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Bangsamoro elects first Parliament, DATELINE USA 50 years after Tripoli pact FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
ICE arrests hit record 50,925 in August Broader enforcement is driving arrests higher, while court proceedings, travel arrangements and receiving-country limits can delay deportations
Historic vote carries a generations-long pursuit of self-government into elected parliamentary rule within the Philippines; no bloc commands majority as lawmakers prepare to choose chief minister by AJPress
COTABATO CITY – Fifty years after the Philippine government and the Moro National Liberation Front signed the Tripoli Agreement, vot-
Philippine outsourcing adjusts to AI as hiring, retraining continue
WASHINGTON — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement made a record 50,925 arrests in August, but the pace of deportations has not risen at the same rate, highlighting the legal and logistical gap between an immigration arrest and removal from the United States. The Department of Homeland Security said the August total was the third consecutive monthly record, following 50,208 arrests in July and 43,900 in June. Removal figures have moved more slowly. Preliminary government data reviewed by Reuters showed deportations averaging about 1,200 a day in August, roughly the same daily pace as in May, when ICE was making substantially fewer arrests. The widening gap partly reflects who is u PAGE 5
Election officials move ahead with existing mail-voting rules as November preparations accelerate Supreme Court action leaves new USPS system on hold; Sept. 19 military and overseas ballot deadline is next major milestone WASHINGTON — State and local election officials are moving ahead with established mail-voting procedures for the Nov. 3 midterms after the Supreme Court declined to let the U.S. Postal Service enforce a new federal ballot-mail system while litigation continues. The court on Sept. 14 denied the government’s emergency request to lift a prelimiu PAGE 5
IT-BPM sector keeps $42.3-billion 2026 revenue target while cutting longer-term projections and shifting toward higher-value services by AJPress
COMELEC Chair Garcia and Commissioners join BARMM canvassing sessions for the region’s first Parliamentary Elections. Photo courtesy of Comelec
MANILA – Former House speaker and Leyte 1st District Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez pleaded not guilty Wednesday, Sept. 16, to a plunder charge alleging that he and three co-accused received at least P7.44 billion in kickbacks and other financial benefits tied to government projects. Romualdez entered his plea by videoconference from the New Quezon City Jail Male Dormitory in Payatas, where he remains detained. The Sandiganbayan Third Division ordered his transfer there after Philippine General Hospital doctors found him
MANILA — The Philippine outsourcing industry is targeting further revenue and employment growth this year even as artificial intelligence changes the work performed across the sector and prompts companies and the government to accelerate worker retraining. The Information Technology and Business Process Association of the Philippines expects the IT-BPM sector to generate $42.3 billion in revenue and employ about 1.96 million workers by the end of 2026. The industry generated about $40.3 billion and employed roughly 1.9 million workers in 2025. Some outsourcing companies have also begun their seasonal hiring ramp for Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Christmas and New Year demand, IBPAP President u PAGE 5
ICC orders former President Rodrigo Duterte Asset declarations, Senate to remain detained ahead of November trial vote threshold drive Duterte Judges cite continuing flight and interference risks; impeachment hearings separate ruling on fitness for trial remains pending by AJPress THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court has ordered former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte to remain in detention, finding no sufficient change in circumstances to justify
his release as his crimes against humanity trial approaches. Trial Chamber III issued its second detention-review decision on Sept. 16, the same day Duterte appeared in person before ICC judges in The Hague. The chamber concluded that the grounds supporu PAGE 2
Romualdez pleads not guilty in DOJ subpoenas Padilla in obstruction probe over Dela P7.44-billion plunder case Rosa’s Senate departure by AJP ress
ers in the southern Philippines have elected the first regular Bangsamoro Parliament, moving a u PAGE 2
clinically stable and no longer requiring acute hospital confinement. The court later rejected his request for transfer to a government hospital. His lawyers have said they intend to seek bail. The Office of the Ombudsman filed the charge Sept. 7 against Romualdez and three others: former Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Zaldy Co, who previously chaired the House appropriations committee; Joselyn Tragua Serenio, identified by authorities as Romualdez’s personal assistant; and Felicito Cristobal Guevarra, president of Samchan Foreign Exchange Corp. According to the criminal Inu PAGE 4
MANILA - The departure of Senators Alan Peter Cayetano and Pia Cayetano from the Philippines has taken on added significance as the Senate impeachment court prepares to settle a consequential question in Vice President Sara Duterte’s trial: whether absences should alter the number of votes required for conviction.
by AJPress
MANILA — House prosecutors examining Vice President Sara Duterte’s financial affairs moved from legal principles to her asset declarations this week, while the Senate impeachment court separately heard conflicting views from retired Supreme Court justices on how many votes would be required to convict her. The proceedings from Sept. 14 to 16 centered on Article II of the impeachment case, which accusThe Bureau of Immigration es Duterte of unexplained wealth, confirmed Thursday that both inaccurate or false Statements of senators had left the country Assets, Liabilities and Net Worth, and said neither was subject to or SALNs, and prohibited busia hold-departure order or oth- ness interests while serving as er immigration restriction. The vice president. The allegations bureau, citing privacy laws, de- remain contested, and the imclined to disclose their itinerar- peachment court has made no ies. Their expected return dates finding that Duterte accumulated unlawfully acquired wealth or vihave not been made public. Both Cayetanos sit as sena- olated financial-disclosure rules. Legal framework laid out tor-judges in Duterte’s impeachu PAGE 5 On Sept. 14, retired Sandigan-
Senator denies helping colleague evade arrest; prosecutors stress summons is not a finding of guilt by AJPress
Three days of proceedings examine Article II allegations, Duterte’s financial disclosures and the constitutional standard for conviction bayan Presiding Justice Amparo Cabotaje-Tang became the prosecution’s first witness under Article II, explaining laws and legal principles governing unexplained wealth, financial disclosures and business interests of public officials. Cabotaje-Tang testified that repeated omissions from SALNs may be considered when determining whether there was an attempt to conceal property, but an omission does not automatically establish guilt. She also discussed constitutional restrictions on the President and vice president participating directly or indirectly in business while in office. A significant distinction emerged over bank transactions and year-end asset declarations. Cabotaje-Tang said a SALN reflects assets held as of Dec. 31, meaning money that entered an account but was no longer there at year’s end would not necessarily appear as year-end cash. The u PAGE 5
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SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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From the Front Page
Bangsamoro elects first... PAGE 1 decades-long experiment in regional autonomy into a new phase. The Sept. 14 vote gave the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, its first legislature chosen under the parliamentary system created by the 2018 Bangsamoro Organic Law. The Commission on Elections Regional Board of Canvassers proclaimed the winners shortly after midnight Sept. 16. Final figures showed 2,018,478 voters participated, an 84.34 percent turnout. The Bangsamoro Federalist Party secured 16 of the 40 proportional-representation seats, followed by the United Bangsamoro Justice Party with 15, the BARMM Grand Coalition with eight and the Raayat Democratic Party with one. In the 32 geographic districts, BFP candidates won 15 seats, UBJP nine, Serbisyong Inklusibo Alyansang Progresibo six, and the Progresibong Bangsamoro Party and Al Ittihad-UKB one each. Eight seats are reserved for sectoral representatives. No single party emerged with the 41 votes needed to elect a chief minister on its own. Under the Organic Law, Parliament elects the chief minister by a majority of all members, with a runoff between the top two if no one obtains a majority initially. The elected members assume office at noon Oct. 30 and will serve until June 30, 2031. The appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority is dissolved upon the election and qualification of the chief minister. A long road to autonomy The election carries historical weight because the political question it addresses predates the modern Moro rebellion. Muslim sultanates and other political communities governed parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago before Spanish colonial rule. Over time, colonial rule, incorporation into the Philippine state, migration, land disputes, underdevelopment and questions of political representation became part of the modern Bang-
samoro grievance. The contemporary armed conflict took shape in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The MNLF emerged as the principal separatist movement and, on Dec. 23, 1976, signed the Tripoli Agreement with the Philippine government, establishing a framework for autonomy while preserving Philippine sovereignty. The accord did not end the conflict. The government and MNLF signed a Final Peace Agreement in 1996, while the Moro Islamic Liberation Front pursued a separate negotiating track with Manila. The 1987 Constitution provided for an autonomous region in Muslim Mindanao. Congress created the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao in 1989, but the MILF peace process later sought a different political arrangement. The government and MILF signed the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro in 2014. Congress enacted Republic Act No. 11054, the Bangsamoro Organic Law, in 2018. Voters ratified the arrangement in 2019, replacing ARMM with BARMM and establishing a parliamentary regional government. The Supreme Court upheld the law in 2024 but ruled Sulu was not part of BARMM because the province had rejected ratification. Autonomy within the Philippines Despite having its own Parliament and chief minister, BARMM remains part of the Republic of the Philippines. The Organic Law calls the region an “integral, indivisible, and inseparable” part of national territory and requires allegiance to the Constitution and the Republic. BARMM exercises broader political and fiscal autonomy than an ordinary region, but it is not independent. Parliament legislates on regional matters and elects the chief minister, while national defense and other reserved powers remain with the national government. The election therefore does not alter the presidency or Congress, nor should its results be read as a measure of national
voting sentiment. Its broader importance lies in whether institutions created through the peace settlement can sustain representative government, manage political rivalry and preserve gains made after decades of conflict. The two largest blocs are rooted in rival MILF-linked political networks. Interim Chief Minister Abdulraof Macacua leads the BFP, while MILF Chairman Ahod “Al Haj Murad” Ebrahim heads the UBJP. Their competition moves the struggle for political authority into electoral and parliamentary institutions. The wider peace process is not finished. Normalization commitments involving former combatants and conflict-affected communities continue as the political track moves into elected government. Violence and irregularities under review The historic vote was accompanied by serious security and procedural concerns. A joint Asian Network for Free Elections-National Democratic Institute mission said at least five people were killed and more than 20 injured in violence concentrated in Cotabato City on Sept. 13 and 14. It also reported ballot-secrecy, voter-assistance and other procedural problems in some of the 103 precincts it observed, while cautioning that its limited sample should not be treated as representative of all BARMM. In Maluso, Basilan, Comelec officials discovered 16,653 pre-shaded ballots in 36 of 69 clustered precincts. Replacement ballots were delivered and voting resumed Sept. 15. Comelec opened an investigation. No individual has been adjudged responsible. The immediate test now moves inside Parliament: assembling the majority needed to elect a chief minister. The larger test is whether a system built through half a century of peace agreements, constitutional reforms and transitional government can turn negotiated autonomy into durable democratic rule within the Philippines. n
ICC TRIAL. Former president Rodrigo Duterte appears before the third status conference convened by the ICC Trial Chamber III on the case of The Prosecutor v. Rodrigo Roa Duterte on Wednesday (Sept. 16, 2026). Trial Chamber III consists of Presiding Judge Joanna Korner, Judge Keebong Paek, and Judge Nicolas Guillou. Courtesy of ICC-CPI
ICC orders former President Rodrigo Duterte... PAGE 1 ting his detention remain as the case moves toward a Nov. 30 trial. Judges said the approaching trial and the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence if Duterte is convicted increased the assessed risk that he could flee or obstruct or endanger the proceedings. The chamber also cited the prosecution’s disclosure of witness identities and expected testimony, saying this increased the potential for interference if Duterte were released, either directly or through others. The ruling did not find that Duterte, his family or supporters had interfered with the newly disclosed witnesses. The judges concluded that there had been no notable change in circumstances warranting Duterte’s release, with or without conditions, and ordered his continued detention. The detention ruling is separate from the still-pending question of whether Duterte, 81, is fit to participate in the trial.
