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Philippines challenges Chinese research ship DATELINE USA Supreme Court allows off Batanes as China Coast Guard moves in Social Security data FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

to be used in voter citizenship checks

Emergency stay lets expanded federal SAVE system operate while legal challenge continues

Manila says vessel lacked authorization for research in Philippine EEZ; Beijing disputes Philippine account by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippine Coast Guard said Thursday, Oct. 1, that it challenged a Chinese research vessel operating off Batanes after deploying a patrol ship and

aircraft to the area, where a China Coast Guard vessel later also appeared. The Chinese-flagged Jia Hai Ke 7 had remained about 38 nautical miles northwest of Itbayat since Sept. 28, within the Philippines’ exclusive economic zone, according to the PCG. The agency said the De-

Philippine anti-graft court keeps ex-public works chief Bonoan in Estrada flood-control case

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the government to resume operating an expanded citizenship-verification system that uses Social Security Administration records used by state and local election officials to check federal voter eligibility. The Sept. 25 order is an emergency stay, not a final ruling that the modified Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements program, known as SAVE, is lawful. It puts a June lower-court judgment on hold while the government’s appeal proceeds in the D.C. Circuit. The case concerns SSA records used for verification and does not change Social Security benefits. The system was expanded after President u PAGE 5

Trump administration begins sending $500 ACA refund checks to more than 950,000 enrollees California and Nevada residents are not included because both states operate their own ACA marketplace platforms WASHINGTON — The Trump administration began sending $500 checks Wednesday, Sept. 30, to more than 950,000 Affordable Care Act enrollees in 30 states, distributing money from what the White House describes as excess fees collected to operate the federal health insurance marketplace. The Treasury Department is issuing the checks to eligible recipients, accompanied by letters signed by President Donald Trump. u PAGE 5

Second Division rejects prosecutors’ renewed attempt to remove former DPWH secretary from remaining graft charge by AJPress

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. receives the credentials of Japanese Ambassador Kitagawa Katsuro during a ceremony at Malacañang on Thursday, marking a step forward in strengthening Philippines–Japan relations. File photo/PCO

MANILA — The Philippine national government’s outstanding debt rose to a record P19.61 trillion at the end of August, reflecting additional borrowing and the weaker peso’s effect on foreign-currency obligations, according to the Bureau of the Treasury. The debt stock increased by P217.62 billion, or 1.12%, from P19.39 trillion at the end of July. It was P1.90 trillion, or 10.72%, higher than at the end of 2025 and 12.24% above the

MANILA — A Philippine anti-graft court has kept former Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan as a co-accused of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in a graft case involving an alleged flood-control kickback scheme, rejecting prosecutors’ renewed attempt to remove Bonoan from the charge. The Sandiganbayan’s Second Division disclosed during a Sept. 29 pretrial conference that it had denied the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration. Government prosecutors told the court they would continue treating Bonoan as an accused while awaiting further instructions from the Office of the Ombudsman. The ruling leaves in place an Aug. 3 decision denying prosecutors permission to amend the criminal u PAGE 2

Leylah Fernandez wins Singapore Two properties, GenCorp deals Open, claims sixth WTA title and bank records come under by AJPress SINGAPORE — Leylah Fernandez captured her first title of the season Sunday, defeating Australia’s Talia Gibson 7-5, 6-0 in the Singapore Tennis Open final for the sixth WTA singles championship of her career. Fernandez, the Canadian of Filipino and Ecuadorian heritage, won the final nine games to complete the victory in one hour and 38 minutes at OCBC Arena. The championship was her second at the WTA 500 level, following her

Washington title in 2025. The 24-year-old entered Singapore as the No. 6 seed and ranked No. 31 in the world. She is projected to rise to No. 26 when the updated rankings are released Monday. Gibson, appearing in her first WTA final, twice answered early service breaks by Fernandez in the opening set. The Australian earned a set point with Fernandez serving at 4-5, but Fernandez held for 5-5, broke Gibson in the following game and served out the set. Fernandez then swept the second set u PAGE 2

level recorded a year earlier. Domestic debt, which accounted for 67.53% of the total, increased by P130.37 billion to P13.24 trillion. The Treasury attributed the rise mainly to P127.85 billion in net issuance of government securities. External debt increased by P87.25 billion to P6.37 trillion, or 32.47% of the total. The Treasury said the increase in foreign debt reflected both financing flows and exchange-rate movements. The peso weakened to P62.209 to u PAGE 2

by

ress

MANILA — The Supreme Court has dismissed three petitions challenging the Senate Impeachment Court’s revised method for calculating the twothirds vote required to convict Vice President Sara Duterte, leaving the tribunal’s Sept. 23 ruling in effect without resolving the constitutional question on its merits. The court, sitting en banc, dismissed petitions filed separately by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. and Bert-

scrutiny in Sara Duterte trial

Registry officials testify on Matina, Samal properties; bank and financialcompany witnesses ordered to appear by AJPress

MANILA — The impeachment trial of Vice President Sara Duterte turned this week to government contracts, firearms, land titles and financial records as House prosecutors continued presenting evidence under Article II of the complaint. Article II accuses Duterte of eni Cataluña Causing on proce- failing to fully and truthfully disdural grounds, including lack of close assets, liabilities and business interests in her Statements standing and prematurity. The petitions challenged the of Assets, Liabilities and Net impeachment court’s interpreta- Worth, or SALNs, and of maintion of Article XI, Section 3(6) of taining prohibited financial inthe 1987 Constitution, which re- terests. Duterte has disputed the quires the concurrence of “two- allegations, which remain unrethirds of all the Members of the solved before the Senate sitting as an impeachment court. Senate” for conviction. On Sept. 28, Philippine GovOn Sept. 23, the impeachment court voted 13-1, with six sena- ernment Electronic Procurement tor-judges not participating, to System Division Chief Rendell set aside an earlier interpreta- Sopeña testified that records betion that treated 16 votes as the fore him covered 15 Davao City fixed requirement in a 24-mem- contracts with GenCorp Industries Inc. worth P34.216 million. ber Senate. u PAGE 2 Four went through public bid-

Supreme Court dismisses Philippine government debt reaches record P19.61 trillion as challenges to Senate voting rule Duterte impeachment trial peso weakness adds to borrowing in SaraAJP by AJPress

partment of Foreign Affairs had confirmed that Manila had not authorized the vessel to conduct marine scientific research there. The Coast Guard deployed the 97-meter BRP Teresa Magbanua, one of its largest patrol vessels, and u PAGE 2

ding and 11 through negotiated small-value procurement. Those figures differed from information earlier released by Davao City, which reported 19 GenCorp transactions worth more than P33.2 million. Sopeña said PhilGEPS relies on information entered by procuring entities and did not make a legal finding that procurement rules had been violated. Duterte listed GenCorp among her business interests in her 2024 and 2025 SALNs. A Philippine National Police official also testified that records showed 51 firearms registered to Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio. The records were presented as part of the prosecution's Article II case. The testimony did not establish that possession of the registered firearms was unlawful. Baste Duterte takes the stand Davao City Mayor Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, the vice presiu PAGE 2

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From the Front Page

Philippines challenges Chinese... PAGE 1 an Islander aircraft. At about 7:55 a.m. Thursday, the Philippine ship approached Jia Hai Ke 7 to within roughly 100 yards and launched a rigid-hull inflatable boat while personnel issued radio challenges, according to PCG spokesman Rear Adm. Jay Tarriela. The PCG said the research vessel maneuvered away from the Philippine boats. China Coast Guard vessel CCG-2503 subsequently entered the area and issued radio challenges to Teresa Magbanua. No collision or injuries were reported. By late morning, Jia Hai Ke 7 had begun moving away from the position it had occupied for several days. The PCG said it continued monitoring the vessel to ensure that it left the Philippine EEZ. China disputed Manila’s characterization of the incident. The Chinese Embassy in Manila said the research vessel was conduct-

the vessel transmitted inaccurate Automatic Identification System location data. Comparing those transmissions with information from Canada’s Dark Vessel Detection system, the PCG said the reported track would have required the ship to travel more than 2,000 nautical miles in less than a day. It assessed the discrepancy as deliberate AIS spoofing. That assessment has not been independently verified. The PCG describes Jia Hai Ke 7 as a privately owned, 70-meter research vessel equipped with a dynamic-positioning system used for marine survey work. Philippine officials have also noted that submarine communi- PH, Indian navies conduct week-long naval drills with ASEAN. cations cable routes pass through the Batanes-Luzon Strait area. The Coast Guard has not presented evidence that the vessel surveyed When hearings resumed Oct. those cables, collected military in- PAGE 1 formation or was operating on be- dent's brother, appeared under 1, prosecutors presented Davao half of the Chinese government. n subpoena on Sept. 29 and was City Register of Deeds Kathy declared a hostile witness for Florence Baldonado and Samal evidentiary purposes, allowing Deputy Register of Deeds Marco prosecutors to ask leading ques- Pineda. Baldonado authenticated retions. The designation did not amount to a finding that he tes- cords for a 379-square-meter property in Matina, Davao City, tified falsely. Mayor Duterte said he had not registered to Carpio. The repersonally reviewed the Gen- cords showed a P6-million purCorp contracts and had learned chase in July 2024 and a P8-milof his sister's reported interest lion mortgage the following in the company through the month. During comparison with Duteimpeachment proceedings. He said he would not have allowed rte's SALN, questions arose over the contracts had he known of whether the property corresponded to any listed real-estate her connection to the firm. He also acknowledged that an entry. Baldonado said she had no assistant city administrator was authorized to sign contracts on personal knowledge of Duterte's his behalf and said the 19 con- SALN filings and did not detertracts, spread over about five mine whether the property had years, did not appear unusually been omitted. The defense argued that the numerous compared with the city government's overall trans- Matina property corresponded to an existing SALN entry. actions. The impeachment court sepa- Baldonado did not confirm that rately ruled that Vice President the entries referred to the same Duterte could not be compelled property. Pineda testified about anothto answer a prosecution request for admission covering 104 mat- er property in the Island Garters involving her and her hus- den City of Samal registered to Photo courtesy of WTA Tennis band's bank and tax records, Carpio. As with the Matina property, among other issues. King Cup championship in 2023. Presiding Officer Francis Es- prosecutors argued that the land She arrived in Singapore with a 17-23 record for the season before winning five consecutive matches cudero said prosecutors could record was not properly reflectnot shift their burden of proof ed in Duterte's SALN, while the for the title. Fernandez is entered in the China Open in Beijing, to the respondent through a re- defense disputed that interprethe next WTA 1000 event on the Asian calendar. After quest for admission and cited tation. Whether either property was the Singapore final, she said the victory gave her con- Duterte's constitutional right omitted or inaccurately reported fidence but that the next tournament would require against self-incrimination. remains unresolved before the Land records examined her to “start from zero.” n

ing normal operations in waters under Chinese jurisdiction and has maintained that China and the Philippines have overlapping maritime claims in the area that should be addressed through negotiations. Under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, coastal states have jurisdiction over marine scientific research within their exclusive economic zones, and such research generally requires their consent. An EEZ is legally distinct from territorial waters and does not give a coastal state complete sovereignty over navigation. The PCG first confirmed Jia Hai Ke 7 near Itbayat on Sept. 28 after a maritime surveillance flight. It said the vessel did not respond to repeated radio challenges and had remained in roughly the same area rather than proceeding on a continuous transit. The agency also alleged that

Two properties, GenCorp deals and bank...

Leylah Fernandez wins Singapore Open... PAGE 1 without facing a break point. She won 82 percent of her first-serve points in the set. Fernandez dropped only one set in five matches during the tournament. She began with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Japan’s Kyoka Okamura before defeating American Alycia Parks 6-4, 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals. Fernandez then defeated top-seeded Mirra Andreeva 6-2, 7-5. Andreeva, the reigning Roland Garros champion, had beaten Fernandez in their two previous clay-court meetings, while Fernandez had won their previous two meetings on hard courts. The Singapore victory was Fernandez’s second against a Top 10 opponent this season. In Saturday’s semifinal, Fernandez recovered from a one-sided opening set against Roland Garros runner-up Maja Chwalinska, winning 1-6, 6-4, 6-2 to advance to her first final of 2026. The Singapore championship gives Fernandez three career titles in Asia. She won in Hong Kong in 2023 and Osaka in 2025 before adding Singapore this year. Her other singles titles came in Monterrey in 2021 and 2022 and Washington in 2025. Fernandez also acknowledged the Filipino support she received during the tournament. During the trophy presentation, she thanked the Singaporean and “Pinoy fans” who attended matches throughout the week, saying their encouragement, energy and positivity had made the tournament special. Born in Montreal, Fernandez represents Canada in international competition. Her father, Jorge, is Ecuadorian, while her mother, Irene, is Filipino Canadian. Fernandez reached the U.S. Open singles final in 2021 and helped Canada capture its first Billie Jean

PNA Photo by By Priam Nepomuceno

impeachment court. Bank and financial records move forward The court on Oct. 1 granted prosecution requests for subpoenas covering seven banks and seven financial companies, directing officials to testify and produce records concerning Duterte and Carpio. The banks include Land Bank of the Philippines, Asia United Bank, Philippine Savings Bank, Metropolitan Bank and Trust Co., Bank of the Philippine Islands, Philippine National Bank and BDO Unibank. Prosecutors said they intend to begin presenting the bank and financial-company witnesses on Oct. 6. The prosecution also withdrew former senator Antonio Trillanes IV as a witness. Trillanes later said he had asked prosecutors to remove him from the witness list. Testimony by Anti-Money Laundering Council Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura was postponed after the defense sought additional time to prepare. The court moved his appearance to the next scheduled hearing. The impeachment court has made no final determination on Article II. The prosecution bears the burden of proving its allegations, while the defense may challenge the relevance, interpretation and sufficiency of the evidence presented. n

Supreme Court dismisses challenges to... PAGE 1 Under the revised rule, the voting base consists of senators who are legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. Presiding officer Francis Escudero said senators who are legally prevented from acting or otherwise unable to participate under circumstances recognized by the tribunal may be excluded. Rodriguez argued that the impeachment court had added a qualification not contained in the constitutional text. Francis-

co and Causing also challenged the exclusion of senators who remain in office but cannot participate. The Supreme Court did not resolve those arguments on their merits. Senate Impeachment Court spokesman Regie Tongol said the Sept. 23 ruling remains undisturbed. His description of the proceedings as “constitutionally bulletproof” represented the tribunal spokesman’s assessment, not a finding by the Supreme Court.

