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Volume 37 - No. 35 • 12 Pages
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DATELINE
U.S. immigrant visa interviews disrupted worldwide USA
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Judge blocks new USPS mail-ballot rules after Supreme Court ruling Temporary order halts core requirements for 14 days as states and voting-rights groups challenge the finalized Postal Service regulation
State Department retraining puts new focus on public-charge screening as applicants face delays; National Visa Center processing continues by AJPress
WASHINGTON — Immigrant visa applicants around the world are encountering postponed interviews as the State Department retrains consular officers on public-charge screening, temporarily slowing one of the final stages of the process for obtaining permanent residence in the United States. The department said it launched the training at U.S. embassies and consulates worldwide and is ad-
justing visa appointments while officers receive additional instruction on identifying applicants who may become dependent on public benefits. A State Department official told The Associated Press that the interruption began in early August and is not expected to extend beyond early to mid-September. Most affected applicants had interviews scheduled for August and are being moved to later dates, the official said. The department has not publicly announced a firm date for normal scheduling to resume.
Duterte impeachment trial narrows in on control of OVP confidential funds
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday temporarily blocked core parts of a new U.S. Postal Service rule governing federal mail ballots, halting requirements that had briefly taken effect for the Nov. 3 midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston issued a 14-day temporary restraining order after states and voting-rights organizations returned to court with challenges directed at the Postal Service’s completed rule. A hearing on whether to impose a longer preliminary injunction is scheduled for Sept. 3. The decision marks a new phase in a legal dispute that reached the Supreme Court earlier this week. On Monday, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 u PAGE 4
Abbott seeks to bar H-1B workers from Texas public schools Proposal would cover current visa holders and future applicants; Filipino educators are among H-1B teachers working in U.S. schools AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is calling for legislation that would bar public school districts from employing workers on H-1B visas, targeting a federal program some Texas school systems use to recruit teachers for hard-to-fill classrooms. Abbott announced the proposal Aug. 18 in Austin, saying he wants “exactly zero” H-1B visa holders working in Texas public schools. He said the restriction should apply to current visa holders as well as future applicants. No such K-12 prohibition is currently u PAGE 4
Testimony examines the chain of custody and oversight of ₱500 million as senator-judges press witnesses on who knew how the money was ultimately spent. by AJPress
HOSTILE WITNESS. Lemuel Ortonio is the Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), serving as a key witness and declared hostile witness in the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte. Photo by Wendell Alinea/Senate Social Media Unit
Latest notice covers absences through Sept. 2; Ombudsman investigation remains preliminary by AJPress
MANILA – Sen. Loren Legarda remains on medical leave, with her latest Senate notice covering Aug. 24 to 26 and Sept. 1 to 2, as Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian said Thursday that she had told him she was dealing with a “serious illness.”
her campaign appear eligible for New York City matching funds; records show her committee received no public money
NEW YORK – Filipino American former New York City Public Advocate candidate Angela Aquino has pleaded guilty to wire fraud in a scheme to obtain $1 million in public campaign funds by making her campaign appear to have met fundraising requirements for New York City’s matching-funds program.
MANILA — Testimony in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial this week sharpened questions over who controlled and documented ₱500 million in confidential funds at the Office of the Vice President, while stopping short of establishing that Duterte committed an impeachable offense. The hearings remained centered on Article I, which accuses Duterte of culpable violation of the Constitution and betrayal of public trust over the alleged misuse and liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds, including P112.5 million at the Department of Education. Duterte denies wrongdoing. u PAGE 2
Legarda remains on medical leave U.S. Iran sanctions push as Senate chief cites serious illness puts Philippine trade Gatchalian said he was aware of Legarda's condition but declined to provide details, describing the matter as personal. He also said he did not know when she expected to return to the Senate. Senate Secretary Renato Bantug Jr. confirmed the latest leave notice. Legarda previously filed medical leave for Aug. 3 to 5, Aug. u PAGE4
Fil-Am ex-NYC candidate pleads guilty Comelec sets up anti-votein $1 million public-funds scheme buying teams ahead of first Angela Aquino admitted trying to make BARMM parliamentary election by AJPress
A pause at the consular stage The disruption does not mean every part of immigrant visa processing has stopped. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services generally adjudicates the underlying immigrant petition. Many approved cases then move to the State Department’s National Visa Center, where applicants pay fees and submit the DS-260 immigrant visa application and required financial and civil documents before an interview is scheduled at an u PAGE 2
Aquino, 47, entered the plea Aug. 20 in federal court in Brooklyn before U.S. Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York. Wire fraud carries a statutory maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The case centers on Aquino’s efforts to make her 2025 camu PAGE 4
by AJPress
MANILA — The Commission on Elections has deployed task forces across the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao to investigate suspected vote-buying as the region prepares for its first regular parliamentary election on Sept. 14. Comelec Chairman George Garcia said Thursday that the teams have been organized in provinces and cities across BARMM and are intended to allow election officials to respond quickly to complaints and evidence of illegal campaign activ-
ties under scrutiny
Washington has widened pressure on Iran, but no blanket U.S. penalty has been announced against the Philippines, whose trade with Tehran is dominated by agricultural exports. by AJPress
MANILA — The Trump administration’s intensified campaign to isolate Iran economically is drawing new attention to countries that maintain commercial ties with Tehran, including the Philippines, where exity. Garcia said Comelec wants ports to Iran have risen sharply candidates, political parties and in recent years. But current U.S. sanctions their supporters to understand that allegations of vote-buying rules do not support the conwill be acted upon rather than clusion that Philippine goods deferred until after the election. automatically face American As of Thursday, however, penalties simply because Manila Garcia said the commission had trades with Iran. The U.S. Treasury Departnot received a vote-buying complaint connected to the parlia- ment on Aug. 24 launched a broader enforcement campaign mentary race. The initiative follows Comelec targeting Iran-related financial Resolution No. 11228, issued in and commercial activity and exJune, which reactivated the poll panded potentially sanctionable body's Committee on Kontra sectors to include aviation, digBigay for the BARMM elections ital assets, gold, shipping and u PAGE 4 technology. It also sanctioned
dozens of individuals, companies and vessels accused by U.S. authorities of supporting Iranian nuclear, missile, cyber or petroleum networks. The Philippines was not publicly identified as a sanctions target, and Washington has not announced a blanket Iran-related restriction on Philippine exports. An earlier tariff initiative is also no longer operative. President Donald Trump signed an order in February allowing possible additional tariffs on countries found to be acquiring certain Iranian goods or services. The measure did not automatically impose a 25 percent tariff and primarily concerned purchases from Iran, rather than exports to it. u PAGE 2
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From the Front Page
U.S. immigrant visa interviews... PAGE 1 embassy or consulate. State Department data updated Aug. 24 show those NVC functions continuing. The center said it was creating cases received from USCIS on Aug. 6 and reviewing documents submitted July 6. The immediate interruption is therefore concentrated at the consular appointment and interview stage rather than across the entire immigrant visa pipeline. Public-charge scrutiny moves to the center Public-charge inadmissibility is a longstanding provision of federal immigration law. Section 212(a)(4) of the Immigration and Nationality Act requires officers evaluating whether an applicant is likely to become a public charge to consider factors including age, health, family status, assets and financial resources, and education and skills. The State Department says consular officers make those determinations individually. The department has not publicly released the full training materials, limiting what can be established about changes in how officers are being instructed to apply the standard. A related but separate measure took effect this month. On Aug. 5, the State Department announced a pilot allowing consular officers in certain cases to require an immigrant visa ap-
plicant already found inadmissible on public-charge grounds to seek a Public Charge Bond through USCIS. The bond is an additional avenue for an otherwise eligible applicant to overcome the finding. It is not a requirement imposed on all immigrant visa applicants. The 75-country policy follows a separate legal track The worldwide interview disruption is distinct from an earlier State Department policy suspending immigrant visa issuance for nationals of 75 countries. Under that policy, affected applicants could continue submitting applications and attending interviews, but immigrant visas generally could not be issued. U.S. District Judge Jeannette A. Vargas in Manhattan vacated the policy Aug. 21, finding that the nationality-based suspension was contrary to federal immigration law and exceeded the secretary of state’s statutory authority. The court also set aside visa refusals based solely on the policy. The Philippines was not among the 75 countries covered. On Aug. 26, plaintiffs in Catholic Legal Immigration Network, Inc. v. Rubio asked Vargas to enforce her judgment following reports of the worldwide appointment pause. They contend the new interruption could interfere with implementation of the ruling.
The filing is a request by the plaintiffs. The court has not ruled that the worldwide training pause violates its Aug. 21 judgment. A separate Department of Homeland Security public-charge rule takes effect Sept. 18 for covered applications for admission and adjustment of status. It rescinds DHS’s 2022 framework and restores broader discretion to officers evaluating relevant circumstances. That rule applies to DHS adjudications and is distinct from State Department visa decisions overseas. Manila faces delays atop existing queues Filipino applicants may be affected by the global interview disruption even though the Philippines was outside the earlier 75-country policy. State Department scheduling data updated Aug. 7 showed Manila scheduling employment-based cases that became documentarily complete in May 2023, family-preference cases completed in September 2025 and immediate-relative cases completed in February 2026. Those dates refer to completion of National Visa Center documentary requirements, not immigration priority dates. The State Department has not issued a Manila-specific notice stating that every immigrant visa interview has been canceled. (AJPress)
U.S. Iran sanctions push puts Philippine... PAGE 1 That tariff authority was terminated after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Feb. 20 that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act did not provide the broad tariff power asserted by the administration. Other Iran sanctions remained in force. For the Philippines, the most significant trade exposure is agricultural. Philippine exports to Iran were valued at about $66 million in 2024, with bananas accounting for most of the total. Banana exports to Iran rose to about $97.5 million in 2025, according to Philippine trade data, making
Iran one of the country’s largest fresh-banana markets. U.S. Treasury guidance generally allows non-U.S. companies to sell food and agricultural commodities to Iran without triggering secondary sanctions. The protection is not absolute. Transactions involving sanctioned banks, designated companies, prohibited vessels or parties linked to terrorism or weapons proliferation can still create legal and compliance risks. The Philippines also maintains its own targeted financial-sanctions obligations under United Nations measures, which
are separate from Washington’s unilateral secondary-sanctions system. Trade officials in Manila and Tehran have maintained formal economic channels through a bilateral commercial commission. No public U.S. announcement reviewed through Aug. 27 accused the Philippine government or a Philippine exporter of violating the latest Iran sanctions. The issue carries broader economic significance because the United States remains the Philippines’ largest export market, receiving about $13.46 billion in Philippine goods in 2025. n
BOOST. Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) researchers monitor the weather condition from their office at the University of the Philippines Diliman in Quezon City on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The Department of Budget and Management has released PHP1 billion to the UP System to strengthen and power the program. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc
Duterte impeachment trial narrows in on... PAGE 1 Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified Monday that she released four P125-million cash tranches from December 2022 through the third quarter of 2023 to Col. Raymund Dante Lachica, then head of Duterte’s security group. Acosta remained the designated accountable officer, while Lachica was not fidelity-bonded. She said Duterte had designated Lachica to implement confidential activities. Acosta said she did not personally witness the final payments and could not identify the people behind some names appearing on acknowledgment receipts. That testimony left unresolved whether the listed recipients were genuine, aliases or otherwise unverifiable. The prosecution later clarified that it was not itself asserting that the names were aliases. On Tuesday and Wednesday, OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio testified that Duterte signed an Aug. 22, 2022 request for confidential funds before the corresponding Physical and Financial Plan was prepared. The defense has argued that the plan was not required to accompany the initial request. Ortonio also said he accompa-
nied Acosta during the encashment of four confidential-fund checks and personally supplied P150,000 after an urgent request connected to confidential operations exceeded the amount available. He said the money had not been reimbursed. Under questioning by senator-judges, Ortonio said that, based on his understanding, Duterte knew about the implementation of the confidential activities as head of the agency. He also said Lachica spent money while carrying out those activities. Ortonio, however, repeatedly said he lacked personal knowledge of how specific payments were ultimately made. The testimony drew attention to Lachica’s role because Ortonio said he was not an OVP employee and was not the special disbursing officer. Ortonio said he relied on Lachica’s representations in preparing responses to the Commission on Audit and had not personally examined some acknowledgment receipts because they were delivered to him in a sealed container. The distinction is central to the case. Prosecutors contend that the evidence shows irregularities in the handling and liquidation of confidential funds and points to Duterte’s responsibility as head of the office. The
defense disputes that interpretation and maintains that the prosecution has not proven misuse or an impeachable offense. The Senate impeachment court has made no final finding on either position. The court also tightened enforcement of its sub judice rule on public statements about the proceedings and warned parties against inflammatory language that could prejudice the case. Separately, the court granted supplemental subpoenas for additional peso-denominated financial records involving Duterte, her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, and 20 entities in which they hold interests. The records are due Sept. 2. The order excludes foreign-currency deposits without the depositor’s written consent and does not constitute a finding of unexplained wealth or other wrongdoing. The court adjourned after Wednesday’s session and is scheduled to resume Sept. 1, when prosecutors plan to present military officers in connection with Department of Education confidential-fund records. Former DepEd official and current Duterte defense lawyer Michael Wesley Poa is expected to testify Sept. 2, along with a Philippine Statistics Authority official. n
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ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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Fil-Am Andre Ilagan’s U.S. Open qualifying run ends in second round by AJPress
