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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 Volume 20 - No.35 • 16 Pages 611 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1300, Glendale, CA 91203 • Tel: (818) 9379981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 • info@asianjournalinc.com
DATELINE 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
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
U.S. immigrant visa interviews disrupted worldwide
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 adjusting 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
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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 exports to Iran have risen sharply in recent years. 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)
Fil-Am ex-NYC candidate pleads guilty in $1 million public-funds scheme
Angela Aquino admitted trying to make her campaign appear eligible for New York City matching funds; records show her committee received no public money by AJPress
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. Aquino, 47, entered the plea Aug. 20 in federal court in Brooklyn before U.S. Magistrate Judge Vera Scanlon,
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U.S. Iran sanctions push puts Philippine trade ties under scrutiny
by AJPress 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.
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. A pause at the consular stage
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 campaign appear to have raised enough qualifying money to obtain public financing. Candidates for Public Advocate participating in the city’s voluntary matching-funds pro-
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Duterte impeachment trial narrows in on control of OVP confidential funds
Testimony examines the chain of custody and oversight of P500 million as senator-judges press witnesses on who knew how the money was ultimately spent. by AJPress
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 ₱612.5 million in confidential funds, including ₱112.5 million at the Department of Education. Duterte denies wrongdoing. Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified Monday that she released four ₱125-million cash tranches
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Comelec sets up anti-votebuying teams ahead of first BARMM parliamentary election 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 activity. Garcia said Comelec wants candidates, political parties and their supporters to un-
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From the Front Page
U.S. Iran sanctions push... PAGE 1
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
U.S. immigrant visa interviews... PAGE 1 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 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 applicant 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.n
But current U.S. sanctions rules do not support the conclusion that Philippine goods automatically face American penalties simply because Manila trades with Iran. The U.S. Treasury Department on Aug. 24 launched a broader enforcement campaign targeting Iran-related financial and commercial activity and expanded potentially sanctionable sectors to include aviation, digital assets, gold, shipping and 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. 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
Duterte impeachment trial... PAGE 1
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 accompanied Acosta during the encashment of four confiden-
tial-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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Dateline USA
FDA approves first-in-class targeted drug for metastatic pancreatic cancer Rasonque nearly doubled median overall survival against chemotherapy in a Phase 3 trial
by AJPress WASHINGTON — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new targeted medicine for certain adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a disease with one of the lowest survival rates among major cancers. The FDA on Aug. 26 approved Rasonque, the brand name for daraxonrasib, for patients who have received at least one previous systemic treatment or are not candidates for multiagent systemic therapy. Developed by California-based Revolution Medicines, the once-daily tablet targets the RAS family of proteins, which plays a central role in driving most pancreatic adenocarcinomas. The FDA described Rasonque as a first-in-class targeted therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer. Approval followed results from the 500-patient RASolute 302 Phase 3 trial. Median overall survival was 13.2
months among patients receiving daraxonrasib, compared with 6.7 months for those receiving standard chemotherapy. Median progression-free survival was 7.2 months versus 3.6 months, while the overall response rate was 30 percent compared with 11 percent. The study reported a hazard ratio for death of 0.40, indicating a 60 percent lower hazard of death during the study period. That statistical result does not mean individual patients are guaranteed to live twice as long. The company-funded trial was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The FDA indication does not require patients to have a particular identified RAS mutation or undergo testing for a specific RAS variant. Rasonque is not a cure, and its effectiveness for earlier-stage pancreatic cancer or other cancers has not been established under the current
