of soft white sand, creating what evaluators described as one of the most visually striking coastal settings in the region and globally. Compared to nearby beaches in El Nido, it receives fewer visitors, a factor that is immediately evident upon arrival.

The organization noted that the water is exceptionally clear with typically calm conditions, allowing for easy swimming and uninterrupted views of the surrounding seascape. Access is limited to boat travel, which helps maintain lower visitor density and preserves the beach’s natural character.

It added that the contrast between dramatic cliff formations, clear water and seclusion gives Entalula a distinct identity, describing it as a place that feels both visually dramatic and notably calm.

The ranking body said its

Entalula Beach in El Nido, Palawan, named the No. 1 beach in the world in the 2026 World’s 50 Best Beaches ranking, is described by evaluators as “Palawan’s overlooked slice of heaven.” – Photo courtesy of World’s 50 Best Beaches / worlds50beaches.com

annual list is based on input from travel professionals, beach ambassadors and its internal team, with evaluation criteria that include water clarity, unique landscape features, calm conditions, accessibility, absence of overcrowding and overall environmental integrity. Also included in the 2026 rankings, Kalanggaman Island placed No. 25, recognized for a long, narrow sandbar that extends into open water at both ends. The island’s slender strip of white sand is bordered by clear, shallow waters on both sides, with minimal infrastructure and controlled access help-

ing preserve its natural condition.

The Philippines, an archipelago of more than 7,600 islands, has long positioned coastal destinations as a central component of its tourism profile. The 2026 rankings reinforce a competitive advantage rooted in preservation, as global travel metrics increasingly favor destinations that remain largely undisturbed.

Sustaining that position will depend on continued environmental stewardship and visitor management, as international visibility of Philippine coastal destinations continues to expand. n

Republicans revisit capital gains tax cut as inflation debate sharpens in Washington

by AJPress

WASHINGTON — Republican lawmakers are pressing the Trump administration to consider lowering taxes on investment gains by adjusting capital gains for inflation, reviving a longstanding policy debate centered on tax fairness, federal revenue and income distribution.

The proposal, commonly referred to as indexing capital gains, would allow taxpayers to increase the original purchase price, or cost basis, of an asset to reflect inflation before calculating taxable profit. Taxes would then apply to inflation-adjusted gains rather than nominal increases in value.

Under current federal law, capital gains are generally taxed when an asset is sold. Short-term gains are taxed as ordinary income, while long-term gains are subject to preferential rates, typically 0 percent, 15 percent or 20 percent depending on taxable income. Some higher-income taxpayers are also subject to a 3.8 percent net investment income tax, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

Supporters argue that the current system taxes gains that may reflect inflation rather than real increases in purchasing power. Republican lawmakers have urged the Treasury Department to consider whether existing regulatory authority could allow such an

adjustment, framing the proposal as a correction to how taxable income is measured.

The effort comes as economic messaging increasingly focuses on cost-of-living pressures and the effects of inflation on household finances.

Some proponents also link the policy to housing market dynamics. They argue that capital gains taxes can discourage property sales, a phenomenon often described as a lock-in effect, and that reducing the tax burden on gains could encourage more transactions. Economists generally acknowledge the existence of lock-in effects, though estimates of their magnitude vary.

Critics emphasize the distributional and fiscal implications. Capital gains income is concentrated among higher-income households, and policy analysts note that tax reductions tied to those gains would disproportionately benefit top earners. Separate fiscal analyses have consistently found that higher-income taxpayers receive the largest share of benefits from capital income tax reductions. The revenue impact is also significant. Policy estimates indicate that indexing capital gains could reduce federal revenues by roughly $170 billion over a 10-year period if applied only to newly acquired assets, and more than $1 trillion if applied more broadly, depending on design and assumptions. These figures are based on modeling by

Congress restores most DHS funding, ending 75-day shutdown

President Donald Trump signs bipartisan measure reopening core Homeland Security operations, while immigration enforcement funding is deferred to separate negotiations.

by AJPress

WASHINGTON, D.C. —

The U.S. Congress on Thursday, April 30, approved legislation restoring funding for most operations of the Department of Homeland Security, bringing to a close a 75-day partial shutdown that disrupted agency functions and delayed compensation for federal personnel.

President Donald Trump signed the measure into law the same day after it cleared both chambers of Congress, allowing several core security and emergency-response agencies to resume normal operations through the remainder of the fiscal year.

nonpartisan research institutions.

Legal authority remains unsettled. Some supporters argue that the Treasury Department could reinterpret how cost basis is defined under existing regulations. Opponents, including tax law specialists, contend that such a change would effectively alter statutory definitions and therefore require congressional approval. Prior federal legal reviews have raised similar concerns, and no administration has implemented indexing through executive action.

There is also disagreement over broader economic effects. While lower capital gains taxes can reduce incentives to hold assets indefinitely, evidence is mixed on whether indexing alone would materially increase investment activity or housing supply. Analysts point to other structural factors, including interest rates, zoning constraints and construction costs, as more significant drivers of housing availability.

Relevance in the current policy cycle

The renewed focus on capital gains taxation reflects a broader policy divide. Supporters argue that inflation-adjusted taxation more accurately reflects real income. Critics emphasize the implications for federal revenue and income distribution. Whether the proposal advances through legislation or is tested through executive interpretation remains unresolved. n

Customs and Border Protection, placing those agencies at the center of a separate legislative track expected to be taken up in the coming weeks.

The funding lapse began on February 14 following a prolonged impasse over immigration enforcement policy. Democratic lawmakers had sought additional oversight measures governing federal immigration operations, while Republican leadership pushed to maintain or expand enforcement funding aligned with the administration’s border priorities.

The law funds key components of DHS, including the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Secret Service, Federal Emergency Management Agency and the U.S. Coast Guard. Lawmakers, however, excluded funding for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and

The standoff left a department of approximately 260,000 employees operating under constrained conditions. Aviation security operations faced staffing pressures, while broader concerns emerged regarding emergency preparedness, protective services and maritime enforcement capacity. Officials warned that temporary funding mechanisms supporting payroll

would soon be exhausted without congressional action.

To resolve the immediate crisis, congressional leaders adopted a two-step approach. The first measure restored funding for the majority of DHS functions. A second, still-pending proposal is expected to address immigration enforcement appropriations, potentially through a budget reconciliation process that would allow passage in the Senate by a simple majority.

The enacted law stabilizes day-to-day operations across most of the department but leaves unresolved a central dispute over immigration enforcement policy, including funding levels and oversight of agencies such as Immigration and Customs and Border Protection. That disagreement is expected to be taken up in separate legislation in the coming weeks, setting the stage for continued negotiations ahead of the next fiscal deadline.. n

Supreme Court ruling narrows ...

without direct proof of intent.

Implications for minority voting strength

The ruling affirms a lower court decision that blocked the map. Louisiana must now proceed under a different congressional configuration.

The case arose after post-census redistricting disputes in a state where Black residents make up roughly one-third of the population. Lawmakers adopted a revised map with a second majority-Black district following earlier litigation over minority voting strength. That map was later challenged by voters who argued race predominated in its design. The Court agreed, concluding the state lacked sufficient legal basis to rely on race.

Redefining the boundaries of Section 2 enforcement

The decision alters how Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act functions in redistricting disputes. For decades, courts allowed challenges based on discriminatory effects, even

The ruling narrows that framework. While Section 2 remains in place, the circumstances under which states may use race to draw districts aimed at preserving minority voting strength are more limited. Future cases are expected to focus more directly on whether race predominated and whether its use can withstand strict constitutional scrutiny.

A recalibration of map-drawing authority across states

The decision is expected to influence redistricting nationwide. Lawmakers may have broader discretion to rely on traditional districting principles such as compactness and contiguity, without being required to create additional majority-minority districts absent a clear constitutional mandate.

Legal observers anticipate renewed litigation as states reassess maps drawn under earlier interpretations of the Voting Rights Act.

Voting rights advocates say the ruling could affect the number of districts where minority voters can elect preferred candidates. Section 2 has long served as a safeguard against practices that dilute voting power. Under the Court’s decision, such outcomes may stand if states show district lines were based on race-neutral principles. Supporters of the ruling say it reinforces constitutional limits on the use of race.

Legal landscape heading into the next election cycles

The ruling builds on earlier decisions, including Shelby County v. Holder, which narrowed federal oversight of voting laws. With Section 2 now more constrained, the decision establishes a new benchmark for future redistricting disputes. As the 2026 and 2028 election cycles approach, its impact is expected to unfold through further litigation and legislative adjustments.n

Palace: French, Czech envoys tight-lipped on ...

Tenzin confirmed Marcos’ announcement last April 16 that Co was detained in Prague because of invalid travel documents, according to Undersecretary Claire Castro.

In his meeting with the diplomats, the President asked for additional information about Co, who is facing an arrest warrant for alleged malversation of public funds and graft over a questionable road dike project.