Rodriguez said Thursday he was considering seeking reconsideration of the dismissal. Retired Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio separately said a challenge could become ripe after the impeachment court votes on guilt or acquittal, particularly if a conviction were reached with fewer than 16 votes. The constitutional requirement remains two-thirds. The dispute concerns which senators should be counted when that fraction is calculated. n

Philippine government debt reaches record... PAGE 1 the U.S. dollar at the end of August from P61.327 at the end of July, increasing the peso value of foreign-currency obligations by P90.32 billion. Net external loan availments added P2.86 billion, while movements in other currencies reduced the total by P5.93 billion. Since the end of 2025, external debt has risen by P775.74 billion. Treasury data attributed P452.92 billion of that increase to net foreign borrowing and P322.82 billion to currency valuation effects. The latest quarterly measure showed national government debt at 66% of gross domestic product at the end of June, up

from 65.2% at the end of March and 63.2% at the end of 2025. The June ratio is the latest available because GDP data are reported quarterly. Philippine GDP grew 2.3% year on year in the second quarter, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. Industry contracted 2.4%, while gross capital formation declined 9.2%. Government finances also remained in deficit. The Treasury reported an August budget gap of P161.3 billion, bringing the January-to-August deficit to about P1.05 trillion. Under the Development Budget Coordination Committee’s updated fiscal program, the gov-

ernment projects a 2026 deficit of P1.659 trillion, equivalent to 5.4% of GDP, with the deficit ratio targeted to decline gradually to 3.5% by 2030. In a Sept. 25 assessment, International Monetary Fund staff described the government’s near-term pace of fiscal consolidation as broadly appropriate but said adjustment should rely more on revenue mobilization and stronger public financial management. The IMF also projected Philippine economic growth of 3.4% for 2026, citing weaker investment, natural disasters and external pressures, before a projected recovery to 5.1% in 2027. n

Philippine anti-graft court keeps ex-public... PAGE 1 information and remove Bonoan from the case. The Ombudsman had sought his exclusion as part of an effort to use the former public works chief as a government witness in cases arising from investigations into alleged irregularities in flood-control spending. In its earlier ruling, the Second Division said Bonoan’s removal could affect Estrada’s available defenses and the presentation of evidence concerning the respective roles of the accused. The court said its decision did not determine Bonoan’s potential value or credibility as a prosecution witness in later proceedings. Bonoan pleaded not guilty to the remaining graft charge on Sept. 4. Estrada has also denied wrongdoing. No court has found

either man guilty in the pending Second Division case. The case stems from allegations involving flood-control projects in Bulacan that prosecutors say were included in the 2025 national budget. Prosecutors allege that Estrada received about P213.7 million in kickbacks connected to the projects and accuse Bonoan of participating in the alleged scheme. Those allegations remain to be established at trial. Bonoan’s status in the Second Division case differs from his position in separate proceedings before another branch of the Sandiganbayan. On Sept. 1, the court’s Fifth Division granted the Ombudsman’s request to remove Bonoan as an accused in a separate P573-million plunder case and another graft case involving Es-

trada and former public works officials. The Fifth Division said seeking the discharge of an accused for possible use as a state witness fell within the Ombudsman’s prosecutorial discretion. The Fifth Division subsequently recalled warrants against Bonoan and ordered his release from hospital detention. His removal from those cases did not affect the separate graft charge pending before the Second Division, in which he had posted bail. Ombudsman Jesus Crispin Remulla said in June that his office had reached a cooperation agreement with Bonoan and intended to seek his use as a state witness in flood-control cases. Whether Bonoan may ultimately testify, and in which proceedings, remains subject to the applicable court process. n

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ABS-CBN ownership set for reshuffle as proposed P6-billion investment advances by AJPress

Team Philippines’ EJ Obiena soars to victory, clinching gold in the men’s pole vault final at the Asian Games 2026.

POC Media Pool

Philippines set to host WTA 250, two women’s tennis events in 2027

Higher-tier tournament planned for late October or early November by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippines is set to host its first WTA 250 tournament in 2027, giving the country two international women’s professional tennis events in the same year, the Philippine Tennis Association announced Thursday. PHILTA Secretary General John Rey Tiangco said the WTA 250 is planned for late October or early November 2027, while the WTA 125 Philippine Women’s Open will return in January 2027. He said the WTA approved the country’s hosting application last week after PHILTA worked out details with the tournament’s

franchise holder. The WTA 250 will be a separate event and will not replace the Philippine Women’s Open, Tiangco said. PHILTA board member Dyan Castillejo said the WTA 125 is expected during the second week of the 2027 Australian Open. Exact dates and venues for the two Philippine tournaments have not been announced. The addition moves the Philippines into a higher level of the women’s professional circuit. WTA 250 tournaments are part of the main WTA Tour, with the singles champion receiving 250 ranking points. The country staged its first WTA tournament from Jan. 26

to 31, 2026, when the Philippine Women’s Open was held on hard courts at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Manila. The WTA 125 event carried a $115,000 financial commitment and a 32-player singles draw. Colombia’s Camila Osorio won the inaugural title, defeating Donna Vekic of Croatia 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 in the final. Filipina Alex Eala, the No. 2 seed and a wild-card entrant, reached the quarterfinals before losing to Osorio. Her participation in either Philippine tournament in 2027 has not been announced. PHILTA said further details on the two 2027 events will be released later. n

MANILA — ABS-CBN Corp. is moving toward a major ownership restructuring through a proposed P6-billion equity investment involving a new institutional investor and several Lopez-linked companies. I&C Holdings Corp. is subscribing to P3.5 billion in new shares. Three investment companies that ABS-CBN says represent branches of the Lopez family — Crème Investment Corp., Mantes Corp. and Presta Holdings Company Inc. — are investing a combined P2.2 billion, while Lopez Inc. will subscribe to another P300 million. After the transaction, I&C would hold 27.06 percent of ABS-CBN’s voting stock, according to disclosures filed with the Philippine Stock Exchange. I&C is a Philippine investment vehicle established by Fortman Cline investment bankers Daniel Ibasco, Gary Emerson Cheng and Clarisse Darlene Rose Tan. Corporate records reported by the Ma-

nila Bulletin identify Fortress Capital Philippine Holdings Corp. as I&C’s largest shareholder. The subscriptions would reduce Lopez Inc.’s direct share of ABS-CBN voting stock from 78.40 percent to 44.35 percent. Crème would hold 5.94 percent, Mantes 5.93 percent and Presta 5.15 percent. Lopez Inc. would therefore no longer hold a majority of the voting stock by itself. The disclosures do not establish that the Lopez family has relinquished control or that I&C will take over management. ABS-CBN remains led by Chairman Martin L. Lopez and President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo L. Katigbak. Shareholders are scheduled to meet Sept. 30 to consider increasing ABS-CBN’s authorized capital stock from P1.5 billion to P4.5 billion to accommodate the new subscriptions. They will also consider increasing the board from seven to nine directors. Senior executives Socorro V. Vidanes and Roberto V. Barreiro have been nominated for the two

additional seats. The proposed investment comes as ABS-CBN continues to rebuild its business around content production, digital distribution and partnerships following the loss of its broadcast franchise in 2020. The company reported P6.88 billion in consolidated revenue for the first half of 2026, down 17 percent from a year earlier. Its net loss widened to P1.83 billion from P852 million, while operating expenses declined 5 percent to P8.46 billion. ABS-CBN also announced a retrenchment program in September covering about 200 employees, or roughly 7 percent of its workforce. The company cited weaker advertising and consumer spending among the pressures affecting its recovery. ABS-CBN has said proceeds from the subscriptions will be used for general corporate purposes. Completion remains subject to the corporate and regulatory approvals required for the capital increase. n

DOJ nears filing of U.S. extradition petition against Quiboloy by AJPress MANILA — The Philippine Department of Justice is completing its final review of a U.S. request to extradite Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy, Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said Thursday, Oct. 1. “We’re almost ready to file that petition,” Vida told reporters, without giving a filing date. The DOJ said it received the formal U.S. request on Aug. 7. Filing the petition would begin

a Philippine court proceeding; it would not itself authorize Quiboloy’s transfer to the United States. Under Supreme Court rules, the extradition court must determine whether treaty requirements are met and whether the offenses are extraditable. Quiboloy was named in a 2021 superseding federal indictment in California charging him with conspiracy to engage in sex trafficking by force, fraud and coercion and sex trafficking of children, substantive sex-trafficking offenses, conspiracy and

bulk cash smuggling. Federal prosecutors’ allegations have not been proven in court, and Quiboloy is presumed innocent unless convicted. He also faces separate criminal cases in the Philippines, where he has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, has said the defense will oppose extradition. Pending Philippine cases do not automatically end the extradition process; surrender may be deferred or temporarily arranged under applicable rules. n

Eala takes second straight Asian Games singles bronze IMF cuts Philippine growth forecast to 3.4% as World No. 18 falls to China’s Wang Xiyu in three-set oil costs, weak investment weigh on economy semifinal in Aichi-Nagoya

by AJPress NAGOYA, Japan — Alexandra Eala secured a second consecutive Asian Games women’s singles bronze medal Thursday after China’s Wang Xiyu rallied for a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 semifinal victory at Higashiyama Park Tennis Center. Eala, the top seed and world No. 18, built a 5-0 lead in the first set. Wang recovered in the second and moved ahead 4-1 in the deciding set before closing out the match. It gave Eala her third Asian Games medal. Eala also won bronze in women’s singles and mixed doubles with Francis Casey Alcantara at the Hangzhou Games held in 2023.

Her Aichi-Nagoya run included a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej and a 7-5, 6-0 quarterfinal win over Joanna Garland of Chinese Taipei. In women’s doubles, Eala and Shaira Rivera defeated Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu before losing 7-5, 6-2 to China’s Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan. Eala chose the Asian Games over the China Open in Beijing, a mandatory WTA 1000 event. The Philippine Tennis Association sought a formal WTA exemption. Reuters reported Thursday that Eala may still face a fine and ranking penalty; no public WTA ruling had been announced as of Oct. 1.

The semifinal loss ended Eala’s chance to claim the Asian Games qualification place for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, but it did not end her Olympic options. The principal remaining route is direct acceptance through the WTA singles rankings used on June 12, 2028, subject to International Tennis Federation eligibility and national-quota rules. Eala is scheduled to return to the WTA Tour at the Wuhan Open, a WTA 1000 event from Oct. 12-18. She is also listed for the Ningbo Open, a WTA 500 tournament in Ningbo, China, from Oct. 19-25, and has been announced for the Hong Kong Tennis Open, scheduled Nov. 2-8. n

by AJPress

MANILA — The International Monetary Fund has lowered its 2026 growth forecast for the Philippines to 3.4%, citing weak investment, delayed public construction and elevated energy costs. The projection, released after an IMF staff mission to Manila from Sept. 15 to 25, is down from the Fund’s previous 3.9% estimate and slightly below the government’s 3.5% to 4.5% growth target. The IMF also projects growth of 5.1% in 2027. Economic growth slowed to 2.3% year over year in the second quarter. Gross capital formation fell 9.2%, construction investment dropped 14.8%, and

general-government construction declined 32.4%, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority. The weakness was concentrated in investment rather than government spending broadly. Government final consumption rose 8.3%, while household consumption increased 2.8%. The IMF said stricter reviews of infrastructure projects had weighed on public construction and that weaker confidence had restrained private investment. It also cited natural disasters and a prolonged property-sector slowdown. Higher energy costs have added pressure. Brent crude futures were trading around $99 to $104 a barrel at the end of September, while the government temporarily suspended excise taxes on LPG,

except when used for petrochemicals or motive power, and on kerosene, except aviation fuel. Headline inflation eased to 6.1% in August from 6.2% in July, but remained above the government’s 2% to 4% target range. The IMF expects inflation to average 5.6% this year before easing to 4.1% in 2027. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas raised its policy rate to 5% in August. The IMF said further tightening should depend on whether inflation remains elevated and second-round effects intensify. The Fund projects the current-account deficit to widen to 4.8% of GDP and urged faster execution of high-quality capital projects while protecting priority social and infrastructure spending. n

Marcos extends Dizon, Lopez Philippine Supreme Court justice calls for appointments as CA confirmation awaits stronger reporting of court corruption by AJPress

MANILA — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has extended the appointments of Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon and Transportation Secretary Giovanni “Banoy” Lopez, Executive Secretary Ralph Recto said Wednesday, Sept. 30, after questions arose over the tenure of Cabinet officials awaiting Commission on Appointments confirmation. Recto said Marcos would submit their appointments to the CA “at the appropriate time.” He did not publicly specify the duration or legal form of the extensions.

The announcement followed a Sept. 25 Senate budget hearing in which Sen. Imee Marcos questioned Dizon about the basis for his continued tenure at the Department of Public Works and Highways, citing the Administrative Code provision limiting a presidential temporary designation to one year. Dizon told senators he had yet to clarify his status with the Office of the President and said he would accept leaving the department if it were determined that his authority to remain had ended. Marcos placed Dizon and Lopez at the helm of the DPWH and

Department of Transportation on Sept. 1, 2025. Palace announcements at the time described Dizon as DPWH secretary and Lopez as acting transportation secretary. The Constitution requires presidential appointments of executive department heads to receive the consent of the Commission on Appointments. The Administrative Code separately authorizes temporary presidential designations but states that such a designation cannot exceed one year. Recto also said his own appointment as executive secretary would eventually be submitted to the CA. n

by AJPress MANILA — Philippine Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Marvic Leonen, serving as acting chief justice, has urged judges, court personnel, lawyers and litigants to report suspected corruption through the judiciary’s existing integrity channel. In Memorandum Order No. 94-2026, dated Sept. 30, Leonen directed courts nationwide to increase public awareness of integrity@judiciary.gov.ph, an email address for actionable information involving possible violations of anti-graft laws and judicial ethics rules. The memorandum identifies conduct that may warrant re-

porting, including demands for money, gifts or favors in exchange for court action or services; attempts to obtain confidential case information; prohibited ex parte communications; and claims of improper influence over judges or proceedings. Such reports are allegations unless established through investigation or disciplinary proceedings. Leonen said silence in the face of corruption can weaken public trust in the justice system and disadvantage those with fewer resources. The integrity email was not created by the latest order. The Supreme Court established the channel in June 2024 through Memorandum Order No. 72-2024, saying it could be used to receive specific information about possible

misconduct involving justices, judges and court personnel. The renewed directive comes as the judiciary continues implementing updated ethics and accountability rules. The Supreme Court launched the 2025 Code of Judicial Conduct and Accountability and the corresponding code for court officials and personnel in January, followed by training sessions in September. The Court also reorganized the former Judicial Integrity Board into the Judicial Integrity Office in 2025. Gerard Mosquera, a former deputy ombudsman, was appointed in August 2026 as its first Judicial Integrity Officer, with authority to receive and investigate administrative complaints and recommend sanctions. n

2024 after holding second place through 2022. FAO attributed the 2025 recovery largely to stronger supplies following earlier weather- and disease-related damage. It also cited industry reports of investments in banana production in Cagayan Valley, supported by Department of Agriculture inputs. The DA said its 2025 High Value Crops Development Program distributed 106,000 banana planting materials, 120,000 units of organic fertilizer and more than 215,000 biological-control agents. Fusarium wilt Tropical Race 4, or TR4, remains a major threat, particularly to Cavendish bananas that underpin the export industry. In November 2025, the DA said about 15,500 hectares in the Davao Region had been affected.

