090823 - Northern California Edition

Jazz honor Clarkson for Gilas stint

WHILE three members of its team are still participating at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, NBA side Utah Jazz has honored Jordan Clarkson for his stint with Gilas Pilipinas.

“Still thinkin’ about this one,” wrote the Jazz on their social media handles on Tuesday, September 5, showing photos and videos from Clarkson’s 34-point night for the Filipinos against China over the weekend.

During that game, Clarkson netted 20 points during the 3rd period against China, which had Minnesota Timberwolves player Kyle Anderson.

Biden administration proposes new standards to boost nursing home sta ng

THE nation’s most thinly staffed nursing homes would be required to hire more workers under new rules proposed on Friday, Sept. 1 by the Biden administration, the greatest change to federal nursing home regulations in three decades.

The proposed standard was prompted by the industry’s troubled performance earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, when 200,000 nursing home residents died. But the proposal falls far short of what both the industry and patient advocates believe is needed to improve care for most of the 1.2 million Americans in nursing homes.

The proposal, by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, would require all facilities to increase staff up to certain minimum levels, but it included no money for nursing homes to pay for the new hires.

CMS estimated that three-quarters of the

Marcos to Asean: ‘Some progress’ in talks for Code of Conduct in South China Sea

PRESIDENT Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, Sept. 6 reported before the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) that there have been "some progress" in the negotiations for a Code

of Conduct (COC) in the South China Sea which, he said, is in accordance with international law. In his intervention during the 26th Asean-China Summit held in Jakarta, Indonesia, Marcos cited that "milestone issues and a preliminary review of the Single Draft Negotiating Text" were achieved in Manila "a few weeks ago."

"The early conclusion of an effective and substantive CoC that is in accordance with international law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, remains the goal for Asean and for China," the chief executive told the audience, which included other Asean leaders and Chinese Premier Li Qiang during  PAGE 2

PH says ‘ready’ to chair ASEAN in 2026 instead of Myanmar

THE Philippines is ready to chair ASEAN in 2026 instead of Myanmar, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said on Tuesday, Sept. 5 as the bloc wrestles with how to engage with the country's junta rulers.

Myanmar has been ravaged by deadly violence since a 2021 military coup deposed Aung San Suu Kyi's government and unleashed a bloody crackdown on dissent.

"It is my pleasure to announce that the Philippines is ready to take the helm and chair ASEAN in 2026," Marcos told Association of Southeast Asian Nations leaders in the Indonesian capital Jakarta.

"We will fortify the foundations of our communitybuilding and navigate ASEAN as it embarks on a new chapter," he said, according to a statement from the presidential palace.

REGIONAL PEACE. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. underscored on Wednesday, Sept. 6 the need for the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to fully comply with the UN Security Council Resolutions as he expressed concern over its recent surge of intercontinental ballistic missile tests. Marcos said in his intervention during the 24th Association of Southeast Asian Nations-Republic of Korea (ASEANROK) Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia that he is honored to assess the progress of the ASEAN-ROK relations, celebrate shared success, and recommit to

of mutual growth and cooperation.

Marcial: FIBA World Cup a win for Gilas, PH

MANILA – For PBA commissioner

Willie Marcial, Gilas Pilipinas and Filipino basketball fans still came out as winners in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

Speaking to reporters Monday, Sept. 4 at the sidelines of the launching of Molten’s special ball for the World Cup championship at the SM Mall of Asia Music Hall, Marcial cited two reasons why he considers the country’s campaign in the tournament a success.

“First, our countrymen were able to witness international games. They were able to enjoy quality games. That’s why

I’m thankful to MVP (Samahang Basketbol ng Pilipinas chairman emeritus Manny V. Pangilinan),” said the PBA chief.

Next in Marcial’s two-item list is Gilas ending its 2023 World Cup campaign with a higher final ranking than they did in the 2019 edition of the tournament. Despite registering only a 1-4 record, Gilas landed at No. 24, an eight-spot improvement from its dead-last 32nd-place finish four years ago. Gilas’ finish in the ongoing tournament assured the squad of a spot in the Olympic qualifying tournaments. Nasa top three tayo sa Asia,” Marcial pointed out, as Gilas ended up behind Japan

 PAGE 4

Overseas Pinoys continue protest vs new travel requirements

MANILA — Until the revised rules are finally shelved, overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) will continue to protest against new travel requirements proposed by the Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking (IACAT), the labor group Migrante International vowed.

The group, while welcoming the Department of Justice decision to suspend the IACAT policy which increases the documentary requirements for Filipino travelers, said OFWs must stay vigilant to stop its revival.

“This suspension is a temporary

victory of OFWs,” it said as it called on all OFWs to be on the lookout for efforts to revive the much-hated policy.

The justice department earlier claimed that the revised rules were not meant to “burden the general public” and aimed only to “enhance the overall experience of departing passengers.”

But the proposed rules received a backlash for imposing stricter travel requirements on Filipinos traveling abroad and possibly subjecting them to more long-winded questions from immigration officers and other airport personnel.

Lawmakers also said these

Marcos did not say why Manila was taking over the chair from Myanmar.

However, two Southeast Asian diplomats attending the summit said the move was agreed by leaders so the crisis would not hijack the bloc's agenda and prevent "external partners" coming to Myanmar for their gatherings.

VP Duterte con rms requesting P125M secret fund for OVP in 2022

MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday, September 4 confirmed at the Senate hearing requesting the controversial P125 million confidential fund of her office last year.

The amount was part of the P221.4 million budget transferred to the Office of the President (OP) by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in December 2022.

“The amount is correct and that is correct,” Duterte said, responding to the query of Senate Minority Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel during the hearing of the Senate committee

on finance on the OVP’s proposed 2024 budget of P2.3 billion, which included a big confidential and intelligence funds of P500 million. “We requested confidential funds to the Office of the President as early as August 2022 and we’re only granted the confidential funds in December 2022,” she further explained. However, Pimentel pointed out that the confidential fund did not “exist” in the 2022 budget of the OVP.

“Parang na augment, for [the] year 2022 kasi ito eh,” Pimentel said. “There was no item in the OVP budget for confidential expense[s] in [the] year 2022. So it’s not even one peso, it’s nothing, it’s zero.”

Marcos to Asean: ‘Some progress...

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the 26th Asean-China Summit. This was echoed by Malaysia and Singapore, which also pushed for the finalization of the CoC during the meeting.

It was also a reiteration of his previous remark at the 43rd Asean Summit Retreat that all stakeholders "should never allow the international order to be subjected to the forces of might applied for a hegemonic ambition."

Marcos said that the Philippines is committed to continue working with all countries to foster a rulesbased international order, as well as in upholding and exercising freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

The Philippines is not seeking conflict but will always rise to meet challenges to its sovereignty, sovereign rights, and maritime jurisdiction in the South China Sea, he further stated.

"The Philippines firmly rejects misleading narratives that frame the disputes in the South China Sea solely through the lens of strategic competition between two powerful countries. This not only

denies us of our independence and agency, but also disregards our own legitimate interests," the president said.

Marcos called for self-restraint on activities that complicate disputes in the region and undermine regional peace, stability, and security, underscoring that actions, not words, should be the ultimate measure of their commitment to securing peace and stability.

"We therefore seek your support for the operationalization of practical measures such as the ADMM Guidelines for Maritime Interaction, which we envision will be expanded to our external partners in due time," he said.

Meanwhile, the president likewise pointed out that the ongoing Asean-China Free Trade Area 3.0 upgrade negotiations will encourage stronger ties between the regional bloc and China, saying it's the hope that the regional bloc has identified and leveraged complementarities between China's initiative and the Asean outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

He also underscored the need to enhance Asean connectivity and supply chain, stressing that among the priority areas of the AOIP, maritime cooperation is especially significant to the

President Marcos said he would discuss with fellow world leaders “developments” in the South China Sea. Malacañang photo Philippines as an archipelagic nation.

