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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 Volume 20 - No.37 • 16 Pages 611 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1300, Glendale, CA 91203 • Tel: (818) 9379981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 • info@asianjournalinc.com
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Sandiganbayan commits Romualdez to QC jail DATELINE USA in P7.44-B plunder case FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Medical school admissions face new federal scrutiny, raising questions for aspiring doctors
Federal investigations are testing how schools may consider hardship, background and life experience after the Supreme Court’s 2023 admissions decision
Former House speaker remains at Cardinal Santos as court weighs continued hospital confinement by AJPress MANILA — The Sandiganbayan Third Division on Thursday ordered former House speaker and Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez committed to the New Quezon City Jail in Paya-
tas as he faces a plunder charge alleging at least ₱7.44 billion in kickbacks and other financial benefits tied to public projects. The commitment order transferred Romualdez’s custody from the Philippine National Police to the Bureau of Jail Management and
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Ruling overturns 2018 convictions after justices find prosecution failed to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine Supreme Court has acquitted former first lady Imelda Marcos of seven counts of graft, overturning Sandiganbayan convictions involving her alleged financial interests in foundations associated with Swiss bank accounts. In a 50-page decision dated June 10 and released publicly Sept. 9, the Supreme Court’s
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The Philippine National Police (PNP) has released the mugshot of former House Speaker Martin Romualdez for his plunder case on Tuesday, September 8, 2026. PNP Photo
Pacquiao takes Cabinet-rank role leading anti-poverty commission by AJPress MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has appointed former senator and boxing champion Manny Pacquiao as Secretary and Lead Convenor of the National Anti-Poverty Commission, putting him in charge of the government body that coordinates poverty-reduction and social reform policy. Marcos administered Pacquiao’s oath at Malacañang on Sept. 8. Pacquiao succeeds Lope Santos III, who had led the commission since January 2023. The appointment gives Pacquiao
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Supreme Court acquits Imelda Marcos in seven graft cases
by AJPress WASHINGTON – Families with children hoping to become doctors are confronting a changing admissions landscape as the federal government intensifies scrutiny of how medical schools consider race, hardship and personal background. The Trump administration has expanded its examination of medical school admissions through civil rights investigations, possible funding consequences and a proposed tax rule aimed at institutions federal officials say improperly use race in admissions. The latest action came Sept. 8, when the Department of Health and Human Services said Duke University School of Medicine
Penology. He remained physically confined at Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan City while the court considers his request for continued medical confinement. The court has not ordered his physical transfer to the jail.
Cabinet rank but does not place him at the head of a separate executive department. Under Republic Act 8425, the Social Reform and Poverty Alleviation Act, the NAPC serves as the government’s coordinating and advisory body on poverty reduction. The President chairs the commission, while its lead convenor heads the secretariat and holds the rank of Cabinet secretary. The commission is tasked with coordinating anti-poverty programs across government, exercising policy oversight, sup-
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Philippines renews push to return Zaldy Co as Remullas plan France mission Interior secretary says authorities know former lawmaker’s residence; DOJ says Interpol Red Notice requirements remain incomplete by AJPress MANILA — Philippine officials are preparing separate missions to France to press efforts to return former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, who remains abroad while facing arrest warrants in corruption cases, including a newly filed P7.44-billion plunder case. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said authorities know
Co’s residence and that he plans to travel to Lyon, where Interpol is headquartered, to follow up on the Philippine request for a Red Notice. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla has said he intends to travel separately to Paris to coordinate with French authorities. The Department of Justice said Thursday that the Philippine Center on Transnational
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Sara Duterte trial turns to unexplained-wealth charge Prosecutors prepare financial records as Senate weighs conviction threshold by AJPress MANILA — Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial will resume Monday with House prosecutors turning to financial records and corporate documents to support allegations that she accumulated wealth disproportionate to her lawful income and failed to fully disclose assets and liabilities. Article II follows weeks of testimony on confidential funds handled by the Office of the Vice President and the Department of Education. Prosecutors have prepared more than 1,800 financial records. They have asked the impeachment court to subpoena retired Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabota-
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Sandiganbayan commits... PAGE 1 Police served Romualdez with an arrest warrant at Cardinal Santos on Sept. 7, after the Office of the Ombudsman filed the plunder case against him, former Ako Bicol Rep. Elizaldy “Zaldy” Co, Joselyn Tragua Serenio and Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. president Felicito Cristobal Guevarra. Prosecutors allege that Romualdez and Co received, directly or indirectly, commissions, shares, kickbacks, commitments and other financial benefits totaling at least P7.44 billion on 15 or more occasions. The alleged payments were connected to contractors and other parties with interests in flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects funded from 2022 through 2025. The allegations remain unproven. In issuing the arrest warrants, the Sandiganbayan stressed that its finding of probable cause was not a determination of guilt and that the accused remain presumed innocent unless convicted be-
yond reasonable doubt. Romualdez, through lawyer Ade Fajardo, has said he will answer the accusations through the judicial process, saying criminal liability should be determined from evidence presented in court. His continued hospital confinement became an issue before the court after his lawyers cited his medical condition. At Thursday’s hearing, Dr. Kurt Allen Sibayan, who handled Romualdez’s admission, testified that the lawmaker did not pass through the emergency department and that Sibayan did not personally examine him. He described that arrangement as unusual and said the condition at admission was not an emergency, while acknowledging a risk of heart attack. Dr. Rosalio Torres, one of Romualdez’s attending physicians, testified that the lawmaker has unstable angina and underlying coronary disease and supported continued hospitalization because of the risk of a heart attack. The court has not found that
From the Front Page
the hospitalization was unnecessary or improper. Ombudsman prosecutors have opposed continued confinement at the private hospital and sought an independent government medical assessment. The case grew out of a broader government inquiry into alleged irregularities in flood-control and infrastructure spending. Information involving Romualdez and Co was referred to the Ombudsman in November 2025 for investigation; the referral itself was not a finding of criminal liability. Co remains outside Philippine custody. The Justice Department said authorities were completing requirements for renewed Interpol Red Notice requests involving him and other wanted persons. Romualdez’s arraignment and pretrial are scheduled for Sept. 14 at 8:30 a.m. The Sandiganbayan is expected to receive further medical evidence before deciding whether he may remain at Cardinal Santos or must be transferred to the detention facility named in its commitment order.n
Supreme Court acquits Imelda... PAGE 1
First Division ruled that prosecutors failed to establish Marcos’ guilt beyond reasonable doubt under Section 3(h) of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act. Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda wrote the decision, with the other members of the division concurring. The ruling reverses the Sandiganbayan’s Nov. 9, 2018 judgment finding Marcos guilty in seven criminal cases. She had been sentenced to imprisonment ranging from six years and one month to 11 years on each count and permanently disqualified from public office. Marcos remained free on bail while appealing the convictions. The cases arose from allegations that Marcos held prohibited financial or pecuniary interests in, or participated in the management of, several foreign foundations while occupying government positions during the presidency of her husband, Ferdinand Marcos Sr. Court cites weaknesses in evidence The Supreme Court found significant deficiencies in the prosecution’s evidence, particularly documents from Swit-
zerland that were central to the government’s case. The Court said the records had not been properly authenticated under Philippine evidentiary rules and that prosecutors failed to present witnesses competent to establish their genuineness, proper execution or the truth of material assertions contained in them. The justices also examined whether the foundations qualified as “businesses” under the constitutional and antigraft prohibition invoked against Marcos. Evidence that an entity maintained bank accounts, transferred assets or generated investment income was not sufficient by itself to establish that it was engaged in a commercial enterprise, the Court found. Prosecutors did not adequately demonstrate that the foundations regularly offered goods or services for profit. Because penal laws are construed strictly when their application is uncertain, the Court resolved that issue in Marcos’ favor. The decision also cited deficiencies in the criminal Informations and reiterated that the seriousness or public significance of a case cannot replace
the prosecution’s obligation to prove every element of an offense beyond reasonable doubt. The ruling does not amount to a finding that all financial transactions connected to the foundations were lawful. It holds that the evidence presented in these seven criminal prosecutions was insufficient to sustain convictions under the charges filed. That distinction is particularly important because the latest ruling does not disturb a separate Supreme Court judgment involving Marcos-linked Swiss deposits. In 2003, the Supreme Court, sitting en banc in a civil forfeiture proceeding, ordered Swiss deposits then valued at about $658.2 million, plus interest, forfeited to the Philippine government. The two proceedings applied different standards of proof. The earlier forfeiture case was civil, while the seven graft prosecutions required proof of criminal guilt beyond reasonable doubt. The acquittal removes the convictions and penalties imposed in the seven criminal cases, while the earlier civil forfeiture judgment remains a separate final ruling. n
HAZY VIEW. The famous Sleeping Dinosaur viewpoint in Badas Point, Barangay Dawan, City of Mati, Davao Oriental is partly obscured by haze on Tuesday (Sept. 8, 2026). The haze is caused by transboundary smoke from forest and land fires in Indonesia. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr.
