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24 - JULY 30, 2026

20 - No.30 • 16 Pages

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DATELINE USA

Federal government defers more than $1 billion in Medicaid payments to California, Minnesota

by AJPress

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, u PAGE 3

U.S. plans over $100 million in new assistance for Subic development

by AJPress

— The United States is working with Congress to deliver more than $100 million in new foreign assistance to upgrade infrastructure and advance logistics and energy

projects in Subic, the State Department said after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. met U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio at Malacañang on Wednesday, July 22.

in New Clark City

The announcement placed Subic at the center of a broader economic agenda that also includes the Luzon Economic Corridor, a proposed technology and manufacturing zone in New Clark City and an inaugural corridor investment forum planned for September. Rubio was in Manila for the 59th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Foreign Ministers’

Sara Duterte trial turns to financial records as threat phase closes

Senate court orders selected bank, tax and anti-moneylaundering documents as prosecutors prepare to present confidential-fund evidence

by AJPress

MANILA — 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.

Separate nationwide restriction covers new Medicare enrollment by hospice and home-health providers offense. She has denied wrongdoing, while her lawyers said the prosecution must prove each charge.

The court’s actions from July 20 to 22 were procedural and did not establish that Duterte committed any

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 accounts, the Carpio Lawyers partnership and 19 corporations.

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 an-

nounced 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 Ombudsman 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

California State Bar seizes Southern California legalservices operation over alleged unauthorized practice

Agency says Filipino clients paid thousands of dollars for immigration, probate and estate-planning work

—

California has seized client files and other records from an Artesia legal-services operation after obtaining a court order in a case alleging that its operator practiced law without a license and collected substantial payments from members of the Filipino community. John Pamintuan Alamarez Jr. has never

New system may reduce in-person processing for taxpayers, including Filipinos abroad, but some prerequisites remain tied to local revenue district offices

by AJPress

F rom the F ront P age

U.S. plans over $100 million in...

Meeting 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

Senate plans to revive...

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.

Lacson also questioned P6.79 billion in items he characterized as additions to the 2025 national budget, including P2.085 billion for slope-protection and drain-

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..n

California State Bar seizes...

PAGE 1

been licensed to practice 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, 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 state-

ments 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

age 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 In-

vestigation has opened a separate inquiry 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 onefifth 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 infor-

mation 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

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 — Alex Eala will reMANILA — 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 lowtide 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

August SSI benefits will arrive early on July 31

by AJPress

Calendar adjustment moves the monthly payment because Aug. 1 falls on a Saturday; the change is not a benefit cut or extra payment

Recipients of Supplemental Security Income are scheduled to receive their August benefit on Friday, July 31, according to the Social Security Administration’s 2026 payment calendar.

SSI deposits will appear in July: the July payment on July 1 and the August payment on July 31. The second deposit is not a bonus, and the lack of a routine payment date in August does not mean benefits were reduced, canceled or withheld.

The payment is being issued early because Aug. 1 falls on a Saturday. Federal rules require SSI payments to be made on the preceding business day when the first day of the month falls on a weekend or legal holiday.

For most recipients, two

Recipients should reserve the July 31 payment for August expenses. The next SSI payment is scheduled for Sept. 1. SSI is a needs-based federal program for people with limited income and resources who are 65 or older, blind or have a qualifying disability. It is separate from Social Security retirement, survivor and disability insurance, which follows another schedule.

Certain beneficiaries, including people receiving both Social Security and SSI, are scheduled to be paid Aug. 3. Others generally receive 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

Federal bank regulators tell lenders...

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 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.

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. n

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.

Marcos plans simple fifth SONA, drops red carpet and celebrity performances

by AJPress

MANILA — President

Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address on Monday, July 27, will be staged as a simple but dignified national event, without a red carpet, long gowns, a celebrity director or A-list performers, Palace and House officials said.

Marcos will address a joint session of Congress at the Batasang Pambansa Complex in Quezon City as the 20th Congress opens its second regular session.

Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the program would be directed by Radio Television Malacañang instead of a celebrity filmmaker or entertainment personality.

The Philippine Charity

Sweepstakes Office Chorale will perform the national anthem, Malacañang announced.

Castro said organizers intended to keep the ceremony restrained while preserving the formality appropriate for a major national event.

“The conduct of a national event like the SONA will be simple yet dignified,” she said.

