billion in Medicaid payments to California, Minnesota
Separate nationwide restriction covers new Medicare enrollment by hospice and home-health providers
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has deferred more than $1 billion in federal Medicaid reimbursements to California and Minnesota while the states provide records supporting claims questioned by federal health officials.
The Department of Health and Human Services said the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, or CMS, deferred approximately $867.5 million requested by California and $199 million requested by Minnesota after focused financial reviews. HHS said the action is a temporary payment deferral, not a permanent funding cut.
CMS is the federal agency within HHS that provides health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program and the Health Insurance Marketplace. It administers Medicare, oversees federal Medicaid funding and works with states that operate Medicaid and CHIP. CMS also establishes and U.S. passport stays among world’s strongest despite slide to No. 10
Americans can reach 180 destinations without a conventional visa in advance, but other countries have expanded access faster
The U.S. passport remains one of the world’s strongest travel documents even as its relative standing has slipped over the past two decades. The July 2026 Henley Passport Index ranks the United States 10th, with access to 180 destinations without obtaining a conventional visa before departure. When the index began in 2006, the United States shared first place with Denmark and Finland, with access to 130 destinations.
The shift does not mean Americans have lost travel access overall. U.S. passport holders can
LAS VEGAS
U.S. plans over $100 million in new assistance for Subic development
by AJPress
Sara Duterte trial turns to financial records as threat phase closes
Senate court orders selected bank, tax and anti-money-laundering documents as prosecutors prepare to present confidential-fund evidence
by AJPress
The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte moved toward financial and confidential-fund evidence after the Senate court authorized subpoenas and House prosecutors completed their presentation on allegations that she threatened President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and other officials.
California State Bar seizes Southern California legal-services operation over alleged unauthorized practice
says Filipino clients paid thousands of dollars for immigration, probate and estate-planning work
by AJPress
ARTESIA,
tice law in California, according to the State Bar’s Office of Chief Trial Counsel. The agency said he conducted business under the names Immigration Law Services and Immigration Services Law Office. The Los Angeles County Superior Court granted an ex parte interim order allowing the State Bar to assume jurisdiction over the operation. Investigators took possession of 21 boxes containing client files, a laptop and other records,
The court’s actions from July 20 to 22 were procedural and did not establish that Duterte committed any offense. She has denied wrongdoing, while her lawyers said the prosecution must prove each charge.
On July 20, the Senate partly granted requests for bank, tax and Anti-Money Laundering Council records involving Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, their joint
Senate plans to revive flood-control inquiry after Marcos address
by AJPress
MANILA — The Senate Blue Ribbon Committee plans to resume its investigation of alleged irregularities in government flood-control projects after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address on July 27, with projects in Taguig City expected to receive renewed scrutiny.
Committee Chairman Erwin Tulfo said the panel must first complete its membership when the Senate begins its second regular session. He has not announced a date for the next hearing.
Tulfo said the committee would pursue new evidence rather than repeat matters already examined by the Senate, the Office of the Om-
budsman and executive-branch investigators. Earlier proceedings examined allegations involving nonexistent or deficient projects, questionable contract awards and purported kickbacks.
Those allegations vary by project and respondent and have not all resulted in formal charges or findings of liability.
The possible Taguig inquiry follows statements by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that his team had documented at least two case studies involving projects he described as “ghost” infrastructure.
Green card applicants face broader scrutiny of public benefits under new DHS rule
Starting Sept. 18, officers may consider Medicaid, food, housing assistance and some income-based tax credits in case-by-case reviews
by AJPress
permits the government to find certain applicants inadmissible if they are considered likely at any time to become a public charge. Federal law requires officers to consider an applicant’s
China says disputed China Daily video was not a government act
Philippines filed a formal protest and demanded removal of material it condemned as racist and dehumanizing
by AJPress
MANILA — China’s Foreign Ministry said a disputed video posted by the state-run China Daily was “not an act of the government,” responding after the Philippines lodged a formal protest over material Manila condemned as demeaning and racist. Foreign Ministry spokesperson
Lin Jian gave the brief response at a July 17 news conference in Beijing. “About the video you mentioned, this is not an act of the government. I have no comment on that,” he said, according to the ministry’s official transcript.
Lin did not address the Philippine demand that the video be removed or say whether China Daily would take action. He instead repeated Beijing’s rejection of the 2016 South China Sea arbitral ruling, calling the proceedings a “political farce” and saying the award was “illegal, null and void” and had no binding force.
China Daily posted the AI-generated video on Facebook on July 10, two days before the ruling’s 10th anniversary. It showed a monkey wearing clothing resembling Filipino attire and holding a paper referring to the arbitration
The accompanying commentary mocked the award and portrayed Philippine politicians as being directed by foreign powers. The Department of Foreign Affairs said the material went beyond legitimate political debate by using demeaning, dehumanizing and racist depictions of Filipinos.
The department said Undersecretary Leo Herrera-Lim conveyed the Philippine objection to Chinese Ambassador Jing Quan on July 16 and demanded the material’s removal. The Philippines filed a diplomatic protest, while its embassy in Beijing wrote to China Daily’s editor-in-chief seeking the video’s removal and an end to similar content.
Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. also condemned the video, arguing that the resort to racist imagery reflected a failure to defend China’s maritime claims through reason, evidence or law. That was Teodoro’s assessment; China’s Foreign Ministry said the
Lacson also questioned P6.79 billion in items he characterized as additions to the 2025 national budget, including P2.085 billion award. Arms marked “USA” and “Japan” directed the character before throwing it into the sea, where it was blasted by the water cannon of a vessel resembling a Chinese coast guard ship.
4701 W. Russell Rd., Pagitan ng S. Decatur Blvd. at Arville St. Okt. 17-18 (Sab.-Lin.)...........................9nu-6ng
Clark County Library
1401 E. Flamingo Rd. / Escondido St.
Coleman Senior Center
2100 Bonnie Ln. / E. Lake Mead Blvd.
College of Southern Nevada, Henderson Campus
Student Union, 700 College Dr. / Heather Dr.
Araw ng Halalan Sentro ng mga Botohan /Koreong Balota mga Lokasyon ng Paghuhulugan para sa Araw ng Pangkalahatang Halalan, Martes, Nobyembre 3, 2026 Bumoto mula 7:00 nu hanggang 7:00 ng
Ang lahat ng mga Sentro ng Botohan ay magiging lokasyon din ng paghuhulugan ng koreong balota, mula 7:00 nu hanggang 7:00 ng
Piliin ang pinakamalapit na lokasyon para sa iyo sa Araw ng Halalan, kahit saan ka man naninirahan sa County. Gamitin ang naka tiklop na mapa sa iyong halimbawang balota at ang listahan ng mahigit na 100 sentro ng botohan. Sa Araw ng Halalan, bisitahin ang www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/vote para sa interaktibong mapa na makakatulong sa iyo para hanapin ang mga magkakalapit na sentro ng botohan.
KAGANAPAN SA MGA TENT: Hanapin ang SENTRO NG BOTOHAN NA KAGANAPAN SA TENT sa mga lugar ng parking lot mayroong asterisk (*).
Okt. 19 (Lun.) .........................................9nu-6ng College of Southern Nevada, North Las Vegas Campus Student Union, 3200 E. Cheyenne Ave. / Campus Dr.
College of Southern Nevada, West Charleston Campus Student Union, 6375 W. Charleston Blvd. / Community College Dr. Okt.22 (Huw.).........................................9nu-6ng
Debra March Center of Excellence 2200 Via Inspirada / Via Nobila
Ang Pagboto o pagtangkang bumoto nang mahigit sa isang beses sa magkaparehong halalan ay isang krimen (felony). (NRS 293.780)
86 Nellis
87
88
89
133
134
135
136
Ang mga sumusunod na pagbabago sa mga Sentro ng Botohan ay ginawa para sa 2026 na ikinumpara sa 2024 at sa 2026 Pangunahing Halalan.
HINDI MAAARING GAMITIN SA 2026 PANGKALAHATANG HALALAN
• Bailey, William H. Middle School
• Clark County Building Department-CCBD (ginamit para sa Araw ng Halalan noong 2026 Pangunahing ngunit hindi gagamitin sa Araw ng Halalan ngayong 2026 Pangkalahatang Halalan)
• Clark County Fairgrounds
• Deer Springs Town Center
• Webb, Del E. Middle School (ginamit para sa Araw ng Halalan noong 2026 Pangunahing ngunit hindi gagamitin sa Araw ng Halalan ngayong 2026 Pangkalahatang Halalan)
• French, Doris Elementary School
• Galloway, Fay Elementary School
• Historic Fifth Street School
• King, Martha P. Elementary School
• Mirabelli Community Center
• Moapa Recreation and Community Center (hindi nagbago ang address ngunit ang pangalan ng lokasyon ay pinangalanan na Moapa Justice Court)
• O’Callaghan, Mike Middle School
• Reed, Doris Elementary School
• Silverado Ranch Park (para sa 2026 Pangunahing Halalan ang lokasyon ay ginawa sa tent sa Silverado Ranch Park at para sa 2026 Pangkalahatang Halalan ay gaganapin sa Silverado Ranch Community Center building)
• Solera at Anthem Community Center
• UNLV Lied Library (ang UNLV Araw ng Halalan na lokasyon ay gaganapin sa Student Union sa 2026 Pangkalahatang Halalan)
U.S. plans over $100 million...
PAGE 1
and related gatherings.
The State Department’s public account did not identify the individual Subic projects, specify how the proposed assistance would be allocated or provide a timetable for making the money available. The announcement therefore represents a U.S. commitment being pursued with Congress; it does not establish that the full amount has been released or that projects supported by the new assistance have entered construction.
Subic is one of the principal points along the Luzon Economic Corridor, together with Clark, Metro Manila and Batangas. The Philippines, the United States and Japan launched the initiative in 2024 to improve connectivity and encourage investment in transportation, ports, clean energy, semiconductor supply chains and other strategic industries.
The State Department said Marcos and Rubio also looked ahead to the corridor’s first investment forum in September. Their meeting did not produce a public list of forum participants, prospective investments or projects ready for financing.
The two officials also discussed Pax Silica, a U.S.-led partnership intended to secure technology supply chains and reduce vulnerable dependence on a limited number of suppliers.
Pax Silica extends beyond artificial intelligence. It covers critical minerals used in electronics and batteries, semiconductors and electronic components, advanced manufacturing, AI computing systems, data centers and other digital infrastructure.
Plans for the Philippine site have also included semiconductor
fabrication facilities, critical-minerals processing plants and advanced research facilities.
The Philippines signed the Pax Silica declaration in Washington on April 16, which was April 17 in Manila, becoming the initiative’s 13th signatory. The coalition has since expanded, so the figure describes the Philippines’ order of entry rather than its current membership.
Under plans announced in April, the two governments identified a proposed 4,000-acre, or approximately 1,620-hectare, economic security zone in New Clark City, Tarlac.
Officials have described the development as a platform for semiconductor fabrication, electronics, AI infrastructure, data centers, critical-minerals processing and other advanced manufacturing.
The project remains under development.
Neither government has publicly announced a final operating agreement, a complete financing package, confirmed tenants or a construction timetable. The Bases Conversion and Development Authority said in April that it was assessing whether a contiguous site of the required size was available.
Government officials have reported substantial corporate interest in the project. Such interest, site visits and preliminary discussions should not be presented as binding investment commitments unless companies announce signed agreements, committed financing or construction plans.
Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, who attended the meeting, said Marcos was pleased with the progress of the Luzon corridor and Pax Silica and believed the
initiatives could help the Philippine economy and strengthen economic security.
Official projections of new factories, employment and technology investment remain contingent on final agreements, infrastructure, energy supply, investor decisions and implementation.
Amid concerns raised by some groups about sovereignty, water use, environmental effects and possible displacement, Malacañang said any agreement would comply with Philippine law and protect national interests, the environment and host communities.
Those assurances are government commitments; they do not establish that every regulatory, environmental or land-use question has been resolved.
The meeting also addressed the Philippine-U.S. alliance and the South China Sea. According to the State Department, Marcos and Rubio underscored the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight and noted the 10th anniversary of the July 2016 arbitral ruling rejecting the legal basis for China’s expansive maritime claims.
China has refused to recognize the decision.
The Philippines and the United States are marking 80 years of diplomatic relations and 75 years since the signing of their Mutual Defense Treaty.
The latest announcements demonstrate continued high-level support for the Luzon Economic Corridor and the proposed Clark zone. Their progress will ultimately be measured by congressional funding, completed agreements, identified projects, committed investors and construction schedules. (AJPress)
U.S. passport stays among world’s strongest...
PAGE 1
enter 50 more destinations without a prior visa than they could 20 years ago. The lower ranking reflects faster gains by other countries.
Singapore leads the ranking with access to 192 destinations. Japan, South Korea and the United Arab Emirates share second place with 188. The UAE posted the largest 20-year increase, adding 153 destinations and rising from 62nd place in 2006.
Henley & Partners, a private advisory firm, compiles the index using International Air Transport Association data and additional research. It evaluates 199 passports against 227 destinations.
The index uses “visa-free” broadly. It includes destinations requiring no visa, issuing visas or permits upon arrival, or requiring an electronic travel authorization. It excludes electronic visas that require a separate application and government approval before departure.