Sara Duterte trial turns to unexplained... PAGE 1 peachment charges. Her lawyers challenge the sufficiency and admissibility of some financial evidence and maintain that the records do not establish unlawful acquisition or concealment. The impeachment court earlier authorized subpoenas after finding the requested records prima facie relevant and material. The ruling required production of the records; it was not a finding that the allegations were true. Prosecutors also served the defense with 104 requests involving the authenticity of subpoenaed bank documents and account ownership. Presiding officer Francis Escudero gave the defense 15 days to respond while raising the unresolved question of whether civil rules governing requests for admission apply to an impeachment proceeding. Confidential-funds article remains open The prosecution moved to Article II after dropping 15 remaining witnesses planned under Article I, which accuses Duterte of misuse, misappropriation and irregular liquidation of P612.5 million in confidential funds. The amount consists of P500 million released to the OVP in 2022 and 2023 and P112.5 million provided to DepEd in 2023, when Duterte headed the department. Escudero did not allow Article I to be formally closed. The impeachment court may still summon witnesses if sen-
ator-judges decide additional testimony is necessary. Former OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta testified that Duterte instructed her to turn over a P125-million cash withdrawal to then-security chief Col. Raymund Dante Lachica. The defense has not conceded that the transfer establishes misuse or misappropriation. Philippine Statistics Authority official Marizza Grande testified that the agency found no matching civil-registry records for 1,685 of 2,669 names submitted from confidential-fund payee lists. Prosecutors also cited single-name matches involving deceased persons and minors. Those findings do not establish that deceased people or children received confidential funds. A missing civil-registry record does not by itself prove that a person does not exist, and a name match does not establish that the person in the registry was the listed payee. Duterte’s defense said the questioned names were aliases used in confidential transactions. Prosecutors dispute that explanation. Other articles remain pending Article IV concerns Duterte’s November 2024 remarks involving President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos and then-Speaker Martin Romualdez. A separate Quezon City criminal case is proceeding independently. A Regional Trial
Court found probable cause to hold Duterte for trial on three counts of grave threats. She posted P360,000 bail. The finding is not a determination of guilt. Duterte denies making criminal threats. Article III, involving allegations that Duterte gave payments to DepEd officials to induce violations or circumvention of procurement laws, remains pending. Prosecutors say they intend to present it after Article II. Senate revisits conviction threshold The Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members for conviction. Escudero has ruled that this means 16 votes in the 24-member chamber. Senator-judges have asked the court to reconsider how the requirement should apply when several senators are absent or not participating. The 16-vote ruling remains in force unless changed. The court plans to hear amici curiae tentatively on Sept. 16 and arguments from both sides on Sept. 23 before deciding the issue. The current case arose from the House vote on May 11 approving the articles 257-25, with nine abstentions. It is separate from the 2025 impeachment that the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional. The high court said a new impeachment proceeding could not begin before Feb. 6, 2026. The financial-record phase begins Monday. n
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Dateline USA
Medical school admissions face... PAGE 1 used race and what the agency called “race-revealing proxies” after the Supreme Court ruled in 2023 that colleges generally may not give applicants an admissions advantage based on race. Duke told investigators that applicants’ race and ethnicity were blinded from admissions committee members and that members were instructed not to consider them. HHS nevertheless concluded that internal communications and admissions data showed race remained associated with admissions decisions. The Duke finding is an administrative determination, not a court judgment. HHS has given the university an opportunity to seek a voluntary resolution before further enforcement. The Justice Department has separately issued findings involving medical schools at UCLA, Yale, UC Davis, UC San Diego and George Washington University, accusing them of unlawfully favoring Black and Hispanic applicants over White and Asian applicants. Those findings also repre-
sent federal enforcement conclusions rather than court judgments. The schools have disputed or qualified the government’s conclusions and have maintained that their admissions processes comply with federal law. A separate group of schools remains under investigation, with no public determination that violations occurred. DOJ announced June 4 that it had opened investigations into 15 additional medical schools without naming them and expressly said it had reached no conclusions. The Education Department later opened investigations involving Dartmouth’s Geisel School of Medicine, East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, Western University of Health Sciences and William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. HHS also announced compliance reviews of five unnamed medical schools. Because some reviews could overlap, the announced numbers should not be treated as a definitive count of unique institutions. At the center of the federal
scrutiny is a question with direct consequences for future applicants: what may schools still consider beyond grades and test scores? The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling involving Harvard and the University of North Carolina held that universities may not give applicants an admissions advantage because of race. But the court also said applicants may discuss how race affected their lives, including experiences involving hardship, discrimination, inspiration or achievement. Federal investigators have argued that schools may violate the law if factors such as hardship, socioeconomic disadvantage or certain essay responses are deliberately used as substitutes for racial preferences. Medical schools and the Association of American Medical Colleges maintain that institutions may continue to evaluate applicants individually and consider race-neutral factors such as family income, first-generation status, geography, personal adversity and a commitment to serving medically underserved
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Some Republicans consider higher Social Security taxes to shore up retirement fund With reserves projected to be depleted in late 2032, a small but notable group of GOP lawmakers is opening the door to additional revenue as part of a broader Social Security deal by AJPress WASHINGTON — With Social Security’s main retirement trust fund projected to exhaust its reserves in just over six years, some Republican lawmakers are signaling that higher tax revenue may have to be part of a deal to preserve full scheduled benefits. The shift remains limited.
Republican leaders have not adopted a party-wide plan to raise Social Security taxes, and Congress has approved no such increase. But several GOP lawmakers are now considering additional revenue as part of a solvency agreement. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio, made the clearest move in June when he joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren,
D-Mass., in calling for removal of the cap on wages subject to Social Security payroll taxes. The senators said they are developing legislation that would require higher earners to pay the tax on more of their wages. In 2026, employees and employers each pay a 6.2% So-
communities. That distinction matters to applicants. Academic performance, clinical exposure, research, community service, leadership and individual experiences can remain part of a holistic review, provided schools do not confer an admissions advantage because of racial identity. The financial pressure on schools is also increasing. On Sept. 3, the Treasury Department and IRS proposed regulations that could deny federal
tax-exempt status to private schools found to discriminate on the basis of race, color or national or ethnic origin. The proposal expressly permits race-neutral considerations including family income, geography, first-generation status, individual hardship and academic achievement. The rule is not final. Public comments are due Nov. 3, and if adopted as proposed, it would apply to taxable years beginning after May 31, 2027.
Students preparing years in advance for medical school are entering an admissions environment that is becoming more exacting rather than simply narrower. Schools can still look beyond scores to understand what an applicant has overcome, accomplished and hopes to contribute. But as federal scrutiny increases, admissions offices will face greater pressure to show that those judgments are rooted in the individual applicant, not in racial identity. n
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Senate court turns to former justices over Seoul note sparks new China-Philippines Duterte impeachment vote threshold dispute over South China Sea ruling Retired magistrates to advise senator-judges on whether conviction must always require 16 votes by AJPress MANILA – The Senate impeachment court trying Vice President Sara Duterte will hear from four retired Supreme Court magistrates as it reexamines whether convic-
tion must always require 16 votes. Former chief justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno and retired associate justice Adolfo Azcuna are scheduled to appear as amici curiae on Sept. 16. Former chief
justice Hilario Davide Jr. will submit a legal memorandum. The opinions are advisory only. The issue centers on Article XI, Section 3(6) of the Constitution, which requires the
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Some Republicans consider higher... PAGE 3
cial Security tax on wages up to $184,500. Earnings above that amount are not subject to the Social Security tax. Rep. Tom Cole, R-Okla., chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, has also said lawmakers should consider both the payroll-tax rate and the amount of income subject to it. Separately, Cole and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., introduced legislation in June to create a bipartisan commission charged with recommending changes to strengthen Social Security’s long-term finances. Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., added another Republican voice this month, telling Roll Call that Congress would probably need to address the payroll-tax side of the system. He also said lawmakers should
consider a higher retirement age and greater means testing. Those ideas remain proposals, not enacted policy. The debate has taken on greater urgency because of Social Security’s financial outlook. The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects that reserves in the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund, which pays retirement and survivor benefits, will be depleted in the fourth quarter of 2032, one quarter earlier than projected last year. Social Security would not stop operating then. Payroll taxes and other dedicated revenue would continue flowing into the program, but the trustees estimate that continuing income would cover about 78% of scheduled retirement and survivor benefits.
A bipartisan group of senators has meanwhile introduced the PROMISE Act, which would establish a process for developing legislation capable of maintaining full scheduled benefits for at least 50 years. The measure does not itself raise taxes or reduce benefits. The Senate Finance Committee, which oversees Social Security policy, held an Aug. 5 hearing on possible approaches to restoring solvency. No comprehensive package has cleared either chamber. President Donald Trump has pledged to protect Social Security, but the White House has not released a comprehensive solvency plan specifying what revenue increases or benefit changes, if any, it would support. n
Pacquiao takes Cabinet-rank... PAGE 1 porting local governments and ensuring participation by basic sectors in planning and policymaking. It is also responsible for preparing the National Anti-Poverty Action Agenda. Pacquiao takes the post shortly after administrative supervision of the NAPC was returned from the Department of Social Welfare and Development to the Office of the President, a move the administration said was intended to strengthen coordination of poverty-reduction initiatives. Malacañang said Pacquiao’s experience with poverty and his history of assisting disadvantaged Filipinos were among the considerations behind his appointment. Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said his background gave him familiarity with the circumstances faced by poor and marginalized communities. Pacquiao served in the Senate from 2016 to 2022. He ran for president in 2022 and un-
Pacquiao assumes Cabinet rank post as head of the National Anti-Poverty Commission in Malacañang, taking on a key role in the administration’s social agenda Photo courtesy of PCO
successfully sought a return to the Senate in 2025. He assumes the NAPC post as official poverty indicators show improvement but continued hardship for millions. The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that 9.7 percent of Filipinos, or about 11.08 million people, were living below the official poverty threshold
in 2025, down from 15.5 percent in 2023. Among families, poverty incidence fell to 6.4 percent, equivalent to about 1.90 million families. The figures put Pacquiao at the center of efforts to turn recent gains into sustained improvements in income, employment and access to basic services.n
Beijing rebukes Teodoro after defense chief publicly answers message traced by forum organizers to Chinese military attaché by AJPress MANILA — China has rebuked Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. after he publicly challenged a note setting out Beijing’s position on the 2016 South China Sea arbitration during a defense forum in Seoul, renewing a dispute over the ruling that anchors Philippine maritime policy. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Sept. 9 that Beijing continued to reject the arbitration, calling the Philippines’ initiation of the case an abuse of dispute-settlement procedures under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. She urged a Philippine official she did not name to stop what China described as provocations harmful to bilateral relations. The exchange began Sept. 8 during the Seoul Defense Dialogue. A handwritten note delivered while Teodoro was
speaking was later traced by forum organizers to a military attaché at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency. The note restated China’s position that the arbitration and award were invalid and without binding force. Teodoro read portions aloud and responded point by point. When he reached the statement that China did not accept or recognize the ruling, he replied, “Of course, because you lost.” Teodoro also objected to the manner in which the message was delivered, calling it disrespectful to the forum and South Korea as host. He characterized the episode as an example of “coercion, bullying and aggression.” The 2016 arbitral tribunal ruled that China’s claimed historic rights within the nine-dash line had no lawful effect to the extent they exceeded maritime entitle-
ments allowed under UNCLOS. The tribunal did not decide sovereignty over land features or delimit a maritime boundary between China and the Philippines. China declined to participate in the proceedings and has consistently rejected the ruling. The tribunal nevertheless found it had jurisdiction over the claims it decided. Under UNCLOS, an award rendered by a tribunal with jurisdiction is final and binding on the parties. The diplomatic exchange comes as tensions continue in disputed waters. On Sept. 10, the Philippine Coast Guard said Chinese forces fired multiple flares toward an unarmed PCG aircraft during a Sept. 7 monitoring flight near Subi and Mischief reefs. The Coast Guard said the flares endangered flight safety. China had not issued a specific response to that allegation at the time of the latest official statements reviewed. n
Philippines renews push to return... PAGE 1 Crime and Interpol Manila were still completing requirements for Red Notice requests involving Co and other fugitives. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida gave no timetable for completion. There has been no public confirmation that Interpol has issued a Red Notice against Co. A Red Notice asks law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending extradition, surrender or other legal proceedings. Interpol says it is not an international arrest warrant, and each country determines under its own laws whether an arrest can be made. That distinction limits what Philippine officials can do in France. Jonvic Remulla has acknowledged that Philippine authorities cannot themselves arrest Co there and that any detention would have to be carried out by authorities in the country