House Secretary General Cheloy Garafil earlier said the official invitations would specify that there would be no red carpet or long gowns. Guests are being encouraged to wear simple but dignified clothing appropriate for the occasion.

Garafil described simplicity as the guiding principle for this year’s ceremony, saying the format was in-

tended to be “in keeping with the times.”

The House, Senate, Office of the President, security agencies, local governments and other concerned offices have been coordinating logistical, security, protocol and operational arrangements for the address.

The restrained presentation comes as the Philippines faces high fuel prices and other economic pressures associated with continuing instability in the Middle East.

Malacañang has not disclosed the detailed contents of Marcos’ speech. The annual address is expected to review the administration’s performance, identify continuing challenges and outline the President’s policy

BIR takes tax-clearance applications...

cation.

nancial obligations in the Philippines. By moving core parts of the application process online, the system may reduce their reliance on relatives or representatives for repeated in-person visits.

Under Revenue Memorandum Circular No. 76-2026, dated July 9, the eTCS is a web-based facility accessible through the eServices section of the BIR website. Applicants can create a secure account, submit documents, monitor the progress of an application, pay certification and documentary stamp fees, and download an issued Tax Clearance Certificate.

The circular does not establish a separate procedure for overseas Filipinos or state that every requirement can be completed from outside the country. Eligibility and processing remain tied to the taxpayer’s BIR registration, and some prerequisite documents must be secured from the collection section of the Revenue District Office where the taxpayer is registered.

Overseas applicants may therefore still need to coordinate with their RDO or appoint an authorized representative for steps that cannot be completed through the portal. BIR application forms allow transactions through authorized representatives and require a Special Power of Attorney or other prescribed authorization, depending on the appli-

The electronic system covers four documents.

A Tax Clearance for Bidding Purposes is issued to eligible non-large individual and non-individual taxpayers seeking to participate in government procurement of goods or services.

A Tax Clearance for General Purposes certifies that a taxpayer is compliant and has no outstanding BIR tax liability for the stated purpose. It may be required for bank loans, government-agency transactions, certain accreditations, collection matters, franchise renewals regulated by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and other authorized uses.

A Tax Compliance Verification Certificate is generally a prerequisite for a bidding clearance. Under the circular, nonresident foreign corporations, nonresident aliens not engaged in trade or business, and large taxpayers are exempt from that prerequisite. Other prospective government bidders must secure the certificate from the collection section of the RDO where they are registered.

A Delinquency Verification Report is a prerequisite for a general-purpose tax clearance and must also be secured from the collection section of the taxpayer’s RDO. The distinctions matter because a general-purpose clearance cannot be substituted for every tax document.

Ejercito seeks 30-year infrastructure plan across administrations

by AJPress

MANILA — Sen. JV Ejercito is seeking legislation that would require the government to maintain a 30-year national infrastructure plan, arguing that major projects should not be repeatedly redirected or abandoned when presidential administrations change.

The Senate committees on economic affairs, public works and finance opened joint deliberations July 16 on four versions of the proposed Masterplan for Infrastructure and National Development Act, or MIND Act. The measures would institutionalize a Comprehensive Infrastructure Development Master Plan covering three decades.

PAGE 5

According to the BIR circular, it does not cover government bidding, accreditation of importers or customs brokers, the sale or transfer of shares or real property, or approval of the sale or transfer of a Certificate of Public Convenience.

That limitation is particularly important for Filipinos abroad handling inherited property, selling Philippine real estate or transferring company shares. Those transactions remain subject to separate BIR procedures and should not be treated as covered by the new general-purpose clearance. Online filing also does not remove the underlying compliance requirements. The BIR must still evaluate the application and the taxpayer’s records before issuing a clearance.

Applicants should first determine which certificate is required by the bank, government office or other institution requesting it. Overseas taxpayers should also confirm their registered RDO, review the eTCS user’s manual and determine whether a local representative will be needed for any remaining step. The nationwide rollout is part of the BIR’s broader effort to expand digital services and simplify tax administration. For Filipinos outside the country, its practical value lies in making more of the process accessible remotely while preserving the bureau’s verification and compliance requirements. n

The four pending measures — Senate Bills Nos. 2, 863, 1360 and 1652 — were filed separately by Sens. JV Ejercito, Jinggoy Estrada, Erwin Tulfo and Win Gatchalian, respectively.