"We must emphasize that practical cooperation in the maritime domain can only flourish with an enabling environment of regional peace, security, and stability, anchored in international law," he said.

"The Philippines therefore continues to uphold the primacy of the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea as the framework within which all activities in the seas and oceans are conducted. We once again reaffirm our commitment to the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes," he added. g

VP Duterte confirms requesting P125M...

“It’s not even mentioned in the line budgeting for the OVP, and yet at year’s end calendar 2022, we will now have an entry P125 million charged to a line which did not exist at the very beginning,” he pointed out.

Duterte reiterated that her office requested the fund, and the OP granted this through the DBM.

“I think the DBM can better answer the question of the transfer of funds from their source to the OVP,” she said.

“[Nevertheless], we complied with the reportorial requirements of the use of the funds as confidential funds,” the vice president stressed.

House Deputy Minority Leader and ACT Teachers party-list Rep. France Castro earlier claimed that Duterte’s office spent the P125 million confidential fund in just 19 days – from December 13-31, 2022.

“This translates to P6,578,947.37 or almost P7 million per day,” Castro pointed out in a statement last week.

Castro even believes funds were illegally realigned because the 2022 OVP budget, crafted during the term of former vice president Leni Robredo, did not include a secret fund.

In her six-year tenure, Robredo never requested or included confidential funds in her office budget. g

Marcial: FIBA World Cup a win for...

(3-2) and Lebanon (2-3).

The Filipinos came up short in winnable games against the Dominican Republic and Angola, and also lost versus Italy in the first round. In the classification round, they yielded to South Sudan before finally hitting pay dirt against Asian rivals China for a winning exit.

For Marcial, defeating China was only the cherry on top.

“Yes, we beat China, pero yung dalawang (reasons) yung mahalaga,” said Marcial, still underscoring the improved ranking and the country’s successful World Cup hosting.

Maganda (pa rin) ang nangyari, nag-improve ang standing natin,” he said. g

Biden administration proposes new...

nation’s 15,000 homes would need to add staff members. But the increases at many of those facilities would be minor, as the average nursing home already employs nurses and aides at, or very close to, the proposed levels.

“The standards are a lot lower than what a lot of experts, including myself, have called for over the years,” said David Grabowski, a professor of health care policy at Harvard Medical School. “There are some real positives in here, but I wish the administration had gone further.”

The government said it would exempt nursing homes from punishment if they could prove that there was a local worker shortage and that the facilities had made sincere efforts to recruit employees.

“Fundamentally, this standard is wholly inadequate to meet the needs of nursing home residents,” said Richard Mollot, the executive director of the Long Term Care Community Coalition, an advocacy group based in New York.

Executives in the nursing home industry said that without extra money from Medicare or Medicaid — the two federal insurers that pay for most nursing home care — the requirement would be financially unattainable.

“It’s meaningless to mandate staffing levels that cannot be met,” Katie Smith Sloan, the president and chief executive of LeadingAge, an association that includes nonprofit nursing homes, said in a statement. “There are simply no people to hire — especially nurses. The proposed rule requires that nursing homes hire additional staff. But where are they coming from?”

The new staffing standard would require homes to have daily average nurse staffing levels amounting to at least 0.55 hours per resident. That translates to one registered nurse for every 44 residents. But that is below what the average nursing home already provides, which is 0.66 hours per resident, a 1:36 ratio, federal records show.

At least one registered nurse would have to be on duty at all times under the proposed plan — one of the biggest changes for the facilities, as they currently must have nurses for only eight consecutive hours each day.

The proposed rule also calls for 2.45 nurse aide hours per resident per day, meaning a ratio of about one aide for every 10 residents. While the federal government sets no specific staffing requirements for nurse aides, the average home already provides 2.22 nurse aide hours a day, a ratio of about 1:11.

“The federal minimum staffing standards proposed by CMS are robust yet achievable,” the agency said in a statement.

“The proposal also makes clear that the numerical staffing levels are a floor — not a ceiling — for safe staffing.”

Registered nurses are at the top of the chain of command at nursing homes, overseeing assessments of residents and handling complex clinical tasks. Nurses delegate more straightforward clinical roles to licensed practical nurses.

Certified nurse assistants, often called nurse aides, are generally the most plentiful in a nursing home and help residents with basic needs like bathing, getting out of bed and

eating.

On average, registered nurses make $37 an hour while licensed practical nurses earn $28 an hour, according to CMS. Aides often start at minimum wage or slightly above, earning $17 an hour on average.

“People have more choice,” said Tina Sandri, the chief executive of Forest Hills of DC, a nursing home in Washington, D.C., referring to nursing home staff. “They can go to hospitals and make more and do less than they do here in a nursing home.”

“We’ve lost staff to hospitals that had $20,000 signing bonuses,” she added, “and as a nonprofit, we can’t compete with that.”

Nursing home officials say they cannot afford to pay higher wages because state Medicaid programs reimburse them too little. Patient advocates, however, note that some forprofit homes are providing substantial returns to investors.

Medicare and Medicaid spent $95 billion on nursing home care and retirement community care in 2021, according to CMS. The agency estimated that the new standards would cost homes another $4 billion in three years, when all homes except those in rural areas would need to comply. Rural homes would have five years.

Ellen Quirk, a retired certified nurse assistant in Hayes, Virginia, recalled that sometimes she would care for all of the residents on a single floor in the nursing home, which could be 20 or more people, by herself. It’s challenging for an aide to care for more than five to seven people at a time, she said.

“If it’s more than that, then things aren’t done properly,” Quirk, 63, said. “Things are skipped over, like a bath or changing them every couple of hours or feeding them properly.”

“I’ve seen patients that roll over and fall out of bed,” she added. “Sometimes they get bed sores because beds are saturated in urine for hours and hours.”

The nursing home industry has been pressing federal and state governments to pay for a bevy of enticements to longterm care workers, including educational subsidies for those who have worked in nursing homes, loan forgiveness and career opportunities for certified nursing assistants working toward their nursing degrees.

The administration said it would offer $75 million in scholarships and tuition as part of the new proposal. The administration is accepting comments for the next 60 days before it finalizes the new standard.

(Jordan Rau/KFF Health News) KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces indepth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism.

FLOODED. The corner of UN and Taft Avenues in Ermita, Manila is still flooded on Sunday morning, Sept. 3 as the southwest monsoon brings intermittent moderate to heavy rains. Typhoon Hanna and the enhanced southwest monsoon or “habagat” will bring rain showers and gusty winds over most parts of the country, the weather bureau said. PNA photo by Joan Bondoc

by KRISTEL SAMBILE

AS COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations surge in the United States, concerns are mounting about the need to reinstate mask mandates. The country is experiencing a late-summer spike in infections, with hospitalization rates increasing by nearly 19 percent in just one week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The spike in COVID-19 cases is driven by the spread of several new variants, including EG.5, FL.1.5.1, and BA.2.86. The CDC has estimated that EG.5 accounts for 21.5 percent of all new cases, while FL.1.5.1 makes up 14.5 percent of new infections, and BA.2.86, the highly mutated variant, constitutes less than one percent.

Concerningly, BA.2.86 is raising alarms among health experts because it may be “more capa-

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized the importance of masks for certain vulnerable populations, stating, “People who are older, who have underlying chronic medical conditions, who are immune-compromised, and who are pregnant—we ought to get those masks out again, to protect ourselves.”

One of the key concerns is the

Jazz honor Clarkson for Gilas...