where he is located. The Philippine National Police has said it is prepared to coordinate through Interpol and assist in any lawful transfer of custody if Co is arrested and the necessary judicial procedures are completed. Returning Co could require additional legal steps. France is not listed by the Philippine Justice Department among countries with which the Philippines currently has a bilateral extradition treaty. Co’s presence in France has also been linked to an asylum application. Malacañang said in April that the Department of Foreign Affairs had received highly reliable information that Co had a pending application for political asylum in France, reportedly based on a claim of political persecution. The Palace said at the time that Co was in France but was not detained. The renewed effort follows arrest warrants issued Sept. 7 by the Sandiganbayan
Third Division against Co, former House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Romualdez aide Joselyn Tragua Serenio and businessman Felicito Cristobal Guevarra in a plunder case filed by the Office of the Ombudsman. Prosecutors allege that the four received at least P7.44 billion in commissions, shares, kickbacks, commitments and other financial benefits connected with government infrastructure projects from 2022 through 2025. The Sandiganbayan emphasized that issuance of the warrants reflected a finding of probable cause, not a determination of guilt. All defendants retain the constitutional presumption of innocence unless proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt. Co had previously been declared a fugitive from justice by another Sandiganbayan division in December 2025 in connection with separate graft and malversation cases.n
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Opinion
The Philippines must rethink what it means to grow old
Features
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Part two of two: Building a society that does not sideline age As the Philippines grows older, the challenge is no longer simply how to support people after they leave the workforce. It is how to build institutions that do not treat age itself as a reason to withdraw opportunity, independence or participation. That requires looking beyond pensions and health care to the wider economic life of older Filipinos. The issue has particular importance for those returning after years of work abroad. Some overseas Filipinos will come home ready to retire. Others will return in their 50s, 60s or later with the ability and desire to remain economically active. A country that has benefited for decades from the labor and expertise of its people overseas has a direct interest in making productive use of what they
bring home. Philippine law already recognizes that principle. Republic Act No. 11641, which created the Department of Migrant Workers, requires a full-cycle reintegration program for returning overseas Filipino workers. It provides for skills certification and recognition, employment services, access to financial services and mechanisms through which skilled and professional OFWs can contribute to national development, including through investment and technology transfer. That framework should be understood not merely as assistance to returning workers, but as economic policy. A nurse who has spent decades in hospitals abroad, an engineer familiar with inter-
Editorial
On The Move Segundo Eclar Romero
TO become a doctor, one studies medicine. To become an engineer, one studies engineering. To become a lawyer, one studies law. Each profession has standards, apprenticeships, examinations, ethics, and continuing development because society recognizes that competence matters when lives and resources are at stake. Yet we routinely entrust the Philippines to people who have won elections without requiring
The missing profession in the Philippines them to demonstrate that they know how to govern. That is the strange blind spot of our democracy: we have professionalized almost everything except public leadership. Governing involves even greater consequences. Presidents, senators, governors, mayors, and legislators decide how trillions in public resources are allocated, what laws govern us, how disasters are managed, how ecosystems are protected, how schools and
national systems, or an accountant, technician, teacher, seafarer, hotel manager, chef, tradesperson or executive may return with
Babe Romualdez
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Infrastructure in crisis: Flash floods and broken bridges
babe’s eye view
hospitals function, and how the country’s future is shaped. Yet for political office, the principal qualification is often simply the ability to win. This is not an argument for technocracy. Democracy must remain open to ordinary citizens. Nor should a diploma become a gatekeeping device for public office. But winning an election is not a qualification for governing. It is permission to begin demonstrating that one
ManilaTimes.net photo
expertise that took years to acquire. Experience is not a guarantee of compe-
NEWS from home has been deeply unsettling. Across several provinces in Luzon, communities have disappeared beneath floodwaters, families driven from their homes and livelihoods swept away. Particularly appalling were images of houses crumpling like accordions under the force of rushing water. In seconds, a family’s lifetime of sacrifice was re-
duced to debris. Along the North Luzon Expressway, flooding near the San Simon interchange trapped motorists in punishing queues. For those stranded, the ordeal meant hours of exhaustion, uncertainty and anxiety. When a major expressway becomes impassable, the consequences extend far beyond the people behind the wheel. Deliveries are delayed, agri-
cultural produce risks spoiling, businesses lose income and communities struggle to obtain essential supplies. Roads that sustain the economy become bottlenecks that choke it. Even more alarming are bridges that give way, turning an ordinary journey into a tragedy. In Tarlac City, the Aquino Bridge partially collapsed on
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Opinion & Features
The Philippines must rethink... PAGE 6 tence. But neither is age evidence of incapacity. The appropriate test is what a person can still do. That principle should guide retirement policy as well as hiring policy. Under the Labor Code, where no different retirement plan or agreement applies, an employee meeting the statutory requirements may retire beginning at 60, while 65 is generally the compulsory retirement age. Retirement security should not be weakened. Longer lives must not become an excuse to require people to work indefinitely. But a right to retire and an opportunity to remain productive are not contradictory. A society that does not sideline age should be able to protect both choices. Public policy can preserve retirement benefits while creating pathways for those who want to continue working through consulting, mentoring, part-time employment, project assignments or other flexible arrangements. Singapore provides one example of how an aging economy has approached the issue. Since July 1, 2026, its statutory retirement age has been 64 and its re-employment age 69. Eligible employees who reach retirement age and wish to continue working must generally be offered re-employment up to 69 if they meet prescribed conditions. Singapore plans further increases to 65 and 70 by 2030. The Philippines need not copy Singapore's system. Its labor market, social-insurance structure and fiscal circumstances are different. The useful principle is broader: a society can protect retirement without treating a particular birthday as proof that useful participation should end. That applies not only to employment. Financial independence raises another important question. Republic Act No. 11765, the Financial Products and Services Consumer Protection Act, provides that financial service providers shall not discriminate against clients on the basis of age, among other characteristics. The law also permits dis-
tinctions when necessary to assess risk for a particular financial product or service. That qualification matters. Banks and other lenders have a legitimate responsibility to determine whether loans are likely to be repaid. Age can intersect with loan duration, income continuity and other underwriting considerations. At the same time, published eligibility rules for some Philippine housing and personal loan products establish maximum borrower ages at loan maturity, commonly 65 or 70 depending on the lender and product. Those limits do not, by themselves, establish unlawful discrimination. They do raise a legitimate policy question: how much weight should chronological age carry when an applicant can demonstrate income, assets, collateral, insurance, credit history and repayment capacity? A financially secure 65-year-old may present less credit risk than a much younger borrower with unstable income and substantial debt. Where practical, underwriting should assess the individual rather than rely too heavily on age as a proxy for risk. The United States offers a useful comparison. Its Equal Credit Opportunity Act prohibits discrimination in credit transactions based on age while allowing creditors to consider legitimate underwriting factors and certain lawful uses of age in credit scoring. The principle is not that age can never matter. It is that age should not do the work of a fuller assessment when better measures of risk are available. For returning Filipinos, access to capital can determine whether years of overseas savings and professional experience become a business, consultancy, investment or another source of economic activity at home. Employment, reintegration, retirement and access to credit therefore should not be treated as separate policy compartments. Together, they determine how much independence and choice older Filipinos retain. A society that does not sideline age must also avoid two opposite mistakes.
The first is to treat older people primarily as dependents. Many seniors need assistance, and adequate pensions, health care and social protection remain indispensable. The second is to romanticize continued employment, as though productive aging means everyone should keep working. It does not. Retirement is a legitimate choice earned through years of work. The better objective is freedom backed by protection. Those who can no longer work should have security. Those who choose retirement should be able to enjoy it. Those who remain willing and capable should have a fair opportunity to work, retrain, borrow, invest, mentor or build a business without arbitrary barriers based on age. This is increasingly a rights question, not simply a welfare question. Philippine senior-citizen institutions and human-rights advocates have supported international efforts to recognize older people as full rights-holders, while the United Nations has begun work toward a possible binding international instrument on the rights of older persons. That broader perspective matters because the way a society treats aging reveals what it believes older citizens are entitled to expect from public life. Not merely assistance. Not merely discounts. Not merely protection from illness and poverty. But also opportunity, autonomy and continued participation where those remain possible. The Philippines has spent generations benefiting from the skills of its people around the world. When those Filipinos return home older and more experienced, their accumulated knowledge should remain an asset rather than become a disadvantage. A mature national policy on aging should protect people from the vulnerabilities of later life without turning age itself into a barrier. Growing old should change the support a society provides. It should not automatically narrow the choices a person is allowed to make. (AJPress)
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Infrastructure in crisis: Flash... PAGE 6 Aug. 28 amid heavy monsoon rains and powerful river currents. The following evening, the nearby Agana Bridge, which became an alternative route, also collapsed. By Sept. 2, reports indicated two bodies recovered while two people remained missing. Behind those numbers are families whose lives have been changed forever. These incidents raise a question no Filipino should have to ask before crossing a bridge: will we reach the other side safely? A recent episode of “Memo” with Korina Sanchez-Roxas examined precisely this concern. With her characteristic directness, Korina asked structural engineer John Archie dela Cruz to explain what these failures tell us about the safety of our bridges. The discussion brought renewed attention to the recently reopened Cabagan-Santa Maria Bridge in Isabela, a section of which collapsed on Feb. 27, 2025, less than a month after its reported completion on Feb. 1. A heavily loaded truck was crossing when the structure failed. This was infrastructure the public expected would serve communities for years. Instead, it became another troubling question mark over the quality of public works. Overloading must never be dismissed. Weight limits exist for a reason, and violations endanger everyone using a bridge. But pinpointing an overloaded truck cannot be the end of an investigation. The DPWH itself subsequently identified severe overloading as the immediate cause while also raising concerns about the bridge’s unusual design and construction arrangements. However, the public deserves a complete explanation of how these factors interacted and who was responsible for ensuring the structure’s safety. The Philippines has talented engineers and capable construction firms. Their expertise, however, cannot protect the public if sound recommendations are disregarded, workmanship is compromised or inspections become paperwork exercis-
es. For bridges exposed to flooding, the danger also lies beneath the surface. Fast-moving water exerts powerful forces on bridge supports. Equally dangerous is scouring – the erosion of riverbed material around foundations. A bridge may appear reassuringly solid from the roadway while the soil supporting its foundations is being washed away underneath. Once sufficient support is lost, stability can be seriously compromised. This is why an inspection cannot stop at what motorists can see. Engineers must assess the foundations, the river channel and the conditions that could undermine them during the next flood. Dredging and quarrying near bridges must likewise be governed by proper engineering assessments. Removing material from a river is not automatically a solution to flooding. Where and how excavation occurs matters. Flood control work must never compromise the infrastructure it is supposed to protect. Maintenance is just as essential. Bearing pads, expansion joints and other bridge components deteriorate and require attention. Older structures also need reassessment against present traffic loads and flood conditions. Watershed degradation and changes in land use must form part of that evaluation. A fresh coat of paint cannot establish structural integrity. Neither can a project completion certificate substitute for an independent assessment of a bridge’s safety. Filipinos are therefore entitled to ask difficult questions. Were correct materials used? Were defects reported and acted upon? Were maintenance funds properly spent? Were warnings ignored? Corruption must be investigated wherever evidence points to it. So must negligence, inadequate maintenance and failures of professional oversight. Accountability requires establishing the facts and following them wherever they lead. DPWH’s announcement that it has begun inspecting major bridges nationwide is welcome. Its recent directive
prioritizes structures with significant scouring, exposed or undermined foundations and visible damage. This must be sustained with clear responsibilities, repair deadlines and public reporting. Independent engineering experts should help assess vulnerable structures, including locally managed bridges. Inspection frequency must reflect risk, with additional checks after major floods and earthquakes. Dangerous crossings must be restricted or closed promptly, with safe alternative routes identified and assessed. The findings must lead to action. Communities should know which bridges need urgent repairs, who is responsible and the deadline for work completion. Otherwise, another inspection risks becoming just another report filed away until the next disaster. Above all, maintenance must receive dependable funding. We cannot keep celebrating new construction while allowing existing infrastructure to deteriorate until emergency repairs become the only option. Our response must extend from the watershed to the roadway: protect forests, regulate extraction, improve drainage, enforce loading limits and maintain structures throughout their service lives. Building a stronger nation requires more than ribbon-cuttings and impressive project totals. It requires the discipline to protect what we build and the integrity to ensure that every peso serves its intended purpose. A bridge carries more than vehicles. It carries children going to school, workers earning a living, farmers bringing produce to market and families expecting to return home. Every crossing is an act of public trust. No Filipino should have to pay for that trust with his life. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Email: babeseyeview@gmail. com n
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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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What does the law say about the use of aliases?