The ranking measures travel convenience, not a guaranteed right of entry. Travelers may still face passport-validity rules, fees, proof-of-funds requirements, limits on the duration of a visit or other entry conditions. Border authorities retain final authority over admission.
The index also does not measure consular assistance, passport security or rights granted after arrival. Nor does the 20-year trend establish that any single U.S. administration caused the change. The ranking instead reflects the growing importance of visa-waiver agreements, diplomatic negotiations and reciprocal travel policies. While the United States remains in the global top tier, other governments have expanded travel privileges for their citizens more rapidly. Travelers should verify current requirements with official government or embassy sources before departure because entry policies can change independently of passport rankings. (AJPress)
China says disputed China Daily video...
PAGE 1
video was not a government act.
The dispute centers on a July 12, 2016, award issued by an arbitral tribunal constituted under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Philippines initiated the case in 2013. China rejected the tribunal’s jurisdiction, declined to participate and has never accepted the ruling. The tribunal found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within sea areas covered by its “nine-dash line” when those claims exceeded the maritime entitlements allowed by the convention. It also found that China had violated Philippine sovereign rights in parts of the country’s exclusive economic zone. The tribunal did not decide sovereignty over islands or draw a maritime boundary. Under the convention, the award is final and binding on the parties. The Philippines continues to treat it as a central legal foundation for its maritime position, while China continues to reject it. n
Green card applicants face broader scrutiny...
PAGE 1
age, health, family status, assets and financial resources, education and skills. A required affidavit of support may also be considered.
Under the 2022 regulation, officers generally assessed whether an applicant was likely to become primarily dependent on government support. The review largely covered cash assistance for income maintenance and government-funded long-term institutional care. Most noncash benefits, including most Medicaid coverage, food assistance and housing programs, were excluded.
The new rule removes that narrower definition and does not establish a detailed replacement formula. Beginning Sept. 18, officers may consider whether an applicant applied for, was approved or certified for, or received any means-tested public benefit.
DHS defines that category as government-funded assistance for which eligibility or the amount received depends on income, resources or financial need. The department declined to issue an exhaustive list.
Programs potentially subject to consideration include Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, food and nutrition assistance, federal housing aid and certain income-based tax credits. Such benefits may be considered when received or sought by the applicant, subject to limited exceptions involving household support.
Non-means-tested or earned
benefits — including employment-based Social Security, government pensions, unemployment insurance and veterans’ benefits — will not be considered.
Applying for or receiving assistance will not automatically result
in denial. Officers must make an individualized, forward-looking decision based on the totality of the applicant’s circumstances.
DHS said officers may examine the nature, amount and duration of assistance; how recently it was received; why it was needed; and whether the underlying condition is likely to continue. Employment, income, health, education, job prospects, financial sponsorship and other evidence may also be weighed.
Benefits previously excluded under the 2022 rule generally will be considered under the broader policy only if received on or after Sept. 18.
Benefits received by an applicant’s child, spouse or other relative generally will not be counted as benefits received by the applicant. A relative’s assistance may become relevant if it supports the applicant or if the applicant is legally obligated to support a family member whose eligibility reflects the applicant’s income. The rule does not change eligibility for government programs and does not create a public-charge test for citizenship. Congress has exempted several categories, including refugees, asylees and certain survivors of trafficking, qualifying crimes or domestic violence. The regulation governs DHS decisions, including green-card applications filed within the United States and admission decisions at ports of entry. It does not govern visa decisions made by the State Department at U.S. embassies and consulates.
DHS said the rescission restores officer discretion and better reflects federal policy favoring self-sufficiency. The rule is not an exact revival of the 2019 regulation, which listed specified bene-
fits and used a numerical threshold tied to months of benefit receipt. The chairs of four Democratic congressional caucuses criticized the change, saying broader officer discretion could produce inconsistent decisions and discourage immigrant families from using health, food and housing programs for which they remain eligible.
The statement came from Reps. Grace Meng, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat and Teresa Leger Fernández, who lead the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Democratic Women’s Caucus, respectively.
They warned of a chilling effect among mixed-status households, including families with U.S. citizen children.
A 2020 Urban Institute survey found that 15.6 percent of adults in immigrant families reported that they or a family member avoided a noncash benefit in 2019 because of green-card concerns. The rate was 26.2 percent among adults in low-income immigrant families. The caucuses said nearly half of immigrants in low-income families had avoided or dropped benefits. The survey’s “nearly half” finding instead referred to respondents already reporting avoidance whose families stayed away from Medicaid, CHIP or food assistance. DHS acknowledged that confusion could cause eligible people, including some not subject to the test, to avoid assistance. The department estimated that reduced participation could lower federal and state benefit transfers by about $13.05 billion annually, while noting that the figure is an estimate rather than a confirmed outcome. The 2022 regulation remains in effect until Sept. 18.
Senate plans to revive flood-control...
for slope-protection and drainage projects.
The figures and allegations were presented by Lacson and have not been adopted as findings by the Blue Ribbon Committee, prosecutors or the courts.
Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has denied knowledge of any ghost flood-control project in Taguig. He said projects had been inspected and urged investigators to examine projects in other cities rather than focus exclusively on Taguig.
Former Taguig mayor Lino Cayetano, Alan Peter Cayetano’s brother and the current general manager of government broadcaster PTV, has separately called for an investigation of about P6 billion in flood-control and other infrastructure projects implemented in Taguig from 2022 through 2025.
Tulfo said Lino Cayetano and other resource persons could be invited when hearings resume.
The National Bureau of Investigation has opened a separate in-
quiry into 11 Taguig flood-control projects implemented in 2022. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said the projects were being examined for possible connections to some of the 15 contractors identified during the administration’s nationwide review of flood-control spending.
Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said the Justice Department did not direct the inquiry and that the NBI was acting under its own investigative authority. Vida said any complaint eventually submitted to prosecutors would be evaluated on the evidence.
An investigation does not establish that a project was fictitious or that an official, contractor or other person committed an offense.
The Taguig dispute is part of a wider examination of the government’s flood-mitigation program.
In August 2025, the Marcos administration said its review covered 9,855 projects worth about P545.64 billion undertaken from July 2022 through May 2025. Marcos said about P100 billion —
roughly one-fifth of the total — had gone to 15 contractors.
The concentration of contracts prompted reviews of procurement, project completion and construction quality. The Senate conducted hearings while the administration created the Independent Commission for Infrastructure to gather information and refer evidence to the appropriate authorities.
Malacañang said this month that the commission had submitted an accomplishment report but that investigations and case-building by government agencies were continuing.
The resumed Senate proceedings would be conducted in aid of legislation and congressional oversight. Any determination of criminal or administrative liability would remain with prosecutors, the Ombudsman and the courts, where accused parties would have the opportunity to answer the allegations.
The committee’s hearing schedule, witness list and final scope have not been announced. n
Federal government defers more than $1 billion...
enforces federal requirements for many health plans and health care providers.
In California, CMS reviewed claims involving certain in-home care programs after identifying spending growth that the agency said far exceeded national trends. It also questioned other claims requiring additional documentation. The federal announcement did not identify every program or provide a claim-by-claim accounting.
In Minnesota, CMS reviewed claims across 14 service areas described as high risk. HHS said the questioned expenditures included claims linked to providers flagged through program-integrity reviews and other claims with potential eligibility or billing concerns. The agency did not identify the providers or announce findings of wrongdoing against them.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. described the action as a response to suspected fraud and noncompliance. CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz cited data anomalies and billing patterns the agency considered questionable. Federal officials, however, did not publicly release claim-level evidence or completed findings establishing fraud.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said the action was politically motivated. Minnesota’s Medicaid director said the federal government had not provided data explaining how the state’s amount was calculated. Oz said Minnesota had submitted documents that CMS was reviewing.
The Medicaid deferrals are separate from a six-month nationwide moratorium CMS imposed May 13 on initial Medicare enrollment
applications from hospices and home-health agencies. The restriction also applies to certain nonexempt changes in majority ownership. Applications covered by the moratorium will be denied while it remains in effect, but existing Medicare enrollments are not affected and enrolled providers may continue serving beneficiaries.
Federal regulations generally give states 60 days to submit requested records, or 120 days if an extension is requested. Once all documentation is available in reviewable form, CMS has 90 days to determine whether a claim is allowable. If the review is not completed within that period, CMS must pay the claim, subject to possible later disallowance.
The deferrals do not by themselves terminate Medicaid eligibility or individual benefits in either affected state. (AJPress)
Sara Duterte trial turns to financial records...
PAGE 1
accounts, the Carpio Lawyers partnership and 19 corporations.
The order covered peso-denominated accounts. Foreign-currency deposits were excluded under confidentiality protections. Requests involving two companies were rejected for lack of a sufficient preliminary connection to Duterte or the charges.
Tax records from 2007 to 2021 were authorized only to establish a financial baseline for evaluating Duterte’s assets, transactions and interests during her term. The court said older records could not be used to introduce allegations outside the articles of impeachment.
Tax disclosures remain subject to statutory confidentiality rules. The Carpio Lawyers subpoena also remains subject to attorney-client privilege claims, although the court rejected a blanket claim.
The AMLC was directed to submit records July 30 for private review by Francis Escudero, who will decide what may be disclosed or admitted.
The records are sought mainly under Article II, which accuses Duterte of unexplained wealth and financial interests allegedly inconsistent with her lawful income. The accusations remain unproved, and the subpoenas do not confirm them.
The trial returned July 21 to Article IV, arising from Duterte’s remarks during a November 2024 online news conference. She said she had instructed someone to kill Marcos, first lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-House speaker Martin Romualdez if she herself were killed. Duterte later said the remarks were taken out of context and did not constitute an active threat.
National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag testified that the bureau had formed a task force to identify the person Duterte said she contacted. Asked whether she had spoken to someone, Matibag said he was “100 percent” certain, citing her statement. That was his assessment, not a court finding.
Matibag acknowledged that the NBI had not identified the person. On July 22, he said investigators had narrowed their inquiry to fewer than 20 persons of interest, some active uniformed personnel or members
of Duterte’s security detail. No names were disclosed in open court. His testimony did not establish that any unnamed individual had been charged or found responsible for a crime. A person of interest is an investigative designation, not a finding of culpability.
The defense questioned Matibag’s conclusions and noted that the investigation began before he became NBI director. Duterte’s lawyers characterized portions of his testimony as hearsay and argued that her remarks should be considered in full context.
After Matibag completed his testimony, prosecutors rested under Article IV. The court did not rule on whether the evidence proved the charge.
The prosecution is scheduled to shift to Article I when the trial resumes July 29. That article alleges irregularities in the use and liquidation of confidential funds by the Office of the Vice President and, previously, the Department of Education.
Former LandBank branch managers Violeta Constantino and Nenita Camposano have been ordered to appear regarding banking records tied to confidential-fund transactions. Their testimony and the records would not, by themselves, establish unlawful spending.
Duterte was abroad under travel authority covering July 16 to 31. Her office said the itinerary included official foreign travel and personal engagements and that she would not use government funds. Her lawyers represented her.
After Matibag said some persons of interest were connected to the uniformed services, Malacañang said Marcos retained confidence in the military and that no loyalty check was underway. The statement did not confirm military involvement in any alleged plan.
The House impeached Duterte on May 11 under four articles involving alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth and financial interests, bribery or corruption, and threats against senior officials.
Conviction on any article requires at least 16 votes in the 24-member Senate. Until the impeachment court reaches judgment, the charges remain allegations. n
California State Bar seizes Southern California...
PAGE 1
including a client’s passport.
The interim civil order allowed the State Bar to secure client records while the matter proceeds. It is not a criminal conviction or a final judicial determination of the allegations against Alamarez.
According to the State Bar, Alamarez worked in the office of a licensed attorney before that lawyer died. The agency said Alamarez then persuaded the attorney’s daughter, who is also a lawyer, to return from outside California and take over the practice.
The daughter began working at the office in January 2025 and later complained to the State Bar after concluding that Alamarez had engaged in what the agency described as widespread and long-standing unauthorized practice of law.
The State Bar alleges that Alamarez continued offering legal services after the daughter and other licensed attorneys ended their professional relationships with him.
Investigators said he presented himself to clients as an attorney and encouraged some of them to address him as one.
Some clients knew Alamarez as the pastor at their church, where the State Bar said he recruited them for legal services. Complaints and witness statements indicated that Filipino clients believed he
was a licensed attorney. The agency said he communicated with some clients in Tagalog. In one case described by the State Bar, a client reported paying $4,275 for the preparation and filing of immigration documents, including Forms I-485 and I-130 and a work-authorization application. The client later discovered that the I-485 application had not been filed, according to the agency. When it was eventually submitted, the State Bar said, it was rejected for multiple errors, including missing signatures and unpaid fees.
Another client reported paying $46,750 for probate and estate-planning services, including a durable power of attorney, irrevocable trust and last will that allegedly were never completed.
The State Bar alleges that Alamarez told the client that a $25,000 check had bounced. The client then gave him $20,000 in cash but later learned that the original check had been cashed, according to the agency. Required filings in the probate matter also allegedly were not made.
The allegations involving the clients’ payments and legal matters are based on complaints, witness statements and evidence presented by the State Bar. They have not been resolved through a final judgment. Investigators also documented
storefront signage displaying the name of another California attorney. That lawyer told investigators he had never maintained an office at the location and had not authorized Alamarez to use his name, the State Bar said.