Japan and China remain destinations for Philippine bananas. FAO said the Philippines still supplies about 75 to 80 percent of Japan’s banana imports, although Vietnamese shipments to that market increased in 2025. More recent production data show continuing pressure. Philippine Statistics Authority figures put nationwide banana output at about 3.96 million metric tons in the first half of 2026, down 3.1 percent from the same period in 2025. The government has continued seeking additional markets. Philippine saba bananas began commercial shipments to New Zealand this year, while the DA promoted Cavendish and Cardava bananas at Asia Fruit Logistica in Hong Kong in September. n

DOJ says anti-trafficking protection applies to Mary Jane Veloso after pardon Philippines regains spot as New legal development follows release of Filipino worker whose world’s No. 2 banana exporter 2015 execution in Indonesia was halted at the last minute by AJPress MANILA — The Department of Justice said Thursday, Oct. 1, that a legal protection intended to prevent trafficking victims from being punished for acts resulting directly from their exploitation has been applied to Mary Jane Veloso, days after a presidential pardon ended her more than 16 years in Indonesian and Philippine custody. Justice Undersecretary Nicholas Ty cited the “non-punishment principle” under the country’s anti-trafficking law, which protects trafficking victims from liability for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.

Veloso was arrested in Indonesia in April 2010 after authorities found 2.6 kilograms of heroin concealed in luggage she was carrying. An Indonesian court convicted her of drug trafficking and sentenced her to death. She has consistently maintained that she did not know the drugs were there and that she was deceived while seeking work abroad. Her case drew international attention in April 2015, when Indonesia prepared to execute her. Philippine authorities obtained a last-minute reprieve so she could testify in criminal proceedings involving people she identified as having recruited her. After years of diplomatic negotiations, Indonesia transferred

Veloso to Philippine custody in December 2024. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed an absolute pardon Sept. 24, and she was released the following day. Speaking at the DOJ on Thursday, Veloso appealed to those she identifies as her recruiters to publicly acknowledge that she had no part in the drug offense. Maria Cristina Sergio and Julius Lacanilao face separate Philippine charges of qualified trafficking in persons, illegal recruitment and estafa. Both pleaded not guilty. Veloso testified in the cases on June 19. Since her release, DSWD and the Department of Migrant Workers have provided financial and reintegration assistance to Veloso and her family. n

by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippines regained its position as the world’s second-largest banana exporter in 2025 as shipments rebounded from production setbacks linked to disease and weather, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. The FAO’s final Banana Market Review 2025, released Sept. 24, placed Philippine exports at about 3 million metric tons, up roughly 30 percent from 2.33 million metric tons in 2024. The final tally revised upward the agency’s preliminary January estimate of 2.93 million metric tons. Ecuador remained the largest exporter. The Philippines had ranked third in both 2023 and

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Fil-Am Baltimore teacher faces child sextrafficking charges in Pennsylvania by AJPress

AFP Chief Gen. Antonio Nafarrete welcomes Finnish Ambassador Saija Nurminen at Camp Aguinaldo on Sept. 30. Their meeting explored stronger bilateral defense and security cooperation, including opportunities in areas of mutual interest. Photo courtesy of the AFP

U.S.-trained gymnasts help Philippines place sixth in Asian Games women’s team final by AJPress NAGOYA, Japan — The Philippines finished sixth in the women’s artistic gymnastics team final at the 2026 Asian Games, with several U.S.-trained athletes helping the national squad reach the eight-team medal round. Levi Jung-Ruivivar, Kylee Kvamme, Haylee Garcia, Chiara Andrew and Lauren Supnet combined for 147.763 points in the Sept. 23 final at Nagoya General Gymnasium. China won with 166.462, followed by Japan at 165.362 and North Korea at 158.329. The Philippines had qualified seventh with 144.563, then im-

proved its total by 3.200 points in the final. Jung-Ruivivar posted the team’s highest uneven-bars score at 13.766 and added 13.133 on floor. Kvamme contributed 13.633 on balance beam and 13.300 on vault. In individual competition, Jung-Ruivivar placed 10th in the all-around with 50.065 points, while Kvamme finished 12th with 47.665. No Philippine woman advanced to an apparatus final, keeping the team result as the women’s principal achievement in Nagoya. Jung-Ruivivar, a Los Angeles native who competes for Stanford, represented the Philippines at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She earned three NCAA All-America

honors in 2026, including firstteam recognition on balance beam. Kvamme, from Auburn, Washington, competes for Alabama and represented the Philippines at the 2026 Asian Championships. She previously competed for the country at the 2023 Asian Championships and World Championships. The women’s performance came during a historic Asian Games for Philippine gymnastics. Two-time Olympic champion Carlos Yulo won gold in floor exercise with 14.666 and later added the vault title. His younger brother, Eldrew Yulo, earned bronze on horizontal bar with 13.666. n

Larry Itliong Day observances renew focus on Filipino farmworkers’ role in U.S. labor history by AJPress COMMUNITIES across California are preparing to mark Larry Itliong Day this October, renewing attention to the Filipino American labor organizer whose leadership helped launch the 1965 Delano grape strike and reshape the farmworker movement in the United States. The observance falls on Oct. 25, Itliong’s birthday, during Filipino American History Month. California law has recognized Oct. 25 as Larry Itliong Day since 2015 and requires the governor to proclaim the date annually. Schools and educational institutions are also encouraged to commemorate his life and contributions. The Legislature added a separate recognition this year through Senate Concurrent Resolution 190, authored by state Sen. Christopher Cabaldon. The measure designated Oct. 25, 2026, as Larry Itliong Day. Events are planned in several parts of the state. The UC Berkeley Labor Center has scheduled a Larry Itliong Day program for Oct. 22. In San Diego, the Council of Philippine American Organizations and the Filipino American National Historical Society’s San Diego chapter will hold their third annual Larry Itliong Community Breakfast on Oct. 24. Delano will hold a community Unity Day on Oct. 24 at Larry Itliong Unity Park, in the city where the landmark grape strike began more than six decades ago. Modesto “Larry” Dulay Itliong was born Oct. 25, 1913, in San Nicolas, Pangasinan, in the Philippines. He arrived in the United States as a teenager and worked in agriculture, fisheries and canneries before becoming a

prominent labor organizer. After serving in the U.S. Army during World War II, Itliong settled in Stockton and continued organizing agricultural workers. He was involved in the 1948 asparagus strike and founded the Filipino Farm Labor Union in 1956. He later became a leading organizer with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, or AWOC. On Sept. 7, 1965, mostly Filipino AWOC members met at the Filipino Community Hall in Delano and voted to strike against area grape growers. The walkout began the next day. The National Park Service identifies Itliong and other Filipino organizers as leaders of the action. Historical accounts differ on the precise number of workers who joined the initial walkout, but Filipino farmworkers formed the core of the strike that began Sept. 8. Itliong then asked César Chávez and the predominantly Latino National Farm Workers Association to join the strike. On Sept. 16, the NFWA voted to participate, creating an interracial labor alliance that became central to the five-year Delano campaign and nationwide grape boycott. The two unions merged in 1966 to create the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee, or UFWOC. The organization later became the United Farm Workers of America. The strike and boycott ended after major growers signed union contracts in 1970, marking a significant development in agricultural labor organizing and establishing the farmworker movement as a national force. Recognition of Itliong expanded decades after his death in 1977. In Los Angeles, his place in Filipino American history had

already been given a prominent public expression. In 1995, Filipino American artist Eliseo Art Silva completed Gintong Kasaysayan, Gintong Pamana, or “A Glorious History, A Golden Legacy,” at Unidad Park in what is now Historic Filipinotown. The large-scale mural traces generations of Filipino American history and places Itliong prominently within the story of the farm labor movement. He appears alongside César Chávez, visually linking the Filipino-led Delano walkout with the broader coalition that followed. Silva positioned Itliong near the golden sun associated with the Philippine flag, giving the labor organizer a central symbolic presence in a work intended to recover Filipino American stories that had received limited attention in mainstream historical narratives. The mural was completed seven years before Los Angeles formally designated Historic Filipinotown in 2002 and has since become one of the neighborhood’s most recognizable works of public art. State recognition followed. Carson established a local Larry Itliong Day in 2010. In 2015, then-Assemblymember Rob Bonta authored Assembly Bill 7, which made Oct. 25 a day of special significance in California and required an annual gubernatorial proclamation. Itliong was inducted posthumously into the California Hall of Fame in 2021. His role is also preserved at the Filipino Community Hall in Delano, where AWOC members voted to strike in September 1965. The National Park Service recognizes the hall as a central site in the farm labor movement and in the interracial alliance that sustained the Delano campaign. n

Trump administration begins sending $500... PAGE 1 The White House announced the program Sept. 10 and initially said payments would begin in October. The payment is $500 per eligible person. It is directed at consumers who obtained 2026 coverage through HealthCare. gov without federal premium assistance and therefore paid the full premium for their coverage. Most recipients have incomes above 400% of the federal poverty level and were not eligible for premium subsidies in 2026. Some people with lower incomes who did not receive subsidies also qualify, according to administration officials. The payments come from federal marketplace user-fee revenue. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services charges insurers offering plans through the federally operated marketplace a percentage of premiums to finance HealthCare.gov and other exchange operations. Insurers can incorporate those fees into premiums. The White House says the Biden administration collected more in user fees than was necessary and describes the payments

as refunds of consumer “overcharges.” That characterization is disputed. Cynthia Cox, director of the Affordable Care Act program at KFF, told Reuters that surplus user-fee revenue does not necessarily mean consumers were overcharged. Federal records also show that unused marketplace user-fee revenue predates the Biden administration. KFF reported that more than $1.2 billion in cumulative unused revenue had accumulated from fiscal 2018 through 2020, during Trump's first administration, as federal spending on marketplace operations, outreach and enrollment assistance declined. The federal marketplace fee has changed over time. CMS set it at 1.5% of monthly premiums for 2025. The Biden administration set the 2026 rate at 2.5%, partly reflecting expectations of lower enrollment after enhanced premium tax credits expired at the end of 2025. The Trump administration has set the rate at 1.9% for 2027. The enhanced tax credits, introduced in 2021 and extended through 2025, had increased federal assistance for ACA custom-

ers and temporarily removed the income ceiling that had barred households earning more than 400% of the federal poverty level from receiving premium subsidies. CMS reported that 23.1 million people selected or were automatically re-enrolled in marketplace plans during the 2026 open-enrollment period, including about 15.8 million through HealthCare. gov. The refund program applies only to eligible consumers in the 30 states using the federal marketplace. California and Nevada residents are not included because both states operate their own ACA platforms: Covered California and Nevada Health Link. New York and New Jersey are likewise outside the program. The program does not apply to consumers enrolled through state-run marketplaces, even if they received no premium subsidy. The $500 payments are separate from medical-loss-ratio rebates insurers may owe when they fail to spend the federally required share of premium revenue on medical care and quality-improvement activities. (AJPress)

BALTIMORE — A Filipino American public school teacher in Baltimore is facing dozens of criminal charges in Pennsylvania after prosecutors accused him of sexually abusing and trafficking a teenage boy during repeated encounters over about two years. Rogie Bantigue Legaspi, 56, a seventh-grade science teacher at Hamilton Elementary/Middle School, was arrested Sept. 18 in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania, following an investigation led by Chester County detectives. Prosecutors said Legaspi is charged with trafficking in minors, 15 counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, manufacturing child sexual abuse material and other offenses. The charges are allegations and have not been proven in court. Chester County District Attorney Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe said the investigation began after detectives received a ChildLine report concerning a 15-year-old boy. According to prosecutors, the teenager told investigators that a man he knew as “Alex” first contacted him through a social

media platform when he was 12. Authorities allege that Legaspi later traveled from Maryland to Pennsylvania to meet the boy and that sexual encounters occurred from June 2024 through June 2026 in Chester and Lancaster counties. Investigators allege that Legaspi gave the teenager money and other items in connection with some encounters and recorded sexual activity. Prosecutors also allege that Legaspi facilitated contact between the teenager and other adult men and, on at least one occasion, brought another man to an encounter in which the teenager was sexually assaulted. Authorities said investigators reviewed communications and other records as part of the investigation. Detectives posing as the teenager contacted Legaspi on Sept. 17 and arranged a meeting in Chester County, according to authorities. Police said Legaspi arrived at a predetermined location in Parkesburg the next day and was arrested without incident. He was arraigned and ordered held on $5 million cash bail at Chester County Prison. His preliminary hearing was scheduled for Oct. 19.

Baltimore school places teacher on leave Baltimore City Public Schools placed Legaspi on administrative leave after learning of his arrest. Hamilton Elementary/Middle Principal Natasha Pouncey told families that the district had received no information indicating that the Pennsylvania allegations involved any current or former Baltimore City Public Schools students. The district also said it had identified no previous complaints against Legaspi, according to the Baltimore Banner. Legaspi has worked for Baltimore City Public Schools since 2008. Earlier professional records show that he previously taught in Texas and the Philippines before joining the Baltimore school system. At a Sept. 25 news conference, prosecutors said investigators had not identified additional victims at that time. Authorities asked anyone with information about potentially concerning contact involving Legaspi to contact Chester County detectives. The charges remain before the court and have not been resolved. n

Supreme Court allows Social Security data... PAGE 1 Donald Trump issued a March 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to make information available for citizenship checks involving people registering to vote or on existing voter rolls. DHS modified SAVE to incorporate Social Security records and permit bulk searches. Under the process described by the Supreme Court, an authorized agency submits identifying information through SAVE, such as a person’s name, date of birth and full or partial Social Security number. The Social Security Administration searches its records and returns results to the Department of Homeland Security, which responds through SAVE. The system may confirm citizenship or indicate that more information is needed. An inconclusive result is not, by itself, a finding that someone is a noncitizen. The Supreme Court noted that a naturalized U.S. citizen in Louisiana had Social Security records that did not accurately

reflect her citizenship and likely would have been required to provide additional proof. The League of Women Voters, several affiliates and the Electronic Privacy Information Center challenged the expansion, arguing that it violated the Social Security Act, Privacy Act and Administrative Procedure Act. U.S. District Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan agreed in June and set aside the modifications. A divided D.C. Circuit panel later declined to stay that ruling. In an unsigned opinion, the Supreme Court said the plaintiffs likely have standing but that their statutory claims were unlikely to succeed. The majority said a 1996 immigration law likely permits DHS to request and receive citizenship and immigration information from other agencies and requires DHS to respond to state and local verification requests. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan. Jackson argued that the majority

misread the statute and that outdated records could burden eligible voters. Texas said this month that 2,724 registered voters were initially identified through SAVE as potential noncitizens. Further review found 578 had demonstrated U.S. citizenship, including 506 whose passport information was added after the initial search. Texas also referred 117 cases for investigation of potential noncitizen voting. Those referrals are not findings that illegal voting occurred. Federal law separately limits systematic voter-roll removals close to an election. The National Voter Registration Act generally requires states to complete such programs at least 90 days before a federal election, although individualized inquiries may continue. The Supreme Court did not decide whether that restriction applies to programs aimed specifically at removing noncitizens, an issue pending in a separate case. (AJPress)

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OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL

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Election dates should not become moving targets BARANGAY elections rarely receive the attention given presidential or congressional contests. Yet for millions of Filipinos, the barangay is the government they encounter most directly. A barangay is not simply the Philippine equivalent of a neighborhood association. It is the country’s smallest political unit, with elected officials, public funds and responsibilities that in the United States would often be divided among a small municipal government, a city council district and county agencies. Barangay officials help deliver local services, respond to community concerns, coordinate disaster assistance and connect residents with municipal and national programs. That makes the latest change in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan election calendar more than an administrative matter. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Republic Act 12326, moving elections scheduled for November 2026 to November 2028 and establishing five-year terms for barangay and SK officials. The last nationwide BSKE was held on Oct. 30, 2023. Republic Act 12232 had subsequently set the next elections for November 2026 before the new law changed the timetable again. Election lawyer Romulo Macalintal has asked the Supreme Court to invalidate the postponement provisions, arguing that they improperly extend incumbents’ tenure and delay voters’ op-

portunity to choose their local representatives. Comelec has stopped preparations for the 2026 elections and said it will comply with whatever the Supreme Court ultimately orders. The constitutional question belongs to the Court, and its previous decisions show why the issue requires careful distinction. In 2023, the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional Republic Act 11935, which had postponed the December 2022 BSKE to October 2023. The Court found that the postponement lacked sufficient legitimate governmental justification and infringed on the exercise of suffrage. But the Court reached a different conclusion in 2025 when it upheld Republic Act 12232. It ruled that Congress has authority to determine the terms and commencement of office of barangay officials and characterized that statute as one fixing terms rather than simply postponing an election. Republic Act 12326 presents another test of where that legislative authority ends and constitutional protections surrounding periodic elections begin. The effects are not confined to constitutional

Editorial

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The Long View Manuel L. Quezon III A picture is worth a thousand words, but the picture also depends on the angle at which it was taken. Last August, Momentum Research (Cleve Arguelles’ firm after he left) asked people two questions about partisanship. The first was, how would you picture yourself: a supporter of the administration, opposition, or an independent? The biggest portion—67 percent—pictured themselves as independents, or not a supporter of either the administration or the opposition. As for picturing themselves as supporting the administration, 17.5 percent self-identified as such; on the other hand, those who pictured themselves as supporting the opposition comprised 10.4 percent. There were 4.2 percent who said they didn’t know or were unsure, while 0.9 percent declined to answer. The second question was, some people describe themselves as supporters of the Marcoses, supporters of the Dutertes, and some also describe themselves as supporters of the opposition. How do you describe yourself? The biggest group

was those who described themselves as independents or who didn’t support any of the groups mentioned: 45.5 percent. The next biggest group described themselves as supporters of the Dutertes and their allies: 28.9 percent. Those identifying themselves as supporters of the Marcoses and their allies comprised 11.6 percent, while those who described themselves as supporters of the opposition, such as former Vice President Leni Robredo, Sen. Bam Aquino, Sen. Risa Hontiveros, and their other allies, comprised 9.6 percent, with those saying they didn’t know or weren’t sure amounting to 2.9 percent and those refusing to answer, 1.4 percent. The contrast between the two should lead to interesting discussion on the difference between party politics and personality politics: the “none of the above” cohort, based on the August snapshots, anyway, being enormous. The relatively small numbers for both “administration” and “opposition” sort of match the other, personality-based question, but the Duterte cohort for its part seems to have melted into the “none of the above” segment, which might also be a clue as to their thinking. In terms of personalities, however, the way most people think is a snapshot of eroded

Pia Roces Morato THERE is an old, quiet wisdom in classic philosophy and Scripture that warns against vanagloria – the pursuit of empty praise, superficial honor, and applause unearned by genuine substance. The Apostle Paul famously cautioned early leaders against this very trap in Philippians 2:3 that says: “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves.” Ancient theologians placed vainglory alongside the most destructive human vices, not merely because it warps the soul of the individual, but because of the wreckage it leaves in its wake. When vainglory invades private life, it breeds narcissism and fragile egos. But when it enters the halls of government, it becomes a systemic disease that quietly strangles good governance. Just take a look around our

cities and provinces, and you will see physical monuments to this political affliction. We see municipal coliseums rising in towns where public hospitals lack basic medicines. We see expansive town plazas built in jurisdictions where clean, piped water remains a luxury. We see public transit projects delayed for years because successive administrations refuse to complete initiatives started by their predecessors – preferring instead to break ground on new, shiny, but ill-conceived infrastructure that can bear their own names. In political science, these are known as “white elephants.” In daily life, they are simply monuments to vanity. Vainglory, however, demands an audience. It trades in high-visibility optics over long-term outcomes. Under its influence, leadership transforms from public stewardship into a continuous performance. Public policy is no longer evaluated by a simple,

doctrine. First is accountability. Elections give residents a recurring opportunity to judge how officials have handled public resources, community services and local problems. Extending the interval before an election also extends the period before voters can retain or replace those officials at the ballot box. Second is political turnover. Whatever the

CTalk

cohorts, at least when it comes to the Dutertes and the Marcoses, though the “opposition” has remained remarkably consistent over time. It is also showing a near-majority that considers itself unaffiliated with the three major groupings they read, hear, or watch about whenever politics is discussed. I often tell people that if Vice President Sara Duterte ends up convicted in an impeachment trial, one unintended consequence would be the first election in 42 years that wouldn’t be about, one way or another, the Aquinos (in truth, the Edsa Coalition) and Marcoses (in truth, the Marcos-Macapagal-Estrada coalition) or their proxies. Nor would it be exchanging that decades-old dynamic for a Marcos-Duterte confrontation, spanning the next couple of decades at least, because neither of the two dynasties has an heir capable of leading, nationally, at this point. The various players might retreat to their respective bailiwicks and hold them, but there would be the chance that 2028 would be, for once, about tomorrow and not yesterday. And in the nick of time, too, considering the piled-up problems begging for some sort of attention, if not resolution, before we revert to u PAGE 8

When ego eclipses the Constitution

ROSES AND THORNS

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rigorous question – “Does this solve a fundamental problem for our citizens? – but by a self-serving one, “How will this make me look?” Consider the subtle, perverse ways it manifests in local governance. When local chief executives decline or turn away donations from national bodies like the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) – such as vital patient transport vehicles or medical equipment – not because the community does not need them, but because the donation comes attached to the political branding of a rival, vainglory reaches its logical, tragic conclusion. When an official would rather deny their constituents an ambulance than allow a political opponent to take credit for delivering it, vanity ceases to be mere silliness; it becomes an outright hazard to public safety. Even more dangerously, when vainglory becomes the primary u PAGE 8

Cito Beltran I recently learned that San Miguel Corp. CEO Ramon S. Ang called for a press briefing with members of the Bulacan media. There, he presented satellite images, video footage, maps and the like. All this in an effort to disprove claims being spread by unknown Facebook accounts in the province that flooding there is caused by the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) project. “Not long after the media attendees’ stories were filed and posted, what followed bore some of the hallmarks of a coordinated online activity: locked profiles churning out comment after comment disparaging Ang and the airport – with the same comments making it to the comments section of multiple media outlets.” I am reminded of the words of Thomas Aquinas who pointed out: “To those who believe, no explanation is necessary. To those who do not believe, no explanation is possible.” Ramon Ang has, time and

Commentary

Gary B. Teves THE “ber months” in the Philippines are often associated with the start of the Christmas season. It also coincides with the height of national budget deliberations. This is the time when marathon sessions are being held in Congress to dissect and review the government’s spending plan for 2027. With increasing uncertainty both home and abroad, the Marcos administration should focus on things that it can control. Restoring fiscal order and discipline with the way the government manages and spends public money should be at the top of that list. The Philippines is currently confronted with a limited fiscal space. For laymen, it means less room to fund priority programs and projects largely because of the size of the budget deficit (expenditures are larger than revenues), and the country’s debt. In 2025, the budget deficit

performance of any individual barangay official, changing the election date leaves the existing officeholders in place longer than under the timetable voters had previously been given. In communities where the same families or political organizations have long held influence, the length of an electoral cycle can have practical consequences for challengers seeking office. u PAGE 8

Delaying the inevitable again, gone out of his way to be transparent about the airport project to the point that he personally engages the media and the public to update or clarify matters of concern and interest. But I agree with the position of St. Thomas Aquinas that no amount of explanation is enough to convince not only critics but especially those who are part of a sinister and well-financed group organized for the sole purpose of destabilizing and delaying the SMC-NMIA by preying on the emotions of Bulakeños by blaming the airport for flooding. I looked back on the history or early stage of the proposed SMC Bulacan airport and remembered that the project was actively blocked by certain individuals in government. They were deeply invested in the New Clark City Airport as well as businesses with in the Clark development project that they wanted Clark Airport to have exclusive control of aviation in the region. Another group wanted to protect the economic growth of Pampanga instead of allowing Bulacan to build up its own economic hub, a proposed legislation in support of this, which was killed at the Office of the Presi-

dent as PBBM’s first veto. Then there were those who wanted to preserve and protect the old NAIA which was their gold mine. Another group was even pushing for Sangley as an alternative for domestic flights instead of NAIA. Come to think of it, many infrastructure projects of SMC as well as aviation-related endeavors have all been subjected to “generated opposition” or technical delay or sabotage starting with the expressways, trains, airline, the New NAIA and now the New Manila International Airport. To their credit, SMC has kept going as it has done in the past. RSA often says “this too shall pass” or “lilipas din yan.” One time I heard him say “Hindi na ba kayo na sanay?” Every undertaking of San Miguel Corporation has been completed, operating and, more importantly, beneficial to Filipinos on land and in the air. The expressway projects are ongoing concerns that have expanded in lanes, volume and length. The Skyway keeps going further and better, and now the Star Toll is well on its way to operating in Quezon province and soon to Bicol province. u PAGE 8

Making every peso count stood at P1.6 trillion, equivalent to 5.6 percent of the economy. While it has gone down from its 8.6 percent peak in 2021, it is still far from the 3 percent target deficit that this administration originally planned to achieve by 2028. Meanwhile, the national government debt continues to worsen. As of July 2026, it climbed to P19.4 trillion. More importantly, the debt to gross domestic product (GDP) ratio rose to 66 percent as of the first half of 2026, a level not even seen during the height of the pandemic. Based on revised estimates, this ratio will remain above 64 percent at least until 2028. The international threshold for manageable debt level is 60 percent of GDP. In practice, having a budget deficit and debt is not automatically bad provided that funds are actually spent on productive sectors that will help grow the economy. But that is not what happened. Corruption, misallocation of funds, as well as lack of transparency and accountability persisted. The end result is a weak economy with a ballooning debt

and limited fiscal space. Rise in mandatory allocations. According to the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department, 64 percent of the 2027 budget will be earmarked for legally mandated items such as salaries and pension of government and military personnel, debt interest payments, and national tax allotment for local government units. Less money will be available for funding growth enhancing sectors. Uncertainty in the Middle East. Escalating conflict in the region could lead to higher oil prices in the coming weeks. The government may again need to provide targeted assistance to vulnerable Filipinos. Stronger typhoons and natural disasters. Extreme weather events have devastated agriculture and infrastructure in the country. Higher interest rates and weak peso leading to expensive borrowing. Interest payments account for 15 percent of the proposed national budget. This will reduce the amount available for classrooms, health care and u PAGE 8

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Commentary

Jonathan Malaya THE House of Representatives has finally acted on the urgent need to modernize the Philippines’ defenses against espionage. By a vote of 247 in favor, 10 against, and none abstaining, the chamber last week approved House Bill No. 9642, the proposed New Espionage Act, on third and final reading and transmitted it to the Senate. The measure was reported out by the House committee on revision of laws led by Batangas 3rd District Rep. King Collantes and was principally authored and defended on the floor by San Juan Rep. Ysabel Maria Zamora. It recognizes a reality our existing laws could not have anticipated: intelligence is now collected not only by spies stealing paper plans from military facilities, but also through cyber operations, drones, geospatial mapping, tracking devices and other technologies that penetrate government offices and critical infrastructure without anyone knowing about it. The Philippines has experienced a disturbing succession of suspected espionage activities. In January 2025, authorities arrested Chinese national Deng Yuanqing in Makati with two Filipino accomplices. Deng had lived here since 2013 and was linked to the People’s Liberation Army. Investigators recovered LiDAR geospatial mapping and surveillance equipment containing data on Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement sites, military installations, power and petrochemical plants, airports and ports, lighthouses, and a military signal repeater. Soon afterward, authorities announced the arrest of a spy ring operating in Palawan. Five Chinese nationals were detained led by Cai Shaohuang, also known as Richard Tan Chua. The group

MANILA — Sen. Robinhood Padilla’s formal response to an obstruction-of-justice complaint has been reset to Nov. 12 after Department of Justice prosecutors directed police investigators to complete supporting documents tied to Sen. Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa’s May departure from the Senate. Padilla appeared at the DOJ on Sept. 25 for the first preliminary-investigation hearing but

were conducting drone operations and surveillance flights in Ulugan Bay, home to Naval Detachment Oyster Bay, and were monitoring the movements of Philippine Navy and Coast Guard vessels deploying to the West Philippine Sea. And just this March, the National Security Council disclosed that its Insider Threat Program had uncovered and disrupted another Chinese-linked network that recruited Filipinos with access to government and security institutions. The approach often began with an innocent-looking online job or consulting offer. Requests for general research then progressed to internal analyses, sensitive information and documents. Persons identified through the aliases “Lawrence,” “Alison,” and “Charles” supplied material connected with the Department of National Defense and Philippine Navy. Another, “Danny,” used contacts in the Coast Guard to obtain information on rotation and resupply missions to the BRP Sierra Madre in Ayungin Shoal. These cases reveal the inadequacy of the present legal framework. Espionage remains principally governed by Article 117 of the Revised Penal Code and Commonwealth Act No. 616, enacted in June 1941 as the country faced the danger of Japanese invasion. Those laws punish the unauthorized gathering or transmission of national defense information to injure the Philippines or benefit a foreign nation. Their language, however, reflects an era of forts, warships, blueprints, and codebooks. Today, a hostile actor can map a base without even entering it, intercept communications without opening a letter, recruit an insider through a professional networking site, or transfer stolen data across borders in seconds. A modern law must address cyber-enabled collection, drone and geospatial surveillance, interference with de-

fense assets, and attacks on critical infrastructure. Fortunately, HB 9642 provides law enforcement with the legal tools to do so. It penalizes espionage and conspiracy, unauthorized handling or disclosure of classified matter, unlawful surveillance, interference with national defense assets and critical infrastructure, and the prohibited use of cameras, drones, listening devices, and tracking equipment. It reaches specified offenses committed abroad, including those committed by Filipinos or directed against the Philippine government. It allows the Anti-Money Laundering Council to trace funds and property linked to espionage, recognizing that intelligence networks require financing and local support. Nonetheless, these powers remain bound by the Constitution. The bill does not give investigators an unrestricted license to listen, search, or monitor. Qualified military, law enforcement, and intelligence personnel must seek authority from the Court of Appeals. They must show reasonable grounds that an espionage offense has been or is about to be committed, that the evidence sought is essential, and that no other readily available means will suffice. The Lower House has done its part. The Senate must now scrutinize the measure, preserve its safeguards, and act with urgency. Espionage has already changed. Philippine law can no longer remain trapped in 1941. (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.