PAGE 1

Throughout the tournament, Clarkson had accumulated 130 points, averaging 26 points per game. Clarkson is one of five members of the Jazz that are in the World Cup, alongside Italy’s

Simone Fontecchio, Finland’s Lauri Markkanen, Canada’s Kelly Olynyk, and the United States’ Walker Kessler. Gilas ended their World Cup stint on a high note, after defeating China 96-75 in the classification round at the Smart Araneta

Coliseum on Saturday, finishing in 24th out of 32 countries and have clinched a place at the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, that will take place a few weeks before the start of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, France. (Aric John Sy Cua/ManillaTimes.net)

Overseas Pinoys continue protest...

might affect the Filipinos’ right to travel and right to data privacy.

According to Migrante, the policy suspension is a result of the legitimate demand to junk the policy and widespread opposition from OFWs, migrant Filipinos and various sectors of society.

“Our protests will continue

until the policy is finally shelved and no longer threatens Filipino travelers and OFWs,” it stressed, as it backed the resolution filed by Sen. Jinggoy Estrada calling for an investigation into the policy.

It added that aside from rights violation, the policy also increases the burden that OFWs shoulder

and does not address the root causes of human trafficking. “The government should go after human traffickers and not their victims. It can only counter human trafficking effectively if it starts creating decent jobs at home – and stop its intensification of the country’s labor export program,” Migrante said. 

PH says ‘ready’ to chair ASEAN in...

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Hospitals and medical facilities in some regions have already reinstated mask mandates, including facilities in New York, California, and Massachusetts. Pexels.com photo by Laura James

potential for BA.2.86 to evade immunity from previous infections or vaccinations. To address this, an updated COVID-19 booster is in development and is expected to be available to the public by the end of September. Dr. Schaffner stressed the importance of receiving the booster when it becomes available. “Your protection will diminish over time. So even if you’ve had COVID in the past, once this new booster becomes available, you should get it.” The rise in COVID-19 cases is also impacting schools, hospitals, and businesses, with some institutions encouraging or requiring people to wear masks once again.

As shared in NPR, Syracuse, New York, Upstate Medical University has reinstated a mask mandate in its hospitals due to rising hospitalizations and the detection of the highly transmissible EG.5 variant in the community’s wastewater.

As the situation evolves, public health experts emphasize the need for vigilance and adherence to preventive measures, including mask-wearing, maintaining physical distance in crowded places, avoiding close contact with sick individuals, and practicing regular hand hygiene.

While there’s no need for panic, experts agree that being cautious and maintaining a healthy immune system remain essential safeguards to navigate the evolving landscape of COVID-19 variants. 

"It's been decided. It was announced at the leaders' meeting and there was no objection," said one diplomat on the condition of anonymity. ASEAN wrote to the Philippines

to ask if it was willing to accept the chair for that year and Manila accepted, the diplomat said.

A second diplomat, who also declined to be identified, said the switch had been agreed after "leaders' assessment on

the progress" of a five-point plan agreed two years ago that the junta in Myanmar has largely ignored. Laos will host next year's summit and Malaysia will chair the event in 2025. (Philstar.com)

THE

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Capping prices

BEGINNING September 5, “rice monitors” were mobilized by the Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Agriculture, in coordination with local government units, in enforcing price ceilings on rice: P41 a kilo for regular milled and P45 for well milled – way below the prevailing retail prices of P50 to around P60.

Rice prices began climbing after India banned exports of non-basmati white rice last July 20, followed by the imposition of a 20 percent duty on non-basmati parboiled rice. India, the world’s largest supplier of rice, accounting for 40 percent of the global trade, had banned its export of broken rice in September last year. It imposed the measures to ensure sufficient domestic supply and stabilize prices amid warnings of a severe El Niño, and after torrential flooding last year devastated the rice harvest in neighboring Pakistan, affecting global supply.

Editorial

Marcos, the concurrent agriculture chief, approved the imposition of price ceilings began on Tuesday. The government will have to balance its efforts to counter speculation and hoarding with the impact of the price cap on other sectors of the rice industry. Smallscale retailers are complaining that they will lose money because they bought their supplies at high prices. Several have said they would be forced to close shop.

The Philippines’ biggest sources of imported rice are Vietnam and Thailand, but the two countries also tightened their exports to secure their domestic supply following India’s move. Officials have stressed that the Philippines currently has enough rice supply, and that a good harvest is seen this October. But because of the developments in the global rice trade, the government believes there have been speculative actions among rice traders that have led to the spike in rice prices by up to P10 per kilo in recent weeks.

To address what the government sees as speculative pricing and hoarding, President

Babe’s Eye View

BABE ROMUALDEZ

THE decision of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to put a cap on the price of rice nationwide – effective immediately – is definitely welcome news to many Filipinos, especially the most vulnerable. But we all know these are temporary measures that need long-term solutions to cope with the soaring prices of the household staple.

Agricultural group SINAG (Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura) expressed support for the president’s imposition of the price ceiling of P41 per kilogram for regular milled rice and P45 per kilogram for wellmilled rice, saying that traders and retailers will not go bankrupt as the farmgate price of the current rice stocks are from P20 to P23.

Based on the statement of the Department of Agriculture during the recent House committee on appropriations hearing and from their own computation, the country should have no rice shortage, according to SINAG executive director Jayson Cainglet. However, a statement from the National Food Authority a couple of weeks ago that they only have two weeks’ worth of buffer stock may have triggered a sense of panic –

The government cannot simply brush aside the concerns of such retailers, which are the sources of rice for low-income consumers who buy food from the wet markets and small grocery stores.

The usual business practice when one faces the prospect of selling at a loss is to hold on to the stocks. If the rice retailers are forced to sell at a loss or near-loss, or prosecuted for hoarding, it could be construed as a confiscatory policy that could wreak havoc on rice trading.

While consumers always welcome lower prices, price caps usually go against normal market forces and may tighten supply. The government will have to be mindful of this possibility as it moves to stabilize rice supply and prices. (Philstar.com)

US farm technology can help our rice production

with unscrupulous traders taking advantage of the situation to manipulate the price of rice and make them skyrocket.

There are several factors why the price of rice has continued to skyrocket, especially in the past few weeks. Obviously, one of the reasons is price manipulation by the rice cartels as well as the practice of hoarding by opportunistic traders, as seen in the discovery of some 154,000 sacks of imported rice worth P431 million being hoarded in several warehouses in Bulacan during a surprise inspection jointly conducted by government agencies that include the Bureau of Customs.

The recent typhoons locally named Falcon and Egay have already caused billions worth of damage to agricultural crops that include rice and corn.

Global prices of rice and other staples have also been impacted by the war in Ukraine, especially after Russia decided to end an agreement that allowed Ukraine to export its grain to the rest of the world through the Black Sea.

The situation was also exacerbated by the decision of India to ban the exportation of rice, sending shock waves across the world, triggering panic buying and causing prices to soar to a near 12-year high, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization. India is the largest exporter of rice and

fact, many spoke of how major powers, or “magnates,” such as Sparta or Persia had to contend with middle-sized yet influential polities such as Syracuse and Corinth.

accounts for some 40 percent of the global trade in 2022, with exports totaling 22 million tons to 140 countries that include the Philippines.

India does not have a rice shortage and has around 41 million tons of buffer stock in their government warehouses, and yet their domestic price for rice as well as other food prices has been rising. India’s imposition of the rice ban, however, has raised fears that other countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, which also supply rice to the Philippines, would follow suit because of the El Niño dry spell expected to hit next year.

But the biggest culprit in our current rice dilemma is the land reform program which was, in many people’s view, a big failure. It had so many loopholes that enabled big hacienderos to go around the program by converting or reclassifying agricultural land into residential and commercial areas.

