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Volume 37 - No. 34 • 12 Pages
AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
Also published in Los Angeles, Orange County/Inland Empire, Northern California, San Diego, New York/New Jersey
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FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Los Angeles names two downtown squares to mark Little Manila history
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Senate absences raise stakes in Sara Duterte impeachment trial Five senator-judges have missed proceedings or face barriers to participation as the court keeps the 16-vote requirement for conviction
Council authorizes permanent ceremonial signs at First and Los Angeles streets and Temple and Figueroa streets
by AJPress
MANILA — The absence or legal unavailability of several senator-judges is emerging as a significant factor in Vice President Sara Duterte’s im-
Zamboanga school shooting exposes gaps in gun storage, campus security
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles City Council has approved official designations for two downtown intersections associated with the city’s early Filipino American communities, naming First and Los Angeles streets “Little Manila Square” and Temple and Figueroa streets “America is in the Heart Square.” The Council adopted the Public Works Committee report on Aug. 11 by a 13-0 vote, with Councilmembers Curren Price and Nithya Raman absent. The action became final Aug. 12. The proposal originated with Councilmember Ysabel Jurado and was seconded by Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. Under the action, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation is directed to u PAGE 4
Second fatal Philippine school shooting in two months intensifies scrutiny of firearm access and school-safety measures by AJPress
Military recruiting rebound accelerates as services hit 2026 goals early Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force reach annual targets months ahead of schedule after years of recruiting difficulties WASHINGTON - U.S. military recruiting has continued its strong recovery in 2026, with four active-duty services reaching annual goals months ahead of schedule after years of difficulty attracting enough qualified volunteers. The Army said in May that it had signed contracts with more than 61,500 future soldiers, meeting its fiscal 2026 active-duty target four months before the Sept. 30 end of the fiscal year. The Navy later contracted 45,000 future sailors. The Air Force reached its goal of 32,750 active-duty airmen five u PAGE 4
Education Secretary Sonny Angara visited Ateneo de Zamboanga University to meet with school officials. Alongside government agencies such as DSWD and DOH, and partner organizations, the initiative also provided Psychological First Aid and psychosocial support to students, families, and school personnel in need. DepED Photo
Investigation continues as BARMM prepares for landmark Sept. 14 vote by AJPress
COTABATO CITY - Security surrounding the Bangsamoro region’s first regular parliamentary election has drawn closer scrutiny as authorities continue investigating the Aug. 15
Former speaker cites witness reversals; Ombudsman says 28 other witnesses remain
MANILA — Former House speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez has challenged key witness accounts in the government’s flood-control corruption investigation, citing a series of recantations while the Office of the Ombudsman maintains that its inquiry rests on a broader body of testimony and evidence. Romualdez filed a supplemental counter-affidavit Thursday, Aug. 20, incorporating the recantation of retired Marine Orly Guteza, who withdrew earlier
MANILA — Investigators examining the fatal shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University have established that a 14-year-old Grade 8 student obtained firearms from a vehicle used to take him to school and entered the junior high school building through an access point that allowed him to bypass regular security screening, officials told a Senate inquiry Thursday. The Aug. 18 attack killed a 15-year-old Grade 10 student and the suspected shooter, who died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities. Police said another student suffered a bullet graze to the back and was in stable condition Thursday. A second student who collapsed during the incident has recovered. The shooting, the Philippines’ second fatal school u PAGE 3
Attack on Bangsamoro leader’s FBI adds Iloilo mayor’s son to convoy raises security concerns Most Wanted Fraudsters list in ahead of first parliamentary election alleged $650 million scheme attack on the convoy of interim Chief Minister Abdulraof “Sammy Gambar” Macacua. Macacua and his companions escaped unharmed after gunmen fired on the convoy along the national highway in Datu Odin u PAGE4
allegations that he participated in cash deliveries to properties associated with the former speaker. The Ombudsman said Guteza’s reversal would not derail its investigation. The anti-graft office said it has 28 other witnesses, described as active members of the uniformed services, who can provide direct and material information about transactions under scrutiny. Romualdez, who represents Leyte’s 1st District, has denied wrongdoing. The case remains u PAGE 4
Federal agents offer up to $150,000 for information leading to Rey E. Grabato II’s arrest and conviction by AJPress
NEWARK, N.J. — The FBI has added Rey E. Grabato II, son of Mina, Iloilo Mayor Rey P. Grabato, to its Most Wanted Fraudsters list over allegations that he participated in an investment involving more than Authorities investigate recruitment through scheme $650 million and about 2,000 investors. gaming communities and private chats as remained on the FBI government expands scrutiny of online threats listGrabato as of Aug. 19. The bureau is offering up to $150,000 for inforto children mation leading to his arrest and Vida said Thursday that investi- conviction and says he has ties by AJPress gators are pursuing information to the Philippines and may be MANILA — Philippine au- that recruiters identify minors living there. thorities are investigating online active in violent online games, A federal arrest warrant was networks that allegedly target engage them directly and move issued Oct. 12, 2022, in New minors through violent gaming some conversations into private Jersey. Grabato is charged with communities, social-media plat- group chats. He said the infor- conspiracy to commit securities forms and private chat groups, mation remains under verifica- fraud, securities fraud, conspirraising concern that children are tion and should not be treated as acy to commit wire fraud, wire being drawn into digital spaces a finding against any particular fraud and conspiracy to defraud where violence, coercion and platform or user. the United States in connection The inquiry is part of a broad- with taxes. extremist material can spread er government effort to track onwith little oversight. The charges remain allegau PAGE 4 tions. Grabato has not been Justice Secretary Fredderick
PH DOJ warns: Extremists targeting Romualdez challenges key testimony in flood-control probe minors in violent online games by AJPress
peachment trial, raising questions over how many senators will be able to participate when the Senu PAGE 3
convicted in the case and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Federal prosecutors allege that Grabato and others participated in a scheme involving National Realty Investment Advisors LLC, or NRIA. According to the indictment, an NRIA investment fund raised approximately $650 million from about 2,000 investors between February 2018 and January 2022. Grabato was NRIA’s president and majority owner. Prosecutors allege investors were misled about NRIA’s financial condition and the use of their money. The indictment alleges that investor funds were used in part to make distributions while NRIA generated little or no operating income from its properties. NRIA, the investment fund and more than 100 affiliated companies filed for Chapter u PAGE 3
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AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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SUSIE LEE FIGHTS FOR YOU AND ME!
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From the Front Page
ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
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From the Front Page
Senate absences raise stakes... PAGE 1 ate court ultimately votes. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ruled when the trial opened July 6 that conviction requires at least 16 votes, or two-thirds of the Senate’s 24 members. Impeachment court spokesman Reginald Tongol said Aug. 20 that lowering the threshold because some senators are unavailable would alter a rule already established for the proceeding. Five senator-judges have missed hearings or face obstacles to participating, although their circumstances differ substantially. Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano was absent from both the impeachment trial and the regular Senate session Aug. 17 after missing proceedings since Aug. 11. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. said that, as of Aug. 17, Cayetano’s office had not formally provided an explanation. His sister, Sen. Pia Cayetano, and Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri had earlier said he was not feeling well. Sen. Loren Legarda’s absences were covered by medical leave for Aug. 3 to 5, Aug. 11 to 12 and Aug. 17 to 19. Her latest publicly confirmed leave expired Aug. 19, with no subsequent extension or confirmed return to the Philippines publicly reported as of Aug. 20. Legarda also denied reports that her overseas stay was intended to position her to seek political asylum or avoid possible prosecution. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano had
raised asylum only as a possibility while discussing a preliminary investigation involving Legarda, her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over allegations involving solar-energy projects. Legarda has denied wrongdoing and said her leave complied with Senate rules. Bureau of Immigration records showed that she and Leviste left the country separately Aug. 2 and had no derogatory immigration records at departure. The Ombudsman inquiry remains preliminary, and no court finding of criminal liability has been made in the solar matter. The scheduled Aug. 19 impeachment hearing was canceled because of forecasts of heavy rain. Three other senators face more direct legal impediments. Sen. Jinggoy Estrada is detained in connection with plunder and graft charges involving alleged kickbacks from flood-control projects and is serving a 90-day preventive suspension imposed by the Sandiganbayan. Estrada has denied the allegations. The anti-graft court has rejected his request to leave detention to perform his duties as a senator-judge. Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa remains at large while authorities seek to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant over alleged crimes against humanity connected to the Duterte administration’s anti-drug campaign. Dela Rosa has denied wrongdoing. The Supreme Court denied his request
for interim protection against enforcement of the warrant while leaving the principal legal questions unresolved. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta is also detained after the Sandiganbayan ordered his arrest on a separate plunder charge shortly before the impeachment trial opened. He has denied wrongdoing. The attendance issue has prompted House lead prosecutor Gerville Luistro to argue that senators beyond the chamber’s power to compel attendance should be considered in determining the number of votes required for conviction, citing the Supreme Court’s 1949 Avelino v. Cuenco ruling on legislative quorum. The impeachment court has not adopted that interpretation. It allows senators who register for a hearing and continue monitoring proceedings within designated Senate areas to remain covered by its continuing-quorum rule, but that provision does not resolve the status of senators who are detained, suspended or otherwise unavailable. Cayetano could return, Legarda’s latest leave has expired, and the legal circumstances affecting Estrada, dela Rosa and Marcoleta could change before judgment. Duterte has denied wrongdoing and is contesting the impeachment charges. With the prosecution still presenting evidence and the defense case yet to be completed, the composition of the Senate court at the time of judgment remains one of the trial’s central uncertainties. (AJPress)
FBI adds Iloilo mayor’s son to Most Wanted... PAGE 1 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2022. The Securities and Exchange Commission separately sued NRIA and four former executives in 2022, alleging a Ponzi-like operation that raised approximately $600 million from investors. Federal prosecutors allege that Thomas Nicholas Salzano secretly directed NRIA’s day-today operations and used Grabato as a stand-in chief executive
who followed his instructions. The indictment also alleges that Grabato carried out transactions that prosecutors say furthered the scheme. Salzano later pleaded guilty to securities fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and a tax-related conspiracy. He was sentenced in 2024 to 12 years in federal prison. His conviction does not determine Grabato’s guilt. Grabato’s family has called for
due process. His brother, Christopher Grabato, has said he is recovering from a severe stroke and is partially paralyzed. The medical claims have not been independently verified. The Iloilo provincial government lists Rey P. Grabato as mayor of Mina. Neither the FBI wanted notice nor the federal indictment reviewed by Asian Journal names the mayor as a defendant or alleges that he participated in the scheme. n
GOV'T AID. Volunteers help Department of Social Welfare and Development staff in repacking relief goods at the National Resource Operations Center in Pasay City on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. The food packs will be distributed to families affected by inclement weather. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Zamboanga school shooting exposes gaps... PAGE 1 attack in less than two months, has intensified scrutiny of firearm storage, campus security and the government's ability to identify threats involving minors. Bureau of Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno said the suspect's father, a Customs police officer in Zamboanga, had left firearms in a vehicle normally used to take his son to school. On the day of the shooting, a driver, rather than the father, transported the student. Customs relieved and preventively suspended the father while an administrative investigation proceeds. Nepomuceno has said the officer had a responsibility to secure government-issued firearms. Officials said one of the two weapons was issued by Customs. Police were still verifying the licensing and ownership status of the other firearm. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Thursday that the father was cooperating with investigators and that authorities had not established criminal culpability on his part. Any determination of criminal liability would require further investigation and prosecutorial review. Ateneo legal adviser Armee Jay Cresmundo told senators that the student entered the junior high
building through a ramp intended for persons with disabilities. The ramp, normally closed except when needed, was open for another student at the time and enabled the suspected shooter to avoid the building's regular security checkpoint. The finding adds a physical-security dimension to a national debate that initially centered on access to firearms and possible online influences. Police have cautioned the public against circulating social-media accounts and posts purportedly associated with the student unless their authenticity has been established. Authorities are examining the student's digital activity, but no definitive motive has been publicly established. Reports that the student had previously threatened to shoot the school have not been verified, Ateneo officials told the Senate. Claims involving bullying, academic pressure, violent games or online radicalization likewise remain investigative leads rather than established causes. Remulla said Thursday that investigators believed the student planned and carried out the attack alone and that authorities had found no evidence of a conspiracy. Justice officials, however, said the government is sepa-
rately examining broader reports that unidentified individuals may be attempting to influence minors through online platforms. The shooting follows a June school attack in Tacloban City and has accelerated government efforts to strengthen campus preparedness. The Department of Education had already begun active-threat simulation exercises after the Tacloban shooting and directed public schools to develop response plans tailored to individual campuses. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered authorities to investigate the Zamboanga attack and strengthen measures intended to keep schools safe. Malacañang said funding is available under the proposed 2027 national budget for additional school-security measures. In Congress, lawmakers are considering responses ranging from tighter firearm controls and stronger accountability for gun owners to expanded protections for children online. The Senate inquiry underscored a more immediate issue exposed by the Zamboanga attack: a minor was able to obtain firearms that authorities say had been left in a vehicle and then enter a school building through an access point that bypassed its normal security screening. n
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DOJ plans about 1,000 election monitors for November midterms by AJPress
SECURITY CHECK. Students queue up outside the Davao City National High School on Thursday (Aug. 20, 2026), enduring the heat for a security check before entering the school premises. The measure ensures the safety of students and school staff. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Jay-R Esquivel wins King of the Pier title in California Filipino longboarder posts 18.60 total, including a perfect 10, to finish ahead of four-time world champion Taylor Jensen by AJPress OCEANSIDE, Calif. — Filipino longboarder Rogelio “Jay-R” Esquivel Jr. won the King of the Pier title in Southern California with an 18.60 two-wave total, highlighted by a perfect 10-point ride. Four-time world champion Taylor Jensen finished second with 16.77, followed by Gavin Idone at 15.30 and Tommy Coleman at 14.56. The competition was part of the 41st annual Oceanside Longboard
Surfing Club Contest and Beach Festival, held Aug. 7-9. The King and Queen of the Pier competition is a Pro/Am invitational featuring professional and competitive longboarders. The victory followed Esquivel’s appearance at the 2026 Lexus US Open of Surfing in Huntington Beach, where he finished ninth on the World Surf League Longboard Tour. Fellow Filipino Jomarie Ebueza reached the semifinals and placed third. Esquivel, from Urbiztondo in San Juan, La Union, became the
first Filipino to qualify for the WSL World Longboard Tour in 2023. He placed third at Huntington Beach in his tour debut and reached the final there in 2024, losing to Jensen. Their meeting in Oceanside ended differently. Esquivel’s 18.60 total gave him a 1.83-point advantage over Jensen and another international victory in a career that has increasingly placed him alongside the sport’s leading longboarders. The Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles later congratulated Esquivel on the result. n
Attack on Bangsamoro leader’s convoy raises...