did not submit a counter-affidavit. His lawyers said the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group still had additional records to provide. The CIDG alleges that Padilla and others helped Dela Rosa evade authorities after he left the Senate compound early May 14. Padilla has acknowledged that Dela Rosa rode in his vehicle but denies helping him escape. No finding has been made that Padilla committed an offense. The DOJ has said issuance

MANILA — Ateneo de Manila University remained the highest-ranked Philippine institution in the 2027 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, holding the country’s top position in the table for a fifth consecutive year. Ateneo was placed in the 1,001–1,200 global band. The University of the Philippines

followed at 1,201–1,400, while the University of Santo Tomas ranked 1,601–1,800. De La Salle University and Mapúa University were both in the 1,801–2,000 band, and Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology was listed at 2,001+. Ateneo’s strongest score was in research quality at 66.9. The university said the figure was up from 52.4 in 2024. It also scored 34.5 for international outlook, 26.5 for teaching, 23.0 for indu-

stry and 13.1 for research environment. Times Higher Education evaluates universities across teaching, research environment, research quality, international outlook and industry. Its 2027 edition ranked 2,297 universities in 118 countries and territories. The University of Oxford remained No. 1 globally for an 11th consecutive year, followed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. n

Alex Eala, Isa Briones named to TIME100 Next 2026 by AJPress Filipina tennis player Alexandra Eala and Filipino American actress Isa Briones have been named to the 2026 TIME100 Next, TIME magazine’s annual list recognizing 100 emerging figures across entertainment, sports, business and other fields. Eala was selected in the Innovators category, while Briones was named among the Artists on the list released Sept. 30. Eala’s profile was written by 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal, who has known

her since she began training atthe Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. The 21-year-old entered late September ranked No. 18 in the world after a season that included her first WTA Tour title. Eala won the Washington WTA 500 in August, defeating Jessica Pegula 4-6, 6-4, 6-0 in the final and becoming the first player representing the Philippines to win a WTA Tour singles championship. Briones plays Dr. Trinity Santos in HBO Max’s medical drama The Pitt. Her TIME profile was written by co-star Katherine

by AJPress THE HAGUE — International Criminal Court judges have rejected former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s request to require expert verification reports for open-source and user-generated evidence in his crimes against humanity case. Trial Chamber III ruled Sept. 28 that imposing the requirement on every such item would be unnecessary and could delay proceedings. The decision does

LaNasa. The daughter of Filipino actor Jon Jon Briones, she made her Broadway debut as Eurydice in Hadestown in March 2024, appearing opposite her father as Hermes. Briones returned to Broadway this year as singer Connie Francis in Just in Time, playing the role from April 1 through May 29. TIME introduced TIME100 Next in 2019 as an extension of its TIME100 franchise, focusing on emerging figures the publication says are helping shape their respective fields. n

LOVE BUS. First day of free Love Bus rides of the Roxas-Toril route in Davao City on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, part of efforts to accommodate more passengers and ease transportation shortage during peak hours. PNA photo by Robinson Niñal Jr

not prevent Duterte’s lawyers from challenging individual prosecution exhibits onauthenticity, reliability or admissibility. Judges said the defense should identify specific objections, allowing prosecutors to respond and provide supporting material when warranted. The chamber also approved adding a URL field to the court’s electronic evidence system to identify the internet sourceassociated with open-source material. The change is administrative and does not itself establish

authenticity or admissibility. Duterte’s defense sought the additional safeguard because of the volume of prosecution material and raised concerns about duplicates and document quality. Those remain defense assertions, not judicial findings. The ICC confirmed three counts of crimes against humanity involving alleged murder and attempted murder against Duterte in April. He is presumed innocent unless proved guilty. His trial is scheduled to begin Nov. 30. n

Photos from Michelin Guide

Philippines now has nine Michelin Key hotels, including first Two-Key properties by AJPress

MANILA — The Philippines has nine Michelin Key hotels in Jonathan Malaya was formerly assistant the Michelin Guide’s 2026 glodirector general of the National Security Council bal hotel selection, including the and undersecretary of the Department of the country’s first two properties to Interior and Local Government. He holds a Ph.D. receive Two Michelin Keys. in Public Safety and Security. El Nido Resorts Lagen Island in Palawan and Raffles Makati received Two Keys, a distinction Michelin defines as an “exceptional stay.” Lagen Island entered of a subpoena is not a finding of the Key selection at the Two-Key guilt and that prosecutors must level, while Raffles Makati was determine whether sufficient promoted from One Key in 2025. Four hotels received their first evidence exists to file charges. Dela Rosa remains listed by One Michelin Key: NUSTAR the International Criminal Court Hotel Cebu in Cebu City; Hotel as at large under a warrant alle- Okura Manila at Newport World ging responsibility for the crime Resorts in Pasay City; Manami against humanity of murder. He Resort in Sipalay City, Negros has not been convicted. Under Presidential Decree No. 1829, obstruction requires proof of conduct undertaken with the purpose of obstructing or delaying apprehension or prosecution. n ***

Ateneo remains top Philippine university in 2027 THE rankings by AJPress

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A new anti-espionage law ICC rejects Duterte bid for automatic expert finally in the works verification of open-source evidence

Padilla response reset in DOJ obstruction probe by AJPress

ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026

Occidental; and El Nido Resorts Pangulasian Island in Palawan. Amanpulo in Palawan, Fairmont Makati and Nay Palad Hideaway Siargao retained their One-Key distinctions. The 2026 Philippine roster therefore consists of two Two-Key and seven One-Key properties. No Philippine hotel received Three Keys, Michelin’s highest hotel distinction. The country had five One-Key hotels in Michelin’s inaugural Philippine Key selection in 2025. The expanded 2026 roster includes five first-time Key recipients, while Raffles moved up one level. The Department of Tourism welcomed the results. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said the recognition reflects the

continued development of Philippine hospitality and could strengthen the country’s profile as an international travel destination. Michelin awards hotel Keys after anonymous inspections. Its five criteria cover architecture and interior design; quality and consistency of service; personality and character; value for price; and a property’s contribution to its neighborhood or setting. Michelin describes the Key as the hotel counterpart of its restaurant Star system. Globally, Michelin’s 2026 selection includes 2,832 Key hotels across 79 destinations: 155 Three-Key, 657 Two-Key and 2,020 One-Key properties. Michelin said 470 hotels joined the Key selection this year. n

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OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL

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Villar stays with Senate minority despite split on Duterte impeachment threshold by AJPress MANILA — Sen. Mark Villar will remain with the Senate minority despite voting differently from his bloc on a key procedural issue in Vice President Sara Duterte’s impeachment trial, Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano said. Villar was the only minority senator to participate in the Sept. 23 vote that overturned an earlier ruling fixing 16 votes as the number required to convict Duterte. Thirteen

CARING FOR THE ELDERLY. Senior citizens join the Elderly Filipino Week celebration at The Annex Event Center, SM City Davao. on Thursday, Oct 1 ,2026, The event features a medical mission, fun and recreational activities, and government services, including PhilHealth’s YAKAP (Yaman ng Kalusugan) Program, PhilSys National ID registration, and other services for senior citizens. PNA photos by Robinson Niñal Jr.

When ego eclipses the Constitution... PAGE 6 engine of power, leaders begin to treat the Constitution itself not as a sacred covenant, but as a temporary inconvenience. Decisions are increasingly made at the direct expense of constitutional boundaries – whether through bending term limits, bypassing legislative oversight, violating due process for quick political wins, or weaponizing state agencies to punish rivals. This constitutional defiance represents a tragic irony in the Philippine context. The preamble of the 1987 Philippine Constitution opens with a solemn declaration: “We the sovereign Filipino people, imploring the aid of Almighty God…” The Charter explicitly frames human governance as a humble stewardship under a higher moral authority. When a politician elevates personal ambition above the Constitution, they do not merely break a legal contract; they betray the very spiritual premise upon which the nation was founded – substituting the worship of self for the humble service of a sovereign people before God. When a leader’s ego demands absolute control or an immediate victory to feed their public image, the deliberate constraints of constitutional rule feel like intolerable chains. The constitutional mandate to serve the people gives way to an overriding obsession with self-preservation.

And when this happens, the shift in motivation carries devastating consequences for the public good. First, it corrupts public spending. When personal legacy drives policy, scarce taxpayer money is diverted away from critical, invisible needs toward performative projects. A politician seeking personal glory will always choose a multimillion-peso archway over an upgraded drainage network, even if the latter keeps families from flooding during typhoon season. Second, it destroys institutional continuity. Vainglorious leaders view government offices not as sacred trusts passed down through generations, but as personal stage props. Because they cannot bear to share credit or build upon another’s success, long-term national plans are routinely scrapped every election cycle, forcing the country to continually restart from scratch. Third, it replaces truth with narrative. A leader obsessed with public applause cannot tolerate bad news or failure. They surround themselves not with independent experts, but with flatterers who tell them what they want to hear. When data conflicts with the preferred narrative, the facts are suppressed or manipulated, leaving government operating in a dangerous echo chamber. Finally, it degrades the very concept of citizenship. When

relief goods are stamped with a politician’s face, or when basic public works are painted in party colors, it conditions the public to view government services not as rights guaranteed by law, but as personal favors bestowed by a benevolent patron. It transforms proud citizens into beholden dependents. True statecraft requires humility – the willingness to plant seeds for trees under whose shade you may never sit. It asks leaders to care more about the enduring strength of institutions than the transient warmth of public applause. If we wish to break the cycle of performative politics and build a state that truly works, the electorate must look past the grandstanding, the vanity projects, and the self-serving theater. We must measure our leaders not by how brightly they shine on stage, but by how well the house stands long after the curtain falls. In the end, political leaders would do well to remember the sharp warning of Proverbs 16:18 – that pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. A legacy carved into monuments of vanity will inevitably crumble, but a nation built on selfless stewardship endures. (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.

A Glimpse at Anna Orlina’s First Solo Exhibit

GLASS sculptor Anna Orlina has stepped out of the shadow of her famous father, Ramon Orlina, to present her highly anticipated first solo exhibition, “Reflections of Being.” Running from September 18 to October 11, 2026, at Galerie Stephanie in Shangri-La Plaza, Mandaluyong City, the show marks a significant milestone in her decade-long journey of working with glass. While Anna spent years honing her foundational techniques by observing her pioneering father and studying at institutions such as the Pilchuck Glass School, “Reflections of Being” represents the crystallization of her own distinct artistic voice. Unlike the more traditional geometric focus associated with the older generation, her solo work features vibrant color pairings, energetic forms and a playful use of light. For her debut, she spent five to six months focused on creating a deliberate 10-piece collection rather than following her usual routine of participating in group exhibitions. The exhibition offers an intimate journey into Anna Orlina’s multicultural identity, femininity and family bonds. Her Filipino-Malaysian heritage is reflected in the vibrant palette of the 10 works, drawing heavily from her experience growing up in a multicultural household. Several pieces are inspired by her young nieces, Mari and Kira. She translated their bright personalities into playful forms, creating a delicate glass butterfly for Mari and a radiant star structure for Kira. Her creative process combines meticulous cutting, laminating, coldworking, grinding and polishing. Demonstrating her interest in innovation and sustainability, she also upcycled waste glass into some of the new luminous forms. Family, faith, femininity, cultural and ethnic lineage, and selfhood are among Anna’s abiding subjects in this exhibition. From these thematic ex-

Young sculptor Anna Orlina.

Anna Orlina’s “MARIposa”.

The very promising young sculptor Anna Orlina (3rd from left).

A profile of Anna Orlina with her glass works.

senator-judges supported the revised interpretation, while impeachment court Presiding Officer Francis “Chiz” Escudero cast the lone opposing vote. Six minority senators did not participate. Under the revised formula, the constitutional two-thirds requirement will be based on senators legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. The ruling does not permanently set the threshold at 14 votes. Earlier that day, Villar abstained when Cayetano sought

to defer resolution of the threshold issue. Cayetano later said Villar remained in the minority and that senators were not expected to vote as a political bloc while sitting as impeachment judges. The dispute reached the Supreme Court, which on Sept. 30 dismissed three petitions challenging the Senate court’s interpretation on procedural grounds, including lack of standing and prematurity. The dismissal did not resolve the constitutional question on its merits itself. n

Reset button...

PAGE 6 being a basket case. What would happen were the Veep convicted in an impeachment would be to turn the 2028 election into a real contest, considering the old alignments are all, in one way or another, either exhausted or directly implicated in the mess the country’s consistently been in since the pandemic. To be sure, the old players, plus the most organized parties (three of which are subsidiaries of the largest corporations), will all play a role, and they will be among the first to shift their attention from the current confrontation to finding a horse to back in 2028 now that the field’s been wiped clean.

Either someone will emerge from left field, shaking things up, or there will be status quo candidates possibly different from what came before in being less extreme, less able to promise big while giving little detail, than those who’ve come before. While I personally wish for the administration to achieve the ultimate disruption by including an election for a constitutional convention in the 2028 polls, a shift to problem-solving instead of score-settling would be wonderful in and of itself. It would be like pressing the reset button; as I said, a means to look forward and not backward, for once. Premised, of course, on a conviction in the impeachment,

itself based on the assumption that the evidence in at least one of the articles of impeachment is solid enough to result in the Veep’s removal and permanent disqualification from office. There is a remarkably large— even huge—percentage of citizens who seem primed to keep an open mind, without wearing blinders based on partisanship. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.