ifiers must win three matches to secure one of 16 available places NEW YORK — Filipino Amer- in the men’s singles main draw. Against Gaston, Ilagan recovican tennis player Andre Ilagan’s first U.S. Open appearance ered from a difficult opening set ended in the second round of and briefly moved ahead 3-2 in qualifying Wednesday, Aug. 26, the second after breaking the after the Honolulu native fell to Frenchman’s serve. Gaston then third-seeded Frenchman Hugo won the remaining four games to close the match. University Gaston, 6-1, 6-3. The 25-year-old Ilagan had of Hawai‘i statistics credited reached the second round with Ilagan with a higher first-serve a three-set victory over fellow percentage but showed Gaston American Tristan Boyer, 6-4, 3-6, committing substantially fewer 6-4, a day earlier at the USTA unforced errors. The tournament marked anothBillie Jean King National Tennis er step in Ilagan’s rise through Center in New York. Ilagan entered the 128-player professional tennis. When the qualifying field on a wild card af- USTA announced his wild card ter finishing runner-up in the U.S. Aug. 18, he was ranked No. 210 Open Wild Card Challenge. Qual- in the world after reaching con-
TRADE EXPO. Officials led by North Cotabato Governor Emmylou Taliño-Mendoza (center ) formally open the Yaman ng Cotabato Travel and Trade Expo through a ribbon-cutting ceremony at The Basket, Capitol Compound, Amas, Kidapawan City on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026. The week-long exhibit, part of the Kalivungan Festival 2026, features local farm produce, homegrown products, and tourism destinations from across the province and runs until Sept. 1. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Escudero tightens public-comment rules in Sara Duterte impeachment trial Two-strike enforcement policy invokes sub judice safeguards after disputes over public statements by trial participants by AJPress MANILA — The Senate impeachment court has ordered stricter enforcement of limits on public commentary in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial, adopting a two-strike sanctions system after lawyers’ disputes spilled beyond the courtroom. Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero said Aug. 26 that Rule 18 of the Senate’s impeachment rules would be enforced prospectively. The rule bars the presiding officer, senator-judges, prosecutors, the impeached official, lawyers and witnesses from discussing the merits of a pending trial. The restriction reflects the sub judice principle, intended to protect proceedings from commentary that could prejudge issues or improperly influence a tribunal. Lawyers are bound by the Supreme Court’s Code of Professional Responsibility and Accountability, which restricts commentary on proceedings
when it could cause prejudgment, sway public perception or interfere with a tribunal’s work. The immediate trigger was an Aug. 12 objection by lead defense counsel Sheila Sison to a Facebook post by prosecution lawyer Amando Virgil Ligutan following a courtroom dispute over witness questioning. Escudero had directed the clerk to monitor lawyers’ statements and said his ruling also addressed apparent Rule 18 concerns. Escudero, a University of the Philippines law graduate who passed the Philippine Bar in 1994, said earlier statements would receive a clean slate. A first violation may result in a reprimand and admonition. A second and each succeeding violation may bring a fine of up to P30,000 per offense and, when warranted, restrictions on an offending lawyer or party from speaking, objecting or examining witnesses. Penalties are not automatic. An alleged violator must receive a written show-cause order and has 24 hours to submit a verified
PAGE 1 to lift an earlier injunction obtained by 23 states and the District of Columbia against parts of President Donald Trump’s March 31 election executive order. That case, Trump v. California, was a broader challenge to presidential directives involving citizenship lists, election-law enforcement and the development of new USPS procedures for mail ballots. The Supreme Court did not rule that Trump’s election policies were constitutional or that the eventual Postal Service regulation was lawful. Instead, the majority concluded that the states had sued too early. At that point, USPS had not completed its rule, and the states had not shown a concrete injury resulting from final agency action. The Court left open the possibility of another challenge once the Postal Service completed its regulations. USPS has now done so. The final rule, published Wednesday in the Federal Register, requires election authorities sending federal mail ballots to meet new envelope and barcode standards and submit specified voter and ballot information through a Federal Ballot Mail Portal. Before accepting outbound
ballot mailings from election offices, USPS would verify compliance with the new requirements. Noncompliant mailings could be returned to election authorities for correction. The rule does not authorize USPS to determine whether someone is a U.S. citizen or otherwise legally eligible to vote. The same acceptance-verification procedure also does not apply to completed ballots being mailed back by individual voters. Once the regulation became final, the states filed a new lawsuit challenging the USPS rule itself, addressing the procedural issue identified by the Supreme Court. Voting-rights organizations in the separate case, League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump, also updated their claims to challenge the completed regulation and sought emergency relief. That case differs from the states’ original lawsuit because it focuses on alleged effects on voters and organizations that provide voter education and assistance. Its plaintiffs include OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, with Asian Americans Advancing Justice-AAJC among their legal representatives. Talwani found Thursday that the challengers had shown sufficiently immediate potential
Fil-Am ex-NYC candidate pleads guilty... PAGE 1 paign appear to have raised enough qualifying money to obtain public financing. Candidates for Public Advocate participating in the city’s voluntary matching-funds program were required, among other conditions, to raise at least $125,000 in qualifying contributions from at least 500 New York City residents. Qualifying contributions could be matched at an 8-to-1 rate, subject to the program’s limits. Federal prosecutors said Aquino sought to make it appear that her campaign had reached the $125,000 threshold even though very little of the money deposited into its account consisted of eligible contributions from New Yorkers. During the first months of 2025, more than $130,000 originating in the Philippines entered
Aquino’s personal bank account, according to federal prosecutors. At least $34,000 was a loan from a contact in the Philippines. Prosecutors said Aquino and others repeatedly withdrew money from her personal account in cash and deposited the cash into the campaign account, where the deposits were represented to the New York City Campaign Finance Board as qualifying contributions from city residents. The Justice Department said contribution cards submitted to support the purported donations were falsified and included contributor identifying information and signatures. Prosecutors also said Aquino moved money out of the campaign account and later returned it, at times routing funds through accounts belonging to friends and associates. The transactions
Cayetano returns to Senate after days of absence, resumes impeachment role by AJPress MANILA — Senate Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano has returned to Senate proceedings after missing several days of legislative work and Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial earlier this month, with records showing him back in the chamber by Aug. 19 and participating again as a senator-judge by Aug. 25. Cayetano had been absent from Senate plenary sessions and impeachment proceedings beginning Aug. 11. On Aug. 17, Senate Secretary Renato Bantug said Cayetano was again absent from both the trial and the regular session and that the secretary’s office had received no communication from his office explaining that day’s absence. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri had earlier said Cayetano was not feeling well. No specific medical condition was publicly disclosed
in the accounts reviewed. Cayetano was back at work in the Senate on Aug. 19, when he completed minority-bloc assignments to several committees and said the minority was prepared to assume additional responsibilities. Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian acknowledged the move during the session. The impeachment hearing scheduled that day was separately canceled because of severe weather, so Cayetano’s Aug. 19 appearance should not be characterized as a return to the trial itself. His presence also undercut social-media speculation about his whereabouts. VERA Files found that an airport photograph circulated with claims that Alan Peter and Pia Cayetano were leaving the country had actually been taken in July. The fact-checking organization confirmed that both senators attended the Aug. 19 Senate session. Cayetano continued regular legislative work the following
response. Escudero said willfulness or improper purpose must be established before punitive sanctions are imposed. Lawyers may also be referred to the Office of the Bar Confidant, Integrated Bar of the Philippines or Supreme Court for possible disciplinary proceedings. Senator-judges are subject to Rule 18 but may face complaints through the Senate ethics process. Escudero said prohibited commentary includes assessments of disputed facts, witness credibility, evidence or the legal strength of a charge or defense, advocacy of an outcome or predictions about the final vote. Fair and accurate reporting of proceedings and discussion of procedural or colnouncement that it hires interlateral matters are not treated as PAGE 1 in effect. The proposal would national educators only for critviolations. The House voted 257-25, with require approval by the Texas ical shortages identified by the nine abstentions, on May 11 to Legislature, which convenes in state and that those teachers are Texas-certified. Federal data citimpeach Duterte. The articles January 2027. The plan would extend restric- ed by the Texas Tribune show contain allegations involving confidential funds, unexplained tions Abbott imposed earlier this Dallas ISD has 171 H-1B visa wealth, bribery, graft and cor- year on H-1B hiring in state gov- holders, more than any school ruption, and threats. Duterte has ernment and public higher ed- district or public university in ucation. In January, he directed Texas. denied wrongdoing. n Dallas ISD’s published H-1B covered state agencies and public colleges and universities not guidance for 2025-26 limited to file new H-1B petitions with- sponsorship to elementary biout written permission from the lingual English-Spanish and harm to justify temporarily stop- Texas Workforce Commission special-education teachers. Canping key provisions of the rule. through May 31, 2027. Local didates were required to have a States face extensive prepara- public school districts were not valid Texas teaching certificate and a district job offer. tions close to the election, in- covered. Houston Independent School Texas districts that sponsor cluding redesigning ballot envelopes, obtaining postal approval, international educators say the District similarly requires an changing systems and training program helps fill vacancies re- H-1B candidate to hold a valid Texas teaching certificate quiring specialized credentials. election workers. For 2026-27, the Texas Educa- and have a job offer in a critiAt this preliminary stage, Talwani also found that the chal- tion Agency identifies bilingual cal-shortage assignment. It says lengers were likely to succeed and English as a Second Lan- the program has been used for on some claims that the rule ex- guage, special education, com- bilingual education, special educeeds federal authority and con- puter science and technology cation, high-school mathematics flicts with the Constitution’s allo- applications, secondary career and science, with 51 to 90 H-1B cation of election powers. Those and technical education, and visas sponsored annually from findings are preliminary and do secondary English language arts 2017 through 2025. Those figures reflect sponnot constitute a final judgment and reading as teacher-shortage sorship activity, not necessarily areas. on the regulation’s legality. Those shortages do not neces- newly arriving teachers, because The Trump administration has said the changes are intended sarily mean districts lack appli- filings can include extensions. Filipino educators are among to strengthen election integrity cants overall. Some classrooms and improve tracking of federal require specific certifications, teachers working in U.S. schools ballot mail. The states and vot- language skills or special-educa- under H-1B status. The Philiping-rights groups contend that tion qualifications that teachers pine Embassy’s Migrant WorkUSPS lacks authority to impose licensed in other fields cannot ers Office in Washington held a post-arrival orientation in Februthe requirements and that in- fill. Dallas Independent School ary 2025 attended by 88 Filipino troducing them shortly before voting begins could disrupt District said after Abbott’s an- H-1B teachers from different mail-ballot systems. USPS processed nearly 100 million ballots during the 2024 election, according to the agenlatory actions helped secure gocy. About 30 percent of voters PAGE 1 vernment rights over solar resour11 to 12 and Aug. 17 to 19. nationwide cast ballots by mail. Gatchalian also said Legarda ces for companies associated with Talwani’s temporary restraining order will remain in effect has voluntarily stopped receiving Leviste and that projects covered for 14 days as the parties pre- her Senate salary while on medi- by service contracts were not developed as promised. The agency pare for the Sept. 3 hearing on cal leave. Her continued absence comes has cited P10.44 billion in unpaid requests for a longer preliminary as the Office of the Ombudsman obligations to the government ariinjunction. (AJPress) conducts a preliminary investiga- sing from terminated contracts. The allegations have not been tion involving Legarda, her son Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste adjudicated in court. Legarda has called the accusand former Energy Secretary were intended to obscure the Alfonso Cusi over allegations ations false and baseless, said no source of the money and make connected with solar-energy pro- public funds were involved and the campaign’s total deposits ap- jects. maintained that she is prepared pear high enough to satisfy the The Ombudsman is exami- to present evidence. fundraising threshold. The Bureau of Immigration ning possible plunder, graft and Aquino also used campaign conflict-of-interest violations. It previously confirmed that Legarmoney for personal expenses, alleges that legislative and regu- da left the Philippines on Aug. 2 including apartment rent, while reporting the payments as legitimate campaign expenditures, according to prosecutors. The PAGE 1 disqualification from holding Justice Department said she later gave federal agents false and adopted guidelines against public office and loss of voting information about recipients of vote-buying, vote-selling and rights. Garcia also warned that cansome campaign payments, in- the misuse of state resources. Under the Omnibus Election didates facing substantiated discluding claiming that her landlords had performed petitioning Code, vote-buying includes giv- qualification cases could have ing, offering or promising mon- their proclamations suspended and campaign work. The $1 million cited in the case ey, employment or anything of while proceedings are pending. was the public financing Aqui- value with the intent of inducing Philippine election law allows no sought to obtain, not money someone to vote for or against Comelec to suspend proclamapaid to her campaign. New York a candidate. Vote-selling is also tion in appropriate cases when evidence supporting a disqualiCity Campaign Finance Board prohibited. A person convicted of an fication complaint is strong. records show that her commitThe Sept. 14 vote will choose tee received no public matching election offense may face imprisonment of one to six years, the first regularly elected Bangfunds. n
Judge blocks new USPS mail-ballot rules...
secutive ATP Challenger finals in Lexington, Kentucky, and Brownsburg, Indiana. Ilagan also became the first former University of Hawai‘i men’s tennis player to compete at the U.S. Open. He completed his collegiate career in 2023 as the Rainbow Warriors’ first men’s tennis All-American after reaching the NCAA singles round of 16. Born and raised in Honolulu, Ilagan grew up in Kalihi and graduated from Farrington High School, where he won two Hawai‘i state singles championships. His parents, Amefel and Sergio Ilagan, are Filipino immigrants, and his father helped coach him during his early years in tennis. n
week. On Aug. 24, he designated minority members to six additional Senate committees and joined Gatchalian and Zubiri in proposing an ad hoc committee focused on investment and economic growth. By Aug. 25, Cayetano was again taking an active role in Duterte’s impeachment trial. During the proceedings, he urged prosecutors, defense lawyers and fellow senator-judges to exercise restraint in their choice of language, arguing that inflammatory descriptions could shape public perceptions of a case the Senate is still hearing. Presiding Officer Francis Escudero said Cayetano’s manifestation would be incorporated into the court’s guidance on courtroom language. Cayetano also participated that week in deliberations on legislation involving child nutrition, the reintegration of overseas Filipino workers and other pending measures, further establishing that he had resumed his Senate duties. n
Abbott seeks to bar H-1B workers from...