approval. Additional uses remain under study. FDA prescribing information warns of serious skin and soft-tissue reactions, mouth disorders, diarrhea, gastrointestinal perforation and interstitial lung disease or pneumonitis, along with potential fetal harm. The National Cancer Institute estimates that 67,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2026 and 52,740 will die from the disease. Five-year relative survival is 13.7 percent overall and about 3.4 percent when the cancer has spread to distant organs. The FDA reviewed the application under several expedited programs, including Priority Review and Real-Time Oncology Review. Revolution Medicines has disclosed a wholesale acquisition cost of $39,800 for a 30-day supply, before insurance coverage, rebates or patient-assistance programs. n
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Senate targets year-end repeal of Philippine travel tax House-approved bill would end the levy as lawmakers weigh replacement funding for tourism, education and cultural programs by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine Senate is preparing to take up legislation abolishing the country's travel tax, with Senate President Sherwin Gatchalian targeting passage before the end of the year after the House approved its own repeal measure in March. Gatchalian said Aug. 20 that repeal is among the Senate's economic priorities. He estimated it could reduce government revenue by nearly P6 billion annually, while arguing that increased tourism activity could offset
part of the loss. The figure is a projection, not the latest collection total. The tax remains in force. TIEZA currently charges P1,620 for economy-class passage and P2,700 for first class. OFWs and several other qualifying travelers are exempt under existing rules. The House approved House Bill 8464, the Travel Tax Abolition Act of 2026, on March 16. The measure would end collection and shift affected programs to funding through the annual national budget. Under current law, 50 percent of travel-tax collections goes to TIEZA, 40 percent to
the Commission on Higher Education and 10 percent to the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. TIEZA Chief Operating Officer Mark Lapid told lawmakers that collections reached P8.7 billion in 2025. CHED Commissioner Shirley Agrupis said the agency's share provides 85.6 percent of the resources of its Higher Education Development Fund. Several Senate repeal bills remain pending in committee. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has endorsed abolition and included it among the administration's legislative priorities. n
Judge blocks new USPS mail-ballot... PAGE 1 On Monday, the Supreme Court voted 6-3 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 harm to justify temporarily stopping key provisions of the rule. States face extensive preparations close to the election, including redesigning ballot envelopes, obtaining postal approval, changing systems and training election workers. At this preliminary stage, Talwani also found that the challengers were likely to succeed on some claims that the rule exceeds federal authority and conflicts with the Constitution’s allocation of election powers. Those findings are preliminary and do not constitute a final judgment on the regulation’s legality. The Trump administration has said the changes are intended to strengthen election integrity and improve tracking of federal ballot mail. The states and voting-rights groups contend that USPS lacks authority to impose the requirements and that introducing them shortly before voting begins could disrupt mail-ballot systems. USPS processed nearly 100 million ballots during the 2024 election, according to the agency. About 30 percent of voters nationwide cast ballots by mail. Talwani’s temporary restraining order will remain in effect for 14 days as the parties prepare for the Sept. 3 hearing on requests for a longer preliminary injunction.. n
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Abbott seeks to bar H-1B workers from Escudero tightens public-comment rules Texas public schools in Sara Duterte impeachment trial Proposal would cover current visa holders and future applicants; Filipino educators are among H-1B teachers working in U.S. schools by AJPress 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 in effect. The proposal would require approval by the Texas Legislature, which convenes in January 2027. The plan would extend restrictions Abbott imposed earlier this year on H-1B hiring in state government and public higher education. In January, he directed covered state agencies and public colleges and universities not to file new H-1B petitions without written permission from the Texas Workforce Commission through May 31, 2027. Local public school districts were not covered. Texas districts that sponsor international educators say the program helps fill vacancies requiring specialized credentials. For 2026-27, the Texas Education Agency identifies bilingual and English as a Second Language, special education, computer science and technology applications, secondary career and technical education, and secondary