Individuals using aliases have been a popular topic since the impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte showed receipts for her office's confidential funds bearing signatures of people with seemingly dubious names, sounding like food brands, fruits, animals, and Filipino phrases. by Cecile Baltasar Philstar.com
DURING the Sept. 7 impeachment trial, Philippine Statistics Authority assistant national statistician Marizza Grande was asked by the defense about whether the agency kept a repository of aliases. "Aliases that have been judicially approved, na may authority na binigay 'yung court, meron pong record ang civil registry. In fact, we stored those that have been registered and annotated doon sa kanilang subject na birth certificate," she said. As aliases continue to be brought up during the impeachment trial, an underlying question has come up about whether such alternative names can be used legally at all. According to University of the East law professor Oscar Tan, citing the Supreme Court, "An 'alias' generally refers to another name a person uses, or intends to use, publicly and habitually in addition to his real name." In which instances, then, will the law recognize the use of these other names? Who can use aliases legally? According to Commonwealth Act No. 142, or the Anti-Alias Act, as amended by RA 6085 in 1969, the regular use of an alias is prohibited "except as a pseudonym solely for literary, cinema, television, radio, or other entertainment purposes and in athletic events where the use of pseudonym is a normally
accepted practice..." "Its basic purpose is to prevent confusion about a person's true identity by regulating the use of names other than the person's real or registered name," Tan told PhilSTAR L!fe. Per SC, the Anti-Alias Law was inspired by Chinese nationals using different names for different transactions. "I assume they meant Chinese nationals, not Chinese Filipinos," the law professor said. "However, not every isolated use of a false or different name is automatically a violation," said Tan. The law dictates that if a person insists on using an alias outside of the entertainment and sports industries, they will have to petition for it through legal channels and specify the reasons why they want to use an alias. Further, the law authorizes only one alias per person, if at all. When circumstances demand an alias There are legitimate reasons a person may want to use an alias, said Tan. One reason would be that they are already commonly known by their alias. They may also need to use an alias to trace and connect records filed under different names; or they may just have been given court authority to use an alias. “But even an authorized alias generally does not replace the person's real name," Tan told L!fe. "The Anti-Alias Law states
that, in a public or private transaction or document, the person must state his real or original name together with any alias or pseudonym he is authorized to use," he continued. According to Tan, the law provides special cases where individuals are allowed to use aliases. Republic Act No. 6981, or the Witness Protection Act, is one such law, where an individual is entitled to a "change of personal identity". Separate rules On Aug. 5, former Commission on Audit–Internal Control and Fraud Audit Office auditor Roderick Wamil appeared at Duterte's impeachment trial as a witness for the prosecution. In reply to Sen. Bam Aquino's query on whether COA allows the use of aliases, Wamil said, "Based on the provision of the joint circular [No. 2015-01], it is neither allowed nor prohibited." Tan said government agencies can have their own rules regarding the use of aliases. "COA can make rules on how it processes documents with aliases," he said. "But agency rules cannot override a law," he added. "How an agency processes certain records would not override the Anti-Alias Law and its broader prohibitions." As the conversation on the use of aliases progresses, the law remains clear in that aliases are only legal and acceptable under specific circumstances. n
Marcos takes ASEAN agenda to BRICS summit in India by AJPress MANILA – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will attend the 18th BRICS Summit in New Delhi on Sept. 12 and 13 in his capacity as 2026 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, bringing ASEAN’s security and economic priorities to a gathering of major emerging economies. Marcos was invited by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Department of Foreign Affairs said. The Philippines is not a BRICS member, and DFA spokesperson Analyn Ratonel said possible
membership or partner status would require further study and is not expected to be discussed during the trip. Marcos is expected to present ASEAN priorities centered on peace and security, prosperity and people empowerment, including economic integration, digital transformation, sustainable development and adherence to international law. BRICS has 11 members: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and the United Arab Emirates. The grouping functions as an
intergovernmental forum for political, economic and development cooperation. Marcos is scheduled to meet Modi on the sidelines to review implementation of the India-Philippines Strategic Partnership and its 20252029 Plan of Action, covering defense and maritime cooperation, trade and investment, technology, tourism and other areas. He is also expected to meet Indian business leaders and follow up on commitments announced during his August 2025 state visit. Marcos said PAGE 9
FREE RIDE. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Love Bus service is unveiled at the MMDA head office in Pasig City on Wednesday (Sept. 9, 2026). The free fully electric shuttle service will connect major business districts in Quezon City, Pasig and Mandaluyong. (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)
The missing profession... PAGE 6
can govern. The Philippines desperately needs to recover that distinction. I was reminded of this recently when I spoke to 411 Department of Science and Technology scholars representing all 17 regions at the National Patriot Scholars Congress in Koronadal, South Cotabato. These young Filipinos are already being formed around professional excellence, servant leadership, and social responsibility. One scholar asked me: “What is the pathway for a scholar like me to become a senator one day?” It was a startlingly important question. Where is that pathway? We have well-established routes into science, medicine, engineering, law, and business. But there is no comparable national pathway for a young Filipino who wants to spend a lifetime learning how to serve, organize, formulate policy, manage public resources, and eventually govern. Worse, another scholar asked: “How do I prevent myself from being gobbled up by the existing corrupt system?” That may be the more important question. We tell our best young people to stay away from politics because politics is dirty. Then we wonder why public life contains too few people who are professionally competent, socially grounded, and ethically prepared to govern. When good people permanently withdraw
from public life, they do not merely protect themselves from a broken system. They leave the broken system to those willing to exploit it. Integrity alone, however, is not enough. A good person entering a bad system needs scaffolding: mentors, peers, coaches, professional advisers, ethical guidance, community accountability, and an organization that helps protect the standards the individual is trying to maintain. We therefore need something much bigger than another leadership seminar. We need a leadership pipeline for democracy. Young Filipinos should have opportunities to begin at the smallest scale, where leadership becomes tangible: a barangay, a school, a community organization, a watershed, a local livelihood problem. Local government is not merely the bottom rung of politics. It is a laboratory for learning how society actually works. It exposes aspiring leaders to floods, garbage, livelihoods, health, education, land use, conflict, poverty, and the difficult art of reconciling competing interests. This is where the apprenticeship should begin. The principle should be brutally simple: Do not start by trying to become a senator. Start by becoming useful. Build competence. Earn trust. Build organizations. Develop a constituency without buying it. Learn to turn professional knowledge into
public value. Gradually assume greater responsibility. If, after years of such apprenticeship, a person has acquired the judgment, competence, integrity, and understanding required of national leadership, then perhaps that person should seek the Senate. This points toward an institution the Philippines has never seriously built: a School for Public Leadership. Not a school for politicians. A school for citizens willing to become public leaders. Its graduates could become scientists, civil servants, teachers, organizers, mayors, governors, policy advisers, legislators—or senators. The objective would not be to manufacture politicians. It would be to cultivate public leaders deliberately, continuously, and at scale. A country cannot reform its governance by waiting for the occasional heroic individual to appear. It must create a culture and infrastructure that repeatedly produces people capable of governing with competence, humility, and courage. Perhaps the Philippines’ missing profession is not politics. It is the professional practice of public leadership. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff *** Email: doyromero@gmail.comn
Senate court turns to former... PAGE 4
concurrence of “two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate” for conviction. Presiding officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero ruled July 6 that 16 votes are required because the Senate has 24 members. Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo asked the court Sept. 8 to reconsider, saying the question is which senators should be counted when some are absent or under legal restraint. Four senators have not been participating for different rea-
sons. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa has been absent since the International Criminal Court confirmed an arrest warrant against him. Jinggoy Estrada and Rodante Marcoleta are detained in separate pending plunder cases; neither has been convicted. Loren Legarda is on medical leave abroad. The court has not ruled that any must be excluded from or included in the denominator. Escudero has cited Bayan v. Zamora, a treaty-concurrence case, while Tulfo has invoked Avelino v. Cuenco, which in-
volved a Senate quorum. Neither directly resolved the present impeachment question. Azcuna has previously supported retaining the 16-vote threshold, while other legal authorities have argued that only senators legally qualified to participate should count. The amici will be heard Sept. 16, followed by prosecution and defense arguments Sept. 23. The court is then expected to decide whether to retain or modify the 16-vote rule. Duterte has denied wrongdoing and is contesting the four articles of impeachment. n
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Marcoleta bail hearing turns to donor tax records, TV interview by AJPress
MANILA — The Sandiganbayan hearing on Sen. Rodante Marcoleta’s bid for bail in a P75-million plunder case turned Thursday to tax records involving three disputed transfers and a television interview in which he discussed money he received before the official 2025 campaign period. Bureau of Internal Revenue officials appeared before the anti-graft court’s Third Division to identify donor’s-tax returns linked to former Rep. Michael Defensor and businessmen Joseph Varias Espiritu and Aristotle Baluyut Viray, Marcoleta’s three co-accused. Records presented in court reflected donor’s-tax payments of about P2.2 million for Defensor, P2 million for Espiritu and P1.6 million for Viray. The tax records do not by themselves establish whether the transfers were lawful private gifts or part of the plunder alleged by prosecutors. The Ombudsman alleges
Marcoleta received P30 million from Defensor on Jan. 6, 2025, P25 million from Espiritu on Jan. 8 and P20 million from Viray on Jan. 9 while serving as a SAGIP party-list representative. Prosecutors have also alleged that the donor’s-tax payments were made only in December 2025 and contend that the P75 million constituted ill-gotten wealth obtained by Marcoleta through his public position or influence. The allegations have not been proven in court. Marcoleta denies wrongdoing. He has maintained that the money was received before the campaign period, in his personal capacity and without restrictions on its use. He and his three co-accused have pleaded not guilty. A separate issue involved Nelson Lubao, Marcoleta’s Net25 co-host, who asked to be excused from testifying. Prosecutors proposed dispensing with his testimony if the parties stipulated to the authenticity of the television video.