“But the President was not granted his request because the Czech Republic is following international law, European and national laws,” Castro said yesterday in Filipino.

Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida, who traveled to the Czech Republic to process Co’s return to the Philippines, was also not given additional information, according to Castro.

“But their only response was that they cooperate in accordance with their laws,” the Palace press officer said.

Castro said Marcos also informed French Ambassador Marie Fontanel about Co’s status as a fugitive, but was not given the information he requested.

“The French ambassador said she understands and she already knows that Mr. Zaldy Co is a fugitive and he needs to face accountability. But as far as she is concerned, she said she could not provide information as long as she is (not) autho-

rized to say something about that,” Castro added.

Marcos revealed on social media last April 16 that Co was held in Prague because he did not possess proper documents. Eight days later, the Department of Justice clarified that the flood control scam suspect was “not technically arrested,” although he experienced a “deprivation” of his liberty “to a certain degree.”

On Tuesday, Castro disclosed Co’s application for political asylum in France and disputed his claim he is facing political persecution. She also said the Philippine government won’t ask French authorities to deny Co’s asylum bid.

Castro said Marcos had described the events unfold-

Dylan Harper makes Spurs history in playoff breakout

by iNQUiReR.Net US Bureau

Coming off the bench, Filipino American NBA rookie Dylan Harper delivered a breakout postseason performance as he helped power the San Antonio Spurs to a commanding 114–95 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers in Game 5, sealing the series.

In just 26 minutes of play, he finished with 17 points on an efficient 6-of-9 shooting from the field, while also contributing three steals on defense. His impact came at key moments when the Spurs needed pressure and quick scoring bursts to widen the gap.

What made the performance even more significant was its place in franchise history. Harper became the first Spurs rookie since Kawhi Leonard in 2012 to register at least 15 points and three steals in a playoff game.

That milestone underscores just how rare his two-way production is for a first-year player in a postseason envi-

ronment, especially within a franchise known for disciplined defensive systems.

Spurs head coach Mitch Johnson opted to deploy Harper as a bench weapon rather than a starter.

The rookie responded with composure and aggression, consistently attacking lanes, converting efficiently and disrupting passing lanes on defense. His energy helped set the tone for San Antonio’s second unit, which ultimately

outperformed Portland’s reserves.

More importantly, Harper emerged as the highest-scoring bench player in the matchup, outshining all reserve contributors from both the Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers.

As the Spurs advance deeper into the postseason, Harper’s emergence provides an unexpected but welcome boost that could become increasingly important as competition intensifies.. n

ing as “very unsatisfactory” because they happened even if the Philippines was coordinating with the Czech Republic.

“The President expressed disappointment after the release of the fugitive Co from the custody of the Czech Republic,” she added.

Castro said Marcos had also emphasized the readiness of the Philippines to fast-track the forging of extradition treaties and other similar forms of legal cooperation with other countries.

“The President gave assurance that the government would tap all legal and diplomatic means to bring the fugitive Co back to the Philippines so he can face the graft and malversation cases filed against him,” she added. n

FeAtures OPiniOn

Hospice fraud tests oversight of end-of-life care

Hospice care is built on a simple premise: when cure is no longer the goal, care should center on comfort, dignity and support. In California, a series of recent enforcement actions has put that premise under strain, raising questions about whether oversight has kept pace with the rapid growth of the industry.

Hospice is a specialized model of care for patients with life-limiting illness, generally those expected to live six months or less if the disease follows its usual course. Services focus on pain control, symptom management, counseling and family support, often delivered in the patient’s home. Eligibility depends largely on a physician’s certification of prognosis and supporting documentation. That reliance on clinical judgment, while necessary, also creates vulnerabilities when oversight is uneven.

Those vulnerabilities are now the focus of

public lives

OUR idea of the future used to be simple. Things happen as they will, and we can only hope and pray that life will be the same, if not better. Today, in the modern world, we are told that we can do more than hope. We can act or decide now so that whatever may come will make little difference. This involves calculating the risk and assigning a price to it.

federal and state investigators.

Enforcement actions point to systemic weaknesses

Recent cases brought by the U.S. Department of Justice and reviewed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General allege that some operators enrolled patients who were not terminally ill in hospice programs and billed Medicare or Medi-Cal for services that were not medically necessary or not provided. Prosecutors have described schemes involving falsified certifications, patient recruitment through inducements and the use of business structures that obscured control of hospice entities. These allegations remain subject to court proceedings.

California authorities have pursued parallel investigations, including cases alleging large-scale improper billing tied to hospice

Binding the future

In this manner, we bind the future. We first encounter this mode of thinking in the form of an insurance policy. Today it is everywhere. With stunning suddenness, the horizon of the future has come to our doors in just the past two months, because of the Middle East war. Though far from where we are, and though we played no part in starting it, this war has upended our daily lives in ways we have only started to count.

Many of my middle-class

friends find themselves calculating the future in precisely this way. They are asking how much it costs to install solar panels on their rooftops, and whether the investment will pay off. They are looking at the Chinese or Vietnamese electric vehicles (EVs) that have become popular almost overnight, wondering whether it makes sense to trade in the family car. Even the cheapest EV comes at a price, and one must ask if it is worth

operations. Taken together, the cases suggest not isolated misconduct, but pressure points within a system that relies heavily on documentation and good faith.

Ctalk

Cito Beltran

BACK when President Bongbong Marcos and relatives were seriously discussing the idea of a “presidential run,” one of his cousins claimed to have opposed the idea for several reasons.

First of all, the Marcos-Romualdez clan had gone through the experience under a Marcos presidency and “look where it got us?”

The relative also pointed out that the second gener-

LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

Accidental

ation as well as the third generation Marcoses and Romualdezes were all doing well and occupied various positions in government. Something hard to imagine after EDSA 1.

God forbid, would the clan be willing to go through a repeat of history and who would be there to protect their necks or what army could they rely on to defend them? Little did he realize his words were prophetic.

As it turns out, they now have an extended simmer-

ing family feud, complete with scandalous public revelations and veiled threats. Even worse, they are embroiled in much the same way their parents, titos and titas were, neck deep in claims, suspicions, even charges of corruption, conspiracy and amassing ill-gotten wealth.

George Santayana said: “Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it” and we often think

Hospice fraud tests oversight ...

Growth has outpaced regulation

The expansion of hospice providers in California, particularly in Los Angeles County, has been well documented. A review by the California State Auditor found a sharp increase in licensed hospices over the past decade, far exceeding national averages relative to the senior population. Oversight resources have not expanded at the same rate.

Hospice reimbursement structures can amplify risk. Once a patient is deemed eligible, providers receive a per-patient rate for services, rather than payment tied to each procedure. That model supports coordinated care, but it can also reward volume if safeguards are weak.

Federal agencies have begun to respond with tighter controls, including enhanced screening of new providers and closer monitoring of billing patterns.

A national issue with regional concentration

The concerns are not limited to California. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has placed states such as Nevada under enhanced oversight, a designation that reflects elevated risk in hospice and related services.

In New York and New Jersey, enforcement actions have included cases involving hospice billing, but they more often arise within broader healthcare fraud investigations involving

Medicare and Medicaid. The pattern there appears more diffuse than the clustering seen in parts of California.

This distribution underscores a consistent finding from regulators: fraud tends to follow gaps in oversight and incentives in payment systems, rather than any single geographic or demographic profile.

Avoiding misdirected conclusions

(delete -Public records show that ) Several individuals of Filipino descent have been among those charged or arrested in hospice-related cases. That fact warrants accurate reporting, but it does not define the broader problem. Enforcement actions across states indicate that hospice fraud networks are multi-layered and cross demographic lines, involving owners, medical professionals and intermediaries linked through complex business arrangements.

For communities with strong representation in healthcare, including Filipino Americans, careful framing is essential. The issue is not one of identity. It is one of system design and enforcement.

The stakes extend beyond billing

The consequences of hospice fraud are not confined to financial loss. If patients are inappropriately enrolled in hospice, they may forgo treatments aimed at prolonging life. Families may make decisions based on incomplete or inaccurate in-

Accidental prophesy ...

this applies only to the Filipino people who keep voting or choosing the wrong set of leaders.

I would say that the warning also applies to the Marcoses and the Romualdezes. Clearly, only one short branch of the family knew enough to know what disaster awaits all if things got out of hand, which they have.

Unfortunately, like all Filipino families, that does not relieve them of the embarrassment, discomfort and annoyance towards family members who have caused the innocents so much “kahihiyan.”

What about the rest of us? What lessons can we derive from what Harry Belafonte

formation. Trust in clinicians and institutions can erode. That is what distinguishes hospice fraud from other forms of healthcare abuse. It operates at a moment when patients and families are most vulnerable and most dependent on professional guidance.

A need for calibrated reform

Enforcement alone will not resolve the underlying risks. Policymakers face a more complex task: strengthening oversight without undermining access to legitimate hospice care. That may include stricter licensing review, clearer ownership transparency, improved data monitoring and safeguards to ensure that patients understand and consent to hospice enrollment.