Estrada filed his version on Aug. 4, 2025, before his detention in June 2026 on a pending plunder charge. He has denied wrongdoing. His legal case is unrelated to the infrastructure legislation.

Ejercito filed Senate Bill No. 2 on July 2, 2025, with Sen. Joel Villanueva listed as a co-author. Tulfo filed his version on Sept. 9, 2025, while Gatchalian filed his measure on Jan. 8, 2026. All four bills remain pending before Senate committees.

The proposals would re-

Sara Duterte trial turns...

PAGE 1

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

quire the formulation of a long-term infrastructure blueprint and establish a MIND Council to oversee its development, implementation and periodic review. The proposed framework would guide national and local projects involving transportation, energy, water resources, information and communications technology, housing, social infrastructure, agriculture and food logistics, among other sectors.

Ejercito said large projects such as railways, dams and major road systems often require planning and construction extending beyond a president’s six-year term. He said a legislated master plan could preserve continu-

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 sched-

uled 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

seeks 30-year infrastructure...

ity, reduce fragmented development and spread economic activity beyond Metro Manila.

Those are projected benefits of the proposal, not assured results. The legislation would establish a planning and oversight framework; it would not automatically provide funding or final approval for every project included in the plan.

Congress would continue to determine annual appropriations, while individual projects would remain subject to applicable technical, procurement, environmental and regulatory requirements.

The proposed law would also build on an infrastructure-planning system already established by the executive branch.

Executive Order No. 72, signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Oct. 28, 2024, requires government agencies and state corporations involved in infrastructure to follow an integrated process for preparing, approving, budgeting, implementing and monitoring sectoral master plans.

The order requires nationally significant plans to be reviewed by the Infrastructure Committee and confirmed by the government’s economic planning board. It also directs agencies to align priority projects with the Public Investment Program and the Three-Year Rolling Infrastructure Program.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros, chair of the Committee on Economic Affairs, said the

proposed legislation was intended to anchor infrastructure spending in long-term planning and help prevent poorly planned, unnecessary or irregular projects from entering the budget.

The hearing also examined whether the proposed MIND Council would overlap with existing planning bodies, how a 30-year program could remain responsive to changing conditions and how national agencies would coordinate with local governments.

Hontiveros said a technical working group would refine the proposals and consider the concerns raised during the hearing. The four bills may be consolidated or amended before they are presented to the full Senate. n

Marcos plans simple fifth SONA...

and legislative priorities.

Marcos appoints Joey Salceda to lead legislative liaison office

Former Albay lawmaker will coordinate the administration’s agenda with the Senate and House

by AJPress

MANILA — Sen. Francis “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.

secure 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.

The State of the Nation Address is delivered before Congress at the opening of its regular session. It serves as the President’s annual report on the country’s condition and the administration’s program of government.

Marcos delivered his first

SONA in July 2022, weeks after assuming office. Monday’s address will be his fifth and penultimate SONA before his six-year term ends in 2028. n

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

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.

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

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.

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.

That role was on display in Manila this week

FLEA MARKET OF IDEAS

Joel Ruiz Butuyan

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.

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.

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

3 events that will define our political future

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, 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

standard is not whether disputes can be resolved in one year, but whether member states can show progress where they have agreed to cooperate.

Commentary

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 spe-

cies 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,

AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of

A luxury ingredient with a poverty...

PAGE 6

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 admired 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 farmer cooperatives with small-scale 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 economic 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 re-

cently, 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)

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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. n

The Arbitral Ruling must shape...

PAGE 6

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 notification of serious incidents and clearer search-and-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. ASEAN has identified regional power connectivity, petroleum security, renewable-energy integration and supply diversification as priorities. Those goals need timetables. Priority power-grid projects should have financing plans, regulatory requirements and completion dates. Member states should also clarify how the ASEAN Framework Agreement on Petroleum Security would operate during disruption, including which agencies would coordinate assistance

3 events that will define our...

PAGE 6

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 suspected 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 a mere matter of months, judging by the two impeachment trials our country

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 coop-

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 evidence, outcome, and perceptions of fairness or

eration is measured by how quickly help arrives.

Transnational crime requires the same operational focus. Online 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.

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.

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 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

* * *

Comments to fleamarketofideas@gmail.com n

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.

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.