Marcoleta’s counsel declined, a position adopted by lawyers for the other accused. Lubao therefore remained expected to testify. At the first bail hearing, a Comelec official testified that Marcoleta’s verified position paper characterized the ₱75 million as personal funds received before the campaign period. Comelec terminated its election-offense investigation in March after finding no other evidence showing Marcoleta committed an election offense, although it said its inquiry established noncompliance with Section 109 of the Omnibus Election Code. That proceeding did not adjudicate the separate plunder charge. Because plunder is punishable by reclusion perpetua, prosecutors must show that the evidence of guilt is strong for bail to be denied. The bail hearing is a preliminary determination, not a trial verdict. Marcoleta remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail in Payatas. The hearing continues Sept. 14. n
Marcos takes ASEAN agenda to BRICS... PAGE 8 afterward that 18 business agreements involved $446 million in actual investments and generated interest for potential investments of up to $5.8 billion.
The Philippines serves as ASEAN’s country coordinator for relations with India until July 2027. China confirmed Thursday that President Xwi Jinping will attend the summit. Reuters re-
ANNOUNCEMENT
ported that Russian President Vladimir Putin is also expected, as the gathering confronts tensions over the Middle East, energy security and the global economy. DFA has so far announced only a Marcos-Modi
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Part 2 of a three-part series From Personalities to Principles The transition every family enterprise must make if it hopes to survive beyond the founding generation.
INSIDE FAMILY BUSINESS
Prof. Enrique Soriano A founder once told his advisor something that stayed with her for years. He said: "In the beginning, we made every decision at the dinner table. My wife handled the accounts. My brother-in-law ran the warehouse. My eldest handled sales. We never needed a meeting — we just talked." He paused, then added: "But now there are seventeen family members involved in the business. And we still try to make decisions at the dinner table. It no longer works." This is the story of most successful family businesses at a certain stage of growth. The informal systems that worked beautifully in the founding years — built on trust, proximity, and shared sacrifice — begin to buckle under the weight of complexity. More family members. More stakeholders. More money. More at stake. The answer is not to lose the warmth and the trust. The answer is to protect it — by giving it structure. Why Informality Works,
Then Fails In the early years, informality is a strength. Decisions happen fast. There is no bureaucracy. The founder's instinct and authority hold everything together. Family members wear multiple hats without confusion because the founder is always there to clarify, to arbitrate, to decide. But informality has a hidden cost: it depends entirely on the founder's presence. The moment the founder steps back — whether through age, illness, or death — the invisible architecture that held everything together disappears with them. And what remains is a group of capable, well-meaning people who suddenly discover they have no agreed framework for making decisions together. This is the moment when the cracks appear. Not because the children love each other less, but because no one ever built the bridge that would carry them from here to the next generation. "We do not want conflict over power and money when our parents are no longer around. We want to get this right while they are still here." These words, spoken by an
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eldest child in a family business session, capture exactly why this work matters — and why it must happen now, not later. The Three Pillars of Family Structure Moving from informal to formal does not mean becoming cold or corporate. It means creating three things that every enduring family business eventually builds: The first is a Family Council. This is the forum where the family — not just the executives — comes together to discuss matters that affect everyone: values, vision, the rules for how family members join the business, how profits are distributed, and how major decisions are made. It is not a board meeting. It is a family meeting with an agenda, proper documentation, and a commitment to include every voice. The second is a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board. This is where the business is governed. It includes family members in their capacity as business owners and leaders, and ideally includes trusted independent advisors who bring perspective that family alone cannot provide. The
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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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PH, US launch $60-million push to reform NLEX repairs rain-damaged sections as power sector, draw investment flood-control work advances in Pampanga Grant targets permitting bottlenecks, utility modernization and projects that could attract private capital by AJPress MANILA — A new $60-million U.S. grant will take aim at some of the Philippines’ most persistent energy-sector problems, from slow project approvals to weak utility infrastructure, while creating a pathway for more private investment. Finance Secretary Frederick Go and U.S. Ambassador Lee Lipton signed the Millennium Challenge Corporation Threshold Program Grant Agreement on Sept. 10 during the Luzon Economic Corridor Investment Forum. The Department of Finance valued the grant at about P3.68 billion. The program will run for four years and nine months. Its main energy initiative, the Energy Development Governance Efficiency Pro-
ject, will involve the Department of Energy, Energy Regulatory Commission, National Electrification Administration and National Power Corp. One component will seek to streamline permitting and approvals that can delay energy projects. Another will support electric cooperatives through grid digitalization and efforts to finance infrastructure upgrades. MCC has identified high electricity costs and unreliable power as constraints on Philippine economic growth. The program is intended to improve reliability and affordability, although no specific reduction in consumer rates has been announced. A second major component, the American Investment Mechanism, will help prepare potential projects for commercial financing
through feasibility studies, project design and market assessments. The mechanism will also support coordination with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation. It does not mean DFC financing has already been approved for individual projects. The program is expected to complement broader investment efforts tied to the Luzon Economic Corridor linking Subic Bay, Clark, Metro Manila and Batangas. The Philippines was selected to develop the Threshold Program in 2023, with MCC approving the $60-million package in June. Philippine officials say successful implementation could strengthen the country’s eligibility for a larger MCC Compact, which would require a separate approval process. n
DOJ sets two-week target for Quiboloy extradition review Any transfer to U.S. custody would still require Philippine court proceedings by AJPress MANILA – The Department of Justice is aiming to complete within two weeks its review of the United States’ request to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, a step that could move the case into Philippine courts but would not mean his immediate transfer to U.S. custody. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday, Sept. 10, that the department was prioritizing its review of the “voluminous” records because of the Philippines’ treaty obligations to the United States. He said the DOJ hopes to finish its evaluation within two weeks before determining what should be filed in court. The timetable applies only to the executive review. Under Supreme Court rules effective Nov. 10, 2025, an extradition case begins when the justice secretary or authorized state counsel
files a verified petition with the proper court. The proceeding determines whether the request complies with Philippine law and the applicable treaty and whether the person sought is extraditable; it does not decide guilt or innocence in the foreign criminal case. The Department of Foreign Affairs said Aug. 6 that it had received the U.S. government’s request and endorsed it to the DOJ. The request stems from a 2021 federal indictment in California charging Quiboloy and other defendants in a case involving alleged sex trafficking and related financial and immigration offenses. According to the FBI, Quiboloy was indicted on charges including conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children; substantive sex-trafficking charges; conspiracy; and bulk cash smuggling. The accusations remain allegations and have not been proved at trial. Quiboloy has
denied wrongdoing and is presumed innocent unless proved guilty. He is also being prosecuted in the Philippines on qualified human trafficking and child and sexual abuse charges. He pleaded not guilty during separate arraignments in 2024. Quiboloy’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said the defense intends to oppose extradition and, as of Sept. 10, had received no summons from an extradition court. Topacio has argued that the pending Philippine cases should first be resolved. The current extradition rules do not make those local cases an automatic bar to proceedings. If an extradition judgment is granted while unrelated Philippine criminal charges remain pending, execution may be postponed. The court handling the local case may also, upon request by the government’s central authority, allow Quiboloy’s temporary surrender to the United States. n
Interim pavement repairs continue as agencies pursue longer-term measures in San Simon and Tulaoc by AJPress monitoring waterways near ing and water-collection facilMANILA, Philippines. NLEX Corp. is carrying out interim repairs on portions of the North Luzon Expressway that the company says were damaged by prolonged rain, while the tollway operator and government agencies continue separate flood-control work in Pampanga. NLEX said crews have been working day and night on pavement in Valenzuela City and along the Spur Road in Central Luzon. Permanent repairs will follow when weather conditions permit durable work. The company said the repairs are part of a rainy-season maintenance program expanded before the latest flooding. Earlier measures included pavement work, drainage clearing, pumps and detention tanks, portable flood barriers, roadside drainage improvements and cameras
the expressway. The pavement repairs are separate from work in San Simon and Tulaoc, Pampanga, where heavy monsoon rains inundated sections of NLEX and caused traffic disruptions. All lanes at the San Simon Interchange and Tulaoc section reopened to all vehicle classes Sept. 8 following clearing and flood-mitigation operations. Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon said more than 20 pieces of heavy equipment were being mobilized for dredging along the Tulaoc River. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. also ordered detention basins at three San Simon locations as part of longer-term flood-control measures. Officials have identified additional measures including sheet piles, flood barriers, pumping, embankment clear-
ities. The Philippine Information Agency reported Sept. 4 that the Tulaoc Overpass had been raised from 4.5 meters to 5.2 meters of vertical clearance. NLEX previously raised the roadway there by 0.7 meter and plans an additional 0.3-meter elevation. The Toll Regulatory Board issued NLEX a notice to explain dated Aug. 31 over the flood-related congestion and directed the operator to strengthen flood warnings, river-level monitoring and rerouting advisories. The proceeding does not itself establish negligence or legal liability. The temporary San Fernando-Pulilan toll rebate ended Sept. 9 after affected lanes reopened. NLEX said the temporary toll exemption for provincial buses would remain in effect. n
From Personalities to Principles... PAGE 9
board asks the hard questions: Is this the right strategy? Are we growing sustainably? Are we putting the right people in the right roles — regardless of their surname? The third is a Family Constitution, sometimes called a Family Charter. This is the founding document of the family's governance — the written agreement that captures the family's values, its vision for the future, the rules for employment and ownership, the process for resolving disputes, and the principles that will guide the next generation. It is not a legal document in the first instance. It is a moral one. It is the family's promise to itself. Honest Conversations About Roles One of the most difficult but most important parts of building family structure is the honest conversation about roles. Not just what each family member does today, but why they are doing it — and whether it is the right fit. In many family businesses, children joined not entirely by choice. They joined because it was expected. Because the founder needed them. Because saying no would have