English language arts and reading as teacher-shortage areas. Those shortages do not necessarily mean districts lack applicants overall. Some classrooms require specific certifications, language skills or special-education qualifications that teachers licensed in other fields cannot fill. Dallas Independent School District said after Abbott’s announcement that it hires international educators only for critical shortages identified by the state and that those teachers are Texas-certified. Federal data cited by the Texas Tribune show Dallas ISD has 171 H-1B visa holders, more than any school district or public university in Texas. Dallas ISD’s published H-1B guidance for 2025-26 limited sponsorship to elementary bilingual English-Spanish and special-education teachers. Candidates were required to have a valid Texas teaching certificate and a district job offer. Houston Independent School District similarly requires an H-1B candidate to hold a valid Texas teaching certificate and have a job offer in a critical-shortage assignment. It says the program has been used for bilingual education, special education, high-school mathematics and science, with 51 to 90 H-1B visas sponsored annually from 2017 through 2025. Those figures reflect sponsorship activity, not necessarily newly arriving teachers, because filings can include extensions. Filipino educators are among teachers working in
U.S. schools under H-1B status. The Philippine Embassy’s Migrant Workers Office in Washington held a post-arrival orientation in February 2025 attended by 88 Filipino H-1B teachers from different 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. n
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 twostrike 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, pros-
ecutors, 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
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Comelec sets up anti-vote-buying teams... PAGE 1
derstand that allegations of vote-buying will be acted upon rather than deferred until after the election. As of Thursday, however, Garcia said the commission had not received a vote-buying complaint connected to the parliamentary race. The initiative follows Comelec Resolution No. 11228, issued in June, which reactivated the poll body's Committee on Kontra Bigay for the BARMM elections and adopted guidelines against vote-buying, vote-selling and the misuse of state resources. Under the Omnibus Election Code, vote-buying includes
giving, offering or promising money, employment or anything of value with the intent of inducing someone to vote for or against a candidate. Vote-selling is also prohibited. A person convicted of an election offense may face imprisonment of one to six years, disqualification from holding public office and loss of voting rights. Garcia also warned that candidates facing substantiated disqualification cases could have their proclamations suspended while proceedings are pending. Philippine election law allows Comelec to suspend proclamation in appropriate cases when evidence
supporting a disqualification complaint is strong. The Sept. 14 vote will choose the first regularly elected Bangsamoro 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
Fil-Am ex-NYC candidate pleads... PAGE 1 gram 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 were intended to obscure the source
of the money and make the campaign’s total deposits appear high enough to satisfy the fundraising threshold. Aquino also used campaign money for personal expenses, including apartment rent, while reporting the payments as legitimate campaign expenditures, according to prosecutors. The Justice Department said she later gave federal agents false information about recipients of some campaign payments, including claiming that her landlords had performed petitioning and campaign work. The $1 million cited in the case was the public financing Aquino sought to obtain, not money paid to her campaign. New York City Campaign Finance Board records show that her committee received no public matching funds.n
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Opinion
Features
School safety must begin before the next crisis strikes
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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.
Editorial
Building a legacy beyond political cycles
Commentary Dindo Manhit We often hear educated FilI can’t help it, but the news that our economy grew even more slowly (at 2.3 percent) than last quarter’s already dismal 2.8 percent gives me a sinking feeling about our country. Seeing a confluence of declines on the economic, political, and environmental fronts along with long-term human development threats on our very social fabric, it’s hard not to be
tempted to begin losing hope in our country’s future. On the economic front, the slide is unmistakable, and every Filipino feels its adverse effects. But the most telling and most disturbing sign of the decline, looking from the spending or demand side, is the steep -13.7 percent fall in total fixed investments (gross fixed capital formation), the third consecutive quarterly drop since late last year. This
Columbine High School in Colorado became synonymous with the 1999 attack in which two students killed 12 classmates and a teacher.