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) n

Pew survey finds Filipinos view U.S. more favorably than China

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 in-

cluded 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

DTI sets P1-billion loan fund for young entrepreneurs

by AJPress

MANILA — The Department of Trade and Industry has announced a P1-billion financing program intended to help young Filipinos start or expand businesses.

The Youth Enterprise Fund will be administered by the Small Business Corp., the government financial institution attached to DTI. Under the terms announced by Trade Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque, business owners ages 18 to 30 may apply for loans ranging from P30,000 to P500,000. The loans may be repaid over as long as three years and include a grace period of up to one year. The government account of the announcement did not specify whether the grace period applies to principal alone or also to interest.

Applications are scheduled to open July 27 through the SBCorp website and the

SBCorp Money mobile application. DTI said prospective borrowers may also seek information and business-development assistance through its regional offices.

Roque announced the program July 22 during the National Exporters’ Fair at SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City. The department presented the fund as an effort to widen young entrepreneurs’ access to startup and expansion capital.

The loans have been described as collateral-free. That does not make them grants, guarantee approval or eliminate the borrower’s obligation to repay. Final eligibility, credit-review and approval standards will be governed by SBCorp’s formal rules.

The announcement did not state the applicable interest rate, possible fees, complete documentary requirements or permitted uses of the proceeds. Prospective bor-

Nafarrete takes command of AFP with territorial defense as top priority

Former Army commander succeeds Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. and pledges to advance modernization while maintaining peace agreements and internal-security commitments

by AJPress

assumed command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Tuesday, July 21, making territorial defense and modernization central priorities amid tensions in the South China Sea.

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. presided over the changeof-command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo. Nafarrete became the AFP’s 61st chief of staff, succeeding Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr., who retired after completing a three-year tour.

Nafarrete had served as commanding general of the Philippine Army since July 2025. Lt. Gen. Donald M. Gumiran, former commander of the Western Mindanao Command, was named to succeed him as Army chief.

Marcos instructed AFP leaders to defend Philippine sovereignty and national interests while pursuing peaceful relations and cooperation with

other countries.

In his assumption address, Nafarrete said the AFP’s top priority was to strengthen territorial defense and further operationalize the Comprehensive Archipelagic Defense Concept, the government’s external-defense framework for the archipelago.

He said peace, dialogue and respect for international law must be backed by credible capability, sustained readiness and the resolve to defend Philippine interests. The AFP would expand unilateral, bilateral and multilateral exercises and defense engagements, guided by national interests, he said.

The leadership change continues the AFP’s policy shift from internal security toward an external and maritime defense role. The transition has unfolded amid repeated confrontations involving Philippine and Chinese vessels in disputed waters and expanding security cooperation with the United States, Japan, Aus-

tralia and other partners. Nafarrete said modernization extends beyond acquiring ships, aircraft and weapons. Every platform, he said, must be supported by trained personnel, clear doctrine, effective organization, resilient facilities, reliable logistics, maintenance and long-term sustainment.

He also pledged to preserve gains from internal-security operations and support existing peace agreements and normalization efforts in former conflict-affected communities.

A member of the Philippine Military Academy’s “Bigkis-Lahi” Class of 1990, Nafarrete has held senior command and staff posts, including leadership of the Western Mindanao Command, the 6th Infantry Division and the 1st Infantry Division.

Under Republic Act No. 11939, the AFP chief of staff has a maximum three-year tour beginning when the appointment is signed, unless the president ends it earlier. n

AirAsia MOVE sees Philippines retaining strong H2 travel demand

by AJPress

rowers should examine the official disclosure and loan documents before accepting financing.

The program is consistent with Republic Act No. 10679, or the Youth Entrepreneurship Act, which promotes entrepreneurship and financial education among Filipino youth and calls for financing, information, training and marketing support.

SBCorp identifies youth entrepreneurs among the priority segments it serves as part of its mandate to expand financing for micro, small and medium enterprises.

DTI said the fund is intended to help young Filipinos convert business ideas into operating enterprises. Its impact will depend on the final loan terms, the quality of borrower screening and whether the financed businesses generate enough income to meet their repayment obligations over time. n

MANILA — The Philippines is expected to remain among AirAsia MOVE’s strongest destination markets through the end of 2026, according to forward bookings on the platform.

AirAsia MOVE listed the Philippines alongside Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia and Japan as markets expected to sustain demand for travel from July 1 through Dec. 31. Its July 21 release did not rank the countries or provide booking totals, market shares or country-specific growth rates.