In January, Pre-Trial Chamber I found Duterte fit to take part in pre-trial proceedings after considering an assessment by independent medical experts. Since the case moved to the trial phase, his lawyers have again raised concerns about his cognitive condition. The defense argues that memory problems impair Duterte’s ability to understand the proceedings and assist his lawyers. Prosecutors, relying on reports from court-appointed experts, have asked Trial Chamber III to find him fit for trial. The chamber has not yet issued its decision on that question. Duterte appeared in court wearing a dark suit and white shirt and did not address the judges. His courtroom appearance does not itself resolve the medical issue before the chamber. During the Sept. 16 hearing, Presiding Judge Joanna Korner also urged prosecutors to streamline their planned witness testimony and documen-
tary evidence. Duterte’s defense has challenged the volume and organization of the prosecution’s disclosures, while prosecutors have disputed parts of the defense’s characterization of the material. Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving allegations of murder and attempted murder in connection with the anti-drug campaign between Nov. 1, 2011 and March 16, 2019. On April 23, Pre-Trial Chamber I unanimously confirmed the charges after finding substantial grounds to believe Duterte was responsible and committed the case to trial. That determination is not a finding of guilt. Duterte has denied criminal wrongdoing and remains presumed innocent. Prosecutors must prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt at trial. The opening of the trial is scheduled for Nov. 30, subject to the chamber’s resolution of pending matters, including Duterte’s fitness to participate in the proceedings. n
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ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026
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PAGCOR estimates illegal gambling may Remulla challenges Roque over asylum status account for half of PH gaming market as Austrian decision remains undisclosed by AJPress MANILA — Illegal gambling may account for roughly half of the Philippine gaming market, according to an estimate by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Cor p., high light ing the difficulty regulators face in policing unauthorized online platforms. PAGCOR Chairman and CEO Alejandro Tengco told reporters this week that he believes the market is roughly split between legal and illegal activity. He cautioned that the figure is an informal estimate because transactions through unauthorized operators are not captured in official industry data. The qualification is important. PAGCOR said in August that around 50 percent of online gaming sites accessed in the Philippines were illegal. That referred to the estimated share of sites being accessed, not to
their share of wagers, players or gaming revenue. Tengco said illegal operators remain difficult to suppress because they can change domain names and other identifying features after authorities block access. PAGCOR has been working with the Department of Information and Communications Technology, National Telecommunications Commission and Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center against illegal online gaming operators and payment channels used by unlicensed platforms. The regulator plans to launch an application before the end of 2026 to help players identify licensed casino and online gaming operators. PAGCOR already operates its Guarantee website, where users can check whether an online gaming provider is authorized. Fi nancia l regu lators have tightened access to gambling
through digital payment platfor ms. I n Aug ust 2025, t he Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas ordered supervised institutions to remove links from mobile payment apps and websites that redirect users to gambling sites. The enforcement effort comes as i nter nat iona l aut hor it ies sharpen scrutiny of gambling-related financial crime. In a Sept. 9 report, the Financial Action Task Force said illegal gambling is a significant global money-laundering risk and that illicit markets in some jurisdictions rival or exceed regulated ones. That finding was global and did not independently measure the Philippine illegal gambling market. The Philippines was removed from the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in February 2025 after completing its action plan to strengthen anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing controls. n
Interior chief says six-month period has lapsed; former Palace spokesman says application remains pending by AJPress
MANILA — Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla is standing by his assertion that former presidential spokesman Harry Roque’s asylum application has been denied, while Roque says the case remains pending in Austria. As of Sept. 17, neither side had publicly produced a decision from Austria’s Federal Office for Immigration and Asylum confirming approval or rejection. Remulla said the six-month period for deciding the application had passed and challenged Roque to prove it remained unresolved. Roque rejected that interpretation. Austrian administrative rules generally give the asylum author-
ity six months to decide a case, but the expiration of that period does not automatically amount to a denial. Applicants may challenge an authority’s failure to act. Roque has said he first sought asylum in the Netherlands before his application was transferred to Austria. He maintains that the Philippine cases against him are politically motivated, a characterization the government rejects. An Angeles City Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant for Roque and other defendants in May 2025 after finding probable cause in a qualified human trafficking case tied to Lucky South 99 in Porac, Pampanga. The court said the charges were non-bailable. The finding did not determine guilt. Roque has
denied wrongdoing and is presumed innocent unless proven guilty. Separately, the Bureau of Internal Revenue filed a criminal complaint in April over alleged tax violations involving Biancham Holdings and Trading Inc., placing the estimated deficiency at P3.35 million. The allegations remain unadjudicated. Remulla has also said authorities intend to act once an INTERPOL Red Notice is issued. A Red Notice is not an international arrest warrant but a request to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person, subject to the laws of the country involved. Until an Austrian decision is publicly verified, Roque’s asylum status remains disputed. n
Marcos breaks ground on NAIA subway Philippines seeks private capital station as airport rail link advances Terminal 3 station and tunnels form part of 33-kilometer Metro to fund 2035 climate target Manila Subway targeted for completion in 2031 Most of new emissions commitment depends on international finance, technology and capacity-building support
points depend on international finance, technology and capacity-building support. That deMANILA — The Philippine pendence makes access to exgovernment is seeking more ternal capital central to overall private and international cap- implementation. Environment Secretary Juan ital for clean-energy and climate projects as it begins Miguel Cuna, speaking at the implementing a new climate Philippine Net Zero Confercommitment whose largest ence 2026, urged investors, component depends on over- businesses and financial institutions to expand financing seas support. The Philippines submitted for clean technologies and cliits 2026 Nationally Determined mate projects. He also called Contribution to the United Na- for financing that is accessible, tions Framework Convention scalable and does not unneceson Climate Change on Sept. 8. sarily add to debt. The NDC says implementaIt commits the country to a 75 percent net reduction and/or tion will draw on public and avoidance of cumulative pro- private financing, including jected greenhouse-gas emis- innovative instruments, while sions from 2025 through 2035 seeking international support against a business-as-usual that is accessible, predictable, scenario, including forestry highly concessional and nondebt creating. and other land use. Carbon markets are also part Seven percentage points of the target are unconditional. of the financing strategy. The The remaining 68 percentage NDC recognizes market mech-
by AJPress
anisms under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement but requires transparency, national governance and safeguards against double counting. The Department of Energy has separately issued guidelines for generating, managing and monitoring carbon credits in the energy sector. The financial system is also being positioned to support green investment. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Securities and Exchange Commission and Insurance Commission have developed sustainable-finance taxonomy guidelines to help identify qualifying activities. Separately, the Department of Finance announced in July that the Green Climate Fund approved a $6.78 million readiness grant to strengthen the country's capacity to develop and implement climate investments. n
by AJPress MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. led the groundbreaking Wednesday, Sept. 16, for the Metro Manila Subway’s NAIA Terminal 3 station and connecting tunnels, beginning construction of the airport section of the country’s first underground railway. Contract Package 109 covers a 2.413-kilometer underground section between Taguig and Pasay, including a station beneath the Terminal 3 open parking area. The station will connect directly to the terminal building in coordination with New NAIA Infra Corp., the airport’s private operator. The ceremony did not mark the start of the subway as a whole. Construction is already underway elsewhere on the line. Marcos said the project has reached nearly 60 percent overall progress, while the government said right-of-way requirements for the airport section have been fully
PCO Photo
secured. The NAIA tunnels will require underpinning existing expressway piers, a Japanese engineering method designed to maintain structural stability while excavation proceeds below existing infrastructure. The full Metro Manila Subway will run about 33 kilometers with 17 stations from Valenzuela through Metro Manila to Parañaque, including the airport spur. It is financed largely through loans from the Japan Internation-
al Cooperation Agency, which signed a fourth financing tranche of up to 220 billion yen in March. Government estimates put travel time between Valenzuela and NAIA Terminal 3 at roughly 40 minutes once the system is operational. The airport station is projected to serve about 70,000 passengers daily by 2035. The government is targeting completion of the full subway in 2031. CP109 was awarded to the Taisei-DMCI joint venture. n
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SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 937-9981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797
Legarda, son reported in France as Ombudsman reviews replies Anti-graft office says its information places the lawmakers in Paris; their precise whereabouts have not been independently confirmed by AJPress
AMICI CURIAE. The Senate impeachment court hears the opinions of (from left) former Supreme Court associate justice Adolfo Azcuna, and former chief justices Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno, aged 87, 86 and 89, respectively, on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026. The retired magistrates cited possible factors in determining who or how many should be counted in the final voting in Vice President Sara Z. Duterte’s impeachment trial. PNA photo by Avito Dalan/SPPA pool
MANILA — Sen. Loren Legarda and her son, Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste, are reported to be in France as the Office of the Ombudsman reviews their responses to complaints involving solar-energy projects associated with Leviste’s companies. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said information available to his office places the mother and son in Paris and indicates
they also traveled to Switzerland. Their precise current location has not been independently confirmed. The National Bureau of Investigation earlier said Legarda left the Philippines for France on Aug. 2, while Leviste departed separately for Hong Kong. Immigration authorities said neither had a derogatory record preventing travel at the time. Legarda’s latest publicly reported medical leave from the Senate ran through Sept. 16. As of Sept.
17, she remained described in current reporting as abroad. Legarda and Leviste have submitted counter-affidavits in the Ombudsman’s preliminary investigation. Remulla said their filings were late but would still be considered as part of due process. Both have denied wrongdoing. Their spokesman, lawyer Tony La Viña, has called the investigation political persecution and said Legarda had no ownership or management role in her son’s solar companies. n
Quirino Gov. Dax Cua dies at 48; Vaquilar succeeds him Legal scholar calls for review of Former congressman also led national and Asia-Pacific local government organizations Philippine rules on children’s status by AJPress
CABARROGUIS, Quirino — Quirino Gov. Dakila Carlo “Dax” Cua, a former congressman and national local-government leader, died Tuesday, Sept. 15. He was 48. The House of Representatives confirmed Cua’s death Wednesday. His family and the provincial government had not publicly disclosed the cause of death as of Thursday. Quirino is a landlocked, mountainous province in the southeastern portion of the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern Luzon. Cabarroguis is its capital. Bordered by Isabela, Aurora and Nueva Vizcaya, the province has six municipalities and 132 barangays. The Philippine Statistics Authority recorded 210,841 residents in the 2024 census. Quirino became a regular province in 1971. Cua entered provincial politics at 23, serving as vice governor from 2001 to 2007 and governor from 2007 to 2010. He then represented Quirino’s lone congressional district from 2010 to 2019 before returning as governor in 2019. In Congress, Cua chaired the House Committee on Ways and Means and filed House Bill 4774, an early House tax-reform measure later consolidated with other proposals leading to the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion, or TRAIN, law. At the time of his death, Cua
Family Code distinctions remain as proposed legislation seeks to remove classifications based on parents’ marital status by AJPress
Photo from Facebook/@HouseofRepsPH
was president of the Union of Local Authorities of the Philippines for the 2026-2029 term and president of United Cities and Local Governments Asia-Pacific for 2025-2027. Vice Gov. Julius Caesar “Jojo” Vaquilar succeeds Cua as governor. Under Section 44 of the Local Government Code, the vice
governor becomes governor when a permanent vacancy occurs in the governorship. Cua’s wife, Midy Cua, represents Quirino’s lone congressional district in the House. Public viewing of Cua’s remains began Sept. 17 at the Quirino Capitol People’s Gymnasium in Cabarroguis for residents. n
MANILA — A Philippine family law scholar is calling for a review of rules that classify children according to their parents’ marital status, arguing that the legal system should give greater consideration to a child’s actual family circumstances and best interests. Atty. Amparita S. Sta. Maria, a faculty member of the Ateneo School of Law and a human rights advocate, raised the issue in a lecture titled “Rethinking the Best Interests of the Child: Beyond Legitimacy in Family Law,” part of Ateneo de Manila University’s Breakthroughs Lectures series on the family. Sta. Maria argued that legal presumptions centered on marriage can sometimes conflict with biological relationships and the circumstances in which children are actually raised. She said such presumptions can serve useful purposes but should not automatically determine what is best for a child when evidence points to a different family reality. The issue affects a substantial share of Philippine families. Philippine Statistics Authority data show that 808,965 of the country’s 1,358,989 registered live births in 2024, or 59.5 percent, were classified as nonmarital. The remaining 550,024 were marital births. Distinctions remain in law Under Article 164 of the Family Code, children conceived or born during the marriage of their parents are considered legitimate. Article 165 generally classifies children conceived and born outside a valid
marriage as illegitimate unless another provision of the code applies. Article 176, as amended by Republic Act No. 9255, provides that a child classified as illegitimate is generally under the parental authority of the mother and is entitled to support. Such a child may use the father’s surname when paternal filiation has been expressly recognized as provided by law. The same provision states that the legitime, or compulsory inheritance share, of each illegitimate child is one-half of the legitime of a legitimate child. Supreme Court decisions have modified the application of some longstanding doctrines but have not eliminated the Family Code classifications. In Santiago v. Jornacion in 2021, the Court considered a case involving a man seeking to establish biological filiation with a child born while the mother was married to another man. The Court ordered further proceedings, including DNA analysis, and stressed the importance of scientific evidence and the best interests of the child while recognizing the existing presumption of legitimacy. In Aquino v. Aquino, also decided in 2021, the Court abandoned its previous interpretation of the so-called “iron curtain rule” that had prevented nonmarital children from inheriting by representation from grandparents and other direct ascendants in certain circumstances. The Court used the terms “marital” and “nonmarital” rather than attaching the traditional labels directly to children. The Court further clarified in Cua Ko v. Republic in 2023 that legit-
imacy and biological filiation are separate legal concepts. A child’s status under the law does not necessarily resolve the question of biological parentage. In Republic v. Tangarorang, decided in 2025, the Court held that a child legitimated through the parents’ subsequent marriage retained that status even after the marriage was later declared void because of psychological incapacity. Another 2025 ruling reaffirmed that Article 176 generally places parental authority over a nonmarital child with the mother while emphasizing that custody disputes must ultimately be resolved according to the child’s welfare and best interests. Congress weighs broader change A pending measure would go further by changing the Family Code itself. House Bill No. 7016 proposes removing the classifications of children as legitimate, illegitimate and legitimated. It was filed Dec. 22, 2025 by Reps. Sarah Jane Elago, Renee Louise Co and Antonio Tinio and referred to the House Committee on Revision of Laws on Jan. 26, 2026. As of Sept. 17, the House of Representatives listed the measure as pending with the committee. It has not become law. Sta. Maria’s proposal similarly represents an argument for legal reform, not a change in existing law. The Family Code classifications and their corresponding legal consequences remain in force unless amended by Congress or affected by subsequent controlling court rulings. n
Team Philippines heads into 20th Asian Games seeking stronger medal haul
Grant targets permitting bottlenecks, utility modernization and projects that could attract private capital by AJPress
NAGOYA, Japan — Team Philippines enters the main phase of the 20th Asian Games with Olympic champions, continental medalists and emerging athletes seeking to improve on the country’s performance at the previous edition. The Asian Games, often called the Asiad, are Asia’s largest multisport competition. Organized by the Olympic Council of Asia, they are held every four years and bring together athletes from 45 national Olympic committees. Like the Olympics, the program includes athletics, swimming, gymnastics, basketball, boxing and tennis, while also featuring sports with strong Asian traditions, including sepak takraw, kabaddi and wushu. The modern Asian Games began in New Delhi in 1951, but their roots extend to the Far Eastern Championship Games, first held in Manila in 1913. The Philippines also hosted the second Asian Games in Manila in 1954. The 2026 Games formally run from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4 in Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya, although several competitions began earlier. More than 11,000 athletes and 6,000 officials are expected, with competition in 43 sports and 71 disciplines. It is Japan’s third time hosting the Asian Games, after Tokyo in 1958 and Hiroshima in 1994. The Philippines is represented by more than 400 athletes and officials, with its roster led by two-time Olympic gymnastics champion Carlos Yulo, defending Asian Games pole vault champion EJ Obiena, tennis standout Alex Eala, Olympic boxing medalist Aira Villegas and defending jiu-jitsu champion Annie Ramirez. Eala arrives after reaching the third round of the U.S. Open, the deepest run of her career at the
New York Grand Slam. The No. 17 seed defeated Mary Stoiana and Oleksandra Oliynykova before falling to American Iva Jovic, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Now ranked No. 18 in the world, Eala won bronze medals in women’s singles and mixed doubles at the Hangzhou 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023 after a one-year pandemic postponement. Her Asian Games participation also creates an unusual conflict with the professional tennis calendar. Competition in Nagoya is scheduled from Sept. 27 to Oct. 3, overlapping with the China Open, a mandatory WTA 1000 tournament. The Philippine Tennis Association has requested an exemption from the WTA so Eala can represent the country without penalties associated with missing the Beijing event. No final WTA decision had been publicly announced as of Sept. 17. The Philippines finished 17th in Hangzhou with four gold, two silver and 12 bronze medals. Philippine Olympic Committee officials have said the goal in Japan is to surpass that performance. The campaign has already produced an early setback. Defending men’s basketball champion Gilas Pilipinas was eliminated in the group stage, with China ending its title defense in a 105-61 victory on Sept. 14. The formal opening comes Saturday, when Villegas and weightlifter Albert Ian delos Santos will carry the Philippine flag. Members of the delegation joining the parade of nations will wear “Malaya,” a piña-jusi barong designed by Francis Libiran. The attire incorporates Philippine flag colors, Baybayin and Kalinga-inspired patterns. Once the ceremony ends, attention returns to competition and Team Philippines’ effort to build on its medal haul from Hangzhou. n
Romualdez pleads not guilty in P7.44-billion... PAGE 1 formation, prosecutors allege that Romualdez and Co received commissions, shares, kickbacks, commitments or other financial benefits on at least 15 occasions from contractors and others with interests in flood-control, infrastructure and other government projects funded under national budgets from 2022 through 2025. The Information further alleges that some funds were delivered to properties owned, occupied
by or associated with Romualdez and received by Serenio and others allegedly acting on his behalf. Those allegations have not been proved in court. Romualdez has denied wrongdoing and maintains his innocence. The Sandiganbayan has stressed that its finding of probable cause for issuing arrest warrants did not constitute a determination of guilt and that the accused remain presumed innocent unless proved guilty beyond reasonable doubt.