Hacienda Luisita was a glaring example of how the flaws in the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program was taken advantage of because it was exempted from the coverage, with farmers given a stock distribution option instead of land.

The land distributed to farmerbeneficiaries was also limited to five hectares, making it difficult to make the farmland productive.

For a farmer to be productive, he should be able to expand his land to 10 hectares at the very least. Sadly, many of the beneficiaries also ended up selling the land as they had no money to pay for tractors to make farming more efficient, buy seeds, fertilizers and other farming necessities.

There is no question that we should all be very concerned about the issue. Aside from going after smugglers, hoarders and price manipulators, the president is looking for ways to resolve our rice dilemma, among them the use of hybrid, climate-resilient rice varieties to boost production and improve rice yields. Another is the use of modern technology and innovation to transform agriculture in the country and modernize the rice sector.

“It’s up to us now in the Philippine government to make sure those technologies, those products go down to the grassroots,” the president had said.

We have had several offers of help from our friends in Washington, D.C. to improve our rice production through modern farming technology as well as knowledge transfer and cooperation on agricultural innovation and food security.

I had dinner the other night with Paul Taylor, the commercial attaché of the U.S. embassy. He informed me there will be a large group of about 15 to 20

U.S. agricultural technology companies coming to Manila early next month – an offshoot of the president’s visit to Washington, D.C. last May when he met with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack.

These American companies are ready to help the Philippines achieve its food security agenda through digital and precision agriculture to efficiently reduce water use; improve production and reduce crop losses; drone technology; crop protection solutions; automated postharvest facilities and many

Philippines: A new ‘middle power’?

our country as a middle power.

deescalation of major power conflicts, and deterrence of mass atrocities.

“THE strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must,” lamented Greek historian Thucydides after observing the tragic fate of smaller citystates at the hands of Athenian and Spartan armies. Over the next two millennia, countless self-styled “realists” invoked Thucydides’ memorable lines in order to justify a full range of imperialist enterprises, which reduced much of humanity to, at best, bystanders, and, at worst, pawns in great power rivalries. More subtle thinkers, however, would know Thucydides wasn’t the only major thinker in the ancient era, even among Greeks. Throughout centuries, countless Greek thinkers rejected simplistic, binary divisions of the world into the “strong” and the “weak.” In

As historian Peter Frankopan beautifully illustrates in “Silk Roads” (2017), mezano (midsized) city-states such as Venice, Genoa, and Florence were pivotal to global commerce and Eurasian geopolitics during the Medieval and Renaissance periods.

At the dawn of modernity, thinkers such as L’Abbé de Mably also spoke of the role of “second-order” puissances (powers) in shaping European politics. This was fully on display during the 1815 Paris Conference, where midsized Germanic states played a critical role in shaping the postNapoleonic order in Europe.

Over the past century, midsized powers such as Australia and Canada have made major contributions to disarmament,

“Middle powers” come in various forms and shapes, but as scholars such as John Ravenhill and Gareth Evans have argued, they have three things in common: namely (i) capacity for robust self-defense, if not projection of power in their near-neighborhood; (ii) coalition-building skills through proactive diplomacy; and (iii) credibility and creativity in advocating for positive-sum cooperation on issues of global concern.

In the words of Italian thinker Giovanni Botero, middle powers have “sufficient strength and authority” to exercise agency in international affairs. And this, dear reader, brings us to the topic at hand: Is the Philippines a “middle power”? At least two major think tanks, namely the Lowy Institute (Australia) and Hague Center for Strategic Studies (Netherlands), classify

Recently, I had the privilege of personally observing our country’s rapidly growing defense capabilities, thanks to an invitation by the Philippine Navy to visit our most modern warships, now parked at the exHanjin shipyard in Subic Bay Freeport.

I witnessed modern warships equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems. Aboard BRP Jose Rizal, one of the warships built by South Korea, I saw jolly officers beaming with pride. Far from marooned soldiers, what I saw were neatly dressed, unpretentiously articulate, and unabashedly patriotic Filipinos, who proudly shared their countless stories of standing up to bullies in the West Philippine Sea.

Commanding officers such as Captains Noli Ibanez (BRP Rizal) and Oliver Obongen (BRP Tarlac) seamlessly projected leadership and gently explained the countless ways by which

they protect our waters from predators and aid our people against natural disasters. As a bonus, I even got to meet a distant relative from the north, Lt. Col. Ferdinand Foronda.

On his part, Philippine Navy spokesperson Captain Benjo Negranza was the epitome of competence and cordiality.

“Part of our military modernization program is ensuring we have naval operating bases for our capital ships,” he explained, when asked about the importance of the new Philippine Navy facility in Subic.

“It’s not only about acquiring platforms but also where to park them. Fortunately, now we have berthing facilities for our capital ships,” he added, patiently explaining how different pieces are coming together for our naval forces.

When I asked him about learning experiences from recent conflicts from the South Caucasus to Ukraine,

others. We are arranging for them to meet with the president during their visit.

I am extremely pleased that all the good work put in by our embassy in Washington, D.C., especially in the area of food security, is clearly moving in the right direction. (Philstar.com)

* * *

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

* * * babeseyeview@gmail.com

where new-generation drones have played a central role, he confidently explained how they are “taking into consideration contemporary trends in warfare to ensure the country can better adapt to new threats and warfare technologies.”

For the first time in recent memory, the Philippines not only boasts one of the largest populations (13th) and economies (29th) in the world but also has a superbly selfconfident and increasingly wellequipped naval force. Blessed with capable diplomats and a strategically minded president who appreciate alliancebuilding, the Philippines is now arguably a full-fledged middle power. (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. * * * rheydarian@inquirer.com.ph

Dateline PhiliPPines

Go for Gold aids Filipino wrestlers eyeing

2028 Los Angeles Olympics

MANILA – Go For Gold Philippines founder Jeremy Go recently handed out pairs of fighting shoes to the national wrestlers who engaged in battle during the Cambodia Southeast Asian Games.

That act of generosity surely won’t be the last as it signals Go For Gold’s clear intention to help bring the country’s grapplers back to the world stage, specifically in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

“Pinag-usapan namin na gumawa ng program para sa 2028 (Olympics). We have been asked kung sino sa mga athletes namin ang may kakayahan na mag-qualify at willing tumulong si sir Jeremy hanggang makarating sila sa Los Angeles,’’ said national wrestling coach Efrelyn Calitis-Crosby.

It’s been a while since a Filipino wrestler grappled at the Olympics, and a thorough five-year plan to reach Los Angeles comes as a welcome proposition.

Freestyle wrestler Jiah Pingot is a prime candidate to join that elite core, having consistently claimed a silver medal for the past three editions of the SEA Games as well as Uzziah Asher Gulay, a 16-yearold prized find from Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

“We believe that like weightlifting and boxing, wrestling can bring honor for our country. We aim for no less than a GOLD Medal in the 2028 Olympics. We will have a five-year road map to bring a Pinoy wrestler to the highest of highs,” said Go.

Gulay has already begun to stack up his room with medals

from both international and local meets after recently dominating the secondary boys’ 67kg freestyle event of the Palarong Pambansa last month.

His Palaro victory, however, paled in comparison to the two gold medals Gulay won last year in the 14-17 cadet -70kg and +70kg freestyle categories at the Singapore Beach Wrestling Fiesta in Sentosa, Singapore.

Pag-uusapan ulit namin ni sir

Jeremy kung sino ang mga athletes na susuportahan kapag nailatag na namin ang programa,” said CalitisCrosby.

Go For Gold is a consistent backer of the national wrestlers since the 2019 Philippine SEA Games when they were provided with singlets and living quarters before the Olympic village opened up for the athletes at New Clark City in Tarlac.

