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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 Volume 20 - No.41 • 16 Pages 611 North Brand Blvd., Suite 1300, Glendale, CA 91203 • Tel: (818) 9379981 • (818) 937-9982 • (213) 250-9797 • info@asianjournalinc.com
DATELINE USA FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Fil-Am Mayor Todd Gloria demands Trump apology over San Diego remarks
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
COA upholds P73.3M refund order against VP Duterte Audit commission rejects appeal over 2022 confidential spending; vice president and two OVP officials held liable as defense plans Supreme Court challenge by AJPress MANILA - The Commission on Audit has upheld a P73.287-million refund order against Vice President Sara Duterte and two officials of her office, after finding that the Office of the Vice President failed to properly document confidential expenditures recorded during the final 11 days of 2022.
In a resolution dated Oct. 5 and made public Oct. 7, the COA Commission Proper rejected a motion for reconsideration filed by Duterte, OVP special disbursing officer Gina Acosta and chief accountant Julieta Villadelrey. It affirmed an April 10 decision sustaining a notice of disallowance issued on Aug. 8, 2024. The disputed amount was part of P125 million in confidential funds released to the OVP
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MANILA - A Makati court has issued an arrest warrant for Batangas Rep. Leandro Leviste over an alleged violation of the Public Service Act, but the Department of Justice said Thursday, Oct. 8, that he has not yet been classified as a fugitive from justice. His mother, Sen. Loren Legarda, is meanwhile seeking another extension of her medical leave from the Senate, which is due to expire Oct. 9. The DOJ clarification followed a statement Wednesday by National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibag describing Leviste as a fugitive because the court had or-
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President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. meets with FedEx executives in Singapore to strengthen the Philippines’ position as a regional logistics hub. PCOfilephoto
DUTERTE IMPEACHMENT TRIAL | WEEKLY REPORT
BPI details P41.7M check trail in Rodrigo– Sara Duterte joint account
October 5–8 hearings also examine P55-million transactions, P319-million foreign remittances and tax filings by AJPress MANILA - A Bank of the Philippine Islands official traced a P41.7-million time deposit in an account bearing the names of Vice President Sara Duterte and her father, former President Rodrigo Duterte, through a series of manager’s checks during testimony this week at the Senate impeachment trial. Prosecutors also questioned a separate P55-million
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Arrest warrant issued for Leviste; DOJ says lawmaker not yet a fugitive
White House disputes interpretation of president's comments on Iran; Trump later pledges to protect American cities SAN DIEGO — Filipino American Mayor Todd Gloria has called on President Donald Trump to apologize for remarks naming San Diego and Los Angeles as potential targets of an Iranian attack, drawing attention to the president's responsibility to protect American communities amid the continuing war with Iran. Gloria issued the demand Tuesday, October 6, after Trump referred to the two Southern California cities during a campaign rally in Grand Island, Nebraska, the previous day. Speaking about the economic costs of the war and higher gasoline prices, Trump described those costs as “a small price to pay
on Dec. 20, 2022. The notice covers expenditures reported for Dec. 21 to 31 of that year. Duterte’s defense has disputed the prosecution’s separate assertion that the entire P125 million was spent within those 11 days. COA found inadequate support for P69.787 million recorded as rewards to informants, including P10 million in cash, P34.857 mil-
transaction stream, examining whether checks that remained outstanding could obscure funds from year-end bank balances. The October 5–8 hearings brought together bank records, reports submitted to the Anti-Money Laundering Council and the couple’s tax filings. They also coincided with a Commission on Audit ruling upholding the disal-
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Mark Villar joins Senate majority, takes public works chairmanship Minority leader Cayetano wishes senator well, pledges continued oversight by AJPress MANILA, Philippines — Sen. Mark Villar joined the Senate majority on Thursday, October 8, securing the chairmanship of the Committee on Public Works and a seat on the Commission on Appointments in a reorganization that increased the majority's membership to 14 senators and reduced the minority to 10. Senate Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for Villar's election to both positions during
the plenary session. The motions were approved without objection. Villar replaced Senate President Pro Tempore Vicente Sotto III as public works committee chairman and Zubiri on the Commission on Appointments, the congressional body responsible for reviewing certain presidential appointments. The Senate also elected Minority Leader Alan Peter Cayetano to the Commission on
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Supreme Court drops initial foreign-law proof in divorce recognition cases
Petitioners must still obtain court recognition under new rules that shift the burden of rebutting certain evidence to opposing parties by AJPress