Hospice remains an essential part of the healthcare system. The challenge is to protect its integrity while preserving its purpose.

A test of accountability

The current investigations present a broader test of institutional accountability. Systems designed around trust require oversight that is both vigilant and precise. Where that balance falters, the consequences are measured not only in public funds, but in the quality of care at the end of life.

Restoring confidence will depend on whether enforcement actions lead to durable reforms. In hospice care, the margin for error is narrow and the stakes are deeply human. (AJPress) n

Binding the future ...

PAGE 6

drawing down the family’s savings for a vehicle that may not fetch a good resale value when the time comes to let it go.

No one knows when the war will end, or how, or what the world will look like after. But the big players of the economic world are not content to wait and see. At every moment, they are calculating risks and pricing uncertainty. In doing so, they are making decisions that effectively serve as public communications about the future. In calculating the future, they shape it, and they pass on the costs to the rest of us. The prices of oil futures are a small part of this story, though the most visible.

Financial markets operate almost entirely on their calculations of the future as seen from the present. More importantly, they bind the future by trading it today. A socalled derivative is a present transaction whose object is a future state of the world. But it is more than a description of that state. The moment the derivative is created and traded, it reshapes the future it was supposed only to anticipate. The complexity this generates is not easy for the layperson to untangle. We pay for it all the same. Here at home, we have been preoccupied with wild swings in pump prices and the prospect of fuel rationing. Many of us have given up trying to understand the reasoning behind the numbers. We

suspect price manipulation or profiteering somewhere along the line. I think it is more complicated than that. These prices are the structural outcomes of a modern practice of trading future presents. Markets sell the illusion of steering the future while in fact foreclosing it.

Outside Metro Manila, countless Filipino families are doing a different kind of calculation, one that is more existential. Should a relative working in Abu Dhabi, or Doha, or Dubai come home now, while it is still possible and while government repatriation flights are still available? We have more than a million overseas Filipino workers in the region. Business has abruptly stopped in what used to be one of the busiest economic hubs in the world. If they come home now, it may not be easy to return when things settle down.

Jennifer, a mother of two, has worked for two years as a cleaner for a service company in Abu Dhabi. She calls her husband Dan almost daily to say she is safe. Her company has retrenched half its workforce; she is among the lucky ones who’ve been retained. Ben, a neighbor in the same barangay, works as an assistant electrician in Doha. He calls his wife Elsa to assure her he is still employed and intends to stay on as long as he can. Their employers, no doubt, are making their own calculations about how long before

they must close shop.

Millions like Jennifer and Ben are hanging on to threadbare lives amid the uncertainties of this war. Many once worked at the Doha and Dubai airports and are now on unpaid leave, waiting for normal operations to resume. Then there are the thousands of Filipino seafarers on oil tankers and cargo ships stranded in the Persian Gulf and the Arabian Sea, unable to sail because of the blockades imposed separately by Iran and the United States. We do not have an exact count of them, or a clear picture of how they are coping, because communication is restricted. Rescue, at this point, is not a near prospect.

Their fates, in a real sense, are held by the shipowners and their insurers in London. The insurers see these tankers in terms of the monetary value of the cargo they carry, and the price of each crew member’s life. The insurance markets are not constituted to reflect what those lives mean to the families and communities that wait for them. That work is left to us. To name them, one by one, when the markets cannot. (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.

* * *

Email: public.lives@gmail.comn

called “shame and scandal in the family?” How can it be that, with all the power and the wealth, people still recklessly “gamble” for more, and sometimes at all cost?

How much is enough?

The first cause is pride. We become too full of ourselves when we are able to get away with something. It’s not an adrenaline rush, it’s a shot of pride fueling our ego and making us believe that “We did it!” or it was because of us and that we can do it again.

There is a direct warning from God concerning the inevitability of pride misleading us and he wrote this specific warning in Chapter 8 of the book of Deuteronomy: 8:2 “Remember how the

Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness all these 40 years, to humble and test you in order to know what is in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands.”

8:3 “He humbled you… to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.”

8:10 “When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you today.”

8:12 “Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied,

when you build fine houses and settle down and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud, and you will forget the Lord your God…

8:17 “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.’ But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you ability to produce wealth and so confirms his covenant which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.”

8:19 “If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods (idols) and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed. 20. Like the nations the Lord destroyed

before you, so you will be destroyed for not obeying the Lord your God.”

As it turned out, that level of power and amount of pride became the undoing of King David who covets, consumes his lust with Bathsheba, arranges the death of her husband, simply because he could.

God confronts King David through the prophet Nathan and tells him in 2 Samuel 12:7-9: “I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul.

I gave your master’s house to you, and your master’s wives into your arms.

“I gave you Israel and Judah. And if all this had been too little, I would have given you more. Why did you despise the word of the Lord by doing what is evil in his eyes?”

12:11

“This is what the

Lord says: Out of your own household (family) I am going to bring calamity on you. Before your very eyes I will take your wives and give them to one who is close to you, and he will sleep with your wives in broad daylight.

You did it in secret, but I will do this thing in broad daylight before all Israel.”

King David lost one child, one of his sons drove him out of his own kingdom and did exactly what the Lord said would happen. May this be a lesson to all of us. (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.

* * *

E-mail: utalk2ctalk@gmail.com n

Get to know the judges of the ICC Trial Chamber handling Rodrigo Duterte's case

Businesses turn pessimistic, but consumers still upbeat

The Presidency of the International Criminal Court has formed the Trial Chamber that will oversee the case involving former President Rodrigo Duterte.

This came after the pre-trial judges unanimously confirmed on April 23 all three counts of murder lodged against Duterte as crimes against humanity, saying they constitute “serious violations committed as part of a large-scale attack against any civilian population.”

This moves the case to trial.

"Promptly after it is constituted, the Trial Chamber will hold status conferences, confer with the parties and participants in order to set the date of the commencement of the trial and adopt the procedures necessary to facilitate the fair and expeditious conduct of the proceedings," the tribunal said.

“The Chamber will rule on several preliminary issues, including the timing and the manner of disclosure of evidence," it added.

Get to know the judges who will oversee Duterte's case.

Judge Joanna Korner

Hailing from the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Judge Korner joined the ICC in September 2021 and is expected to finish her term in March 2030.

Before joining the tribunal, Korner was a judge of the Crown Court of England and Wales and served as a senior prosecutor at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia for a total of eight years.

She has been a Queen’s

Counsel since 1993 and has represented both the prosecution and defense in numerous cases before the courts of England and Wales. Korner was also the Senior Legal Adviser to the Chief Prosecutor of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the establishment of a War Crimes Section in the country's State Prosecutor's Office.

She studied law at the Inns of Court School of Law. In 2004, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in recognition of her contributions to international law.

Some of the notable cases she tried were Prosecutor v. Mićo Stanišić and Stojan Župljanin, Prosecutor v. Radoslav Brđjanin and Momir Talić, and Prosecutor v. Milomir Stakić.

Judge Keebong Paek Paek studied law at Seoul National University. He obtained an LLM from Columbia Law School and a PhD from Hanyang University. He started as a Public Prosecutor for the Republic of Korea in 1992. He also served as a Deputy Director and later as a Director at the Ministry of Justice, where he was tasked with managing ICC-related matters, drafting the implementation bill for Korea's ratification of the Rome Statute, and representing the country at ICC Preparatory Commission sessions and the Kampala Review Conference.

Outside Korea, Paek also worked at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, where he played a key role in assisting Member States with the implementation of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, particularly by

enhancing law enforcement capabilities.

Following a 22-year career as a prosecutor, Paek moved into private practice in 2014, joining Kim & Chang as an attorney. He focused on law enforcement and regulatory compliance, particularly in areas such as white-collar crime, extradition, mutual legal assistance, and cross-border asset recovery. He also played a key role in helping companies develop compliance systems and carry out internal investigations.

He officially joined the ICC in March 2024.

Judge Nicolas Guillou Guillou, who hails from France, joined the ICC in March 2024. He earned a Master’s degree in International and European Criminal Law from Sorbonne University.

He started his career as an investigative judge. Before he was elected Judge of the tribunal, he worked as a Pre-Trial Judge at the Kosovo Specialist Chambers for four years.

From 2015 to 2019, he was Chef de Cabinet to the President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon, and earlier, from 2012 to 2015, he worked as a Liaison Prosecutor at the US Department of Justice, facilitating judicial cooperation in both criminal and civil cases.

Between 2006 and 2012, Judge Guillou held various roles within the French Ministry of Justice, including Deputy Head of the Commercial Law Section, Adviser on Criminal Affairs to the Minister, and Diplomatic Adviser.