Never kaming hinindian ni sir

Jeremy,” said Calitis-Crosby.

Go For Gold, a sports sponsor-

President’s budget passes unchecked; House panel ends deliberations in 30 minutes

MANILA — The House appropriations panel just spent around 30 minutes on the proposed 2024 budget of the Office of the President before terminating the budget deliberations out of “parliamentary courtesy.”

to scrutinize how public funds are spent and stressed that the insertion of confidential funds should be discussed in budget deliberations.

explanation on how it was spent and will be spent,” Castro said in a mix of English and Filipino.

“This trend should not continue,” Castro added.

ship program of the Powerball Marketing and Logistics Corporation, is committed to identifying, nurturing and supporting talented athletes across various sports.

Apart from wrestling, the Go For Gold program has supported athletes in cycling, triathlon, sepak takraw, dragonboat, skateboarding, chess, basketball and volleyball, among others.

Florentino Tirante (men’s -52kg freestyle/Greco Roman) and DeanCarlos Manibog (men’s -60kg freestyle) were the last Filipino wrestlers who figured in the Olympics back in 1988 held in Seoul, South Korea.

The Philippine wrestling team is hoping to break the long wait for another Pinoy grappler to show up at the biggest sports spectacle in the world.

The five-year plan that Go For Gold Philippines intends to support will reinforce that objective in LA 2028. (Philstar.com)

Over half a million people impacted by cyclones, ‘habagat’

MANILA — The southwest monsoon intensified by cyclones Hanna and Goring has affected over half a million people in Luzon and Visayas, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council reported on Monday, Sept. 4.

The heavy rain and strong winds resulting from these weather disturbances have affected around 514,153 people in the Cordillera Administrative Region, Ilocos region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Metro Manila, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas.

Of the affected population, 13,303 individuals remain displaced.

According to NDRRMC, one person from Western Visayas has been confirmed dead, while authorities are still validating a fatality from CAR.

Meanwhile, one person from Central Luzon was reportedly injured, and one from Western Visayas is currently missing.

Nearly 17,000 farmers and fisherfolk have been impacted by the enhanced southwest monsoon, leading to damage amounting to

P584.7 million in crops and agricultural infrastructure.

The preliminary assessment of infrastructure damage stood at P130 million.

The government has so far provided P33.6 million in assistance to affected residents.

Goring (international name: Saola) and Hanna (international name: Haiku) enhanced the southwest monsoon, leading to heavy rain and gusty conditions. Hanna left the Philippine Area of Responsibility Monday morning. (Philstar.com)

Similar to the budget deliberations of the Office of the Vice President (OVP), lawmakers at the lower chamber on Tuesday, September 5 ended the deliberations early just after the representative of the OP — Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin — delivered their opening statement. This time, however, Makabayan bloc lawmakers were allowed to make manifestations but not to ask pointed questions on the line items in the OP’s proposed 2024 budget as practiced in the budget briefings of other agencies.

The OP stands to get P10.7 billion for 2024. Of this allocation, at least P1.41 billion will be spent on local or foreign trips -- a 58% increase from 2023.

In his manifestation, Rep. Raoul Manuel (Kabataan Partylist) said that Filipinos have a right

For 2024, OP is proposing P2.25 billion in confidential funds while P2.31 billion will be allotted for intelligence funds. In total, these make up about 43% of the proposed budget of Marcos’ office, Manuel pointed out.

“Also, the OP has to explain why it approved the P1.25 million in confidential funds for the OVP even though this was not in the General Appropriations Act in 2022,” Manuel said.

Rep. France Castro (ACT Teachers) also pointed out that every year, the allotment of confidential and intelligence funds in agencies has been increasing and the budget deliberations are the prime opportunity to question its necessity.

“The number of those who used to refuse the ‘black budget’ is increasing, while the topsecret funds of those who used to receive them are growing. And the highest official also has the largest hidden funds with no audit, no public accounting, not even a single second of

Parliamentary courtesy questioned

The Makabayan bloc also called to end the “abused” tradition of extending “parliamentary courtesy” during budget deliberations in Congress.

Lawmakers invoke the "parliamentary courtesy" tradition in Congress when they want to recognize an agency, like the OVP and OP, as a co-equal branch in government. The long-standing tradition of allowing the budget of the two highest offices in the land to pass virtually unchecked and unscrutinized in Congress “entrenches the culture of corruption in government,” Makabayan bloc lawmakers said in a statement.

"The abused 'parliamentary courtesy' tradition has allowed unscrupulous individuals to manipulate the budgeting process and divert funds away from essential services and development projects,” the lawmakers said. g

Suspension of tighter screening rules averts conflicts

MANILA – A private research firm said the decision of the Department of Justice (DOJ) to put off the implementation of tighter rules for Filipinos leaving the country headed off possible conflicts with travelers.

In a statement, intelligence agency Capstone-Intel Corporation, which operates polling firms in a number of countries, said the government should also look into strengthening laws on eradicating the root cause of exploitation and human trafficking.

Lawyer Nick Conti, former Maritime Industry Authority administrator and Capstone-Intel’s chief of public affairs, said the suspension made by the DOJ shows that authorities as public servants listen to the appeal of the public.

“We commend the justice department for suspending the implementation of what it called to be stricter policies to eradi-

cate human trafficking among our countrymen,” Conti said in a statement.

“While we believe the intention of the IACAT (Inter-Agency Council Against Trafficking) is good, it is imperative that they listen to the other implications of the policies for the Filipino public,” he added.

He said all Filipinos, regardless of status, should not be hindered from practicing the “right to travel” as enshrined in the constitution.

“As stipulated in Article III, Section 6 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, it guarantees every Filipino’s liberty to travel, and it should not be curtailed by anyone regardless of their power unless national security, public safety, and health are at stake,” he said.

The provision covers the right to travel both within and out of the country.

What the government needs, Conti said, are laws that "stabilize the arrest of recruiters who exploit our people and make sure that the workers here have adequate protection so that the majority of the Filipinos won’t be affected by this and allow them to enjoy their right to leave the country without experiencing difficulty in presenting documents that are not that important for the purpose of their travel."

According to the DOJ, the primary objective of the revised guidelines was to “streamline the departure procedures” to ensure that there is a “more efficient and secure process” for every Filipino traveling abroad.

Conti said the burden will not be shouldered by the public if the government maximizes the usage of modern technologies and tools to reduce paper usage and increase productivity among its officials. (PNA)

Rhian graces Venice Film Festival 2023 red carpet

RHIAN Ramos made heads turn for her custom Mark Bumgarner gown and for looking like a familiar face for many music and Hollywood fans at the red carpet of the 80th Venice Film Festival currently being held in Italy.

The "Royal Blood" star walked the red carpet in a custom champagne-colored gown by the notable designer. Bumgarner described his creation as a "simple, clean, crisp silhouette."

Rhian expressed her delight at walking one of the most popular red carpets in the world.

"What a life this is. Walked the red carpet of the #VeniceFilmFestival2023 and felt like royalty in @markbumgarner," she

even help but say that she looks like Grammy-winning singer Taylor Swift or actress

Why winning awards still ‘excites and challenges’ Nadine

WITH a number of major acting awards under her belt, one might think that Nadine Lustre is already used to it all by now. But the prospect of being recognized for her talent and hard work, she said, will never not be “exciting.”

In 2019, Nadine won best actress at the Gawad Urian and Famas Awards for “Never Not Love You.” Three years later, she was named best actress at the 48th Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) for the top-grossing entry, “Deleter.” And just last month, Nadine added another Famas best actress trophy to her collection for “Greed.”

"Of course, that will always excite me—that’s never going to change. That’s why I want to do different projects; I want to have different experiences… I really love being an instrument in creating stories,” she told the Inquirer at a recent story conference for “Nokturno,” an upcoming folk horror film that will reunite her with Mikhail Red, the award-winning director behind “Deleter.”