*** Email: mlquezon3@gmail.com; Twitter: @mlq3

Election dates should not become moving... PAGE 6 Third is youth participation. The change applies not only to barangay officials but also to the Sangguniang Kabataan. Young Filipinos who expected an opportunity to vote, run for office or enter local government in 2026 will instead face a different electoral calendar. That is significant in a country where the SK was created specifically to give young people a formal role in community governance. There is also a financial and administrative consequence. Comelec Chairman George Garcia said approximately P8 billion had already been spent preparing for the November 2026 elections before the postponement. The commission says materials and equipment may still be usable later if properly stored, reducing the extent of any even-

tual loss. For Filipino Americans, the closest comparison is not postponing an election for a homeowners association or advisory neighborhood council. It is closer to changing the election timetable for thousands of very small local governments whose officials exercise actual public authority. Many Filipinos abroad also retain direct connections to barangays through family, property, businesses and community responsibilities in the Philippines. Decisions involving local certifications, community services, disaster assistance and neighborhood administration can affect households even when some family members live overseas. Supporters of longer terms can point to continuity in governance, less frequent electoral disruption and the cost of repeat-

edly conducting nationwide local elections. Congress also possesses substantial authority over the structure and tenure of barangay government, as the Supreme Court recognized in its 2025 decision. The competing concern is whether repeated alterations to an election calendar eventually affect the predictability that periodic elections are intended to provide. That distinction is now before the Supreme Court. Its decision will have implications beyond whether Filipinos vote for barangay and SK officials in 2026 or 2028. It may further define how Congress can restructure the terms of the country’s most local elected officials while preserving the electorate’s periodic opportunity to decide who governs them. (AJPress)

Making every peso count... PAGE 6 nutrition, food, agriculture, and infrastructure. To maximize the use of our limited resources, the government must ensure that every peso counts. It must spend public funds judiciously and transparently. The following are our recommendations: Adhering to the Philippine Development Plan (PDP). The PDP is the most important policy document for every administration. It provides the blueprint of what the government plans to do and achieve during its term of office. Spending priorities should always be anchored on the PDP. Redirecting public expenditures. Funding for unproductive items must be reallocated toward more productive and growth supporting programs. For example, the P71 billion budget for unconditional ayuda in 2027 would be better used for Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino

Program, school-based feeding, classroom building, agricultural services, and ease of doing business initiatives of the Anti-Red Tape Authority. Strengthening coordination between executive and legislative. The President should convene and preside over the Legislative and Executive Development Advisory Council twice a month to rigorously monitor the budget process and ensure that national priority projects remain adequately funded and implemented on schedule. Enhancing transparency and accountability in the budget process. Congress should open to the public the entire budget process, particularly bicameral conference meetings, to allow citizens to scrutinize the budget, and flag unnecessary insertions or amendments. The President must use his line-item veto power to strike down any unnecessary insertions in the budget. Intensifying budget monitoring. The President, and his

Cabinet, should devote more time conducting provincial visits. This would allow them to personally verify reports coming from line agencies and assess progress of national projects such as on food production, education, health care, and infrastructure. Making every peso count should be the guiding principle of every administration. It has to be aggressive in enforcing order and discipline in spending our limited resources. Much has already been lost to corruption. And it is within the control of each administration whether this is the legacy it wants to leave behind. (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.

*** Gary B. Teves is a Filipino politician and public servant who served as secretary of the Department of Finance.

Delaying the inevitable... One of Anna’s eye-catching Anna Orlina’s glass works, “Ascent”. glass work.

fascinating Another Anna’s attractive artistic work.

plorations emerge works that are distinctly hers: playful and lucent in design, yet revealing a contemplative core drawn from her experiences as a young woman and daughter and as an inheritor of the Orlina glass legacy. Glass, with its sensitivity to light and shadow, texture and movement, allows her work to take on a range of interactive and optical dimensions while maintaining a strong sense of form. These qualities also offer a tactile kind of play. She likens the process of constructing her glass art, which involves cutting, grinding, polishing, laminating and upcycling scraps into something new, to the modular, hands-on spontaneity of assembling LEGO bricks.

*** 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 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

PAGE 6 Under RSA’s leadership, PAL transformed into a viable undertaking to the point that the previous owners bought back the company. When SMC won the bid to rehabilitate and develop NAIA, SMC was once again subjected to “created” negative publicity and disinformation. It became evident that there were sore losers who could not accept the SMC takeover. There were also several aviation-related companies and investors that were unwilling to give up their advantageous rentals within NAIA and of course, with the SMC management came the clean-up related to corruption. Today, critics claim that the New Manila International Airport project supposedly “blocked” river outflows to Manila Bay, causing water to backflow and flood wider areas across the province. They even use “inventive” AI graphic work to fool and mislead the public and Bulakenyos in particular that their worsening flooding is caused by a single project.

Without needing to, SMC addressed flooding in the areas in Bulacan near the airport. The rivers that were supposedly blocked, three of them actually – the Santa Maria River, Meycauayan River and Taliptip (Alipit) River that surround the airport site – were actually widened and deepened, just like SMC has done in their river clean up in Metro Manila. What SMC did was essentially increase the rivers’ flood-carrying capacities and rate of discharge out to Manila Bay. People may not know it but in the early stages of the project, San Miguel Corporation called on global experts to study the proposed site and provide engineering solutions. These global experts were: Danish Hydraulic Institute (DHI), an engineering, research and technology firm specializing in water environments; UK-based Mott MacDonald, experts in coastal and marine engineering, and Royal Boskalis Westminster N.V. of the Netherlands, experts in marine infrastructure. The engineering evaluation

and services of such global firms became the stamp of approval that green lighted funding within SMC as well as European banks and regional investors who also conduct their own due diligence and sustainability assessments. We could go on discussing or arguing the merits or demerits of the Bulacan Airport or New Manila International Airport project. But to what end when we know that the alleged opposition is manufactured by vested interest groups? Do we want to be deprived of or denied world class infrastructure that brings economic growth annd allow the terrorism of the insignificant few to once again delay the inevitable? No one is going to build our nation but ourselves. (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.

*** E-mail: utalk2ctalk@gmail.com

ASIAN

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Features

ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026

9

JOUR N AL Friday, October 2, 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

Carlos Yulo, Chloe San Jose reveal Alden Richards says ‘Gandang Gabi Vice’ engagement kept private for nine months appearance was his ‘rawest’ interview by AJPress

by AJPress TWO-TIME Olympic gold medalist Carlos Yulo and longtime partner Chloe San Jose have announced their engagement, revealing that Yulo proposed on Dec. 18, 2025, and that the couple kept the milestone private for nine months. The pair disclosed the engagement on Sept. 28 through social media and a proposal video. Yulo wrote, “Nine months ago… she said yes,” while San Jose said they had chosen to keep the news between themselves before sharing it publicly. The proposal took place in Tagaytay, where Yulo presented San Jose with two engagement rings. In the video, he said the gesture was tied to the two gold medals he won at the 2024 Paris Olympics and credited San Jose with supporting him during the period leading to those victories. Yulo presented San Jose with two rings, one with an oval blue-green center stone and another with a heart-shaped yellow center stone, a gesture he said reflected the two Olympic gold medals he won in Paris. The announcement came days after Yulo won two titles at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. He captured the men’s floor exercise on Sept. 24 with a score of 14.666, then won vault the following day with a two-vault average of 14.599. The floor title also gave Yulo championships at the world, Olympic and Asian Games levels in the event. Those were the same two disciplines in which he won Olympic gold in Paris, where he

Photo from Facebook/@ChloAnj

became the first Filipino athlete to win two gold medals at a single Games. Yulo and San Jose have been together since 2020 after first connecting online while living in different countries. Their relationship initially developed through messages and video calls before they were able to spend more time together in person. The couple has not publicly announced a wedding date.

Sofronio Vasquez joins young Filipino choir for ASEAN-themed ‘Seas Unbroken’

MANILA — Alden Richards says his emotional appearance on Gandang Gabi Vice was the most candid television interview of his career, reflecting a point at which he feels less compelled to manage how others see him. “This is my rawest interview. Unfiltered,” Richards said in a Sept. 25 interview with GMA’s 24 Oras. “I’m not trying to impress anyone anymore.” Richards, 34, was the first guest when Gandang Gabi Vice returned to television on Sept. 13 through a collaboration between GMA Network and ABSCBN. His conversation with Vice Ganda moved from his career to relationships, the pressure of remaining single and expectations surrounding marriage and family. Richards said he had spent years looking for a lasting rela-

tionship and had felt pressure from what he called a Filipino “culture of deadlines.” He said he eventually realized that, instead of continuing to search for love from another person, he needed to develop a stronger sense of love for himself. He became emotional while discussing that realization. Vice Ganda later said Richards cried for nearly 10 minutes and that she considered stopping the interview, but Richards chose to continue. Richards subsequently described the taping as a grounding experience and said the conversation surprised even him. Reflecting on the episode, Richards said some viewers told him they had never seen him display such a broad range of emotions. He attributed his openness to reaching a point in his life where he prefers being direct rather than trying to please others.

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

The interview aired during a busy professional period for Richards. Love, Siargao, his first screen pairing with Nadine Lustre, began its GMA television run Sept. 28 after streaming on Viu. He is also working on Code Grey, an upcoming GMA medical drama.

Regine Velasquez opens up about menopause and changes in her singing voice by AJPress

work with the voice she has now rather than expect it to sound or behave as it did 10 or 20 years ago. Her experience reflects changes documented in medical research, although their severity varies widely among women. A 2026 review published in the journal Menopause found that hormonal changes associated with menopause can affect vocal pitch, stability and phonation. Such changes can be particularly noticeable to professional singers and others who depend heavily on their voices. Velasquez, who is marking four decades in the music industry, has also spoken about the physical and emotional demands of large-scale performances. She has said “FINALE” will be her last major solo concert of comparable scale, but has emphasized that she is not retiring from

MANILA — Regine Velasquez-Alcasid has opened up about how menopause has affected her singing voice, describing a period when an inby AJPress strument she had relied on for decades became increasingly SINGER Sofronio Vasquez unpredictable. has joined the Young Voices of Speaking at a Sept. 25 media the Philippines for “Seas Unconference ahead of her “FINAbroken,” a new composition LE” concerts, Velasquez said her inspired by Southeast Asian voice would sometimes crack, unity and created in support of become difficult to control or fail the Philippines’ 2026 chairship to respond as she expected. of the Association of Southeast She described what she expeAsian Nations. rienced as “menopause voice.” Vasquez and the children’s Velasquez said examinations choir performed the song found no polyp and that doctors aboard the Wish 107.5 Bus, told her they could find nothing bringing together the Filipino wrong with her vocal cords. The singer who won Season 26 of changes nevertheless required NBC’s “The Voice” and a young her to reconsider how she apensemble known for performing Sofronio Vasquez with members of the Young Voices of the Philippines (YVP) following their proached singing. Philippine choral music at home performance of 'Seas Unbroken.' Facebook/@WishFM1075 She said she has learned to and abroad. Written by Manila-based com- east Asia, the regional accord victory on “The Voice,” where poser Von de Guzman, “Seas signed in 1976 that established he competed on Michael Bublé’s Unbroken” uses the waters and principles governing peaceful team. He became the competiislands of Southeast Asia as its relations among its contracting tion’s first Filipino winner and its first male Asian champion. central imagery, reflecting the parties. His recording career has conYoung Voices of the Philgeographic connections among ippines, formally launched tinued alongside appearances ASEAN countries. The collaboration comes dur- in 2020, is one of the scholar in the Philippines and the Uniting the Philippines’ year as ASE- choirs of the Treble Choir Asso- ed States. In July, he released AN chair under the theme “Nav- ciation of the Philippines. The a self-titled five-track EP under igating Our Future, Together.” ensemble is conducted by Maria exclusive license to UniverThe country assumed the rotat- Theresa Vizconde-Roldan, with sal Music Group Philippines. ing chairmanship on Jan. 1, suc- composer and arranger Jude B. He has also returned to Philby AJPress Roldan serving as artistic direc- ippine television as a judge on ceeding Malaysia. BOOTS Anson-Roa-Rodrigo has spent more than The Philippine chairship has tor. Its program provides young the 10th season of “Tawag ng six decades in Philippine entertainment, but her organized its agenda around singers from different back- Tanghalan.” “Seas Unbroken” places that memoir, Grateful, presents a life shaped as much by three priorities: peace and se- grounds with choral training curity, economic prosperity and and opportunities to perform growing international profile family, public service and industry advocacy as by alongside a Filipino children’s film and television. greater participation and em- Filipino repertoire. Vasquez’s participation adds choir in a project tied to a year Born Maria Elisa Cristobal Anson on Jan. 30, powerment of people across the region. The year also marks the another international project to in which the Philippines is lead- 1945, she was the daughter of pharmacist Belen 50th anniversary of the Treaty of a career that expanded signifi- ing ASEAN’s regional meetings de Leon Cristobal and Oscar Gamboa Anson, better known as Oscar Moreno, a prominent postwar Amity and Cooperation in South- cantly after his December 2024 and initiatives. matinee idol and Sampaguita Pictures leading man. Her own career began while she was a senior studying Speech and Drama at the University of the Philippines, when she was invited to host the television program Dance-O-Rama. There she met broadcaster Pete Roa. They married in 1964, had four children and remained together until his death in 2007. Anson-Roa moved into film in the late 1960s. by AJPress Her performance in Lino Brocka’s Wanted: Perfect Mother earned her a FAMAS Best Actress nomiMANILA — The Philippine nation. She later shared the FAMAS Best Actress Senate has honored SB19 after award with Vilma Santos, winning for Tatay Na si the group became the first homeErap while Santos was honored for Dama de Noche. grown Filipino act to perform at It marked the first Best Actress tie in FAMAS hisLollapalooza, recognition that tory. has also opened a broader disHer screen career continued through films cussion about government supincluding May Minamahal, Mano Po, Blue port for the country's creative Moon and Caregiver, while her work expanded beindustries. yond entertainment. The Senate adopted ResoluFrom 1982 to 1986, she served as press attaché, tion No. 545 on Monday, Sept. cultural officer and special assistant to the ambassa28, commending Pablo, Josh, dor at the Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. Stell, Ken and Justin for their She later remained in the United States with her achievements and contributions Photo from Instgram/@officialsb19 family before returning to the Philippines in 1993 to Philippine music. Sen. Bam and resuming her acting career. Aquino, who filed the measure, “Mga Kababayan.” under development. She also taught communication and media-recited the group's international Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan During discussions after the reach and its promotion of Fili- separately sponsored Senate Senate appearance, Josh said lated subjects at the University of the Philippines, pino music and identity. Resolution No. 573, which also creative workers often lack a Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle UniSB19 performed an hour-long commended SB19 for its Lollap- government sector specifically versity. Her public-service work has also included a long set on the Allianz Stage at Chi- alooza appearance and its role in focused on their concerns, parcago's Grant Park on July 30, bringing Original Pilipino Music ticularly when artists spend ex- association with the Movie Workers Welfare Founappearing on the opening day of to an international audience. tended periods overseas touring dation, or MOWELFUND, which supports workers Lollapalooza 2026. The perforThe Senate recognition comes and representing Philippine cul- in the Philippine film industry. She has served the organization in several capacities, including chairmance included “DAM,” “GEN- as Aquino works with SB19 and ture. TO,” “MAPA,” “VISA,” “DUNG- its company, 1Z Entertainment, SB19's international schedule man, and proceeds from Grateful have been desigKA!” and “CRIMZONE,” as well on proposed legislation address- this year has also included per- nated for the foundation. In 2014, Anson-Roa married lawyer Francisco as the live debut of “LAWLESS.” ing the needs of Filipino artists formances at Japan's Summer The group also performed its and other creative professionals. Sonic festival in Osaka and To- “King” Rodrigo Jr., a longtime family acquaintance who was also widowed. version of Francis Magalona's Details of the measure remain kyo.

Photo from Instgram/@reginevalcasid

singing. She recently completed recording a new album, while a documentary about her career and preparations for “FINALE,” titled “Songbird,” is planned for theatrical release in 2027.