“This matter reflects a complex and troubling series of events involving unauthorized practice of law both inside a licensed attorney’s office and after multiple licensed attorneys severed ties with Mr. Alamarez,” State Bar Chief Trial Counsel George Cardona said.
Calls placed by Asian Journal to the telephone number listed for the Artesia office were not answered as of press time. Asian Journal also found no publicly accessible court filing identifying an attorney representing Alamarez in the State Bar proceeding.
Former clients seeking their records may call the State Bar at 213-765-1594. The agency said there is no charge to file an unauthorized-practice complaint, U.S. citizenship is not required and complainants will not be asked about their citizenship or immigration status.
Complaint forms are available in several languages, including Tagalog. The State Bar advises consumers to verify a lawyer’s licensing status through its official attorney-profile system before paying for legal representation. n
Notice of Class Action Settlement
Authorized by the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York — Notice of Class Action Settlement —
Si desea leer este aviso en español, llámenos o visite nuestro sitio web.
TO: All merchants in the U.S. who accepted Visa or Mastercard credit or debit cards at any time since December 18, 2020.
This notice (“Notice”) is authorized by the Court to inform you about an agreement to settle the equitable relief claims in a class action lawsuit, called In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, No. 05-md-01720 (BMC)(JAM)(E.D.N.Y.). The lawsuit claims that Visa and Mastercard, separately, and together with certain banks, violated antitrust laws and caused merchants to pay excessive fees for accepting Visa and Mastercard credit and debit cards, including by adopting interchange rules and rates, and other network rules, which the lawsuit has claimed constituted unlawful price fixing, unreasonable restraints of trade, and monopolization.
The defendants say they did nothing wrong. They maintain that their business practices are legal, justified, and the result of independent competition, and have benefitted both merchants and consumers. The Court has not decided who is right because the parties agreed to a settlement, which was preliminarily approved by the Court on June 9, 2026.
A. What Merchants Will Get from the Settlement
During the lawsuit, the Court previously certified an Equitable Relief Class under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23(b)(2) and has now preliminarily approved a settlement of the Class claims (the “Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement” or “Settlement”). Under the Settlement, Visa and Mastercard have agreed to substantive changes to the Visa and Mastercard rules applicable to merchants who accept their cards as a form of payment.
The Class includes all persons, businesses, and entities that accept any Visa-Branded Cards and/or Mastercard-Branded Cards in the United States at any time during the period between December 18, 2020 and the date of preliminary settlement approval, or June 9, 2026. The Court has set November 16, 2026 as the date for a final approval and fairness hearing (the “Fairness Hearing”) in connection with the Settlement, after members of the Class have had the opportunity to evaluate the Settlement and exercise their rights, as set forth in the Notice. Further information regarding the Settlement and the Fairness Hearing will be posted on www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com.
Under the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement, Mastercard and Visa will modify certain rules to preserve, establish, or expand the circumstances in which merchants can, among other things, do the following:
• Decline acceptance of Visa- or Mastercard-Branded Commercial Credit Cards and/or Premium Consumer Credit Cards.
• Surcharge customers a fee for the use of any Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, including based on the type of card used (e.g., a different surcharge for rewards and non-rewards cards).
• Offer discounts to customers who do not pay with Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards, or based on the financial institution that issued the Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Card.
• Decline acceptance of Visa or Mastercard-Branded Cards at all outlets that operate under the same trade name or banner, even if that merchant accepts those same cards at outlets that operate under a different trade name or banner.
• Engage in Pilot Programs whereby they accept Visa or Mastercard-Branded Credit Cards at some but not all outlets operating under the same trade name or banner for a limited duration or test out various acceptance, surcharging and discounting options at some but not all outlets operating under the same trade name or banner, including not accepting Commercial or Premium Consumer Credit Cards, for a limited duration.
• Accept some digital wallets at brick-and-mortar locations but decline others and enable some digital wallets for on-line transactions but not enable others, and “steer” among the cards within a digital wallet under the same rules that govern steering among traditional cards.
Receive the benefit of credit interchange rate reductions: Visa and Mastercard will reduce published and negotiated Credit Card interchange rates for U.S. merchants.
Receive the benefit of Credit Card interchange rate caps: The Settlement Agreement reduces and caps “Standard” Consumer Credit Card rates at a specified level and otherwise caps Credit Card interchange rates, such that neither Visa nor Mastercard will increase any of its published Credit Card interchange rates above the rates effective as of March 31, 2025 and each will reduce its network-wide average Credit Card interchange rate to or below the specified level.
Form Merchant Buying Groups that meet certain criteria to negotiate with Visa and Mastercard.
Receive access to a Merchant Education Program, established and administered under the Settlement Agreement, to help understand and maximize the benefits of the rule changes, including how to effectively “steer” in States that restrict surcharging.
B. Monetary Aspects of the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement
There is no monetary payment to members of the Class in this Settlement. This Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement concerns only the Equitable Relief Claims set forth in the lawsuit. Claims for monetary damages arising out of the defendants’ alleged antitrust violations are the subject of a separate settlement for the Rule 23(b)(3) Class. For information concerning the separate Rule 23(b)(3) Cash Settlement Class, please visit the website: www.PaymentCardSettlement.com
The Settlement does provide for Visa and Mastercard to make certain payments into the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement Escrow Account, which money will be used to pay:
• The cost of settlement administration and notice, as approved by the Court,
• The cost of Merchant Education Program expenses, as approved by the Court,
• The cost of an Independent Auditor who will ensure that Visa and Mastercard comply with the credit card interchange-rate reduction commitments, and
• Attorneys’ fees and expenses, including any named Class Representative service awards, as approved by the Court.
The money in this fund will be distributed only if the Court grants final approval of the Settlement, and the money for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards to Class Representatives, will be distributed only if the Settlement has become final and all appeals are exhausted, and the Court approves the application for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and Class Representatives’ service awards. Attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards to the Class Representatives: For work done through final approval of the Settlement by the Court, as well as any work they will be required to do in the future, Class Counsel will ask the Court for attorneys’ fees and reimbursement of reasonable and necessary litigation expenses, and any service awards to the named Class Representatives that the Court may award, in an amount not to exceed $206,000,000. The Settlement Agreement requires Visa and Mastercard to pay these fees and expenses separately from the other Settlement financial obligations and they will not reduce any other benefits of the Settlement; members of the Class will not be required to pay any amount toward these fees and expenses.
C. Legal Rights and Options
Merchants who are included in this lawsuit have the legal right to Object to the Settlement. The deadline to object is: September 14, 2026. To learn how to object, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713.
Note: You cannot elect to be excluded from the Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement. For more information about these rights and options, visit: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com or call toll-free: 877-318-7713.
D. If the Court Grants Final Approval of the Settlement
If the Court grants final approval to the Settlement, members of the Rule 23(b)(2) Class will be bound by the terms of the Settlement and will release all claims against all released parties listed in the Settlement Agreement. The Settlement will resolve and release any claims by payment card acceptors against Visa, Mastercard and other defendants that were or could have been alleged in the lawsuit, including any claims based on interchange or other fees, no-surcharge rules, no-discounting rules, honor-all-cards rules, and any other network rules. The Settlement will also resolve any payment card acceptor claims based upon the future effect of any Visa or Mastercard rules as they were or are in place on December 18, 2020 and up to the Settlement Final Date (as defined in the Settlement Agreement), the modified rules provided for in the Settlement, or any other rules substantially similar to those rules. The release will not bar claims involving certain specified standard commercial disputes arising in the ordinary course of business.
For more information on the release, see the Superseding and Amended Rule 23(b)(2) Class Settlement Agreement at: www.InterchangeEquitableReliefSettlement.com.
E. The Court Hearing About This Settlement
On November 16, 2026 at 11:00 am ET, the Court will hold a hearing to decide whether to approve the proposed Settlement, Class Counsel’s request for attorneys’ fees and expenses, and service awards for the named Class Representatives. The hearing will take place at: United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan 225 Cadman Plaza East Brooklyn, NY 11201
You do not have to attend the Court hearing or hire an attorney, though you may do either at your own expense. The Court appointed the law firms of Hilliard Shadowen LLP; Grant & Eisenhofer P.A.; Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC; and Nussbaum Law Group, P.C. to represent the Class (“Class Counsel”).
F. Questions?
For more information about this case (In re Payment Card Interchange Fee and Merchant Discount Antitrust Litigation, MDL 1720), you may: Call
FeAtures OPiniOn
ASEAN’s credibility now depends on implementation
THE Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, is the 11-member organization comprising Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam. Founded in 1967, it represents more than 680 million people and an economy approaching $4 trillion.
ASEAN matters because many of Southeast Asia’s urgent problems do not stop at national borders. Maritime disputes, energy disruptions, natural disasters, cybercrime, trafficking, trade barriers and supply-chain shocks require cooperation among governments with differing interests. ASEAN provides a central platform where Southeast Asian states meet China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, the European Union and other partners.
Editorial
Under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together,” the Philippines has organized its chairmanship around Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors and People Empowerment. ASEAN ministers have also committed to implementing “ASEAN 2045: Our Shared Future.” The standard is not whether disputes can be resolved in one year, but whether member states can show progress where they have agreed to cooperate.
That role was on display in Manila this week as foreign ministers and representatives gathered for the 59th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and related sessions running from July 21 through July 24 under the Philippines’ 2026 chairmanship.
ASEAN’s convening power is valuable. Dialogue can preserve communication, reduce misunderstanding and identify agreement. But meetings and communiqués cannot be the sole measure of the organization’s effectiveness. Its credibility increasingly depends on whether commitments produce measurable results.
babe’s eye view
I represented the Philippines at the “Ministerial on the Resurgence of Political Terrorism” – a very well-attended summit hosted by US State Secretary Marco Rubio at the State Department with political leaders, diplomats, law enforcement officials and experts from over 65 countries who recognize the serious and growing danger posed by politically motivated terrorism not only on institutions but the people themselves and even their way of life.
During the high-level discussion on “Best Practices, Information Sharing and Operational Cooperation to Counter Far Left Terrorism” where I was a panelist, I had the opportunity to share the Philippines’ experience in dealing with one of Asia’s longest-running communist insurgencies led by the Communist Party of the Philippines and its armed wing, the New People’s Army – an entity that has been designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the United States and the European Union.
For more than five decades, many Filipinos have suffered from atrocities committed by
FOR a period of 22 months beginning next month, July 2026, the Philippines will go through three very important consecutive events that will be crucial in setting the course of our country’s political future. That’s a lightning-fast period of less than two years in our country’s political life. Each of these three events will result in earthshaking consequences for our nation.
On July 6, 2026, the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte in the Senate will begin. Judging by our history of impeachment trials, there’s a chance that it could be completed with a decision in less than five months, or by November 2026.
On Nov. 30, 2026, the International Criminal Court trial of former President Rodrigo Duterte will commence, and by the optimistic forecasts of ICC experts,
The South China Sea is one such area. ASEAN cannot settle overlapping territorial and maritime claims by itself, but it can strengthen safeguards intended to prevent an encounter at sea from becoming a larger confrontation.
ASEAN member states and China continue to negotiate a Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. Its value will depend on whether the provisions are clear, consistent with international law and supported by credible implementation and review procedures. While negotiations continue, ASEAN should pursue crisis hotlines, designated contacts among maritime agencies, prompt noti-
Confronting political terrorism: A global menace
this terrorist group. But while its armed capabilities have been substantially weakened through several initiatives that include sustained security operations, development in conflict-affected communities, reintegration of former rebels and other programs wherein significant progress have been made, the focus should extend beyond developments in remote areas of the country because the communist threat has evolved over the years and has taken on transnational dimensions.
Simply put, the line between local insurgency and international terrorism has been blurred, with activities no longer limited by geographic boundaries and territorial borders because of modern communications technology and cyberspace, giving malign actors global reach and allowing them to engage in recruitment (not only of locals but even foreign citizens), financing, facilitation, propaganda and other activities, with their support networks operating across jurisdictions.
For instance, one country may undertake the recruitment, another may take care of travel preparations, while another may handle financing. This was
exactly the point made by Secretary Rubio in his keynote address: “Today’s far-left terrorists can raise money in one country; they can host their communications in a second country; they can receive training in a third country; they can recruit militants in a fourth country and then together strike a target in a fifth country.”
This reality therefore leaves us with these important questions: How are individuals in one country drawn toward an armed terrorist organization operating in another? What networks facilitate their recruitment and travel? How are these activities financed? And how can our governments identify warning signs before political radicalization crosses the line into participation in, or material support for, terrorist violence?
No single country can answer these questions alone. This is why the Philippines places particular value and importance on stronger intelligence and law-enforcement information sharing, financial intelligence cooperation and appropriate exchanges of travel-related information among international partners. We need to band together to curu PAGE 8
3 events that will define our political future
it could be completed in one to two years. On May 8, 2028, the Philippine presidential election will be held, and the results will be known in a matter of days. The decisions by the institutions involved in all three proceedings will be generally final— the Senate as impeachment court, the ICC, and the Philippine electorate. However, there have been two instances when the proclaimed choice of president by the electorate and the judgment of an impeachment court were both overturned by the sovereign Filipino people. In 1986, the proclamation of Ferdinand Marcos Sr. as the winner of the 1985 snap presidential election was overturned by the sovereign people in what has been called the Edsa 1 People Power Revolution. In 2001, the Senate’s preliminary decision in the impeachment of then President Joseph Estrada to block the opening of the “second envelope” (which was widely sus-
fication of serious incidents and clearer searchand-rescue procedures. These measures would not decide sovereignty. They would help manage emergencies and reduce miscalculation.