PAGE 1 Sinsuat, Maguindanao del Norte. Three vehicles, including the chief minister’s bulletproof vehicle, were hit. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and stronger security measures in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM. The Commission on Elections said the Sept. 14 election would proceed, while the government’s peace office intensified coordination with the military, police and joint government-Moro Islamic Liberation Front peace mechanisms. Police formed a Special Investigation Task Group and recovered 81 fired cartridge cases from the attack site. A police progress report released through Comelec Chairman George Garcia said witnesses had seen five armed men positioned near the highway before the convoy passed. The report said a resident recognized one of the men, leading police to identify an individual as a person of interest. Authorities have not announced charges against that individual, and police said the motive remained undetermined. The Philippine National Police has treated the attack as a suspec-
ted election-related incident. That remains an investigative classification, not a finding that electoral politics was the motive. Macacua had attended a Bangsamoro Federalist Party gathering earlier that day, where he formally assumed the party chairmanship. He filed his candidacy in May for a parliamentary district seat in Maguindanao del Norte as an independent. The attack has sharpened attention on an election central to the Bangsamoro peace process. BARMM is an autonomous political region within the Philippines, with a parliamentary government established under the Bangsamoro Organic Law. It emerged from decades of conflict and negotiations between the Philippine government and Moro groups seeking greater self-government in Mindanao. The 2014 Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro between the government and the MILF paved the way for the Organic Law, enacted in 2018 and ratified in 2019. BARMM then replaced the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The region has since been governed during its transition by the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority. On Sept. 14, voters are
scheduled to elect the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament. Under the parliamentary system, lawmakers elect the chief minister, who heads the regional government. Macacua’s career spans the region’s transition from armed struggle to civilian government. Born in Maguindanao in 1957, he rose to become chief of staff of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF’s armed wing. He later served on the MILF peace negotiating panel and the Bangsamoro Transition Commission before holding senior posts in BARMM. Marcos appointed Macacua interim chief minister in March 2025, succeeding Ahod Balawag “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim. The national government had already authorized the Armed Forces, PNP and other agencies to support Comelec in securing the September election. Following the convoy attack, the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconciliation and Unity said it was stepping up coordination with security agencies and established government-MILF mechanisms. As of press time, authorities had not publicly announced an arrest or criminal charge arising from the attack, identified a mastermind or established a motive. n
Military recruiting rebound accelerates as... PAGE 1 months early, while the Space Force enlisted 730 Guardians. The Marine Corps remains on track to meet its target. The gains extend a turnaround already evident in fiscal 2025, when all five active-duty services met their recruiting goals. The Army recruited 62,050, the Navy 44,096, the Air Force 30,166, the Space Force 819 and the Marine Corps 26,600. Pentagon officials described fiscal 2025 as the military's strongest recruiting performance in 15 years. Two years earlier, the services had collectively fallen about 41,000 recruits short of their goals. The Trump administration has pointed to the latest figures as evidence of renewed confidence in military leadership. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has credited
the administration's emphasis on military standards, readiness and war-fighting capability. The recruiting recovery, however, was already underway before President Donald Trump returned to office. Pentagon figures show enlistments rose 12.5% in fiscal 2024, from 200,000 to 225,000, during a fiscal year that ended before the November presidential election. By then, the services had expanded recruiting operations, increased digital outreach, streamlined medical processing and introduced programs to help otherwise eligible applicants meet academic or physical requirements. The Army's Future Soldier Preparatory Course, launched in 2022, became one of the most prominent of those efforts. Economic considerations re-
main part of the recruiting picture, though Pentagon research does not identify them as the principal cause. A Summer 2025 Defense Department youth survey found that 35% of respondents ages 16 to 21 considered finding a full-time job difficult, while 14% said current economic conditions made them more likely to consider military service. Pay, education assistance, health coverage, job training and other benefits also remain central to the military's recruiting offer. The contrast with 2023 is pronounced: after collectively missing recruiting goals by roughly 41,000 people that year, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Space Force entered the closing months of fiscal 2026 with their annual objectives already met. (AJPress)
PH DOJ warns: Extremists targeting minors... PAGE 1 line groups suspected of grooming vulnerable young people. In June, the Philippine National Police said cooperation with the FBI and other Philippine agencies led to 14 operations involving 21 Filipino minors whom authorities described as having been exposed to violent-extremist influence online. Police subsequently intensified monitoring of transnational networks believed to use gaming, messaging and social-media communities to approach children. Authorities have said the concern is not gaming itself, but the possibility that recruiters exploit online spaces where young users can be contacted privately and moved into less visible channels. The Senate has also examined reports that minors are being manipulated through gaming and messaging platforms. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has pushed for stronger child-online-safety protections as lawmakers consider
how existing laws apply to private chats, livestreams and foreign-based digital services. Government officials have increasingly used the term nihilistic violent extremism, or NVE, to describe some emerging online networks associated with extreme violence, coercion, self-harm and exploitation. International experts caution, however, that such networks do not always fit conventional definitions of terrorism or organized extremist movements. The issue has received heightened attention following fatal school shootings in Tacloban in June and Zamboanga this month. Authorities have investigated whether online influences played any role, but they have not established that an extremist organization directed the Zamboanga attack. Cybercrime officials are also pressing technology companies for faster intervention when violent material appears online. At a Senate hearing Thursday,
Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center Executive Director Renato Paraiso said Philippine authorities alerted Meta shortly after a livestream of the Zamboanga attack appeared but lacked immediate power to compel its removal. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla has separately called for a ban on Roblox, citing concerns over children's exposure to harmful online environments. Roblox says it employs age-assurance measures, filtered communications, automated detection systems and reporting tools. Philippine authorities have not found that Roblox caused either school shooting. Paraiso urged lawmakers to expand the government's authority over messaging, streaming and other digital services, arguing that existing jurisdiction can leave Philippine agencies dependent on foreign technology companies when harmful content must be removed quickly. n
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department is preparing to deploy about 1,000 federal election monitors for the Nov. 3 midterm elections, significantly expanding its presence at polling locations as the government increases oversight of compliance with federal voting laws. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon, who heads the department’s Civil Rights Division, said the planned deployment would be a historic number for a Republican administration. The department has not released a final list of jurisdictions. Dhillon said potential locations could include areas where officials identify concerns involving language assistance, disability access or possible voter fraud. Those considerations describe where monitors may be sent; they do not establish that violations or fraud have occurred in any particular jurisdiction. Federal election monitoring is a longstanding Justice Department function. The Civil Rights Division assigns attorneys and staff to observe election procedures, assess compliance with federal
voting-rights laws and maintain contact with state and local officials. Federal observers operating under the Voting Rights Act are a separate category and, in some circumstances, require court authorization. The department said Tuesday that more than 75 monitors had been deployed across five states and more than 200 polling locations during the 2026 primary season. Four Civil Rights Division attorneys were assigned to Miami-Dade County, Florida, and two to Laramie County, Wyoming, for Tuesday’s primaries. DOJ monitored 64 jurisdictions in 24 states during the 2022 midterms and 86 jurisdictions in 27 states during the 2024 general election. CBS News, citing a department official, reported that 289 people in total were sent to polling places for the 2022 midterm election. Historical comparisons are imperfect because the department has sometimes reported numbers of jurisdictions, personnel and federal observers differently. In 2004, DOJ announced plans to send about 840 federal observers and more than 250 Civil Rights Division personnel to 86 jurisdictions. The Civil Rights Division en-
forces federal voting statutes including the Voting Rights Act, National Voter Registration Act, Help America Vote Act, Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, Americans with Disabilities Act and Civil Rights Acts. The planned expansion has drawn scrutiny from Democratic senators, including California Sen. Alex Padilla and Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, who asked DOJ this month to explain how jurisdictions are selected and how monitors are recruited, trained and supervised. Their letter cautioned against partisan deployment, voter intimidation or interference with state and local election administration. DOJ has described its monitoring program as nonpartisan and aimed at transparency, ballot security and compliance with federal law. State and local authorities remain primarily responsible for administering elections, while federal personnel monitor compliance with federal statutes. The department said Civil Rights Division personnel will continue receiving election-related questions, complaints and requests for monitoring through the Nov. 3 general election. n
Birth-tourism crackdown widens as U.S. revokes 600-plus visas State Department task force builds on earlier federal enforcement while Trump’s separate citizenship order faces renewed court challenge by AJPress WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has widened its campaign against “birth tourism,” with the State Department saying a specialized task force has revoked more than 600 visas worldwide while immigration investigators and federal prosecutors pursue related enforcement efforts. The State Department announced Aug. 12 that its Birth Tourism Prevention Task Force is reviewing visa holders’ activities and targeting networks suspected of facilitating travel to the United States primarily to give birth. The department did not release a country-by-country breakdown of the revocations.