parts of the United States. Texas districts have also recruited teachers internationally, including in the Philippines, although Filipino educators can enter U.S. schools through other visa categories, including the J-1 teacher-exchange program. Public federal and Texas data do not provide a verified statewide count of Filipino H-1B teachers in Texas. H-1B employers must comply with federal wage and working-condition rules. The U.S. Department of Labor requires employers to pay at least the higher of the prevailing wage for the occupation and location or the employer’s actual wage for similarly qualified workers. Federal H-1B rules do not universally require every school district to prove that no U.S. worker was available before sponsoring a foreign teacher. Dallas and Houston, however, tie sponsorship to shortage or hard-to-fill assignments. Abbott has argued that taxpayer-funded education jobs should be filled by Texans or other U.S. workers. Dallas ISD said ending its use of visa-sponsored teachers would require more domestic recruits. “If the governor’s new expectation is to eliminate these teachers, then we’re going to need more Texans in the teaching pipeline,” the district said. (AJPress)
Legarda remains on medical leave as Senate...
and had no derogatory immigration record at the time of departure. Assistant Ombudsman Mico Clavano later described repeated extensions of Legarda's travel authority for medical reasons as “quite suspicious” because of the pending investigation. Legarda rejected that characterization, saying her medical leave was filed in accordance with Senate rules and that she had committed no wrongdoing. The Ombudsman matter remains at the preliminary-investigation stage. No court has found Legarda criminally liable in the solar matter. n
Comelec sets up anti-vote-buying teams... samoro Parliament following years of governance by the appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act No. 12317 in March, setting the election for the second Monday of September 2026. The law provides for an 80-member Parliament and marks the transition from the interim authority established following the creation of BARMM to a regularly elected regional government. n
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ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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BJMP: Estrada’s check-up covered by court order, not special treatment by Andrea Gregorio Inquirer.net
BUDGET BRIEFING. The Committee on Finance, chaired by Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito (2nd from left), holds a briefing on the proposed 2027 National Expenditure Program at the Senate of the Philippines in Pasay City on Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026. The Development Budget Coordination Committee presented the proposed national budget and fiscal plans for the coming year. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
DPWH pares project list as P644-billion 2027 budget faces tighter screening by AJPress MANILA — The Department of Public Works and Highways is proposing fewer infrastructure projects for 2027 while seeking a larger budget, as it adopts tighter screening following investigations into alleged irregularities in flood-control spending. DPWH is seeking P643.95 billion, up 21.29 percent from its P530.90-billion 2026 appropriation, according to the Department of Budget and Management. The department proposes 11,395 proj-
ects, down from 17,861 this year and more than 25,000 annually in 2024 and 2025. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said duplicate and overlapping proposals were removed and projects would undergo stricter evaluation before entering the budget. Under the new system, proposals must include approved programs of work, geotagged photographs, relevant plans or feasibility studies, documentation addressing rightof-way and implementation issues, and certificates of implementability. Dizon has described the approach
as “no plan, no budget.” The department is seeking P83.84 billion for locally funded flood-mitigation projects and P19 billion for continuing foreign-assisted projects. Dizon has also acknowledged that the Philippines still lacks a single consolidated national flood-control master plan, with several river-basin plans unfinished or outdated. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has directed DPWH to coordinate flood planning more closely with local governments and prioritize unfinished infrastructure. n
Palace: No FB ban for now; Meta cooperating with government by Alexis Romero Philstar.com
MANILA — The government is not banning Facebook for now, but is pushing for clearer FB rules on eliminating online content that promotes disinformation and encourages violence. Palace press officer Claire Castro told a media briefing last Tuesday that the administration is open to banning Facebook and gaming applications following concerns about disinformation and the rising cases of deadly school violence. The Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center proposed the ban days after the shooting incident at the Ateneo de Zamboanga, which claimed the lives of two persons. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, August 27, Castro said Facebook has been responsive to the govern-
ment’s efforts to immediately take down “fake news.” “Facebook is not difficult to deal with and it doesn’t mean that if other social media platforms are not responsive, all of them would be banned. That is not what the president and our administration wants,” she said. “But this is also a signal for other violators, especially the gaming apps that we know affect our youth and can cause violence. So that is what we want to relay because even if the President is open (to a ban), based on the latest information, our government does not have much problem with Facebook,” she added. Castro urged other social media platforms to work with the government to prevent the spread of false information and violent content. She revealed that Information and Communications Technology Secretary Henry Aguda is set to travel to Singapore to meet with regional executives of Meta and discuss ways to immediately get rid of violent and false posts. n
MANILA — Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) spokesperson Jayrex Bustinera said Sen. Jinggoy Estrada’s medical check-up was authorized by a court order, dismissing the “special treatment” remark from two political prisoner support groups. “The medical check-up of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada was covered by a court order,” Bustinera told the Inquirer on Friday. “BJMP was implementing a lawful court directive, not extending special treatment,” he said, adding that the court order was issued by the Fifth Division of Sandiganbayan. On Thursday, Danilo dela Fuente, vice chair for Samahan ng Ex-Detainees Laban sa Detensyon at Aresto said the senator’s condition is “not generally considered an emergency.” Amanda Echanis, spokesperson of Laya Campaign for the Release of All Political Prisoners, said “plunderers are treated with
Sen Jinggoy Estrada arrives at the Cardinal Santos Medical Center on August 26, 2026 INQUIRER.net/ JOHN ERIC MENDOZA
kid gloves.” Meanwhile, Dr. Fernando Syquia, an orthopedic surgeon, recommended surgery to treat the meniscus tear in Estrada’s left knee, saying “it’s pretty bad.” After securing permission from the Sandiganbayan on Monday, Estrada underwent a knee X-ray. He was brought to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City on Wednesday. Estrada said in his motion before the Sandiganbayan Fifth
Division that he had been experiencing joint effusion even before his June 1 detention at a jail facility in Quezon City. He also disclosed that he had previously been diagnosed with osteoarthritis. The senator has been accused of receiving as much as P573 million in kickbacks from budget insertions and allocations for government infrastructure projects under the 2025 national budget. n
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Opinion
AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
Features
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School safety must begin before the next crisis strikes The lessons from Tacloban, Zamboanga and decades of U.S. school violence extend beyond campus security: prevention begins with keeping firearms from children, recognizing credible warning signs, building school cultures rooted in trust and responsibility, and sustaining families after tragedy. THE killings at schools in Tacloban and Zamboanga, occurring less than two months apart, have raised an urgent question for the Philippines: what must be done now to reduce the risk of another attack? On June 22, three students were killed and 20 others were wounded at San Jose National High School in Tacloban City, according to police. On Aug. 18, a student entered the junior high school campus of Ateneo de Zamboanga University in Zamboanga City with firearms, fatally shot another student and later died by suicide. Authorities said part of the attack was livestreamed on social media. School shootings remain rare in the Philippines. The country has not experienced them on anything approaching the frequency or scale seen in the United States, and comparisons are complicated by differences in population, firearm ownership, laws and data. But rarity is not immunity. Two deadly attacks are reason enough to examine vulnerabilities before isolated incidents begin to form a pattern.
The United States offers a sobering record of what repeated school violence can mean. Columbine High School in Colorado became synonymous with the 1999 attack in which two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher. At Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 20 first-graders and six educators were killed in 2012. Seventeen students and staff members were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. At Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, 19 children and two teachers were killed in 2022. The relevance of the U.S. experience lies not in assuming that the Philippines will follow the same path, but in the body of evidence those tragedies have produced on firearm access, warning behavior, emergency preparedness, school culture and the needs of
Editorial
Going backwards
The Long View
pense. I have a theory—and it’s only that—that Ramos’ stint as foreign affairs secretary ended in December 1968 over fallout from Malaysia’s breaking off diplomatic relations with the Philippines in July 1968. Marcos would be forced to the negotiating table in 1971, and in 1977, Marcos announced the country was giving up its claim to Sabah, an announcement confirmed by then Foreign Affairs Secretary Arturo Tolentino in 1980. However, Malaysia demanded that the 1973 Constitution’s provision asserting the claim be deleted, resulting in an impasse. In 1987, the new Constitution adopted a language that neither asserted nor dropped the claim, according to Constitutional Commissioner Joaquin Bernas. Lingering Malaysian concerns were addressed by 2009, when amendments were made to the baselines law removing mention of the Sabah claim–until the Supreme Court, in 2011, asserted that the claim remained, but this was less problematic in light of sustained efforts by succeeding administrations to improve relations with Malaysia, which itself lost enthusiasm for supporting secession in Mindanao as it could spill over to Sabah. After 1986, Philippine govu PAGE 8
A few weeks ago, I had an interesting experience being interviewed by a Singapore news channel on the formation of Asean, in particular, the role of Narciso Ramos, prewar legislator, one of our pioneer diplomats (and father of former President Fidel V. Ramos) in the negotiations setting up the organization. I said he was uniquely positioned to contribute to the successful conclusion of the negotiations because of three things. First, as a prewar legislator, he was conscious of the Philippines’ formerly leading role in articulating pan-Malayan solidarity. Second, as a pioneer diplomat from the formation of our foreign service in 1946, he had extensive experience; and again, because of his prewar prominence and postwar career, was literally one of the main implementers of a foreign policy that remained virtually unchanged even prior to independence. With the exploration of Philippine claims to the Spratlys, and subsequent efforts, including the original claim to Sabah in 1946, all diplomatic efforts were done under the principle of the Philippines subscrib-
ing to, invoking, and defending international law and institutions to accomplish Philippine aims. Under former President Diosdado Macapagal, the Philippine claim, despite an alliance with Indonesia, which had its own claims on North Borneo, did not prosper; in fact, it failed, because a United Nations referendum in Sabah resulted in residents voting for incorporation with Malaysia in 1963. Appointed Secretary of Foreign Affairs by his nephew, then President Ferdinand Marcos Sr., in 1965, Ramos had the advantage of working for a new administration not saddled by the Macapagal-era failure, while Indonesia itself had emerged from Sukarno’s era of konfrontasi, into a new regime under Suharto by 1967, allowing both the Philippines and Indonesia to negotiate with Malaysia. This was a brief window of opportunity; in the same year Ramos was helping to negotiate the formation of Asean, Marcos was embarking on his brand of imperialism by planning the invasion of Sabah, the bungled training for which led to the Jabidah Massacre. The fallout was extreme: rebellion in Mindanao, and the Malaysian policy of supporting Moro secession as a way of bogging down the Philippines and preventing more adventurism at Malaysia’s ex-
Horizons
Can we defeat corruption? (1)
Manuel L. Quezon III
Richard Heydarian THE great writer James Baldwin once warned about how injustice could have a debilitating psychological effect by inducing a profound sense of “helplessness and this gnawing uneasiness [which] does something, at length, to even the toughest mind.” Last week’s flooding, which rapidly inundated the main arteries of the city and unleashed all sorts of dispiriting imagery of suffering and humiliation, had a similar effect on many of us. I noticed this even among my most perspicacious friends, including a prominent political analyst, who, just a week earlier, was publicly giddy about the prospect of accountability for some of the worst politicos in the country. Right before the floods, we had discussed a potential turning point in our struggle for democracy. Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial had
shown a growing promise, as authoritative surveys indicated how the majority of the public was receptive to evidence of abuse, while several senators signaled openness to defection from the pro-Duterte ranks. Just as dramatic was the prospect of several more senators facing justice for their abuse of power, not long after seemingly invincible legislators were seamlessly put behind bars. The flooding, however, had a deeply demoralizing effect. “Man, this country is hopeless,” my political analyst friend texted ahead of our meeting, lamenting how he had missed multiple meetings throughout the opening hours of the day due to the de facto closure of roads. Days later, he was still wrestling with lingering exasperation when we discussed future political prospects. “I was just so frustrated with the flooding situation,” he admitted. Even more surprising, however, was a bolt-from-the-blue message from another longtime friend, who bizarrely implied that
my staunch advocacy for better economic policies implied a degree of complacency about good governance issues. Having just arrived home after navigating horrendous traffic throughout the whole day, I almost snapped at him. After all, I repeatedly made it clear in these pages, as I did in countless other platforms, that “[a]bsolutely, corruption is evil” and that “corrupt politicians, who stole taxpayer money and oversaw shoddy projects costing countless lives, should be held accountable. Heads have to roll. Justice must be served.” (See “Hundred years of war on corruption,” 11/25/25). If anything, I advocated for more radical anticorruption measures, including mass civil disobedience should the powers that be insulate “big fish” involved in massive corruption. (See “‘Philippine corruption’: Reform or revolution?,” 1/6/26) Just before the recent flooding, which reignited public outrage over the trillion-peso flood control corruption scandal, I returned to u PAGE 8
ManilaTimes.net photo
families after violence. The country has an opportunity to act on those lessons before repetition makes such attacks more difficult to prevent. Lesson one: Keep firearms out of children’s reach The connection between the recent Philippine cases and firearm access deserves immediate scrutiny. In Tacloban, police said most of the shots were fired from a Glock 9mm service firearm belonging to
Babe’s Eye View Babe Romualdez “RAIN, rain go away, come again another day.” THIS is a nursery rhyme we learned as children. But for millions of Filipinos today, particularly those living in Metro Manila and other flood-prone communities, there is nothing amusing about seeing dark clouds gather. The rains have again brought flooded streets, monstrous traffic jams, stranded commuters, damaged homes and businesses forced to close. Certainly, climate change has a great deal to do with increasingly intense and unpredictable weather. We are seeing extreme rainfall not only in the Philippines but across the world. But climate change cannot be blamed for everything. No matter which way we look at it, the floods keep coming back despite billions upon billions of pesos supposedly spent on flood-control projects over the years. And every time the water rises, the flood-control scandal rises with it. For ordinary Filipinos, the question is painfully simple: “We paid for flood control; why are we still flooded?” That question
PEDDLER OF HOPE George Royeca IMAGINE a Tuesday morning. The grid fails in three regions at once and ATMs go dark. A hospital in Quezon City cannot pull up a single patient record, so surgeries stop. The payroll system of a national agency returns nothing but a ransom note in broken English. By noon the peso is falling and nobody can say who did it, because no ship crossed our waters and no plane entered our airspace. Not one shot fired. This is not fiction. It is the documented playbook of modern conflict, rehearsed already on Estonia, on Ukraine, on hospitals in Britain and pipelines in America. It will be rehearsed on us. The only open question is whether anyone will be at the keyboard when it happens. We have spent years arguing about the West Philippine Sea, and rightly so. But while we counted vessels on the horizon, the likelier breach was being tested quietly against our servers. Government databases here have been raided
a police officer who is the aunt of one of the minor suspects. An administrative investigation followed over the alleged failure to secure the weapon. In Zamboanga, the Bureau of Customs said firearms allegedly used by the student belonged to his father, a Customs police officer, and ordered an investigation, an agency-wide inventory and stricter accounting of issued firearms. u PAGE 7