Babe Romualdez
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Rain, rain go away – but the flood control scandal will never go away
babe’s eye view
comprises all fixed investments by both the government and the private sector, and by Filipino and foreign investors alike. It has declined across its key components, i.e., construction, durable equipment, and farm investments (breeding stock and orchard development), which dropped -14.8 percent, -13.6 percent, and -7.6 PRESIDENT Marcos has under two years left in his term. What will
ManilaTimes.net photo
At Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, 20 first-graders and six
“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 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 re-
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School safety must begin... PAGE 6 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 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 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. 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
Opinion & Features
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 fouryear 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
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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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
Escudero tightens public-comment... 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 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, wit-
ness 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 collateral matters are not treated as violations. The House voted 257-25, with nine abstentions, on May 11 to impeach Duterte. The articles contain allegations involving confidential funds, unexplained wealth, bribery, graft and corruption, and threats. Duterte has denied wrongdoing. n
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) n
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Building a legacy beyond... PAGE 6
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 investment 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 acceler-
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Cayetano returns to Senate after days of absence, resumes impeachment role 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
ation 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 consider-
ation. 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.n
by AJPress
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
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 de-
scribed 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
Government targets completion of five GOCC liquidations in 2026 by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine government is seeking to complete the liquidation of at least five state corporations before the end of 2026, advancing a years-long effort to wind down entities already approved or classified for abolition. The corporations are known as government-owned or -controlled corporations, or GOCCs. Unlike regular government departments, GOCCs operate as corporate entities with their own boards, assets and mandates. They are created or owned by the government to perform public, commercial or developmental functions. Major examples include the Social Security System, Government Service Insurance System, Land Bank of the Philippines and Philip-
pine Amusement and Gaming Corp. Governance Commission for GOCCs Chairperson Marius Corpus said the agency hopes to finish at least five liquidation proceedings this year. He did not identify the corporations, saying a technical working group involving the GCG and other agencies is still determining which cases can be completed. The target does not mean five new corporations have been selected for closure. The GCG’s latest classification lists 21 entities under abolition, including Panay Railways Inc., National Agri-Business Corp., Philippine Forest Corp., Philippine Sugar Corp., three Philippine National Oil Co. subsidiaries and North Luzon Railways Corp. Several have been under abolition directives for years. Under Republic Act 10149,
the GCG evaluates whether state corporations remain necessary and may recommend abolition to the president. Factors can include duplication of functions, failure to achieve intended objectives, dormancy, lack of cost efficiency or activities that may be better performed by the private sector. Liquidation can take years because assets and liabilities must be accounted for, obligations settled and remaining corporate affairs resolved. The rationalization effort is proceeding as profitable GOCCs continue providing substantial revenue to the government. Finance Secretary Frederick Go said 50 GOCCs were expected to remit a record P147.15 billion in dividends in 2026. The Department of Finance said P140 billion had already been remitted by July. n
Cayetano returns to Senate after...
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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 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
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Ombudsman broadens financial scrutiny as 107 lifestyle checks proceed
Remulla says Customs, LTO and other revenue-generating agencies are drawing investigators’ attention by AJPress
MANILA — The Office of the Ombudsman is conducting 107 lifestyle checks as it broadens scrutiny of government personnel, including
individuals in the Bureau of Customs, the Land Transportation Office and other revenue-generating agencies. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla disclosed the figure Tuesday, Aug. 25, during a
House Committee on Appropriations hearing on his office’s proposed 2027 budget. He said investigators were developing information involving Customs, the LTO
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Rain, rain go away... PAGE 6 port 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 Ferdinand 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 cannot move so slowly that people begin to believe noth-
ing 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 government cannot stop the rains and that exceptionally severe weather can overwhelm even properly designed in-
frastructure. 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) onal community but instead grabs snippets here and there in their preferred ghettoes of like-minded media consumers and producers. (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. *** EEmail: Email: babeseyeview@ gmail.com n
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AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Duterte challenges prosecution evidence Ombudsman broadens financial ... as Senate impeachment court steps up enforcement by AJPress
MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte challenged House prosecutors to prove the impeachment charges against her through evidence as the Senate impeachment court moved to curb inflammatory language and continued examining the handling of confidential funds under her offices. Duterte said prosecutors should establish an impeachable offense through evidence rather than “insults, speculation or political theatrics.” Her statement followed defense objections to terminology used by a private prosecutor while questioning an Office of the Vice President official. Presiding Officer Francis Escudero sustained objections to descriptions including “scam” and “mastermind,” striking the characterizations from the record. The court also ordered strict-
er enforcement of Rule 18, which limits public discussion of the case by the presiding officer, senator-judges, prosecutors, Duterte, counsel and witnesses. The dispute came as prosecutors presented evidence under Article I, which alleges misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds: P500 million released to the OVP and P112.5 million released to the Department of Education while Duterte was education secretary. Duterte disputes the allegations, and the Senate has made no finding that misconduct occurred. OVP Assistant Secretary and Assistant Chief of Staff Lemuel Ortonio testified that Duterte knew of and authorized steps involving the confidential funds. He said he understood that Duterte, as agency head, and former security chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica knew how confidential activities were implemented. Ortonio also testified
that he personally did not know where the money ultimately went or how individual operations were carried out. Questions have also focused on the OVP’s 2022 funding request. Duterte signed an Aug. 22 request for P250 million before the office completed its physical and financial plan. The Department of Budget and Management later sought supporting documents, and the OVP submitted the plan before P125 million was released in December. OVP records presented in the proceedings showed the allocation as disbursed from Dec. 21 through Dec. 31. The defense maintains that the plan was not required with the initial request. Prosecutors cite government rules requiring confidential-fund allocations to be supported by a physical and financial plan. Former state auditor Roderick Wamil testified that the OVP plan lacked required detail. Separately, the impeach-
PAGE 9 and similar agencies and expected additional reviews to follow. The Ombudsman has not identified those covered by the checks or announced findings of corruption, unexplained wealth or other misconduct. A lifestyle check is an investigative measure used to examine whether an official’s assets, expenditures and financial interests can be reconciled with lawful income and declared wealth. It is not, by itself, a finding of liability. The renewed use of the practice marks a departure from the policy of former Ombudsman Samuel Martires, who said in 2020 that he had stopped lifestyle checks and questioned whether visible wealth or spending could reliably establish wrongdoing. Philippine law, however, gives investigators several means of examining assets that appear disproportionate
to legitimate earnings. Public officials and employees covered by Republic Act No. 6713 must disclose their assets, liabilities and financial interests and are required to maintain lifestyles appropriate to their positions and income. Other anti-graft and forfeiture laws provide procedures for cases in which property is alleged to have been unlawfully acquired or substantially out of proportion to lawful income. Those standards do not make wealth, travel or expensive purchases proof of corruption. Any adverse finding must rest on evidence concerning ownership, income, financial records and the source of the assets or expenditures involved, followed by the appropriate administrative, civil or criminal process. Financial scrutiny of government personnel has also intensified elsewhere in the executive branch. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. direct-
ed lifestyle checks in August 2025 as his administration investigated alleged irregularities in flood-control projects, initially focusing on personnel associated with the Department of Public Works and Highways. The Ombudsman’s current reviews are legally separate from that presidential initiative. As an independent constitutional body, the Office of the Ombudsman has its own authority to investigate public officials and employees. The available public record does not establish that the 107 checks disclosed by Remulla were opened pursuant to Marcos’ directive. During the budget hearing, Remulla pointed to Customs, the LTO and other collection-oriented agencies as areas receiving particular investigative attention, signaling where the anti-graft office is concentrating its financial scrutiny. n
ment court ordered specified peso-denominated financial records involving Duterte, her husband Manases Carpio and linked entities produced in connection with Article
II’s unexplained-wealth allegations. The subpoenas are evidence-gathering measures and do not constitute findings of wrongdoing. The prosecution is sched-
uled to continue its Article I presentation next week, including testimony concerning confidential funds handled by the Department of Education. n
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NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY AUGUST 28, 2026
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 28 - SEPTEMBER 3, 2026
people events arts culture entertainment
Kim Chiu tells breadwinners: Make room for yourself, too The actress-host reflects on the responsibilities she took on as a teenager and the importance of caring for oneself while providing for others. 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 television, 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. ABS-CBN reported that he graduated from aviation school there in December 2019. Her comments about caring for herself have become
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
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
Photo from facebook/@KimChiuOfficial
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. 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. n
Shirley Kuan rejects ‘cash cow’ claim, says she resigned as Bea Alonzo’s manager by AJPress
Dave Bautista takes over as Kratos in Prime Video’s ‘God of War’
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-
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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 Ama-
zon 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 father 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. n
Photo from Instagram/@davebautista
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DreamWorks’‘Forgotten Island’ brings Filipino creators into its animated world Filipino American director Januel Mercado, Philippine animators and musicians are among the creative contributors to DreamWorks’ new adventure
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
Image from Facebook/@dreamworks
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 City-based 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. n
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 Cig-
nal 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.” ABSCBN 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.