He also regularly teaches and oversees training pro-

by KeishA tA-AsAN Philstar.com

BSP survey in Q1

MANILA, Philippines — Business sentiment in the Philippines turned pessimistic in March as firms braced for the impact of rising fuel costs and geopolitical tensions, even as consumer confidence showed signs of improvement, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

Results of the BSP’s Business Expectations Survey (BES) showed that the overall business confidence index for the current month dropped sharply to -24.3 percent in March from 8.2 percent in February, indicating that more firms were pessimistic than optimistic.

“Firms attributed their pessimism in March to the ongoing Middle East conflict, which had led to a sharp increase in domestic pump prices. Businesses consequently expect consumer spending to slow, as higher fuel costs are seen to feed into the prices of other basic goods and services,” the BSP said.

The outlook for the near term also deteriorated, with the three-month-ahead confidence index falling to -17.3 percent from 37.4 percent, while the 12-month outlook weakened to 11.7 percent from 51.1 percent.

Businesses likewise reported tighter financial conditions and reduced access to credit. The financial condition index declined to -24.9 percent from -15.2 percent, while the credit access index slipped further to -7.1 percent from -4.0 percent.

Despite the gloom, some firms indicated plans to proceed with expansion projects already in the pipeline, even as hiring intentions turned less favorable for both the next quarter and the year ahead.

Inflation expectations

among firms also trended higher, with respondents anticipating faster price increases in the coming months, alongside a weaker peso and higher borrowing costs.

In contrast, the BSP’s Consumer Expectations Survey (CES) showed that household sentiment improved in the first quarter, before the escalation of the Middle East conflict.

The overall consumer confidence index for the current quarter rose to -15.8 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from -22.2 percent in the previous quarter, reflecting a smaller share of pessimistic households.

“Respondents were less pessimistic in the first quarter of 2026 as they expect: higher earnings, stable jobs, new income sources and more family members joining the workforce,” the BSP said.

However, consumers turned less optimistic about the months ahead. The confidence index for the next quarter eased to 1.8 percent from 3.6 percent, while the year-ahead outlook slipped to 9.6 percent from 11.8 percent.

The BSP said the weaker outlook was driven by concerns

over “higher inflation,” alongside governance issues and perceived ineffective policies. Households also expected inflation to pick up in the near term, although expectations moderated compared with the previous survey round. The average year-ahead inflation forecast edged up to 2.7 percent from 2.6 percent but remained within the central bank’s target range.

“The BSP continues to closely monitor the impact of the Middle East conflict on domestic prices and the broader economy, and stands ready to take appropriate monetary policy action should rising oil prices lead to more persistent inflationary pressures,” the central bank said.

“To provide targeted relief, the BSP has also issued regulatory measures to enable banks to assist affected clients,” it added.

The BES was carried out from March 5 to 31, covering 515 firms nationwide. Meanwhile, the CES was conducted from Jan. 22 to Feb. 5, prior to the onset of the Middle East conflict, with a total of 5,440 households surveyed across the country. n

SC clarifies meaning of 'forthwith' in impeachment cases

by melANie UsoN Philstarlife.com

THE Supreme Court on April 29 clarified that the constitutional term "forthwith" means “within a reasonable time, which may be longer or shorter" when it comes to impeachment cases.

This ruling, in a 14-0-1 decision penned by Associate Justice Rodil V. Zalameda,

came as the Court junked a petition by former PCGG lawyer Catalino Aldea Generillo Jr., who had sought to compel the Senate to immediately convene as an impeachment court.

The Court deemed the petition moot because the Senate had already begun preparations, and the underlying Articles of Impeachment against Vice President Sara Duterte had already

been declared void in the Court's previous rulings from July 2025 and January 2026. Since no Articles of Impeachment remained, the high court noted there was "no reason to order the Senate to convene as an impeachment court."

In his original filing, Generillo argued that "forthwith" implied a level of "urgency."

10

Batangas aid dispute draws competing accounts over barangay assistance rollout

Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto calls for calm as a lawmaker alleges 84 barangays were left out of a P200,000 aid rollout, while Malacañang cites documentation issues and no official finding has been issued.

by AJPress

BATANGAS CITY, Philippines — A dispute over the distribution of barangay financial assistance in Batangas has drawn competing accounts from Batangas 1st District Rep. Leandro Leviste and national officials, with Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto urging restraint as questions over the rollout continue.

Leviste has called for an inquiry into what he described as the non-inclusion of 84 barangays in his district from the April 24 distribution of ₱200,000 in assistance per barangay. The aid was announced as part of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s “Bawat Bayan Makikinabang” activity in the province, which targets all 1,078 barangays in Batangas.

In seeking a review by the Office of the President and Congress, Leviste said the amount involved in the re-

ported non-release totals approximately ₱16.8 million. He maintained that funds intended for all barangays should be released equitably and without regard to political considerations. He also said barangay officials from the affected areas are prepared to participate in any formal inquiry.

Malacañang has rejected claims of political bias in the distribution. Palace officials have said the delay affecting some barangays was due to incomplete or pending documentation, adding that all qualified barangays are expected to receive the assistance once requirements are satisfied.

Santos-Recto, in a public statement released this week, acknowledged that her administration is navigating challenges but did not directly address each allegation. She urged constituents to remain calm and emphasized that criticism is part of governance.

“You cannot please everybody,” the governor said, adding that public service often involves balancing competing expectations.

Provincial officials have maintained that the distribution of assistance is ongoing and subject to standard administrative, accounting and auditing procedures. Leviste, for his part, has said a formal investigation is necessary to reconcile differing accounts and ensure transparency in future disbursements.

To date, no final determination has been issued by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Commission on Audit or Congress establishing discrimination, misuse of public funds or political retaliation in the Batangas aid rollout. The issue remains under review, with both sides standing by their positions while awaiting any formal findings from oversight authorities. n

Palace: Marcos trusts AFP amid NBI probe into assassination plot

by lUisA CAbAto Inquirer.net

MANILA, Philippines —

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. fully trusts the active members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) amid the National Bureau of Investigation’s (NBI) probe into an alleged hitman reportedly hired by Vice President Sara Duterte to assassinate him, according to Palace press officer Claire Castro.

This developed after NBI Director Melvin Matibag said during a House committee on justice hearing on Wednesday that the alleged hitman could be a member of the AFP.

“For the active members of the AFP, the president’s trust in them is complete. Whoever this may be that is being referred to now by the NBI Director, Atty. Matibag, as possibly part of the vice president’s security, let us just allow them to do their work, because it may not be necessary to disclose the details of their operation,” Castro said in Filipino.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. leads the commemoration of the 84th anniversary of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan on Mount Samat National Shrine, Bataan on April 9, 2026.

She also weighed in on the House justice committee’s finding of probable cause to impeach Duterte following three clarificatory hearings on the two complaints under its jurisdiction.

“That is the job of Congress. If we look at the vote, they were able to see through the hearing that took place, and evidence was presented, so their decision is based on what they witnessed,” Castro said in Filipino.

In November 2024, Duterte

SC clarifies meaning of ...

However, the SC explained that Article XI, Section 3(4) of the Constitution uses the twe to give the Senate sufficient time to prepare to convene as an impeachment court.

The Court noted that while the Constitution sets deadlines for the House, it does not impose a fixed timeframe for the Senate, leaving the upper chamber to determine the timing. Consequently, the SC found that the Senate had acted within a reasonable period.

Furthermore, the SC ruled

that mandamus, which "meant to enforce a clear legal duty," cannot be used to force the Senate, as it is a co-equal branch of government generally beyond judicial control.

Senior Associate Justice

Marvic M.V.F. Leonen agreed with the outcome of the case, saying the petition was already moot. However, he believed the impeachment court should have been convened right away and that it, not only the Senate President, should have organized itself.

said during an online press conference that she had instructed someone to assassinate Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez.

“I already talked to someone. I told the person, ‘If they kill me, kill BBM, Liza Araneta, and Martin Romualdez.’ No joke, no joke. I’ve left instructions,” Duterte said in Filipino.

The NBI subsequently issued a subpoena to Duterte, but she did not comply. n

NBI confirms Sara hired assassin to kill

President Marcos

by Ghio onG, Delon Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA, Philippines —

The National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) confirmed that Vice President Sara Duterte had contracted an assassin to carry out her threat to kill President Marcos and members of his family.

hash value will change,” Calilung said.

President and other top officials.

The 53-member House panel unanimously found probable cause in two impeachment complaints filed against Vice President Duterte this year. This decision allows the complaints to be transmitted to the House plenary, which could then endorse them for a possible impeachment trial in the Senate.

Aside from the grave threats to the first family, Duterte is also alleged to have misused P612.5 million in confidential funds, and submitted false SALN declarations. n

Get to know the judges of the ICC ...

grams for judges on international justice at the French National School for the Judiciary.

What's next?

After the Trial Chamber is formed, it will hold status conferences with the prosecution and defense teams.