The findings are based on AirAsia MOVE transactions and do not constitute an industrywide assessment of tourism demand.

The platform said forward bookings for international flights of less than four hours were 14 percent above bookings for travel during the corresponding period

in 2025. It also reported that a growing proportion of reservations were being made more than 120 days before departure, but did not disclose the share.

Average spending on flights covered by the data was about 35 percent higher than average hotel spending, AirAsia MOVE said. Threeand four-star properties accounted for 76 percent of hotel bookings through the platform.

Millennials represented 43 percent of bookings, followed by Generation Z travelers at 23 percent. The figures describe AirAsia MOVE’s customers, not the wider Asian travel market.

Government data separately showed higher visitor arrivals during the first half of 2026.

The Department of Tourism reported 2,955,014 arrivals from Jan. 1 through June 16, up 6.16 percent from the comparable period in 2025. As of June 17, the

United States was the top source market, with 591,569 arrivals.

Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the department planned to work with transportation officials, airlines, airports and industry representatives to improve access to destinations.

The Philippine Statistics Authority estimated that tourism directly generated P2.27 trillion in economic value in 2025, equivalent to 8.1 percent of gross domestic product. Employment in tourism industries was estimated at 7.70 million.

The broader picture remained mixed. Domestic tourism spending rose 3 percent to P3.26 trillion, while inbound tourism spending declined 6.4 percent to P698.46 billion.

The company and government figures measure different parts of the travel economy and should not be treated as directly comparable. n

WHO says modifiable factors account for up to 45% of dementia risk

Updated guidance emphasizes physical activity, chronic disease control, hearing care, social engagement and cleaner air

by AJPress

GENEVA — Up to 45% of dementia risk may be associated with factors that can be modified, the World Health Organization said in updated guidance released July 15.

The estimate does not mean every person can reduce personal risk by 45%, or that all cases linked to those factors will be prevented. It is a population-level projection. Age, genetics, underlying diseases and social conditions also influence risk, and dementia is not entirely preventable.

The guidelines update recommendations first issued in 2019. They emphasize physical activity, tobacco cessation, reduced alcohol consumption, a healthy diet, cognitive stimulation and continued social engagement. WHO also recommends managing hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol, treating hearing loss when appropriate and reducing exposure to air pollution.

The estimate is consistent with the 2024 Lancet Commission report, which concluded that addressing 14 potentially modifiable factors across the life course could prevent or delay about 45% of dementia cases worldwide. The factors include limited education, hearing loss, high LDL cholesterol, depression, traumatic brain injury, physical inactivity, diabetes, smoking, hypertension, obesity, harmful alcohol use, social isolation, air pollution and untreated vision loss.

The calculation describes the share of cases that might be avoided or postponed if those risks were reduced. It does not establish that a particular factor caused an individual’s dementia.

WHO advises against taking vitamins B or E, omega-3 fatty acids, or multivitamin and mineral supplements solely to prevent cognitive decline or dementia when no deficiency

has been diagnosed. The recommendation does not apply when a clinician identifies a deficiency or another medical reason for supplementation.

Dementia is an umbrella term for conditions that impair memory, thinking and the ability to perform daily activities. Alzheimer disease is the most common form and accounts for an estimated 60% to 70% of cases.

WHO estimates that 57 million people were living with dementia worldwide in 2021 and that nearly 10 million new cases occur annually. Dementia is the seventh-leading cause of death globally and a major cause of disability and dependence among older adults.

The condition cost the global economy an estimated $1.3 trillion in 2019, with about half attributed to unpaid care provided by relatives and friends. There is no cure, but medicines, rehabilitation, physical activity, cognitive stimulation,

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 yearend if oil prices ease and remittance inflows strengthen.

Those figures are private-sector forecasts, not of-

social engagement and caregiver support can help manage symptoms and preserve quali-

ficial 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, although

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

ty of life. WHO said reducing risk also requires policies addressing poverty, limited education, unequal health-care access and environmental conditions. n

Binibining Pilipinas 2026 winners crowned

by AJPress

QUEZON CITY, Philippines

— Gwendoline 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

SB19

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. n

Chicago appearance falls between the Filipino pop group’s Grammy Museum program and Lollapalooza performance

by AJPress

CHICAGO — Filipino pop group SB19 is scheduled to participate in the ceremonial first pitch before the Chicago White Sox host the New York

24, 2026

people events arts culture entertainment

Agot Isidro revisits the music that began her career

The Filipino singer-actress marks more than 35 years across recording, television, film and theater

Partners. She was also named

by AJPress

MANILA — Agot Isidro turned 60 on July 20 with a career spanning 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 continued 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

Her stage work has included musical and dramatic productions, allowing her to move between singing and performance.