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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 whether 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,
Photo from Facebook/@SB19Official
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 contractor 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. n
Janus del Prado urges public to hear Bea Alonzo’s side in manager dispute
The veteran actor and former Star Magic talent has been a longtime friend and screen colleague of Alonzo. by AJPress MANILA — Actor Janus del Prado, a longtime friend and former screen colleague of Bea Alonzo, has urged the public to withhold judgment over the actress’s professional split with veteran talent manager Shirley Kuan until Alonzo gives her own account. In a Facebook post, del Prado said he was not dismissing Kuan’s statements but cautioned against treating one side of the dispute as conclusive. “Before you judge Bea, let’s wait to hear her side of the story first,” he wrote. Del Prado also suggested that artists and managers consider confidentiality agreements to protect sensitive information when professional relationships end. He did not dispute specific claims by Kuan or present an alternative account of what
Photo from Facebook/@janus.del.prado.1984
led to her resignation. A veteran Filipino actor and former child performer, del Prado spent 21 years
with Star Magic, ABS-CBN’s talent management arm, before leaving in 2021. He is
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Vice Ganda backs cross-network...
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The many hands that make kakanin
What better way to keep the tradition alive than to cook it? Make kakanin. Enjoy it. Share the recipe. Pass it on
Sapin-Sapin in bloom by Reggie Aspiras Lifestyle.inq
Photo from Instagram/@praybeytbenjamin
PAGE 12 “It’s Showtime,” another ABS-CBN 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. 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. n
Shirley Kuan rejects ‘cash cow’ ...
Bea Alonzo and her former manager Shirley Kuan.
Photo from Instagram/@dolorguevarra
PAGE 11 CBN announced her appointment as Alonzo’s manager in November 2020 after the actress left Star Magic. Alonzo has since appoin-
also said his existing content-production work with Puregold, where Co serves as president, predates his appointment to represent Alonzo. n
ted publicist, producer and director Chris Cahilig as interim manager. Cahilig said he would handle pending endorsements and other professional matters. He
Janus del Prado urges public... PAGE 12 the son of the late character actor Renato del Prado. His friendship with Alonzo extends well beyond the current controversy. The two were fellow Star Magic artists and appeared together in the 2007 romantic drama One More Chance, its 2015 sequel A Second Chance, and the 2013 family film
Four Sisters and a Wedding. Entertainment industry coverage has long described them as close friends. Del Prado has also publicly supported Alonzo during previous controversies, including criticism surrounding her 2021 transfer from ABS-CBN to GMA Network. He is not known to hold an official role in her current management, making his
comments those of a friend rather than an authorized representative. Kuan, who began managing Alonzo in 2020, confirmed that she resigned effective Aug. 11. Alonzo had not issued a detailed response to Kuan’s public statements as of Aug. 27. Chris Cahilig has since been identified as Alonzo’s interim manager. n