The enforcement effort predates President Donald Trump’s two Aug. 6 executive orders. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations began a birth-tourism initiative earlier this year, and the Justice Department later directed federal prosecutors to prioritize suspected fraud-related cases. Executive Order 14419, “Ending Birth Tourism,” authorizes the State and Homeland Security departments, within existing law, to consider visa denials or revocations, refusal of admission, removal and restrictions on future entry. Pregnancy itself is not unlawful or automatically disqualifying for a visitor visa. State Department rules focus on cases in which an applicant’s primary purpose is
traveling to the United States to give birth so the child can obtain U.S. citizenship. A separate directive, Executive Order 14418, seeks to deny recognition of citizenship in specified cases when neither parent is a U.S. citizen. Civil rights groups returned to federal court Aug. 11, arguing that the new directive conflicts with protections already secured in Barbara v. Trump. The White House says the orders comply with the Supreme Court’s June 30 ruling. The Supreme Court held that children born in the United States to parents who are unlawfully or temporarily present are citizens at birth under the 14th Amendment. n
Los Angeles names two downtown squares... PAGE 1 install permanent ceremonial signs at both intersections. The committee report identifies First and Los Angeles streets as the location of Los Angeles’ original Little Manila and the Temple-Figueroa intersection as a later Little Manila site associated with Filipino American writer Carlos Bulosan. Jurado’s office said the designations are intended to make visible a part of Filipino American history that has largely disappeared from the downtown landscape. “As the first Filipina elected to the Los Angeles City Council, I want to reclaim this lost part of our history,” Jurado said in a statement released by her office. The council action followed an April motion by Jurado that traced the emergence of a Filipino enclave in downtown Los Angeles in the 1920s. The motion said the area around First, Main, Los Angeles and Weller streets,
now Astronaut Ellison S. Onizuka Street, became known as Little Manila and included Filipino-owned restaurants, barbershops, pool halls, employment agencies and other businesses. By the 1940s, the motion said, the center of Filipino community life had shifted toward Temple and Figueroa streets. The area included businesses and gathering places serving Filipino residents and workers and was associated with Bulosan, an author, poet and labor activist. The Library of Congress says Bulosan is best known for America Is in the Heart, published in 1946, which portrayed the experiences and working conditions of Filipino migrant laborers in the United States. Independent historical reporting has documented the same geographic shift. PBS SoCal reported in 2022 that the original downtown Little Manila flourished in the 1920s and 1930s and that Filipino community ac-
tivity later concentrated around Temple and Figueroa. Los Angeles City Planning’s SurveyLA project has also documented Filipino American settlement, economic activity and institutions as part of its historic-resources research. The physical footprint of the early enclaves receded as redevelopment and freeway construction transformed downtown in the mid-20th century. Jurado’s motion says those projects removed homes and businesses and pushed much of the Filipino American community west toward the Temple-Beverly corridor, later associated with Historic Filipinotown. The June Public Works Committee report added the formal “Little Manila Square” designation at First and Los Angeles streets to the proposal for permanent signage. The City Clerk’s record does not specify an installation date for the ceremonial signs. (AJPress)
Romualdez challenges key testimony... PAGE 1 under preliminary investigation, during which prosecutors determine whether probable cause exists to bring criminal charges in court. No such determination has been announced. Lawyer Ade Fajardo, a spokesman for Romualdez, said the new filing also includes affidavits from 25 former employees and aides of former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co who dispute portions of accounts provided by members of Co’s former security detail. Fajardo said some had previously been identified as companions in alleged cash deliveries but now deny that the deliveries occurred. He also said some claimed they had been offered money to join other former security personnel in accusing Romualdez. Those assertions are part of the defense submission and have not been independently established. Guteza testified under oath before the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee in September 2025 that he took part in alleged cash deliveries linked to Romualdez. In an affidavit dated Aug. 13 that became public this week, he withdrew that account and alleged that he had been induced
to make false accusations. He also made allegations involving Sen. Rodante Marcoleta and former congressman Mike Defensor in connection with his earlier testimony. The claims remain disputed and have not been adjudicated. Marcoleta previously denied coaching Guteza. Guteza is the fourth of nine former Co security personnel cited in the Ombudsman complaint to withdraw earlier statements, following Belnard Tube, Benny Bulontate and Rosebert Waupan. The reversals have sharpened the dispute over witness credibility. The Ombudsman, however, says its investigation does not depend on the recanting witnesses and has not publicly disclosed the full substance of the testimony expected from the 28 additional witnesses. A special panel of Ombudsman investigators earlier accused Romualdez, Co and other respondents of involvement in an alleged scheme through which about P56 billion in ill-gotten wealth was accumulated from 2022 through 2025 in connection with government projects. The P56-billion amount is an allegation contained in the com-
plaint and has not been established in court. Investigators have cited witness accounts describing alleged deliveries of cash in suitcases among the evidence under review. Romualdez’s lawyers dispute those accounts and contend that investigators have not produced forensic, physical or documentary evidence directly linking him to the alleged deliveries. The National Bureau of Investigation has separately questioned whether a joint affidavit submitted by 18 former Co security personnel was sufficient without independent corroboration. That review is distinct from the evidence being evaluated by the Ombudsman. Malacañang has said Guteza’s recantation and his new allegations should also be investigated. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Romualdez’s cousin, has said through the Palace that he would not interfere in the Ombudsman inquiry. After the respondents complete their submissions, Ombudsman prosecutors will determine whether the evidence establishes probable cause to bring any charges before the Sandiganbayan. n
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ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
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Flood-control funds return under tighter rules after project controversies Government proposes P107.4 billion for 2027 as DPWH requires stronger engineering, local planning and oversight by AJPress MANILA - The Marcos administration is restoring major flood-control spending in the proposed 2027 national budget, but under tighter rules designed to keep poorly planned or weakly documented projects from reaching construction. The proposed P7.2-trillion spending plan gives the Department of Public Works and Highways P644 billion, including P107.4 billion for flood-control work, according to the Department of Budget and Management. The funding follows the government’s decision to halt fresh flood-control allocations for 2026 after allegations of irregularities prompted investigations, criminal cases and public scrutiny. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said projects proposed for funding must be tied to local flood or drainage master plans, supported by engineering designs and feasibility studies, and endorsed by local and regional development councils. The aim, officials say, is to ensure that national projects reflect actual drainage conditions and local priorities rather than being inserted into the budget without sufficient
technical basis. The policy is being tested as heavy monsoon rains again expose Metro Manila’s vulnerability to flooding. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered DPWH to coordinate with Quezon City and align national projects with the city’s flood-control plan after renewed flooding along the San Juan River system. DPWH is considering retention or retarding basins that could temporarily hold stormwater and release it more gradually downstream. The government is also studying underground water-storage facilities at about 30 possible sites across Metro Manila, including areas near Raja Sulaiman Park, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Camp Aguinaldo and the University of Santo Tomas. Detailed engineering studies are expected within August. No construction timetable has been announced. Officials say the localized approach will complement, not replace, broader river-basin planning. DPWH has previously developed master plans for the country’s major river basins and is working on an updated framework intended to connect national strategy with local flood-control needs. The return of flood-control
money is expected to draw close scrutiny in Congress, where lawmakers have questioned whether projects are part of coherent long-term plans. The proposed safeguards are intended to make technical documentation and local coordination prerequisites, rather than afterthoughts, before public funds are committed. The budget department also plans wider use of digital monitoring, including satellite imagery, drones and geotagging, to compare reported infrastructure accomplishments with actual conditions on the ground. Dizon has criticized previous budgeting practices, saying some proposals carried project titles and cost estimates without adequate engineering support. His remarks describe alleged weaknesses in past procedures and do not establish wrongdoing in every previous flood-control project. Congress still must review and approve the proposed 2027 appropriations. The renewed flood-control allocation will therefore test whether stronger engineering requirements, local coordination and monitoring can translate billions of pesos in public spending into projects that reduce recurring flooding in vulnerable communities. n
Remulla seeks tougher Philippine gun laws after Zamboanga school shooting Interior chief calls for stronger penalties on loose firearms and greater accountability for gun owners He said 98% of firearm-related by AJPress crimes involve loose firearms, MANILA — Interior Secretary citing government data. He also criticized penalties asJonvic Remulla called on Congress to strengthen Philippine sociated with Republic Act 8294, firearms laws after the deadly a 1997 law he referred to as the shooting at Ateneo de Zambo- “Robin Padilla law.” The Philipanga University, the country’s pines’ principal firearms statute second fatal school shooting in is now Republic Act 10591, the Comprehensive Firearms and Amless than two months. Remulla urged tougher penal- munition Regulation Act of 2013. Any proposal to make firearm ties for possession of loose firearms and greater accountability offenses non-bailable would rewhen licensed or government-is- main subject to constitutional sued weapons are inadequately protections governing bail. Authorities said a Grade 8 stusecured and accessed by minors.
dent fatally shot another student before dying by suicide. Two others were wounded. Investigators are examining how the student obtained two firearms linked to his father, a Bureau of Customs employee. Customs relieved and preventively suspended the employee pending investigation, which does not establish negligence or criminal liability. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a thorough investigation and stronger school-safety measures. n
Philippines courts U.S. investment in chips, critical minerals Manila seeks larger role in global technology supply chains through semiconductors, advanced manufacturing and mineral processing by AJPress MANILA — The Philippines is stepping up efforts to attract U.S. investment in semiconductors, electronics and critical-mineral processing as the Marcos administration seeks to move the country further up the technology manufacturing chain. Executive Secretary Ralph Recto renewed the investment pitch to American business leaders Thursday, emphasizing projects that create jobs, develop Filipino technical expertise and expand domestic industrial capacity. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed government agencies to accelerate infrastructure, incentives and investment facilitation for semiconductor and artificial intelligence-related industries. The Philippine semiconductor and electronics sector has set a target of about $110 billion in electronics exports by 2030, supported by expansion into integrated-circuit design,
advanced packaging and higher-value manufacturing. Electronics already account for most Philippine merchandise exports. Philippine Statistics Authority data show electronic products generated $5.25 billion, or 59.9 percent, of exports in June. The United States was the country's largest export market that month, receiving $1.76 billion, or 20.1 percent of total shipments. A centerpiece of the government's strategy is a proposed 4,000-acre industrial development in New Clark City, Tarlac, associated with Pax Silica, a U.S.-led initiative focused on technology and strategic supply chains. Government plans envision semiconductor production, critical-mineral processing, advanced manufacturing and computing infrastructure. The development remains preliminary. Bases Conversion and Development Authority officials told a Senate hearing this month that detailed development plans had not yet been submitted and
that consultations and regulatory reviews remained necessary. Officials have said more than 50 companies expressed interest, but no final investment commitments were announced. The Philippines and United States also signed a critical-minerals cooperation framework in February covering supply-chain resilience, responsible resource management and expanded Philippine capacity in processing and refining. The Board of Investments said the Philippines accounted for 25.41 percent of global nickel exports in 2024, strengthening Manila's case for attracting investments that process more of the country's mineral output domestically. Approved foreign investment pledges reached P115.20 billion in the second quarter, up 68.2 percent from a year earlier, with manufacturing accounting for the largest share. The PSA figures represent approved commitments rather than capital already deployed. n
Hydropower deals take center stage in government’s P101.5-billion privatization push by AJPress MANILA — Two of the Philippines’ biggest hydropower assets are emerging as key pieces of the government’s plan to raise P101.5 billion from privatization in 2027, linking the fiscal program to a broader effort to modernize aging power infrastructure. Finance Undersecretary and Chief Privatization Officer Michael Peter Alejandro said proceeds from the completed Caliraya-Botocan-Kalayaan transaction are expected to be booked next year, while the proposed rehabilitation of the Agus-Pulangi complex remains under evaluation. The 797-megawatt CBK complex in Laguna was turned over Feb. 9 to Thunder Consortium,
composed of Aboitiz Renewables Inc., Sumitomo Corp. and Electric Power Development Co. Ltd., or J-Power. The consortium won PSALM’s July 2025 bidding with an offer of about P36.27 billion. Attention is now shifting to Agus-Pulangi, a network of seven hydropower plants that has long been central to Mindanao’s electricity supply. The complex has about 1,000 megawatts of installed capacity, but government officials have said aging equipment has reduced available generation to roughly 600 to 700 megawatts. PSALM is reviewing two unsolicited rehabilitation proposals after rejecting a third. The structure under consideration is a concession rather than a direct asset sale, with private investment expected to finance rehabilita-
tion while National Power Corp. remains involved in operations and maintenance. Energy officials said in June they were aiming to award a rehabilitation contract by the end of 2026. PSALM has cautioned, however, that evaluation and negotiations under the Public-Private Partnership Code could extend into 2027. No final award has been announced. Republic Act No. 12179 extended PSALM’s corporate life by 10 years beyond June 26, 2026, giving the state corporation additional time to complete remaining asset dispositions and manage related obligations. For 2026, the government cut its privatization-revenue target to P38.1 billion from P101 billion. Alejandro said first-half collections reached P1.9 billion. n
DRUG BUST. Bureau of Customs (BOC) Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno (3rd from right) leads the inspection of approximately 43 kg. of suspected shabu, with an estimated street value of PHP292.4 million, concealed in fabric pouches made to resemble talc stones at the Manila International Container Port (MICP) on Thursday (Aug. 20, 2026). The shipment, consisting of two 20-foot containers declared as “talc stones,” underwent a 100 percent physical examination following stringent BOC profiling and monitoring of high-risk shipments. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
Pope Leo XIV says virtual presence cannot replace Sunday Eucharistic assembly by AJPress VATICAN CITY — Pope Leo XIV urged Catholics to gather in person for Sunday Mass, saying virtual participation cannot replace the communal celebration of the Eucharist. Speaking at his Aug. 12 general audience in St. Peter’s Basilica, Leo continued his catechesis on Sacrosanctum Concilium, the Second Vatican Council’s Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, focusing on the liturgical year and
Sunday’s place within it. “To sanctify Sunday, it is fundamental to celebrate the Eucharist,” Leo said. Citing Vatican II, he described Sunday as the “foundation and kernel of the whole liturgical year.” The pope said the liturgical assembly depends on the active participation of the faithful and “cannot be substituted by a solely virtual presence.” He also urged communities to help people who must work Sundays find opportunities to attend Mass.