Among the details to be ironed out with the case participants is the date for the commencement of the

trial. From the conferences, the chamber will also determine which procedures will allow a fair and efficient trial. Additionally, the chamber will decide on the timing and manner of disclosure of evidence.

Article 63 of the Rome Statute dictates accused persons have to be present in the courtroom during their trial.

Duterte previously waived his right to attend his confir-

mation of charges hearing in February. Duterte was also absent from the pre-trial court hearing on April 22 for the defense's appeal on jurisdiction.

The last time Duterte was seen in the ICC Pre-Trial Chamber was on March 14, 2025, two days after he was arrested at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. He appeared via video link from his detention cell at The Hague. n

Senior NBI agent Jeremy Lotoc made the confirmation in answer to questions raised by Akbayan party-list Rep. Chel Diokno during the House committee on justice impeachment hearing yesterday.

“Our investigation is ongoing, but there are people that have already been spoken to. There is an assassin,” Lotoc said.

The hearing yesterday focused on the Nov. 23, 2024 televised assassination threats made by the Vice President against President Marcos, First Lady Liza Marcos and then speaker Martin Romualdez.

The committee played the video of Duterte’s meltdown, which the NBI also authenticated.

“The authentication is verifying that the video is the same and true recording of what transpired. We are ensuring that it is not edited, spliced or AI (artificial intelligence)-generated,” NBI agent John Mark Calilung told lawmakers.

The NBI agent outlined the verification process, which included coordination with Meta Platforms to preserve the original URL, screen recording of the livestream and hash value computation to detect any alteration.

“The hash value calculation is like a fingerprint of digital file. If the video is edited, the

Meanwhile, Lotoc, who was part of a four-man NBI team that investigated the Vice President, also informed the justice committee that his team had subpoenaed Duterte twice in relation to their investigation, but she did not show up to attend to “office matters” in connection with ongoing hearings in the House of Representatives. He said in the second letter to the NBI sent by the Vice President’s lawyers, they denied that she had threatened the President, the First Lady and Romualdez.

Lotoc and other members of his team likewise confirmed that they had recommended the filing of one count of inciting to sedition and three counts of grave threats against Duterte. The case is still pending with the Department of Justice (DOJ).

“There is already a resolution but is currently pending review with the division chief, which will then be transmitted to the Prosecutor General,” DOJ spokesman Polo Martinez said in a message to reporters.

For his part, NBI director Melvin Matibag described the threat against the President as “serious.”

“Any threat against the President, and for that matter against any official, we take it seriously. And we investigate,” he told the committee.

“We have leads already. We have some personalities that are under surveillance, and we are already tailing them. We are zeroing in on several individuals already,” Matibag added.

Matibag also confirmed the creation of a task force to monitor threats against the

House senior deputy minority leader and ML party-list Rep. Leila de Lima, who endorsed the Saballa impeachment complaint, said Duterte’s videotaped threats “are one of the most serious, if not the most serious, grounds for impeaching her.”

House senior deputy majority leader and Iloilo Rep. Lorenz Defensor shared De Lima’s views, calling the Vice President’s public remarks as impeachable offenses, including her “designated survivor” statement.

According to the NBI director, Duterte went to see self-confessed bagman Ramil Madriaga in jail twice, refuting claims by the Vice President that no such visits took place.

“We have established that on two occasions, VP Duterte visited the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology in Taguig, initially trying to visit Ramil Madriaga but we were informed by Madriaga that he didn’t want it, he didn’t want to face her,” Matibag told lawmakers.

“At the same time when it happened, the other guy she visited was (former Negros Oriental congressman) Arnie Teves,” he said.

Shortly after this, Madriaga allegedly received death threats in prison.

On the subject of unexplained wealth, House justice committee chair and Batangas 2nd district Rep. Gerville Luistro reiterated that Duterte cannot hide behind the bank secrecy law, arguing that the Constitution’s demand for public accountability carries greater weight in an impeachment proceeding. n

The Reign of Bruno Mars

by AJPress

Las Vegas has crowned many kings and queens. Here is why this one is different.

His real name is Peter Gene Hernandez. He grew up in Honolulu, Hawaii, the son of a Filipino mother and a Puerto Rican father, raised on Elvis, James Brown, and the kind of music that gets into your bones before you know what music even is.

Today, a street in Las Vegas bears his stage name. A city holiday carries his name. And tens of thousands of fans cross oceans just to watch him perform for two hours on a Tuesday night. Bruno Mars did not conquer Las Vegas. He became it.

A showman built from many worlds

Bruno Mars is one of the most complete entertainers alive. He sings, writes, produces, dances, and plays multiple instruments, and on any given night he will do all of it before the first hour is up. He has won 15 Grammy Awards, including the rare sweep of Record, Song, and Album of the Year in a single night for his album 24K Magic, making him only the second solo artist in history to achieve that feat.

But the awards are almost beside the point. What Mars does on a stage is something audiences feel more than they analyze. He moves like he was born performing. He plays to the back row the same way he plays to the front. Every show feels personal, even in an arena of thousands. That is not a skill anyone can teach. It is simply who he is.

"When I first started here, I was told, 'Don't play Vegas yet. This is where acts go to retire.' But I love this city. It reminds me of home.”

A residency that became a reign

When Mars announced his Las Vegas residency in 2016, the music industry raised an eyebrow. Vegas residencies were for artists at the end of their run, a comfortable way to wind down. Mars was at the absolute peak of his career. It felt like an odd move. He proved everyone wrong. Now based at Dolby Live at Park MGM, his residency has become one of the most sought-after tickets in the city. Fans book flights and hotels around his show dates. The Strip feels different on a Bruno Mars night, fuller, louder, more electric. What started as a residency became a fixture. What became a fixture became an institution.

And he has given back every step of the way. During his April 2026 celebration, he donated one million dollars to a Las Vegas children's hospital. MGM Resorts matched it without hesitation. That is the kind of gesture that reveals a man's character, not just his talent.

The kings and queens before him and why he stands apart

Las Vegas has always had its legends. Frank Sinatra set the tone in the 1950s and 60s, suave and effortless, the blueprint for cool. Elvis Presley transformed the scale of what one performer could do for an entire city's economy. Celine Dion reinvented the residency as a world-class theatrical event. Lady Gaga proved that modern pop stars at the height of their powers belong in Vegas too.

Mars takes something from all of them and makes it his own. He carries Sinatra's polish, Elvis's command of a room, Dion's theatrical discipline, and the contemporary energy that keeps younger audiences coming back. No single predecessor fully explains him, and that

is exactly the point.

A king for the community, too

For Filipino Americans and the broader Asian Pacific community, Bruno Mars carries a quiet but powerful pride. His mother, Bernadette San Pedro Bayot, was Filipino, and that heritage lives in him through his warmth, his generosity, and his instinct to bring people together through music. He has never hidden where he came from, and for a community that does not always see itself reflected in the spotlight, that matters deeply.

Watching him ride down the Las Vegas Strip in a pink vintage lowrider, honored by an entire city, is the kind of moment worth celebrating. Not because he needed the recognition, but because one of the community's own got there, did it his way, and made everyone around him

Image from instagram/@brunomars

better for it.

BINI receives Billboard Global Force honor in Los Angeles

The P-pop group becomes the second Filipino honoree of the award, following Sarah Geronimo’s recognition in 2024.

by AJPress

LOS ANGELES — P-pop girl group BINI received the Global Force Award at the 2026 Billboard Women in Music, marking another international milestone for Filipino music following the group’s recent Coachella appearance.

Model and actress Cara Delevingne presented the award, citing the group’s global reach and growing influence.

Members Colet and Jhoanna accepted the recognition on behalf of the eight-member group. Colet described the honor as more than a milestone, saying it carries responsibility as BINI represents Filipino music on the global stage. Jhoanna thanked supporters and concluded in Filipino: “Salamat at mabuhay ang musikang Pilipino.”

Las Vegas did not make Bruno Mars royalty on April 10th. He already was. The city just finally made it official. n PAGE 12

THE

REIGN — HIGHLIGHTS

• Nearly a decade of Las Vegas residency performances, starting in 2016

• April 10, 2026 declared Bruno Mars Day by the city of Las Vegas

• Bruno Mars Drive named in the heart of the Strip, near Park MGM

• One million dollars donated to a Las Vegas children's hospital, matched by MGM Resorts

• "The Romantic Tour" launched globally from Allegiant Stadium that same evening

• Surprise Silk Sonic reunion with Anderson.Paak during the stadium show

The award was presented April 29 at the Hollywood Palladium. Billboard Philippines selected BINI as its Global Force honoree, making the group the second Filipino act to receive the distinction after Sarah Geronimo in 2024.

Filipino singer Matty Juniosa reaches Britain’s Got Talent finals after second Golden Buzzer

Former Idol Philippines finalist advances to the live final following a semifinal performance of “Dream On.”

by AJPress

LONDON — Filipino singer Matty Juniosa has secured a place in the live final of Britain’s Got TalentSeason 19 after receiving a Golden Buzzer during the April 25 semifinal broadcast, an outcome that places him among the competition’s top finalists this season.