Rain, rain go away – but the flood control scandal will never go away becomes even more infuriating when people hear about “ghost” or unfinished projects, defective infrastructure and allegations that public money intended to protect communities ended up in private pockets. The government’s own report indicates the scale of the problem. Of the flood control projects inspected, thousands were found to have issues, including projects classified as defective, unfinished or ghost. Authorities have also frozen, preserved or recovered billions of pesos in funds and assets linked to the investigation. That there has been progress should be acknowledged. Cases have been filed, contractors, senior government officials and lawmakers have been charged or detained. The Sandiganbayan is now handling numerous flood-control and infrastructure-related cases. The Department of Justice reported that P841 million in cash from anomalous projects had been recovered and remitted to the National Treasury. In his fifth State of the Nation Address last July, President Ferdi-
nand Marcos Jr. revealed that nearly P25 billion in public funds and assets had been recovered, frozen or preserved in connection with the scandal. More importantly, the President made a declaration that went straight to the heart of public concern: “Hindi ako pangulo ng aking pamilya. Hindi ako pangulo ng aking kaibigan. Ako ay pangulo ng Pilipinas.” Those words carried particular weight because Filipinos want to believe that friendship, family connections, wealth, political influence or position will not put anyone above the law. But there is another reality government must recognize: people are becoming impatient. Investigations, hearings, affidavits and court proceedings are necessary. Due process must always be observed. We cannot convict anyone through publicity, congressional hearings or social media. Evidence must be gathered properly, and cases must be strong enough to stand in court. But at the same time, justice u PAGE 8
The invasion that will not come by sea more than once, and millions of records belonging to ordinary Filipinos have already walked out the digital back door. Each time we answer with a press conference and a promise, then move on, because the truth is uncomfortable. We do not lack the will to defend ourselves. We lack the skilled people. That shortage is not a Philippine problem. It is the defining labor shortage of this century. By credible industry estimates, the world is short roughly four million cybersecurity professionals, and the gap widens every year because attackers multiply faster than defenders are trained. Every bank on earth needs these people, along with every hospital, utility, airline and government. No other profession has a demand gap this wide or this permanent. For as long as anyone reading this will live, the world will be begging for people who can defend a network. Here is where fear should give way to something better. A world-
wide shortage of a skill is not only a threat. It is the largest economic opening this country has been handed in a generation, and we happen to be very good at exactly this kind of opening. We have done it twice before. We decided, as a nation, to be great at nursing, and today Filipino nurses hold up the health systems of the United States, the United Kingdom, the Gulf and half of Europe. We decided to be great at seafaring, and roughly a fifth of the world’s merchant sailors now carry a Philippine passport. We did one thing and we did it greatly, and the world reorganized itself around our competence. That is not luck. That is what happens when a country picks a lane and commits. Cybersecurity is the next lane, and it is still empty. No nation has yet claimed it the way we claimed the wards and the decks. This time the arrangement is kinder to us, because the work is digital. A defender in Iloilo can protect u PAGE 8
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Breakthrough
Elfren S. Cruz AUG. 21 was the 43rd death anniversary of Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. who was assassinated that day and became a national martyr. It was a relatively quiet celebration whose life has such meaning and relevance for today’s Philippines and the Filipino people. The importance of Ninoy Aquino’s life cannot be separated from the history of Philippine democracy. His assassination did not immediately restore democracy but it changed the political atmosphere of the country. His death helped unite the different sectors of Philippine society opposing the martial law regime. Ninoy Aquino remains especially relevant today because most of the problems he confronted during his lifetime have not completely disappeared. The Philippines continues to face issues involving corruption, political accountability, poverty, inequality, abuse of power, disinformation and the need to protect our democratic institutions. This is especially important for young Filipinos who were born after martial law and after the assassination of Ninoy Aquino. For many of the younger generation, Ninoy can sometimes appear as a name in textbooks and as a person whose name is attached to an airport. However, the continuing importance of the EDSA People Power Revolution and Ninoy Aquino’s martyrdom lies in the lessons present-day politicians and ordinary Filipinos can learn from. Here are the lessons our politicians can learn from Ninoy’s life. • Courage in defending principles. A politician should not support something because it is popular or benefits his political career. Ninoy demonstrated that political leadership sometimes requires challenging powerful people. Present-day politicians should have the courage to criticize wrongdoing even when the person responsible is politically powerful or belongs to their own political group. • Putting public service
Lessons from Ninoy’s life
above personal comfort. Ninoy had the opportunity to simply remain in exile. His return demonstrated that he believed political leaders must be directly involved in the problems facing the country. Today’s politicians can apply this lesson by spending more time understanding ordinary Filipinos and their problems, rather than remaining separated from the realities of poverty, unemployment, transportation problems, health care, flood control and other social concerns. • Respect for democracy. Ninoy advocated a peaceful solution rather than political violence. His undelivered speech emphasized his desire to pursue a peaceful path. Political disagreements today should be addressed through honest and peaceful elections, peaceful protests, a free and vigorous media and other democratic institutions. It is important that we continue to uphold and protect the rule of law. • Accountability. All the scandals happening today have demonstrated the utter lack of accountability of our government officials in the past. This should not happen anymore in the future. Politicians should remember that the public office is not personal property. It is still the people who should decide freely who should be their elected government officials. Politicians should also be reminded that criticism of their behavior is part and parcel of the democratic process. In a democracy, questioning government decisions is a vital way of protecting the interest of the people. • Faith in the Filipino people. Ninoy’s famous words demonstrate that he believed that the ordinary Filipino possesses enormous potential. In his undelivered speech, he said: “I return from exile and uncertain future with only determination and faith to offer – faith in our people and faith in God.” Ninoy’s life does not only offer lessons for the politicians but also for ordinary citizens. • Participate in democracy. Voting should not be treated simply as choosing a candidate because of popularity, family name, celebrity status, money or political advertising. Citizens should choose based on the candidate’s records, policies, character and ability to serve.
• Question disinformation. During Ninoy’s time, access to information was heavily restricted. Today, Filipinos have access to enormous information through social media. But that does not mean all information is accurate and true. A responsible citizen should always verify information and claims before sharing them. • Filipinos speaking up against injustice. Speaking up does not necessarily mean joining a political movement. It can mean reporting corruption to the media, defending someone who is being bullied, participating in community organizations, asking government officials difficult questions and refusing to spread lies about another person. • Ninoy teaches us not to lose hope in our country and our people. His most famous statement expressing this belief was “The Filipino is worth dying for because he is the nation’s greatest untapped resource.” Each and every one of us can accept this challenge of personally doing something to improve the Philippines. Even students can apply Ninoy’s lessons by taking education seriously, rejecting cheating, helping classmates, researching history and becoming an informed voter. A business owner can apply them by treating employees fairly and giving decent wages. For present-day politicians, Ninoy’s life teaches courage, accountability, democratic leadership and service to the people, rather than simply acquiring personal power. Ninoy Aquino’s famous words “The Filipino is worth dying for” can be answered by every Filipino who chooses honesty over corruption, truth over disinformation, service over selfishness and courage over fear. Remembering Ninoy Aquino’s life is not only about remembering how he died. It is about remembering what he believed the Filipino people can become and asking what we are willing to do to make that belief a reality. (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: elfrencruz@gmail.com
Photo by Joseph B. Vidal via Senate on Facebook
What exactly is the ‘Robin Padilla law’? by Hannah Garzon Philstar.com
FOLLOWING the school shooting at Ateneo de Zamboanga University on Aug. 18, Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla called on Congress to repeal the "Robin Padilla law" and restore stricter penalties for illegal possession of firearms. The law being referred to is Republic Act No. 8294, which amended provisions of Presidential Decree No. 1866 concerning the unlawful possession, manufacture, acquisition, and disposition of firearms, ammunition, and explosives. RA 8294 is informally known as the “Robin Padilla law” because of its association with actor-turned-senator Robin Padilla, who was convicted in the 1990s for illegal possession of firearms. The case On Oct. 26, 1992, police found several firearms and ammunition in Padilla's possession after he was arrested over a hit-and-run incident. According to the Supreme Court, the weapons included an M-16 Baby Armalite rifle, a .357-caliber revolver and a .380 Pietro Beretta pistol, along with ammunition. The firearms were not registered in Padilla’s name, and he was unable to produce the necessary permits to possess or carry them. Padilla was subsequently charged with illegal possession of firearms and ammunition under Presidential Decree No. 1866, the law in force at the time. Under the original provision, simple illegal possession of a firearm was punishable by reclusion temporal in its maximum period to reclusion perpetua, or roughly 17 years and four months to 40 years in prison.
The Regional Trial Court in Angeles City convicted Padilla and initially sentenced him to an indeterminate penalty ranging from 17 years, four months and one day of reclusion temporal to 21 years of reclusion perpetua. The Court of Appeals upheld his conviction. Padilla appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing, among other things, that his arrest and the seizure of the firearms were unlawful and that the penalty for simple illegal possession was excessive. In a March 12, 1997 decision, the Supreme Court upheld his conviction but reduced his sentence to 10 years and one day, as minimum, to 18 years, eight months and one day, as maximum. Padilla was later granted a conditional pardon by then-president Fidel V. Ramos in 1997, allowing him to leave prison, although this did not fully restore his civil and political rights. In 2016, former president Rodrigo Duterte granted him an absolute pardon, fully restoring those rights RA 8294 was enacted just months after Ramos' conditional pardon, reducing the penalty for simple illegal possession of certain low-powered firearms to 4 years, 2 months and 1 day to 6 years in prison, plus a fine, as long as no other crime was committed. Because the amended law lowered the penalty, the offense became bailable as a matter of right before conviction. The change applied to certain cases of simple illegal possession and did not make all firearms-related offenses automatically bailable. Revisiting 'Robin Padilla law' Remulla renewed calls to revisit the law following the fatal AdZU
shooting, where two minors died. He noted that 98% of gun-related crimes are committed using loose firearms. Per the Secretary, there are approximately 2.78 million firearms in the Philippines; 2 million owned by private individuals and 780,000 by law enforcement. "The Robin Padilla law, which extinguished culpability and made it a bailable offense, has led to a surge of crime precisely because loose firearms is a bailable offense," Remulla said. In a Facebook post, Padilla said he was already working with others on a proposal related to Remulla's call. He also suggested that lawmakers consider another approach that would hold gun owners accountable for negligence. “Ngunit mainam din po, kagalang-galang na kalihim, na mapag-aralan din natin ang mungkahi na ito,” Padilla wrote. The senator also floated an idea for a tougher approach to crime. Padilla later floated the possibility of declaring martial law as a response to crime, saying he would support such a move. "Naniniwala ako na seryoso ang ating SILG Jonvic Remulla sa kanyang kampanya laban sa krimen at ang isang paraan upang magtagumpay ito ay ang muling pagbuhay sa 'kamal na bakal' ng aking idolo na si Apo Lakay Ferdinand Edralin Marcos Sr.," he wrote in another post. In the morning of Aug. 18, a Grade 9 AdZU student was driven to school in a car where his father left a gun bag. Alighting from the vehicle, the student supposedly took the guns then went on to fatally shoot one student and himself. One other student was injured but is now stable. n
ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
COMMENTARY
Dindo Manhit PRESIDENT Marcos has under two years left in his term. What will be remembered will not be so much the political noise that surrounded his administration, but the tangible and measurable economic benefits it delivered to the Filipino people. We already have the essential components to become an economic powerhouse: a geostrategic location, abundant critical natural resources, and a young population that can provide a skilled workforce and growing consumer base. What remains is an active, strategic push toward industries that can optimize these inherent strengths. We must build investor confidence, mobilize foreign capital, encourage domestic investment, and boost productive economic activity. Investments create productive capacity and generate jobs that sustain the consumer economy. New businesses and industries provide employment and income, which in turn support consumption and further economic activity. This reinforcing cycle can attract more domestic and foreign investment and, ultimately, advance the national interest. Today, the administration has a major opportunity to pursue investment-led, job-generating growth. The Luzon Economic Corridor (LEC) and Pax Silica are two initiatives that can connect our existing advantages to international capital, technology, and markets while supporting stronger and more resilient growth. The LEC, bringing together the Philippines, the United States, Japan, and eight other like-minded countries plus the European Union, seeks to mobilize invest-
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Building a legacy beyond political cycles ment along the Subic-Clark-Manila-Batangas corridor. Investments in energy, transport and logistics, digital connectivity, and advanced manufacturing can improve infrastructure, lower business costs, create jobs, and strengthen our integration into regional and global supply chains. Luzon already anchors the Philippine economy, generating roughly half of national gross domestic product while linking major ports, industrial zones, urban centers, and consumer markets. Yet it still has considerable room to grow. Better infrastructure and connectivity can make it more competitive while spreading economic opportunities across industries and communities. LEC investments can also strengthen economic security and supply chain resilience. As we experienced during the pandemic and succeeding global crises, diversified and reliable supply chains are crucial. This is where cooperation with trusted partners becomes strategically important. It can give the Philippines greater access to capital, technology, markets, and critical inputs that would be difficult to develop at scale on our own. This can position the country as a more important node in global supply chains, particularly in semiconductors and electronics, energy, critical minerals, and advanced manufacturing. Pax Silica complements this effort. The initiative has expanded to 24 participating countries, with the 27 member countries of the EU also joining, creating a broad network of trusted technology, investment, and supply-chain partners. Within the LEC, the planned 4,000-acre artificial intelligence-native industrial accelera-
tion hub and Economic Security Zone in New Clark City can support advanced manufacturing and technology-intensive industries by leveraging the corridor’s infrastructure, workforce, connectivity, and market access. The gains should extend well beyond investment. These initiatives can create skilled, better-paying jobs, support local suppliers, facilitate technology transfer, and allow Filipino businesses and workers to participate in higher-value activities. They can also build on the Philippines’ established strength in semiconductors and electronics. Access to advanced facilities, research, talent, supply chains, and investors can support locally developed electronics, medical devices, electric vehicle components, semiconductor products, batteries, robotics, and other technologies while strengthening Filipino employment and local enterprises. But investments must remain consistent with Philippine laws and safeguards covering strategic assets, critical infrastructure, land use, and other national security and economic interests. Philippine interests must remain the primary consideration. The goal should be mutual prosperity with our partners without compromising sovereignty or national priorities. If we can secure both economic opportunity and national interest, that would indeed be a legacy worth building beyond any single political cycle. (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.