Catholic teaching requires participation in Sunday Mass but recognizes exceptions for serious reasons, including illness or care of infants, as well as pastoral dispensations. Leo said the liturgical year is not simply a remembrance of past events. Rather, he said, it keeps the Church in contact with Christ’s saving work and guides believers through the mysteries of salvation celebrated throughout the year. Sunday, he said, is the Church's original feast day. n
Digital payments reach 64.7% of Philippine retail transactions by AJPress MANILA — Digital payments accounted for 64.7% of Philippine retail transactions by volume in 2025, up from 57.4% a year earlier, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). The BSP counted 3.94 billion digital transactions out of 6.09 billion retail payments during the year. The result exceeded the Philippine Development Plan’s 2025 target of 54% to 58% and was already within the 60% to 70% range set for 2028. Merchant payments accounted
for 74.31% of electronic transactions, followed by person-to-person remittances at 17.70% and business-to-business supplier payments at 3.67%. QR Ph, the country’s interoperable national QR payment standard, recorded 2.47 billion transactions worth P1.16 trillion in 2025, compared with 174.34 million transactions worth P227.47 billion a year earlier. The BSP said QR Ph transaction volume surpassed debit- and credit-card transactions for the first time. The central bank attributed
the increase to greater interoperability, wider merchant acceptance and improvements in payment access. BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. said expanding connections among consumers, businesses, banks and electronic-wallet providers increases the usefulness of the payment network. Digital adoption remained uneven across sectors. Government-initiated payments were 98.92% digital by volume, while business-initiated payments were 18.75% digital, according to the BSP. n
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Opinion
Features
AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Buwan ng Wika: Patriotism does not require choosing between English and our own languages The more consequential question behind Buwan ng Wika is whether fluency in a global language must come at the expense of the languages Filipinos inherit at home. EVERY August, Philippine schools mark Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa with speeches, poetry, songs and lessons on the national language. Then the programs end, the decorations come down, and in many households the language celebrated in school is used less and less between generations. That contradiction deserves more attention than another annual appeal to “love our language.” Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa took its present month-long form in 1997, when President Fidel V. Ramos declared August 1 to 31 the annual observance. Its roots reach to the 1935 Constitution, which called for the development of a national language based on one of the country’s native languages. In 1937, President Manuel L. Quezon approved Tagalog as the basis of that national language. That history also explains a recurring question: What is the difference among Tagalog, Pilipino and Filipino? Tagalog is a Philippine language. The nation-
al language developed from Tagalog, but in 1959 it was officially called Pilipino. The older Abakada alphabet did not include the letter F, hence Pilipino rather than Filipino. The 1973 Constitution introduced Filipino as the name of the national language to be developed, and the 1987 Constitution declared Filipino the national language, directing that it continue to evolve and be enriched by existing Philippine and other languages. Filipino, therefore, is not simply Pilipino spelled with an F. It represents a broader national concept, although in actual grammar and everyday usage Filipino remains very close to Tagalog. That gap between constitutional aspiration and linguistic practice helps explain why the ter-
Editorial
public lives Randy David
THE P92.8-million flood control project in Pandi, Bulacan, for which former Sen. Bong Revilla is now on trial, was inserted into the national budget through an errata. In his 2025 State of the Nation Address (Sona), President Marcos named the method from the podium: “Mga kickback, mga initiative, errata, SOP, for the boys.” “Leadership fund” is the latest label for an old discredited practice historically called “pork barrel.” It does not appear as such in the budget; there is no item by that name in the National Expenditure Program (NEP) or the General Appropriations Act (GAA). Legislators, who are supposed to be its beneficiaries, deny knowing the term, and they are technically correct. But they probably won’t say they don’t know what it means. Sen. Panfilo Lacson, who has pressed the issue hardest, calls it improper but not illegal, a gray area, like so many things in our country where politics trumps the law. Former Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Manuel Bonoan testified before the Sandiganbayan this month, as prosecution wit-
PERCEPTIONS Ariel Nepomuceno
FILIPINO farmers should not be poor. They feed our nation, yet the social injustice prevails for generations. Our farmers produce our staple food, rice. They provide our fish, vegetables and other essential foods too, but they remain the country’s poorest workers. This is not an agricultural problem. This is our nation’s failure. We cannot seriously claim that we are fighting poverty while at least 9.5 million agricultural workers are trapped in poverty. The solution must not be limited to short-term subsidies, distribution of farm inputs or another government program that terminates when the administration changes. We need to transform Philippine agriculture from subsistence farming into a modern, technology-driven and profitable industry. Our farmers must become businessmen. For too long, the government policy has focused on
Leadership fund: Improper but not illegal ness in the malversation case against Revilla, that a “leadership fund” of P24 billion had been set aside in his agency for senators’ priority projects in the 2025 budget. About P21 billion was actually taken up, against P13.29 billion the year before. Bonoan is himself charged and detained at the Philippine National Police General Hospital, a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in a nonbailable plunder case. Former Senate President Migz Zubiri has denied the P24-billion figure. All senators of the 19th Congress availed themselves of the privilege, Bonoan said, submitting their lists to the DPWH, usually through former Undersecretary Roberto Bernardo. These were vetted by the planning service, then folded into the agency’s submission to the Department of Budget and Management. “The leadership fund came about due to the numerous cuts we observed in 2023,” Bonoan explained. “When it came up in the GAA, to our surprise and dismay, the core programs of the department were reduced drastically.” Up to 88.8 percent of funds for foreign-assisted projects had been cut and reallocated at the bicam. Pre-accommodating the Senate, he reasoned, would deter it. Or so
minology still provokes debate. Must Filipinos choose between proficiency in English and preservation of their own languages? English is an educational and economic asset. It gives Filipinos access to scholarship, science, technology, commerce and professional opportunities. The Constitution itself recognizes both Filipino and English as official languages for communication and instruction, while regional languages
Babe’s Eye View
he thought. He also took this to Malacañang. “I reported it to the President. The President was alarmed by the reduction of the budgets … it will derail the implementation of the socioeconomic agenda.” The instruction to find a remedy came at a Cabinet meeting. The Palace said this week that Marcos had no personal knowledge of the fund and would not have tolerated it. As a practical solution to congressional mangling of the NEP, the fund sounded sensible enough. But it was patently improper, Lacson argues, because it solicited congressional participation at the budget preparation phase, an executive function. And it failed on its own terms: insertions at the bicam continued unabated anyway. In this light we see the 2025 Sona differently. “Mahiya naman kayo!” was a direct address, not so much to the private contractors as to the assembled legislators, who stood up to applaud as though the message was not meant for them. I don’t want to dwell on the moral failure of individuals. More crucial to me as a sociologist is the systemic environment in which the governance function is mired. Indeed, not everyone who u PAGE 8
Modernize agriculture, end the poverty of farmers helping our farmers produce. But producing more does not mean earning more. A farmer can harvest a bumper crop and still lose money if farmgate prices collapse, middlemen dominate the market, storage is unavailable and logistics is expensive. The farmers must, therefore, be directly connected to the market. Government must encourage and support cooperatives, agribusiness companies, supermarkets, food processors and exporters to enter into long-term purchasing arrangements with farmers. Instead of selling raw products immediately after harvest, farmers should increasingly participate in sorting, packaging, processing and marketing. The difference between selling mangoes and selling processed mango products can mean the difference between poverty and prosperity. Technology must reach the smallest farms. Modern agri-
ManilaTimes.net photo
culture cannot depend entirely on manual labor and traditional practices. We need precision agriculture, drones, satellite mapping, sensors, automated irrigation, better seeds, modern machinery and digital platforms that provide farmers with real-time information about weather, prices and demand. Technology must not be limited to large plantations. The poorest farmers should have access to the same agricultural knowledge available to the richest farmers. Government can help through shared machinery centers, digital agricultural services, demonstration farms and affordable financing. Land must become productive and land reform must not end with giving farmers farmlands. Small farms often struggle because they lack economies of scale. Farmers should be encouraged – not forced – to organize into cooperatives or production clusters that allow them to collectively purchase mau PAGE 8
Babe Romualdez FOR the past few weeks, questions about Pax Silica have been brought forward. Is it really good for the Philippines? Will it bring investments and jobs as promised? What about the environment, water and electricity requirements and questions involving Philippine sovereignty? These are definitely legitimate questions that deserve factual answers. However, we should not reject outright an opportunity before examining what it can actually bring or do. Our electronics and semiconductor industry is significant, and we have a technically capable workforce. Pax Silica presents an opportunity to move further up the value chain and not be stuck with lower-value activities because our engineers and scientists are capable of doing more. Trade Undersecretary Perry Rodolfo described the proposed hub as a “win-win,” framing economic security in terms of improving the lives of Filipinos and increasing Philippine participation in emerging industrial supply chains. Economic analysts say Pax Silica can strengthen Philippine resilience
THE POLITICAL HECKLER Ronald Llamas MANY parts of Luzon were submerged last week due to torrential rains brought by the enhanced habagat. The scenes were painfully reminiscent of last year’s flooding just before President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA), when he uttered, “Mahiya naman kayo!” – a pointed rebuke of those behind the multibillion-peso flood control corruption scandal. A year later, the rains have returned, and so have the floods. Homes and vehicles were again submerged, lives were lost, thousands were evacuated, classes and work were suspended and livelihoods were disrupted. Here we go again. Some of the areas hardest hit by this week’s habagat floods are the same places that figured prominently in the flood control controversy. Bulacan, the home province of Sen. Joel Villanueva, whose name was dragged into the flood control scandal, is underwater yet
retain recognized roles. Mastering English is not a retreat from patriotism. A Filipino can speak impeccable English and remain deeply connected to the country. Conversely, fluency in Filipino is not by itself proof of love of country. Patriotism is demonstrated in conduct, responsibility and contribution. But language still matters. u PAGE 7
Pax Silica: Will it be good for the country, or not? and industrialization; it’s a manufacturing and high-technology endeavor rather than a war-driven project. While we were one of the first to be chosen, there are those quick to speculate on the downside instead of examining the potential upside. Some concerns raised are legitimate, but quite a number of those mouthing criticisms are obviously advancing other interests, totally not serving our own. Global interest has been growing on Pax Silica, a US-led initiative aimed at strengthening secure technology supply chains among trusted partners. The initiative reaches across core sectors that are critical to the global technology ecosystem: critical minerals, semiconductors and electronics, advanced manufacturing, artificial intelligence, computing and data infrastructure. Launched last December, membership has since rapidly expanded to over 30 countries, with many others eager to join the initiative. The Philippines formally joined Pax Silica in April. Under the framework, the US and the Philippines plan to establish an Economic Security Zone spanning approximately 4,000 acres in New
Clark City within the Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC). The proposed site is the first AI-native industrial acceleration hub under Pax Silica and will also serve as a platform for allied manufacturing. It’s an ecosystem that would connect technology companies, research institutions and government agencies, and attract high-value investments. The initiative is important because the world economy is going through a massive transformation, shifting away from traditional globalization to a model that is focused on the twin objectives of national and economic security – essentially two sides of the same coin. Artificial intelligence is no longer simply about computers providing smart or clever answers. AI, and the technologies surrounding it, are going to increasingly influence how factories operate, how medicines are discovered, how logistics networks function, how financial systems work and, ultimately, how competitive nations will become. Secure supplies of semiconductors, critical minerals, energy, computing capacity and advanced manufacturing are u PAGE 8
The floods won’t stop till we learn to vote right again. Cavite, the political turf of former senator Bong Revilla, who was recently granted bail in his supposedly non-bailable malversation case, has likewise been inundated. The irony is hard to miss. Then there is Parañaque, which was among the areas badly hit by last week’s floods, particularly Sucat Road and its nearby communities. The flooding was exacerbated by a massive accumulation of garbage in the Redemptorist Water Channel near Baclaran Church. It was reported that almost 750 metric tons of waste and debris, equivalent to around 203 truckloads of garbage, were removed. A damaged trash trap reportedly allowed the garbage to accumulate and obstruct the flow of water, raising serious questions about the maintenance and readiness of flood-management infrastructure. Even parts of EDSA, which had only recently undergone rehabilitation by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), were flooded and developed fresh potholes following the heavy rains. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon per-
sonally inspected the damage and expressed anger over the condition of the recently rehabilitated road. While he has since pledged to make the contractors repair the damage at no additional cost to the government, this remains a black eye for an administration that promised to do better in the wake of the infrastructure corruption scandal. And then there is Marilao, Bulacan. It was reported that on Aug. 10, 2026, a river wall in Barangay Prenza II collapsed only about two months after it was completed. The collapse occurred amid the rains and flooding brought by the enhanced habagat, opening a floodgate of questions. And the problem is not confined to Luzon. Davao City, the bailiwick of twice-impeached Vice President Sara Duterte, who is currently at the center of corruption allegations, was also hit by severe flooding in late July, when torrential habagat rains, enhanced by Typhoon Kiyapo, inundated communities in Tugbok and Talomo. u PAGE 8
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ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
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PH’s untapped manufacturing advantage Community flood control measures doing what governments can’t COMMENTARY Samuel Yang THE Philippines has something every manufacturer wants: a large and growing market. With more than 110 million consumers, a young and educated workforce, widespread English proficiency, and strong relationships with major global economies, the country has many ingredients needed to become a stronger manufacturing economy. For decades, remittances, tourism, business process outsourcing, mining, and services have supported growth. The Philippines can now use its domestic market to build something more: industrial capability. Every year, billions of dollars’ worth of electrical equipment, construction materials, machinery, appliances, renewable-energy equipment, household goods, and industrial components are imported. Many will continue to be imported. That is normal for an open economy. But where domestic demand is substantial and sustainable, a simple question should be asked: Why import the finished product if it can be competitively manufactured in the Philippines? What we learned in Batangas. Our experience has strengthened my confidence in Philippine manufacturing. In September last year, we leased factory facilities in Sto. Tomas, Batangas. More than 600 40-foot containers of manufacturing equipment began arriving from overseas in December. After installation, commissioning, and workforce training, the factory began partial production in July. Today, it produces advanced solar cells for export to the United States. The factory has already recruited more than 500 Filipino
employees, many of them young university graduates, and we expect employment to reach approximately 900 local workers by year-end. The Filipino workforce has impressed us. Young employees learn quickly and adapt well to advanced manufacturing, while local engineers show strong technical and problem-solving capabilities. The Philippines need not compete only on low labor costs; its greater advantage can be the quality and adaptability of its people. A P2,000 meter that could cost P1,000. Local manufacturing can also benefit Filipino consumers directly. Consider a conventional electricity meter. A meter that may cost roughly P400 in the Chinese market can cost around P2,000 in the Philippines, depending on specifications, certification, and procurement. Suppose components are initially imported while assembly, testing, and quality control are performed locally, bringing total production cost to approximately P500. If the meter can be sold for P1,000, consumers could potentially save around P1,000 while the manufacturer retains sufficient margin to build a viable business. More importantly, part of that P500 would pay Filipino salaries, local logistics, factory expenses, testing, packaging, and eventually locally sourced components. This is how a consumer market gradually becomes an industrial ecosystem. The objective is not to manufacture everything locally, but products where demand, economics, skills, and technology make Philippine production competitive. Assembly is a starting point. Industrial capability develops gradually. A new factory may initially import most machinery and components. That is not a failure of localization; it can be the first stage. Over time, more Filipino engineers can be trained, more components sourced domestically, local suppliers developed, and manufacturing advanced from as-
sembly toward engineering, product development, research, and innovation. The goal should not simply be a “Made in the Philippines” label. It should be more value made in the Philippines. As global supply chains are reshaped by tariffs, trade tensions, and geopolitical changes, manufacturers are seeking diversified production locations. The Philippines can position itself not only as a large consumer market, but also as a trusted manufacturing platform serving global markets. Turn purchasing power into industrial power. Government need not build these factories. Its role is to enable investment through predictable approvals, reliable infrastructure, competitive power, appropriate incentives, technical education, industrial land, and financing. Private investors must bring capital, technology, management, markets, and training. Filipino workers provide the human capability. Success should not be measured only by how much foreign investment enters the country or how many factories are announced. A more meaningful question is: How much lasting industrial capability does each investment leave behind? Our Batangas experience has given me confidence in the answer. The Philippines already has the consumers. It already has the workers. And increasingly, it has the opportunity. The next step is to turn the purchasing power of 110 million consumers into the industrial power of a manufacturing nation. (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.