MANILA — Filipinos asking Philippine courts to recognize a foreign divorce will no longer have to establish the applicable foreign divorce law when filing their petitions, under rule changes approved by the Supreme Court that shift part of the evidentiary burden to those opposing recognition. The amendments, adopted by the court en banc on Wednesday, October 7, apply to petitions under Article 26(2) of the Family Code, which addresses the right of a Filipino spouse
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From the Front Page
COA upholds P73.3M... PAGE 1
lion in goods and P24.93 million in medicines. It also disallowed P3.5 million in reported purchases of tables, chairs, desktop computers and printers that the OVP said were intended for safe houses. Under Joint Circular No. 2015-01, confidential funds can be used for authorized operations, but payments for informant rewards require records linking the information provided to successful information-gathering or surveillance activities. The circular was issued by COA and four other government bodies. According to the commission, the OVP submitted acknowledgment receipts and a list of activities involving the vice president and satellite office personnel but did not document specific results from the purported confidential operations. COA concluded that the submissions did not satisfy the audit requirements. The commission also considered a certification detailing security activities performed by the Vice Presidential Security and Protection Group. It said routine work by salaried military personnel could not justify payments reserved for eligible outside informants. As for the furniture and computer equipment, COA found insufficient evidence
connecting the items to confidential operations or explaining why they could not have been purchased through ordinary government procurement procedures. The audit body rejected the officials’ argument that the acknowledgment receipts and other documents were sufficient to support the disbursements. It sustained the finding that the questioned transactions did not comply with the governing rules. COA identified Duterte as the official who approved the transactions, Acosta as the officer responsible for the cash advance and disbursements, and Villadelrey as the accountant who certified the supporting papers. The three were held liable under the audit ruling. The disallowance requires the return of public funds but does not, by itself, establish criminal guilt or that the named officials personally received the entire amount. The OVP said Wednesday that it had not yet received an official copy of the Oct. 5 resolution and had prepared to respond through the available legal and institutional channels. On Thursday, lawyer Michael Poa said Duterte’s defense intended to petition the Supreme Court for review. Although COA said it had affirmed its ruling with finality, the phrase refers to the
conclusion of reconsideration before the audit commission. The decision may still be challenged before the Supreme Court under Rule 64 in relation to Rule 65. Filing such a petition does not automatically suspend enforcement unless the court orders otherwise. No completed petition had been confirmed as of Thursday. COA has separately issued notices disallowing P375 million in OVP confidential expenses recorded during the first three quarters of 2023. Those notices involve different transactions and do not share the procedural status of the Oct. 5 ruling. The December 2022 expenditures are also part of the evidence examined in Duterte’s ongoing Senate impeachment trial. Article I of the impeachment case concerns allegations involving P612.5 million in confidential funds, comprising P500 million allocated to the OVP and P112.5 million to the Department of Education during Duterte’s tenure as education secretary. House prosecution lawyer Lorna Kapunan said the panel was considering placing the latest COA resolution before the impeachment court. The Senate must assess the impeachment charges separately from COA’s administrative findings, and Duterte has denied wrongdoing.n
Mark Villar joins Senate majority... PAGE 1 Appointments, replacing Sen. Loren Legarda, who has been on medical leave. Cayetano wished Villar well following his departure from the minority bloc and said the group's responsibilities would remain unchanged despite shifts in Senate alliances. He said minority senators would continue scrutinizing government actions and serving as constructive opposition members. Villar's sister, Sen. Camille Villar, remains with the minority. The realignment followed differences within the minority over the voting threshold in Vice President Sara Duterte's impeachment trial. On September 23, Mark Villar was the only minority senator to vote in favor of revising the formula for determining the
two-thirds majority required to convict an impeached official. The impeachment court approved the change by a 13-1 vote, with six senator-judges not participating and four others absent. The ruling replaced the previously fixed 16-vote requirement with a calculation based on senators legally and factually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. Cayetano had earlier maintained that Villar remained a minority member despite their differing positions on the issue, emphasizing the independence of senators in carrying out their constitutional responsibilities as impeachment judges. The revised voting formula faces a new challenge before the Supreme Court following the dismissal of three earlier petitions on procedural grounds.