Boots Anson-Roa-Rodrigo reflects on a life beyond the screen

In Grateful, the veteran actress looks back on a career spanning entertainment, family, public service and advocacy

SB19 honored by Senate after historic Lollapalooza performance

Photo from Facebook/@ElisaLover105

At 81, she remains active on screen in a role that places her in comparatively uncommon territory for mainstream Philippine cinema. In Brillante Mendoza’s Until She Remembers, Anson-Roa-Rodrigo plays Catherine, a woman living with Alzheimer’s disease and the former love of Concha, played by Charo Santos-Concio. Barbie Forteza plays Concha’s granddaughter Angel, who sets out to find Catherine as her grandmother faces terminal cancer. The film reveals that Catherine and Concha had shared a same-sex relationship decades earlier before circumstances separated them. What distinguishes the film is not simply that it depicts a lesbian relationship, but that it places two women in their 70s and 80s at the center of that love story. Philippine screen portrayals of LGBTQ relationships have more often focused on younger characters; Mendoza’s film instead examines same-sex love, aging, memory and mortality through veteran actresses whose characters carry an unresolved relationship across decades. The role marked a departure from the maternal and family characters Anson-Roa-Rodrigo has often portrayed. She has said that playing Catherine took her outside her comfort zone and challenged her as an actress, particularly in portraying a same-sex relationship while exploring aging and memory loss. Asked how she hopes to be remembered, Anson-Roa-Rodrigo has used one word: “Serviam” — “I serve.”

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OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL

Filipino American Producer Marc Anthony Nicolas Joins The Price Is Right for Season 55 Two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner brings more than 15 years of television and brand partnership experience to the daytime series LOS ANGELES, Calif. - October 2026 - Filipino American television producer and host Marc Anthony Nicolas has joined The Price Is Right as a Producer for Season 55. Nicolas is a two-time Daytime Emmy Award winner with more than 15 years of television experience. In his role, Nicolas develops and manages partnerships that bring prizes and audience giveaways to the CBS game show. "The Price Is Right has created joyful television moments for generations, and I am honored to contribute to that tradition," said Nicolas. "My career has always brought together television production and brand partnerships. I am excited to help deliver memorable prizes and surprises for contestants and viewers throughout Season 55.” Nicolas has spent more than 15 years producing daytime talk, game and lifestyle television. His credits include The Tyra Banks Show, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Kelly Clarkson Show, The Talk and Let's Make a Deal. During his tenure at The Talk, he served as the program's first Filipino supervising producer and earned two Daytime Emmy Awards as part of the production team. He is also the executive producer and host of Make Your Marc on GMA Pinoy TV, a 30-minute series featuring Global Filipino trailblazers. Make

Your Marc has received a Telly Award and reaches Filipino audiences in more than 100 countries. About Marc Anthony Nicolas Marc Anthony Nicolas is a two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning television producer, host and brand partnership professional. His honors include induction into the Asian Hall of Fame and the President Joe Biden’s Lifetime Achievement Award from TOFA. Born in the Philippines and raised in California, Nicolas creates entertainment that highlights Filipino excellence while connecting brands with audiences across television and live experiences.

‘Filipiñana’ star Jorrybell Agoto undergoes critical care while battling lymphoma by AJPress MANILA — Jorrybell Agoto, star of the Philippines’ official submission to the 99th Academy Awards, has been receiving critical care while undergoing treatment for lymphoma, prompting her family and friends to seek help with mounting medical expenses. In a Sept. 23 appeal, Agoto’s loved ones said she had been admitted to the Critical Care Unit of St. Luke’s Hospital after fluid accumulated around her lungs and made breathing difficult. They said a Blake drain was being used to remove the fluid. The appeal did not disclose the type or stage of lymphoma or provide a prognosis. No later public medical update from Agoto, her family or her representatives had been independently confirmed as of Sept. 30. Agoto stars as Isabel in Rafael

Manuel’s Filipiñana, playing a 17-year-old Ilokana working as a tee girl at an exclusive country club. The film explores class, power and violence beneath the club’s polished surface. The Film Academy of the Philippines selected Filipiñana as the country’s entry for Best International Feature Film at the 99th Academy Awards. Earlier this year, it won the World Cinema Dramatic Special Jury Award for Creative Vision at the Sundance Film Festival. The feature grew out of Manuel’s 2020 short film of the same title, also starring Agoto, which won the Silver Bear Jury Prize at the Berlin International Film Festival. An Ilocos Norte native who studied Theater Arts at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Agoto has worked in theater and independent film. Her credits include When This

Photo from Instagram/@jorrybell

Is All Over, Tether, Primetime Mother and Cross My Heart and Hope to Die. She received a Gawad Urian nomination for When This Is All Over. The Film Development Council of the Philippines also named Agoto among its 2026 Annual Achievement Award honorees.

Dyan Castillejo and a lifetime at the heart of Philippine sports From national tennis champion to veteran broadcaster, Castillejo has spent decades experiencing Philippine sports from both sides of the microphone by AJPress MANILA — Long before Dyan Castillejo became a familiar presence at boxing matches, tennis tournaments and major sporting events around the world, she knew competition from another vantage point. She was the athlete. Castillejo spent much of the 1980s as one of the Philippines’ leading women’s tennis players, competing internationally before moving into broadcasting and beginning a second career that has kept her closely connected to Philippine sports for more than three decades. The transition gave her an uncommon perspective. She first represented the country on the court, then spent much of her working life reporting on athletes doing the same. Sports had surrounded Castillejo from an early age. Her father, Lino Castillejo, was a sprinter and football player who represented the Philippines at the 1958 Asian Games in Tokyo. He later managed the national football team and served as an official of the Philippine Football Association. Several of his children gravitated toward competitive sports, and tennis became Dyan’s focus. She developed into a national champion and competed at Junior Wimbledon and the Junior U.S. Open before representing the Philippines in the Federation Cup, now the Billie Jean King Cup, as well as the Asian Games and Southeast Asian Games. A 2016 Philippine Star profile described her as national champion for more than a decade and recorded appearances in 12 Federation Cups, three Asian Games and six SEA Games. Her professional ranking provides a durable measure of that period. Official WTA records show Castillejo reaching No. 403 in singles and No. 245 in doubles in 1986. At the 1987 SEA Games in Jakarta, she and her sister Nina won silver in women’s doubles. Castillejo also earned bronze in the women’s team and mixed doubles events at those Games. Her playing career unfolded

when Filipino tennis players had considerably fewer opportunities to build sustained careers on the international professional circuit. As competitive tennis receded, broadcasting offered another path. Castillejo joined ABS-CBN and built a career as a correspondent, anchor and television host. She became associated with The World Tonight and later Sports Unlimited, which evolved into Sports U, while her reporting expanded from tennis and basketball to boxing and major international competitions. Boxing became one of her most visible assignments. During Manny Pacquiao’s rise into a global attraction, Castillejo regularly reported from his training camps, weigh-ins and fights, interviewing Pacquiao, trainers and opponents. The work took her repeatedly to the United States and placed her near many of the defining moments of his career. Her assignments eventually extended beyond conventional sports reporting to international pageants, including Miss Universe. She continues to cover that field for ABS-CBN alongside her sports work, with bylines on Miss Universe Philippines events in 2026. Her family, meanwhile, carried the tennis connection into another generation. Castillejo married businessman Anton Garcia in 1999. Their son, Matthew Castillejo Garcia, later represented the Philippines in Junior Davis Cup competition and played NCAA tennis at Hofstra University in New York, where he completed four seasons and studied economics. Tennis has remained more than a former profession for Castillejo. In 2017, she received the Fed Cup Commitment Award, an International Tennis Federation recognition of sustained service in international team competition. She is now a member of the board of the Philippine Tennis Association, the sport’s national governing body. She also remains on the re-

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HEALTH @HEART Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS BY 2030, the human race, killed by robots, will be erased from the surface of the Earth, according to some critics of Artificial Intelligence. In 2019, US Congresswoman AOC predicted that in 12 years (2031), “the world will end” due to climate change. While we are waiting for the extinction of the human race and the end of the world, allow me to discuss why I think Artificial Intelligence will be a great boon to the world and the human race, and why I think it will be man’s best friend, making life healthier, better, more comfortable, longer, and more fun for us humans. Naturally, just like any new device or idea, we must truly study and deeply understand AI, and know how to manage and fully control it wisely and safely. To slow down its progress now and allow our adversaries to be ahead of us is foolhardy and dangerous. Had Japan been ahead of us in developing the Atom Bomb, which the USA used to end WWII by bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki, history would have been a disaster for the West. As a cardiac surgeon, I can visualize how Artificial Intelligence (AI) can revolutionize modern medicine. By automating administrative burdens as an essential collaborator for medical professionals, the symbiotic relationship not only restores humanity to the practice of medicine but ultimately saves countless lives through superior, more precise care. AI-Powered Medical Scribes: Natural Language Processing (NLP) tools can securely listen to a doctor-patient conversation and instantly synthesize it into a structured, accurate clinical note. AI directly targets the electronic health record-keeping crisis, a major factor in physician burnout, through ambient clinical intelligence. AI can automate routine tasks like drafting insurance pre-authorizations, sorting inbox messages, and managing prescriptions. By relieving doctors of clerical burdens, AI returns them to their original calling: interacting directly with patients. This reduction in cognitive fatigue directly translates to safer care, as well as happier, more focused physicians. Enhancing Diagnostic Accuracy to Prevent Fatal Errors: Diagnostic errors and delayed treatments contribute to hundreds of thousands of preventable deaths annually. AI serves as a tireless, ultra-precise "second set of eyes" across multiple medical specialties. Advanced Radiology & Pathology: Deep learning algorithms can analyze X-rays, MRIs, and biopsy

Photo from Instagram/@dyancastillejo

slides in seconds, identifying microscopic anomalies—such as early-stage lung nodules or aggressive breast cancers—that might be missed by a fatigued human eye. Sepsis and Deterioration Alerts: By recognizing subtle, multi-variable trends hours before overt symptoms appear, AI can alert nursing staff in ICUs to impending sepsis or cardiac arrest, buying critical time to deploy life-saving interventions. Continuous Remote Monitoring: Wearable devices integrated with AI track patient biometrics at home. If a congestive heart failure patient begins retaining fluid, the AI flags (communicates) the trend to the care team, allowing for a simple medication adjustment that prevents an emergency hospitalization or a fatal event. Not replacing humans The integration of Artificial Intelligence in medicine is not a replacement for human clinicians, but a vital reinforcement. AI successfully mitigates the burnout threatening the medical workforce. Simultaneously, its capacity for rapid data analysis, early symptom detection, and diagnostic precision creates a safety net that catches errors before they reach the patient. Ultimately, an AI-supported healthcare system is one where doctors have the time to care, and patients have a much higher probability of surviving and thriving. A powerful catalyst The integration of Artificial Intelligence into medicine and healthcare delivery represents one of the most profound technological shifts of the modern era. Historically, healthcare has been constrained by human cognitive limits, administrative bottlenecks, and the immense time required to translate biological discoveries into bedside treatments. Today, AI acts as a powerful catalyst, augmenting human clinical expertise, streamlining logistics, and personalizing patient care. AI is transitioning healthcare from a reactive system to a proactive, predictive, and highly efficient model of medicine, as I have described in my book, Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children (Amazon.com) The most immediate and revolutionary impacts of AI: Machine learning models, trained on millions of clinical data points, can identify subtle patterns that may escape even the most experienced human eyes, with accuracy rates that rival or surpass human specialists. For instance, AI systems can detect microscopic signs of breast cancer or early-stage lung nodules years before they become symptomatic. Furthermore, AI-driven pathology tools accelerate the biopsy analysis process, providing rapid cellular staging that allows oncology teams to initiate lifesaving interventions days or

weeks ahead of traditional schedules. In drug discovery, AI bypasses traditional trial-and-error laboratory methods by using predictive modeling to simulate how billions of molecular compounds will interact with specific disease targets. AI can design entirely new synthetic proteins or repurpose existing medications for new therapeutic uses in a fraction of the time Healthcare providers spend a disproportionate amount of time on charting, billing, and documenting patient encounters. Ambient clinical intelligence—AI systems that securely listen to doctor-patient conversations and automatically generate structured electronic health records (EHRs)— frees clinicians from their screens, allowing them to focus entirely on the patient. By streamlining these workflows, hospitals can reduce costs, minimize waiting times, and maximize resource utilization. Through wearable devices and remote monitoring sensors, AI continuously tracks vital signs, blood glucose levels, and cardiac rhythms of patients in their own homes. Predictive algorithms can flag a deteriorating trend in a chronic heart failure patient and alert a care team to intervene before a crisis occurs, significantly reducing hospital readmissions. For rural or underserved populations, AI-driven triage systems and telemedicine platforms provide expert-level diagnostic support and guidance where physical specialists are unavailable, bridging the gap in global health equity. In conclusion, Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the landscape of medicine by expanding the boundaries of what clinicians can achieve. The synergy between human empathy and artificial intelligence will undoubtedly define the next golden age of medicine. *** 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

Artists remember veteran concert producer Susan Lim and her decades in entertainment by AJPress

porting beat. In September, Castillejo filed repeatedly from the Singapore Tennis Open, covering Alexandra Eala, her opponents and the tournament’s growing Filipino following. Her Sept. 25 report on Tatiana Prozorova’s victory over Eala was among her latest ABSCBN tennis bylines. That work gives the later chapters of Castillejo’s career a particular resonance. She competed when the presence of a Filipina on the international professional circuit was uncommon. Eala now competes regularly against the world’s leading players on the biggest courts in tennis. Eala has since taken Philippine women’s tennis into new territory, becoming the first player representing the Philippines to win a WTA Tour-level singles title. By late September, she had risen to No. 18 in the world. The careers belong to different eras, and direct comparisons have limits. Training, sports science, tournament access and the professional structure of women’s tennis have changed substantially since Castillejo competed. What connects them is the vantage point. Castillejo once traveled abroad with the Philippines beside her name as a player. Decades later, she is still courtside, this time documenting a generation reaching places Philippine tennis had not reached before. The racket gave way to the microphone. The sport never really left.

AI and Medicine

ARTISTS and colleagues are remembering veteran concert producer Susan Lim for a career that spanned Philippine productions and overseas tours for Filipino performers. Lim died Sept. 14. Pops Fernandez, Martin Nievera and Roderick Paulate were among those who later shared public tributes, recalling both her work in entertainment and their longtime friendships with her. Lim had been active in production since at least the early 2000s. Contemporary reports identified her with Big Slim Entertainment, which produced a 2003 Manila concert featuring “Meteor Garden” stars Ken Zhu and Vanness Wu with actress Barbie Hsu. Later that year, the company was also involved in a Philippine concert featuring all

four members of F4. Her work later extended to the North American Filipino entertainment market. In 2022, Lim, then identified with Big Slim Entertainment, worked with Nancy Yang of NY Entourage Productions on planned U.S. concert tours for Alden Richards and Gigi de Lana. More recently, Lim was part of the team behind the SexBomb Girls’ reunion concert series, which began in December 2025 and expanded into additional Philippine performances and overseas dates. During the group’s Australian tour in April, Rochelle Pangilinan publicly thanked Lim, identifying her as a co-producer with NY Entourage Productions. Fernandez recalled Lim as a longtime friend whose interest in concert production dated back to her younger years. Nievera

Photo from Facebook/@susan.o.lim

said Lim had supported his career and Fernandez’s and helped bring them on U.S. tours. Paulate also paid tribute to their friendship. Lim was married to former SexBomb member Cynthia Yapchingco, who announced her passing and shared a personal tribute.