*** Samuel Yang is an Australian renewable energy entrepreneur and chair of GBF New Power Group Inc.
Duterte impeachment trial delayed after witness testifies she handled confidential-fund transfers Monsoon rains halt proceedings midweek as court weighs schedule adjustments; key witness testimony remains unfinished by AJPress MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will resume next week with a key prosecution witness still under direct examination after heavy monsoon rains disrupted proceedings and led to cancellations on Tuesday and Wednesday. Gina Acosta, a former special disbursing officer of the Office of the Vice President and current OVP staff member, testified Monday, Aug. 17, that Duterte instructed her to turn over P125 million in confidential funds to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, then head of the vice president’s security group. Acosta said she encashed a government check on Dec. 20, 2022, transported the cash from a LandBank branch in four travel bags, and delivered the full amount to Lachica the same day. She also testified that she transferred all P500 million in OVP confidential funds released in 2022 and 2023 to Lachica under Duterte’s instructions. The testimony relates to Article I of the impeachment complaint, which alleges the misuse and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds. The amount includes P500 million allocated to the Office of the Vice President and P112.5 million released to the Department of Education while Duterte served as education secretary. Under Joint Circular No. 201501 issued by the Commission on Audit and other oversight agencies, cash advances for confidential funds must be drawn by a designated bonded disbursing officer or the agency head, and are not to be transferred between accountable officers. During questioning by prosecutors and Presiding Officer Francis
Escudero, Acosta said she could not cite any provision authorizing the transfer of cash to a security officer. She said Lachica was not the final recipient of the funds but handled confidential operations and later submitted liquidation reports to her office. The impeachment court later declared Acosta a hostile witness, allowing prosecutors to ask leading questions. Escudero cited her employment relationship with Duterte and a prior counter-affidavit in a separate Ombudsman matter in which she defended the vice president’s use of confidential funds. The designation is procedural and does not constitute a finding on the credibility of her testimony. Acosta’s direct examination was not completed when the court adjourned at about 2 p.m. Monday. The defense has not yet begun cross-examination. Earlier in the day, House records custodian Marivic Pareja was excused after the defense admitted the authenticity and custody of documents she presented. The court also reported that 3,616 acknowledgment receipts submitted by the defense matched copies held by the prosecution, while 876 prosecution receipts had no corresponding defense copies. The court said the comparison established document consistency but did not determine the validity of the underlying transactions. Tuesday and Wednesday hearings were canceled due to forecast heavy rainfall and flooding linked to the southwest monsoon. Court spokesperson Reginald Tongol said impeachment rules do not allow virtual hearings and estimated the trial was two to three days behind schedule, with additional sessions under consideration. Duterte said Wednesday she favored a faster resolution of the
case, arguing that delays prolong public uncertainty. She also said her personal attendance at every hearing was not necessary because she is represented by counsel. House prosecutors said the case should proceed without delay but that both sides must be given sufficient time to present evidence. They proposed additional afternoon and Friday sessions and said they plan to call former DepEd disbursing officer Edward Fajarda and OVP Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio. They have not decided whether to present former Duterte aide Ramil Madriaga. Prosecutors also said they were not inclined to call Lachica or Col. Dennis Nolasco, another security officer mentioned in testimony, citing the absence of prior sworn testimony from the 2024 House inquiry for comparison. Duterte’s legal team said they may call Madriaga as a defense witness and have filed perjury complaints challenging his statements. The complaints have not been resolved by any court or investigative body. The House of Representatives voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, on May 11 to impeach Duterte on four articles involving alleged misuse of confidential funds, unexplained wealth, questionable asset disclosures, and alleged threats against President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, and former House Speaker Martin Romualdez. Duterte has denied the allegations and said the case is politically motivated. A conviction requires at least 16 votes in the 24-member Senate sitting as an impeachment court. No verdict has been issued, and the Senate has made no findings on the allegations. Proceedings are scheduled to resume Monday, Aug. 24, with Acosta’s testimony still ongoing. n
QUEZON DAY. Floral wreaths and bouquets are seen at the Quezon Memorial Shrine in Quezon City on Wednesday (Aug. 19, 2026), as the city commemorates the 148th birth anniversary of former president Manuel Luis Quezon. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the National Historical Commission of the Philippines, the Quezon family, and various organizations offered the flowers to honor the late Philippine leader. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
Sometimes, although unfortunately, you just have to do things yourself
by Carl Martin Agustin Inquirer.net
RAIN brought by the Southwest Monsoon has affected residents in flood-prone areas. Again, they have to evacuate, choose between the things they can and cannot bring, and eventually return to a home submerged in murky water. It’s been a year since the whole flood control issue came to light, and yet we’re still dealing with this—and we’re not even talking about a super typhoon. Fortunately, there is some progress. Marikina City’s dredging operations at the Marikina River have reduced overall water levels in the usually flooded area. However, according to Marikina 2nd District Representative Miro Quimbo, two pumping stations were reported to have not been working over the weekend, resulting in flooding in Barangay Tumana and Malanday. It isn’t perfect. Still, it’s an improvement over the norm. But what about the rest? Amid the ongoing rains affecting parts of Luzon and Visayas, some have taken to putting up their own flood control measures—some using PVC panels and makeshift materials, and others, industrial-grade blockades. Because (unfortunately) some-
times, you just have to do things yourself. Pooling together against floodwater A group of residents in Noveleta, Cavite opted to take flood control measures into their own hands. Costing around P5,000 to P6,000—and split within a small community—they used tubular steel, sheet metal, and foam to block flood waters from entering their alleyway. How effective was this DIY measure? In a video posted by King Nazareth Dayao Co’Arle, a resident in Noveleta, the makeshift flood barrier was seen to be holding strong against flood waters as tall as a person. Kanya-kanya Meanwhile, a family from Brgy. Pulang Lupa Dos, Las Piñas City set up their own barrier after experiencing heavy floods last year. According to homeowner Paula Bianca Castro, they reportedly spent P126,000 on six flood barrier panels to cover just a small garage. As for water pooling behind the gate from the rain, they also installed a mini pump that flushed excess water back to the street. Budget home measures Not everyone can afford a P100,000 floodgate, so TikToker Momshie Rosie took it upon
herself to find a cheaper alternative. Her solution? A few PVC panels and sealant purchased at a nearby Wilcon. While she hasn’t tested its efficacy since it hasn’t flooded in her area, a follower of hers tried the DIY solution and shared that it did prevent water from entering their home. Flood control for a few These few examples are again proof of the Filipino’s indomitable spirit—not the usual resilience of getting back to one’s feet but the resourcefulness necessary to take matters into one’s own hands and avoid tragedy altogether. Still, as wonderful as this is, it is only a stopgap that isn’t addressing the bigger concern. Yes, DIY flood control measures may work and prevent water from entering your home. But what about the street? What about the rest of the community who can’t afford to do the same? And what about mobility during typhoons? The best form of flood control is to have none at all because if the government did its job, this wouldn’t be a problem to begin with. What’s more, these stopgaps, while effective within their own bubbles, won’t do anything meaningful in the long run but pass the government’s responsibility to everyone else. n
Philippine ube industry forms national group to expand production, exports by AJPress MANILA — Philippine ube growers, processors and other industry stakeholders have formed a national organization as the government seeks to expand production and increase the crop’s export potential. United Ube PH Association Inc. has registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock, non-profit organization, according to the Department of Agriculture. Its members include farmers, cooperatives, processors, traders, exporters, researchers and academic institutions. The group emerged from a
July stakeholders meeting convened by Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. The department said the organization is intended to improve coordination on production, standards, marketing and market access. Supply remains a major constraint. DOST-PCAARRD has cited shortages of quality planting materials, seasonal production and limited adoption of improved technologies in Bohol, which the agency says accounts for nearly one-third of national purple-yam output. In June, the Bureau of Plant Industry and the Philippine Root Crop Research and Training
Center distributed more than 60,000 ube planting materials worth nearly P2.6 million to 900 farmers in Leyte and Bohol. Agriculture officials said the administration included P300 million for ube industry support in its proposed 2027 budget, including funding for nurseries. The amount remains subject to congressional approval. The department said United Ube PH is exploring market links with institutional buyers and Philippine and German business chambers. No completed contracts were identified. The group also plans to hold the first National Ube Forum in Pagadian City in September.
CA overturns nearly P388-million award in Bohol airport bid dispute by AJPress MANILA — The Court of Appeals has overturned a lower-court ruling requiring the Manila International Airport Authority to pay nearly P388 million to a construction joint venture disqualified from a 2010 bidding for an airport project in Panglao, Bohol. In a July 31 decision, the CA’s Thirteenth Division upheld MIAA’s disqualification of the joint venture between First United Constructors Corp. and Blue Star Construction and Development Corp. The consortium had submitted the lowest bid but was found not to have met the Single
Largest Completed Contract requirement. The Pasay City Regional Trial Court had awarded about P386.5 million in actual and compensatory damages, P1 million in exemplary damages and P300,000 in attorney’s fees for claimed losses involving equipment rental income, overhead expenses and expected profit. The CA found that the evidence did not adequately establish those losses, including whether equipment had been committed exclusively to the project. It also sustained the Bids and Awards Committee’s evaluation of the consortium’s qualifications, finding no showing that
the committee acted arbitrarily or with manifest injustice. The court noted that the invitation to bid allowed MIAA to reject bids or annul the procurement before a contract was awarded. Because no contract with the consortium had been awarded or perfected, the CA found no basis for the damages imposed by the trial court. The dispute stemmed from an earlier government plan to replace Tagbilaran Airport with a new facility on Panglao Island. That procurement was later canceled. A successor project developed with Japanese assistance resulted in Bohol-Panglao International Airport, which opened in 2018.