Photo by Wendell D. Alinea / Senate Social Media Unit
Villar previously served as secretary of the Department of Public Works and Highways under former President Rodrigo Duterte before his election to the Senate in 2022..n
Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. on Thursday (Oct. 8, 2026) meets with new South Korean Ambassador to Manila Lee Dong-gy during an introductory call at at Camp General Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The two committed to advancing defense strategic partnership between the Philippines and South Korea. (Photo courtesy of the DND)
Arrest warrant issued for Leviste... PAGE 1
dered his arrest while he was overseas. Senior Deputy State Prosecutor Herbert Calvin Abugan said authorities must follow the required legal process before making that determination and that Leviste would be given an opportunity to appear in court. The Makati Regional Trial Court's Branch 235 issued the warrant Oct. 5, setting bail at P72,000. The case concerns an alleged violation of Section 25 of Commonwealth Act No. 146, as amended by Republic Act No. 11659. That provision addresses knowing and willful failure to carry out duties required under the Public Service Act. The arrest warrant does not establish criminal liability. Justice Department prosecutors filed the case Sept. 29 against Leviste and two officers of Solar Para sa Bayan Corp., Hazel Iris Lafuente Buencamino and Irma Flaminiano. It followed a complaint filed by the Department of Energy in May alleging that the company had not fulfilled obligations to establish electricity services in remote or underserved communities under its congressional franchise. The company received a nonexclusive franchise in 2019 under Republic Act No. 11357 to establish and operate distributed renewable-energy facilities and microgrids
in specified areas. The law also subjects the franchise holder to the Public Service Act. Prosecutors said they found sufficient preliminary evidence to bring the charge, but the disputed legal and factual questions remain for the trial court. Matibag said Wednesday that Buencamino and Flaminiano each posted P72,000 bail. Leviste had not posted bail as of the latest reports Thursday. The DOJ said he would first have to submit to the court's jurisdiction, through arrest or voluntary surrender, before being eligible for bail. Officials have discussed possible action involving Leviste's passport and a request for Interpol assistance. The DOJ said it had not initiated passport-cancellation proceedings, and there was no confirmed issuance of an Interpol Red Notice. Leviste has been outside the Philippines since Aug. 2. His spokesperson, lawyer Antonio La Viña, previously said the lawmaker was assisting Legarda during medical treatment in France. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said Wednesday that his department's latest information suggested Leviste was in Germany. His present location has not been independently verified. La Viña said Leviste intends to return to the Philippines and personally appear in court
to post bail, although he gave no date. He also disputed the prosecution's legal basis, arguing that Solar Para sa Bayan is not a public utility and that the Energy Department failed to provide necessary implementing rules and designate service areas. The court has not ruled on those arguments. In a separate preliminary investigation, the Office of the Ombudsman is examining plunder and graft allegations involving Leviste, Legarda and former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi over renewable-energy service contracts. Ombudsman officials have cited more than P10.44 billion in alleged unpaid obligations arising from terminated contracts. Legarda and Leviste submitted counter-affidavits in September denying wrongdoing, and their camp disputes the allegations. A Commission on Audit review of the Energy Department's 2025 operations separately identified approximately P10.77 billion in outstanding obligations from 37 terminated solar-energy contracts, including about P10.39 billion attributed to companies in the Solar Philippines group founded by Leviste. The findings concern disputed contractual obligations and possible government collection efforts; they are not findings of criminal guilt. Leviste's arraignment is scheduled for Oct. 26. n
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Dateline USA
Fil-Am Mayor Todd Gloria demands... PAGE 1