While winning awards does come with a “bit of pressure,” Nadine is always up for a challenge.

SOPHIE Albert and Max Eigenmann both come from families whose surnames are famous in and out of Philippine showbiz.

Sophie is the niece of my dear friend Kris Aquino while Max is the daughter of the late great actor Mark Gil with former beauty queen-turned-actress Bing Pimentel. She is sister to equally brilliant actor Sid Lucero, half-sister to Andi and Gabby Eigenmann, and niece to the late award-winning actress Cherie Gil and equally great actor Michael de Mesa.

Max is probably the most low-profile of the Eigenmann entertainment royalty yet her acting credentials speak volumes of her sterling qualities as an actress.

It’s neither easy nor hard for Max to be an Eigenmann “because my family makes sure each (member) feels that we are our own person in terms of career, and actually — this is kind of funny — whenever we’re together, we never really talk about work,” she reasoned.

No one from the Eigenmanns made her feel the pressure of having to prove her acting worth every time she is in front of the cameras. Unfortunately, Max admitted there were people who commented that she’s expected to excel given her acting bloodline.

“I think I dealt with that kind of pressure a little more difficult when I was younger because I really felt there’s a big shoe to fill but nobody in my family made me feel that I have to do that. They allowed me to be my own person.

“Now that I am older, I realized that that pressure does not affect me as much anymore,” she said.

Sophie has a different story. When she entered showbiz, it was said that she didn’t like the idea of using Cojuangco as part of her screen name. Her real name is Bianca Regina Lyttle Reyes. Her paternal grandmother Josephine Cojuangco-Reyes was the sister of former President Corazon Cojuangco Aquino and former congressman Jose “Peping” Cojuangco Jr.

Sophie’s lola Josephine was an educator. She was the seventh president of the Far Eastern University (FEU).

Going back to the rumor of her not wanting to use the surname Cojuangco, Sophie explained, “I don’t wanna say, ‘ ayaw’ but I grew up being a Reyes and in showbiz, ang dami ng Reyes so they asked me, ‘Maybe you wanna change it to Cojuangco?’ and I felt like it’s such a big responsibility to make it Cojuangco, and I grew up not having that in my name.

“So, I chose to use my mom’s middle name instead. But it’s not naman ayoko (gamitin ang Cojuangco).”

Even before she joined show business, Sophie would see me in a lot of family gatherings since Kris is one of my closest friends. She recalled how

on love and marriage

Sophie, Max share their honest thoughts

“I’m just the kind of person who always wants to do better or outdo my previous performance. I guess there’s pressure, but I’m excited more than anything. ‘Deleter’ was my second project after the pandemic. It was like the universe telling me I’m headed the right way,” she said.

In “Nokturno” (Viva Films, Evolve), Nadine plays Jamie, an overseas Filipino worker who distances herself from her hometown, the secluded island of San Sebastian, because of a traumatic past and the mental instability of her mother, Lilet (Eula Valdes). But upon learning that her sister, Joanna (Bea Binene), has fallen victim to a deadly ancient curse, Jamie has no choice but to return home.

She investigates the mysterious occurrences on the island. In her journey to mend old wounds, Jamie unwittingly discovers a haunted past. She must then uncover the secrets that will help them escape the curse, which, she finds out later on, is brought upon by the Kumakatok, a tall and thin creature with long pale fingers.

The folkloric entity wears a veil that obscures its face and comes knocking on houses in the dead of night. Those who open the door are cursed either to die or lose a loved one in the next three days.

she would watch me and Kris on television. “I used to watch you guys every Sunday with my mom and I never missed an episode of you. So, when I met you face to face, I got really starstruck because I’ve been a fan ever since,” she excitedly shared.

Now happily married to Vin Abrenica, Sophie can also be referred to as Mrs. Abrenica on- and off-cam. They have a two-year-old daughter named Avianna Celeste.

I asked Sophie and Max what they know about love and marriage.

“Married life is the best life.

He’s (Vin) the best,” the Kapuso actress said about being the better half of Vin. “I don’t think I can think of anything else I would want in a partner (because) he’s so understanding, he’s so sweet, he’s so affectionate, he’s a good provider, he takes care of me and my daughter. So, hands down, he’s a good man,” she added.

Max, on the other hand, has never been married but she knows what it’s like to love and be loved.

“What I’ve learned about partnership and love is that it takes a lot of work to make it last because not every day is gonna be a honeymoon stage so you really have to put in the work and you have to make that conscious choice every day. You decide (if willing) to go through rough patches, meron kasi talagang hindi maiiwasan,” the actress said.

Love is certainly a choice and a decision because when you are in a relationship, your actions determine if it lives on or ends. In other words, you’re in the driver’s seat regarding your relationship’s path.

Having been together as boyfriend-girlfriend for 10 years and being married just in January, Sophie shared she and Vin have experienced conflict and challenges of a relationship.

Napagdaanan na namin ‘yung mga times na super lovey dovey na parang honeymoon every day. Napagdaanan na rin namin ‘yung times na ‘pag nakikita namin ‘yung isa’t-isa, nakakairita but at the end of the day, gusto namin buo ‘yung pamilya namin at ‘yun ang nagpapasaya sa amin.”

Sophie added there are times when they would agree to not talk to each other. “Actually, in terms of being vocal about my need for space actually work,”

shared the 33-year-old who obviously is choosing love.

For Max, it is better for a couple to discuss whatever conflict or argument they have so they can resolve it right away.

But is love enough for one to stay in a marriage?

“I think not but I also think that the true meaning of love is being able to choose the same person regardless of how many rough patches you’ve been through,” Max replied. “If it’s just about the feeling of being sweet all the time, concentrating on all the positives or how this person makes you feel as a person, I don’t think that’s enough because in the long run, you will really have moments when you can’t stand each other and you have to make a conscious choice to go through that.”

Sophie believes that love is the most important part of marriage. “You can’t disrespect somebody that you say you love. Feeling ko it’s a big factor but like what Max said, there are so many meanings of love na kasi so parang if it’s the lovey-dovey, honeymoon-ey feeling, of course, it’s not gonna be there forever so it needs the cooperation of both for love to work.”

The actress is confident that nothing can make her walk away from marriage — not even cheating or betrayal.

“I don’t think Vin and I will get married if there’s a chance that he would do it (cheating or betrayal). Well, you never know, but I’m pretty sure we’re gonna be okay,” Sophie said with much certainty in her voice.

While Max stressed on the importance of making a better choice in order for a relationship to last, it won’t be hard for her to decide whether to stick with it or call it quits if there is cheating involved. Cheating or betrayal is her non-negotiable.

“When I lose the feeling of wanting to choose the person, (for) betrayal, cheating. In the past, I’ve given up a relationship for that type of reason.”

No matter what conflict or challenge would arise in a relationship, Sophie and Max do believe in second chances and accepting forgiveness.

“I make mistakes every day so I would want to be given a second chance and you also learn from getting a second chance. So, every time you can, always forgive,” Sophie remarked. Max couldn’t agree more and added, “I think if there’s no forgiveness, there’s no peace.”

Unlike “Deleter,” which incorporates techno-horror and psychological horror elements, Nokturno’s” concept and premise is more “primal, rural and existentialist” in nature. It delves into the dynamics of Filipino families and their inescapable past.

‘Little pressure’

“I didn’t think twice when this was offered to me. I’m a huge fan of horror movies. I loved working with Direk Mikhail and his team, so I said yes to the project right away,” Nadine said. “There’s little pressure because people know that ‘Deleter’ did well. But it is the kind of project I have always wanted to do.”