The Bureau of Immigration said Thursday that Serenio had left the Philippines before the court issued a hold-departure order. The bureau declined to disclose her travel details, citing privacy laws. Immigration authorities said Guevarra remains in the Philippines. Co remained at large as of Romualdez’s arraignment. The case is proceeding toward pretrial, with prosecutors bearing the burden of proving the charge beyond reasonable doubt. n
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ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026
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DOJ subpoenas Padilla in obstruction probe... PAGE 1
DISASTER RESILIENCE. Defense Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. graces the closing ceremonies of the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience at the Conrad Manila Hotel in Pasay City on Wednesday (Sept. 16, 2026). ASEAN ministers closed the two-day event with the adoption of the Manila Declaration, a document that sets the region’s disaster resilience agenda toward 2030 and beyond. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
Election officials move ahead with existing... PAGE 1 nary injunction issued by a federal judge in Massachusetts. The justices said the government was “unlikely to succeed on the merits” of its challenge and that the equitable factors did not favor a stay. The order does not finally invalidate the regulation or end the case. Justice Brett Kavanaugh separately agreed that the rule should not take effect for the 2026 election, emphasizing the limited time state and local officials had to implement it. Justice Samuel Alito, joined by Justice Clarence Thomas, dissented. The court did not publish a full numerical vote. USPS published the final rule Aug. 26 after President Donald Trump directed the agency in March to establish new standards for mail-in and absentee ballots used in federal elections. The rule called for specified envelope designs, unique Intelligent Mail barcodes and a federal
portal containing voter and ballot-mail information submitted by election officials. Before accepting covered outbound federal ballot mail, USPS would have checked whether mailings met the new standards and corresponded with information in the portal. Noncompliant outbound mailings could be returned to the authorized ballot mailer for correction. The rule did not give USPS authority to determine voter eligibility or manage state voter rolls. Its pre-acceptance verification procedure applied to outbound ballots sent by election officials, not completed ballots mailed back by voters. The regulation also expressly excluded ballots covered by the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, or UOCAVA. A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked key provisions Sept. 4. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift the injunction Sept. 10, and the
Supreme Court left it in place four days later. The administration has defended the postal changes as measures intended to reduce the risk of fraud, improve ballot-mail processing and protect election integrity. Challengers, including states and voting-rights organizations, have argued that major provisions exceed federal authority and were introduced too close to the election. Those questions remain before the courts. A separate federal deadline now comes into focus. Under UOCAVA, states generally must transmit timely requested absentee ballots to covered military and overseas voters at least 45 days before a federal election. For the Nov. 3 election, that date is Sept. 19. That requirement is separate from the blocked USPS rule. It is also the next major election-administration milestone as states move deeper into the 2026 voting calendar. (AJPress)
Asset declarations, Senate vote threshold... PAGE 1 distinction is important because the movement of money through an account is not, by itself, equivalent to an official’s net worth or proof of illegally acquired wealth. The defense challenged portions of Cabotaje-Tang’s testimony and questioned whether her interpretation of disclosure and divestment requirements should apply to Duterte. Cabotaje-Tang denied being politically motivated and said she appeared pursuant to a subpoena. Asset declarations examined On Sept. 15, prosecutors moved from the legal framework to Duterte’s actual financial disclosures. Karen Batu, officer-in-charge of the Office of the Ombudsman’s Central Records Division, testified from Duterte’s SALNs covering her years in public office. The documents showed her declared net worth increasing from about P7.25 million in 2007 to P65.04 million in 2021 and P98.66 million in 2025. Presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero stressed that SALNs filed before Duterte became vice president in 2022 principally provide a historical baseline because Article II concerns alleged conduct during her vice-presidential term. An increase in declared net worth, standing alone, does not establish unlawful enrichment. Batu testified that Duterte’s SALNs from 2019 through 2025 did not separately declare “cash on hand or in bank.” During cross-examination, however, the defense established that prescribed SALN forms did not contain a separate line specifically labeled for cash and that some personal properties may be re-
ported collectively under applicable rules. Batu also acknowledged that the Ombudsman records office receives and keeps SALNs but does not independently verify the truth or accuracy of the information officials place in them. The hearing also examined Duterte’s declared business interests and the absence of separately declared shares of stock in several years in which she reported connections to corporations. Prosecutors contend such records warrant examination alongside corporate and financial documents. The defense has challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of how the prescribed SALN forms require those interests to be reported. Justices differ on conviction threshold On Sept. 16, the impeachment court paused the presentation of Article II evidence to hear four retired Supreme Court justices serving as amici curiae, or friends of the court, on the Constitution’s requirement that conviction receive the concurrence of two-thirds of all members of the Senate. Retired Chief Justices Hilario Davide Jr., Artemio Panganiban and Reynato Puno took differing legal routes but concluded that the 16-vote threshold previously applied to the 24-member Senate need not necessarily remain fixed under every circumstance. Their opinions addressed such questions as prolonged absence, inability to participate and whether every sitting senator must be included in the denominator used to compute the required twothirds vote. Retired Associate Justice Ad-
olfo Azcuna took a different position, maintaining that a senator should be included in the computation as long as he or she remains a member of the Senate. The Constitution states that the Senate has the sole power to try and decide impeachment cases and that no person may be convicted without the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members. The retired justices were advisers to the impeachment court, not decision-makers. Their opinions did not change the conviction threshold on Sept. 16. The prosecution and defense were scheduled to present their own arguments on the issue on Sept. 23 before the senator-judges determine how the constitutional requirement should be applied. The court also issued a subpoena on Sept. 16 directing Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the vice president’s brother, to appear as a prosecution witness on Sept. 23, along with Securities and Exchange Commission official Gerardo del Rosario. The subpoena seeks testimony relevant to the prosecution’s Article II presentation and is not an accusation or finding of wrongdoing against the mayor. At the close of the three days of proceedings, the prosecution had begun building its Article II case through expert testimony and Duterte’s official disclosures, but the underlying allegations remained unresolved. The prosecution retains the burden of establishing its charges before the impeachment court, while Duterte’s defense may challenge the documents and testimony, provide explanations for the financial records and present its own evidence. n
ICE arrests hit record 50,925 in August... PAGE 1 being arrested and where their cases stand. Reuters, citing government records it reviewed, reported that people with criminal convictions accounted for less than one-quarter of ICE arrests in July. That does not mean the remaining people were necessarily lawfully present in the United States. ICE distinguishes among people with criminal convictions, those with pending criminal charges and those without convictions or pending charges who may still be subject to civil immigration enforcement. ICE says its Enforcement and Removal Operations officers generally make administrative arrests when they have probable cause to believe a person is removable under U.S. immigration law. Some people taken into custody already have final removal orders. Others may have asylum claims, family-based petitions, appeals or other immigration proceedings still pending. Depending on the case, those proceedings can delay removal or determine whether a person may remain in the country. The Justice Department’s Ex-
ecutive Office for Immigration Review said in May that it had completed more than 1.08 million cases since Jan. 20, 2025, reducing the pending immigration-court caseload to fewer than 3.53 million. ICE has also expanded its cooperation with state and local law enforcement through the federal 287(g) program. Under the program, participating officers may perform specified immigration-enforcement functions under ICE supervision, including identifying removable people in local custody and, under some agreements, exercising limited immigration authority during routine duties. Even when the government has legal authority to remove someone, deportation can require additional steps, including obtaining travel documents, arranging transportation and securing cooperation from the country receiving the person. The White House said Sept. 9 that more than 3 million migrants had left the United States since President Donald Trump began his second term in January 2025. That administration figure is broader than the number of
formal government removals because it includes people the government says departed on their own. The distinction is important when measuring the administration’s immigration-enforcement campaign: an ICE arrest, detention, immigration-court order, formal removal and voluntary departure are different events and should not be counted interchangeably. The intensified enforcement has also involved Filipino nationals. The Philippine Embassy in Washington said Sept. 2 that Loreto Javar, a Filipino national residing in Washington state, had been released from ICE custody on recognizance while his deportation proceedings remain pending. The embassy said the Philippine Consulate General in Seattle had provided consular assistance and had asked ICE to consider humanitarian and medical grounds before his release. The embassy said it and the Seattle consulate would continue monitoring Javar’s case and assisting him while respecting U.S. immigration procedures. (AJPress)
ment trial. The court is reconsidering its earlier position that conviction requires 16 votes, equivalent to two-thirds of the Senate’s full 24-member membership. Sen. Erwin Tulfo sought a review of that interpretation as several senator-judges have been unable to participate regularly. Presiding officer Francis Escudero has called constitutional experts to assist the court on Sept. 16. Oral arguments by the prosecution and defense are scheduled for Sept. 23, when senator-judges are also expected to confront the voting-threshold question. There is no evidence that the Cayetanos’ foreign travel is connected to the impeachment proceedings, and it remains unclear whether either senator will be absent when the court resumes consideration of the issue.
The question has particular resonance for Alan Peter Cayetano. He previously supported retaining the 16-vote requirement and argued that senator-judges unable to attend should be given a means to participate because their absence could affect the final tally. Pia Cayetano, in a separate intervention, questioned the reliance on the Supreme Court’s Avelino v. Cuenco ruling in determining which senators should be counted in the voting base. Alan Peter Cayetano is also under separate scrutiny in the National Bureau of Investigation’s inquiry into alleged irregularities connected with the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. NBI Director Melvin Matibag has said investigators are still determining whether Cayetano should be included in possible
complaints involving the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee. No complaint against him arising from the current inquiry had been filed as of the latest official statements reviewed. Cayetano has disputed the NBI’s characterization of his role while saying he supports a full investigation. The allegations remain unproven and have not been adjudicated. Pia Cayetano has not been identified by the NBI as a prospective respondent in the SEA Games inquiry. The impeachment court is expected to take up the voting question on Sept. 23 after hearing arguments from both sides, with the participation of every available senator-judge likely to matter in determining the rule that will govern the rest of Duterte’s trial. n
Philippine outsourcing adjusts to AI as hiring... PAGE 1 and CEO Jack Madrid said this month. Madrid said the fourth-quarter hiring increase was already incorporated into the association's 2026 projections. Industry data have not shown the sharp, sector-wide contraction that some analysts had feared from the rapid adoption of generative AI. HSBC Global Investment Research reported this month that Philippine exports classified as “other business services,” a category that includes substantial outsourcing activity, have continued to rise, although growth has slowed from pre-pandemic rates. Longer-term targets lowered The industry's longer-term expectations have become more cautious. IBPAP in July revised its 2028 outlook to between $43.3 billion and $50.5 billion in annual revenue and between 1.85 million and 2.14 million full-time workers. Its 2022 industry roadmap had targeted about $59 billion in revenue and 2.5 million workers by 2028. IBPAP has cited rapid AI adoption, changing buyer and investment behavior, geopolitical uncertainty and growing competition from other outsourcing destinations as factors behind the recalibration.