Energy security presents another test. Developments in the Middle East have highlighted Southeast Asia’s exposure to disruptions in fuel supplies, shipping routes and international prices.
IT took seven days for the impeachment trial proper to begin. The Senate’s decision to issue subpoenas for bank records and related motions marks the point where the battle truly began. It could have ended up a failure before it even started: if the current Senate had turned its back on the precedents established in previous impeachments, this impeachment would have become a pointless exercise.
The issues had been decided even before the session began. A caucus of senators had already reached a consensus, and it only remained for senators to be given a last stab at asking questions before the chair ruled in the name of the body.
And boy, did they stab.
The best that can be said of the combined efforts of Vice President Sara Duterte’s defenders is that they helped provide a study in contrasts between the petty and the profound. On one hand, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano is the face of everything wrong with the Senate today, just as the defense lawyers of the Vice President, with
has identified regional power
ty, petroleum security, renewable-energy
tion and supply diversification as
Those goals need timetables.
power-grid projects should have financing plans, regulatory requirements and completion dates. Member states should also clarify how the ASE-
their tactic of producing boredom through a million objections, served their client but demeaned their profession. On the other hand, Akbayan party list Rep. Chel Diokno is a living reminder of two things. First, even if you represent the best of what yesterday’s Senates stood for, you can’t get elected to it today, and second, if you practice law in the grand manner, you can be both profound and grow in public stature. Being an effective petty-buster is merely a karmic bonus. But I am being too harsh on the Cayetanos. I actually strongly believe they have every right to be biased, and if, for some reason, they are unable to rein in their biases, it can still help the process. When senators take an oath “that in all things appertaining to the trial of the impeachment … now pending, I will do impartial justice according to the Constitution and laws of the Philippines,” they pledge to arrive at a verdict having reviewed everything with as open a mind as humanly possible and in a manner in keeping with constitutional requirements (including not taking things to extremes by trying to simulate the rigors of a judicial exercise!); but they do not pledge, because they cannot be compelled, to stop being themselves.
After all, since they belong to a group, then their own perspectives, when taken to extremes, tend to cancel each other out. Anyone who’s ever done group work in school knows this firsthand. It is an integral assumption in any jury trial. British academics defending the jury system pointed out, “When judges assess whether behaviour was ‘reasonable’ or a complainant’s response was ‘credible,’ they are making ethical evaluations that mix facts with values. A judge evaluating whether a working-class defendant’s actions were reasonable brings their own class experience to that judgment, whether they recognise it or not.” In the case of juries, on the other hand, since they decide “through deliberation, they must make those experiences visible and justify their interpretation to each other.” In contrast to this, “If a judge makes a decision on their own, only their own biases will influence the verdict. In a jury, consensus needs to be reached. Different opinions and perspectives will shape the outlooks of others. This makes the verdict more informed by community beliefs, rather than from specific sections of the community”—a weakness of relying on individual judges. And a definite liability when dealing with the u PAGE 8
pected of containing damaging evidence against Estrada) was effectively overturned by the Filipino people in a people’s uprising which has become known as the Edsa 2 People Power Revolution, leading to Estrada’s removal from office.
The proclaimed result of any presidential election, including the 2028 election, may also be overturned by the Supreme Court if there is proven evidence of fraud. However, there has been no instance in our history when our highest court reversed the proclaimed result of a presidential election. In contrast, a decision of conviction against Duterte by the ICC trial chamber may be appealed to the ICC appeals chamber, but there will be no other recourse outside of the ICC. Even a people power revolution cannot reverse an ICC judgment.
The impeachment of VP Sara is expected to be completed in u PAGE 8
LAST June, my curiosity led me to purchase a raw elemi resin online from Pitogo, Quezon Province. Manila elemi (Philippine elemi) is a rising superstar ingredient in the global fragrance industry because of its refreshing scent profile that is citrus and spicy. The resin is harvested by making careful incisions into the bark of Canarium luzonicum, although it can also be sourced from Canarium ovatum (pili tree). Both species thrive in the Philippines’ tropical forests, particularly in the Bicol region and Quezon province.
Aside from perfumery, elemi is also used in aromatherapy, skincare, and traditional medicine. I bought the raw resin for only P95 for 100 grams. After ordering, the seller messaged to thank me and even surprised me by adding an extra 25 grams at no additional cost. On the same day, I bought a 5-milliliter bottle of elemi essential oil (distilled from a raw elemi
resin) for P132, but this time from a different seller, since the former only sells raw resin.
The moment I opened their containers, I understood why this ingredient captivated perfumers worldwide. The fresh scent dispersed through the air immediately in my studio-type condo unit, giving off the notes of lemon, pine, and crushed black pepper. The raw resin was a soft, white, and sticky semisolid mass, while the essential oil was a clear to pale yellow liquid. When rubbed on the skin, the scent of both does not go away instantly after washing. As an academic pharmacist, I study natural products, including resins and essential oils. During the first year of my master’s degree studies in 2012, I even considered making elemi oil the subject of my thesis and had already drafted a research proposal about it before circumstances led me to pursue another research topic.
Fourteen years later, my question now is: are local farmers truly earning from this ingredient ad-
mired by perfumers around the globe?
Even though perfume houses do not often disclose the origin of their natural ingredients, elemi is a recognized note in brands such as Dior, Hermes, YSL, and Giorgio Armani. A humble forest resin from small communities in the Philippines has silently earned a place in the luxury fragrance industry. Yet there is a contradiction that deserves attention. Only a little income reaches the hands of many Filipino resin gatherers. According to accounts shared by some local gatherers, raw elemi resin may sell for around P100 per kilogram, even though collecting enough resin often requires several days of tapping and gathering from multiple trees. Whether that resin ends up as an essential oil or luxury product, the local gatherer involved at the very beginning of the chain receives only a small fraction of the final value.
One practical fix is equipping u PAGE 8
Joel Ruiz Butuyan
FLEA MARKET OF IDEAS
Babe Romualdez
ASEAN
connectivi-
integra-
priorities.
Priority
The long view Manuel L. Quezon III
What exactly is Pax Silica, and why is it sparking environmental concern?
Artificial intelligence is driving a global boom in data centers, increasing demand for the infrastructure needed to power AI technologies.
by Melanie Uson Philstar.com
IN case you missed it, the Philippines joined the Pax Silica initiative in April, with the government eyeing a formal signing of the agreement in November.
While the project is expected to put the country on the map for emerging technologies, concerns are growing over what it could mean for the nation, with critics raising questions about its environmental, economic, and national security implications. Here's what you need to know about Pax Silica.
What is Pax Silica and what are its goals?
Pax Silica is a U.S.-led initiative launched in December 2025 to build secure, resilient supply chains for AI technologies, particularly semiconductors and critical minerals.
Its name combines the Latin word pax, meaning peace and stability, with silica, the precursor to silicon.
Formally launched at the Pax Silica Summit in Washington, D.C., partner nations signed the Pax Silica Declaration, committing to deeper cooperation across the tech supply chain—from raw materials to AI infrastructure—to strengthen economic security and shared prosperity.
According to the U.S. govern-
ment website, Pax Silica's core objectives are to reduce reliance on coercive supply chains, strengthen global technology supply chains through partnerships and joint investments, and protect sensitive technologies while building trusted digital infrastructure.
In the long term, the initiative aims to unite economies with advanced technology industries, unlock the economic potential of the AI era, and establish a lasting economic framework that promotes AI-driven growth and prosperity across partner nations.
The declaration has 23 signatories: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, the European Union, Finland, Germany, Greece, India, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Netherlands, Norway, Panama, the Philippines, Qatar, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
As part of the initiative, the Philippine government has proposed a 1,620-hectare Pax Silica Hub in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac, envisioned as an AI and advanced manufacturing hub.
According to the US Embassy, the hub is set to become an “Economic Security Zone” with both countries sharing governance responsibilities. It said, “The two governments intend to identify appropriate frameworks for the longterm development of the Zone that facilitate sovereign alignment and shared upside as it scales.”
Per a report by the Philippine Information Agency, the Bases Conversion and Development Authority will provide a two-year lease payment grace period as an in-kind contribution to support Philippine-U.S. economic cooperation once the hub is established. It is also developing New Clark City into the country's first smart, disaster-resilient, and green metropolis while positioning it as a competitive AI hub for technology-driven industries.
Finance Secretary Frederick Go said the Philippines' participation in the Pax Silica Declaration reflects its goal of playing a bigger role in the AI and semiconductor industries.
“By joining Pax Silica, the Philippines is ensuring that our mineral resources and strategic location are not simply supporting global industries from the margins, but are actively harnessed to build the industries of the future,” he said.
Perceived benefits
Go said the initiative could be a "generational type of project" for the country as AI and other advanced technologies become increasingly important to the global economy.
“Obviously, to all of us, the
by AJPress
technology of the future is AI and anything tech. I think both sides are very excited to get this moving along because I really believe this could be a generational type of project,” he told the media in June. “If we want to be a player in the AI industry in the future, we need to start somewhere. This is really a great start because now, once you have the ecosystem, one thing leads to another."
He said hosting the AI acceleration hub would give the country a strong starting point to become a player in the AI industry, creating hundreds of thousands of jobs while laying the foundation for an ecosystem that could attract more technology companies, investments, and innovation over time.
Go added that investors in the proposed AI acceleration hub could benefit from incentives under the Corporate Recovery and Tax Incentives for Enterprises to Maximize Opportunities for Reinvigorating the Economy (CREATE MORE) Act, which was enacted to make the Philippines more competitive in attracting high-value investments.
According to the ASEAN Business Advisory Council, the Philippines has carved out a strategic role in the semiconductor supply chain by specializing in assembly, testing, and packaging—capabilities that complement the advanced manufacturing strengths of countries such as Taiwan, Singapore, and Japan.
Threats
According to the Environmental and Energy Study Institute, large data centers can use as much as five million gallons of water per day, comparable to the daily water needs of a town with 10,000 to 50,000 people.
Malacañang and the National Water Resources Board maintain that existing water resources can support the project without affecting local supply, but environmental groups argue that the high water demand remains a key issue.
This has raised concerns that the Pax Silica initiative could add pressure to the country's already limited water supply.
As of July 21, Angat Dam, which primarily benefits Metro Manila residents and Pampanga and Bulacan farmers, recorded a reservoir water level of 152.20 meters, or 57.80 meters below its Normal High Water Level of 210.00 meters.
With this, NWRB has again reduced the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System's water allocation, lowering it from 48 cubic meters per second to 46 CMS until July 30, per The Philippine STAR report. The agency has pushed contingency measures, including rainwater harvesting and water recycling, while also urging the public last month to conserve water.
“The project is being planned and developed with the clear commitment that the water needs of surrounding communities will remain the foremost priority and will not be compromised at any stage of implementation or operation," Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said, citing the NWRB.
Another potential environmental threat is the expansion of mining driven by the growing demand for critical minerals under the Pax Silica Initiative. Israel, for instance, has already identified the Philippines as a key partner for its abundant nickel and other mineral resources.
“You have plenty of nickel and other different important minerals. What Israel has to offer is the tech side. We are advanced when it comes to AI and cybersecurity and other technological solutions,” Israel Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh said in an interview with PTV in May.
Another concern is the potential displacement of local and Indigenous communities due to expanded mining activities.
‘Massive sellout'
After joining the US-led initiative, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas slammed the Palace, describing the move as a “massive
In support of democracy in the Philippines
by Don orozco
sell-out,” arguing that it would intensify land and resource grabbing, extraction, and militarization in rural areas.
“Tayo ang gagawing tagasuplay ng murang hilaw na materyales at low-value processing tulad ng assembly, testing, at packaging, habang sa kanila ang teknolohiya, kontrol, at tubo,” KMP said in its statement in April.
According to KMP, Pax Silica's demand for nickel and other critical minerals could accelerate large-scale mining in provinces such as Zambales, Palawan, and Nueva Vizcaya, which it said have already experienced decades of deforestation, silted rivers, and polluted watersheds.
“Malinaw na ang karanasan natin sa malakihang pagmimina: mga kalbong bundok, nilason na mga ilog at komunidad na pinagtapunan ng mine tailings,” KMP said.
The group added that many of the affected areas in Luzon are key agricultural lands and biodiversity zones that support rice, coconut, and other food production, warning that converting them into industrial and mining corridors could further threaten food security.
IBON Foundation said Pax Silica is not genuine industrialization because it would leave the country dependent on foreign technology, capital, and markets while serving as a supplier of minerals and labor for export-oriented industries, rather than building a self-reliant industrial economy.
"The economy will become even more dependent on foreign technology, capital, and markets while remaining a supplier of cheap minerals and labor and a host to export-oriented enclaves," it added.
Cathleen De Guzman, national coordinator of the Philippines-based environmental group Kalikasan People's Network for the Environment, said the Aeta community had spent decades fighting for recognition of its ancestral domains, but the government repeatedly refused to issue land titles.
“The absence of a paper document was used to erase the existence of a community that has lived there since before the Spanish arrived,” she said, per South China Morning Post, adding that around 20,000 Indigenous people and 15,000 farmers could be displaced by the New Clark City project.