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 tele-

Yankees on July 29 at Rate Field.

The Major League Baseball game is scheduled to begin at 6:40 p.m. Central time. SB19 billed the appearance as the first time a Filipino group would throw a ceremonial first pitch at an MLB game.

sed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin.

The Chicago engagement is part of three consecutive days of appearances in Los Angeles and Chicago for SB19, compo-

On July 28, the group is scheduled to appear at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles for a sold-out edition of

FAMAS honors television, radio and digital media in first Broadcast Arts Awards

by AJPress

MANILA — The Filipino Academy of Movie Arts and Sciences (FAMAS), 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 Mo-

tor” 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 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. n

SB19 set for ceremonial first pitch...

PAGE 11

Global Spin Live. The museum program is scheduled to include a discussion of SB19’s career and music followed by a performance.

SB19 is then set to perform July 30 at Lollapalooza, which runs through Aug. 2 at Grant Park in Chicago. Festival organizers list July 30 as the opening day of the four-day event.

The White Sox appearance places the group in an American sports setting between two music-related engagements. It is a ceremonial role rather than a scheduled musical performance at the ballpark.

from Instagram/@officialsb19

Several Filipino public figures have previously thrown ceremonial first pitches at MLB games, including boxer Manny Pacquiao, actress Liza Soberano and comedian Jo Koy. The group released Wakas at Simula in March. The album includes “Visa,” “Toyfriend” and “Emoji.” The baseball 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. n

BINI releases ‘A Parallel World’ for DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’

The Filipino pop group contributes an original song to the animated film’s soundtrack

by AJPress

MANILA — Filipino pop group BINI released “A Parallel World” on July 23 as an original song for DreamWorks Animation’s forthcoming feature Forgotten Island.

The song arrived on digital music platforms after BINI introduced part of the recording during the opening Manila concerts of its Signals World Tour in June.

BINI is composed of Aiah, Colet, Maloi, Gwen, Stacey, Mikha, Jhoanna and Sheena. The group is managed by Star Magic and records under Star Music, both part of ABS-CBN.

“A Parallel World” is among several Filipino and Filipino American contributions announced for the film’s soundtrack. Other participating artists include H.E.R., Lea Salonga, SB19, KATSEYE member Sophia Laforteza, Ruby Ibarra and Carl Angelo.

The song has not been identified as the film’s principal theme or lead single. Public

announcements describe it as BINI’s original contribution to the soundtrack.

Forgotten Island follows Jo and Raissa, lifelong friends voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano. As they prepare to take separate paths after high school, the two enter a portal that transports them to Nakali, an island inhabited by creatures drawn from stories told by their Filipino families.

Their effort to return home becomes more difficult when they learn that escaping the island could cost them the memories of their friendship.

The voice cast also includes Dave Franco as Raww and

the other announced performers.

Joel Crawford and Filipino American filmmaker Januel Mercado wrote and directed the film, with Mark Swift serving as producer. The three previously worked together on DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. DreamWorks Animation produced Forgotten Island, with Universal Pictures handling distribution. The film is scheduled to open in U.S. theaters on Sept. 25.. n

Jacob Batalon reflects on a decade with Spider-Man

The Filipino American actor returns as Ned Leeds in ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day,’ opening July 31

LOS ANGELES — Jacob Batalon was at the beginning of his acting career when he joined the production of Spider-Man: Homecoming in 2016.

A decade later, the Filipino American actor is returning as Ned Leeds in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, the fourth film in the Spider-Man series led by Tom Holland.

Asked what he would tell the younger version of himself entering the franchise, Batalon offered a brief warning: “Buckle up.”

The actor recalled being unfamiliar with the workings of a large movie production when he arrived on the Homecomingset. The role became his first major studio assignment and placed him alongside Holland and Zendaya in one of Marvel’s most widely followed film series.

Born and raised in Honolulu by Filipino parents, Batalon had appeared in the independent film North Woods before

being cast as Ned, Peter Parker’s closest friend.