The association has identified South Africa, Egypt, Poland, Colombia, Costa Rica and Vietnam among countries competing for global services investment. At the same time, the Philippine industry is widening its search for business beyond the United States, historically its largest market. An investment initiative announced this month is targeting companies in Australia, Japan, the Middle East and the United Kingdom, along with businesses in banking, financial services, insurance and health care. IBPAP is also promoting AI-enabled capabilities in customer experience, health care, information technology, finance and accounting, human resources and cybersecurity as the sector moves toward higher-value work. AI exposure brings workforce challenge Research indicates that the transition could significantly change many jobs without necessarily eliminating them. The International Labour Organization reported in February that about 12.7 million Philippine jobs, more than one-quarter of employment, have some exposure to generative AI. The ILO cautioned that exposure does not mean those jobs will disappear. Only 3.6 percent of Philippine jobs fall into its highest exposure category, and
the organization said transformation of tasks is likely to be a more significant effect than outright automation. A 2025 IMF Working Paper by researchers Micholo Cucio and Tristan Hennig found that BPO had the highest proportion of occupations classified as highly exposed to AI with relatively low complementarity among the sectors it examined. IMF Working Papers represent the authors' research and not necessarily the views of the institution or its management. Government agencies are expanding retraining programs as those changes accelerate. Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Secretary Kiko Benitez told senators Sept. 15 that 10,000 BPO workers were undergoing enterprise-based AI upskilling, while 34,766 beneficiaries had been identified for institution-based AI and data courses. The Philippines AI+ Infrastructure Masterplan 2026-2033, launched Sept. 8, separately calls for reskilling programs targeting 1.3 million IT-BPM workers for AI-enabled services. IBPAP has said the industry's next phase will depend less on adding workers alone and increasingly on higher-value capabilities, AI-enabled skills and the revenue generated by each employee. n
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Bangsamoro’s historic vote must deliver the promise of peace THE first parliamentary election in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was more than another regional vote. It marked a critical step in one of the Philippines’ most consequential experiments in peace: replacing generations of armed conflict with democratic self-government. Understanding its significance requires understanding what Bangsamoro represents. The term refers broadly to the predominantly Muslim peoples of parts of Mindanao and the Sulu archipelago, their identity and their historical homeland. Muslim sultanates existed in the southern Philippines centuries before the modern Philippine Republic. Over time, disputes involving ancestral lands, migration, political representation, poverty and relations with the national government contributed to grievances that eventually fueled armed separatist movements. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, organized Moro resistance had developed into a major conflict with the Philippine government. The Moro National Liberation Front, or MNLF, emerged as a leading separatist organization and eventually signed a final peace agreement with the government in 1996. The Moro Islamic Liberation Front, or MILF, which had separated from the MNLF, continued its own armed struggle and negotiations with Manila. The human cost was enormous. More than 120,000 people were killed and about 2 million
displaced over decades of conflict, according to widely cited estimates. Fighting also hindered development in communities already struggling with poverty. Years of negotiations between the Philippine government and the MILF eventually produced the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, signed in 2014 during the administration of President Benigno Aquino III. At its heart was a profound proposition: a conflict long fought with weapons could instead be addressed through political institutions. The agreement laid the foundation for greater Bangsamoro self-government within the Philippines. It was accompanied by a normalization process that included the decommissioning of MILF combatants and weapons, the reintegration of former fighters into civilian life and assistance to communities affected by conflict. Bangsamoro did not become an independent country. It remained part of the Philippines. Congress enacted the Bangsamoro Organic Law in 2018, and voters ratified the new autonomous arrangement in a 2019 plebiscite. The
Editorial
public lives Randy David
IN November 2001, the late Sandiganbayan Presiding Justice Francis Garchitorena was indefinitely suspended by the Supreme Court and fined P20,000 for gross negligence of duty. Of 198 cases raffled to his division, 138 had long been submitted for decision. He was given six months to clear the backlog, which included the Marcos cases. Garchitorena, a bright lawyer with a sharp tongue, had been active in the anti-dictatorship movement, and was appointed by then President Cory Aquino soon after Edsa. Few could accuse him of stalling the Marcos cases. Asked about his suspension, he said some had been handled by other justices. “All of these is not a product of sloth,” he said. Years earlier I had put the same question to him: why was it taking so long? Many Marcos associates had by then surrendered assets and turned state witness. It was not that simple, he said. The Marcoses had retained the country’s most experienced lawyer, Estelito P. Mendoza, solicitor general for
Undercurrent
Eleanor Pinugu IT seems that grandmothers are currently the coolest ladies on the block. A viral wellness trend has younger generations proudly adopting the slower, more analog lifestyle associated with grandmothers. Called “nonnamaxxing,” it stems from the idea that embracing an Italian grandmother’s (“nonna”) daily routines is the key to maximizing one’s life. For some, this means reducing screen time and taking up more tactile hobbies like crocheting, knitting, gardening, and cooking from scratch. For others, it means embracing a calmer pace through long walks and afternoon naps. The trend is even contributing to the rise of “grandma tourism.” According to online travel company GetYourGuide, Gen Z travelers are increasingly interested in
ManilaTimes.net photo
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, or BARMM, replaced the former Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao with a government granted broader political and fiscal authority. Unlike most Philippine local governments, BARMM operates under a parliamentary system. Voters elect members of an 80-seat Parliament, which chooses a chief minister to lead the re-
Justice by attrition 14 years under Marcos. He had complete mastery of court procedure, and the officials now across the table had once been his subordinates. There was, Garchitorena believed, a deliberate strategy of delay across some 32 cases. Through pleadings and repeated postponements, the cases dragged on; original documents went missing; changes in the Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) leadership meant custody of evidence was not always consistent. But what struck me most was his final observation: that with enough time, the fate of a case could change completely, once a less adversarial administration came into power. He was describing, 35 years in advance, what happened this month. On Sept. 9, the Supreme Court released a decision its first division had promulgated on June 10, reversing former first lady Imelda Marcos’ 2018 conviction on seven counts of graft. It rests on three grounds. In four of the cases, the information accused her of holding a prohibited interest as a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa, while she was convicted under a constitutional restriction applying to Cabinet members. The charges were never
amended. Second, the Swiss documents linking her to the foundations were treated as private documents requiring authentication, and the witnesses could establish how these papers reached government hands but not their genuineness or due execution. Third, the prosecution failed to establish that the foundations were “businesses” within the meaning of the statute. Not one of these grounds pertains to whether the money was stolen. That question was answered years ago, in a civil case. In 2003 the Supreme Court ordered the forfeiture of $658 million held in those same foundations, declaring the deposits ill-gotten. That judgment stands. Our legal system therefore holds, without contradiction, that the money was unlawfully acquired and that no one may be convicted of having had an interest in it. The standards of proof differ: preponderance of evidence in the civil case, proof beyond reasonable doubt in the criminal one. Technicality, it is tempting to say, is the last refuge of the guilty. But these rules, that no conviction may rest on a charge never made, that documents must be authenticated, that penal statutes are read strictu PAGE 8
The wisdom of our grandmothers grandmother-inspired experiences, from learning to make pasta with an Italian nonna to learning the art of bonsai from an older Japanese teacher. So what exactly is driving younger generations to seek out the lifestyles and company of other people’s grandmothers? One explanation is that nonnamaxxing is being promoted as an antidote to burnout culture. Globally, Gen Z workers report high levels of career-related stress and burnout. In the Philippines, a 2022 Deloitte study found that 70 percent of Gen Zs and 63 percent of millennials surveyed reported experiencing burnout because of the intensity and demands of their workloads. But perhaps the attraction runs deeper. Spending time with older people may also offer younger generations a much-needed reprieve from a highly performative life. At
a time when we are constantly pressured to look at and measure ourselves, older people can offer a space in which we become less preoccupied with how we appear to others and more attentive to meaning, connection, and purpose. One of the gifts of growing older is that it can change what feels worthy of our time and attention. Psychologist Laura Carstensen’s Socioemotional Selectivity Theory proposes that our priorities can shift according to how much time we perceive ourselves to have left. When life seems expansive, as it generally does when we are young, we are more likely to prioritize achievement, novelty, and expanding our social worlds. As our perceived time horizon becomes shorter, emotionally meaningful experiences, close relationships, and satisfaction in the present become increasingly important. u PAGE 8
PERCEPTIONS Ariel Nepomuceno
WHILE our politicians battle for power, millions of Filipinos are struggling to simply survive. This is the dark truth that we should confront. Every day, the country is consumed by political controversies. We argue about personalities, dynasties, accusations, investigations, impeachment hearings, alliances and betrayals. Social media explodes over who said what and which political camp is gaining or losing ground. Politics is our national obsession. Addiction actually. Thus, we forget the more important issue. Where is the economic discourse, or quest for a program that will end poverty? Poor Filipinos, estimated at not less than 17 million, hardly care which politician won the latest political debate. A farmer does not become prosperous because a senator delivered a fiery speech. A minimum wage worker does not bring home more money because one faction defeated another. Our people need jobs. Quality jobs. They need higher inco-
Side Glances
Raul J. Palabrica WITH the way things are going at present, there appears to be no sacred cows in the government that are exempt from the Office of the Ombudsman’s anticorruption campaign. Even the Supreme Court has not been spared from that drive. Earlier, Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla called on the SC to do some “soul searching” in the administration of justice in the country. During the deliberations of the budget of his office in the House of Representatives, Remulla said he will inform the public of the alleged institutional issues that disturb the credibility of the judiciary. Stung by that remark, the SC, whose moral authority as the final arbiter of all issues of law rests on the public’s trust and perception that it decides cases fairly or purely on the merits, called on Remulla or other parties to file complaints against
gional government. Until this election, however, BARMM had been governed by an appointed Bangsamoro Transition Authority tasked with building the institutions necessary for an elected autonomous government. That is what made the first parliamentary election historic. u PAGE 8
We drown in politics, while poverty devours our future me. Farmers need markets and productivity. Businesses need affordable electricity and robust infrastructure. Young Filipinos need skills that lead to decent-paying employment. These are the battles that matter. Politics is necessary in a democracy. Accountability is essential. Good governance matters. Elections are vital. But politics should be the vehicle for improving lives, not the destination.Our tragedy – we have allowed political drama to overwhelm the economic conversation. Wrong focus. We spend precious hours debating who should control government, but far less time on how we can create wealth through productive enterprises and competitive jobs. While we argue about personalities, other countries are focused on building factories. We are mesmerized by political predictions, our neighbors are inspired by investment frameworks and growth strategies. We are tragically distracted. Millions of our youth dream of leaving the country the soonest and search for a decent future elsewhere. They plan to join the
more than 2.5 million overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). We are confused on how to measure our national success. The Philippines needs an economic agenda powerful enough to survive political administrations. We need to industrialize. We must. Being a perpetual consumer-driven economy, a net-importer regime and backward agricultural sector is a sure road to despair and despondency. Way forward must be relentlessly pursued. Our agriculture must be modernized. Our industries must be globally competitive. Our middle class must be expanded and strengthened. Hopefully, the brain-drain and continuous export of our best laborers must be reversed. To achieve these, we must have reliable and affordable electricity, efficient infrastructure, stronger education and skills training and a business ecosystem that encourages investment instead of frustrating it. We need to measure government by concrete results. How many jobs were actually created? How much did household u PAGE 8
Bold challenge to the Supreme Court judges and justices and submit supporting documents. It said it takes seriously accusations against members of the judiciary, but it cannot act on broad allegations against an entire appellate court based on public statements. As if on cue, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, the organization that all Filipino lawyers are required to be members with or without their consent, echoed the SC’s reaction to Remulla’s comments. Remulla’s pushback was immediate and sharp. He asked the SC to give an update on the administrative complaint that his predecessor, Samuel Martires, filed last year against seven justices of the Court of Appeals (CA), two of whom have already retired, for ignorance of the law and conduct prejudicial to the public interest in connection with the disciplinary action that Martires had earlier imposed on a high-ranking provincial official. Note that Martires has im-
pressive credentials in the judiciary, having served prior to his appointment as ombudsman as regional trial court judge, justice of the Sandiganbayan, and SC associate justice. In other words, his esteem and loyalty to the institution he served for almost two decades cannot be discounted or undervalued. It is reasonable to assume that he would not have filed that complaint unless he was convinced (perhaps beyond the shadow of doubt) that the acts in question were committed and the justices deserve to be disciplined by the SC. So what’s keeping the SC from expeditiously resolving that complaint? Has it been archived for one reason or another without the public, more importantly the legal community, being informed about it? (Incidentally, some incumbent SC justices were former members of the CA.) If the prosecution in a criminal case fails to present its evidence u PAGE 8
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PART THREE OF THREE Stewardship, succession, and the leader who lets go On the hardest transition a founder will ever make — and why it is the most important. Inside Family Business Prof. Enrique Soriano The greatest leaders in history share a quality that is easy to admire and very hard to practice: they understood that their most important job was to prepare the world to succeed without them. For a founder who has built a business from nothing, this is perhaps the most difficult truth to hold. You are the reason the business exists. Your instincts built it. Your relationships sustain it. Your authority holds it together. The idea that it must one day run without you — not just survive, but thrive — can feel like a loss before it has even happened. And yet this is the final and most profound act of leadership available to you. It is called stewardship. And it begins with a shift in how you see yourself — not as the owner of a business, but as the guardian of a legacy that will outlive you. The Shift from Ownership to Stewardship Ownership is about control. The owner decides. The owner approves. The owner is the final word. This is appropriate — even necessary — in the founding years. It is how great businesses get built. But stewa rdsh ip is about something larger. The steward asks not "What do I want?" but "What does the family need?" Not "Who do I trust?" but "Who is the right person for this role?" Not "How do I maintain control?" but "How do I build a system that does not need me to control it?" This shift is not a single moment. It is a process — sometimes slow, sometimes uncomfortable, always worthwhile. And it must begin before the founder has no choice. Succession that is forced by health or circumstance is succession under pressure. Succession that is planned, discussed, and prepared over time is succession as a gift. "The true measure of a leader is not what they built. It is what continues to be built after they step back." W h at Succession Rea l ly Means
Many founders hear the word "succession" and think it means choosing which child gets the business. This is understandable, but it is only a small part of the picture. Tr ue succession plan n i ng is about far more. It is about preparing the next generation — not just picking from among them. It means identifying the skills and character required to lead the business into the future, and then honestly assessing which family members have those qualities — and which ones can develop them with the right mentorship and time. It means being willing to have the conversation that the eldest child may not be the right CEO — and that this does not diminish them as a person or as a beloved member of the family. It means understanding that leadership is a calling, not an inheritance. It also means asking the children what they actually want. Some will surprise you. A child you assumed would take over may have been quietly longing for a different life. A child you overlooked may have been waiting for permission to step forward. Succession planning creates the space for these truths to emerge — gently, without crisis, while the founders are still present to guide the conversation. Preparing the Next Generation The next generation carries a burden that the founding generation rarely fully appreciates. They did not choose to be born into this family and this business. They grew up in the shadow of a founder whose achievements are extraordinary. Many of them have spent their careers quietly wondering whether they are good enough — not because they are not capable, but because the founder's standard is simply so high. One of the greatest gifts a founder can give their children is clarity about expectations, honesty about their strengths, and genuine investment in their development — not because they are family, but because they are the future of the business. This means real mentorship, not just inclusion. It means delegating meaningful responsibility and accepting that mistakes will happen — and that mistakes are how leaders are made. It means stepping back from decisions that the next generation should be making, even when it
is difficult to watch them do it differently than you would. It means trusting the process you started when you decided to build something that would outlast you. The Legacy That Matters Most Ask any founder, in their most honest moments, what they hope for their family after they are gone. Very rarely do they say "I hope they are rich." Almost universally, they say some version of the same thing: "I hope they still love each other. I hope they stay together. I hope they take care of one another." This is the legacy that matters most. Not the assets. Not the revenue. Not the brand. The family. Fam i ly gover nance — t he councils, the constitutions, the boards, the honest conversations about roles and succession — is not about bureaucracy. It is about protecting the most precious thing a founder ever created: a family that trusts each other enough to build together. The founder who builds this — who has the courage to plan for their own absence, who invests in the next generation's readiness, who creates the structures that will carry the family forward — is not diminishing their legacy. They are completing it. That is what stewardship looks like. And it is the most important work you will ever do. —End of Series— (This three-part series marks the beginning of an ongoing column on Family Governance. In the months ahead, we will explore topics such as the Family Council, the Family Constitution, succession planning, conflict resolution, family employment policies, and other practical governance frameworks that help family enterprises thrive across generations.) *** 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.
ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026
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What Supreme Court's Imelda Marcos acquittal means, and what it doesn't MANILA — First family matriarch Imelda Marcos' latest acquittal raises an apparent contradiction: How could a graft conviction involving Swiss foundations collapse when courts have already ruled that hundreds of millions of dollars in Marcos Swiss deposits were ill-gotten? The public release of the 2026 ruling in September was belated, having been handed down in June this year, but the ruling was clear on the lack of original documents and witnesses presented by the government. It adds to a pile of decades-old cases involving Marcos family members weakened due to evidentiary problems, particularly prosecutors' reliance on photocopied and unauthenticated documents or hearsay. In 2007, the Regional Trial Court found authentication and hearsay issues in the prosecution's case, deciding to acquit Marcos for violations in overseas foreign-currency accounts and foreign exchange earnings. In 2012, the Supreme Court similarly considered photocopies submitted by prosecutors as deficient evidence in establishing that Marcos' children—particularly politicians Bongbong Marcos and sister Imee—participated in accumulating ill-gotten wealth. Bongbong is now the president, while Imee is a senator. In 2023, the high court similarly excluded unauthenticated documents from the pool of evidence in upholding the dismissal of a 2019 civil case on the alleged role of the Tantoco family acting as fronts for Marcoses. Imelda herself was accused of benefiting from duty-free shops' tax payments by diverted to foundations. But the Swiss money itself has already been the subject of a separate and final ruling. In 2003, the Supreme Court ordered $658.2 million in Swiss deposits, plus interest, forfeited to the Philippine government as ill-gotten wealth. The accounts were held through foreign foundations, including several of the same entities mentioned in Imelda's more recent graft cases. The court found that the deposits, which originally amounted to about $356 million, were far beyond Ferdinand and Imelda's known income of just $304,372.43 while they ruled over an authoritarian regime in the 1970s to 1980s. The Marcoses failed to show that the money had been lawfully acquired. That ruling, however, was a civil forfeiture case. The criminal conviction of Imelda, which prosecutors attempted to push forward, was the case the high court decided on in June. Why did the conviction fall through? 1. Records not properly au-
thenticated Most recently, the high court reversed the Sandiganbayan's 2018 ruling and acquitted the former first lady of seven violations of Section 3(h) of Republic Act 3019 for failure of the prosecution to prove her guilt beyond reasonable doubt. Prosecutors failed to properly authenticate vital Swiss records and prove that the foundations qualified as "businesses" covered by the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, the high court said in its ruling on June 10, 2026, but released only on Wednesday, September 9. "The relevant Swiss documents were not properly authenticated," the Supreme Court said in its decision with Associate Justice Rodil Zalameda as ponente. "The prosecution was not able to present any credible witness who could have attested to the genuineness and due execution of the documents." Former Solicitor General Francisco Chavez, former Philippine ambassador to Switzerland Luis Ascalon and a Presidential Commission on Good Government records officer could establish how the records came into government custody, the court said, but could not testify from personal knowledge about their contents or execution. The court consequently treated the documents as inadmissible. It also ruled that their contents amounted to hearsay and lacked probative value even if they were considered admitted into evidence. 2. Foundations not proven to be businesses The Supreme Court separately found that prosecutors failed to establish another key element of the offense: that the foundations in which Marcos allegedly held financial interests were "businesses" within the meaning of the anti-graft law. The Sandiganbayan had treated activities such as maintaining bank accounts, transferring funds and earning investment returns as entrepreneurial activities. But the high court found no evidence that the foundations regularly sold goods or services for profit. "Just because the subject foundations may not be charitable does not mean that they are already businesses," the high court said. It added that opening bank accounts, transferring money and earning interest or investment income "do not, by themselves, make an entity a commercial enterprise." The court also faulted prosecutors for failing to present the applicable foreign laws needed to establish the legal character of the foundations. Several of the entities, including Maler, Trini-
dad, Rayby and Avertina, were organized under Liechtenstein law. 3. Wrong capacity alleged in four cases The Supreme Court found an additional due process problem in four of the seven cases. The Informations for the Maler, Trinidad, Rayby and Palmy foundations charged Marcos based on her position as a member of the Interim Batasang Pambansa. The Sandiganbayan, however, convicted her based on a constitutional prohibition applicable to Cabinet members, who were barred under the 1973 Constitution from participating in the management of businesses. The Supreme Court said the distinction mattered because different constitutional restrictions applied to the two positions. Marcos could not be convicted in a capacity different from the one alleged against her, the court ruled, as doing so would violate her right to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation. 2018 conviction reversed What the Supreme Court reversed was the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division's conviction of Marcos in 2018 on seven graft counts involving Maler Establishment and the Trinidad, Rayby, Palmy, Vibur, Aguamina and Avertina foundations. She was sentenced to six years and one month to 11 years in prison for each count and perpetually disqualified from holding public office. The cases were among 10 graft charges filed against Marcos beginning in 1991. The Sandiganbayan acquitted her in the other three cases. The Supreme Court stressed that its ruling concerns Marcos' criminal liability under the anti-graft law and does not determine whether the assets held through the foundations constitute ill-gotten wealth. That question, the court said, belongs to separate civil forfeiture proceedings brought by the government. "Ultimately, when the Court dons its robe, inclinations and personal beliefs are set aside, as they do not have a place in a court of law," the Supreme Court said. It added that courts must decide cases based only on admissible and relevant evidence. (With reports from Camille Diola/ 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.
*** Von Hernandez, a Goldman Environmental Prize laureate, is the vice president of Oceana, the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation.
House ends deliberations on P27.9B Congress budget without interpellation Proposed allocation covers Senate, House and legislative bodies as chamber considers P7.2-trillion 2027 spending bill by AJPress
Korean reports say convicted killer planned drone escape from Philippine prison
MANILA — The House of Representatives on Thursday ended plenary deliberations on Congress’ proposed P27.89-billion budget for 2027 without interpellation, concluding consideration of the allocation within minutes. The proposed funding covers the Senate, Senate Electoral Tribunal, Commission on Appointments, House of Representatives and House of Representatives Electoral Tribunal, the five institutions listed under Congress in the Department of Budget and Management’s 2027
National Expenditure Program. Davao de Oro Rep. Maria Carmen Zamora, chair of the House Committee on Accounts, sponsored the allocation. During the proceedings, the House was informed that there would be no interpellation. Philreca party-list Rep. Presley de Jesus subsequently moved to terminate sponsorship and debate, ending plenary consideration of Congress’ allocation. The action did not constitute final enactment of the P27.89-billion appropriation. The congressional budget forms part of House Bill No. 10858, the proposed General Appropri-
ations Bill for fiscal 2027, which remained under consideration. The Marcos administration proposed a P7.2-trillion national budget for 2027. House plenary deliberations began Sept. 15 following committee-level scrutiny of agency spending proposals. Congressional allocations may still be amended as the spending bill moves through the House and Senate and, if necessary, bicameral deliberations before a final measure is submitted to the president. No finding of procedural violation or wrongdoing was cited in connection with the absence of interpellation. n
BuCor says it found no known attempt; Park Wang-yeol was temporarily transferred to South Korea in March by AJPress MANILA — A South Korean man serving a lengthy Philippine prison sentence for killing three compatriots reportedly planned to escape by being carried over a prison perimeter beneath a heavy-duty drone, according to South Korean broadcaster JTBC. Philippine corrections officials said they had no record of such an attempt. JTBC reported Sept. 14 that Park Wang-yeol devised the plan before his temporary transfer to South Korea in March. The broadcaster aired footage showing a man it identified as one of Park’s associates hanging beneath a large drone during a test flight. The report said the test was
connected to an alleged plan to help Park escape from the Sablayan prison facility in Occidental Mindoro. It cited information from a former inmate and said the plan was abandoned after footage of the drone test became public. The Philippine Bureau of Corrections said it had not discovered any attempted drone escape involving Park. BuCor Director General Gregorio Pio Catapang Jr. said prison facilities are nofly zones and are monitored by guards, watchtowers and cameras. Park has previously escaped Philippine custody. He fled immigration detention in 2017 and escaped again in 2019 while being returned to jail after a court appearance. Authorities later recaptured him.
Park was convicted over the 2016 killings of three South Koreans whose bodies were found in a sugarcane field in Bacolor, Pampanga. On March 25, Philippine authorities temporarily surrendered him to South Korea under the countries’ extradition treaty to face a separate narcotics case. South Korean prosecutors have charged Park in connection with alleged drug smuggling and distribution. At his first trial in May, his defense denied involvement in importing drugs while acknowledging portions of the indictment involving distribution and management of drugs already in South Korea. The drug case remains separate from his Philippine murder conviction and the reported escape plan. n
REGIONAL RESILIENCE. Officials of Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states and the ASEAN Secretariat pose for a family photo during the ASEAN Ministerial Conference on Disaster Resilience in Pasay City on Wednesday (Sept. 16, 2026). Held under the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN chairship, the two-day conference focuses on strengthening regional cooperation in disaster preparedness, response, recovery, financing, and innovation, while advancing the ASEAN Agreement on Disaster Management and Emergency Response. PNA photo by Avito Dalan
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SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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Korean Air-Asiana merger enters final phase Mileage plan approved as reservations and flight numbers prepare to shift ahead of Dec. 17 integration by AJPress SEOUL — Korean Air’s absorption of Asiana Airlines is entering its final phase, with South Korea’s antitrust regulator approving a revised mileage plan and the carriers preparing to transfer reservations and flight numbers before integrated operations begin Dec. 17. Korean Air owns 63.88% of Asiana, which remains a separate corporate entity until the absorption merger takes effect Dec. 16.