*** Dindo Manhit is the founder and CEO of Stratbase Group.
School safety must begin before the next...
PAGE 6
Individual liability must be determined through due process. The broader principle is clear: firearms must be stored so children cannot gain unauthorized access to them. Government agencies that issue firearms should enforce rigorous custody and storage requirements. Private owners with minors in their homes should be held to equally clear standards. Schools also need controlled entrances, reliable communications, trained personnel and rehearsed emergency responses. Such measures can save lives once danger reaches a campus. Prevention, however, must begin before it gets that far. Lesson two: Recognize warning behavior without stereotyping children Years of U.S. research have produced an important conclusion: there is no reliable profile of a school shooter. A quiet child is not a dangerous child. A student who has been bullied is not destined to become violent. Mental illness should not become a default explanation for an attack in the absence of evidence. What matters is behavior in context: credible threats, planning, attempts to obtain weapons, fixation on a target or communications suggesting an intention to harm. Police said the Tacloban attack had allegedly been planned for more than a month. In Zamboanga, investigators examined digital evidence and whether earlier incidents or communications might have offered warning. Such indicators are not proof that violence will occur, nor should unusual behavior automatically be treated as criminal. They are reasons for trained assessment, appropriate support and proportionate intervention. Schools therefore need reporting systems students trust and adults capable of distinguishing credible danger from ordinary anger or distress. A warning has little value if a young person fears retaliation or assumes no one will listen. Lesson three: Build the culture long before the crisis The deeper work of prevention begins with the kind of school children enter every morning. One instructive example emerged after Columbine at St. Genevieve High School in Panorama City, in the San Fernando Valley section of Los Angeles. When educator Dan Horn became principal in 1999, he took over a school in need of renewal. Enrollment had fallen from close to 1,000 students to about 300, and St. Genevieve was confronting serious academic and reputational challenges. Horn arrived with a mandate to restore confidence in the school, rebuild enrollment and academic expectations, and undertake a broader transformation of its culture. The Columbine massacre in Colorado occurred only months before Horn assumed leadership at St. Genevieve. The attack prompted educators across the
United States to reconsider school safety, student isolation and the relationships that shape campus life. Horn brought that broader national reckoning to his own school, asking how its culture could be rebuilt so students felt more connected to one another and to the adults responsible for them. St. Genevieve began deliberately reshaping that culture. Incoming freshmen were welcomed by upperclassmen, while students, faculty and administrators participated in shared activities intended to strengthen relationships across the school. Responsibility, trustworthiness, citizenship and respect became part of daily expectations, reflected in how students were treated, how adults exercised authority, how harmful behavior was addressed and whether young people felt supported and expected to succeed. The broader turnaround was striking. The Los Angeles Times reported in 2008 that only about 35 percent of St. Genevieve graduates had gone on to college a decade earlier. By then, every graduate from the previous year had enrolled in college, including 65 percent at four-year universities. Enrollment recovered, and in 2003 St. Genevieve became the first Catholic school in the nation to receive National School of Character recognition. Those figures do not establish that character education produced the academic gains, much less that it can prevent shootings. The more consequential lesson is that school culture is not created by declarations of values, but by the consistency with which those values shape expectations, relationships and daily conduct. When adults embody the standards they expect, when teachers and staff know their students well, when belonging is deliberately fostered and high expectations are matched by support, a school becomes more than a collection of classrooms; it becomes a community with a shared sense of purpose. That has implications for safety. A teacher who knows a student is better positioned to notice a troubling change. A student who trusts an adult is more likely to report a credible threat. School culture cannot replace secure firearms, counseling, threat assessment or effective emergency response. Its contribution lies in creating relationships through which problems may become visible before they become crises. Horn’s enduring question after Columbine was therefore not simply what a school should do on its worst day, but what kind of institution it should be on every ordinary day before one. That lesson extends far beyond one Catholic school in California. Lesson four: Care for families long after the headlines fade A shooting may last minutes. Its consequences can endure for years. Parents live with the absence of a child. Siblings carry grief back into their own classrooms. Survivors may struggle with familiar
hallways, sudden noises or memories triggered by another violent event. Teachers and staff can carry trauma while helping students manage their own. Columbine, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde and numerous other school shootings have shown that grief follows no uniform timetable. Some families become advocates. Others need privacy. Some seek counseling immediately; others may require help much later. Anniversaries and subsequent acts of violence can reopen wounds. Government responsibility cannot end with condolences, funerals and the reopening of classes. Families should have access to sustained psychological and practical support. Survivors, siblings, teachers and school personnel should be included. Schools need thoughtful plans for students’ return and for anniversaries that can revive trauma. The digital environment adds another burden. After the Zamboanga attack, Philippine police sought the removal of videos and images of the shooting from social-media platforms. Repeated circulation of graphic material can deepen harm to victims, families and children who encounter it online. Uvalde offers another painful lesson. A U.S. Justice Department review found serious failures in leadership, tactics, training and communication during the response. Families desperate to know whether their children were alive also endured confusion and inaccurate information. In such moments, competent leadership and truthful communication are not secondary considerations. They are part of the care owed to families. The larger lesson: Act before repetition creates a pattern Tacloban and Zamboanga should be understood first as tragedies for the students, families and school communities directly affected, and also as warnings that deserve a serious national response. The proper response is neither panic nor complacency. It is disciplined prevention: keeping firearms away from children, identifying credible threats without stigmatizing students, preparing schools for emergencies, strengthening the relationships that allow concerns to surface and supporting families after public attention has moved elsewhere. Columbine happened in 1999. Since then, Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde and numerous other school shootings have shown how deeply such violence can scar families and communities, and how difficult recovery can be when tragedy is repeated. The Philippines has an opportunity to act before more families are made to endure that kind of loss. Tacloban and Zamboanga have already supplied the warning. The obligation now is to learn from these tragedies, strengthen prevention and support those already grieving before another community is forced to suffer the same. (AJPress)
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Marcos confers Order of Sikatuna on outgoing Japanese envoy Endo Kazuya by Luisa Cabato Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Thursday honored Japanese Ambassador to the Philippines Endo Kazuya during a farewell call at Malacañang and conferred him with the Order of Sikatuna, Rank of Datu (Grand Cross), Gold Distinction. During their meeting, Marcos thanked the Japanese envoy for his contributions to strengthening the Philippines’ relationship with Japan, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said. The President recognized Endo for promoting bilateral exchanges and deepening cooperation
between the Philippines and Japan in areas of defense, security, and development cooperation. Meanwhile, the award cited the envoy’s support for initiatives aligned with the Philippines’ priorities in infrastructure, education, transportation, maritime domain awareness, and human resource development. “Endo was likewise recognized for advancing Japan’s longstanding commitment to peace and development in Mindanao, including its support for the peace process, grassroots development and the transition of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao,” the PCO said. “The citation also highlight-
ed the ambassador’s efforts to mobilize humanitarian and development assistance from the Japanese government during natural disasters and recent regional crises,” it added. Additionally, Marcos acknowledged Endo’s initiatives that fostered friendship, mutual understanding, and goodwill between the Filipino and Japanese peoples. The Order of Sikatuna is conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious service to the Philippines. The Philippines and Japan are celebrating 70 years of normalized relations this year and 11 years of strengthened strategic partnership since 2015. n
Japanese Ambassador with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Photo from Inquirer.net
Can we defeat corruption?... PAGE 6 the theme of fighting corruption by arguing that “The Marcos Jr. administration—itself a product of the Duterte-led UniTeam— should be held accountable for historic corruption levels in recent years. Culpable Cabinet members and close allies need to be held accountable.” (See “The Duterte-Discaya legacy,” 8/11/26). For any public thinker with dozens of works on relevant national issues, it’s extra-frustrating to see how even educated and well-informed acquaintances so easily misread one’s advocacy or, worse, don’t seem to even bother to check a portion of your body of work. Never mind that I repeatedly made it clear how my interventions were in favor of a comprehensive solution. Thus, there is nothing mutually exclusive between advocating
for good governance and good economic policies. But our predicament cuts beyond the lack of nuanced public debates. Our current state of affairs perfectly captures what political historian Anton Jäger has described as “hyperpolitics”: a distinct form of systematic political impotence, whereby civil society is quick to mobilize on the back of public outrage, but extremely ineffective in bringing about transformative change, which requires institutionalized reform and sustained organization. My generation alone, for instance, stood witness to multiple revolts against corruption, from “People Power II,” which deposed then President Joseph Estrada, to the “Luneta Protest,” which called for the abolition of pork barrel funds under former President Benigno Aquino III, to, most recently, the “Trillion Pesos
March,” which called for the abolition of new forms of pork barrel pump-priming, dodgy flood control projects. And yet here we are in late 2026 with no indication of transformative budget reform. In my next column, I will discuss why the only way to effectively combat corruption is through a comprehensive package of reform, which transcends Kantian Moralität (individual morality) in favor of a Hegelian Sittlichkeit (public morality), which promotes a prosperous nation-state based on the twin pillars of freedom and order. (Inquirer.net) ***
LIVELIHOOD SUPPORT. Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso (center) and Vice Mayor Chi Atienza (left) lead the awarding ceremony for the second batch of 1,000 beneficiaries of the Kaagapay sa Kabuhayan (Capital Assistance) Program at San Andres Sports Complex in Malate, Manila, on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026. The program provides financial assistance to struggling entrepreneurs while encouraging local businesses to support community development and strengthen the city’s economic resilience. PNA photo by Yancy Lim
The invasion that will not come by sea...
PAGE 6 a bank in Frankfurt without boarding a plane. A specialist in Davao can earn a global wage and still be home for dinner with her children. For 50 years our greatest export has been our people, and the price was always paid by the families they left behind. This industry lets us export the work instead of the worker. That alone should make it national policy. The talent question is already settled. Filipinos dominate global freelancing platforms in technical work, and our young people teach themselves to code on secondhand laptops and win international competitions on borrowed bandwidth. What we lack is not aptitude. It is a system that finds it and sharpens it fast enough to matter. The honest answer is that four years of college is too slow, too expensive and often beside the point. Cybersecurity aptitude is not a diploma. It is a disposition. Pattern recognition, obsessive persistence and a stubborn ethical spine. Some of the finest defenders alive never finished a degree.
PAGE 6 ernment efforts shifted to encouraging the heirs of the defunct Sultanate of Sulu to unite, while supporting their claims to financial compensation from The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints Malaysia, which was increased expressed by the author do not necessarily until followers of Jamalul Kiram reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of mounted a disastrous expedition the Asian Journal, its management, editorial in Lahad Datu in Sabah in 2013. board and staff. After that, Malaysia ceased all *** payments to the heirs. Email: richard.heydarian@inquirer.net But as Bernas skillfully navi-
(From left) Cesar Purisima Armin Luistro, (From left) Ramon Balang, Rebecca Quijano Cecile Guidote-Alvarez with Rebecca Quijano Teresita Deles, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Butch Abad and Rogelio Constantino Medina. NAIA Terminal 1. and Xiao Chua.
Rogelio Constantino Medina and Bimby Bullit Marquez. Aquino Yap (right)
Ballsy Aquino-Cruz.
Volt Bohol in checkered shirt.
Tall and hunky Miguel ATOM members and supporters in a mass for Reli German at a chapel in SM Megamall. Abellada.
Jose Jr. of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines. While at NAIA, a young man approached me and asked if Sen. Bam Aquino would be there. We looked at the program, but his name was not included. We then proceeded to Manila Memorial Park to attend Mass for Ninoy Aquino. There, I saw Kris Aquino’s son Bimby Aquino Yap; Viel Aquino-Dee’s son Kiko Dee; Pinky Aquino-Abellada’s son Miguel Abellada; and Ballsy Aquino-Cruz’s son Jiggy Cruz. I also saw De La Salle Brother Armin Luistro, Cesar Purisima, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Teresita Deles and Florencio Abad. I likewise met again my former officemate at the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO), Well Martirez, and Alberto “Bullit” Marquez, a veteran photojournalist who served for decades as Manila bureau
the university track. DICT has the operational need and the standards. What has been missing is the decision to point all three at the same target. Do this and we solve two national problems with one program. The republic gets defenders it could never afford to poach from the private sector. And hundreds of thousands of families get a path into a high paying profession that does not require tuition they do not have, in an industry that will still be hiring when today’s freshmen are grandparents. We became the world’s nurses. We became the world’s sailors. There is no reason we cannot become the world’s digital guardians – and every reason we must. God gave us no oil beneath our soil. He gave us something better, which is a hundred million minds. It is time we armed them. (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.