felt like a betrayal of everything their parents sacrificed. Some of them thrived. Some of them are quietly, privately miserable — doing work they were never meant to do, in roles they never chose. A formal governance process creates the space to have this conversation with honesty and without blame. It allows the family to ask: Who is here because they truly love this business? Who is here out of duty? Who has a gift that the business is not using? And — hardest of all — are there family members in senior roles who would be better served, and would better serve the family, in a different capacity? These conversations are not betrayals. They are acts of love. They are what it looks like to care more about the family's future than about avoiding a difficult evening. Starting the Journey The move to formal structure does not happen overnight, and it does not require perfection. It begins with a single, honest conversation — ideally while the founders are still active, still present, and still able to guide the values and the vision they want to pass on. The founders who begin
this process are not admitting weakness. They are demonstrating the highest form of leadership: the wisdom to build something that will outlast them. Next: Part Three — Stewardship, Succession, and the Leader Who Lets Go (This three-part series is the second installment in an ongoing column on Family Governance. It explores key topics such as the Family Council, the Family Constitution, succession planning, conflict resolution, and family employment policies) *** 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 *** Prof Enrique M. Soriano serves as a Mentor at the Singapore Institute of Directors Board Readiness Program, where he contributes to the development of current and aspiring directors in corporate governance, board effectiveness, and strategic oversight. He advises multi-generational family enterprises and boards across Asia, advocating for merit-based board composition and principled stewardship to ensure long-term sustainability.n
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NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY SEPTEMBER 11, 2026
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026
people events arts culture entertainment
Lea Salonga receives Hollywood Walk of Fame star, becoming first Filipina honoree
Tony and Olivier Award-winning performer honored after a career spanning Manila, Broadway, Disney films and international stages by AJPress HOLLYWOOD, Calif. — Lea Salonga received the 2,855th star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Sept. 4, becoming the first Filipina to receive the honor. The Tony and Olivier Award-winning performer was recognized in the Live Performance category at a ceremony outside the Hollywood Pantages Theatre, adding one of Hollywood’s most visible distinctions to a career spanning Philippine theater, Broadway, London’s West End, film, television and international concert stages. Television host and journalist Sibley Scoles presided over the ceremony. Actress MingNa Wen, singer and actress Brandy, and actor and Broadway performer Darren Criss delivered tributes. Filipino American singer H.E.R. was among those in attendance. “Long before Hollywood, long before Broadway, there was Manila,” Salonga said as she reflected on a career that began when she was a child performer in the Philippines. She also paid tribute to her family, recalling how her mother, Ligaya Salonga, helped finance and promote her first album and later man-
aged her career for decades. Salonga also thanked her brother, conductor Gerard Salonga, and her son, Nic. The Manila International Film Festival nominated Salonga for the Walk of Fame honor. She was selected for the Class of 2026 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s Walk of Fame selection panel from hundreds of nominations, with the selections later ratified by the chamber’s board. Salonga made her professional stage debut at age 7 in a Philippine production of “The King and I.” Her international breakthrough came as Kim in the original London production of “Miss Saigon,” a role she later brought to Broadway. She won the Laurence Olivier Award for her London performance and the 1991 Tony Award for best actress in a musical, becoming the first Asian performer to win in that Tony category. Her Broadway credits have since included “Les Misérables,” “Flower Drum Song,” “Allegiance,” “Once on This Island,” “Here Lies Love” and “Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends.” Salonga also became familiar to generations of Disney audiences as the singing voice of Princess Jasmine in the 1992 animated film “Aladdin”
Gerald Sibayan reportedly remarries in San Francisco after divorce from Ai-Ai delas Alas Actress-comedian says she was not surprised by the reported marriage by AJPress MANILA — Gerald Sibayan, former husband of actress-comedian Ai-Ai delas Alas, has reportedly remarried in a civil ceremony at San Francisco City Hall, about six months after their California divorce was finalized. Philippine entertainment reports said Sibayan wed in San Francisco this week. Delas Alas, responding Thursday to news of the marriage, said she was not surprised and wished him well. “Expected ko na ’yan,” she said, adding that she has moved forward since their separation. The reported remarriage comes nearly two years after the couple split. Delas Alas and Sibayan married on Dec.
12, 2017, after about three years together. She said he ended their relationship in October 2024 while she was in the Philippines and he was in the United States. She publicly confirmed their separation the following month. Delas Alas later pursued a California divorce, which she said was filed in March 2025 and finalized a year later. She has also said she is pursuing a separate church annulment. Following the separation, delas Alas withdrew a family-based immigration petition she had filed for Sibayan. U.S. immigration authorities later notified her that approval of the petition had been automatically revoked. The action does not, by itself, establish Sibayan’s current immigration status. n
Photo from Instagram/@hwdwalkoffame
and Fa Mulan in “Mulan” and “Mulan II.” Disney named her a Disney Legend in 2011. The Walk of Fame ceremony brought several strands of her career together. Wen provided Mulan’s speaking voice in the 1998 animated film while Salonga performed the character’s songs. Criss spoke about Salonga’s influence on him as a performer of Filipino heritage.
The dedication took place during the third Manila International Film Festival in Los Angeles. MIFF also selected Salonga as the inaugural recipient of its Icon Award at the festival’s closing-night gala. Salonga closed her remarks by signaling that the recognition was not a farewell to the stage. “And the best part is I’m not done yet,” she said. n
KC Concepcion shares ‘date night’ with Kiko Pangilinan, seeks life advice
The actress posted photos and video from a recent dinner with her stepfather, whom she calls “Dad” by AJPress MANILA — KC Concepcion shared a recent dinner with Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, posting photos and a short video in which
she asked her stepfather for advice about navigating life’s uncertainties. “Finally… date night with Dad. Missed this,” Concepcion wrote in a Sept. 9 Instagram post, describing an
evening of good food, conversation and what she called “the best life advice.” In the accompanying video, Concepcion asked Pangilinan what advice he would give younger people. The
senator encouraged her to surrender matters beyond her control and expressed his belief that difficult or uncertain circumstances can have
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Screengrab Photo from Ogie Diaz Showbiz Update/YT
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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Frankie Pangilinan confirms Dan Laurel Brian Poe Llamanzares, Margarita Gutierrez marry, joining families rooted romance, discusses distance from KC Concepcion in public service The newlyweds come from families whose histories span Philippine cinema, politics, law and government service
Singer-actress speaks about her relationship and says she continues to love and miss her older sister
by AJPress
by AJPress
MANILA – FPJ Panday Bayanihan party-list Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares and Justice Undersecretary Margarita Navarro Gutierrez married Sept. 8 at Santuario de San Jose in Mandaluyong City, joining two families with longstanding ties to Philippine cinema, politics, law and government service. Llamanzares, 34, is the eldest son of former Sen. Grace Poe and Neil Llamanzares. Through his mother, he is the grandson of National Artist Fernando Poe Jr. and actress Susan Roces, who adopted Grace Poe after she was found as an infant in Iloilo.
MANILA, Philippines — Frankie “Kakie” Pangilinan has confirmed that she is in a relationship with Daniel “Dan” Laurel while also speaking carefully about a prolonged period of distance from her older sister, KC Concepcion. In an interview with Ogie Diaz released Sept. 6, Pangilinan said she found earlier references to Laurel as her “rumored boyfriend” amusing because she had not previously been asked directly to confirm the relationship. She had already shared photos with Laurel in April and jokingly referred to him as her “rumored boyfriend” in a May birthday greeting. Pangilinan said romance had not been a priority while she was studying in New York because she expected eventually to return to the Philippines. She graduated from The New School in May 2025 and said she became more open to a relationship after settling back home. “He’s just wonderful,” she said of Laurel. Pangilinan said character was the quality she valued most in a partner. She also said her parents, singer-actress Sharon Cuneta and Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan, were happy about the relationship, describing her mother as particularly enthusiastic and her father as somewhat more protective. Laurel is a great-grandson
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Photo from Instagram/@patdy11
KC Concepcion shares ‘date night’ with... PAGE 11 meaning and purpose. The exchange offered another glimpse into Concepcion’s relationship with Pangilinan, whom she has increasingly referred to publicly as “Dad.” Earlier this year, Concepcion spoke about growing up in a blended family and the perspective she has gained over time. The daughter of Sharon Cuneta and actor Gabby Concepcion, she said she once called Pangilinan “Tito Francis” but now calls him “Dad.” She also said she had reached out to Pangilinan to express gratitude as she reflected on family and on eventually building a family of her own. Cuneta recently addressed her husband’s relationship with KC during an appearance on “Fast Talk with Boy Abunda,” saying the two were “okay.” She explained that KC had lived independently for years and traveled frequently, which sometimes limited the family’s time together. The dinner followed another public family moment in August, when KC greeted Pangilinan on his 63rd birthday and shared family photographs. She again addressed him as Dad and
Photo from Instagram/@frankiepangilinan
of former President Jose P. Laurel and is outside the entertainment industry. In the same interview, Pangilinan said she and Concepcion had not spoken or seen each other for a long time but emphasized that her feelings toward her sister had not changed. She declined to discuss the circumstances behind their distance out of respect for their parents, saying only that the family was working through private matters. Pangilinan said she has always regarded Concepcion
simply as her sister rather than as a half-sister and that she continues to love and miss her. Questions about their relationship intensified in 2023 after Concepcion confirmed that she had unfollowed Frankie and Kiko on Instagram. No public account has established that episode as the cause of the sisters’ current distance. Pangilinan is also making her acting debut in Edjop, portraying the young Joy Jopson in the historical drama scheduled to open in Philippine cinemas on Sept. 16. n
Shuvee Etrata, Anthony Constantino take their time amid year-long courtship by Jan Milo Severo Philstar.com
Photo from Instagram/@kristinaconcepcion
expressed appreciation for occasions when the family could spend time together. Pangilinan responded to the greeting with thanks. Pangilinan returned to the Philippine Senate in 2025 and is serving in the 20th Congress.