De Guzman also warned that the Sacobia watershed—the main water source for New Clark City—has faced concerns about drying up since 2020.
Meanwhile, the Makabayan bloc has filed House Resolution No. 1128 seeking an investigation into the Philippines' participation in the Pax Silica Initiative, arguing it deepens US military and economic influence despite being presented as a development program.
"The legal structure of the ESZ compounds the threat to Philippine sovereignty. The Marcos administration has agreed to a 'joint governance' arrangement under which the zone will be administered according to 'American expertise in institutions and legal regimes'—effectively placing a 4,000-acre territory within the Philippines under parallel legal authority that operates outside Philippine law," it said.
"This arrangement violates the 1987 Constitution's explicit prohibition against foreign military bases, troops, or facilities except through a treaty duly concurred in by the Senate. No such treaty has been presented to Congress; no such concurrence has been sought. Instead, the Marcos administration has unilaterally surrendered sovereign control over Philippine territory to a foreign power through an executive arrangement that bypasses Constitutional safeguards and democratic oversight," it added.
Meanwhile, Malacañang's Castro maintained that President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. "ensures that all actions taken are in accordance with the law and will not harm the environment or displace our fellow citizens without providing just compensation or alternatives." n
EVENTS in the Philippines are producing an unsettling sense of déjà vu. The country’s political climate recalls the 1980s, when corruption, cronyism and repression eroded public trust and weakened democratic institutions under Ferdinand Marcos Sr.
His son, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., now holds the presidency after winning the 2022 election on a promise of unity and better government. One of his first official acts was Executive Order No. 1, which abolished the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission and transferred its jurisdiction, powers and functions to another office within the Office of the President. Although that transfer is important context, the abolition raised legitimate questions about the administration’s approach to accountability. Those questions have become more urgent amid public anger over alleged irregularities in flood-control spending. Legislative testimony and official investigations have described alleged kickbacks, ghost or substandard projects and deliveries of cash. The Office of the Ombudsman has said it is investigating more than 200 cases connected to allegedly anomalous projects, with several cases already filed in court.
The allegations have touched lawmakers, contractors and gov-
ernment officials. Marcos has denied personal involvement, and his administration says it initiated the investigation and is pursuing those responsible. No court has established that the president planned or participated in a trillion-peso kickback scheme. But public confidence will not be restored through denials or promises alone. It requires independent investigations, full disclosure and consequences supported by evidence and due process. This should also concern the United States. The Philippine-American alliance cannot be sustained solely through a close relationship with one president or one administration. It must rest on public confidence that cooperation between the two countries respects Philippine sovereignty, democratic institutions and the rule of law.
History should caution Washington against appearing to identify American interests too closely with any Philippine leader. In 1991, the Philippine Senate rejected a treaty that would have extended the presence of U.S. military bases, despite President Corazon Aquino’s support for the agreement. The vote reflected a strong assertion of sovereignty and longstanding public unease over the American military presence.
Today, the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement gives U.S. forces rotational access to nine agreed Philippine locations. EDCA does not create permanent American bases, but
its future will still depend on the durability of the alliance and the consent of the Philippine people.
When the United States appears indifferent to credible allegations of corruption or threats to democratic institutions in a partner country, it risks damaging its standing as a defender of democracy. Strategic cooperation and democratic accountability should not be treated as competing interests. In the long term, each strengthens the other. The United States should not choose the Philippines’ leaders. That choice belongs to Filipino voters. But Washington can make clear that security cooperation must coexist with transparent government, independent investigations, a free press, due process and respect for lawful dissent. It should engage not only Malacañang but also Congress, the judiciary, civil society, journalists and the broader Filipino public.
Supporting the Philippines means more than supporting the administration currently in power. It means standing with Filipinos in their continuing effort to build a government worthy of their trust and a democracy strong enough to hold every leader accountable. Don Orozco may be reached at orozcoaugusto@gmail.com.
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Asian Journal.
Pujalte begins DOH leadership review after taking over as health secretary
by AJPress
MANILA — Health Secretary Jose Brittanio “Brix” Pujalte Jr. has begun reviewing the Department of Health’s leadership structure and operations, placing senior officials in interim assignments as he takes control of the agency following the departure of Teodoro Herbosa.
The Department of Health said the temporary realignment covers officials in its central office, regional Centers for Health Development and selected operating units. The assignments are intended to maintain continuity while the department evaluates performance and determines longer-term leadership arrangements.
Department Personnel Order No. 2026-4726 directs outgoing and reassigned officials to complete an orderly turnover of documents, projects and responsibilities. Officers-in-charge may oversee routine operations, while major policy decisions must be referred to the appropriate senior officials.
The publicly reported order did not announce findings of wrongdoing against any of the affected officials. The changes are described as interim and are expected to remain in effect until permanent appointments or assignments are made.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. appointed Pujalte on July 13 after accepting Herbosa’s resignation for medical reasons. Pujalte took his oath at Malacañan Palace the following day.
Herbosa said he stepped down
after undergoing knee replacement surgery and facing several months of rehabilitation. He said the recovery period would prevent him from giving the department the time and attention required by the position.
Herbosa had served as health secretary since June 2023. The Palace did not announce any finding of misconduct in connection with his departure.
Pujalte joined the DOH in 1991 and had led the Philippine Orthopedic Center in Quezon City as Medical Center Chief II since 2014. He is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Medicine and holds a master’s degree in hospital administration from the Ateneo Graduate School of Business.
He has also served as president of the Philippine Orthopaedic Association and the ASEAN
Orthopaedic Association and has taught at several medical schools.
Pujalte has said he intends to focus initially on continuity of health services and a review of the department’s operations before presenting a broader policy program. He temporarily deferred media interviews while receiving briefings and overseeing the leadership transition. He assumes the post as the government continues implementing the Universal Health Care Act and overseeing national disease-control programs, public hospitals, regional health offices and primary-care services. The immediate focus of the transition is maintaining dayto-day operations while the department reviews its personnel structure and establishes the priorities of its new leadership. n
Pew survey finds Filipinos view U.S. more favorably than China
ceive benefits Aug. 12, Aug. 19 or Aug. 26, depending on birth date. The maximum federal SSI payment in 2026 is $994 a month for an eligible individual and $1,491 for an eligible couple. Actual payments may be lower based on income, living arrangements and other eligibility factors. California also provides a State Supplementary Payment. Recipients who do not receive a payment as expected should check their bank or benefit account and follow Social Security Administration instructions. n
Philippines is among six countries where U.S. ratings exceed China’s, even as China’s image improves globally by
AJPress
Filipinos remain more likely to hold a favorable opinion of the United States than of China, even as China’s public image has improved across much of the world, according to Pew Research Center findings released July 15.
Fifty-six percent of adults surveyed in the Philippines expressed a favorable view of the United States, compared with 40% who viewed China favorably. The 16-percentage-point difference placed the Philippines among a small group of countries where U.S. ratings were higher.
The United States received the higher favorability rating in six of the 36 countries included in Pew’s direct comparison: India, Israel, Japan, the Philippines, Poland and South Korea.
China received the higher rating in 25 countries. In the remaining five, the differences were not statistically significant, according to Pew.
Pew said the reversal in favorability found in many countries was often driven by improving views of China and worsening views of the United States.
In a separate report that includ-
ed the United States, a median of 51% across 37 countries held a favorable view of China, while 39% held an unfavorable view. Pew found that opinions varied considerably by national income and region, with China generally receiving more positive assessments in middle-income countries than in wealthier nations.
The Philippines and India were exceptions to the broader pattern Pew found among middle-income Asia-Pacific countries on questions about China’s foreign-policy role.
When respondents in 17 middle-income countries were asked whether the United States and China were reliable partners, 81% of Filipinos described the United States as very or somewhat reliable. Forty-two percent said the same of China. Separate regional questions indicated high levels of Philippine concern about China as a potential threat and about territorial disputes involving China.
In an open-ended question asking respondents to name the country that posed the top threat to their own nation, 76% of Filipinos named China. Pew said Filipinos were the most likely among
the publics compared to give that response.
A separate question found that 86% of Philippine respondents were very or somewhat concerned about territorial disputes between China and neighboring countries.
The findings measure different dimensions of public opinion. A favorable view of a country is not the same as considering it a reliable partner, naming it as a threat or expressing concern about territorial disputes. The measures should not be treated as interchangeable.
Pew’s published findings do not establish what events, policies or political developments caused the Philippine responses.
The direct U.S.-China comparison was based on interviews with 42,151 adults in 36 countries.
Pew’s broader China report included U.S. respondents and covered 45,658 adults in 37 countries. Interviews were conducted from Feb. 8 to May 13 through a mix of telephone, face-to-face and online surveys. Pew said the results were based on national samples unless otherwise noted. As with all opinion polling, the findings are subject to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys. n
Jose "Brix" Pujalte Jr. takes oath as the Department of Health (DOH) secretary at Malacañang Photo/PCO
Vice president, Filipino American Press Club of California
ARRAIGNED. Senator Rodante Marcoleta (in
and former congressman and Cabinet official Mike
(in
leave the
22, 2026. Both pleaded not guilty to charges of violating Presidential Decree 46, which prohibits government officials and employees from accepting gifts. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Malacañang: Trump will raise Philippine maritime concerns with Xi
Call highlights Manila-Washington coordination as U.S. also pursues dialogue with Beijing by
AJPress
MANILA — U.S. President
Donald Trump assured President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that he would raise Philippine concerns over recent South China Sea incidents in his next meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Malacañang said Thursday.
The Presidential Communications Office said the leaders discussed global economic and security conditions. It did not identify the specific concerns Marcos asked Trump to convey or announce any agreement arising from the call.
The pledge was disclosed by the Philippine government. No detailed White House account confirming its substance was publicly available by press time.
The conversation followed Marcos’ meeting Wednesday with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who was in Manila
for regional meetings led by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Rubio said Washington wanted a constructive relationship with Beijing but would not improve ties at the expense of its Asian allies. He also reaffirmed U.S. commitments under the 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty with the Philippines. The exchanges came after separate confrontations near Second Thomas Shoal and Scarborough Shoal. Philippine authorities accused Chinese coast guard personnel of striking and injuring a Filipino service member during the first encounter and firing a water cannon at a Philippine fisheries vessel during the second. China disputed Manila’s accounts, accused Philippine personnel of provocative conduct and said its coast guard acted lawfully. Both governments lodged diplomatic protests while continuing contacts aimed at managing the dispute.
The 2016 South China Sea arbitral award found that Second Thomas Shoal is a low-tide elevation within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone and continental shelf. The tribunal also found no legal basis for China to claim historic rights to resources within sea areas covered by its “nine-dash line” beyond the maritime entitlements allowed under international law. China did not participate in the proceedings and continues to reject the ruling. No date was announced for Trump’s next meeting with Xi, and neither government said Philippine concerns had been placed on a formal agenda. The call nevertheless brought Manila’s maritime concerns into continuing U.S.-China diplomacy while reinforcing direct presidential-level consultations between Washington and Manila on security, economic policy and regional stability across the Indo-Pacific region. n
Marcos appoints Joey Salceda to lead legislative liaison office
by AJPress
MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former Albay governor and lawmaker Joey Salceda as Presidential Legislative Officer with the rank of secretary, assigning him to head the Presidential Legislative Liaison Office and coordinate the administration’s work with Congress. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro announced the appointment Tuesday. Salceda’s appointment letter was dated July 20.
The PLLO serves as the executive branch’s principal channel to the Senate and House of Representatives. Its mandate includes promoting presidential initiatives, acting as a conduit between Malacañang and lawmakers, and monitoring administration bills.
Salceda said his immediate challenge would be helping se-
cure passage of the remaining major items in the president’s policy agenda. He also said he had been directed to develop the PLLO into a policy office open to ideas from the private sector, academe, civil society and younger Filipinos. Legislation, however, remains subject to committee review, amendments and votes in both chambers before it can be sent to the president.
Salceda’s secretary rank differs from the structure set out in Executive Order No. 90, which Marcos issued in July 2025. The order placed the PLLO under the Office of the Executive Secretary, abolished the position of presidential adviser on legislative affairs with the rank of secretary and provided that an undersecretary would head the liaison office. Executive Order No. 90 also authorized the executive secretary to assess the PLLO’s structure, implement personnel actions and
issue orders needed to carry out the reorganization. The Palace announcement did not explain how Salceda’s new designation fits that published structure. The difference does not, by itself, establish that the appointment is invalid.
The previous PLLO head, Undersecretary Adrian Bersamin, resigned in November 2025.
Salceda served as Albay’s third-district representative from 1998 to 2007, governor from 2007 to 2016 and second-district representative from 2016 to 2025. He chaired several House committees, including Ways and Means, Appropriations, Economic Affairs, and Trade and Industry.
The appointment returns him to the executive branch, where he served as presidential chief of staff during the administration of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2007. His congressional work covered taxation, spending, economic affairs and trade policy. n
A luxury ingredient with a poverty problem...
PAGE 6
farmer cooperatives with smallscale distillation equipment and proper technical training, so they can turn raw resin into essential oil themselves and keep more of that value at home. Local government units could drive this, working alongside the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Department of Agriculture on grants, equipment support, trainings, and market access.