While Nadine enjoys doing drama and romantic comedies, there’s just something about outof-the-box thrillers that fire her up. “Aside from the growth from these kinds of projects, I love the adrenaline rush. And that’s especially true when you play characters that couldn’t be more different from your real-life personality,” she said.

“You watch a movie like ‘Joker’ and you see Joaquin Phoenix pushing his limits as an actor—sobrang galing. And that inspires me to do something similar,” she said.

Unlike her character Lyra, the stoic and emotionally numb content moderator in “Deleter,” Jamie is expected to be a more dynamic figure— especially since she will have more characters to interact with.

“One of the things I look forward to about making movies is thinking about how I will change my approach for each character I play. I even assign my characters zodiac signs that will help dictate their mannerisms and attitudes,” the 29-year-old star related.

Because “Deleter” was produced with pandemic-related precautions still in place, the film was shot in only one location and exuded a sense of claustrophobia. But now that the situation is more relaxed, fans can expect different sceneries and more setpieces, including a “final showdown.”

One of Nadine’s realizations about doing horror is that it can be more emotionally taxing than dramas. “Nokturno” is expected to take things up a notch from “Deleter.”

“I’m already expecting the shoot to be taxing, especially toward the climax with so many things happening. It will be hard both physically and mentally. But I’m looking forward to how things will unfold… I have already read the script. Still, I don’t want to have expectations. I want to be surprised on the set,” she said.

Not a competition

Nadine and Mikhail hope to share this story with the biggest audience possible. Being part of this year’s MMFF will definitely be a help—as it did with “Deleter” last year. But the field appears to be stacked this year with movies starring the likes of Nora Aunor, Piolo Pascual and Jaclyn Jose vying for the remaining four of the eight spots.

The first four went to: “Penduko” (Matteo Guidicelli, Cristine Reyes); “A Mother’s Son” (Sharon Cuneta, Alden Richards); “K(ampon)” (Beauty Gonzalez, Derek Ramsay) and “Rewind” (Dingdong Dantes, Marian Rivera).“If anything, I’m just really grateful that the MMFF is back. I don’t really see it as a competition, but a venue for Filipino artists to come together and put out their films for everyone… I will be happy if ‘Nokturno’ gets in because then, more people will be able to see it,” Nadine said.

Can Alma truly de-stress with politics?

ALMA Moreno may look healthy on the outside but her multiple sclerosis or MS — which she was diagnosed with in 2001 — is taking a heavy toll on her.

In the vlog interview by Ogie Diaz, the still-pretty sexagenarian actress didn't hide the fact that she was in pain for the most part of the exercise.

MS is defined as a chronic neurological condition that affects the central nervous system.

Alma revealed there's no known cure to it except that her only way to fight off the pain is to sleep.

"My doctor, however, tells me that if I can't stand the pain, then getting admitted to a hospital would be necessary."

Not only is Alma suffering from the said disease, she's also dealing with diabetes and hypertension: "That I can endure but with MS, I just cry."

While she has every reason to seek help from her children, Ness — as close friends fondly address her — is not one to bug them.

"I don't want any of my children to worry about me. I always tell them that the pain will eventually go away."

Aside from getting herself a sound sleep to ease the pain, the actress finds her showbiz grind therapeutic. In fact, as much as possible, Alma refuses to stay home.

"What am I supposed to do at home anyway? I'll just get stressed. Speaking of stress, it's also something I should try to avoid. But in our world," she turned to Ogie, "can we really avoid not getting stressed?"

Speaking of which, isn't local politics just as stressful? Late last year, Vignettes confirmed Alma's filing her certificate of candidacy for the post of barangay kagawad The barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections are set on October 30.

In Alma's case, she has expressed willingness to align with her daughter-in-law Jenny's ticket.

Jenny, the wife of Alma's son Vandolph by Comedy King Dol-

phy, is seeking reelection bid as barangay chair in Parañaque. A kagawad hopeful, Alma is no doubt a shoo-in.

It's hard though to convince myself why Alma would want to aspire for a barangay position when she was once a Parañaque city councilor, more so president of the Councilors of the Philippines. But if this is Alma's idea of de-stressing herself to combat her MS, why not?

At least, Alma — who was then running for senator — no longer has to guest on Karen Davila's "Headstart" anew and give her two cents on reproductive health. Lower post means lower expectations.

Success story: Parents’ ultimate sacrifice pays off when the family is finally reunited, on Citizen Pinoy this Sunday

ROMEO and Connie came to the U.S. in 1994 to visit, leaving behind their five children. They remained in the U.S. after friends convinced them to pursue a better life here. While it was an agonizing decision to make, the couple knew their sacrifice was going to provide better education for their children, and a better life for their family.

After 13 years, their green card finally arrived and they immediately filed a petition for their youngest, Remuel, who was only eight years old when they left him behind in 1994. Their previous lawyer said that Remuel had already aged out and nothing could be done.

However, Mommy Connie saw a similar case on Citizen Pinoy,

and she insisted and convinced her husband, Romeo, to consult with Atty. Gurfinkel. During their consultation, Atty. Gurfinkel informed them that Remuel (left) was eligible for a visa under the Child Status Protection Act (CSPA), and Atty. Gurfinkel was able to bring their youngest to the U.S. as an immi-

Graton has many promotions and events in

September

Autumn Moon Festival Street Fair in San Francisco’s Chinatown, and exciting games await you

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(Advertising Supplement)

SACRAMENTO – Governor Gavin Newsom and the Legislature reached an agreement on Thursday, August 31 on the Governor’s package to build more clean energy, make the grid more reliable, and help achieve our 100% clean electricity goal. The agreement marks a critical step in California’s work to combat the climate crisis and ensure our grid is powered by clean energy 24x7.

The text of the package can be found at https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/ billTextClient.xhtml?bill_ id=202320240AB1373.

Here’s the challenge: Electric retail sellers, like utilities, procure electricity for customers; it’s how we all power our homes. But these sellers may not buy the clean energy – like offshore wind or long-duration storage –that we need to achieve a 100% clean electric grid. Red tape and unclear guidance can slow clean energy projects from breaking ground.

That’s why California passed

legislation to streamline infrastructure projects.

And now, California is going to step in: Buying energy to bring more clean electricity to the grid and streamline electric infrastructure projects:

• Procure Clean Electricity. California is creating a central buyer to procure clean electricity for the grid, focusing on sources like offshore wind and long-duration storage to diversify our energy portfolio – creating a market for diverse sources of clean electricity that will spur more projects to break ground.

• Fast-Track Electric Infrastructure Projects. Accelerate permitting for electric transmission projects – like power lines and transformers – to deliver more clean electricity throughout the state, cutting permitting timelines by months.

• Strengthen the Strategic Reliability Reserve. New measures to help prevent the misuse of the new Strategic Reliability Reserve which is designed to maintain grid reliability during

extreme weather events, like heatwaves.

• Modernize Clean Energy Procurement Programs. Aligns the state's primary clean energy planning and procurement programs – Renewables Portfolio Standard, Resource Adequacy, and Integrated Resource Planning – with our 100% clean electricity by 2045 goal in an effort to chart a clear path to our clean energy future.

“We’ve set some of the most ambitious clean energy goals in the nation to break the vicious cycle of climate change-caused energy emergencies – we need every tool at our disposal to achieve them. This legislation will help us achieve a 100% clean electric grid and phase out the very pollution that causes extreme weather in the first place. We’re taking action to build the clean energy we need, faster,” said Governor Newsom.

“Given the growing impacts of climate change, it’s critically important that our state invests

Sky River Casino announces new president and executive management appointments

SKY River Casino announced recently a new president and three executive level management promotions by the Wilton Rancheria Tribe and their manager Boyd Gaming Corporation of Las Vegas. Michael J. Facenda has been named the President for Sky River Casino, Matthew Morgan as Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager, Clay Crawford as Chief Financial Officer, and Jeffery Jarvis as Vice President of Information Technology.