for keeping the world safe, keeping our country safe.” He then raised the possibility of Iran attacking an American city, saying, “Let them take out Los Angeles. Let them take out San Diego.” The remarks prompted criticism from California officials who interpreted the reference as suggesting that attacks on American cities could be considered acceptable. The White House disputed that interpretation, saying Trump was warning about the consequences of allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. In a statement released by his office, Gloria said San Diego plays a central role in American national defense, citing its military installations, servicemembers, shipbuilding operations and scientific research institutions. The mayor said the nearly 1.4 million residents of San Diego should not be portrayed as expendable in discussions of national security. “President Trump should retract these remarks and apologize to the people of San Diego,” Gloria said. Gloria, who also serves as president of the United States Conference of Mayors, emphasized that the president's
responsibility to protect Americans extends to every community, regardless of political affiliation or geography. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung responded that Trump's comments were being misinterpreted. He said the president was describing the threat American cities could have faced had Iran obtained nuclear weapons, rather than calling for attacks on the United States. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass also criticized the remarks. Newsom directed the California State Threat Assessment Center to monitor the situation, while Bass raised concerns about the possible implications for public safety. The criticism extended beyond Democratic officials. Jim Desmond, a Republican congressional candidate and Navy veteran from San Diego County, said American cities and families should never be regarded as acceptable casualties of war. The United States Conference of Mayors separately condemned the initial remarks. Its chief executive and executive director, Tom
Cochran, said the protection of American communities must remain a responsibility shared by elected officials of both parties. On Wednesday, October 7, California's Democratic congressional delegation, joined by U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, called on Trump to apologize. The lawmakers said his remarks appeared to invite an attack on American cities, an interpretation rejected by the administration. The controversy also raised questions about the hypothetical threat Trump described. In its March 2026 assessment, the U.S. intelligence community said Iran had demonstrated technology that could support development of an intercontinental ballistic missile before 2035 if Tehran pursued that capability. The assessment did not establish an imminent Iranian missile threat to California. Trump addressed the issue again Wednesday during a campaign rally in San Antonio, Texas, warning that missile strikes against San Diego or Los Angeles would have devastating consequences. “We're not going to let that happen. We protect our cities. We protect our country,” Trump said. n
Millions of Medicare beneficiaries to receive one-time $90 rebate About 20.8 million Original Medicare Part B enrollees qualify; Medicare Advantage members are excluded by AJPress WASHINGTON — The federal government is sending a one-time $90 payment to about 20.8 million Medicare beneficiaries this month, with most eligible recipients scheduled to receive the money by direct deposit on or around Oct. 8. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services said the payment, formally called the Medicare Improvement Fund Premium Rebate, is intended to offset part of the cost of Medicare Part B coverage. It is a single payment, not a recurring monthly benefit or a permanent reduction in Medicare premiums. President Donald Trump announced the rebate Oct. 2. The money is being drawn from the Medicare Improvement Fund, which Congress created in 2008 to support im-
provements in the traditional Medicare program. Eligibility is limited to qualifying beneficiaries enrolled in Original Medicare Part B who live in the United States, do not receive Medicaid assistance paying their Medicare premiums and do not pay the additional income-related Medicare premium known as IRMAA. People enrolled in Medicare Advantage are not eligible. The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 a month in 2026, up from $185 last year. The $90 payment therefore offsets less than half of one month's standard premium. CMS said most eligible beneficiaries will receive the money through Social Security direct deposit on or around Oct. 8. Those who do not receive payments electronically are expected to receive a Treasury
check later in October. No separate application has been announced. Beneficiaries with questions about eligibility may call 1-800-MEDICARE, or 1-800-633-4227. CMS said people checking the status of an expected payment should contact the Social Security Administration at 1-800-7721213 beginning Oct. 15. The administration says roughly $2 billion is available for the rebates. At $90 each for about 20.8 million beneficiaries, the payments would total approximately $1.87 billion if all projected eligible recipients receive them. The rebate does not change the formula used to determine future Part B premiums. Medicare trustees currently project a standard monthly premium of $209.50 in 2027, but that figure is not final and will be set separately. n