Spider-Man: Homecoming opened in 2017. Batalon returned for Spider-Man: Far From Home in 2019 and Spider-Man: No Way Home in 2021. He also appeared as Ned in Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.

The conclusion of No Way Home left Peter in a world where no one, including Ned and MJ, remembered him.

Destin Daniel Cretton directed the film from a screenplay by Chris McKenna and Erik Sommers. The announced cast includes Holland, Zendaya, Batalon, Sadie Sink, Jon Bernthal, Tramell Tillman, Michael Mando and Mark Ruffalo.

Spider-Man: Brand New Day is scheduled to open exclusively in theaters July 31, marking 10 years since Batalon first joined the franchise.” n

Sony Pictures’ synopsis for Brand New Day finds Peter fighting crime full time as Spider-Man while watching his former friends continue their lives without him. The pressure contributes to a change in Peter that he may be unable to control. The studio’s public description does not disclose the extent of Ned’s role in the story.

Andi Eigenmann reflects on ‘nepo baby’ label and pressure to prove herself

by AJPress

MANILA — Andi Eigenmann said growing up as the daughter of two prominent actors brought pressure to establish an identity and career of her own in Philippine show business.

In an interview with broadcaster Karen Davila released July 18, Eigenmann described herself as “technically” a “nepo baby,” a popular label for children of prominent figures who enter the same field and are perceived to benefit from family connections.

Eigenmann, the daughter of the late actors Jaclyn Jose and Mark Gil, said she felt greater pressure when she entered entertainment because she wanted to show that she was more than her parents’ child.

“I can make a name for myself, that I’ve got what it takes, that I deserve to be here,” she said, recalling her early career.

Viva Artists Agency lists Eigenmann’s television work as beginning in 2005. She later played the adult twins in the 2010 fantasy drama “Agua Bendita.” Her film credits include “A Secret Affair,” “Camp Sawi” and “Ma’

Rosa,” in which she appeared with Jose.

Jose won the Cannes Film Festival’s best actress award in 2016 for her performance in “Ma’ Rosa.” Gil died in 2014, while Jose died in 2024.

Eigenmann also said the pressures she experienced while growing up in public

affected her mental health. Her remarks centered on pressure and efforts to prove herself. She has stepped away from regular film and television work and lives with her family in Siargao. Viva continues to list her as an actress, content creator, influencer and endorser. n

Joel Lamangan, Joey Reyes revisit memorable encounters with actors

by AJPress

MANILA — Veteran directors Joel Lamangan and Jose Javier “Joey” Reyes reflected on past disagreements with performers and the professional standards they expect on a film set during a July 1 appearance on GMA Network’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda.”

Reyes, chairman and chief executive of the Film Development Council of the Philippines, and Lamangan said talent must be matched by careful preparation, consistent professionalism and mutual respect for production workers. They also said actors may suggest ideas, but directors remain responsible for a project’s broader creative decisions.

Asked about a former adversary who later became a friend, Reyes named Richard

Gomez. Reyes recalled a past disagreement that he said became physical, but described the dispute as long resolved. Gomez was not interviewed for the segment, and his account was not presented; the incident is reported solely as Reyes’ recollection. Lamangan separately recalled tension with the late National Artist Nora Aunor during the making of the 1999 film “Sidhi,” which also starred Albert Martinez and Glydel Mercado. Lamangan said he believed Aunor became upset after viewing footage that included Mercado’s performance and initially declined to attend dubbing. Mercado later won best supporting actress honors for “Sidhi” from FAMAS, Gawad Urian, the Film Academy of the Philippines and the PMPC Star Awards.

Lamangan also described

Filipino designer brings Philippine basketball influences to Anthony Edwards shoe

by AJPress

A Philippine-market edition of NBA star Anthony Edwards’ signature basketball shoe incorporates references to Filipino culture, national colors and the country’s passion for the sport.

Adidas released the Anthony Edwards 2 “Magpakitang Gilas,” designed by Filipino creative Melvin Rodas.

Edwards is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Born in Atlanta, he played at the University of Georgia before Minnesota selected him first overall in the 2020 NBA draft.

The Tagalog phrase “magpakitang gilas” broadly means to demonstrate skill, ability or competitive spirit. It also recalls Gilas Pilipinas, the name widely used for the Philippine national basketball program.