I’ve seen this pattern before in the case of abaca, the strongest natural fiber in the world, where foreign entities purchase the raw fiber and turn it into medical fabrics, filters, special papers, and other applications that require strength, durability, and water-resistance. Our local farmers barely make a profit, yet much of its eco-
nomic value is generated outside the country through processing, manufacturing, and branding. The Philippines should also explore protecting elemi through a Geographical Indication (GI) or a similar certification system, just like the case of mangoes from Guimaras Island. Only recently, Bohol applied for GI protection for its Ubi Kinampay, safeguarding its heritage crop amid the growing worldwide ube craze. When we hear of Champagne, we think of France. When we hear of Parmigiano Reggiano, we think of Italy. There’s no reason elemi couldn’t mean the Philippines in the same way. Getting there will not only boost our country’s natural resources. This is also about empowering our local farmers and resin gatherers so they can finally command the
prices this resin deserves, benefitting the communities who tended this resource for generations. Traditional harvesting methods will also have reason to survive rather than being slowly forgotten.
It’s time for the Philippines to elevate the people behind elemi. They deserve a fairer share of this prosperity created by one of the country’s most remarkable natural resources. (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.
* * * Teresa May Bandiola is an academic pharmacist, writer, medical activist, and travel content creator who explores national issues through everyday experiences. She can be reached at bandiolateresamayb@gmail.com.
Petty and profound...
PAGE 6 essential question of public trust, on the part of an elected or public official.
The ordinary lawyers did the ordinary—argued the law backward and forward, invoking every useful tactic taught them in school and by experience—but it was to no avail when boiled down to a question of values: “Confidentiality cannot trump accountability,” Diokno said, and no Latin maxim could be found to rebut it. It is a healthy reminder that the red robes and “if your honors please,” and the flimflam flummery of judicial protocol are precisely that: unnecessary, even unhealthy adornment, when all the Senate is called to do is render jury duty and arrive
at a decision, individually, but with collective effect. As one American primer puts it ever-so-briefly, “a jury of citizens will determine community standards and expectations in accordance with the law … Juries provide the voice of common sense and the perspective of the citizen to our developing body of law.” Which is what the Senate did, depending on what previous Senates had decided in previous impeachments.
Just as the devil can quote scripture, so can senators plead objectivity while demonstrating bias. Might as well be upfront, knowing one, two, or however many out of 24 or fewer are not the whole; and if no one should be beyond redemption, no one should be
Peso remains at record low as pressure persists
Currency closes at P61.75 amid elevated import demand, inflation and global uncertainty
by AJPress
MANILA — The Philippine peso remained at its record low of P61.75 to the U.S. dollar on Thursday, July 23, as elevated oil prices, import demand and global uncertainty weighed on the currency.
The peso traded between P61.60 and P61.75 before closing unchanged from the previous session, according to market data reported by the Philippine News Agency.
BMI, a Fitch Solutions company, expects the peso to trade between P61 and P63 in the coming months. The research firm cited renewed U.S.-Iran tensions, a firm dollar and seasonally stronger import demand. It projects a recovery to about P61 by year-end if oil prices ease and remittance inflows strengthen. Those figures are private-sector
PAGE 6
condemned until the process has conclusively proven they’re contemptible.
The question now becomes, who will be the first legislator to propose amending Republic Act No. 6426, which requires a depositor’s waiver for foreign currency deposits to be looked into in a proceeding. One has to wonder if the Veep will be as tough as her father in denying any and all calls to “sign the waiver!” (Inquirer.net)
forecasts, not official targets or guaranteed outcomes. BMI’s analysis is separate from the credit-rating work of Fitch Ratings.
The Development Budget Coordination Committee has revised the government’s foreign-exchange assumption to an annual average of P60 to P62 from 2026 through 2030. The range is used for economic and budget planning and is not a daily trading band or a level the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas must defend.
Official data show imports reached $13.36 billion in May, up 21.9 percent from a year earlier, while exports rose 7.6 percent to $7.87 billion. The monthly trade deficit was $5.48 billion.
Imports totaled a record $63.11 billion from January through May, 16.2 percent higher than a year earlier. A larger import bill can increase demand for dollars, al-
though the exchange rate also responds to remittances, investment flows, interest rates and market sentiment.
The peso’s weakness comes as inflation remains above the government’s target range. Headline inflation eased to 6.4 percent in June from 6.8 percent in May, while core inflation rose to 4.4 percent.
A weaker peso can increase the local cost of imported fuel, food inputs and equipment, but the effect on consumer prices is neither automatic nor uniform.
The Monetary Board raised the BSP’s target reverse repurchase rate to 4.75 percent on June 18. BMI expects stronger year-end remittances to provide additional dollar supply, but the peso’s direction will continue to depend on oil prices, geopolitical developments and interest-rate expectations. n
Confronting political terrorism...
tail political terrorism which is on the rise globally, and we certainly welcome deeper cooperation with partners and nations that are also experiencing the scourge of terrorism to better understand and disrupt transnational recruitment, financing and facilitation networks that provide unlawful support to designated terrorist organizations.
The Philippines has long been coordinating with law enforcement agencies of the United States and like-minded countries in fighting terrorism and thwarting the activities of extremists. One of the most important case studies in global counterterrorism coordination involves an assassination plot against Pope John Paul II by al-Qaeda linked Ramzi Yousef in January 1995. The plot was uncovered by authorities several days before the pontiff’s visit to the Philippines when a fire accidentally broke out at an apartment in Manila where Yousef and his conspirator, Abdul Hakim Murad, were working on a bomb.
Responding members of the Philippine National Police found chemical components for explosives, a priest’s cassock and a laptop – enough to trigger alarm bells. Authorities were able to
PAGE 6
crack encrypted files that unveiled a massive plot codenamed “Bojinka” to assassinate the pope, blow up 11 commercial planes flying from Asia to the United States and crash a plane into the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia.
An international manhunt was launched for Yousef (already wanted by the US for the bombing of the World Trade Center in 1993) with Philippine government authorities sharing data from the laptop and vital forensic evidence (such as a partial fingerprint found in the Manila apartment) with the FBI and the CIA. Four weeks later, Yousef was apprehended in February 1995 in Islamabad, Pakistan.
The Philippines has made considerable progress in weakening the domestic armed threat through a comprehensive whole-of-government and whole-of-nation approach. However, the evolving transnational dimensions of recruitment, financing, facilitation, travel and support networks increasingly require cooperation beyond Philippine jurisdiction.
No one country sees the entire network. Our respective governments may each hold different pieces of the picture. By connecting those pieces – and
ensuring that our cooperation follows the networks – we can identify emerging threats earlier and act more effectively to disrupt them.
Clearly, we should make better use of existing bilateral, regional and multilateral mechanisms to connect our intelligence, law enforcement, border and financial authorities and to share information on emerging trends and networks. The Philippines stands ready to share the lessons learned from more than five decades of confronting politically motivated violence. We also stand ready to learn from the experiences of our partners.
As a democratic nation that is determined to remain free and uphold its sovereignty, the Philippines will continue to cooperate and walk shoulder-to-shoulder with partners and like-minded countries, secure in the knowledge that in the fight against political terrorism, we do not stand alone. (Philstar. com)
* * * The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
* * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
ASEAN’s credibility now depends...
AN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security would operate during disruption, including which agencies would coordinate assistance and what conditions would activate emergency arrangements.
Disaster management offers an immediate opportunity to show results. ASEAN already has the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disaster management, regional logistics and assessment teams. The challenge is ensuring that these systems can move personnel, equipment and supplies quickly during disasters.
Member states should establish benchmarks for deploying assessment teams, clearing relief shipments and delivering assistance. Regular exercises should test communications, customs procedures and command arrangements. After-action reports should identify delays and corrections. For affected communities, regional cooperation is measured by how quickly help arrives.
Transnational crime requires the same operational focus. On-
line scam centers, trafficking networks, cybercrime, money laundering and illicit financial flows cross borders. They are difficult to address through domestic enforcement alone.
Cooperation should be assessed through practical indicators: the speed of information exchange, coordinated investigations, victim protection and efforts to trace and restrain criminal proceeds. Comparable data would help governments determine whether joint action is disrupting criminal networks and reducing their operations.
None of these proposals requires ASEAN to abandon consensus, national sovereignty or gradual diplomacy. Its members differ in capacity, security interests and relations with major powers. Progress will be uneven. Consensus, however, should be followed by clarity about responsibility.
Where all members are not ready to proceed at the same pace, smaller groups of willing states could test voluntary projects open to later participation. Properly designed, this approach need not divide ASEAN. It could allow cooperation to advance while accommodating different capacities.
The Philippines cannot resolve every regional conflict during its chairmanship. It can establish a more disciplined standard: fewer commitments without timetables, fewer programs without responsible institutions and fewer declarations whose implementation cannot be assessed.
ASEAN has become an essential diplomatic forum. Its next test is whether diplomacy produces safer seas, stronger energy systems, faster disaster assistance and more effective action against criminal networks. The most meaningful result of the Manila meetings would be a clear record showing which agreements will be carried out, by whom, according to what timetable and with what measurable outcome. (AJPress)
Major initiatives should identify the agencies responsible, required funding, completion dates and standards for measuring progress. ASEAN members should authorize the Secretariat to publish regular implementation reports identifying completed commitments, delays and unresolved obstacles.
3 events that will define our political future...
PAGE 6
a mere matter of months, judging by the two impeachment trials our country has had. In the impeachment trial of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Renato Corona, the trial in the Senate began on Jan. 16, 2012. After just six weeks, or by Feb. 28, 2012, the prosecution had completed presenting 25 witnesses. The defense presented 15 witnesses thereafter. After merely four months of trial, the Senate rendered its decision on May 29, 2012, finding Corona guilty and removing him from office.
The proceedings against Estrada are the only other impeachment that reached the trial stage in our history. While that trial was not completed with a final verdict of conviction or acquittal, the pace of the proceedings that took place is also instructive. The Estrada trial started on Dec. 7, 2000, and by the time it was abruptly terminated on Jan. 16, 2001, after a mere period of 23 trial dates, the prosecution had already presented more than 30 witnesses.
In the impending impeachment against VP Sara, the prosecution has disclosed a list of 57 witnesses, but it has given word that it may still decide not to present all of them. On the other hand, the VP Sara defense team has declared that it will present more than 40 witnesses. In the ICC trial, the prosecution stated that it plans to present 70 witnesses. The defense and the victims’ counsel have yet to declare the number of witnesses they intend to present.
The ardent hope is that the three events will take place and be completed one after the other. Otherwise, our people may be overwhelmed with so much political drama taking place simultaneously. (Inquirer. net)
The evidence, outcome, and perceptions of fairness or unfairness of the Senate and ICC trials will influence the 2028 presidential election. While the election is expected to take place after both the impeachment and the ICC trials have been completed, intentions and plans for the 2028 elections will have the power to influence the two trials. For instance, VP Sara may resign with the twin intentions of preventing the impeachment trial from reaching the decision stage and preventing her disqualification from the 2028 election. (There are conflicting arguments, however, on whether a resignation can prevent her disqualification from running in the election.) The current Marcos administration’s stake in the 2028 elections will greatly influence its willingness to render assistance in the impeachment and ICC trials. The vote or conduct of the senator-judges and the prosecutor-congresspersons may be influenced by their personal plans for the 2028 elections.
yellow)
Defensor
gray jacket)
Sandiganbayan in Quezon City following their arraignment on Wednesday, July
Binibining Pilipinas 2026 winners crowned
by AJPress
QUEZON CITY — Gwendo-
line Meliz Frias Soriano of Baguio City and Sasha-Juli Belle Penuliar Lacuna of Tarlac were crowned title winners of Binibining Pilipinas 2026 during the pageant’s 62nd coronation night on July 18 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. Soriano received the Binibining Pilipinas International 2026 crown and the Philippine assignment to Miss International. Lacuna was crowned Binibining Pilipinas Globe 2026 and will represent the country at The Miss Globe.
Julianne Raine Amigo Antonio of Dumaguete City was named first runner-up, while Tracy Mae Sunio of Bacolod City finished as second runner-up.
The results followed a competition involving 35 candidates in swimsuit, evening-gown and question-and-answer segments.
The field was reduced to 12 semifinalists and then to four finalists: Soriano, Lacuna, Antonio and Sunio.
Each finalist was given 40 seconds to answer the question about the future she envisioned and how a Binibining Pilipinas title could help her achieve it.
Soriano received Best in Swimsuit, Best in Evening Gown, Binibining Philippine Airlines and Binibining Urban Smiles. Other award recipients included Anne Klein Castro of Pampanga as NUSTAR Online Binibini; Jarina Kumari Sandhu of Cauayan, Isabela, for Binibining The MedClub; Pauline Thea Ann Ibuyan of Aklan for Binibining Tourism; Georgette Nicole Coronacion of Carmona, Cavite, for Binibining Friendship; and Zilanni Eve Rojas of Zamboanga City for Face of Binibini. Samantha Marie Zabarte of Dasmariñas, Cavite, received the Manila Bulletin Readers’ Choice award.
Five candidates were recognized for Best in National Costume: Mylene Manschus of Tanza, Cavite; Ain Niqyla Abad of San Jose, Occidental Mindoro; Zabarte; Iris Oresca of the Bicol Region; and Patricia Lynn Beerda of Iloilo.