Juniosa performed Dream On, originally recorded by Aerosmith, delivering a technically demanding vocal that drew a standing ovation from the studio audience. Judge Amanda Holden pressed the Golden Buzzer at the conclusion of the performance, advancing him directly to the final round under the show’s

Janice de Belen tells daughter Kaila

Estrada

to ‘guard your heart’

Advice comes as public attention grows over Kaila Estrada’s reported closeness with Daniel Padilla, with no confirmed statement from either actor.

by AJPress

MANILA — Actress Janice de Belen has urged her daughter, Kaila Estrada, to exercise caution in matters of the heart as speculation continues linking Estrada to actor Daniel Padilla.

In an interview with television journalist Julius Babao, de Belen said she maintains a parenting approach grounded in trust and independence, noting that her children are capable of making their own decisions. Her advice to Estrada was succinct: “Guard your heart.”

A parenting approach shaped by independence De Belen said she does not interfere in her children’s personal lives, emphasizing that Estrada, 30, is an adult. She added that her role is to guide rather than control, allowing her children to navigate relationships on their own.

The veteran actress underscored that she avoids overprotective parenting, choosing instead to foster autonomy. She said she trusts her children to make decisions that prioritize their well-being.

Renewed attention from public appearances and social media

Public interest in Estrada’s personal life intensified following recent social media activity and appearances. On April 28, Estrada shared an Instagram Story showing her and Padilla in an embrace during his birthday celebration, a post that circulated widely online.

The two actors previously worked together in the 2025 action-drama television series Incognito, establishing a professional connection that later drew public attention. They have also been seen together at events, including a concert earlier this year.

Despite these develop-

ments, neither Estrada nor Padilla has issued a formal confirmation regarding the nature of their relationship.

Padilla, who has largely kept his personal life private following his widely reported 2023 breakup with longtime partner Kathryn Bernardo, declined to define his relationship status during press interactions.

De Belen’s remarks remain the only attributable and confirmed comment directly addressing the situation, and her message, delivered without elaboration, centers on caution rather than confirmation. n

Filipino singer Matty Juniosa reaches ...

The semifinal moment follows Juniosa’s earlier audition, where Simon Cowell awarded him a Golden Buzzer for his rendition of Purple Rain by Prince. The Golden Buzzer mechanism, which allows judges to send select contestants directly to the next stage, is typically used sparingly, making multiple buzzer recognitions within a single season uncommon.

Judge feedback during the semifinal broadcast underscored the performance’s reception. Alesha Dixon described Juniosa’s delivery as a standout moment of the night, while Cowell pointed to his vocal range and stage presence in remarks following the performance.

Prior to his appearance on the UK-based program, Juniosa competed as a Top 12 fi-

JM de Guzman links ‘My Bespren Emman’ to personal recovery and faith journey

by AJPress

MANILA — Actor JM de Guzman describes his latest television project, My Bespren Emman, as closely connected to his own experiences with recovery and faith, framing the role as part of a broader effort to translate personal struggles into meaningful storytelling.

The series, airing on TV5 and produced by Numinous Narratives with Spring Films, explores themes of redemption, spiritual conflict, and second chances.

De Guzman has previously spoken in interviews about living with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, as well as his recovery from substance use. In discussing the series, he characterizes those experiences as informing his approach to the role and as a basis for encouraging conversations around mental health.

In My Bespren Emman, he plays Mateo, a man seeking to rebuild his life after past mistakes. The character is guided by Emman, portrayed by Ely Buendia, whose presence reinforces the show’s spiritual dimension.

The actor has acknowledged

the emotional demands of the role, noting that he draws from real-life experiences while maintaining boundaries during production. He has also described a recent period of personal difficulty marked by a sense of disconnection from faith, followed by a renewed focus that coincided with the project.

Across his public statements, De Guzman has con-

sistently identified faith as a stabilizing force through periods of instability. He said he hopes the series resonates with viewers navigating their own challenges. Producers position the series within a growing slate of Philippine programs addressing mental health and personal recovery, with an emphasis on accountability, healing, and the possibility of renewal. n

Viva unveils next-generation talents from showbiz families

nalist on Idol Philippines Season 1 and later performed as part of the vocal group iDolls, formed during the competition’s run. His progression to an international platform reflects a broader pattern of Filipino vocalists gaining visibility across global talent formats.

The Britain’s Got Talent final is determined primarily through public voting, with judges participating in limit-

ed circumstances depending on the program’s rules for the final round. Broadcast details for the Season 19 finale, including the confirmed slate of finalists, are released incrementally by program organizers ahead of the live show.

Juniosa is set to compete in the upcoming final against other semifinal winners, with results to be decided during the live broadcast. n

by AJPress

MANILA — Viva Artists Agency has introduced a new group of young performers drawn from well-known entertainment families, marking a generational shift as the industry adapts to streaming and digital-first platforms.

The roster includes Vito Quizon; Ashley Diaz; sisters Gabbi Ejercito and Icee Ejercito; brothers Rob Walcher and Ryan Walcher; Jac Abel-

lana; and Jaime Yllana.

Quizon is the son of Vandolph Quizon and the grandson of Alma Moreno and comedy icon Dolphy. Diaz is the daughter of Joko Diaz and granddaughter of Paquito Diaz. The Ejercito sisters are the daughters of Gary Estrada and Bernadette Allyson. The Walcher siblings are the sons of Patricia Javier and Robert Walcher. Abellana is the son of Jojo Abellana, while Yllana is the son of Anjo Yllana.

Access and expectations

The emergence of second-generation performers continues to draw attention, often framed through the term “nepo baby.” Members of the group have acknowledged that family ties may open doors, while stressing that sustained careers depend on training, discipline and audience reception.

Industry observers note that visibility alone is insufficient. Performers are ultimately assessed on range,

New VAA roster acknowledges industry access tied to legacy names while emphasizing individual merit and career sustainability. PAGE 13

BINI receives Billboard Global Force ...

PAGE 11

The recognition follows BINI’s recent performance at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which Philippine and international music outlets described as a significant breakthrough moment for the group.

BINI — composed of Aiah,

Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena — is scheduled to continue its international expansion with the “Signals” world tour. The tour is set to open with Philippine dates in June before proceeding to international stops, including the United States, Canada and

parts of Asia. The Global Force recognition places BINI among a growing list of artists cited by Billboard’s regional platforms for advancing music beyond domestic markets, reinforcing the Philippines’ expanding presence in the global pop landscape. n

Jayda Avanzado’s Katy Perry cover passes 10 million views

by AJPress

MANILA — Singer and actress Jayda Avanzado has drawn renewed online attention after her cover of Thinking of You, originally performed by Katy Perry, surpassed 10 million views across social media platforms.

The performance circulated widely online and prompted mixed reactions from viewers, including comments on vocal tone and pronunciation. Avanzado addressed the discussion with humor rather than a formal statement, posting the full version of the cover with the caption, “Ito na, nakapag-nebulizer na po,” loosely translated as, “Here it is, I’ve used the nebulizer.” She also briefly changed her profile image to a photo of herself using a nebulizer, leaning into the remark as the clip continued to gain traction.

The exchange reflects how emerging artists increasingly navigate real-time audience feedback in digital spaces, where visibility and critique often move in tandem.

Avanzado, the daughter of Original Pilipino Music (OPM) artists Jessa Zaragoza and Dingdong Avanzado, has

been building a career across recording, live performance and acting. Her recent releases and online presence have positioned her among younger Filipino performers expanding their reach through multi-platform engagement. She is also part of Project Loki, a screen adaptation of a popular Wattpad series, where she appears alongside a new generation of television actors as part of her continuing work in scripted projects.

While no formal consolidated figure has been issued by a single platform, the 10 million-view milestone reflects aggregated engagement across publicly visible posts where the cover has circulated. By responding to commentary with humor, Avanzado maintained focus on the performance while avoiding escalation, turning a moment of mixed feedback into sustained audience engagement. n

Sharon Cuneta urges Leni Robredo to reconsider 2028 run

Public appeal comes after Robredo says a national candidacy is not in her plans, even as early surveys keep her name in the 2028 conversation

by AJPress

MANILA — Actress and singer Sharon Cuneta has publicly urged Leni Robredo to reconsider a possible presidential run in 2028, adding to a growing number of appeals from supporters despite Robredo’s stated decision to remain focused on local governance.

Cuneta made the appeal through an Instagram post, asking Robredo to “please reconsider” and describing the former vice president as a figure capable of uniting different political groups. She also said she and her husband, Francis Pangilinan, would support Robredo should she decide to run. Pangilinan, Robredo’s running mate in the 2022 presidential election, returned to the Senate in 2025 following the proclamation of winning candidates by the Commission on Elections.