Oh, what a sight it was. Over a hundred kinds of kakanin, in every conceivable color, shape, and size, gathered at the Glass House of the New World Hotel. There were old favorites, some I had not eaten in years, and many that simply had us asking, “What is that?” Kakanin literally comes from all corners of the Philippines, some flown in from the provinces. When they couldn’t come, their makers did—bringing ingredients from home and preparing them right there for us. For an afternoon, we had an extraordinary gathering of Philippine kakanin before us. “A historic event for snack foods” This is what we had hoped for with the Philippine Heritage Kitchen’s Kakanin Festival: to gather and celebrate this wonderful part of our food culture. Respected guardian of our culinary heritage, historian, and writer Felice Prudente Sta. Maria puts it best. She called kakanin “likely a historic event for snack foods,” adding that the variety “may have been the first of its kind.” How could you look at such a glorious array and not be in awe? Rice, malagkit, corn, cassava, coconut, carabao’s milk, sugar in all its many forms. And look at what we do with them: steamed, grilled, baked, wrapped in all sorts of leaves, or even cooked inside bamboo over fire. Wow, Philippines. How rich and abundant we truly are! The hands that shape them I glanced toward the artisans who make them. There were the older makers, their hands working almost by instinct. No measuring. They knew by sight and feel how to wrap, when it was ready. Happily, there were younger
hands, too—the next generation, already making what had been passed on to them. This is how food traditions live on: one generation makes it, the next learns it, and eventually, hands it down to another. We certainly love our kakanin, but the craft of making it is slowly dying. What a loss it would be if one day there were no more makers and none left for us to eat. And so, what better way to keep the tradition alive than to cook it? Make kakanin. Enjoy it. Share the recipe. Pass it on… For the love of our food and the traditions that make us Filipino. So, in that same spirit, I am passing on a few of their recipes to you. Binungey
Region 1. Recipe by chef Ryan Cortez A Pangasinan kakanin of malagkit and coconut milk cooked inside bamboo over charcoal, giving it a wonderful smoky, toasted flavor. Ingredients 2 cups malagkit 2 cups kakang gata 3/4 to 1 cup brown sugar or muscovado 1/4 tsp salt Young coconut strips, optional Fresh bamboo tubes and banana leaves Procedure 1. Wash and soak malagkit
for at least 1 hour, then drain. 2. Half cook rice with 1 cup coconut milk, 1/2 cup water, and salt until the liquid is absorbed. 3. Mix remaining coconut milk with sugar. Line bamboo with wilted banana leaf, then fill three-fourths full with rice. 4. Add young coconut, if using, and sweetened coconut milk to cover. 5. Leave about 2 inches at the top and seal with banana leaves. 6. Lean bamboo over low to medium charcoal and cook 1 to 1 and 1/2 hours, turning every 10 to 15 minutes. 7. Charring is part of the flavor. It’s ready when you no longer hear liquid when the bamboo is shaken and you can smell toasted coconut and bamboo. 8. Rest 15 to 20 minutes, then carefully split open the bamboo and serve. Inutak
Pateros. Recipe from Casa Zaragoza Dinorado and malagkit are ground into galapong, cooked with coconut milk, finished with kakang gata, and broiled until beautifully scorched. Even better served warm with PAGE 14
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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 third-most 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.