Former titleholders Catriona Gray, Mary Jean “MJ” Lastimosa, Miriam Quiambao and Nicole Cordoves hosted the program. P-pop group ALAMAT performed during the swimsuit presentation, while Jericho Rosales and Kyle Echarri appeared during evening-gown segment.
Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc., chaired by Stella Márquez-Araneta, organizes the pageant.
Soriano succeeds Katrina Anne Johnson as Binibining Pilipinas International, while Lacuna succeeds Annabelle Mae McDonnell as Binibining Pilipinas Globe.
FAMAS honors television, radio and digital media in first Broadcast Arts
Awards
Kara David receives three awards; Vice Ganda, Coco Martin, Ivana Alawi and Kelvin Miranda also honored
by AJPress
established in 1952 and known for its annual Philippine film awards, extended its recognition to television, radio, podcasts and digital content at the inaugural FAMAS Broadcast Arts Awards.
The separate ceremony, held July 20 at the Fiesta Pavilion of The Manila Hotel, recognized winners in 28 competitive categories. FAMAS President and Chairperson Francia Camacho-Conrado said the program was developed in response to calls for the organization to recognize broadcasters, vloggers and other creators working beyond cinema. FAMAS’s annual film awards, first presented in 1953, remain a separate undertaking.
Broadcast journalist Kara David received three competitive awards. The I-Witness report “Embalsamador de Motor” won Best Documentary, while I-Listen with Kara David received Best Public Affairs Talk Show.
David shared Best Host for Public Service with actress and digital creator Ivana Alawi, whose eponymous YouTube channel won Best Public Service Show.
Vice Ganda received Best Host for Entertainment, while
It’s Showtime won Best Variety Show. Coco Martin received Best Screenplay and Best Director for FPJ’s Batang Quiapo, which also won Best Series. Joel Lamangan was named Best Supporting Performer for the program. Kelvin Miranda won Best Performer in a Series or Anthology for Encantadia Chronicles: Sang’gre. Maalaala Mo Kaya received Best Anthology; CongTV won Best Comedy Show; Family Feud was named Best Show for Game, Reality or Competition; and Fast Talk with Boy Abunda received Best Entertainment Talk Show.
The World Tonight won Best News Program, while Korina Sanchez received Best News Anchor for Agenda on Bilyonaryo News Channel. Born to Be Wild, Biyahe ni Drew and Rise
The Filipino singer-actress marks more than 35 years across recording, television, film and theater Gwendoline Soriano and Sasha Lacuna earn Philippine assignments to Miss International and The Miss Globe
by AJPress
MANILA — Agot Isidro turned 60 on July 20 with a career span-
music, television, film and theater for more than three decades. Isidro began working professionally in 1990 as a backup singer on The Sharon Cuneta Show. She later joined ’Sang
Linggo nAPO Sila, the television variety program hosted by the APO Hiking Society, moving into a regular on-camera role. Singing was her entry point into entertainment. “Sa Isip Ko,” “Beginning Today” and “Everyday” became among the recordings most closely associated with her 1990s music career. She con-
and Shine Pilipinas won the educational, lifestyle and magazine-show categories, respectively.
Radio and podcast winners included Healing Mass sa Veritas, Papa Ahwel Paz, Dr. Love, Papa Jack, Gabi ng Lagim, Nong Lading and Facts First. Christian Esguerra received Best Podcast Host.
Tina Loy received the Rosa Rosal Lifetime Achievement Award. CongTV also received the FAMAS Broadcast Arts Breakthrough Award, while Sining Bulilit earned a Special Citation for Excellence in Children’s Arts Education. Camacho-Conrado led FAMAS officials at the ceremony. Theater director Anton Juan, chairman of the jury, announced the winners during the awards program.
SB19 set for ceremonial first pitch before White Sox-Yankees game
Chicago appearance falls between the Filipino pop group’s Grammy Museum program and Lollapalooza performance
by AJPress
ceremony adds another type of U.S. public appearance to SB19’s schedule as the group moves between a museum program, a major-league ballpark and one of the country’s largest music festivals.
Photo from Instagram/@officialsb19
Photo from Facebook/@bbpilipinasofficial
HEALTH @HEART
Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS
PANCREATIC cancer is deadly because it is usually diagnosed when it is already advanced, Stage IV, with metastases all over, and inoperable. The reasons for the delay in diagnosis are: early subtle symptoms, hidden location (way at the back) which escapes physical examination, and lack of any early screening tools.
A new major validation research at the Mayo Clinic Network “confirmed that specialized AI tools can detect pancreatic cancer up to 3 years before standard diagnosis.” Early detection will be a boon to reducing the mortality from pancreatic cancer, which, today, in the United States kills 144 people every day, and 1,500 a day worldwide. In the Philippines, 11 people die from pancreatic cancer each day.
* * * Scientists at USC “successfully used stem cells-inspired tech-
Med-info capsules
niques to grow a virtually limitless supply of cancer-fighting immune cells, vastly improving the potential scale of immune therapy in the treatment of many forms of cancer.”
* * * GLP-1 (Glucagon-like Peptide-1) injection, now available in pill form, for the treatment of T2 diabetes and obesity, has been found to be very effective. The benefits appear to extend to the brain, the heart, and the kidneys. One little side-effect found in the analysis of electronic health record (EHR) data:
“There is a 48% increased risk of overall smell and taste disturbances over a 2-year follow-up period compared with matched controls using other antidiabetic agents.” Luckily, these problems are transient.
* * * As we grow older, our bones, especially among females, become more porous and brittle, hence more prone to fractures. Because of reduced balance control, falls are common among seniors. More than 14 million adults, or about 25 percent (one in four) of adults over 65, report
falling each year, and 37 percent of these falls require hospitalization. Falls are very dangerous and life-threatening for seniors. They are the second leading cause of accidental deaths globally. A recent study shows that “vitamin D, calcium, or a combination of the two may not offer as much bone protection as once thought, providing little or no meaningful benefit” for bone health. If concerned, discuss the details with your physician.
* * * Processed meat, like bacon, is unhealthy. If prepared occasionally, it is better (healthier) to microwave it. Place bacon strips on 2-3 layers of paper towel, and cover with paper towel to prevent splatter. Microwave on high, 1 minute per slice, adding 30 increments till crispy. Microwaving (produces a higher temperature than pan-frying) bacon reduces the fat and calories, and precludes the formation of harmful chemicals, like inflammatory cancer-causing nitrosamines and AGE (Advanced Glycation End products), which happens with pan-frying. Corn cobs, plantain banan-
as, and potatoes may also be
cooked in a microwave. Cover with a wet paper towel and microwave each for 3 to 3 ½ minutes. Check and cook longer if needed.
*
* * When we were in the womb, we were immersed in a liquid called the amniotic fluid, which kept our skin well-moisturized. Nature requires our skin, all over us, to be moisturized, to be healthier.
Moisturizers are not only for women. Men’s skin also needs moisture to remain healthy and smoother, with fewer wrinkles. High-end cosmetic creams are not necessary. The popular regular medium-priced moisturizers provide the same protection. The same with face creams. No face cream will remove eye bags or deep wrinkles, but it will generally improve the complexion.
* * * Physical exercises, a solid foundation of health, can be as effective as medications in managing mild to moderate depression, for free and without side effects. They also reduce our risk for diseases, including cardiac and cancer.
* * * Alzheimer’s disease, the most
common form of dementia, af-
fects more than 55 million people globally and is projected to increase to 150 million by 2050. Detecting it early is challenging; hence, treatments are almost always delayed. Current diagnostic tools rely on expensive imaging scans or invasive procedures. Now, new studies suggest ‘that tiny ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules carried in blood may help detect Alzheimer’s disease earlier and less invasively than current diagnostic methods.” Researchers identified brain-derived RNA biomarkers that may help detect Alzheimer’s disease through a simple blood test, potentially reducing reliance on expensive brain scans and invasive spinal taps, and allowing earlier diagnosis and hence more prompt treatment at an earlier stage.
* * * New studies on 22 beverages reveal that city-filtered tap water is better than swallowing pills with other liquids, like alkaline mineral water, distilled water, or worse, with soft drinks (the poisonous liquid candy). The timing of medication release for effectiveness is better with tap water.
* * * Ketogenic or keto diet (severely limiting carbs and upping intake of fats and protein) has been popular among celebrities and other weight-watchers. Recent studies reveal it may even be beneficial to health in other ways, like in improvements in treatment-resistant depression, managing blood sugar levels, and sending type 2 diabetes into remission. The advent of GLP1 medication (very effective for diabetes and obesity) induced many to switch to this new wonder drug.
* * * Obesity is a well-established risk factor for many forms of cancer, including colorectal, pancreatic, ovarian, liver, uterine, and breast. A new study posted in Annals of Oncology revealed a potential link between taking GLP-1 drugs, like Ozempic, Wegovy, Zepbound, and Mounjaro, and a 50 percent
decrease in the overall risk of developing obesity-related cancers in people without diabetes. The ongoing “RESTORE” trial also suggests that semaglutide may improve fertility-related outcomes in females with PMOS (polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome).
* * * Drinking plain, undiluted coconut water helps lower blood pressure. It is a natural source of magnesium and potassium, a single cup containing between 400 and 470 milligrams of potassium, more than from one medium-sized banana. Potassium acts like a diuretic and makes the kidneys flush out more ex
cess sodium (salt), reducing stress on the blood vessel walls. One to 2 cups a day is healthy, on top of filtered water for daily hydration. Water is essential.
The
Joel P. Longares and the DreamBehindLOGO Cargo
EVERY successful company begins with a dream. For Joel P. Longares, that dreamwas not simply to build a business, but to create a company that Filipino families couldtrust.
That dream became LOGO Cargo.
For more than three decades, LOGO Cargo has served Filipinos abroad by helpingthem send balikbayan boxes to their loved ones in the Philippines. Behind every boxis a story of sacrifice, hard work, and love.
For Mr. Longares, these boxes are more than packages. They are promises fromoverseas Filipinos to the families waiting for them back home.
From its humble beginnings, LOGO Cargo grew through dedication, discipline, andastrong commitment to service. The company expanded its branches, warehouses, trucking operations, customer service teams, and technology systems to provide a more organized, reliable, and convenient shipping experience.
Under the leadership of Joel P. Longares, LOGO Cargo continues to strengthen everystage of its operations, from pickup and warehouse processing to container loading, shipment tracking, and final delivery. The company remains focused on accountability, proper coordination, and responsible handling throughout the entire shipping process.
For Mr. Longares, however, success is not measured only by the number of boxes delivered or
branches opened. His vision has always included creating jobs, supporting Filipino communities, improving customer service, and helping families remain connected despite the distance. This spirit of malasakit became even more evident when LOGO Cargo helped deliver abandoned balikbayan boxes affected by issues involving other cargo companies. Using its own manpower, trucks, warehouses, and operational resources, the companyhelped sort, process, and deliver the boxes to families who had been waiting for them. The effort demonstrated that LOGO Cargo’s mission goes beyond business. It is alsorooted in responsibility, compassion, and service to the Filipino community.
Today, the dream behind LOGO Cargo continues to grow.
Joel P. Longares remains committed to building a company that is trusted, dependable, and prepared to serve more Filipino families around the world.
The story of LOGO Cargo is the story of a dream transformed into a lasting mission—one that continues to deliver not only boxes, but also love, hope, and malasakit across borders.
LOGO Cargo — delivering promises and connecting Filipino families for morethan 33 years.
Agot Isidro revisits...
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tinued recording while building a broader body of work as an actress and television personality. Her screen career has included comedy, drama, mainstream films and independent productions. Isidro received the 2018 Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences Best Actress award for Changing Partners. She was also named New Wave Best Actress at the 2013 Metro Manila Film Festival for Mga Anino ng Kahapon Her stage work has included musical and dramatic productions, allowing her to move between singing and performance.
At 60, Isidro is revisiting the work that opened her career while continuing the acting roles that sustained it. The milestone links her beginnings as a singer with a professional life that has developed across several areas of Philippine entertainment.
Isidro marked her birthday with The Story of A.I., presented July 17 and 18 at the Globe Auditorium of the Maybank Performing Arts Theater at BGC Arts Center in Taguig. The title referred to her initials. Isidro described the production as a retrospective of her life and career and as a return to live music after almost 18 years. The event placed singing back alongside the acting work that has occupied much of her recent schedule. It did not represent a withdrawal from film or television. Netflix’s 2026 Philippine slate listed Isidro in two productions. She co-stars with Jodi Sta. Maria in Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon, about a television writer returning to her estranged mother. She also appears with Janine Gutierrez, Charlie Dizon and Ronnie Lazaro in the horror series Balaraw: Blood Island. Netflix has said titles and release dates may change.
Southern Nevada urges families to complete school vaccinations before Aug. 10
LAS VEGAS — Southern Neva-
da health officials are urging parents and guardians to schedule required student vaccinations before demand rises ahead of the Clark County School District’s first day of classes on Aug. 10.
The Southern Nevada Health District said appointments are available at clinics across the Las Vegas Valley, including expanded sessions for children entering kindergarten and students entering seventh and 12th grades.