Robredo has said she is not seeking a national post in

2028. In an April 2026 interview, she stated that a return to national politics is “far from” her horizon, emphasizing her focus on her role as mayor of Naga City. Robredo previously served as vice president from 2016 to 2022 before returning to local office in 2025.

Early polling continues to keep her name in the national conversation. A March 2026 survey conducted by OCTA Research showed Sara Duterte leading Robredo, 46 percent to 35 percent, in a hypothetical head-to-head presidential race, with a portion of respondents remaining undecided. The survey reflects early sentiment and does not constitute an official candidate lineup.

Other public figures have echoed calls for Robredo to reconsider. Television host Vice Ganda has expressed continued support for a potential Robredo candidacy despite her stated position.

Padilla weighs retirement abroad if system remains unchanged by 2028

by AJPress

MANILA — Robin Padilla said he is considering retiring abroad and may step away from politics if the country’s system of government remains unchanged by the 2028 elections, according to remarks he made in a recent interview.

Padilla tied his political future to long-standing calls for structural reform, including proposals to change the Philippines’ form of government. He said that without such changes, he does not see a continued role for himself in the current political framework.

Padilla, whose Senate term runs through 2028, has not made a formal declaration regarding a reelection bid.

Retirement tied to reform agenda

Padilla said he has been contemplating retirement for years, noting that the idea dates back to around 2010. He indicated that his decision to remain in public service would depend on whether reforms he has advocated gain traction before the next national elections.

He added that, absent such developments, he would prioritize private life with his wife, television host Mariel Rodriguez, and their children.

Quezon City property placed on the market

Padilla also confirmed that the family’s Museo de Padilla property in Quezon City is for sale. The residence, described

as a Spanish-inspired home that has also been used for private functions, forms part of what he characterized as preparations for a possible retirement abroad.

He clarified that the sale is not intended to fund any political campaign for 2028.

Options abroad under consideration

Padilla said he and Rodriguez have explored several potential retirement locations, including Brunei, Iceland, the Netherlands and Germany.

He said Brunei was initially considered but ultimately deemed unsuitable due to climate preferences, while Iceland was described as appealing but expensive. The couple has also visited parts of Europe while assessing long-term options. No final decision has been announced.

Conditional outlook ahead of 2028

Padilla’s remarks were framed as contingent on future political developments rather than as a confirmed plan. He did not state that he will retire, leave the Philippines, or decline to run in 2028.

In a lighter exchange, he said he would prefer any property transaction to be conducted in U.S. dollars, citing personal concerns about the peso. The comment was delivered humorously and not as a formal economic position.

Padilla’s statements underscore uncertainty about his political future as the next election cycle approaches, with his continued participation in public office tied to the outcome of broader governance reforms he has supported. n

Viva unveils next-generation talents ...

consistency and their ability to adapt to evolving formats. Early projects and direction

Some of the artists have begun appearing in Viva-backed productions, including My Husband is a Mafia Boss and Hell University, with additional titles such as Project Loki in development under Viva Entertainment.

The appeals from Cuneta and other supporters underscore sustained public interest in Robredo’s political future, but remain, at this stage, expressions of support rather than formal political developments. n

No certificate of candidacy has been filed for the 2028 presidential race. Robredo’s position remains unchanged: she has said she is focused on governing Naga City and is not planning a national run at this time.

The agency’s rollout reflects a broader shift toward platform-driven content, where emerging talent is introduced through digital and streaming channels.

For this new roster, the transition from inherited recognition to individual credibility remains the defining test. n

Health @Heart Reduce your cancer risk

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

For decades, I have advocated self-help to protect and maintain our own health. I have always stated our health, possibly our longevity too, was, to a great extent, in our hands.

While I recognize that there are unmodifiable risks within us, like our genes, our gender, our world environment and its pollution, many factors are modifiable, like living a healthy lifestyle, distancing ourselves away from poisons and carcinogens, getting HPV vaccines to prevent cervical cancer, etc. These are within our control.

We know that factors such as a diet high in processed meat and low in fiber, obesity, and physical inactivity have been linked to colorectal cancer risk.

“Cessation of smoking, healthy lifestyle and obesity reduction, exercise, awareness of environmental carcinogens such as asbestos, a healthy diet reducing processed food, reduction or abstinence from alcohol intake, HPV vaccination, hepatitis B and C control, weight control, exercise, routine testing and subsequent treatment of H. pylori, and air and water pollution control, are important in cancer in reduction in both men and women, and are all part of the overall strategy to reduce the risk for cancer in general.

Healthier diet

The Planetary Health Diet (PHD) is a flexible, plant-forward eating pattern emphasizing fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, and legumes, with limited amounts of meat, dairy, and added sugars, designed for optimal human health and environmental sustainability. It's a "win-win" approach, reducing risks for major diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes while lowering greenhouse gas emissions, fertilizer use, and cropland demand, serving as a model for healthy, sustainable food systems.

The principles

Mostly Plants: Half your plate should be fruits and vegetables, with whole grains making up another third.

Plant Proteins: Focus on beans, lentils, and nuts for primary protein.

Limited Animal Products: Small portions of fish, poultry, eggs, and dairy are included, with red meat and processed meats minimized.

Healthy Fats: Prioritize unsaturated oils (olive, canola) over saturated fats.

Minimize Unhealthy Foods:

Cut back on added sugars, rice, refined grains, and starchy vegetables like potatoes.

The Philippines is an ideal country for this Planetary Health Diet because we have fresh produce daily. If desired, adding fish and seafood to this diet makes it even healthier.

The basic idea is to stay away from red meat (saturated fats), which is linked to heart disease and cancer.

Risks of GLP-1s GLP-1 drugs are generally safe, but they come with potential risks. Persistent nausea or vomiting can lead to dehydration, kidney problems, or malnutrition in some cases. People with serious gastrointestinal conditions, like gastroparesis or uncontrolled inflammatory bowel disease, should not take GLP-1 medications. And these medications are not considered safe for use during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

Other health risks include pancreatitis, gall bladder problems, thyroid tumors, and muscle loss. If you are on a GLP-1 drug, it is prudent for you to discuss this with your prescribing physician.

Beyond diabetes and weight loss, researchers are exploring other potential benefits of GLP-1 drugs. Major areas of exploration include: heart health, brain health, addiction treatment, liver disease, and sleep apnea

The most notable benefits of GLP-1 receptor agonists for patients with diabetes or obesity are their ability to promote significant weight loss, reduction in appetite, and improvement in blood sugar control. – MedPageToday.

Dancing and brain aging

In the past, we knew that creative activities can keep our brains healthy. Now studies have shown that even dancing, reading, doing video games, gardening, and playing a musical instrument can help delay brain aging. “As the population ages, more and more people live long enough to experience cognitive decline and dementia, which are very costly not only for the health system but for families and caregivers.” This new discovery will certainly be a boon to slowing down cognitive decline and dementia.

Cruciferous veggies and cancer

In a study with more than 92,000 subjects, researchers found that those who ate more cruciferous vegetables (kale, cabbage) – between 20 to 40 grams per day – had a 20 percent lower risk for colon cancer, compared to those who ate less. Those veggies contain cancer-fighting agents

like sulforaphane, indoles, glucosinolates, flavonoids, and phytochemicals. There were studies in the past that associated cruciferous vegetable consumption with reduced risk for colon, ovarian, prostate, bladder, lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancers.

Proper use of a bidet

Roughly 17 percent of people in the United States use a bidet, almost all people in Italy have a bidet, and hundreds of millions of people, especially in Asia and Europe, use one. A 2025 survey in the United States showed that more than 50 percent of bidet users would rather give up their cellphones than their bidets. The proper use of a bidet for best hygiene is to use toilet paper wipes first, followed by the use of the bidet. It is not supposed to be a substitute for toilet paper. Using a bidet, without first wiping, could be very messy and work-intensive. The use of a bidet is like the rinsing procedure after brushing teeth.

Warning about oatmeal

Oat meal is generally healthy, but since it contains gluten and phytic acid, it is an antinutrient, reducing the absorption of iron, zinc, and calcium. But these problems are easily solved by soaking oatmeal for 12 hours, with lemon juice or yogurt to get rid of the gluten and phytic acid. Cooking also gets rid of phytic acid and gluten. Fermentation even breaks them down faster. Also, adding sugar and a lot of fruits, or eating packaged ready-to-eat oatmeal in cups, is not healthy, especially for diabetics. The old-fashioned gluten-free oatmeal is healthier. *

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.

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, distinguished educators, renowned 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 n

The secrets of the blue zones

by rose Fres Fausto Philstar.com

I LOVE the thesis of the Blue Zone study because it aligns perfectly with my personal belief and advocacy about having a healthy financial life, a high FQ. Let me show you what I mean.

American explorer and National Geographic fellow, Dan Buettner, studied the lifestyles and diets of regions where people live the longest (with many centenarians) and healthiest until their last days.