Buwan ng Wika: Patriotism does not... PAGE 6 Language carries humor, family relationships and ideas that translation cannot always reproduce neatly. Words such as kilig, tampo, lambing, hiya, pakikisama and utang na loob reveal how much cultural meaning can be compressed into speech. The debate over mother-tongue education shows how difficult preservation becomes when principle meets policy. The Philippines once required mother-tongue instruction from kindergarten through Grade 3. Republic Act No. 12027, enacted in 2024, ended that blanket requirement. Filipino and English again became the principal media of instruction, while regional languages may serve as auxiliary media and mother-tongue instruction remains possible in qualifying monolingual classes. The change does not settle the larger argument over whether children benefit from learning first in a language they understand best. It does show the practical challenge facing a multilingual country, including teacher preparation, instructional materials and classrooms where children may not share the same first language. Outside the Philippines, the issue is less about government policy than what happens inside the home. Children growing up in an-
other country are immersed in its dominant language through school, friends, media and everyday life. A Philippine language may depend largely on parents and grandparents for survival. Language loss can happen almost unnoticed. A parent speaks Filipino, Ilocano, Cebuano or another Philippine language; the child understands but answers in the dominant language. Because communication still works, the arrangement continues. Eventually comprehension weakens, speaking becomes difficult, and another generation may inherit only greetings, food names and family terms. Parents should not be casually blamed. Some believe concentrating on English will help their children succeed. Some remember being teased because of their accents and do not want their children to experience the same thing. Others lack the time or support to maintain two languages. In families whose parents come from different linguistic backgrounds, there may not even be one Philippine language shared by everyone. The mistake is assuming that one language must be surrendered for another. A language does not survive because people praise it every August. It survives because people use it at breakfast, in jokes,
during arguments, in stories and in conversations with grandparents. Schools, cultural organizations and community programs can reinforce it, but transmission ultimately takes place between people. Nor should fluency become a test of Filipino authenticity. Mocking someone for imperfect Filipino, or for speaking a regional language with an unfamiliar accent, can discourage the people language advocates hope to bring closer. Buwan ng Wika should therefore stand for something more demanding than ceremonial pride. Filipinos do not need to retreat from English, or from any other language that broadens opportunity. The more confident position is to reject the idea that advancement requires giving up what was inherited at home. Teach children English well. Let them learn the languages that enlarge their world. But when possible, give them the language of their grandparents too. Not because it makes them more Filipino than anyone else, but because knowing another language adds a choice. Losing one removes it. A global language can open the world to a Filipino child. Our own languages can tell that child where the journey began. (AJPress)
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Philippine Supreme Court clarifies when psychological violence law may apply to broken marriage plans Ruling underscores that ending an engagement is not itself a crime under Philippine law by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine Supreme Court has drawn a clearer legal line between a failed engagement and psychological violence, ruling that ending plans to marry is not, by itself, a crime but that conduct surrounding the breakdown of those plans may fall under the country's anti-violence law when the required elements are proved. In a July 29 decision, the Court's First Division upheld the conviction of a police officer under Section 5(i) of Republic Act No. 9262, or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. The provision penalizes certain acts that cause mental or emotional anguish to a woman with whom an offender has or had a dating or sexual relationship. The ruling is significant for what
it does not say: Philippine law does not criminalize a person's decision to call off an engagement or abandon marriage plans. The case instead turned on the conduct surrounding the withdrawal of a marriage-license application and the psychological harm the courts found resulted from it. Court records identified the parties only as XXX and AAA to protect the complainant's identity. According to the decision, the couple submitted an application for a marriage license in 2020. The courts found that XXX later returned to the local civil registrar and retrieved the application documents without first informing AAA, who was pregnant at the time. XXX disputed the prosecution's account. He maintained that he had not agreed to marry AAA and said he went to the registrar only
to retrieve his birth certificate. The prosecution presented AAA's testimony and evidence from a social-welfare officer and a psychometrician concerning her mental and emotional condition. The lower courts found that the evidence established psychological harm within the meaning of RA 9262. The Regional Trial Court convicted XXX in 2023, and the Court of Appeals affirmed the judgment. The Supreme Court sustained the conviction while modifying the prison term to a minimum of two years, four months and one day and a maximum of nine years and four months. XXX was also ordered to pay a P100,000 fine, P75,000 in moral damages and P75,000 in exemplary damages, and to undergo psychological counseling or psychiatric treatment. n
Modernize agriculture, end the poverty... PAGE 6 chinery, negotiate prices, access financing and sell to large buyers that offer reasonable prices. A thousand small farmers acting together can become a powerful agricultural enterprise. Fix irrigation, roads and post-harvest losses. A farmer cannot compete globally if his harvest travels along poor roads, sits in the heat without refrigeration and reaches the market days later. Agricultural modernization therefore requires robust infrastructure. We need irrigation systems that allow multiple cropping, farm-to-market roads, warehouses, cold storage, drying facilities, processing centers and efficient logistics. Every peso invested in agricultural infrastructure should be viewed as an investment in rural incomes. Give farmers affordable capital. A farmer who cannot obtain affordable credit is forced into a vicious cycle. He borrows at high interest, buys expensive inputs, sells his harvest quickly to liquidate soonest and then starts the cycle again. Government should drastical-
ly expand agricultural lending through digital lending, credit guarantees, crop insurance and stronger agricultural cooperatives. But financing must be linked to viable production and markets. Credits should help farmers grow, not simply help them survive another season. Make agriculture attractive to the next generation. Perhaps the worst warning signal is that many young Filipinos do not see farming as a future or an attractive option. Why would they? If farming means hard physical labor, uncertain income and little access to technology, young people will leave. We must make agriculture a modern profession. Imagine a young Filipino operating drones, managing a greenhouse, using artificial intelligence to determine planting schedules, running a cold storage facility or managing an agricultural export business. That is the farmer of the future. Government must stop working in silos. Agricultural policies involves far more than the Department Agriculture. Trade, transportation, infrastructure, finance,
education, technology, energy and local government all affect farm profitability. The question should no longer be simply: how much did we spend on agriculture? It should be, how much did the farmer earn? This is the number that matters. Modernizing agriculture is not merely about increasing food production. It is about creating prosperous rural communities. Agriculture can become an engine of inclusive growth rather than a sector permanently dependent on government assistance. The Filipino farmers don’t need pity. They need productivity, technology, capital, infrastructure and access to markets. We must build an agricultural system that allows them to prosper and be globally competitive. Modernize the farms. Empower our farmers. (Philstar. com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: arielnepo.philstar.com
911 UPDATES. Emergency 911 Executive Director Francis Fajardo and, Department of the Interior and Local Government Undersecretary for Public Safety Jed Patrick Mabilog and Undersecretary for Public Affairs and Communications Rolando Puno (from left) hold a press conference at the Quezon City Reception House in New Manila on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. The officials discussed updates on the country’s emergency response system 911 and other public safety concerns. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
The floods won’t stop till...
PAGE 6 The flooding is difficult to dismiss simply as an “act of God,” as billions of pesos were infused into its flood control projects, particularly to the district of Congressman Paolo “Pulong” Duterte, during the presidency of his father. So, where, exactly, did all of Davao City’s flood-control money go? Down the drain? The floodwater certainly didn’t. Secretary Dizon inspected the Talomo River and discovered that a gabion flood control wall had been left unrepaired for seven years after it was damaged by a 2019 flood. He estimated that the repair would have cost less than P100 million. Angry and exasperated, he remarked that billions of pesos had been poured into the place, yet a relatively inexpensive repair had been left unattended for years. Here lies the painful truth. Yes, typhoons and climate change are real. The habagat is real, and extreme rainfall can overwhelm even well-designed infrastructure. But after the flood-control corruption was laid bare before the public, followed by promises of justice and accountability, investigations and several high-profile arrests and detentions, the question is – why has so little changed? The damage inflicted by corrup-
tion on our public infrastructure is extremely deep, and overturning this requires a complete overhaul. Corruption has weakened the very systems that are supposed to protect communities and support economic life. Roads, bridges, drainage systems, flood-control structures and other public works are consistently compromised by corruption, neglect, poor planning and construction, with ordinary Filipinos paying for them again and again. We are confronting an infrastructure system plagued by decades of questionable priorities, weak enforcement, inadequate maintenance, fraudulent procurement and political patronage. This is why flooding cannot be treated simply as a problem of too much rain. Rain is inevitable. Disasters, however, are often made worse by corruption and bad governance. A city without proper urban planning, a road without adequate drainage, a river without regular maintenance, a community without an effective waste-management system and flood control funds that were ransacked are not acts of God. They are acts of plunder and misgovernance. And corruption is only part of the problem. It is compounded by our long-standing failure to pur-
sue coherent, long-term development planning. We don’t have a coherent long-term vision for how cities, industries, public transport, housing, agriculture and the environment should work together. We don’t lack the technology. We can look into Tokyo, Copenhagen and other cities for best practices. We also don’t lack money for infrastructure. What we lack is the political will from capable leaders to make every peso work toward a coherent national development vision. Last Friday, I came across a viral Facebook post that said: “Hindi matitigil ang baha hangga’t hindi tayo bumoboto ng tama.” I agree. But with an important addition: patuloy ang pagbaha hangga’t hindi binabago ang sistema. When corruption, bad governance and lack of a development vision turn heavy rains into disasters, that is not beyond our power to change. We may not be able to stop the rain. But we can jail all the plunderers. We can learn to vote right. And yes, we can change the system. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
Leadership fund: Improper... PAGE 6 uses “allocables” steals. But the system makes theft, in the form of kickbacks and bribes, low-risk, hard to see, and thus almost expected, and then leaves the choice to politicians who have campaign expenses to pay and utang na loob
Virtual Press Briefing with Under Secretary of War Elbridge Colby
obligations to meet. Then there is fiscal centralization. Despite the Local Government Code and the Mandanas ruling, much infrastructure funding sits in national agencies, above all the DPWH. Funds for district needs must be negotiated nationally rather than raised locally. And the principle guiding the typical legislator in the scramble has always been to secure the maximum he can get, rather than the minimum he cannot do without. Pork thus operates as a functional substitute, not a badge of dishonor. Which is why simply banning it keeps failing. The Supreme Court struck down PDAF in 2013, prohibiting post-enactment participation and lump sums; the practice moved upstream into budget preparation. Pork explains why money flows to districts through legislators.
ON Aug. 13, 2026, in Bangkok, U.S. Ambassador Lee Lipton and U.S. Department of War Under Secretary Thailand, I joined a virtual press Elbridge Colby met with President Bongbong Marcos in Malacanang. The briefing with Under Secretary of United States is fully committed to its Alliance with the Philippines and will War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby, Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge A. Colby. continue to work hand in hand for a free and open Indo-Pacific. who discussed the Department of War’s defense strategy in the Indo-Pacific. He described an approach centered on flexible PAGE 6 realism, American strength and going to become matters of ecopragmatic Southeast Asian partnomic security and commercial nerships. policy. Colby is the principal adviser to Modern supply chains proved the Secretary of War on defense vulnerable during the pandemic. and foreign policy. He leads deAnd with the situation in the Midvelopment and implementation 2nd placed Asian Journal columnist Rogelio dle East, governments and comof the National Defense Strategy, Asian Journal columnist Rogelio Constantino Constantino Medina of the Philippines (left) and panies are looking for reliable lo1st placed chief trainer Augustine Anthuvan of cations to manufacture, process, oversees related reviews on Joint Medina (left) with recent celebrator Atty. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Mediacorp’s Singapore Media Academy (right). Force planning and posture, and Vince M. Tañada (right). store and move critical products. represents the department in ident, greeted me when I arThird was Shaurya Ritwik, The Philippines’ geographic poRubio announced sanctions interagency and foreign-govern- rived at about 9 p.m. on Dec. 31, against two ICC officials: ICC managing director of the Inter- sition, longstanding alliance with ment engagements. 2023. I spent the evening with President Tomoko Akane of Ja- national Institute for Sustainable the US, the LEC and a large EnBefore assuming his post, Col- Atty. Vince; his mother, Emy; pan and senior trial lawyer Ab- Finance in Bonifacio Global City, glish-speaking workforce are adby co-founded The Marathon In- his son, Peter Parker; Johnrey; doulaye Seye of Senegal. The Taguig, with 125,400 points. vantages that should not be undeitiative, a think tank focused on several PhilStagers, including designations were made under Andi Novianto, a senior policy restimated. sustained great-power competi- OJ Arci, Fidel Redado, James Executive Order 14203, “Impos- analyst with Indonesia’s CoorHowever, enthusiasm for intion. Ramada, Awin Valencia, Gerald ing Sanctions on the Internation- dinating Ministry for Economic vestment should never prevent us Colby is the author of Yale Magallanes, Carl Rasco, Lance al Criminal Court.” Affairs in Jakarta, placed fourth from insisting on safeguards that University Press’ 2021 book, The Cabradilla, Vean Cancino and According to Rubio, the two with 101,000 points. protect Philippine interests. We Strategy of Denial: American De- Bea Martin; and ABS-CBN singer officials had participated in ICC Reena Suri, executive director should aim for Filipino engineers fense in an Age of Great Power JM Yosures. efforts to investigate, arrest, de- of the India Smart Grid Forum, designing technology, Filipino sciConflict. The Wall Street Journal Since then, I have often joined tain or prosecute officials from placed fifth with 56,200 points. entists conducting research, Filipinamed it one of its top 10 books them in covering their shows, governments that had not con- She was the only woman in the no graduates working in advanced of the year, and it has been trans- including performances outside sented to the court’s jurisdiction. top 10. manufacturing and AI and Filipino lated into several languages. Tanvir Ebne Bashar of Bang- companies eventually becoming Rubio also argued that the ICC Metro Manila. During President Donald I had intended to join the PSF has repeatedly sought authori- ladesh, vice president of Infra- suppliers and innovators in their Trump’s first term, Colby served summer workshop in 2024 but ty over nationals of the United structure Development Company own right. as deputy assistant secretary of was too busy, and in 2025 I was States and other countries that Limited, was sixth with 55,600 Environmental concerns must defense for strategy and force in California with my family. In have not ratified the Rome Stat- points. be addressed directly, particularly development from 2017 to 2018. May 2026, I finally had the op- ute. He said the administration Kathmandu-based Manav K massive requirements for water He helped lead the development portunity to participate. would continue its diplomatic C, an energy adviser at GIZ Ne- and electricity, plus questions on of the 2018 National Defense During the month-long work- campaign against what it views pal, placed seventh with 39,800 land use, surrounding communiStrategy, which emphasized shop, I approached the experi- as ICC overreach and would en- points. ties and environmental protection China’s military buildup and ence like a high school student courage other governments to Vikas Singh Suhag, a clean-en- – issues that responsible planning the need for greater allied bur- because several participants reconsider their funding and ergy professional based in Ri- must solve before and during den-sharing. He also served as were secondary-level students, participation. yadh, Saudi Arabia, was eighth construction. the Defense Department’s pri- many of them minors. I delibHe added that the administra- with 33,500 points. The answer is not to choose mary representative in develop- erately became quieter and less tion was prepared to impose furLusiano Koroiveibau, a me- between development and ening the 2017 National Security outspoken than usual. As a pro- ther measures if it deemed them chanical engineer from Suva, vironmental protection as though Strategy. fessor, I am normally strict, dis- necessary to protect U.S. sover- Fiji, placed ninth with 32,600 the Philippines can have only one. The PhilStagers’ Encounter points. ciplined, observant and investi- eignty. The answer is to design the proI began to know the Philip- gative. Arun Kumar of India, strategic ject properly: identify sustainable 2nd Placer in the ACEF 2026 pine Stagers Foundation in Deadviser for power markets and power sources, establish credible Advancing the U.S. Cam- Leaderboard cember 2023, when Atty. Vince paign to Address the Threat I was happy to place second technology innovation at Asia water-management plans, requiM. Tañada invited me to spend Posed by the ICC in the Asia Clean Energy Forum Research and Engagement in re environmental compliance, New Year’s Eve at his home and U.S. Secretary of State Marco 2026 leaderboard with 133,000 New Delhi, rounded out the top protect surrounding communities office in Sampaloc, Manila. At Rubio said the Trump adminis- points. It was my first time at- 10 with 31,200 points. and make the standards and monithe time, I was with the Office of tration considers the Internation- tending the forum, and I thank toring mechanisms transparent. A *** the President’s Career Executive al Criminal Court “a corrupt and the Asian Development Bank. The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints ex- project advertised as representing Service Board, where my former fatally politicized supranational First place went to Augustine pressed by the author do not necessarily re- the technological future should boss, Atty. Maria Anthonette Ve- court” that has, in the adminis- Anthuvan of Singapore, chief flect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the also aspire to modern environAsian Journal, its management, editorial board lasco-Allones, was executive di- tration’s view, exceeded its man- trainer at Mediacorp’s Singapore and staff. mental standards. rector. date and threatened state sover- Media Academy, with 147,200 *** An important point: there will be Email: rogelio.medina@asianjournalinc.com no AI and hyper-scale data centers Johnrey Rivas, the PSF pres- eignty. points.