Nevada requires students to submit immunization records or qualify for a recognized exemption or conditional enrollment. Required vaccines cover diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis; hepatitis A and B; measles, mumps and rubella; meningococcal disease; polio; and chickenpox. Dose require-
ments vary by age, grade and vaccination history. The district advises families arriving from other states to verify hepatitis A records. Students entering seventh grade must have Tdap and MenACWY vaccines. Students entering 12th grade must have a MenACWY dose administered on or after age 16. Students new to Nevada schools in grades eight through 12 must meet the applicable Tdap and MenACWY requirements. Expanded clinics are scheduled at the district’s Decatur, East Las Vegas, Henderson, Fremont and Mesquite locations through Aug. 11. Hours and availability vary by site, and appointments are required.
A parent or guardian must consent for a minor. Families should bring available immunization re-
cords; Nevada records may be retrieved through the Nevada WebIZ public portal.
Most insurance is accepted, although coverage varies. Costs for uninsured patients depend on the vaccine and eligibility for the federal Vaccines for Children program. Nevada law permits documented medical and religious exemptions. HPV vaccination is offered at adolescent clinics but is not required for school entry.
Appointments may be scheduled through the Health District’s back-to-school system or by calling 702-759-0850. Families seeking Clark County birth certificates for registration are advised to order early because processing may take two to four weeks.
City of Las Vegas Release
City of Las Vegas reopens 2025 utility tax and sewer rebate program
THE city of Las Vegas has reopened its Utility Tax Rebate Program for low-income residents age 60 and older, with higher income limits for eligibility. Applications will be accepted by appointment from Aug. 1 through Oct. 15, 2026, for rebates on qualifying utility franchise taxes and sewer fees paid in 2025. Forms are not available online.
Eligible residents may receive rebates on franchise taxes paid through NV Energy, Southwest Gas, CenturyLink or Cox Communications. Utility accounts must be in the applicant’s name.
Household income must be be-
low 150 percent of the federal poverty level: $23,475 for one person or $31,725 for two.
Applicants must bring 2025 utility bills, photo identification, proof of income, proof of payment and supporting documents. Identification and bills must show the same address. Qualifying homeowners may also seek a partial rebate on 2025 sewer charges for their primary residence.
Appointments are required now:
• Centennial Hills Active Adult Center, 6601 N. Buffalo Drive, 702-229-1702; Thursdays and Fridays, 1-4 p.m., through Oct. 15.
• Doolittle Active Adult Center, 1930 N. J St., 702-229-6125; Tuesdays, noon-3 p.m., through Oct. 13.
• Dula Community Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road, 702-2296307; Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 4-5:30 p.m., through Oct. 14.
• East Las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 702-229-1515; Wednesdays, 1-4 p.m., through Oct. 14.
• Howard Lieburn Active Adult Center, 6230 Garwood Ave., 702-229-1600; Thursdays, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., through Oct. 15.
• Stupak Community Center, 251 W. Boston Ave., 702-2292488; call for an appointment.
The Philippines shines at the 2026 world championships of performing arts
THE Philippines once again proved that Filipino talent belongs on the world stage as WCOPA Team Philippines 2026 delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Competing against delegates from more than 50 countries, the Philippine delegation brought home an impressive 334 medals and awards, including the coveted Senior Grand Champion Performer of the World title, three Performer of the World Star Trophies, 10 Finalist Gold Medals, 60 Semi-Finalist Medals, 86 Gold Medals, 79 Silver Medals, 58 Bronze Medals, 31 Overall Division Champion Plaques, four New York Film Academy (NYFA) Scholarships, one Millennium Dance Complex Scholarship, and Second Place for Best Production Group Performance.
This year's triumph carries even greater significance, as the 2025 World Championships of Performing Arts was postponed due to unforeseen circumstances, requiring many of the delegates to wait an additional year before they could finally compete. Despite the delay, Team Philippines remained steadfast in its commitment, continuing to train, prepare, and persevere until the competition finally pushed through in 2026. Their achievements are a testament to the resilience, determination, and unwavering spirit of Filipino artists who refused to let adversity stand in the way of their dreams.
Under the leadership of National Director Gerry Mercado, WCOPA Team Philippines continues its tradition of developing world-class Filipino performers and providing them with opportunities to showcase their talent on the international stage. This year's accomplishments stand as a testament not only to the delegates' hard work and dedication but also to the unwavering commitment of Team Philippines in nurturing the next generation of globally competitive artists.
The remarkable achievements of Team Philippines reflect the
talent, dedication, resilience, and excellence of Filipino performers, reaffirming that the Philippines remains a formidable force in the global performing arts community.
The members of WCOPA Team Philippines 2026 are: Vincent Carlo Abratigue, Nephi Acaling, Frances Marie Akol, Mikaela Rose Amagsila, Bradlee Andrada, Megan Andrada, Beatrix Louise Balairos, Aimee Rose Ballatan, Mark Gil Brady, Loreen Therese Butay, Nicole Margaret Cajeles, Andrea Glace Calanza, Kristoffer Ashley Cano, Alger John Carnate, Bernadette Carpio, Ezrael Casasola, Stephanie Ann Castillo, Precious Zowie Comia, Thor Sirius Comission, Trisha Winsy Cosme, Jemarie Shantal Cuizon, Reynan Dal Anay, Riley Denise De Jesus, Beatriz Julia Del Rosario, Harmony Diatras, Samuel Hanson Domingo, Jade Edward Duran, Beverly Encarnado, Kiarra Zariella Fundar, Marian Odette Garcia, Eureka Nathalie Kent Gascon, Francesca Gwyneth Gualberto, Chesca Alexy Guanzon, John Heroza, Trisha Lourenz Ileto, Stephanie Grace Ilo, Dominic Isla, Ivana Jane Juan, Jad Nikkolette Ladrido, Merjohn Lagaya, Clark Johnrain Lamano, Ken Isaiah Lara, Lamberto Jr. Libunao, Roi Yisrael Lorilla, Camille Emerald Mahilum, Raymond Manalo, Ramea Sofia Mari, Juaymah Mauleon, Casie Margarett Medina, Sabella Reign Mendoza, Priscilla Yenn Mendoza, Val Pheodor Meneses, Jovy Morante, Trish Jazmine Laureen Mosqueda, Mikko Osana, Tatiana Panganiban, Leighann Papasin, Cherish Parel, Sandrine Solenn Recto, Ma. Elizabeth Gabrielle Rogacion, Zoey May Salinas, Joze Alvin Philippe Salud, Markeisha Therese Sanchez, Charmi Santos Lee, Michael Victor Sibayan, Marco Iñigo Sibayan, Priya Kaur Singh, Eduardo Sorillano, Shierrah Kate Sumacot, Jhon Clyd Talili, Bernadette Tismo, Ralf Crislie Torilla, Sendhara Maiya Trillanes, Dorcel John Tumlos, Leiam Travyz Villaruel, Sofia Theresa Zarate, Mitchelle Zianne De Vera Briones, Jean Antoinette Artillero Posadas,
Barry Manilow returns to Westgate with three sold-out performances
LAS VEGAS — Barry Manilow returned to the International Theater at Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino with three sold-out performances
July 9-11, marking his first shows after postponing appearances for surgery following a lung cancer diagnosis.
Audiences greeted the singer with applause and standing ovations. Manilow said returning to the Westgate stage felt like coming home.
Cami Christensen, president and general manager of Westgate Las Vegas, said the response reflected Manilow’s enduring connection with his audience and described his return as an emotional moment for the resort.
Manilow holds the record for the most performances in the International Theater’s history. In 2024, he signed what Westgate described as its first lifetime residency agreement, extending a relationship that began with the launch of “Manilow: Las Vegas — The Hits Come Home!” in 2018.
The production features many of his best-known songs, including “Mandy,” “Copacabana,” “Can’t Smile Without You” and “I Write the Songs.” Westgate said the residency has drawn hundreds of thousands of fans and received several Las Vegas entertainment honors.
The resort has introduced a VIP Gold Pass offering access to a private memorabilia room displaying Manilow’s Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards, costumes and other career items, along with theater and lounge access.
Earlier this summer, Manilow released his 33rd studio album, “What a Time,” his first nearly all-original album since 2011. The project includes collaborations with Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Dave Cobb and Gary Barlow. His Westgate residency continues through December, including “A Very Barry Christmas” performances. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, the Westgate box office, WestgateLasVegas.com and BarryManilow.com. Fans may also review VIP and fan-club ticket options through Manilow’s website. His career spans more than five decades and includes 51 Top 40 singles, major music and theater awards, and more than 85 million albums sold worldwide, according to Westgate.
City of Las Vegas offers major downtown development opportunity
THE city of Las Vegas is seeking proposals from developers for an approximately 11-acre site in the heart of downtown, with frontage on Las Vegas Boulevard.
The property is within walking distance of the Fremont Street Experience, the Fremont East Entertainment District and the Mob Museum. It is bounded by Las Vegas Boulevard, Ogden Avenue, the alley between Seventh and Eighth streets, and U.S. 95/ Interstate 11.
Shui Balena Tsuda, Jhennie Fe Pangan Ochavillo, Thea Jenelie Marcelo, Denise Carol Celada Tolentino, Christian Tabaculde Gano, Erickson Franco, Peter John Prado, and Jerick Pamanano. Congratulations, WCOPA Team Philippines 2026! One Flag. One Team. One Dream.
City officials said the site could support a mixed-use project that includes hospitality, entertainment, professional sports, housing, offices, green space and a civic or public safety component. The city is also encouraging architecture that connects the development to nearby attractions and creates a strong presence along Las Vegas Boulevard.
The property is located within the city’s redevelopment area and may qualify for New Markets Tax Credits. It also has direct freeway access and is near planned housing at the Cashman Field and Grant Sawyer sites, where more than 1,000 homes are expected. Mayor Shelley Berkley described the property as a rare opportunity for a developer to help shape downtown’s future. The selected developer will enter into a Disposition and Development Agreement with the city. Downtown Las Vegas attracts more than 26 million visitors annually and includes the Arts District, Symphony Park, the Historic Westside and the Las Vegas Medical District, along with major cultural, retail and medical institutions.
Proposals are due electronically by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2026, to treich@lasvegasnevada. gov. The full Request for Proposals is available for review on the city’s website.
U.S. Efforts to Prevent and Combat Transnational Sextortion of Children
U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State David Bedard oversees the Office of Europe and Asia Programs in the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, the State Department’s counter-crime arm.
During a briefing at New York City’s Foreign Press Center, Bedard discussed a U.S.-sponsored resolution adopted by the United Nations Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice to prevent and combat transnational child sextortion.
“We keep Americans safe by countering crime and illegal drugs abroad through security assistance, diplomatic pressure, visa restrictions and rewards programs,” he said.
Bedard was in New York for a conference on child exploitation hosted by the Tim Tebow Foundation. He described transnational sextortion as one of the fastest-growing threats to children.
Sextortion uses explicit images to blackmail a victim. Although the crime is not new, Bedard said financially motivated schemes targeting children across borders have expanded.
In a common case, an offender creates a false online identity, posing as a young woman on social media or a gaming platform, and approaches a teenage boy. After gaining the child’s trust, the offender persuades him to share an explicit image, then threatens to distribute it unless money is paid.
“The psychological pressure is instant and crushing,” Bedard said, noting that children have died by suicide within hours of contact.
Since 2021, more than 40 American teenagers have died by suicide after being sextorted, he said. Thousands more have been victimized, while reports from partners suggest the global toll is higher.
Bedard said perpetrators view the crime as profitable, scalable and difficult to punish. Many schemes are run by small or
loosely affiliated groups that exchange scripts and tactics online. Criminals use artificial intelligence to create deepfakes, exploit social media and gaming platforms, communicate through encrypted applications and launder proceeds through cryptocurrency.
Nearly half of sextortion schemes targeting Americans originate in Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire, Bedard said. The Philippines ranks a distant third, followed by India, according to data he cited.
In 2025, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received more than 50,000 sextortion reports through its CyberTipline. Bedard said the cases were referred to law enforcement, not estimates. He warned that sextortion may lead to other forms of exploitation, including child sex trafficking, because offenders can use similar grooming methods to control young victims.
In June 2026, the United States secured adoption in Vienna of what Bedard described as the first U.N. resolution devoted specifically to preventing and combating transnational sextor-
tion of children. He cited President Donald Trump’s March 2026 executive order directing federal agencies to prioritize prosecutions involving cyber-enabled fraud, including sextortion schemes targeting American families.
Although boys are the targets in many financially motivated cases, Bedard said girls are also victimized. He said cooperation with Philippine authorities and partners should be measured by its ability to prevent abuse globally and save young lives.
“If we’re able to save one child from sextortion and one child from taking their own life, I consider that a success,” Bedard said.
The Young Ones Are Rediscovering the Creative Market
The Philippines is expanding participation in the creative economy through CREATEPhilippines, the government’s platform for creative industries.
In July 2026, CREATEPhilippines will stage the Philippine GameDev Expo, or PGDX, in Manila. The event aims to showcase homegrown talent and connect local game developers with international industry participants.
In September, CREATEPhilippines and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will hold the Manila International Performing Arts Market to promote
performing artists and creative enterprises. Through such programs, the younger
The sector draws on Filipino talent, culture and innovation to produce goods and services protected by intellectual property. It includes advertising, animation, fashion and graphic design, film, music, publishing, performing arts, crafts, culinary arts, gaming and software. Young Filipinos drive this growth by turning ideas and imagination into marketable work, from woven textiles and independent films to digital games and animation.