In her Sept. 9 post, KC also congratulated her mother on “Honor Thy Mother,” the family drama starring Cuneta that premieres globally on Prime Video on Sept. 11. Concepcion closed her post with a simple wish: “More family QT soon.” n
MANILA, Philippines — Shuvee Etrata and Anthony Constantino are taking their time as they get to know each other better, with the Kapuso actor revealing that he has been courting the former “Pinoy Big Brother” housemate for more than a year. The two talked about their relationship during the me-
dia conference for their upcoming digital series “From Vlog to Love.” Shuvee described Anthony as an “unreal” suitor, particularly noting his consistency throughout their courtship. “It seems too good to be true,” Shuvee said. She added that Anthony’s persistence has remained the same since the beginning. “I think I'm not kidding.
He's very persistent as a person. Since day one, hindi siya nagbago, hindi nabawasan ang effort. In fact, dumoble pa, trumimple pa,” she said. Anthony, meanwhile, revealed that he started pursuing Shuvee even before she joined “Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition 1.0.” “It has started before her PBB days,” he said. “Shuvee and I have met even before
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026
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Gary Valenciano joins artists urging fans Palace names 10 new National Artists not to upload full concerts online IPOPHL says unauthorized distribution of substantial portions of performances may raise intellectual property concerns by AJPress MANILA — Gary Valenciano has joined a growing group of Filipino performers asking concertgoers not to upload full performances online, saying such posts can diminish the live experience and disregard the work behind concert productions. Speaking at a recent media conference, Valenciano said he does not object to audiences sharing brief clips but drew a distinction between short excerpts and entire songs or shows. “It’s not good. It takes away from the experience,” he said. Valenciano said one of his U.S. concerts had been uploaded online in its entirety. He also cited venues in the United States that restrict cellphone use during performances, suggesting similar measures could eventually be considered elsewhere. The issue drew wider attention after Ice Seguerra and Fire & Ice Entertainment co-founder Liza Diño appealed for full-length recordings from “Sessionistas: The Playlist” to be removed from online platforms. Singers Nina, Top Suzara and Thor Dulay later voiced similar concerns.
Photos from UP Diliman Film Institute, B. J. Patiño / Ateneo De Manila, Silverlens, Nunelucio Melocoton Alvarado / FB, GFP Architects / Website, The Philippine STAR, The Art House, Colintupaz / Website, Tatler Asia, Alfredo S. Buenaventura /FB by Hannah Garzon Philstar.com
Photo from Facebook/@GaryVOfficial
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines has reminded concertgoers that unauthorized recording and distribution of live performances may infringe rights protected under Philippine law. Performers generally have rights over specified uses of their performances, including recording, reproduction, distribution and
online availability, subject to legal limitations and exceptions. IPOPHL also cautioned that fair use does not automatically apply simply because a recording is noncommercial. Factors include the purpose of the use, the nature of the protected work, the amount used and its potential market effect. n
Shuvee Etrata, Anthony Constantino... PAGE 12 she was in PBB.” For Anthony, getting to know Shuvee before her stint on the reality show allowed him to see that she remained the same person despite becoming more familiar to the public. “Shuvee has been the same before PBB, of course. So what you guys see is what you get and that's what I love most about Shuvee,” he said. Although they are open to taking their relationship further, Anthony said they are currently focused on building a strong foundation. “With our courtship, the industry that we're in, and the point where we're at in our lives right now, I think we both have a mutual understanding that no matter what it is, we want to just push each other within our
THE awardees include Nicanor Tiongson and the late Gregorio Brillantes for Literature, along with Imelda Cajipe Endaya and Nunelucio Alvarado for Visual Arts. Endaya is the first female artist recognized in visual arts. Architect Gabriel Formoso, dancer and choreographer Rafael "Nonoy" Froilan, fashion designer Maria Beatriz "Patis" Tesoro, screenwriter and film director Armando "Bing" Lao, lighting designer Teodoro Hilado, and composer Alfredo S. Buenaventura round out the list. Four of the ten honors are awarded posthumously to Formoso, Lao, Brillantes, and Hilado. With ten honorees, this is the largest group named at once in the award's history, expanding the total roster of National Artists from 81 to 91. The 2025 batch breaks the previous record set in 1997, when nine individuals were recognized in one cycle. The details regarding the
official conferment ceremony will be announced at a later date. Meet the 10 new National Artists: Nicanor Tiongson — Literature Nicanor G. Tiongson is a scholar, critic, playwright, and professor emeritus at the University of the Philippines Diliman. He has spent much of his career studying Philippine culture and traditional theater forms, including the komedya and sinakulo. His work has also explored the country's film, theater, and cultural history, including through his recent book Manong: The Life and Works of Gerardo de Leon. Tiongson is a founding member of the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino and previously served as artistic director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines. His extensive research and writing have helped document and interpret Philippine culture and the arts for succeeding generations. Gregorio Brillantes — Literature The late Gregorio C. Brillan-
tes was a celebrated Filipino fictionist, essayist, journalist, and editor, known for works like The Distance to Andromeda and Other Stories, which explored themes of faith, science fiction, and Filipino life. Brillantes was also a Palanca Awards Hall of Famer and one of the country's respected writers of short fiction. Brillantes also held editorial positions at major Philippine publications and influenced younger generations of Filipino writers. He received the National Artist award posthumously following his death in September 2025. Imelda Cajipe Endaya — Visual Arts Imelda Cajipe Endaya is a painter, printmaker, and installation artist known for works that explore women's experiences, Philippine history, and social issues. She began as a printmaker in the 1970s before expanding into painting and mixed-media works using materials such as sawali, fabric, and found objects. She is a co-founder of KASIBULAN, a women's PAGE 14
Brian Poe Llamanzares, Margarita... PAGE 12 Photo from Philstar.com / Jan Milo Severo
career, with our families, of course,” he said. “We want to make sure that we create the foundations for a strong relationship with each other,” he added. Shuvee said she and Anthony also share the same priorities, particularly when it comes to their families. “Ang priority ko talaga ay ang family ko. Walo pa 'yung kapatid ko na tulungan muna
bago ko piliin ang sarili ko,” she said. “Of course, I'm going to choose myself in the near future. But right now my priority is really my family, and we are on the same page about that. Kaya niya naman sigurong maghintay.” “From Vlog to Love” premieres September 18 on the GMA Network YouTube Channel. n
Gutierrez, 43, is a lawyer and Department of Justice undersecretary. An Ateneo de Manila University law graduate, she worked at the Supreme Court and Office of the Ombudsman before entering private practice and later serving in senior government posts. She is the daughter of former Justice Secretary and Ombudsman Ma. Merceditas Navarro Gutierrez and Jesus
N. Gutierrez. Her mother, also a lawyer, now chairs the National Commission of Senior Citizens and was the country’s first woman Ombudsman. Gutierrez’s maternal grandfather, lawyer Rufino Navarro Sr., served as vice governor of Bataan, extending the family’s public-service tradition another generation. Before entering the legal profession, Gutierrez also worked as a model and competed in Binibining Pili-
pinas in 2008. Llamanzares and Gutierrez have undertaken public-service initiatives together. In April, the Bureau of Corrections said they donated 16 tablet devices with keyboards for educational, administrative and reformation programs for persons deprived of liberty and BuCor personnel. Their wedding reception was held at Foro de Intramuros in Manila following the ceremony. n
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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
Health @Heart Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS My faith in God has never been shaken or diminished despite all the trials and tribulations I have endured throughout my life. Nor has it wavered in the face of the many challenges I encountered during three decades of practicing cardiac surgery. I felt secure in my belief that the Almighty was always there guiding me along the way in my personal life and career. To me, there is no conflict between faith and science. With an open mind and an open heart, one can use the microscope of reason to dissect the relationship between them and recognize that the two are not in conflict. In fact, I found that my faith and my work complemented and strengthened one another. As I watched my patients manifest and benefit from the miracle of healing, my faith grew deeper and more resilient. Blessed with this bolder confidence, perhaps a psychological boost, I felt my surgical skills were sharpened as well. A prayer in silence always preceded my surgeries. As the operation progressed, soft, light classical music permeated the room. When it was time to revive and restart the heart, which I had stopped during the procedure, Celine Dion’s Titanic theme song “My Heart Will Go On” would play, echoing my silent prayer for the heart to beat again. This phase of the procedure is always a crucial event in open-heart surgery, a moment when my faith abides by the final decision of the Almighty, and I rely fully on His sacred blessings. One’s faith goes beyond the career. Living the tough daily struggle requires the blessings of strength and inspiration from faith. While I deeply respect atheists and those who do not believe in a Supreme Force ruling the universe, I wonder if they feel total helplessness when a major calamity devastates their lives. Who do they cling to, besides themselves, alone in the wilderness of life? Life is fragile When disaster strikes, each of us faces the profound fragility of life. For believers, we turn to family, prayers, and friends, and find solace in the belief in a benevolent
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Faith works wonders higher power and an afterlife. For the non-religious, the internal and external landscape of grief is entirely secular. They navigate the profound suffering through the lenses of existential reality, human connection, and the pursuit of tangible meaning. I prefer to rely on a powerful anchor: my faith. It is something I carry with me as I navigate the turbulent sea of life alongside my family and friends, ready to stabilize my lifeboat wherever I anchor. I consider myself a certified coward, which is exactly why I need a strong anchor in my life. Mental trauma The recent derecho storm system that spawned several tornadoes and devastated the Midwest on August 11, 2026, left my home in Munster, Indiana, completely unlivable. During the storm, a massive tree from the neighbor’s yard crashed onto my roof, while peak winds of 121 mph tore away my gutters and destroyed the fences on both sides of the property, leaving our garden in ruins. The impact severely fractured the Ludowici clay tile roof, triggering leaks that ruined our carpet in multiple rooms. Compounding the disaster, the storm knocked out our electricity for 10 days; without power, the sump pump failed, completely flooding the basement for days. Giant trees were uprooted in many areas of the neighborhood, blocking the streets. Because the massive power outage forced all local hotels and restaurants to close, we had to drive to the next town, Harvey, Illinois, to find a hotel to stay in. On the same day, a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Western Colombia with 132 deaths and hundreds injured. A week or so before, there were widespread floods, landslides, and severe storms in Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines. We are no match for the power of Mother Nature. We must stop abusing our environment and start respecting it. The more we damage our world, the greater the natural catastrophe that will haunt us. Let us live in harmony with our surroundings, helping the environment flourish and remain healthy. Ultimately, it is for our own