Going backwards...
A Day with ATOM on August 21
IN August 1983, we had a rehearsal for our De La Salle University graduation, but there was a sudden blackout in metropolitan Manila. At the time, former Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino Jr. was scheduled to return to the Philippines. I later learned the shocking news: Ninoy Aquino had been assassinated at Manila International Airport. My family, led by my Kapampangan mom, Rosita Constantino Medina, now an American citizen whose birthday falls on August 21, went to Santo Domingo Church to extend our sincerest condolences to the Aquino family. Eventually, I joined protest rallies, oftentimes on Makati’s Ayala Avenue. I often saw members of the August Twenty One Movement (ATOM), founded by public relations man Reli German and Ninoy Aquino’s younger brother, Butz Aquino. Through the years, we have visited Ninoy Aquino’s tomb at Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City every August 21. This year, I joined ATOM at Terminal 1 of Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) at 8 a.m. for a solemn wreath-laying ceremony. I saw my aunt Cecile Guidote-Alvarez of the Earthsaver DREAMS Ensemble, UNESCO Artist for Peace and PETA; Ramon Balang and Rebecca Quijano of the Chino Roces Foundation, two witnesses to Ninoy’s assassination; Karl Patrick Suyat of Project Gunita; Charlie Avila of NAMSERV; Jose de Jesus and Cristina Rodriguez of the Bantayog ng mga Bayani Foundation; Christopher Carrion of the Spirit of EDSA Foundation; Patrick Claudio of the Human Rights Violations Victims’ Memorial Commission; and Volt Bohol of ATOM. I also saw Feliciana Santos of the Manila International Airport Authority; Henry Herrera and COO Jung Hoon Kim of New NAIA Infrastructure Corporation; and Regalado Trota
Singapore understood this in the 1970s, when it refused to wait for its universities and instead built training centers with Tata, Rollei and Philips that turned secondary school graduates into a world class technical workforce in months. Malaysia has since built a national cybersecurity curriculum of its own. Neither country waited for permission. The model is not complicated. Screen senior high students for aptitude using psychometrics rather than tuition receipts. Train the ones who show the gift, intensively and online, at a fraction of the cost of a degree. Place them first in government service, where they defend the agencies that most need defending and earn what no classroom can issue, which is proven experience under real fire. Then let industry hire from that pool, confident in what it is buying. Government stops being the profession’s dead end and becomes its finishing school. Every piece of this already exists inside our bureaucracy. DepEd has the students. TESDA has the mandate to certify skills outside
chief photographer for the Associated Press. Bullit is widely recognized for documenting major crises, political shifts and natural disasters across the Philippines and Asia. Right after the Mass, I joined ATOM in attending a Mass for the late Reli German at a chapel in SM Megamall. I still recall what ATOM President Volt Bohol said about Reli in a eulogy not long ago: “I was into Batman, Superman and Spiderman comics as a kid. But I was also into Mr & Ms special edition during the post ATOM members and supporters at a restaurant after a mass for Reli German. Ninoy assassination. I found out about ATOM, Butz, Reli ATOM president at first but I there. They were my heroes. was torn between seeing my When I joined ATOM in 2022 dream to see ATOM rise from and Reli wanted me to be pres- the ashes of fake news.” ident in 2023, I thought maybe *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints exthru ATOM, the yellow symbol can rise again. They tried to de- pressed by the author do not necessarily rethe opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of stroy Ninoy, Cory. But they for- flect the Asian Journal, its management, editorial got about Butz Aquino, ATOM, board and staff. Reli German and Nick Santia*** Email: rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com go. I was overwhelmed being
gated in 1986, though the country both lost a United Nations plebiscite—honor bound for us to accept if we were, indeed, a responsible member of the family of nations—and officially abandoned the claim in 1977, just because we had lost, the emotional appeal of the claim remained and no government has had the political will or legal chops to really set it aside; so much so that it continues to hang over us in other arenas. A lot of time and energy is spent fussing around with old maps when what the Philippines helped establish, and continues to benefit from, is a more enlightened basis for determining things such as the use of measurements from coasts and continental shelves. To assert, this late in the day, claims based on “historic title,” is counterproductive since our West Philippine Sea and other policies are based on upholding the arbitration decision; modern international law
looks at historical claims–like China’s so-called “nine-dash line,” with skepticism if not outright hostility. But here we are again, asserting the claim, provoking the Malaysians, and along the way undermining our own resistance to the People’s Republic of China in its efforts to assert its “historical” claims; we cannot seem to commit to what had formerly been a core principle in our early republic: that our interests lie in helping craft, and upholding, international law on modern principles instead of poring over old maps and contradictory texts of treaties by defunct powers. (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: mlquezon3@gmail.com; Twitter: @mlq3
Rain, rain go away...
PAGE 6 cannot move so slowly that people begin to believe nothing will eventually happen. President Marcos himself said the work is not finished, and put it very clearly: “Unfortunately, the more we look, the more we find.” That is precisely why the government cannot afford to lose momentum. The flood control scandal has become much more than an investigation into questionable infrastructure contracts. It has become a test of public confidence in our institutions and, ultimately, in government itself. People need to see that those who stole public money, if proven guilty in court, will actually go to jail. They need to see illegally acquired assets recovered. Contractors who have cheated the government should never again be allowed to profit from taxpayers. But accountability cannot end with prosecution – the system that had allowed this to happen must be fixed. Every flood control project should be transparent, properly engineered, independently inspected and publicly monitored. Technology can allow citizens to know where a project is located, how much it costs, who built it, when it was completed and whether it actually exists. And we should remember that solving Metro Manila’s flooding requires more than building concrete walls and pumping stations. Drainage systems need modernization. Waterways must remain clear. Garbage disposal must improve. Local and national governments must coordinate. Urban planning must recognize that Metro Manila has grown enormously while much of its basic infrastructure was designed for another era. Climate change makes these challenges more urgent, but it must not become a convenient excuse for corruption, incompetence or neglect. Filipinos understand that go-
vernment cannot stop the rains and that exceptionally severe weather can overwhelm even properly designed infrastructure. What is unacceptable is discovering that infrastructure meant to protect them was poorly constructed, unfinished or worse – existed only on paper. The issue cannot be treated as yesterday’s political controversy. Flooding affects rich and poor alike, but its heaviest burden falls on ordinary families who can least afford to lose a day’s wages, furniture, appliances or livelihood. For them, effective flood control is not politics – it is protection. That is why this scandal will not simply disappear from public consciousness. Every downpour reminds people of it. Every flooded street, and every Filipino wading through dirty floodwaters brings back questions on where those billions went. The President deserves credit for exposing the scandal and allowing the investigation to follow the evidence wherever it leads. Now comes the harder and more important part: finishing what was started. The rains will eventually stop. The floodwaters will recede. The streets will dry and life will return to normal. But the flood control scandal must never be allowed to simply recede with the water. Government cannot stop the rain – but it can stop the stealing. And until Filipinos see justice served and flood control projects that actually work, every storm will bring back the same question: The rains came down, the water went up. Where did our money go? (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 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
9
JOUR N AL Friday, August 28, 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
Kim Chiu tells breadwinners: Make room for yourself, too
DreamWorks’ ‘Forgotten Island’ brings Filipino creators into its animated world
The actress-host reflects on the responsibilities she took on as a teenager and the importance of caring for oneself while providing for others.
Filipino American director Januel Mercado, Philippine animators and musicians are among the creative contributors to DreamWorks’ new adventure
by AJPress MANILA — Kim Chiu has spent much of her adult life helping support her family, a responsibility she assumed while still a teenager. Nearly two decades later, she is urging others in similar circumstances not to lose sight of their own needs. “Do not forget about yourself,” Chiu said during a media appearance in Quezon City on Monday, Aug. 24, as she became emotional while discussing the experience of being a family breadwinner. The message draws from a role Chiu has spoken about throughout her career. She was 16 when she won the first Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition in 2006, a breakthrough that quickly brought financial responsibilities beyond her own needs. In an interview shortly after her victory, Chiu said she planned to use part of her P1 million prize to help send her siblings to school. As her career expanded into tele-
vision, film and hosting, she continued contributing to her family. Chiu has also said that the responsibility was not imposed on her. During a 2022 appearance on Magandang Buhay, she said no family member had instructed her to become the provider. She described helping her relatives as a decision she made after receiving opportunities at a young age. By 2023, Chiu said she had helped her siblings complete their education and was also assisting nieces and nephews. She has also said she financed the aviation studies of her younger brother, John, in Canada. ABSCBN reported that he graduated from aviation school there in December 2019. Her comments about caring for herself have become more pronounced in recent years. In a 2024 interview, Chiu spoke about making time for exercise, stepping away from her phone and paying closer attention to her physical and emotional needs.
Photo from facebook/@KimChiuOfficial
Chiu turned 36 in April and is marking 20 years in entertainment in 2026. Her career, which began with reality television, developed into sustained work in acting and television hosting. Reflecting on the milestone earlier this year, Chiu said she has learned to recognize both “small wins or big wins” rather than moving immediately from one obligation to the next.
by AJPress MANILA — The making of DreamWorks Animation’s Forgotten Island extended its Filipino influences beyond the voice cast, drawing on a Philippine animation studio, a Filipino American composer and cultural details rooted in family gatherings. Written and directed by Joel Crawford and Filipino American filmmaker Januel Mercado, the movie follows Jo and Raissa, lifelong friends voiced by H.E.R. and Liza Soberano. As they prepare to take separate paths after high school, the two stumble through a mysterious portal into Nakali, an island populated by magical and mythological creatures from stories told by their Filipino families. Their journey carries an unusual
price. According to DreamWorks, returning home could require Jo and Raissa to surrender the memories of their friendship. The production also drew on Filipino talent in its animation. Crawford credited Quezon Citybased Snipple Animation Studios with contributing 2D animation work, including sequences influenced by anime. Snipple’s official site also highlights its work on the project. Mercado has described Raissa’s despedida, or farewell party, as one of the film’s most personal sequences. During the filmmakers’ Manila promotional visit, he said the scene incorporated familiar elements of Filipino family gatherings, including food, conversation, teasing and hospitality. He also said the production team
paid close attention to the appearance of Filipino dishes, including lechon. Lea Salonga voices the Dreaded Manananggal. The cast also includes Manny Jacinto, Dolly de Leon, Jo Koy, Dave Franco, Jenny Slate and Ronny Chieng. Filipino American composer Nathan Matthew David wrote the score. The soundtrack also features BINI, SB19 and Salonga. The soundtrack extends Filipino participation into the film’s music, with artists contributing songs alongside David’s score. Crawford, Mercado and producer Mark Swift previously worked together on DreamWorks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Forgotten Island opens in Philippine cinemas Sept. 23 and in U.S. theaters Sept. 25.
Shirley Kuan rejects ‘cash cow’ claim, says she resigned as Bea Alonzo’s manager Veteran talent manager denies involvement in reported Spain wedding plans; actress appoints Chris Cahilig as interim manager by AJPress MANILA – Veteran talent manager Shirley Kuan said she resigned as Bea Alonzo’s manager on Aug. 11 after nearly six years, rejecting claims that she interfered in the actress’ marriage plans or treated Alonzo as a financial “cash cow.” Kuan said she wanted to address months of speculation linking her to a reported plan for a May wedding in Spain between Alonzo and businessman Vincent Co that did not proceed. “I just want to make this clear: Bea did not make me rich, nor will she make me poor,” Kuan said. “So stop calling her my cash cow.” Kuan denied advising Alonzo to cancel the wedding and said she was not involved in the couple’s prenuptial arrangements. Alonzo and Co never publicly announced a Spain wedding, although reports at the time said invited guests received notices describing the event as either postponed or canceled. The couple later married in a private civil ceremony at Makati City Hall on July 13, officiated by Mayor Nancy Binay.
Reports had also suggested that a prenuptial dispute contributed to the change in plans. Alonzo’s lawyer, Joey V. Garcia, later said the couple had signed a prenuptial agreement freely and voluntarily and rejected reports of a dispute or unresolved issue involving it. Kuan said she raised the allegations directly with Alonzo on Aug. 11. According to Kuan, Alonzo told her that Kuan had never asked her to cancel the wedding. Alonzo has not publicly confirmed that private exchange. Kuan said a separate professional dispute prompted her resignation. She said she had helped prepare an event involving Alonzo but was told by the client on Aug. 10 not to attend. Kuan did not identify the event, client or person she believed was responsible. She said Alonzo told her she had not known about the decision. Kuan has worked in Philippine entertainment and advertising for more than three decades and is a founding member of Professional Artists Managers Inc. ABS-CBN announced her appointment as Alonzo’s manager in November 2020 after the actress left Star Magic.
Bea Alonzo and her former manager Shirley Kuan. Photo from Instagram/@dolorguevarra
Alonzo has since appointed publicist, producer and director Chris Cahilig as interim manager. Cahilig said he would handle pending endorsements and other professional matters. He also said his existing content-production work with Puregold, where Co serves as president, predates his appointment to represent Alonzo.