Michael Facenda – President

Michael joins Sky River with over 35 years of experience in the gaming industry with an extensive background in Operations and Marketing. He has held numerous leadership positions in the gaming industry including Assistant General Manager, Vice President & General Manager, and most recently as Senior Vice President, General Manager of Agua Caliente’s Cathedral City property in Southern California. Michael was also a member of the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa development and opening team in Atlantic City. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey.

“Michael brings a wealth of experience to lead the Sky River team. His insight into guest services and team member relationships are paramount to drive the success of the property well into the future,” said Chris Gibase of Boyd Gaming. “Michael joins at an amazing time for the property. With the properties first year anniversary in August, he is able to lead the team and strive to build

the Sky River property into a resort that the Tribe and greater Elk Grove community will be proud of.”

Matthew Morgan – Senior Vice President & Assistant General Manager

With more than 26 years of experience in the gaming and hospitality industry, Morgan has an extensive background in Information Technology, Marketing Operations, Food & Beverage, and executive management. Matthew started his career in the St. Louis market and has held senior positions at multiple organizations within California and Las Vegas, serving on four grand opening teams. Matthew has been a part of the Sky River project team since June 2021 and has previously held the positions of CIO and Senior Vice President of Operations before stepping into his new role as Assistant General Manager.

Clay Crawford – Chief Financial Officer Crawford first joined Sky Riv-

Consul General attends APEC digital month activities in Seattle

er Casino in April 2021 as the Vice President of Finance. Prior to working for Sky River, Clay worked as Chief Financial Officer for Bridge Capital, LLC. In all, he has served in a variety of senior financial management positions for more than 29 years.  Most of his extensive experience in the finance industry comes from working for the Mandalay Resort Group. In addition, Crawford is a licensed CPA in Nevada.

Jeffery Jarvis – Vice President of Information Technology With more than a decade of dedicated experience in the hospitality industry, Jarvis has successfully overseen operations for Project Management Offices and Information Technology Departments. Jeff’s career is highlighted with being a part of nine grand opening teams in several jurisdictions. Previously, Jarvis held the position of IT Director for Sky River before moving to his new role as Vice President of Information Technology.

For more information about Sky River Casino, its offerings, the 17 bars and restaurants, and hours of operations, please call 916-866-0200 or visit www.SkyRiver.com.

Sky River Casino was built by the Wilton Rancheria in partnership with Boyd Gaming Corporation, which is building and managing the property for the tribe. The casino opened in August 2022 and includes 100,000 sq ft of gaming, 2,100 slot machines, 80 table games, and 17 bars and restaurants. To learn more, visit www. SkyRiver.com. (Advertising Supplement)

SEATTLE – Philippine Consul General Neil R. Ferrer attended a number of meetings and activities during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Third Senior Officials’ Meeting (SOM3) and Related Meetings held in Seattle, Washington. The meetings are in preparation for the APEC Economic Leaders Week in San Francisco in November 2023.

Consul General Ferrer met Philippine SOM Leader in APEC Ambassador Charles Jose, as well as Energy Undersecretary Felix William Fuentebella, and the rest of the Philippine delegation.

Consul General Ferrer and Consul Vanessa BagoLlona attended a panel titled, “Leveraging Carbon Offsets to Advance Climate Mitigation in APEC,” convened by the Business Council for International Understanding on the sidelines of the APEC Energy Ministerial Meetings in Seattle. The panel, which featured H.E. Arifin Tasrif, Indonesian Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources, and industry players from Chevron and nonprofit Rocky Mountain Institute, discussed potential cooperation among stakeholders to create a regional framework that accelerates emissions reduction by enabling cross border trading of credits.

ConGen Neil Ferrer with the Philippine Delegation to the APEC Human Resources Development Working Group led by CHED Commissioner Dr. Marita

Success story: Parents’ ultimate sacrifice...

grant in 2011.

Since then, Atty. Gurfinkel also worked on Rina's employment petition, and in 2019, Rina arrived in the U.S. with her husband and their children.

Atty. Gurfinkel also worked on Karen’s family petition. She arrived in November 2022, together with her two children.

True to his law firm’s mission of “Bringing Families Together,” Atty. Gurfinkel is committed to keeping that promise. To this day, he is working on bringing the rest of the Padlan family to the U.S.

From the original two members, Connie and Romeo, the family has now grown to 14 members who now reside in the U.S., living the American Dream.

Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” on Sunday, September 10 at 6:30 PM PT (9:30 PM ET) through select Cable/Satellite providers, right after TV Patrol Linggo. Citizen Pinoy is also available on iWantTFC. Viewers may download the free app. (Advertising Supplement)

Consul General Ferrer and Consul Bago-Llona also attended the 2023 APEC Closing the Digital Skills Gap Forum, which had the theme, “Promoting an Inclusive Digitally-Skilled Workforce.” Officials from the Philippine Commission on Higher Education, as well as industry players and members of the academe attended the Forum.

Consul General Neil Ferrer (right) with Mr. Andrew Tein, Lead for online education platform Coursera (Coursera.org) for Workforce Development and PublicPrivate Partnerships. The Philippines, through a PPP cooperation with the Department of Science and Technology and Philippine startups, such as ed tech startup Coursebank (https://coursebank. ph), have provided data science education to Filipino workers in recent years.

From left: Indonesian Consul General (San Francisco) Prasetyo Hadi; H.E. Arifin Tasrif, Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources for Indonesia; and ConGen Neil Ferrer at the Leveraging Carbon Offsets to Advance Climate Mitigation in APEC Forum.

The Forum builds upon the APEC Roadmap to Closing the Digital Skills Gap by 2030  and discussed case studies and good practices to close the digital skills gap in APEC economies and prepare their workforce for technological advancements, primarily Artificial Intelligence. (PCGSF Release)

Consul General Neil Ferrer (middle) with Pacific Economic Cooperation Council (PECC) Secretary General Eduardo Pedrosa (right) and Bellevue, Washington Council Member Conrad Lee (left) at the PECC Reception with APEC Senior Officials at the Chihuly Museum of Glass.

Newsom, legislative leaders announce...

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in safety nets that will bolster our energy resiliency and help us meet our climate goals. Procuring energy from reliable and responsible sources also protects California against future fluctuations in the energy market. I applaud Assemblymember Garcia and Senator Becker for authoring this innovative approach to clean energy procurement, and appreciate the leadership of Speaker Rivas and Governor Newsom on

this effort,” stated Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins (D-San Diego).

electricity providers to procure the difficult but essential resources that our future grid needs, including offshore wind energy and new geothermal power generation. This complex legislation includes careful checks and balances and required months of work. I am grateful to the Assembly members that led on that collaboration,” said Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Salinas). (CA Gov. Newsom Office Release) 49 One-Bedroom $732-$2,306 per month 41 Two-Bedroom $802-$3,175 per month 10 Three-Bedroom $871-$3,655 per month 1 person 2 people 3 people 4 people 5 people 6 people 7 people 30% AMI $2,521 $2,883 $3,242 $3,604 $3,892 $4,179 $4,467 40% AMI $3,363 $3,842 $4,325 $4,804 $5,188 $5,571 $5,958 50% AMI $4,204 $4,804 $5,404 $6,004 $6,488 $6,967 $7,446 64% AMI $5,379 $6,150 $6,917 $7,683 $8,300 $8,917 $9,529 90% AMI $7,563 $8,646 $9,729 $10,808 $11,675 -103% AMI - $9,896 $11,133 $12,367 $13,358 $14,346 $15,338