Under the approved mileage plan, existing Asiana miles may remain in separate accounts for 10 years. Flight-earned miles may convert to Korean Air SKYPASS at a 1-to-1 ratio, while credit-card and other partner-earned miles convert at 1-to-0.82. The regulator also required Korean Air to maintain bonus-seat usage on routes to the Americas, Europe and Oceania at or above the airlines’ combined 2023 level for 10 years. Asiana reservations for flights
departing Dec. 17 or later will transfer to Korean Air’s system in stages from Nov. 2 through Dec. 3. OZ flight numbers will become KE numbers for those departures. Asiana will remain in Star Alliance through Dec. 16, after which customers will transition to benefits under Korean Air’s SkyTeam membership. The integration comes as Boeing and Korean Air finalized a 103-aircraft order Sept. 16, valued by Korean Air at $36.2 billion. n
Marcoleta rules out furlough as Senate revisits Duterte impeachment vote threshold Detained senator says full 24-member Senate should determine two-thirds requirement by AJPress M ANILA — Detained Sen. Rodante Marcoleta said Thursday, Sept. 17, that he would not ask the Sandiganbayan for temporary release solely to participate in the Senate impeachment cour t’s deliberations on t he votes required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte. Marcoleta spoke after a hearing on his bail petition in a separate plunder case. He said 16 votes are required under the Constitution’s provision that conviction requires the concurrence of “two-thirds of all the Members of the Senate.” The Constitution does not specify 16; the figure results from applying two-thirds to the Senate’s 24 members. The dispute is whether senators unable to participate should
remain in the denominator used to calculate the threshold. Presid i ng Of f icer Fra ncis Escudero initially ruled that 16 votes would be needed for conviction. Senator-judge Erwin Tulfo later sought reconsideration after some senators became unable to participate regularly. The impeachment court is scheduled to hear arguments on Sept. 23. Four retired Supreme Court justices invited as amici curiae, or fr iends of t he cour t, offered differ ing inter pretations. Retired Chief Justices H i la r io Dav ide Jr., A r tem io Panganiban and Reynato Puno said the threshold should not automatically remain fixed at 16 in all circumstances. Retired Associate Justice Adolfo Azcuna said the full Senate membership should be counted, resulting in a 16-vote threshold. Their views
are advisory. Malacañang said it would leave the issue to the impeachment court. Duterte’s defense team has said it may challenge the ruling before the Supreme Court. Marcoleta previously asked that his vote be recognized despite his detention and objected to Escudero serving as presiding officer. The impeachment court elected Escudero when proceedings opened on July 7. Marcoleta remains detained at the New Quezon City Jail while the Sandiganbayan hears his bail petition in a plunder case involving P75 million. Prosecutors allege that the amount consisted of undeclared donations linked to his 2025 Senate campaign. Marcoleta has pleaded not guilty. The case remains pending, and no court has found him guilty. n
Senator Rodante Marcoleta
PNA file photo
Justice by attrition... PAGE 6 ly, protect ordinary defendants every day. The rigor cannot be faulted, and yet it reads as a favor. Which returns us to Garchitorena. Delay rewards those who can afford to wait, converting wealth and expert counsel into time, and time into acquittal. It came from three directions at once: a defense using the accused’s procedural rights with great skill, a prosecution worn down by time, and a court that could not keep up. I suspect there is more to it than law following its own logic; a family restored to Malacañang is not a neutral fact for the courts. I cannot prove
that it influenced the ruling, and will not pretend otherwise. But the structural explanation is actually the more disturbing one. If someone from the Palace did make a call to the high court, then there is someone to identify. But, if these outcomes followed instead from sloppy prosecution and a defense that outlasted decades of prosecutors and judges—then the next cases are bound to end the same way. Perhaps a more telling proof of this sad reality came eight days before the reversal, and was barely reported. On June 2 the Sandiganbayan’s special division dismissed what remained of Civil Case No. 0141, the om-
nibus forfeiture petition the PCGG filed in December 1991, after the government manifested it would present no further evidence. Most of its personnel, the commission had told the court, were already retired. The case was not lost. It was abandoned for want of anyone left to try it. Thirty-five years ended in a seven-page resolution no one thought worth reporting. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: public.lives@gmail.com
The wisdom of our grandmothers... PAGE 6 That kind of perspective is particularly valuable to generations living in a culture of immediacy. When you’re young, every setback can feel permanent and catastrophic, especially when you find yourself constantly comparing your low moments with other people’s online highlights. Then you sit beside an 80-year-old who has lived through eight decades of wins, losses, embarrassments, heartbreaks, and beautiful redirections, and somehow the seemingly “forever” moments become mere chapters, rather than the whole story. There is, of course, another side to this exchange. Loneliness and social isolation among older adults have emerged as an important public health concern. Studies also show that loneliness among older adults is not simply a matter of whether someone lives alone. Older people can be surrounded by family and still feel lonely when they lack meaningful connection, a sense of belonging, or op-
portunities to contribute. My hope is that nonnamaxxing will not be reduced to just another trendy aesthetic, but will encourage more opportunities for meaningful intergenerational interaction. After all, it is one thing to adopt the hobbies and habits of older generations; it is another to actually spend time with them. Intergenerational relationships can be valuable to everyone involved. Younger people receive perspective and emotional grounding. Older people receive connection, purpose, and the opportunity to pass something on. I am writing this as I get ready to visit my parents. Every Sunday, we gather at my sister’s house for lunch, where my parents get to spend time and catch up with their children and grandchildren. I have come to see this not only as a sacred family ritual, but as a visceral encounter with the longitudinal experience of being human. Around one table sit people of different ages and at very diffe-
rent points in the same journey, each one with a unique lesson and insight to contribute. It is increasingly easy to lead age-segregated lives, moving only in circles populated by people who look, think, and live as we do. So there is something both beautiful and necessary about younger people rediscovering the value of seeking meaningful connections with older generations. Perhaps that is the deeper wisdom hidden beneath a trend with a funny-sounding name. In a culture that constantly tells us to maximize ourselves, our grandmothers can help remind us of something much simpler. Life doesn’t have to be performed and validated by others to be worth living. (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: eleanor@shetalksasia.com
GOV'T SERVICE. Hundreds of beneficiaries gather at the activity area during the “Handog ng Pangulo: Serbisyong Sapat Para sa Lahat” (The President’s Gift: Sufficient Services for All) program at Ali Mall in Cubao, Quezon City on Monday, Sept. 14, 2026. The government-led initiative brings various services and assistance closer to the public as part of the celebration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s 69th birthday. PNA photo by Robert Oswald P. Alfiler
The Philippines must rethink...
PAGE 6 Nearly 2.4 million people were registered to vote, and turnout exceeded 80 percent, according to the Commission on Elections. After decades in which the future of the region was contested through insurgency, military operations and negotiations, Bangsamoro citizens were choosing political representatives through ballots. That achievement deserves recognition. But the violence and irregularities surrounding the election demonstrate how much remains unfinished. Five people were killed in election-period violence in Cotabato City, according to authorities cited by The Associated Press. More than 20,000 police and military personnel had been deployed across the region. In Maluso, Basilan, election officials discovered 16,563 official ballots for 36 precincts that had already been shaded. Comelec ordered replacement ballots and extended voting there into Sept. 15. These incidents should not define an election that proceeded peacefully across much of the region. Neither should the historic nature of the election be allowed to minimize them. Violence, intimidation, vote-buying and attempts to manipulate elections are not problems unique to Bangsamoro. They have troubled Philippine elections elsewhere and reflect a broader weakness in the country's democratic institutions. In BARMM, however, their
meaning is particularly serious. The political settlement that created Bangsamoro autonomy rests on the principle that competing claims to political power can be resolved through democratic institutions rather than armed conflict. Violence surrounding an election therefore strikes at the very purpose of the peace process. Election-related killings must be investigated, with prosecutions pursued where evidence establishes criminal responsibility. Allegations of ballot manipulation, vote-buying and intimidation likewise require credible investigation and due process. No political organization, family or candidate should be presumed responsible without evidence. Accountability must rest on facts established through lawful investigation. Nor does the responsibility end when votes are counted. The Philippine government's peace office has described the parliamentary election as completing the political track of the Bangsamoro peace process. The separate normalization process, however, remains important, including the continuing decommissioning and reintegration of former combatants and the transformation of communities affected by conflict. The elected Parliament now inherits a responsibility larger than administering another Philippine region. It must demonstrate that autonomy can improve people's lives. Communities that endured decades of conflict should see
functioning schools, accessible health care, reliable infrastructure, economic opportunity and government institutions worthy of public confidence. Muslims, Christians, Indigenous peoples and other communities within BARMM must receive equal protection under the law. The political culture must change as well. Losing an election cannot become a reason for violence. Winning one cannot confer unchecked power. Opposition must be legitimate. Public money must be accounted for. Citizens must be free to criticize their leaders and cast their ballots without intimidation. The 2014 peace agreement represented a decision to pursue a political settlement to a conflict that had persisted across generations. The first parliamentary election has now put that principle into practice. But elections alone do not create peace. The greater achievement will come when political power in Bangsamoro no longer depends on guns, intimidation or coercion; when democratic institutions command greater loyalty than armed groups or political clans; and when self-government produces opportunities that conflict denied generations before. Bangsamoro has shown that the battlefield can give way to the ballot box. The promise of peace will be fulfilled when casting that ballot is no longer historic, but simply an ordinary act of democracy, carried out freely and without fear. (AJPress)
Bold challenge to the Supreme Court... PAGE 6 in court within, say, seven years from its filing, the case would be dismissed on the ground that the accused has been deprived of his or her right to speedy trial. If a lower level court judge is unable to decide a case submitted for decision within, for example, four years, he or she could receive severe disciplinary action from the SC for the same reason earlier mentioned. Note the provision of the Constitution on court decisions: “All cases or matters filed after the effectivity of this Constitution must be decided or resolved within twenty-four months from the date of submission for the Supreme Court and unless reduced by the Supreme Court, twelve months for lower collegiate courts, and three months for all other lower courts.” The word used for the 24-month period for the SC is “must” and the provision has no ifs or buts, or any qualifying clause so it is mandatory or compulsory.
But that word has been interpreted by the SC as discretionary or noncompulsory, so much that, unless a case is a matter of grave public concern, it is not uncommon for it to take years to decide. It is not as if the individual SC justices do not have a corps of highly paid assistant lawyers, researchers, and consultants who cannot make the decision making process move faster so the litigants are able to enjoy their right to speedy trial from the highest court of the land. Take the case of then Overall Deputy Ombudsman Melchor Arthur Carandang who was dismissed by then President Rodrigo Duterte in 2018 for alleged unlawful disclosure of information about his personal wealth. In spite of the fact that, as early as 2014, there was already an SC decision on the limits of the president’s power to dismiss a high-ranking official of the Office of the Ombudsman, it was only last year that the SC rendered the decision declaring Carandang’s dismissal as illegal.
Fortunately, Carandang is still alive to see his name cleared and receive the retirement benefits he was unceremoniously deprived of. Remulla’s call on the SC regarding the state of the administration of justice in the country resonates with lawyers who have pending cases with the CA and the SC. Unlike Remulla who enjoys constitutional protection on tenure, they cannot come out in the open to complain about the slow pace of justice in the halls of Padre Faura without risking a citation for contempt of court or disciplinary action. It remains to be seen whether Remulla’s dig on the SC will have beneficial results or it will be business as usual. (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: raul.palabrica@inquirer.net
We drown in politics... PAGE 6 income rise? How many farmers escaped the shackles of poverty? How much private investments landed? How much did productivity improve? How much has total logistics cost decreased? How many local companies became global? These questions should dominate our national conversations. Let’s cease from always asking who’s winning politically. We must yearn to know who is delivering economically. The media has a big role. Political controversy will always attract attention. But we need more serious discussions about economic policies. Filipinos deserve to understand not just who is attacking whom, but what each political leader intends to do in arresting poverty, unemployment, agriculture, industrialization and economic competitiveness.
Our voters must demand the same. Before we cheer for a politician, we should ask: what is your economic plan? How will it be funded? How many jobs will it create? How will it increase income? When will the ordinary families see the results? Because promises are cheap, results are what matter. The country does not lack talented people. We have more than enough natural resources. We have countless entrepreneurs. We have more than enough workers and ideas. What we need is focus. Desperately. We must have the collective courage to put economic development ahead of political gamesmanship. Political administrations are never permanent. They come and go. Presidents will inevitably be replaced. Political alliances will collapse and new ones will emerge. But poverty will
persist. It decreases when people have productive work, better incomes, access to basic goods, productive farms, dynamic industries and genuine opportunities to build better lives. Politics is not our greatest battle. It never was. The greatest battle is against poverty. We may win every political battle and still lose the war for our country’s future. It is long overdue to stop asking who will control the country – and start to demand who will transform it. Because we will drown ourselves in politics, poverty is not waiting. It is devouring our country’s future. (Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
*** Email: arielnepo.philstar@gmail.com
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Features
ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026
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JOUR N AL Friday, September 18, 2026
INSIDE >>> L I F E S T Y L E • C O N S U M E R G U I D E • C O M M U N I T Y • M A R K E T P L A C E
Filipino-American writer Michael Cruz Kayne ‘Filipiñana’ named Philippine Oscar entry wins 2026 Emmy with ‘The Late Show’ as FAP backs ‘58th,’ ‘Agapito’ by AJPress
by AJPress LOS ANGELES — Filipino-American comedian and writer Michael Cruz Kayne won a 2026 Emmy as part of the writing team behind CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, adding another television honor to a career that has included multiple Emmy nominations and an earlier win. The Late Show won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series during the first night of the 78th Emmy Awards on Sept. 5 at the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles. The Television Academy lists Kayne among the credited writers receiving the award, alongside Stephen Colbert, head writers Ariel Dumas and Jay Katsir and other members of the program’s writing staff. The victory was not Kayne’s first Emmy. He was also among the credited writers when The Late Show won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2022. Academy records show that Kayne received additional writing nominations for The Late Show in 2021 and 2023. He was also nominated in 2021 for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special for Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: Democracy’s Last Stand Building Back America Great Again Bet-
MANILA – The Film Academy of the Philippines has selected Rafael Manuel’s Filipiñana as the country’s official submission for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards, while backing two other Filipino productions seeking consideration in separate Oscar categories. Carl Joseph Papa’s animated documentary 58th is pursuing Best Documentary Feature Film, while Arvin Belarmino and Kyla Danelle Romero’s Agapito is seeking consideration for Best Live Action Short Film. The distinction is important. Filipiñana is the Philippines’ official selection under the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ country-submission process for International Feature Film. Photo from www.michaelcruzkayne.com Documentary Feature and Live Action Short follow separate eligibility and submission rules. ter 2020. Written and directed by Manuel, Filipiñana folKayne describes himself on his official website as a Filipino-American comedian, actor and writ- lows Isabel, a 17-year-old tee girl at an exclusive er based in New York. He has worked as a writer country club outside Manila. The film premiered on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert while also performing in television and comedy. The 2026 Emmys brought additional recognition for The Late Show. The program won Outstanding Variety Series at the Sept. 14 ceremony, which concluded the three-night Emmy schedule.
at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, where it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision. It later screened at the Berlin International Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival. Papa’s 58th revisits the 2009 Maguindanao massacre through Reynafe Castillo’s effort to secure recognition for her father, photojournalist Reynaldo “Bebot” Momay, as the massacre’s 58th victim. His remains have not been recovered. The film premiered at the International Film Festival Rotterdam and later competed in Annecy’s Contrechamp section. Agapito, a 15-minute live-action short set in an aging duckpin bowling alley, competed in the official Short Film Competition at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival and later screened at the Toronto International Film Festival. The Academy’s submission deadlines are Sept. 30 for International Feature, Oct. 8 for Live Action Short and Oct. 15 for Documentary Feature. Oscar shortlists are due Dec. 15, with nominations on Jan. 21, 2027. The 99th Academy Awards will be held March 14, 2027. FAP support or country selection does not constitute an Oscar nomination.