It does not explain why some flood control structures were never built. Flood control is almost uniquely selected for fraud because its outputs are dispersed along riverbanks where nobody looks. The public learns of them only when they fail, during a flood that destroys the evidence and supplies the alibi. So the name matters more than it seems. Ban the leadership fund, as Lacson urges, and the function will resurface under a term we have not yet heard. It has done so at least twice already. (Inquirer. net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: public.lives@gmail.com
Pax Silica: Will it be good... inside New Clark City because the location does not have the required electricity supply, according to BCDA president and CEO Jake Bingcang, who disclosed that an interested AI company has chosen Malaysia instead. Which brings to mind something I have publicly emphasized: the Philippines is not the only country capable of hosting advanced technology investment. If we “drop the ball,” there are other Asian countries ready to take it on and move quickly without hesitation. The US and allied groups may see advantages in the Philippines, but we should never assume that investments will wait forever while we go into the typical “paralysis by analysis.” The old saying “he who hesitates is lost” brings to mind the time when we “dropped the ball” on the Pfizer vaccines at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. We had 10 million vaccines that were coming our way, but by taking our time signing a prerequisite requirement, a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) which was so simple and could have possibly saved lives – we ended up at the end of the line. We have been talking for decades about advancing the Philippines into a modern industrial and technological nation. Yes, we should scrutinize Pax Silica and insist on safeguards. However, the bigger danger may not be Pax Silica coming to the Philippines but watching investments, technology and jobs going elsewhere – realizing years later that we once again missed out on a significant opportunity and allowed the future to pass us by. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com
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Features
ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
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JOUR N AL Friday, August 21, 2026
INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E
Korina Sanchez leaves door open to politics; Aiko Melendez, Ogie Diaz end says Mar Roxas not eyeing 2028 run management partnership, remain friends Veteran broadcaster says she has long considered public office but has not declared a candidacy by AJPress VETERAN broadcast journalist Korina Sanchez-Roxas has left open the possibility of entering politics, saying she has considered public office for years while describing her husband, former senator and presidential candidate Mar Roxas, as uninterested in another electoral run in 2028. Sanchez said people around her have encouraged her to run, but she has not identified an office she might seek, set a timetable for a decision or announced preparations for a campaign. Interest in a possible candidacy has grown after Sanchez was included in a recent Pulse Asia survey testing voter preferences for the 2028 Senate race. She received 10 percent support in the survey, conducted from June 28 to July 6. Inclusion in such a poll does not indicate that a per-
son is a candidate. Roxas’ name has also resurfaced in political discussions after Caloocan Rep. Edgar Erice publicly urged him earlier this year to seek the presidency again in 2028. Sanchez said Roxas is no longer interested in another presidential campaign but remains open to public service if an appropriate opportunity arises. She also said she was aware of offers for him to return to government, without identifying the positions or who had extended them. Roxas served in the Senate and held Cabinet posts, including secretary of trade and industry, transportation and communications, and the interior and local government. He was the Liberal Party’s presidential candidate in 2016 and later ran for the Senate in 2019. Sanchez remains active in
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broadcasting as an anchor of Bilyonaryo News Channel’s Agenda and in television news and public-affairs programming. Neither Sanchez nor Roxas has launched a campaign for the 2028 elections.
Jodi Sta. Maria reflects on family wounds, forgiveness in new Netflix film ‘Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon’ examines estrangement and the responsibility of confronting pain before it reaches another generation by AJPress MANILA — Jodi Sta. Maria says unresolved family wounds should not become an inheritance. The actress, discussing the Netflix film Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon, said people who carry pain from the past have a responsibility to confront it rather than pass its effects to their children or others close to them. “Healing is our responsibility,” Sta. Maria said during a Netflix Philippines media launch, describing the need to recognize personal wounds and prevent them from reaching another generation. Sta. Maria stars as Joanne, or Jo, a television writer whose life is disrupted when her estranged mother, Paz, played by Agot Isidro, returns after 27 years. Netflix describes the reunion as bringing a secret that changes Jo’s life. Gardo Versoza, Ruby Ruiz, Gabriel Lazaro, RK Bagatsing, Mitch Valdez and Angel Aquino are also in the cast. Directed and co-written by Cholo H. Laurel, the film examines estrangement, forgiveness and tensions within Filipino families. Sta. Maria said playing Jo led her to consider how unresolved hurt can shape relationships. Forgiveness, she said, does not require immediately dismissing pain. She first acknowledges feelings such as hurt, betrayal or disappointment before making the decision to forgive. Laurel has stressed that the film does not tell audiences that reconciliation or forgiveness is re-
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quired. Its emphasis, he said, is on communication and bringing unresolved wounds into the open, leaving viewers to draw their own conclusions. Isidro similarly described healing and forgiveness as “inner work.” Ganito, Ganyan, Ganoon began streaming on Netflix on Aug. 13.
Joey Albert marks 45 years in music
The veteran OPM singer reflects on a career shaped by enduring ballads, family choices, life in Canada and survival through serious illness. by AJPress
JOEY Albert is marking 45 years in Philippine music, a milestone spanning the rise of her best-known ballads in the 1980s, a move to Canada, repeated battles with cancer and decades of performing for Filipino audiences at home and abroad. Albert began performing professionally in the early 1980s and gained wider recognition after winning the Dream Girl Filipina competition in 1982. The victory became a turning point in a recording career that would make her one of the recognizable voices of her generation. By the middle of the decade, Albert had become closely associated with songs including “Tell Me,” “A Million Miles Away,” “I Remember the Boy,” “Ikaw Lang ang Mamahalin,” “Memories” and “Points of View,” her duet with Pops Fernandez. Many remained part of her performing repertoire long after their original release. In a July interview on GMA’s “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” Albert described 1985 as a defining period in her career, when her recording work was gaining momentum and she mounted her “Larger Than Life” concert at ULTRA in Metro Manila. Her career eventually took
a different course when she moved to Canada with her husband and children. Albert has said family considerations drove the decision, even as leaving an established career and relatives in the Philippines proved difficult. She continued performing while building a life outside the entertainment industry, including work in early-childhood education. Over the years, she remained active before Filipino communities in North America and continued returning to the Philippines for performances. Albert’s career also endured through serious health challenges. Published accounts document her treatment for cervical cancer in the 1990s, colon cancer in the following decade and a recurrence that required surgery in 2015. Albert has said her family has Lynch syndrome, an inherited condition associated with increased risks of several cancers. She has spoken publicly about how those experiences changed her priorities, placing greater emphasis on family, faith and how she chose to spend her time. Albert marked her 40th year in music in 2021 with the digital concert “Life Begins @ 40,” presented during a period when live entertainment remained
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constrained by the pandemic. Five years later, she returned to a live Manila audience for “FORTYfied: Joey Albert 45” at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in April. A repeat performance followed in July. Both shows sold out. The concerts provided one marker of the anniversary, but the larger milestone lies in the continuity of Albert’s career. Forty-five years after she entered the industry, she continues to perform songs first associated with an earlier era of OPM while maintaining a professional life that has long unfolded between the Philippines and Canada. The circumstances around that career have changed considerably since the 1980s. The music that established Albert’s name, however, remains at the center of her work.
Actress and Quezon City councilor says there was no feud as longtime professional relationship closes by AJPress
MANILA — Actress and Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez and talent manager Ogie Diaz have ended their management partnership, with both saying the professional separation did not end their friendship. Melendez announced the change on social media, saying they had decided to pursue different professional directions. She thanked Diaz for their years of working together and later dismissed speculation of a falling-out, saying they remained on good terms. Diaz separately described the separation as amicable. He said Melendez told him she wanted to devote greater attention to politics and to the direction she planned
to take in her public and personal life. Diaz said his management responsibilities covered Melendez’s entertainment career, not her political work. He also acknowledged that their differing political views may have figured in the decision, while stressing that they continued to respect each other. Their working relationship predated the written agreement they signed in 2023. Melendez said that by March of that year, Diaz had already been managing her for nearly a year without a formal contract. They signed a management agreement on March 13, 2023. Melendez continues to work in entertainment while serving as a Quezon City councilor representing the 5th District, after winning another term in the May 2025
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elections. Diaz said he would remain available if Melendez sought his advice. Melendez, meanwhile, said she had recommended another prospective talent to him after their split, underscoring both sides’ account that the professional separation had not become a personal break.
Anne Curtis says she is ‘okay,’ keeps health details private Actress-host responds to months of online concern and urges regular checkups without disclosing a diagnosis by AJPress MANILA — Anne Curtis has reassured supporters that she is doing well while choosing to keep details of her health private, following months of online concern over what some viewers described as swelling on her neck. Curtis addressed the issue during an Aug. 15 contract-signing event for Zion Philippines, where reporters asked about
fans’ health concerns. “It’s not something I’d like to talk about,” Curtis said, adding that she preferred to keep what she is going through private. Her message to concerned supporters was simple: “Just know that I’m okay.” Curtis did not identify an illness or disclose a diagnosis. Although speculation about the apparent swelling has circulated online, no specific medical con-
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dition has been confirmed by Curtis. PAGE 10
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AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
HEALTH @HEART Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS Washington and Colorado, USA, were the first states to approve marijuana for non-medical use in ballot initiatives on November 6, 2012, taking effect December 6, 2012, making marijuana legal for recreational use for adults 21 and older. The possession limit is 1 ounce (28.3 grams). New studies show that more Americans are shifting from alcohol to marijuana. Federal data show an estimated 21.4 million Americans use cannabis daily, compared to 17.2 million who imbibe alcohol with the same frequency. This reflects a 21-percent shift from 2022, jumping from the frying pan to the fire? The dangers of using marijuana “involve cognitive impairment, mental health vulnerabilities, respiratory and cardiovascular strain, and developing Cannabis Use Disorder (CUD).” We seem not to have learned
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Alcohol to Marijuana from history. The Qing dynasty in China entered the peak addiction era from recreational opium between 1800 and 1911. More than 13. 5 million people were addicted, including 27 percent of its male population. This led to widespread national addiction and economic devastation, resulting in the final downfall of the Qing dynasty in 1912. Both opium and marijuana are psychotropic drugs. While opium is much more deadly than marijuana, the use of any such class of drug for recreation is unhealthy, to say the least. Why our legislators even approved this drug for recreational use is ludicrous and a disservice to society. We have enough problems; we do not need to add one, even if it is presented as a “safe recreational solution.” Besides, there are dozens of recreational activities available to everyone these days, thanks to computers, cellphones, and now, AIs, among others. Microwaving foods Warming or cooking food in a microwave is safe and healthy, as long as the container is glass or ceramic, not Styrofoam or
plastic. Microwaves are a form of non-ionizing radiation and do not make food radioactive or alter its chemical structure, contrary to popular myth. Microwave ovens are safe as long as the protective shield is intact. If broken, the escaping radiation could cause painful tissue burns, intense redness and blurred vision, cataracts, and temporary sterility in men. There are inexpensive handheld radiation leak detectors available. Make sure your microwave oven is not damaged. While it is running, it is precautionary to stay at least 6 feet away. Microwaving foods preserves the vitamins and minerals in food, unlike boiling or baking. Stir the food halfway to distribute the heat evenly and not leave “cold spots,” where food-borne bacteria might survive. This mode of warming or cooking also saves a lot of time. Potatoes, corn, and bananas wrapped in a wet towel rapidly cook in 3 minutes. Fast, convenient, safe, and healthy. Jicama strategy Munching on jicama (singkamas in Tagalog), a crisp, juicy,
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 937-9981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 ready-to-eat root vegetable, for snacks is an exceptional strategy for gut health and for satisfying the craving to chew or eat. It is a high-volume, low-calorie food that promotes fullness without consuming a heavy calorie count. One cup of jicama contains only about 49 calories, providing 1.8 g of sugar, a huge 6.4 grams of dietary fiber, and about 90 percent water. This slows down digestion, satisfies the urge to chew, and stretches our daily calorie budget, compared to common snacks. Jicama is very good for the gut microbiome, an exceptional source of inulin, a soluble prebiotic fiber that bypasses digestion in the small intestine to feed and stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria in the colon. With the same amount, Broccoli yields 31 calories, 2.4 g fiber, and 1.5 g sugar, and carrots, 52 calories, 3.6 g fiber, and 6.0 g sugar. Celery: 16 calories, 1.5 fiber, and 1.4 g sugar. Any of these, or a combination of them, is a healthier option for snacks compared to fast foods, sweets (carbohydrates), and toxic soft drinks, and it lowers the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, and even cancer. Remember: We are what we eat.