These are:

1.) Ikaria, Greece

2.) Okinawa, Japan

3.) Sardinia, Italy

4.) Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica

5.) Loma Linda, California, USA

The common lifestyle habits of the Blue Zone inhabitants that Buettner calls the Power 9 are as follows:

1. Move naturally – No gyms or marathon runners but they are just nudged by their environments to constantly move without thinking.

2. Purpose – Ikigai for the Okinawans and plan de vida for the Nicoyans give them the reason to wake up in the morning.

3. Downshift – Stress management that includes praying, napping, remembering their ancestors.

4. 80% Rule – This is called hara hachi bu by the Okinawans or stop eating when 80% full.

5. Plant Slant – Plants are the cornerstone of their diet with meat taken just five times per month on average.

6. Wine @ 5 – They consume alcohol moderately, usually with friends.

7. Belong – They are members of faith-based communities.

8. Loved ones first – They put their families first, committed to a life partner, invest in their children, and care for aging parents and grandparents who live with them or nearby.

9. Right Tribe – They were born into or choose social circles that support healthy behaviors like the Okinawans’ moai (groups of five friends committed to each other for life).

Years ago, I watched Buettner’s Netflix series and read his books, and the lessons there are very similar to the main point of FQ Book 3, i.e., the power of design, the power of our environment. In one of his books, he even wrote this in the Introduction:

Years ago, I watched Buettner’s Netflix series and read his books, and the lessons there are very similar to the main point of FQ Book 3, i.e., the power of design, the power of our environment. In one of his books, he even wrote this in the Introduction:

“If you’re overweight, suffering from diabetes, heart disease, or even several kinds of cancer, it’s probably not your fault. Politicians like to shake their finger at us and tell us our health is up to us, that it’s our “individual responsibility.” I don’t buy it.”

He went on to enumerate the changes that have happened in the environment like the proliferation of fast-food restaurants, junk food, upsizing of meal portions, coupled with sedentary lifestyle, crisis of loneliness, etc.

His conclusion: People who live a long time in the Blue Zones don’t really know why they live a long time. They don’t have heroic discipline, don’t know something we don’t, and they certainly have no more “individual responsibility” than we do. Their secret: They live in an environment where the healthy choice is not only the easy choice, but often the only choice!

Choice architecture

Clearly, we see how our lives are significantly shaped by our environment. In the five Blue Zones, the residents are lucky to be in an environment where doing the right thing is not just the easier option but sometimes the only option; consequently, making them take care of their health. Our bodies are designed to move, eat certain types of food already provided by nature, embrace our human nature of being social creatures surrounded by loved ones, and live with a sense of purpose. However, our current lifestyle has become sedentary where working is usually sitting down at your desk for long hours, usually alone, eating processed food, with hardly any time for faith-based activities, and away from loved ones. This is where Choice Architecture becomes crucial.

Choice Architecture is the use of design to influence the choices that we make. The options are presented in such a way that we will easily pick the choices the architect is nudging us to make.

In the five Blue Zone areas, the main choice architect is nature.

Unfortunately, as we progressed and invented all sorts of comforts for our everyday life, we have designed our environment in such a way that the easier choices are almost always the unhealthy choices for us. I am not saying that we should totally abandon our practical present-day lifestyle, but we should at least be aware that we have the capability to do something about our environment to make it easier for us to do the right thing consistently. We don’t need to go to the boondocks to live healthier lives but we can use the power of Choice Architecture where we are right now.

As a matter of fact, Buettner

recently declared our neighbor country, Singapore, as the world’s sixth Blue Zone. Unlike the original five, which developed organically through traditions and practices that have flourished through the years, Singapore is a manufactured Blue Zone through the effective use of Choice Architecture.

Over 80% of its residents live in high-rise public apartment blocks designed to encourage interaction in playgrounds, fitness centers, community gardens, etc. Walking is encouraged and driving your own car is discouraged through their restrictive Certificate of Entitlement and the efficient public transport system. The government’s proximity housing grant (up to Sing $30,000 for married couples and half of it for singles) encourages adult children to live near their parents. This is their way of tackling the aging problem. On the nutrition aspect, their hawker centers sell various cheap and delicious meals under one roof allowing interaction, and now using “Healthier Choice” symbol, an easy-to-understand sign to denote healthier food options so that consumers can make better-informed decisions more effortlessly.

In our own immediate surroundings, let’s see what we can do to implement Choice Architecture to make it easier for us to:

1. Move naturally.

2. Live our purpose.

3. Manage our stress.

4. Stop eating at 80% full.

5. Eat more vegetables and fruits.

6. Unwind at the end of workday.

7. Belong to a local group like church or civic organization.

8. Have great relationships with our families.

9. Be in the right tribe, your inner circle or moai.

I wish you a good week of tweaking your environment and creating your own Blue Zone wherever you are right now.

In the next article, we will discuss how we can apply the secrets of the Blue Zone to our financial life.

ANNOUNCEMENT

1. Living to 100 is great, but living to 100 with peace of mind is better. Align your money habits with the Power 9 principles of purpose, tribe, and downshifting.

How healthy is your relationship with money? Find out in minutes. Take the FQ Test Now!

2. You don't need to move to Greece or Italy to find your Blue Zone. You just need to change the "Choice Architecture" of your home and heart. Start your journey toward a high-FQ life with the complete FQ Trilogy. Because a life welllived deserves a bank account that can keep up. n

FL Melania Trump at the 113th Annual First Lady’s Luncheon

My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)

MeDina

First Lady Melania Trump delivered remarks at the 113th Annual First Lady’s Luncheon held at the Washington Hilton in Washington, D.C., emphasizing initiatives focused on children and youth.

She addressed congressional spouses and highlighted programs linked to foster care reform, referencing ongoing efforts to improve outcomes for young people transitioning out of the foster system. Her remarks follow recent participation in a House Ways and Means Committee roundtable discussion on foster care policy.

The First Lady’s Luncheon, hosted annually by The Congressional Club Museum and Foundation since 1912, is a bipartisan event that recognizes the sitting First Lady and supports nonprofit organizations. This year’s gathering also marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Trump marked her 56th birthday on April 26.

ADB’s 59th Governors’ Meeting

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan has issued temporary foreign journalist accreditation to cover the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank, scheduled from May 3 to 6, 2026, in Samarkand.

This year’s theme, “Crossroads of Progress: Advancing the Region’s Connected Future,” will focus on connectivity, digital transformation, and resource mobilization for resilient growth. Events will take place at the Silk Road Samarkand complex, which includes a congress and expo center.

Organizers are also expected to present a preview of the 60th Annual Meeting, to be hosted in Nagoya, Japan, in 2027.

Red Tape Experience in the Philippines

The release of an honorarium from the Department of Trade and Industry–Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (DTI-CITEM), amounting to P78,162 and covering services rendered in December 2025, remains pending as of

late April 2026. Correspondence from March to April indicates that internal review processes, including legal and audit clearances, have contributed to delays. Updates provided through official communication channels cited ongoing documentation and compliance requirements before check release.

Follow-ups on March 26, April 13, and April 25 confirmed that the payment remained under processing, with assurances that efforts were underway to complete the remaining requirements.

Separately, compensation from Mabalacat City College for the previous academic term was released in March 2026 after several months.

Aquinas School Homecoming 2026

The author recently represented his nephew, entrepreneur Aljun Xavier Varsovia (Batch 2009), who was recognized as one of the 2026 Ten Outstanding Men of Aquinas during the Aquinas School homecoming in San Juan City.

Although having attended the institution briefly from 1969 to 1971, the author noted a continued affinity with the school’s legacy, citing its emphasis on academic discipline, faith-centered formation, and leadership.

Meeting Ynah Zimmerman for the First Time

At the Santolan MRT Station along EDSA, the author encountered members of ISDA Youth Philippines en route to an event at Club Filipino in San Juan City.

At the venue, he met Ynah Zimmerman, identified as a youth leader and content creator. Zimmerman is affiliated with ISDA Youth Philippines and has been involved in public service initiatives, including youth-related programs connected with the Office of the Vice President’s Disaster Operations Center since 2022.

She is also part of the cast of Spring in Prague, a film project produced by Borracho Films, and maintains an active presence on social media platforms where she shares professional and lifestyle content.

Birthday Greetings

Birthday greetings are extended to the following: Boy Katindig; Marites Danguilan Vitug (May 2); Dino Cruz; Star Yoo (May 3); Monica Rodriguez Herrera (May 4); UP President Angelo “Jijil” Jimenez (May 5); Ramil Cabrera; Oscar Garcia; Ellen Mondez Cruz; Philip Lum -

agbas; Brian Masigan; April Abello-Bulanadi (May 6); Rebecca Amor (May 7); Annette del Rosario; Sheilah Kalfors; Emelyn Santos (May 8); Josie Natori; Jay Ar DelRosario Sanchez (May 9); Lheng Divinagracia Gonzales (May 10).

* * * 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.

* * * rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com n