Zsa Zsa Padilla mourns death of younger brother
Singer-actress asks for prayers as family remembers brother who died at 57 by AJPress
MANILA — Singer-actress Zsa Zsa Padilla is mourning the death of her younger brother, Peregrine “Sonny” Padilla, who died Sept. 13 at age 57. Padilla announced her brother’s death on social media on Tuesday, Sept. 15, describing Sonny as deeply loved by his family and saying his passing had left an “immeasurable void.” She said the family was grateful for the love, laughter and memories they shared with him and asked for prayers for Sonny and their family. “Rest in peace, my dearest brother, Sonny,” Padilla wrote. “You will always be loved and forever missed.” Padilla did not disclose a cause of death. Her daughter, singer-actress Karylle, also remembered her uncle, writing, “We love you Tito Sonny.” Friends and colleagues from the Philippine entertainment industry, including Charo San-
Photos from Facebook/@filmacadph
Photos from Instagram/@zsazsapadilla
tos-Concio, Regine Velasquez, Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera and Gary Valenciano, were among those who posted messages of condolence. Zsa Zsa and Sonny were among the six children of retired international boxing referee Carlos Padilla Jr. and Esperanza Felipa Padilla, a family of two sons and four daughters. Carlos Padilla Jr. is best known in boxing for refereeing the 1975 “Thrilla in Manila,”
the third and final fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Zsa Zsa Padilla began her professional music career with the Manila Sound group Hotdog in 1982 before pursuing a solo career. She has worked in Philippine music, film and television for more than four decades. In 2025, she marked her 42nd year in the industry with the Star Music album ’Pag Tinadhana and her Through the Years concert.
Christopher de Leon revisits the film that began his career 52 years ago by AJPress MANILA — More than five decades after Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang introduced Christopher de Leon to movie audiences, the actor returned to the Lino Brocka classic at the Philippine premiere of its restored 4K version. The Sept. 4 screening at Red Carpet Cinemas in Shangri-La Plaza opened Film Industry Month, which the Film Development Council of the Philippines is using to mark 50 years of what it describes as Philippine cinema’s Second Golden Age. Released in 1974, Tinimbang Ka Ngunit Kulang was de Leon’s first film. He was 17 when his movie career began. He played Junior, a privileged young man confronting prejudice, cruelty and hypocrisy in his community. De Leon recalled auditioning for the role and taking acting, voice and script-analysis lessons while performing in the musical Godspell. His first scene, opposite Lolita Rodriguez and Mario
O’Hara, required eight or nine takes. He said Brocka and his veteran co-stars helped guide him. The film featured de Leon’s first onscreen kiss, opposite Laurice Guillen in a bowling-alley scene. The performance earned him his first FAMAS Best Actor award and began a film and television career that has continued for more than five decades. The restored film had its world premiere in June at Il Cinema Ritrovato in Bologna, Italy. The 4K restoration was undertaken by the FDCP and Philippine Film Archive with Carlotta Films and Janus Films/The Criterion Collection at L’Immagine Ritrovata. Original picture and sound negatives were used except for reels 1 and 6, which relied on preservation elements held by the BFI National Archive. De Leon said the Manila screening marked only the second time he had watched the film in full, the first being more than 50 years earlier. He remains active onscreen and is part of the cast of GMA Network’s forthcoming medical drama Code Grey.
Photo from Instagram/@sinegangdotph
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Features
SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
Kim Chiu pushes ahead with handbag business as legal dispute continues by AJPress MANILA — Actress and television host Kim Chiu is moving forward with her handbag business, introducing six new designs for House of Little Bunny Philippines while a legal dispute involving the company and her older sister continues. In a social media post this week, Chiu showed herself arranging bags by color, size and design before the release of a new collection. She said she personally organizes the products for each launch and announced six additions to the brand’s lineup. She also directed customers to the brand’s headquarters and online store for the newly released collection. The post did not mention her sister, Lakambini “Lakam” Chiu, or directly refer to their legal dispute. Chiu launched House of Little Bunny in the Philippines in 2022. The business later became the subject of a qualified theft complaint involving corporate funds. The Quezon City Office of the City Prosecutor found sufficient basis to pursue 124 counts of qualified theft against Lakam, according to a 21-page resolution dated Sept. 1 reviewed by Philippine media. The transactions cited in the resolution totaled P44,396,331.65. Lakam has denied committing qualified theft. She disputed the characterization of the withdrawals and transfers as unauthorized, maintaining that the sisters’ joint accounts could also be used for other business ventures. She also challenged findings from an audit cited in the complaint.
Photo from Instagram/@ chinitaprincess
Prosecutors rejected those arguments at the preliminary stage and found sufficient basis for the case to proceed. The resolution is not a finding of guilt. Lakam remains entitled to contest the allegations and present her defenses in court. Chiu’s latest collection signals continuing activity at House of Little Bunny as the dispute over the company’s finances moves separately through the legal process.
Bela Padilla, tech CEO Martin Tan confirm eight-month relationship by AJPress MANILA — Actress, writer and director Bela Padilla and tech executive Martin Tan have confirmed they are in a relationship, ending months of public speculation about their status. The confirmation came in a street interview posted Sept. 13 by content creator Johnny K. Padilla and Tan were at the Legazpi Sunday Market in Makati when they were asked whether they were a couple. Padilla answered yes. Tan said they met through a mutual friend and had been together for eight months. Padilla said their shared interest in movies helped them connect. The pair also spoke about what they appreciate in each other, with Tan citing Padilla’s intelligence and humor and Padilla describing him as willing to try new experiences with her. Tan is chief executive of Tenext.ai, a software company developing artificial-intelligence tools for customer-facing business operations. The couple had appeared together publicly before confirming the relationship. Tan attended the Sept. 7 premiere of Padilla’s film Life After You, where he was photographed carrying flowers. Padilla had previously described their status more cautiously. At an Aug. 19 media conference,
Bela Padilla and Martin Tan
Photo from Instagram/@withjohnnyk
she said Tan was “not yet” her boyfriend and that they were still getting to know each other. Padilla was previously in a long-term relationship with Norman Bay, whose breakup with the actress was publicly confirmed by Padilla in August 2025.
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HEALTH @HEART Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS YES, I literally eat bacteria actual live bacteria - a billion of them every morning, and sometimes, for snacks, six varieties of them in one cup of Chobani 20 Gram Protein, Lactose-free, Mango Greek Yogurt, with Zero Added Sugar. These are live cultures of wiggly bacteria. These good live bacteria support our gut microbiome, where harmony is vital; any imbalance between good and bad bacteria can weaken the immune system and cause diseases, not only in the gastrointestinal system but in other organ systems. I switched from Chobani Mango-Passion Fruit Greek Yogurt, which I loved for its taste, because of lactose intolerance. Greek yogurt is the healthiest variety of yogurt. What benefits do we get from yogurt? Firstly, it is highly nutritious. It has double the protein and half the carbohydrates. Key health benefits include: It supports muscle and energy, aids in weight management, improves digestive and gut health, has live and active probiotic cultures that boost the immune system, strengthens bones, rich in essential micronutrients (vitamin B-12 for healthy brain function, zinc for the immune system and cellular repair, and iodine for thyroid health). Fermented dairy products, like Greek yogurt, are associated with reduced risk for T2 diabetes lowers blood pressure, thanks to the potassium and magnesium in it. In the United States, more than 176 million Americans eat Greek yogurt. No statistics for the Philippines, but Chobani, among others, has entered the Philippine Market. The counterpart of Greek yogurt in the Philippines is “Kesong Puti” (White Cheese), Carabao Milk Yogurt, made by curdling raw Carabao (water buffalo) milk with salt and a coagulant (citrus juice or vinegar) and straining out the liquid whey, like in making yogurt, to achieve a thick, creamy flavor. Does the Carabao Milk Yogurt confer the same health benefits as Greek Yogurt? The answer may surprise you. In some areas, Carabao Milk Yogurt actually outperforms Greek Yogurt,
Jose Ferdinand M. Rojas II, an Artist Who Draws Inspiration From His Travels
DURING his teenage years at La Salle Green Hills, Atty. Jose Ferdinand “Joy” Mendoza Rojas II was already engaged in buying and selling different kinds of goods, which he offered to the parents of his classmates and to employees in offices his father, Jose Agreda Rojas, visited during the summer. He later entered the real estate business after graduating from the University of Massachusetts in the United States, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, with majors in economics and political science, cum laude, in 1988. Rojas graduated from the Ateneo de Manila University School of Law in 1994 with a Juris Doctor degree and passed the bar examinations that same year. He worked as an associate at a private law firm from 1994 to 1995 before becoming a partner at Rojas Sales De Leon Tecson & Desiderio Law Office. In 2000, he established the Jose M. Rojas II Law Office, which engages in the general practice of law. Beyond business and law, Rojas developed another pursuit: visual art, which began partly through charitable efforts to help others. The former general manager of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office has participated in numerous art-for-a-cause exhibits. On December 2, 2017, he held his first solo show at the Saturday Group Gallery in Mandaluyong City. The exhibit featured winning racehorses, reflecting his experience as a former chairman of the Philippine Racing Commission. Art critic Sid Reyes wrote that Rojas pursued a strain of abstraction in the tradition of French informel and matière, or matter painting, associated with Jean Dubuffet, Jean Fautrier and Georges Mathieu. “Rojas transforms a surface into an encounter with the infinite varieties of sensation, tension, and languorous mood,” Reyes noted.
Atty. Joy Mendoza Rojas II with his wife Atty. Trisha Bunye-Rojas. The Rojas couple.
Atty. Joy Rojas II in his art exhibit in Makati City. Atty. Joy Rojas II in Romania.
I eat bacteria according to experts, because Carabao milk is naturally a “premium” dairy base, which “exceeds many of the Greek yogurt’s famous nutritional properties without needing to be as highly processed.” Come and join me to eat live bacteria! It’s healthy. Veggie false claim Fruits and vegetables are healthy food items that should be a part of our daily meals. The US FDA recommends 2-3 cups of fresh fruits and vegetables daily. The TV ads of Balance of Nature (and a dozen others) claim that taking 3 capsules of its fruits and veggies is enough; a substitute “for good health” is patently false. In fact, you would realistically need to take 40-50 capsules every day to equal the USFDA recommendation for the daily requirement of fresh fruits and vegetables. And even if one takes 50 capsules a day, they would still not provide the health benefits of natural fresh fruits and vegetables. Why this misinformation, which to me is fraudulent, is allowed to victimize unsuspecting consumers is puzzling to me. Granted, it may not harm those who take the capsules, but this precludes them from taking enough daily, which is a deceptive practice by these greedy entrepreneurs. This is why I have been advocating for decades that this trillion-dollar food supplement industry be regulated more closely and more strictly by the government to protect the gullible and uninformed public. It is regulated but not seriously. These Ads are supposed to be true and accurate by law, but the US FDA has done nothing about false claims about hundreds of other food supplements. The unsuspecting public is the ultimate victims, who spend their hardearned dollars to be healthier, but simply gets scammed. By the way, I have developed and am selling Exercise Capsules (Exercise Mimetics), so you don’t have to move a muscle, live on a couch with a TV remote in hand, or sit the whole day doing computer work, to replace physical exercise. Dose: 50 capsules, 3 times a day. Only a dollar a capsule. Anyone interested? Indeed, caveat emptor! Soft drinks and cancer When I was a youngster, I enjoyed the bubbly, fizzy, crispy taste of soft drinks until I went to medical school and learned that soft drinks, which I call “liquid candy,” were poison to our bodies. It causes metabolic syndrome, especially among children. A recent large study from Mass General Brigham involving 112,000 individuals suggests that daily soft drink consumption “is linked to a higher risk of developing stomach cancer, compared with those who drank
Niño Muhlach’s license revoked for two years after Antipolo crash by AJPress
Very supportive Atty. Trisha Atty. Jose Ferdinand Rojas II in Bunye-Rojas (right) with Atty. Joy The Rojas couple celebrates their Visual artist Joy Rojas II with his pet dog TJ’s birthday. pet dog TJ. Europe Rojas II.