Dave Bautista takes over as Kratos in Prime Video’s ‘God of War’
Filipino American actor and former professional wrestling champion assumes the lead role after an injury to Ryan Hurst disrupted production of the live-action PlayStation adaptation by AJPress LOS ANGELES — Dave Bautista, the Filipino American actor who parlayed a championship career in professional wrestling into prominent roles in some of Hollywood’s biggest franchises, will take over as Kratos in Prime Video’s live-action adaptation of God of War. Bautista, 57, became internationally known as Batista during his years with WWE before establishing himself as a screen actor. His portrayal of Drax the Destroyer in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy films brought him to a global movie audience, followed by roles in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 and Dune films, Rian Johnson’s Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery and M. Night Shyamalan’s Knock at the Cabin. He now steps into one of video gaming’s most recognizable roles, replacing Ryan Hurst, who suffered a torn biceps muscle while filming in Vancouver and underwent surgery. Variety reported that Hurst’s recovery would have pushed the production’s return into 2027, leading Amazon MGM Studios and Sony Pictures Television to recast the part. Footage already filmed with Hurst as Kratos is expected to be redone. Prime Video’s two-season adaptation draws from the Norse-era God of War games, which recast Kratos not simply as a formidable warrior but as a fa-
Photo from Instagram/@davebautista
ther struggling to raise his son, Atreus. Their journey to scatter the ashes of Kratos’ wife, Faye, becomes the emotional center of a story set among the gods and creatures of Norse mythology. Ronald D. Moore, known for Battlestar Galactica and Outlander, serves as writer, showrunner and executive producer. Born in Washington, D.C., Bautista has spoken publicly about his Filipino roots, saying his father is Filipino and his mother is Greek. He has described visiting the Philippines as a homecoming and has incorporated symbols of his Filipino heritage into his tattoos. Prime Video has not announced a premiere date. Production is expected to resume in Vancouver following the recasting.
Image from Facebook/@dreamworks
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
Features
September shines at Sky River Casino with labor day fun, harvest moon festivities & more ELK GROVE, Calif. — From crave-worthy comfort food and new seasonal menus to exciting promotions honoring America’s hardworking spirit, Sky River Casino is the ultimate destination this September. Guests can enjoy four days of fun this Labor Day Weekend, explore new fall dining offerings, celebrate the traditions of the Harvest Moon Festival, and enter for a chance to win up to $250,000 cash in the $2 Million Cash Knockout Drawing. Foodies, football fans, and those looking for a weekend getaway, here are ten reasons to visit Sky River Casino throughout September: 1.Win a Share of $75,000 in Cash On Friday, September 4, Sky River Rewards members can participate in the $75,000 Labor Day Weekend Cash Giveaway for a chance to win cash prizes ranging from $500 to $5,000. Drawings take place every 30 minutes, with two winners selected during each drawing. The excitement culminates at 10:30 p.m., when one lucky guest will win a $35,000 cash grand prize. 2.Join the $100,000 Labor Day Weekend Celebration From September 4 through September 7, Sky River Rewards members can participate in a series of promotions offering more than $100,000 in cash, prizes, and free slot play. Throughout the four-day celebration, guests will have multiple opportunities to win and earn exclusive rewards. 3.Experience the Beauty and Tradition of the Harvest Moon Festival Beginning Tuesday, September 8, guests are invited to stroll beneath a picturesque display near the south entrance designed to reflect the Harvest Moon’s theme of togetherness and gratitude, then follow a trail of vibrant lanterns illuminating the casino floor in celebration of the season. Sky River Rewards members can also visit the Rewards Center to receive a limited-edition rewards card featuring a special Harvest Moon Festival design, while supplies last. 4.Take Your Shot at the $2
Million Cash Knockout Drawing The excitement continues all throughout fall with the $2 Million Cash Knockout Drawing. Every Saturday from August 30 through October 31, guests can earn entries while playing slots and table games for chances to win free play, cash prizes, and the ultimate $250,000 cash grand prize. Plus, the After the Bell Bonus awards five winners up to $1,000 in free slot play every 30 minutes. 5.Take Home a 20-ounce YETI Tumbler On Saturday, September 5, the first 1,000 Sky River Rewards members who earn 1,500 same-day Tier Credits will receive a 20-ounce YETI Tumbler. Eligible guests can print a voucher at any promotional kiosk and pick up their gift near the newly expanded gaming floor. Limit one gift per person while supplies last. 6.Enjoy Labor Day BBQ Favorites at Fork on the Road Celebrate the holiday with classic American barbecue favorites. Fork on the Road is extending its popular BBQ menu into September, featuring smoked brisket, BBQ pork ribs, pulled pork sandwiches, jalapeño mac and cheese, cornbread, potato salad, and bread pudding. 7.Get Lucky in the Labor Day Lucky Hot Seats On Monday, September 7, active slot players can take part in the $25,000 Labor Day Lucky Hot Seats promotion. Twenty-two winners will share $25,000 in Free Slot Play, with one winner selected every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Individual prizes will be awarded up to $2,000 in free slot play. 8.Discover New Fall Flavors at Dragon Beaux Beginning September 16, Dragon Beaux introduces a menu inspired by the flavors of the season. Guests can savor stir-fried pad thai, egg tofu and mushroom dishes, sautéed pumpkin with salted egg yolk, hand-roasted crispy chicken, and finish with a crispy fried banana roll served with coconut ice cream. 9.Explore SR Prime Steak-
house’s Award-Winning Selections Launching September 15, SR Prime Steakhouse’s seasonal menu showcases their signature favorites like the iconic tomahawk steak paired perfectly with selections from the restaurant's award-winning, Wine Spectator-recognized wine program. New offerings also include beef cheek orecchiette with braised Wagyu beef cheeks, beluga lentils, mushrooms, pistachio gremolata, and truffle jus, alongside grilled octopus, barbecue prawns, Chilean sea bass, and grilled lobster tail. 10.Big Screens, Cold Brews and Gameday Eats at 32 Brews Street Just in time for football season, 32 Brews Street is the ultimate spot to catch every game on big screens while enjoying the new Game On Menu. Dig into a shareable appetizer sampler featuring carne asada tacos, chicken taquitos, fried mozzarella sticks, onion rings, and potato skins, or enjoy warm pretzel bites alongside one of 32 Brews Street's giant beer towers. For dessert, the churro sundae with Bavarian cream and vanilla ice cream is the perfect finish. Sky River Casino Since opening in August 2022, the casino has become a premier entertainment destination featuring over 130,000 square feet of gaming, 2,500 slot machines, 81 table games, and 18 restaurants, bars, and lounge destinations, along with a 1,600-space five-story parking structure. The casino recently broke ground on a significant hotel resort expansion that is expected to generate regional economic impact through job creation, increased tourism, and long-term investment in the local community. Planned additions include a 300-room luxury hotel, a new porte cochère with expanded valet service, a full-service day spa and salon, an outdoor pool, and approximately 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting, event, and entertainment space. To learn more about Sky River Casino and its continued growth, please visit www.SkyRiver.com.
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HEALTH @HEART Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS Does genetics play a role in colorectal cancer? To some degree, yes, but there is really a low genetic predisposition to cancer of the large intestine. An exception to this is seen in “cancer families” and “colon cancer families,” where colorectal cancer affects family members across several generations, usually occurring before the age of 40. What are the other predisposing factors? These factors include chronic ulcerative colitis, granulomatous colitis, and familial polyposis. The older the person is, the higher the risk. How common is this cancer? Colorectal cancer is the thirdmost common cancer in humans, topped only by cancer of the lungs and female breasts. More than 150,000 people in the United States each year discover they have cancer of the colon or rectum, and approximately 46,000 will die from it this year alone. The incidence starts to rise at age 40, and the peak is between ages 60 and 75. Colon cancer is more common among women, and cancer of the rectum among men. About 5% of the patients have both (synchronous cancer). Are meat-eaters more prone to cancer? It appears to be so, because colorectal cancer is found to be more prevalent in populations that follow low-fiber diets that are high in animal proteins, fats, and refined carbohydrates. The incidence of colorectal cancer is indeed high among those who eat red meat (pork, beef, etc) compared to those who eat high-fiber diets (vegetables, fruits, wheat, bran, etc) and fish. What are the signs and symptoms of colorectal cancer? The person may not have symptoms at all. It could be so subtle, like fatigue and anemia. Blood in the stool (black or bloody red stools) is one common sign. The others include changes in bowel habits, diarrhea or constipation, stools more slender or flatter than usual, stomach discomfort, bloating, fullness, abdominal cramps, frequent gas pains, unexplained weight loss, a sensation that the rectum does not empty. Not all these symptoms and signs need to be present, or necessary, to suspect possible presence of colorectal cancer. Any one of
Prevent colon cancer
these, if persistent, should alert one to seek medical help. What are intestinal polyps? These are small benign tumors (not cancerous growths) in the colon, but they may become cancerous over a period of time, hence termed “precancerous.” Detecting and removing polyps is one strategy to prevent colorectal malignancy. In most instances, polyps can be removed by a colonoscopic procedure (long, tube-like, flexible fiberoptic lighted “tele” scope, about the diameter of the index finger, inserted through the anus, to inspect the rectum and colon, make biopsy and/or excision of polyps). This saves the patient from abdominal surgery. About 60% of all colorectal cancers are within the reach of flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy, popularly known as colonoscopy. When should colonoscopy be done? Everyone 50 years old and older should have an annual fecal occult blood test and a prophylactic colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years. Since blood in the feces is one of the earliest signs of colorectal cancer, testing for blood in the stools yearly among those 50 and older is essential, and could be lifesaving. And so with prophylactic colonoscopy. How do we prevent colorectal cancer? As alluded to above, a high-fiber (fruits and vegetables, bran, oats, wheat) and fish diet will tremendously reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, staying away from animal protein, like red meat (pork, beef, and anything made of these), is a big factor in preventing the development of colorectal cancer, besides heart attack and stroke. Daily exercise makes our body healthier and more resistant to illnesses. Abstinence from tobacco is a must. Checking your stools for blood every time you defecate and reporting any warning signs listed above to your physician will help. For those 50 and older, having a yearly fecal occult blood test and a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years is strongly recommended for early detection and cure of the disease. What is the treatment for colorectal cancer? Depending on the stage and location of the colorectal cancer, the primary strategy is wide surgical resection of the cancer and regional lymphatic drainage. Cure is possible in 75% of surgical patients. For cancer limited to the mucosa (surface lining of the wall of the colon), 5-year survival is about 90%; for cancer going deeper into the mucu-
laris propia (muscle layer of the colon), 80%; for those with positive lymph nodes, meaning cancer has already spread to the lymph nodes, 30%. Other modalities of treatment include pre-operative radiotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Newer modes are immunotherapy and targeted gene therapy. When surgery and/or any of these other modalities are indicated will depend on the location, extent, and stage of the colorectal cancer. Immunotherapy and targeted gene therapy. What is the outlook for colorectal cancer patients? There is no question that the outlook for colorectal cancer, and most other cancers in general, is much better today. But we cannot overemphasize the common-sense wisdom that prevention is the best “treatment,” especially when dealing with any potentially deadly disease like cancer, heart attack, stroke, AIDS, etc. New hopes for cancer victims are in the pipeline of dozens of research/clinical laboratories in the United States and other countries around the world. Before the advent of oral medications for pulmonary tuberculosis, the disease acted like cancer, spreading from the lungs to the brain, bones, liver, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes, etc. We predict that someday soon, hopefully in the near future, many forms of cancer, if not all, will be cured by simply taking anti-cancer pills. In the meantime, it behooves each one of us to play an active role in protecting ourselves from becoming cancer victims by living a healthy lifestyle and by being ever-vigilant about our health and that of our loved ones. *** 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
Vice Ganda backs cross-network collaboration as free TV faces digital shift MediaQuest partnership and the return of “Gandang Gabi Vice” on GMA extend the comedian-host’s reach across competing Philippine media platforms. by AJPress VICE Ganda is backing closer collaboration among major Philippine media groups as traditional television competes with streaming and mobile viewing, pairing a new MediaQuest agreement with the return of “Gandang Gabi Vice” on GMA Network. At an Aug. 12 signing with MediaQuest Holdings, the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led media group whose businesses include TV5 and Cignal TV, the comedian-host said the pressures facing television require companies with different strengths to work together rather than operate solely as rivals. Under a two-year agreement, Vice Ganda is expected to develop content across MediaQuest platforms. Specific projects have not yet been announced. The MediaQuest deal came
five days after Vice Ganda signed a new contract with ABS-CBN, which has increasingly relied on content production and distribution partnerships rather than ownership of broadcast platforms. Vice Ganda has said ABS-CBN would remain involved in projects undertaken with other networks. That cross-network approach is already visible in “Gandang Gabi Vice.” ABS-CBN confirmed that the late-night comedy talk show will return Sept. 13 on GMA, iWant and Kapamilya Channel. The original program debuted in 2011 and ended its first run in March 2020. “It’s Showtime,” another ABSCBN program co-hosted by Vice Ganda, began airing on GTV in 2023 and moved to GMA Network’s main channel in 2024. Government data show why free television remains significant.
Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that television reached 82.3 percent of Filipinos ages 10 to 64 in 2024, compared with 66.5 percent for video streaming, while 48.8 percent of households had internet access at home.
SB19’s Justin recounts encounter at Los Angeles airport by AJPress LOS ANGELES — SB19 member Justin de Dios has recounted an encounter at Los Angeles International Airport, saying a Filipino man he described as working at the airport criticized the P-pop group and a member of its management team while they waited for baggage. De Dios discussed the incident in an Aug. 23 vlog documenting the group’s U.S. trip before its July 30 performance at Lollapalooza in Chicago. According to de Dios, a woman who had already taken a photo with member Stell continued seeking pictures while the group waited for luggage. Leah Gonzales, a longtime SB19 management figure now serving as artists and repertoire director of 1Z Entertainment, asked wheth-
er additional photos could wait until the group had collected its bags. De Dios said the woman agreed, and he later posed for another photo with her. He said a Filipino man who overheard the exchange then approached Gonzales, called her “suplada,” or snobbish, and made dismissive remarks about SB19’s fame and willingness to accommodate fans. De Dios said he considered responding but chose not to escalate the encounter. He described the remarks as disrespectful and said he was disappointed they came from a fellow Filipino. The man was not identified, and his employer has not been independently established. LAX is operated by Los Angeles World Airports, but airline, tenant, concession and contrac-
Photo from Facebook/@SB19Official
tor personnel also work there. SB19, composed of Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, performed at Lollapalooza Chicago, becoming the first Filipino act to appear at the festival.