According to Adidas, the shoe’s changing shades of

blue represent bayanihan, the Filipino tradition of working toward a shared purpose.

Red interior accents and yellow-green stitching reference colors associated with the Philippine flag.

The inner tongues carry “Magpakitang Gilas” and “Shine for the Squad,” while “Pilipinas” and “Basketball”

appear on the lace tips.

Rodas said the concept drew on pride, teamwork and bayanihan. Adidas says the model combines Lightstrike and Boost cushioning with a textile-and-synthetic upper and rubber outsole.

The shoe was released in the Philippines in late June 26. n

Meryll Soriano says Willie Revillame’s

Senate loss may have been for the best

by AJPress

MANILA — Actress Meryll Soriano said she believed her father Willie Revillame’s unsuccessful 2025 Senate bid may have turned out for the best, citing the pressures of politics and her concern for his health and family.

an unidentified performer whom he considered unprepared for acting. He said he advised the person to consider restaurant work and later encountered him as a head waiter in Dubai. Lamangan clarified that he did not intend to disparage service workers.

The directors also named JM Ibarra as a young actor they would like to direct.

Reyes cited Ibarra’s performance in “Child No. 82: Anak ni Boy Kana,” directed by Tim Rone Villanueva. Ibarra later starred opposite Fyang Smith in “Almost Us,” directed by Dan Villegas.

Neither filmmaker announced a project with Ibarra during the interview. Their remarks underscored a shared view: talent may open doors, but lasting careers also depend on discipline, respect and an understanding of each person’s role on set. n

Soriano discussed Revillame’s campaign during the July 21 episode of GMA Network’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” where she appeared with Pokwang to promote their Cinemalaya film “2 Valid IDs.”

The film, directed by Ma-an Asuncion-Dagñalan, follows a farmer who encounters identification requirements while trying to claim money sent for her ailing husband at a remittance center.

Soriano said she had initially felt uneasy about his candidacy because politics was out-

Agot

11

side his experience. She said her father had since reflected on the decision and understood that politics was not his forte.

According to Soriano, people encouraged Revillame to run because they believed he could help others. She said, however, that she questioned how he would handle the stress of a national campaign and public office, describing her reaction as a daughter’s concern about the possible effects on his health, daily life

and family.

Revillame ran as an independent in the May 12, 2025 midterm elections. He received 8,568,924 votes and finished 22nd, outside the 12 winning Senate positions.

At a January 2026 press conference for “Wilyonaryo,” Revillame described the loss as a blessing in disguise and said he did not mind the outcome.

Soriano said she believed her father could continue helping people through other pursuits. n

Isidro revisits the music...

vision 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.

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. n

Health @Heart Med-info capsules

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 techniques 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 combina-

tion 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 bananas, 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, affects 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 GLP-1 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

PH Envoy Fosters Closer Ties, Advances Cooperation

With U.S. Marine Corps

and friendship.

U.S. Congressional Staffers Enjoy Philippine Flavors at Asia-Pacific and South Asia Diplomatic Event

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Staffers in the U.S. Congress got a taste of Jollibee Chickenjoy – voted the best fast food chicken by USA Today for the third straight year in 2026 – during the annual Embassy Night of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association (CAPASA) and Congressional

a diuretic and makes the kidneys flush out more excess 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 opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial

South Asian-American Staff Association (CSAASA).

Visitors to the Philippine booth also sampled Jollibee’s peach mango pie, as well as Philippine-sourced pineapple and mango juices. Traditional textiles and handicrafts and tourism promotional materials were also on hand for attendees to browse, while

board and staff.

*

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash

two lucky visitors won bottles of Philippine rum via a raffle. The Philippine participation in the Embassy Night was a joint endeavor of the Political and Legislative Section of the Embassy and its attached agencies, the Philippine Agriculture Office and Philippine Trade and Investment Center. n

Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, distinguished educators, renowned scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com. On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com n

U.S. Efforts to Prevent and Combat Transnational Sextortion of Children

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

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 pro-

ceeds 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 sextortion 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.

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.

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 de-

velopers with international industry participants.

In September, CREATEPhilippines and the Cultural Center of the Philippines will hold the Manila International Performing Arts Market to promote Filipino performing artists and creative enterprises. Through such programs, the younger generation is helping strengthen an industry with economic and cultural value..

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

rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com n