Rojas is a member of the Saturday Group, one of the country’s oldest artists’ organizations, and has participated in its group exhibitions and collaborations. He will hold his 10th solo exhibit at ArtistSpace at Ayala Museum in Makati City from October 10 to 26, 2026. He paints primarily in his rented studio in Pasig City. Horses remain a recurring subject, while his abstract works draw on memories of places he has visited. Rojas says he finds inspiration in the Philippines and abroad, particularly in Japan, France, Spain and other European countries. During weekdays, he divides his time among business, legal work and art. “Friday and Saturday nights, I devote my time to my wife,” he says. On Sundays, he usually spends time with his in-laws and other family members. He is also a lay minister at Sts. Peter and Paul Parish Church in Makati City and is occasionally invited as a guest on a Sunday radio program. His wife, Atty. Patricia “Trisha” A. O. Bunye, became the
first Filipino woman and first Southeast Asian woman to serve as president of LESI, the Licensing Executives Society International, a global organization focused on intellectual property, commercialization and licensing. When time permits, Rojas reads autobiographies, real-life stories, fiction and history. “I also love to read history books because there is something from the past that can be learned and applied to the present and future,” he says. When he was younger, he played tennis and badminton before becoming involved in equestrian sports and horseback riding. “But I am involved in horse breeding and horse racing as a hobby,” says Rojas, who served as director and corporate secretary of PHILTOBO, the Philippine Thoroughbred Owners and Breeders Organization Inc., from 1997 to 2006. The youngest of seven siblings, Rojas was also a member of the Manila Jaycees from 1988 to 2006. He ends the interview with this philosophy: “Make the most
of your life by sharing what you have and serving others’ needs, and you will find happiness in your heart.” His words reflect a simple conviction: happiness may be fleeting, but bringing happiness to others can lead to contentment and peace. *** 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. *** Associate Professor III Rogelio Constantino Medina is an award-winning Filipino international journalist, columnist, and academic. He is well regarded for his extensive contributions to both Philippine media and major international news publications. His career spans several decades and covers a wide range of fields, including news, business, travel, lifestyle, science, sports, and health. He has written for major international publications such as the Far Eastern Economic Review in Hong Kong, The Japan Times in Tokyo, and Gulf News in Dubai. Notably, he made history as the first Filipino journalist to interview Japan’s first astronaut, Dr. Mamoru Mohri. He is also credentialed with the U.S. Department of State’s Foreign Press Centers in New York City and Washington, D.C. *** Email: rogelio.medina@asianjournalinc.com
them less than once a month.” Do yourself a favor, stay away from this poison, and warn the children too. Tai chi and the brain Against data from more than two decades ago, which thought the brain only produces new cells early in life. Now, we know that the brain has the ability to change throughout our lifespan, growing new cells, making new connections, and even increasing in size. “In a meta-analysis of 20 studies on tai chi and cognition, tai chi appears to improve executive function-the ability to multitask, manage time, and make decisions-in people without any cognitive decline. In those with mild cognitive impairment, tai chi slowed the progression to dementia more than other types of exercise and comparably improved their cognitive function compared to other types of exercise or cognitive training.” - MS Tai bo, modulated kick-boxing in slow motion for anyone, especially for seniors, is my game. It is like slow-motion shadow-boxing. It can be done anywhere in the house or outside. Like tai chi, it needs no gadgets or tools, just your mind and deep concentration. Coffee reduces fat Coffee is a healthy drink. Consuming 3-4 cups a day appears to help lengthen our telomeres and our longevity, as long as combined with a healthy lifestyle. Coffee confers a lot of health benefits. Finland, where coffee consumption is the highest per person compared to other nations, was an appropriate place to track more than 2,200 adults born in 1966 and find out what coffee did to their bodies. Researchers found that “the heaviest coffee drinkers carried less total and visceral fat and more skeletal muscle than those who drank none, even with identical BMI.” Join me for a shot of Colombian espresso! *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He was a decorated recipient of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, conferred by then Indiana Governor, later Senator, and then presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry Truman, President George HW Bush, Muhammad Ali, and Astronaut Gus Grissom (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888.com, Today. SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com
MANILA — The Land Transportation Office has revoked actor Niño Muhlach’s driver’s license for two years after concluding its investigation into an Aug. 23 crash in Antipolo City that injured a man and damaged several establishments. The LTO said its investigation and hearing found Muhlach liable for reckless driving and classified him as an “Improper Person to Operate a Motor Vehicle.” The agency said severe exhaustion preceded his loss of control of the sport utility vehicle, which crossed into the opposite lane and struck three establishments and a parked motorcycle. Muhlach had earlier acknowledged falling asleep while driving and said the crash was “entirely my fault.” He said he would take responsibility for the injured person and property damage.
Niño Muhlach with wife Diane Abby Tupaz
The LTO initially imposed a 90-day preventive suspension, issued a show-cause order and placed the vehicle on alarm status. The agency said the SUV would remain under alarm status while its resolution is in effect. The ruling followed a separate public dispute involving Nicolas Villanueva, who was injured in the crash. Villanueva had complained that his damaged motorcycle had not been replaced and that he remained unable to work. Muhlach’s wife, Diane Abby Tupaz, responded that the actor had continued providing assistance and that an insurer was processing the motorcycle claim. Those details were her account. Villanueva later apologized to Muhlach and his family, saying emotion over the motorcycle had influenced his earlier remarks. He also deleted his earlier post. The two-year revocation was announced Sept. 16 after the agency’s hearing.
Photo Facebook/@dianeabby
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Newsom signs wildfire recovery laws covering smoke damage, mortgages ALTADENA — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 15 signed four bills aimed at strengthening wildfire recovery protections, including new standards for smoke-damaged homes and expanded mortgage relief for disaster survivors. Assembly Bills 1642 and 1795 establish standards for testing, remediation and restoration of wildfire smoke contamination. The laws direct state agencies to develop protections addressing lead and asbestos contamination in affected homes and require insurers to cover qualifying testing and remediation. The California Department of Insurance estimates that more than 13,000 claims from the January 2025 Eaton and Palisades fires involved smoke damage to homes that remained standing. As of March 3, insurers had received 41,800 claims related to the fires and paid at least part of 40,377 claims, totaling $23.7 billion. Newsom also signed AB 1842 and AB 1847, which expand mortgage protections for disaster-affected homeowners. The laws extend the statutory forbearance period for eligible Los Angeles fire sur-
Community
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San Francisco expands PermitSF portal to cover more building permits
SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco has expanded its PermitSF digital permitting portal to include kitchen and bathroom remodels plus electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, bringing categories representing about 75% of the city’s annual building permits online. The expansion allows homeowners and contractors to submit applications, track permits
and manage inspections without visiting the Permit Center. Eligible units in multifamily residential buildings can now use the express pathway for minor kitchen and bathroom remodels that do not involve structural changes. PermitSF began as a citywide reform initiative in 2025, followed by a fully digital portal in February 2026. The portal ini-
tially handled permits for doors, windows and siding, along with fire-safety and special-event applications. According to the Mayor’s Office, more than a quarter of applications are submitted outside regular weekday business hours. Mayor Daniel Lurie said the expansion is intended to make permitting faster and easier for residents and businesses.
Consulate Watch
File photo/www.gov.ca.gov
vivors from 12 to 24 months and require servicers to offer qualifying borrowers an option to defer missed payments until the end of the loan, subject to investor or servicing restrictions. The measures build on earlier state relief programs and establish longer-term standards for future wildfire recovery.
ASIAN JOURNAL • SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026
The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco marked a busy September with initiatives supporting Filipino American businesses, maritime awareness, access to legal services and
Philippine cultural heritage. Recent activities included talks with business leaders, a MANA Mo observance, a free legal aid clinic and a textile exhibition highlighting traditional Filipino weaving.
Business leaders explore financial Uber layoffs to affect 137 Bay Area workers education, entrepreneurship partnerships
SAN FRANCISCO — Uber’s recently announced global workforce reduction will affect at least 137 employees in the Bay Area, according to a California state filing. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi announced Sept. 2 that the company would cut about 3,300 positions, or 10% of its global
workforce, as part of a broader restructuring. The company is also sharply limiting remote work and consolidating more employees in major hubs, including San Francisco and New York. According to the state filing, Uber plans to eliminate 137 positions at two locations on
Mathilda Place in Sunnyvale. The layoffs are scheduled to take effect Nov. 2 and are listed as permanent. The Sunnyvale cuts represent a portion of Uber’s global workforce reduction. It remains unclear whether additional Bay Area positions will be affected as the restructuring continues.
File photo/www.gov.ca.gov
California highlights disaster preparedness resources during Preparedness Month State officials urge residents to review emergency plans, sign up for alerts and prepare for earthquakes, extreme heat, floods and wildfires. SACRAMENTO — California officials are urging residents to review emergency plans during Preparedness Month, highlighting state resources for earthquakes, extreme heat, floods and wildfires. Gov. Gavin Newsom marked the observance Sept. 14, citing early-warning technology, pre-positioned emergency equipment and community outreach through Ready California, also known as Listos California. California’s Earthquake Warning system can send alerts through the MyShake app, compatible Android devices and Wireless Emergency Alerts before shaking reaches some users. State officials said MyShake has been downloaded more than 4.7 million times. For extreme heat, California uses CalHeatScore to provide ZIP code-level health-risk information and
distributes safety guidance in multiple languages. Flood preparations include more than 6.1 million sandbags and other materials statewide, while the Department of Water Resources has trained more than 7,000 local first responders in flood response since 2015. California also uses C-130H airtankers, ALERTCalifornia cameras and other detection technology for wildfire response. Ready California offers more than 600 preparedness resources in multiple languages across all 58 counties. Officials are urging residents to sign up for emergency alerts, know evacuation routes, maintain emergency supplies and develop household communication plans.
San Francisco supervisors propose 45-day moratorium on new data centers
SAN FRANCISCO — Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors are proposing a 45-day pause on new data center approvals, saying the city needs updated rules to address concerns about water use, energy demand, pollution, noise and other potential impacts. Supervisor Shamann Walton introduced the urgency ordinance with co-sponsors Connie Chan, Jackie Fielder and Chyanne Chen. The measure would pause approvals while officials study data center impacts and consider
longer-term regulations. San Francisco regulates data centers under a Planning Code classification for “internet service exchange,” developed before the rise of generative artificial intelligence. Such facilities generally require conditional-use approval where permitted. Walton and the other sponsors have raised concerns about environmental burdens in neighborhoods such as Bayview. California law allows local governments to temporarily halt land-use approvals while studying
permanent controls. An urgency ordinance requires a four-fifths vote and findings of a current and immediate threat to public health, safety or welfare. The initial moratorium lasts 45 days and may be extended under state law. The proposal comes as other California communities reassess data center development. Gilroy approved its own 45-day moratorium Sept. 14. If adopted, San Francisco’s moratorium would take effect immediately while officials develop possible longer-term rules.
SAN FRANCISCO — Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon met with representatives of the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) on Sept. 10 at the Philippine Center to discuss possible cooperation on financial education, entrepreneurship and market access. COFACC President and CEO Gerry Palon presented the organization’s national network and programs in leadership development, access to capital and markets, entrepreneurship education and business-to-business connections. COFACC said its network has grown to 62 chambers representing about 12,000 active business owners nationwide. The meeting explored possible collaboration involving business delegations, community programs and support for Filipino American entrepreneurs.
Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon and Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil exchange views with COFACC representatives on financial education, legal information and entrepreneurship initiatives.
From left: Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Maria Socorro Coquioco, Regina Burnley, Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon, Gerry Palon, Robert Ababa and Ellen Samson. San Francisco PCG photo
MANA Mo observance highlights Philippines’ maritime heritage The Consulate marked Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month, or MANA Mo 2026, with a flag-raising ceremony and presentation of the official music video Karapatan
sa Karagatan. Messages from President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Foreign Affairs Secretary Ma. Theresa P. Lazaro emphasized maritime heritage, ocean aware-
ness and the Philippines’ responsibilities as an archipelagic nation. This year’s observance coincides with the 10th anniversary of the 2016 Arbitral Award.
Consulate personnel and representatives of attached agencies commemorate Maritime and Archipelagic Nation Awareness Month 2026.
Free legal clinic assists 17 Filipino clients SAN FRANCISCO — Seventeen Filipino nationals and consular clients received free legal consultations during the monthly clinic conducted Sept. 4 by the Consulate and the Integrated Bar of the Philippines-California Chapter at Sentro Rizal.
Seven volunteer lawyers provided guidance on immigration matters, including I-130 petitions and visas; Philippine property concerns involving sales, transfers, inheritance and disputes; and family-law issues. Consul General Arnel Talisayon
and Deputy Consul General Maria Paz G. Cortes also discussed with IBP-California representatives ways to expand the service. The clinic is generally held on the first Friday of each month, or the following Friday when affected by a holiday.
IBP-California Chapter members provide free legal consultations to Filipino nationals and consular clients.
San Francisco PCG photo
Exhibit showcases artistry of Philippine textiles SAN FRANCISCO — Traditional Philippine weaving took center stage during a Sept. 4 guided tour of The Art of Philippine Textiles 2026 at Sentro Filipino. Organized by The Hinabi Project in partnership with Sentro Filipino, the exhibition featured piña and abaca fabrics, ikat weaving and a live weaving demonstration.
Edwin Lozada discusses embroidered piña fabrics and traditional Cordillera attire during the Sept. 4 guided tour of The Art of Philippine Textiles 2026 at Sentro Filipino.
Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon described weaving as a living expression of identity, memory and heritage, carrying the stories of communities across Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. He also recognized Hinabi Project co-founder Edwin Lozada and Sentro Filipino Executive Director Conrad “Radi” Calalang for helping introduce Philippine textile traditions to broader audiences. The event also remembered Hinabi Project co-founder Anthony Legarda, who recently died. Several of his works were included in the exhibition, which ran through Sept. 10.
Edwin Lozada discusses textiles from Luzon during the exhibition tour. San Francisco PCG photo
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SEPTEMBER 18 - 24, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL
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