Our diet is a major (primary) factor that determines our future health and longevity. Dangerous claim The “Boost’ TV commercial uses the term “temporary oxygen insufficiency” to justify the use of an oxygen supplement from a hand canister. That is not a medical diagnosis or an official medical entity. It is a gimmick to sell ‘Boost,” which is useless, even dangerous, for healthy individuals. Supplemental oxygen is beneficial only to those with cardiopulmonary disease, like heart failure or COPD, or those with hypoxia, and is dangerously unhealthy for those who are not short of breath with normal blood oxygen levels. The atmosphere provides us with 21 percent oxygen, which is the safe natural level of oxygen for people who don't have shortness of breath. Getting a higher percentage of oxygen damages normal lungs. In July 2024, Boost Oxygen LLC reached a $413,000 false advertising settlement with California (Ventura, St. Barbara, and Monterey counties) prosecutors. Caveat emptor! Less sugar for babies It has long been proven that an infant’s nutrition in the first 1000 days of life can affect their health later in life. A healthy, nourishing diet during the first years of life is vital in establishing a healthy gut microbiome, a strong immune system, and supporting brain development. A new study found that “infants exposed to less sugar in their first 1,000 days of life experienced lower risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease and dementia from any cause as adults. Scientists also found that consuming less sugar during the first 1,000 days of life also led to a lower risk of depression and anxiety later in life.” The principle of minimizing sugar to attain better health also
applies to everyone. Planetary health diet The planetary health diet is based on the same principle as the Mediterranean diet, plantbased diet, or DASH diet, all rich in plants. Studies reveal that reducing intake of processed foods, red meats, salt, and sugars, while increasing fresh fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and pulses, can help reduce the risk of health conditions such as overweight and obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and some cancers. Nutrition journal says, “This type of diet is also good for the planet, as plant farming produces fewer gases that contribute to the climate crisis. Now, a study suggests that, for postmenopausal women, a planetary health diet can significantly reduce by 28 percentage lower the risk of cardiovascular and coronary heart disease. Encouragingly, the researchers say that even small changes to diet and exercise can have significant health benefits.”*** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/ author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua. com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
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John Prats, Heart Evangelista confirm new reunion project after two decades Former early-2000s onscreen partners are developing a project for longtime followers by AJPress MANILA — John Prats and Heart Evangelista are working together on a new project more than two decades after becoming one of Philippine television’s recognizable young pairings of the early 2000s. The actor-director and Evangelista have separately confirmed the collaboration, although neither has disclosed whether it will be a film, television series or another type of production. Prats said discussions were underway but key details had yet to be finalized. Cornerstone Studios, the film and television division of Prats’ management company, also released a teaser carrying the tag #JoHeart. Their reunion follows several appearances together this year. Prats appeared on Evangelista’s Heart World in May, where they discussed their early careers, former relationship and
years apart. They later appeared in TJ Monterde’s “Teka Lang” music video and other fashion and social-media projects. Their onscreen partnership included G-mik, Trip, Berks and the 2003 film My First Romance. Both have publicly described each other as their first loves. Evangelista said during her Aug. 11 contract renewal with Sparkle GMA Artist Center that reconnecting with Prats had been “healing” and that the project was being developed with longtime supporters in mind. The collaboration does not necessarily signal a broader acting comeback for Prats. In January, he said he was satisfied concentrating on directing, which has included television productions and concerts for artists such as KZ Tandingan, TJ Monterde, Moira Dela Torre and Yeng Constantino. Prats said he hoped the reunion project could be completed within the year.
Anne Curtis says she is ‘okay,’...
PAGE 9 The discussion dates to February, when photos from a Feb. 1 appearance on “ASAP” prompted comments from viewers who said they noticed swelling on her neck. Curtis did not publicly address the speculation at the time. In her latest remarks, the actress and “It’s Showtime” host shifted the focus to preventive care. She said she undergoes annual health checkups and began having comprehensive examinations while
still in her 30s. Curtis urged people to be attentive to changes in their bodies and to regard regular medical checkups as part of maintaining their health as they age. The actress, who remains active in television, film and endorsements, offered no further details. Her public message was deliberately restrained: she is doing well, but the circumstances surrounding her health are something she intends to keep private.
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ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026
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Lombardo orders Nevada agencies to identify regulations for reform cient and responsive. The order directs executive-branch departments, agencies, boards and commissions to hold public hearings with industry stakeholders by Oct. 29 to gather recommendations. By the end of the year, each agency must submit a report to the governor’s office identifying five to 10 regulations that could be streamlined, clarified, reduced or otherwise improved. The governor’s office plans to review the recommendations in 2027. Lombardo, a Republican, is seeking re-election in November.
File photo/www.gov.nv.gov
Clark County commissioners are considering an ordinance that would fine short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO for facilitating bookings of unlicensed properties in unincorporated areas. Introduced Aug. 4, the proposal would impose a $500 fine for a first violation and $1,000 for subsequent violations. County officials say the measure is aimed at closing an enforcement gap and addressing neighborhood complaints tied to unlicensed rentals. Jennifer Cooper, the county’s chief communications and strategy officer, said the ordinance tar-
gets hosting platforms rather than property owners and is intended to ensure only licensed rentals can be booked. Nevada’s 2021 Assembly Bill 363 required local governments to regulate short-term rentals, including separation requirements, a 1% license cap in unincorporated areas and penalties for unlicensed operations. Clark County adopted its own licensing system in 2022 and has issued about 220 licenses, with roughly 116 applications pending. AirDNA reported 21,697 shortterm rental properties across Las Vegas in July, with Airbnb accoun-
ting for about 64% of listings. Enforcement has been complicated by litigation. In December, U.S. District Judge Miranda Du issued a preliminary injunction limiting the county’s ability to impose certain fines, penalties and licensing requirements while constitutional claims are litigated. The Greater Las Vegas ShortTerm Rental Association has urged commissioners to focus instead on improving the licensing process. Supporters of tougher enforcement, however, say unlicensed rentals continue to generate noise, parking and trash complaints in residential neighborhoods.
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Science & Natural History Museum will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from Sept. 1-30 with a community-curated exhibition highlighting Latin American wildlife, landscapes, culture and artistic traditions. The exhibition launches Woven Throughout History, a multimonth series examining culture through textiles and the science behind textile-making. Mexican textile artist Aleida Castro will serve as the first resident guest artist, presenting work and leading workshops connecting embroidery with history, environmental science, chemistry and
engineering. Two drop-in workshops are scheduled. On Sept. 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can create Charro-inspired patterns using paper and fabric scraps. On Sept. 19 during the same hours, participants can learn embroidery techniques based on traditional Mexican floral designs using yarn, templates and plastic needles. The series will later continue during Indigenous Peoples’ Month, Black History Month and Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The exhibition and workshops are included with museum admission or membership. The mu-
seum, at 900 Las Vegas Blvd. N., is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $14 for adults, $12 for students, seniors and military personnel, and $7 for children ages 3 to 11. For more information, call (702) 384-3466.
LAS VEGAS — Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo has ordered state agencies to identify regulations that could be streamlined, revised or eliminated as part of a renewed regulatory reform effort. Executive Order 2026-003 builds on a 2023 initiative that Lombardo’s office said resulted in more than 900 regulatory changes. “Government should protect the public without creating unnecessary barriers for Nevada’s families and businesses,” Lombardo said in a statement, adding File photo/www. bcnv.org that the new review is intended to make state government more effi-
Titus, RTC and Boulder City officials highlight Clark County weighs fines for platforms Nevada Way reconstruction project listing unlicensed short-term rentals
BOULDER CITY – U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada and Boulder City officials detailed the upcoming Phase II Nevada Way Reconstruction Project on Aug. 14, outlining roadway, pedestrian-safety and accessibility improvements through the city’s historic downtown. The project is supported by an $850,000 federal grant secured by Titus. “Nevada Way is a main thoroughfare through Boulder City,”
Titus said, noting its role as a gateway to Lake Mead National Recreation Area and other destinations. She said the project is expected to support the city’s economic activity while improving pedestrian safety for residents and visitors. The work will rehabilitate Nevada Way from Colorado Street to Park Street and reconstruct Colorado Street from Nevada Way to Utah Street and Park Street from Nevada Way to Utah Street. Improvements include repaving, restriping and
replacement of deteriorating asphalt, along with raised crosswalks equipped with pedestrian-activated flashing beacons. The project also calls for ADA and pedestrian-access upgrades in areas where sidewalks and ramps are limited. RTC Deputy CEO Andrew Kjellman said the project reflects a partnership among federal, regional and local officials to improve safety and access along a key corridor serving downtown businesses, residents and visitors in historic Boulder City.
CCSD seeks $480 million in special education funding, school budget reforms Las Vegas museum marks Hispanic Heritage Month with community exhibition
LAS VEGAS — The Clark County School District plans to ask Nevada lawmakers for more special education funding and changes to the state’s school budgeting process ahead of the 2027 legislative session. The CCSD Board of Trustees voted Thursday to develop a bill draft request seeking full funding for students’ Individualized Education Plans, or IEPs, which are required under federal law. CCSD Chief Financial Officer Justin Dayhoff said the district must provide required special education services regardless of whether federal or state funding fully covers the cost. The district currently transfers about $176 million from its general fund to special education, he said. Nic Ciccone, CCSD executive
director of government relations, said the district is seeking more than $480 million over the twoyear budget cycle. Parent and special education advocate Anna Marie Binder said adequate funding is necessary because students’ needs can include oneto-one aides, assistive technology, occupational therapy and speech services. Trustees also approved a second bill draft request that would change how Nevada calculates and distributes per-pupil funding. The proposal would explore replacing quarterly enrollment counts with a formula based on the previous year’s Oct. 1 enrollment. District officials say the change could reduce disruptive midyear staffing and program
cuts caused by enrollment declines while improving transparency in the budgeting process. The proposal also could remove “as practicable” language from state law and establish a minimum per-student funding level regardless of economic conditions. CCSD officials said Nevada ranks 47th nationally in per-student funding and spends about $5,000 less per student than the national average. District leaders said additional special education funding would also relieve pressure on the general fund, allowing more resources to remain available for teachers, instruction and other school programs. Both bill draft requests must be submitted to the state by Sept. 1.
Battle Born Growth financing supports expansion of two Nevada healthcare providers CARSON CITY, Nev. – Nevada’s Battle Born Growth program has helped two healthcare providers secure financing to expand services, facilities and staffing as demand for specialized medical care grows across the state. The State Small Business Credit Initiative program, overseen by the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and operated by Nevada Battle Born Growth Escalator Inc., worked with GenuBank and Heritage Bank on financing for Children’s Heart Center and Gates Brain
Health. Children’s Heart Center, established in 1980, provides pediatric cardiovascular care through offices, outreach clinics and hospital services across Nevada. Its financing will support continued expansion and investment in facilities, equipment and personnel. Gates Brain Health provides functional neurology services, including neurological evaluations, vestibular rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury treatment, diagnostic testing and imaging analysis. The practice expand-
ed from about five employees in 2023 to approximately 20 in 2025. Financing will support additional equipment, technology, facilities and staffing. Karsten Heise, GOED’s senior director of strategic programs and innovation, said the program’s Collateral Support Program helps specialized healthcare providers gain access to credit. NBBGEI CEO Mendy Elliott said the financing partnerships support expanded healthcare access, job creation and Nevada’s broader economy.
Las Vegas opens registration for fall recreation and sports programs LAS VEGAS – Registration is open for fall recreation and sports programs offered by the city of Las Vegas, with activities available for children, adults and participants of varying abilities. Youth sports include softball, baseball, flag football, indoor hockey, pickleball, ultimate frisbee, kickball, soccer and volleyball. Skill-building programs are also offered in basketball, football, hockey, soccer, pickleball, softball, T-ball, volleyball and strength training. Preschool activities include cooking, reading, arts and crafts, school readiness, science, technology and music. School-age children can participate in dance, chorus, music lessons, gymnastics, acting and other after-school and weekend programs. Residents age 50 and older can choose from activities at the city’s four active adult centers, including fitness, cooking, crafts, dancing, theater, trips, book clubs, games, music, painting, quilting and special events. The city also offers adaptive recreation programs designed to provide recreational opportunities for youth and adults of varying abilities. For program information and registration, visit registration. lasvegasnevada.gov. The city’s Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department can be reached through the city information line at 702-229-6011.
File photo/ www.lasvegasnevada.gov
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AUGUST 21 - 27, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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