Gerald Anderson focuses on business, acting and West Philippine Sea project by AJPress

GERALD Anderson is concentrating on acting, his expanding hospitality business and a project about communities along the West Philippine Sea, saying another relationship is not among his immediate priorities. The 37-year-old actor said at a recent media event that he would rather allow romance to develop naturally than rush into a relationship. “Right now, I’m manifesting more about the West Philippine Sea, about business, about career,” Anderson said. His relationship with actress Julia Barretto ended last year. Star Magic and Viva Artists Agency confirmed in September 2025 that the two had mutually ended their relationship and urged the public to avoid speculation about the separation. Anderson has since devoted

more attention to businesses in Zambales. In April, he opened Trivera, a river resort in Cabangan, his second property in the province. His earlier Botolan resort began operating in 2020 and later expanded to include camping accommodations. He is also working with SOLORA Philippines to add glamping structures to his hospitality ventures. Acting remains his main profession. After the conclusion of the ABS-CBN action drama Blood Vs. Duty, Anderson said he began filming an action-comedy project for Netflix with Jerald Napoles. Other production details have not been announced. Anderson also leads Pusong Bayani, a four-episode online series about fisherfolk, military personnel and coastal communities connected to the West Philippine Sea.

Photo from Instagram/@andersongeraldjr

Promoted to auxiliary captain in the Philippine Coast Guard Auxiliary in 2024, Anderson has said the program seeks to explain the issue through the experiences of people living and working in Palawan and Zambales, while emphasizing diplomacy over confrontation.

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Newsom signs law creating AANHPIserving college designation SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom on Sept. 29 signed Assembly Bill 2374, creating a state designation for California colleges and universities that demonstrate sustained support for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander students. The measure, authored by Assemblymember Mike Fong, D-Alhambra, establishes a framework for institutions seeking recognition as Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander-serving institutions. Campuses pursuing the designation must develop a strategic plan centered on student success, including retention and graduation, academic support and basic-needs services. Fong, who chairs the Assem-

bly Higher Education Committee and the Asian American and Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, said the law is intended to give AANHPI students and the institutions serving them greater recognition and support as federal minority-serving institution programs face uncertainty. California’s public higher education systems enroll large AANHPI populations. In the 2024-25 academic year, California Community Colleges enrolled about 2.2 million students, including 248,686 who identified as Asian and 7,979 as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. In 2025, the California State University system enrolled 71,413 Asian students and 1,333 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. The University of California report-

ed 131,933 Asian students and 2,454 Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students in fall 2025. AB 2374 builds on state efforts to improve college access, affordability, completion and transfer pathways, including community college tuition assistance, expanded financial aid, Associate Degree for Transfer programs and investments connecting education with career pathways. California also has longstanding ties to Asian American studies. The term “Asian American” was coined in 1968 by UC Berkeley graduate students Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee. The following year, San Francisco State University established the nation’s first Asian American Studies program.

San Francisco one-bedroom rents hit record $4,400 SAN FRANCISCO — Median rents in San Francisco reached record highs in September, with one-bedroom apartments climbing to $4,400 a month, according to real estate company Zumper. That was the second-highest one-bedroom rent in the country, just below New York City’s $4,580. San Francisco’s median two-bedroom rent rose to $6,340, the highest nationally and nearly $900 above New York.

Year over year, one-bedroom rents in San Francisco increased 25.4%, while two-bedroom rents rose 26.8%. Zumper attributed much of the increase to strong hiring in the artificial intelligence sector combined with limited new housing supply. Rent growth elsewhere in the Bay Area was more moderate. In San Jose, median rents reached $2,890 for a one-bedroom and $3,530 for a two-bedroom. Oakland rents were $2,100 and $2,700, respectively.

Nationally, median rents were largely flat, at $1,518 for a one-bedroom and $1,903 for a two-bedroom. The increase has intensified housing affordability concerns in San Francisco. Mayor Daniel Lurie declared a “rent emergency” earlier in September, citing rising rents and evictions. He has proposed measures including a 10% cap on rent increases and about $55 million for legal assistance to tenants facing displacement.

Sky River Casino celebrates big win and fall favorites this October ELK GROVE, Calif. –– This fall, Sky River Casino is bringing together the best of the season with a dynamic calendar of experiences designed to delight guests all month long. From exciting cash giveaways and recent six-figure jackpot wins to spirited Halloween celebrations, chef-crafted autumn menus and community-driven events, October offers countless ways to celebrate, indulge, and win. $50,000 Harvest the Cash Giveaway | Friday, October 9 from 7 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Join us for an exciting night of giveaways and the chance to share in $50,000 in cash prizes. All Sky River Rewards members can enter by visiting a promotional kiosk to print their drawing entry and drop it into the official drawing drum near Rock Bar. Winners will be selected every 30 minutes throughout the evening, with cash prizes ranging from $500 to $4,000. The excitement builds all night, culminating in a $25,000 Grand Prize drawing at 10:30 p.m. One lucky winner will take home the biggest prize of the night! Big Wins Continue at Sky River Casino The excitement extends beyond October’s promotions, with Sky River Casino continuing to celebrate major wins across the casino floor. Most recently, Stockton resident Somsack N. won a $135,995 progressive jackpot on September 12 after being dealt the desired Five Aces hand while playing Face Up Pai Gow Poker. The win came as the game’s progressive jackpot had climbed to more than $1 million. Just weeks earlier, another Stockton resident turned a $2 bet into a $130,812 jackpot while playing Dollar Storm™ Mega Grand Link™ Buccaneer™. The August 29 win followed a $583,824 Mega Grand jackpot on the same game just three days earlier, adding to an exciting stretch of six-figure wins at Sky River Casino. A Curated Taste of Autumn The flavors of fall take center stage, where each menu captures the warmth and comfort of the season. At SR Prime Steakhouse, indulge in a lobster risotto featuring a garlic butter grilled lobster tail nestled atop truffle risotto, or savor the heartiness of beef cheek orecchiette with braised Wagyu beef cheeks, mushrooms, beluga lentils, and truffle jus. At Dragon Beaux, autumn arrives with a vibrant celebration of seasonal ingredients, from sautéed salty egg yolk pumpkin and braised egg tofu & mushrooms to a crisp, golden fried banana roll paired with creamy coconut ice cream. Meanwhile, 32 Brews Street offers fresh coastal flavors with its Pacific ahi tuna bowl and roasted salmon served with cauliflower cream and green beans, followed by a decadent toffee pecan caramel cake crowned with vanilla bean ice cream. Wednesdays We Wear Pink Earn & Get | October 7 - 28 from 2 p.m. – 8 p.m.

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in the ultimate Battle of the Rares. Experience the distinct character, craftsmanship, and flavor profiles of Eagle Rare and Wild Turkey Rare Breed in an exciting side-by-side tasting designed for bourbon enthusiasts and curious newcomers alike. Boos @ Brews Costume Party | Saturday, October 31 from 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. Dress up, turn heads, and win big! Halloween wraps up with an electrifying costume party at 32 Brews, where guests can compete for a share of $2,500 in prizes. Show off your creativity, cast your votes, and cheer on your favorites as the top four crowd-voted costumes earn the night's biggest rewards. Plus, keep the celebration going with featured food and drink specials and a live DJ spinning your favorite hits all night long. Sky River Casino Since opening in August 2022, the casino has become a premier entertainment destination featuring over 130,000 square feet of gaming, 2,500 slot machines, 81 table games, and 18 restaurants, bars, and lounge destinations, along with a 1,600-space five-story parking structure. The casino recently broke ground on a significant hotel resort expansion that is expected to generate regional economic impact through job creation, increased tourism, and long-term investment in the local community. Planned additions include a 300-room luxury hotel, a new porte cochère with expanded valet service, a full-service day spa and salon, an outdoor pool, and approximately 30,000 square feet of flexible meeting, event, and entertainment space. To learn more about Sky River Casino and its continued growth, please visit www.SkyRiver.com.

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San Francisco tightens privacy rules for license plate reader data

SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Daniel Lurie announced new privacy safeguards for the city’s automated license plate reader system, reducing how long police personnel may access captured data for investigative searches and tightening controls on outside access. Under the policy, San Francisco Police Department personnel may search license plate reader records for 30 days after collection, down from 12 months. After that period, the data will be removed from the vendor’s platform and placed under exclusive SFPD control. Data needed for an active criminal investigation may remain

accessible with approval from police leadership. Every search must be linked to an incident or computer-aided dispatch number, with the system recording who conducted the search and the reason for it. SFPD will conduct monthly reviews of system-use logs and seek regular independent audits by the Department of Police Accountability. Personnel who violate the rules may face discipline, including termination when warranted. Federal agencies do not have direct access to SFPD’s database, and the department does not authorize use of the technology for civil immigration enforcement,

investigations based solely on lawful reproductive or gender-affirming health care, or monitoring protected First Amendment activity. Lurie also said the city will work with Assemblymember Matt Haney and District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on state legislation seeking stronger penalties for unauthorized access to or disclosure of license plate reader and other sensitive public-safety data. SFPD says automated license plate reader technology has assisted in more than 1,500 arrests since May 2024, including nearly 1,000 cases directly tied to license plate reader data.

Newsom allows early switch to winterblend gasoline as fuel prices rise SACRAMENTO — Gov. Gavin Newsom has suspended California’s seasonal summer-blend gasoline requirement for the remainder of the season, allowing less expensive winter-blend fuel to enter the market several weeks early as gasoline and diesel prices rise nationwide. Newsom directed the California Air Resources Board and Department of Food and Agriculture to permit winter-blend gasoline to be manufactured, imported, distributed and sold immediately under authority provided by Senate Bill 237.

Winter-blend gasoline generally costs less to produce, while summer blends are formulated to reduce evaporation and smog-forming emissions. The California Energy Commission said recent gasoline price increases in the state have broadly tracked increases nationwide as global oil markets face supply disruptions connected to the Iran conflict. California officials say the state continues to receive sufficient gasoline through domestic refining, inventories and imports. Newsom also directed the

Energy Commission, working with state air-quality and petroleum-market regulators, to publish regular reports on gasoline and diesel spot-market activity and gather additional information on renewable diesel pricing. The action follows legislation signed earlier in September intended to accelerate availability of E15 gasoline, which contains up to 15 percent ethanol. California has also invested about $6.6 billion in clean vehicles, trucks and charging infrastructure, according to the governor’s office.

Consulate Watch The Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco continued its business, voter registration and consular outreach efforts across Northern California in September, meeting with Filipino

American business leaders to discuss support for entrepreneurs and bringing overseas voting and other consular services closer to communities in the Sacramento area.

Bay Area business leaders discuss support for Filipino entrepreneurs Consul General Arnel G. Talisayon met with San Francisco Filipino American Chamber of Commerce President Shan Serran, Secretary Lorna Lardizabal Dietz and Chairman Jose Pecho on Sept. 22 to discuss opportunities for Filipino and Filipino American entrepreneurs and stronger business links between

This October, we're wearing pink with purpose. In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, guests are invited to join us each Wednesday as we celebrate survivors, honor loved ones and raise awareness through a special series of commemorative gifts. The first 1,000 Sky River Rewards members who earn 750 same-day tier credits can receive weekly gifts, including a 40 oz. tumbler, bracelet & necklace set, plush throw blanket, and long sleeve shirt, and help show that even small acts of support can make a meaningful impact. Native American Breast Cancer Awareness Walk/Run | Saturday, October 17 Every step tells a story of strength, resilience, and support. Sky River Casino is honored to sponsor the 12th Annual Native American Breast Cancer Awareness Walk/Run at Elk Grove Regional Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Through awareness, education, and advocacy, the Walk/Run helps shine a light on the importance of early detection while supporting Native communities and all individuals affected by breast cancer. Trick or Treat Visa Gift Card Giveaway | October 5 - 26 from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. Get in the Halloween spirit with a promotion packed with surprises! Every Monday, Sky River Rewards members who earn 500 Tier Credits can visit a promotional kiosk for a chance to Swipe & Win instant prizes, including $100 Visa Gift Cards, free play, reward points, dining credits, and bonus drawing entries. With surprises waiting around every corner, Mondays just became the most rewarding day of the week. Hell's Kitchen Cookware Gift Series | October 1 – 30 from 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. Get ready to spice up your kitchen! Visit each Thursday and Friday to collect a lineup of sleek cookware, including frying pans, saucepans, and casseroles with matching lids. Don't miss your chance to build the ultimate kitchen set all month long. Battle of the Rares at The Humidor Bourbon & Cigar Lounge | Thursday, October 22 at 5 p.m. Two legendary bourbons. One unforgettable showdown. Join us at The Humidor Bourbon & Cigar Lounge as two iconic whiskey titans go head-to-head

ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026

the Philippines and the Bay Area. Discussions focused on improving access to capital, preparing businesses for investor engagements and connecting Philippine enterprises with potential Bay Area partners. The Consulate highlighted targeted business matching as a way to

support entrepreneurship and investment. Also attending were Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Trade Commissioner Anne Marie Kristine Umali, Economic Assistant Danica Vismonte and Rosalie Say of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center–Silicon Valley.

Overseas voter registration reaches Elk Grove Forty Filipinos registered as overseas voters during a field registration activity held Sept. 19 in Elk Grove, California. The San Francisco Consulate serves Northern California, Colorado, Northern Nevada, Utah and Wyoming and is continuing registration activities throughout its jurisdiction. Upcoming field registration is scheduled in South Jordan, Utah, on Oct. 3-4 at 489 West South Jordan Parkway, and in Reno, Nevada, on Oct. 17-18 at SureStay Plus by Best Western Reno Airport, 1981 Terminal Way, Suite 1. A walk-in overseas voting registration kiosk is also available at the San Francisco Consulate from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The overseas voter registra-

Voter Registration Machine Operator Lalaine Bacha assists Filipinos during overseas voter registration at the St. Joseph Parish community hall in Elk Grove, California. San Francisco PCG photo

tion period runs through Sept. egory/overseas-voting-advisory 30, 2027. Information is avail- or through sanfranciscopcg.ov@ able at pcgsanfrancisco.org/cat- dfa.gov.ph.

Elk Grove outreach delivers 128 consular services The San Francisco Consulate conducted its sixth consular outreach mission of 2026 on Sept. 19 at St. Joseph Parish in Elk Grove, providing 128 services to Filipinos from Sacramento County and nearby communities. The Knights of Rizal Sacramento Landmark Chapter and St. Joseph Parish assisted the outreach team in facilitating services. The mission also promoted the VIP Tour 2027: Winter Escapade Edition, a tourism program encouraging Filipino Americans to visit the Philippines. The Elk Grove mission was the Consulate’s fourth Northern California outreach of the year.

Consular staff process passport applications, top, and dual citizenship applications during the Sept. 19 outreach mission in Elk Grove, California. San Francisco PCG photo

Future outreach schedules are cisco.org and the Consulate’s available through pcgsanfran- official social media pages.

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OCTOBER 2 - 8, 2026 • ASIAN JOURNAL

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