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Khanna, Horsford join Las Vegas unions for AI and automation town hall LAS VEGAS — Reps. Ro Khanna of California and Steven Horsford of Nevada joined labor groups in Las Vegas on Aug. 19 for a town hall focused on how artificial intelligence and automation could reshape jobs in the state’s hospitality and service economy. Workers from Culinary Workers Union Local 226, Teamsters and other organizations raised concerns about technology replacing or changing jobs. Horsford argued that productivity gains from automation should translate into higher wages, safer work and greater job security rather than displacement. The concerns are already
reflected in Las Vegas labor contracts. Culinary Union agreements negotiated with major resort companies in 2023 strengthened requirements for advance notice when new technology affects jobs, training for technology-created positions and severance and health-care protections for workers displaced by automation. Technology has also changed casino operations. Golden Gate in downtown Las Vegas eliminated live table games in 2025 in favor of electronic games. Owner Derek Stevens said affected table-games employees were offered positions at sister properties Circa and the D or in other
departments. Khanna used the event to promote his Data Center Bill of Rights, a House resolution calling for greater local control over AI data-center development, including restrictions near homes, schools and hospitals and requirements addressing energy, water and community impacts. Horsford separately introduced legislation in June requiring major companies and federal agencies to disclose AI-related layoffs to the Labor Department for inclusion in a public report tracking the technology’s workforce effects across industries, regions and occupations throughout the United States.
Nevada approves Tesla, Waymo and Uber subsidiary for paid driverless service in Clark County State regulators authorize fleets of up to 5,000 Tesla vehicles and 1,000 each for Waymo and Aviari, subject to requirements that must be completed before passenger service begins. LAS VEGAS — Nevada regulators have approved Tesla, Waymo and an Uber subsidiary to provide paid passenger transportation in fully autonomous vehicles across Clark County, potentially expanding driverless ride services in the Las Vegas area once the companies meet remaining regulatory requirements. The Nevada Transportation Authority unanimously approved applications from Tesla Robotaxi LLC, Waymo LLC and Aviari Services LLC at its Aug. 20 meeting. Aviari is a wholly owned subsidiary of Uber Technologies Inc., according to state records. Tesla was authorized for as many as 5,000 fully autonomous vehicles during the first 12 months after its permit is issued. Waymo and Aviari were each authorized for up to 1,000 vehicles during their respective first years. The numbers establish maximum fleet sizes rather than the number of vehicles the companies are required or expected to deploy. The approvals do not allow immediate public service without further compliance. Before placing vehicles into service, the companies must provide required inspection documentation and insurance, submit applicable rates to the NTA and provide information about their customer-facing applications for regulatory review. They also must comply with accessibility, nondiscrimination, receipt and reporting requirements. Companies must maintain inspection, maintenance and repair records and report crashes and other events as required by
Nevada law. Each operator also must provide first responders in its service territory with a 24hour emergency contact. The NTA said transportation service cannot begin until the applicable requirements have been satisfied. The approved operating territory covers Clark County, including Harry Reid International Airport. Airport pickups and drop-offs, however, will require separate authorization from the Clark County Department of Aviation. Any future changes to an approved operating area, geofence or other operating parameters also require NTA approval. The orders require operations to begin within 120 days after permits are issued. The NTA said permits will be issued after its staff verifies that each applicant has satisfied the conditions imposed by the authority. Tesla filed its application June 5, followed by Waymo on June 16 and Aviari in July. Waymo's original application sought authority for up to 1,000 vehicles in Clark County, including Harry Reid International Airport and Henderson Executive Airport. Waymo has been preparing separately for a public Las Vegas launch. In July, the company said it would begin fully autonomous operations without a human specialist behind the wheel, initially carrying employees before opening rides more broadly. Waymo's current service information lists Las Vegas among markets scheduled to open rather than among those where the public can already hail rides. The new approvals come as
autonomous transportation is already moving into commercial service in Las Vegas. Zoox, the Amazon-owned autonomous vehicle company, began paid rides in the city Aug. 10 after receiving federal authorization for commercial deployment of its purpose-built robotaxi. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration granted Zoox a temporary exemption July 30 allowing commercial deployment of up to 2,500 vehicles annually for two years. The federal action applies to vehicle safety requirements and is distinct from Nevada's regulation of passenger transportation services. The expansion comes as regulators continue examining the safety implications of autonomous vehicles. In July, NHTSA said it had documented instances nationally in which driverless vehicles entered emergency scenes, impeded emergency vehicles or failed to respond appropriately to conditions such as flashing lights, smoke and traffic cones. The agency called on autonomous-vehicle developers generally to improve their systems' interactions with emergency responders. The warning was industry-wide and was not a finding against Tesla, Waymo or Aviari in the Nevada proceedings. Nevada Department of Business and Industry Director Kristopher Sanchez said the state's regulatory framework is intended to accommodate autonomous-vehicle development while maintaining oversight, with public safety remaining a central consideration as the technology expands.
Las Vegas Book Festival Announces Headline Authors
LAS VEGAS — The 2026 Las Vegas Book Festival will return Saturday, Oct. 17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. Fourth St. The free event, now in its 25th year, is open to all ages. Featured authors include Tony Weaver Jr., Natalie Baszile, Jon Ralston, Ayana Gray, Clarence A. Haynes, Kimberly Lemming, Meghan Le Fay, Vanessa L. Torres and Yasmin Angoe. Journalist Steve Sebelius will interview Ralston about “The Game Changer: How Harry Reid Remade the Rules and Showed Democrats How to Fight.” Gray, Haynes, Lemming, Le Fay, Torres and Angoe will appear on a panel exploring fantasy, mythology and science fiction. Featured authors will sign books following their discussions. The festival also will offer panel discussions, children’s arts and crafts, read-alongs and book signings. Clark County students in
grades 9 through 12 may enter the Spark! Youth Poetry Competition, which will award cash prizes to the top three participants. Registration closes Oct. 12. The city of Las Vegas presents the festival with support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, Clark County Parks & Rec-
Community
ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
Nevada ranks 45th in livability study as economy, housing weigh on score
Private ranking places state near bottom nationally, although Nevada scores considerably better on quality of life and continues to record population growth. LAS VEGAS — Nevada placed 45th among the 50 states in WalletHub’s 2026 ranking of the best states to live in, a result driven largely by weak scores for the economy, education and health and affordability. The personal-finance company gave Nevada an overall score of 44.54 out of 100. The state ranked 39th for affordability, 45th for economy, 42nd for education and health, 36th for safety and 19th for quality of life. WalletHub’s Aug. 10 analysis is a private composite ranking, not a government assessment. It evaluated 51 measures across five equally weighted categories, drawing on data available through July 13 from the Census Bureau, Bureau of Labor Statistics, FBI, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and other public and private sources. Several individual measures
help explain Nevada’s placement. WalletHub ranked the state 48th for housing costs and homeownership and 46th for both the share of residents with health insurance and the share of adults 25 and older with at least a high school diploma. Federal data show similar pressure points, although the government figures use different methodologies and should not be treated as validating WalletHub’s overall ranking. Census Bureau estimates for 2020 through 2024 put Nevada’s homeownership rate at 60%, with a median owner-occupied home value of $435,400 and median gross rent of $1,597. The bureau reported that 13.5% of Nevadans under 65 lacked health insurance, while 87.5% of adults 25 and older had completed high school and 27.9% held at least a bachelor’s degree. The statewide poverty rate was 11.6%.
More recent labor data also show a relatively soft job market. Nevada’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 5.0% in July, compared with 4.1% nationally, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rate was down from 5.2% a year earlier. Nevada tied Washington at 46th in the state unemployment ranking, with California, Connecticut and Oregon reporting higher rates. WalletHub ranked Idaho first overall, followed by New Jersey, Wisconsin, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Arkansas, Alaska, Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico occupied the bottom five positions below Nevada. Nevada’s low composite score does not capture every measure of the state’s trajectory. Census estimates show its population increased 0.9% from July 2024 to July 2025, the ninth-fastest percentage growth among the states.
Nevada sues Trump administration over Colorado River framework, warning of deeper future cuts Under the Lower Basin states’ proposed sharing plan, Nevada would absorb a 50,000 acre-foot reduction in 2027-28; its lawsuit challenges provisions that could produce much deeper cuts later LAS VEGAS — Nevada has sued the Trump administration over a new federal framework for managing the Colorado River, arguing that longer-term shortage provisions could impose disproportionately severe reductions on the state. Nevada, the Colorado River Commission of Nevada and the Southern Nevada Water Authority filed the lawsuit Aug. 24 in federal court, challenging an Interior Department Record of Decision issued Aug. 21 that establishes a 10-year framework for Colorado River operations through 2036, with specific guidelines initially set for 2027 and 2028. For those two years, Arizona, California and Nevada are expected to reduce their combined Colorado River deliveries by 1.25 million acre-feet annually. Under a sharing arrangement proposed by the three Lower Basin states, Nevada would contribute 50,000 acre-feet, about 16.7% of its 300,000 acre-foot
annual apportionment. Nevada’s lawsuit focuses largely on what could happen after 2028 under more severe shortage conditions. State officials say the federal framework could expose Nevada to a reduction of as much as 213,556 acre-feet, or about 71% of its allocation. That figure represents Nevada’s projection of a potential future reduction and is not a cut Interior has ordered for 2027 or 2028. The lawsuit alleges that Interior failed to adequately evaluate alternatives and the economic, environmental and public-health consequences of deeper reductions. Those claims have not been adjudicated. Southern Nevada receives about 90% of its water from the Colorado River, making the dispute especially significant for the Las Vegas Valley. Nevada and its water agencies are asking the court to set aside the federal decision and block the challenged provisions until the alleged
deficiencies are addressed. The case also reflects a broader divide between the river’s Upper and Lower Basin states. The federal framework does not impose mandatory consumptive-use reductions on Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Upper Basin officials have argued that hydrology already limits their use, while Lower Basin states have pressed for broader sharing of future reductions. Interior has declined to comment on the litigation and says the framework is intended to protect reservoir infrastructure while negotiations and conservation efforts continue. The Colorado River supplies more than 40 million people and about 5.5 million acres of farmland. Southern Nevada has also built conservation, water-banking and intake systems to preserve access to Lake Mead during prolonged shortages, with SNWA reporting more than 2.2 million acre-feet of banked supplies through 2024.
Southern Nevada Pedal Fest Set for Sept. 19 LAS VEGAS — The Southern Nevada Pedal Fest will be held Saturday, Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs, 9200 Tule Springs Road. The cycling festival will feature group rides, mountain bike and gravel trails, demonstration bikes, a pump track, vendor expo, food trucks and a beer garden for guests 21 and older. Admission is $12.51 and includes a drink coupon and event mer-
chandise; children under 12 are admitted free. Parking is free. Competitive riders may enter the Women’s Gravel Criterium Race at 9 a.m. or the Men’s race at 9:45 a.m. Race registration costs $20 and closes Sept. 18. Businesses and organizations also may register as vendors. The event is open to riders and visitors of all experience levels. The Southern Nevada Mountain Bike Association hosts the festival in collaboration with the
city of Las Vegas and Southwest Bikes. Festival registration: eventbrite.com/e/southern-nevada-pedal-fest-registration-1988283693049 Festival information: southernnevadapedalfest.com Vendor registration: southernnevadapedalfest.com/vendors Race registration: runsignup. com/Race/NV/LasVegas/SouthernNevadaPedalFest Information: 702-229-6011
reation, donors and sponsors. A full schedule of festival activities will be announced closer to the event. Festival information: lasvegasbookfestival.com Spark! Youth Poetry Competition: nevadahumanities.org/ spark Information: 702-229-2787 (ARTS)
North Las Vegas Marks Library Card Sign-up Month NORTH LAS VEGAS — The North Las Vegas Library District is marking National Library Card Sign-up Month in September with a limited-edition card commemorating the city’s 80th anniversary. Activities will be held at Alexander Library, Aliante Library and City Hall Library. Visitors can earn prize-drawing entries by obtaining a new library card, checking out materials, attending a STEM event or participating in the Golden Library Card Scavenger Hunt. Prizes include Amazon Kindles and autographed Las Vegas Aces merchandise. Library District Director Forrest Lewis said the campaign highlights services available through a library card, including books, STEM activities and Mango Languages, which offers instruction in more than 70 languages.
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Visitors may choose from several card designs, including Las Vegas Aces, Raiders, Desert Dogs and the commemorative 80th anniversary card. Residents can apply for a library card online or visit one of the district’s three libraries for assistance www.cityofnorthlasvegas.com/Home/ Components/Calendar/Event/18498/716?curm=9&cury=2026&os=vb&utm_source=chatgpt. com Library card application: cityofnorthlasvegas. com/things-to-do/libraries/library-cards Library Card Sign-up Month: cityofnorthlasvegas.com/things-to-do/libraries/library-card-signup-month City Hall Library: 702-633-1070 Alexander Library: 702-633-2880 Aliante Library: 702-839-2980
File photo/www.cityofhenderson.com
Henderson Seeks Artists for Mural Apprenticeship
HENDERSON, Nev. — Henderson is accepting applications for its Mural Artist Apprenticeship, offering emerging Las Vegas Valley artists an opportunity to work with a professional muralist. Selected artists will participate from December 2026 through May 2027, learning to design, plan and execute public murals
incorporating wayfinding and site identity. Each participant will ultimately paint a mural on a Henderson park roll door. Applicants must be at least 18, live in the Las Vegas Valley and have limited public-art experience. Applications are due Sept. 10 and must be submitted through Creative West’s Opportu-
nities portal. Additional public-art information is available from the city. Application: opportunities. wearecreativewest.org Public art information: cityofhenderson.com/government/departments/parks-and-recreation/ galleries-and-public-art Information: 702-267-2323
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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