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Fil-Am Andre Ilagan’s U.S. Open Prevent colon cancer qualifying run ends in second round Any one of 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 mucularis 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 the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is
by AJPress NEW YORK — Filipino American tennis player Andre Ilagan’s first U.S. Open appearance ended in the second round of qualifying Wednesday, Aug. 26, after the Honolulu native fell to third-seeded Frenchman Hugo Gaston, 6-1, 6-3. The 25-year-old Ilagan had reached the second round with a three-set victory over fellow American Tristan Boyer, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, a day earlier at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in New York. Ilagan entered the 128-player qualifying field on a wild card after finishing runner-up in the U.S. Open Wild Card Challenge. Qualifiers must win three matches to secure one of 16 available places in the men’s singles main draw. Against Gaston, Ilagan recovered from a difficult opening set and briefly moved ahead 3-2 in the second after breaking the Frenchman’s serve. Gaston then won the
remaining four games to close the match. University of Hawai‘i statistics credited Ilagan with a higher first-serve percentage but showed Gaston committing substantially fewer unforced errors. The tournament marked another step in Ilagan’s rise through professional tennis. When the USTA announced his wild card Aug. 18, he was ranked No. 210 in the world after reaching consecutive ATP Challenger finals in Lexington, Kentucky, and Brownsburg, Indiana. Ilagan also became the first former University of Ha-
wai‘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
The many hands that make kakanin... PAGE 13
ice cream. Makes 5 to 6 servings Ingredients 3 mature coconuts, grated 6 cups water 2 cups dinorado rice 2 cups malagkit 2 cups sugar Cheese, ube, mango, or mantecado ice cream, to serve Procedure 1. Extract the first coconut cream or kakang gata from the grated coconut, then set aside. Add 2 cups water to the same coconut and squeeze again for the second extraction. 2. Combine both kinds of rice with the remaining 4 cups water. Soak 30 minutes, then blend finely into galapong. 3. Cook the galapong with the second coconut milk and sugar over medium heat, stirring constantly for 15 to 20 minutes or until thick and smooth. 4. Transfer to oven-proof dishes and spread a thin layer of kakang gata on top. a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore
5. Broil 12 to 15 minutes, until beautifully scorched. 6. Serve warm with your choice of ice cream. Binaki
Bukidnon. Recipe by Linda Tasani and Jocelyn Ones Binaki is Bukidnon’s steamed corn cake, made from freshly grated corn and cooked in its own husk. Binaki comes from “baki-baki,” referring to a corn husk pouch shaped like a
frog. Ingredients 3 kg fresh corn, grated 300 g white sugar 1 cup butter, melted 1 cup condensed milk 8 eggs 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp baking soda Pinch of salt Corn husks, for wrapping Procedures 1. Carefully remove the corn husks and wash well; reserve for wrapping. 2. Grate the corn kernels and scrape the cobs to get all their juices. Blend until smooth. 3. Mix corn with sugar, condensed milk, melted butter, eggs, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 4. Lightly butter the inside of the corn husks. Fill with the corn mixture, fold and tie securely. 5. Steam over medium heat for 30 to 35 minutes, or until set. 6. Serve warm, traditionally with coffee, tea, or sikwate. n
past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, distinguished educators, renowned scientists, etc. (Wikipedia).
Websites: FUN8888.com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com. On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com n
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A Day with ATOM on August 21 My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio Constantino Medina 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 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
Tall and hunky Miguel Abellada.
Ballsy Aquino-Cruz.
Volt Bohol in checkered shirt.
(From left) Ramon Balang, Rebecca Quijano and Rogelio Constantino Medina.
(From left) Cesar Purisima Armin Luistro, Teresita Deles, Dr. Patricia Licuanan, Butch Abad and Xiao Chua.
Cecile Guidote-Alvarez with Rebecca Quijano NAIA Terminal 1.
Rogelio Constantino Medina and Bimby Aquino Yap (right)
ATOM members and supporters in a mass for Reli German at a chapel in SM Megamall.
Bullit Marquez.
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 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 Ninoy assassination. I found out about ATOM, Butz, Reli there. They were my heroes. When I joined ATOM in
2022 and Reli wanted me to be president in 2023, I thought maybe thru ATOM, the yellow symbol can rise again. They tried to destroy Ninoy, Cory. But they forgot about Butz Aquino, ATOM, Reli German and Nick Santiago. I was overwhelmed being ATOM president at first but I was torn between seeing my dream to see ATOM rise from the ashes of fake news.” *** 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. *** ATOM members and supporters at a restaurant after a mass for Reli German. rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com n
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