good and survival. My family and I were deeply saddened and overwhelmed. But we never questioned why God directed the tornado our way; instead, we focused on our gratitude that none of us was harmed. Far more tragic, however, is the relentless cycle of storms and devastation in our native land, the Philippines, which leaves thousands homeless and claims countless lives every single year. Blessing in disguise To me, who is an eternal optimist, there is always a silver lining after dark clouds hover over us, like a beautiful rainbow that follows rain, a blessing in disguise. I hope this is the trial of my phoenix, and that we shall recover, even more refined. Of course, our homeowner’s insurance does not and cannot pay for the sadness, pain, and severe inconvenience this disaster has brought us. But in my thought process, I feel positive and somewhat joyful about the outcome which I can already foresee. Storms in our lives usually bring out the goodness and compassion in most people. Our neighbors on either side of the fence were wonderfully caring people; despite being victims themselves, they still offered us and others their help. To me, they are truly God’s people. Compartmentalizing my thoughts and focusing on the silver lining of this painful experience, I keep telling myself that, after all the massive reconstruction and big heartaches, I will have the blessing of an upgraded, remodeled home, with some help from our Homeowner's Insurance. I would like to think the tornado God has directed my way was really some blessing disguised as a disaster! The common saying that “God works in mysterious ways” is profoundly true. Now I know why He directed the tornado toward my home. He wants me to realize the dream I had a couple of years ago to remodel it. He just took a roundabout way of doing it! I feel truly blessed, which is why I might be sporting a smile when you see me standing in front of my severely damaged home, not a frown on my face. The lesson I learned during this catastrophe is to
Palace names 10 new... PAGE 13 art collective that helped create space for Filipino women artists. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is held in collections including the National Museum of the Philippines, the Cultural Center of the Philippines, and the National Gallery Singapore. With her recognition, Endaya is the first woman to be named a National Artist for Visual Arts. Nunelucio Alvarado — Visual Arts Nunelucio Alvarado is a visual artist from Negros Occidental known for his socially conscious works depicting the lives of marginalized communities. His paintings often focus on sugar workers, or sacadas, and the struggles of agricultural laborers in the region. He studied Fine Arts at the University of the Philippines Diliman and later studied advertising in Bacolod City. Alvarado co-founded Pamilya Pintura and founded the Pintor Kulapol group, helping strengthen the regional art scene outside Metro Manila. His work has earned recognition including the CCP Thirteen Artists Award and the Philip Morris ASEAN Arts Award Grand Prize. Gabriel Formoso — Architecture Gabriel P. Formoso was a prominent Filipino architect whose work helped shape modern Manila. He established his architectural firm in 1939 and became known for incorporating tropical functionalism into residential and institutional structures. Among the projects associated with his firm are the Asian Institute of Management building, Lepanto Building, Central Bank of the Philippines complex, and Valley Golf Club. Formoso also mentored younger architects and emphasized designing spaces around the needs and lifestyles of the people who would use them. He is being recognized posthumously
following his death in 1996. Rafael “Nonoy” Froilan — Dance Rafael “Nonoy” Catalino Froilan is one of the Philippines' most prominent male ballet dancers. Born in Calbiga, Samar, he initially studied business administration at the University of the East before pursuing dance. He became a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines in 1973 and performed alongside some of the country's leading ballerinas. Froilan later focused on teaching, serving as faculty at the Philippine High School for the Arts and conducting master classes and dance workshops. He has also worked to preserve regional dance heritage through documentation and continues to contribute to Philippine dance education. Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro — Design Maria Beatriz “Patis” Tesoro is a prominent figure in Philippine fashion known for championing traditional Filipino textiles and craftsmanship. Much of her work has focused on preserving piña fabric and supporting the communities that produce it. In the 1980s, she helped establish training programs for the next generation of piña producers as the industry faced decline. She also brought traditional garments such as the baro’t saya and barong Tagalog into contemporary fashion through updated cuts, embroidery, and embellishments. Tesoro also helped establish the Katutubong Filipino Foundation and continues to mentor artisans and younger designers. Armando “Bing” Lao — Film and Broadcast Arts Armando “Bing” Lao was a screenwriter, educator, and mentor who played a major role in Philippine independent cinema. He developed the “Found Story” approach to screenwriting, which encouraged filmmakers to draw stories from real-life environments and observations.
Lao wrote screenplays for films including Kinatay and Takaw Tukso and supervised the screenplay for Kubrador. Through his Found Story Screenwriting Workshop, he mentored more than 40 batches of aspiring filmmakers and writers. Lao was recognized posthumously following his death in June 2024. Teodoro Hilado — Theater Teodoro L. Hilado, who passed away in Dec. 23, 2015, was a pioneer of professional lighting design in the Philippines. He served for many years as technical director of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, where he helped establish standards for theatrical lighting and stage management. Hilado pushed lighting beyond its role as a technical requirement, treating it as an essential part of a production's storytelling and atmosphere. He also trained and mentored generations of technical directors and lighting designers in the country. Hilado is being honored posthumously for his lasting contributions to Philippine theater. Alfredo S. Buenaventura — Music Alfredo S. Buenaventura is a composer, conductor, and educator whose work incorporates Philippine legends, epics, and folk traditions into classical music. Born in Sta. Maria, Bulacan, in 1929, he has composed more than 50 major works, including the operas Maria Makiling and Diego Silang. His compositions often combine indigenous instruments and Filipino musical elements with classical and contemporary styles. Buenaventura also served as dean of the Centro Escolar University Conservatory of Music, where he helped shape generations of musicians. He is a two-time recipient of the Republic Cultural Heritage Award and has had his works performed internationally. (with reports from Camille Santiago) n
have faith that everything happens for a reason. Trust in God, yourself, your family, and your friends, and always maintain faith in the goodness of humanity. *** 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 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 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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My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio Constantino Medina Meet 12 exceptional young talents, all age 20 and younger, selected for their achievements and potential. Already making waves across Asia’s entertainment landscape, they represent a new generation helping shape the future of Asian entertainment. From musical prodigies to award-winning screen performers, these are the artists to watch across the region. 1. Gordon Cormier, 16, Filipino-Canadian actor. “Asia’s Breakout Star.” He stars as Aang in Netflix’s “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Before “Avatar,” he appeared in “The Stand” and made appearances in “Get Shorty” and “Lost in Space.” 2. Moon Woo-jin, 16, Korean actor. “Asia’s Next Leading Man.” He appeared in “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim,” “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” and “The Atypical Family.” In 2025, he played a serial killer in the Disney+ drama “Unmasked.” He has also been dubbed the “K-Drama Flashback King.” 3. Aqeela Calista, 18, Indonesian actress and singer. “Asia’s Next IT Girl.” At 17, she won four major trophies at the 2025 SCTV Awards for her leading performance in “Asmara Gen Z.” Her songs include “Cinta Tak Ada Yang Tahu,” “Berhenti Berharap” and “Menunggu Cinta.” She was also crowned Aktris IT Girl of the Year at the 2026 GRID Awards. 4. Rong Zishan, 20, Chinese actor and model. “Asia’s Next-Gen Acting Powerhouse.” He has appeared in Harper’s Bazaar Men, GQ, InStyle Icon and Cosmopolitan. His screen credits include Dollar Zhang in “Mountains May Depart” and Zhu Chaoyang in “The Bad Kids.” 5. Rahul R. Vellal, 19, Indian classical singer. “Asia’s Carnatic Boy Wonder.” A Carnatic vocalist, mridangist and pianist, he sang for the Telugu edition of Disney’s “The Lion King,” completed a 10-city U.S. debut concert tour and received the Global Child Prodigy Award in singing. 6. Elia Ilano, 16, Filipino actress, host, creative writer and model. “Asia’s Multifaceted Star.” A youth leader for State of Youth by the KidsRights Foundation, she became its youngest chapter
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026
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Asia’s Next Generation of Stars: 12 Rising Talents to Watch leader. She won Best Actress awards at film festivals in Brazil and India for “Teresa.” She later played the lead in “Violet,” produced by a Netherlands-based nonprofit accredited with the U.N. Economic and Social Council. Her short story and poem were also published in the University of the Philippines’ “Tsikiting Stories: Samut Saring Kwento” collection. 7. Izaac Wang, 18, Chinese-Laotian-American actor. “Asia’s Young Phenom.” He provided voice work for Disney’s “Raya and the Last Dragon” and “Win or Lose,” the Disney+ animated series
created by Carrie Hobson and Michael Yates. 8. Mac (Nattapat Nimjiwarat), 18, Thai actor under GMMTV. “Asia’s Rising Heartthrob.” A former child actor, he appeared in “Thong Nuea Kao” and “Tukkae Rak Pang Mak,” winning supporting-actor honors at the Suphannahong National Film Awards and Thai Film Critic Awards. In 2026, he starred in GMMTV’s “Unlucky Bae.” 9. Kokoro Terada, 18, Japanese actor and bodybuilding enthusiast. “Asia’s Acting Prodigy.” At 10, he won Best Actor in the Foreign Language Film category at the
Milan International Film Festival for “Grandma Is Okay.” He later appeared in “Fullmetal Alchemist: The Revenge of Scar” and “Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Alchemy.” He has since pursued bodybuilding and competed in physique tournaments. 10. Mai Cat Vi, 17, Vietnamese actress. “Asia’s Silver-Screen Gem.” She appeared in the action film “Furie” and won Best Supporting Actress at the Vietnam Film Festival at age 10. At 14, she won Best Actress at the same festival, helping establish her reputation as one of Vietnam’s most accomplished
young performers. 11. Feng E, 19, Taiwanese musician. “Asia’s Ukulele Virtuoso.” His performance of Tommy Emmanuel’s version of “Classical Gas” went viral, leading to two appearances on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show.” He later performed on “Asia’s Got Talent” Season 2 and “America’s Got Talent” in 2020, and his 2024 U.S. West Coast tour included the Los Angeles International Ukulele Festival. 12. Alan Sun Kim, 14, Korean-American actor. “Asia’s Young Maverick.” He became widely known as David Yi in the 2020 film “Minari,” win-
ning the 2021 Critics Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer. He also received youth performance honors from critics groups in Washington, D.C., and Seattle and earned a BAFTA nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. His later credits include “Theater Camp,” “IF,” “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” and “Monsters at Work.” *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com n
Gordon Cormier, 16, Filipino-Canadian.
Moon Woo-jin, 16, Korean.
Aqeela Calista, 18, Indonesian.
Rong Zishan, 20, Chinese.
Rahul R. Vellal, 19, Indian.
Elia Ilano, 16, Filipino.
Izaac Wang, 18, Chinese-Laotian-American.
Mac (Nattapat Nimjiwarat), 18, Thai.
Kokoro Terada, 18, Japanese.
Mai Cat Vi, 17, Vietnamese.
Feng E, 19, Taiwanese.
Alan Sun Kim, 14, Korean-American.
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SEPTEMBER 11-18, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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