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US seeks to revoke citizenship of two Filipino Americans in 40-case federal effort
Separate lawsuits in California involve allegations of concealed criminal conduct and marriage fraud as federal authorities expand denaturalization proceedings. by AJPress
LOS ANGELES — Two Filipino Americans are among 40 naturalized U.S. citizens facing federal lawsuits seeking to revoke their citizenship, part of an expanded Justice Department effort targeting individuals accused of obtaining naturalization unlawfully. The Department of Justice identified the two as Arnel Dacumos Tabafunda, 47, and Ramon Navarro, 68, in an October 5 announcement detailing denaturalization cases filed in federal courts across the United States. Both lawsuits were filed in California but involve different allegations. The filings do not themselves revoke either man's citizenship. The government filed its case against Tabafunda on September 15 in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, alleging that he concealed child sexual abuse during his naturalization proceedings. According to the Justice Department, Tabafunda became a naturalized American citizen in September 2005. A California jury subsequently convicted him of two counts of committing lewd or lascivious acts involving a child younger than 14. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. Federal authorities said the abuse began in February 2005, before his naturalization, and continued through November of that year. The government alleges that Tabafunda's conduct during the period when he was required to demonstrate good moral character, along with his alleged failure to disclose it, made him ineligible for citizenship. Although the criminal conviction is part of the govern-
ment's case, whether Tabafunda unlawfully obtained citizenship remains a separate question for the federal court. In Navarro's case, the Justice Department filed a complaint on October 2 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California. Federal authorities allege that Navarro entered into a fraudulent marriage to obtain lawful permanent resident status and subsequently used that status, along with false representations to immigration officials, to secure U.S. citizenship. The complaint contains four claims seeking to revoke his naturalization based on alleged marriage fraud and related misrepresentations. The department's public account did not identify a criminal conviction establishing the allegations against Navarro. Those claims remain subject to judicial determination. Expanded federal enforcement The two cases are part of a nationwide initiative that the Justice Department described as its largest group of denaturalization filings during a single period under the Trump administration. Attorney General Todd Blanche characterized the October 5 announcement as the largest denaturalization effort in modern U.S. history. That description reflects the administration's assessment. The announced cases involve allegations of immigration fraud, concealed criminal conduct and offenses involving national security. Some defendants have prior criminal convictions, while other allegations must still be established in court. The expanded initiative follows a June 2025 Justice Department directive making de-
naturalization an enforcement priority for its Civil Division. The directive identified national security concerns, serious criminal offenses and fraud in the naturalization process among areas warranting particular attention. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services also updated its denaturalization referral guidance in September 2026, clarifying procedures for identifying and referring potential cases. The update did not change the existing statutory grounds for revoking citizenship. Legal safeguards govern citizenship revocation Under Section 340(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, codified at 8 U.S.C. Section 1451(a), the federal government may seek to revoke naturalization if citizenship was illegally procured or obtained through concealment of a material fact or willful misrepresentation. A criminal conviction does not automatically result in denaturalization. The government must establish that legal grounds for revocation exist, including whether the individual satisfied the requirements for citizenship when naturalization was granted. In civil denaturalization proceedings, federal courts require clear, unequivocal and convincing evidence before citizenship may be revoked. The filing of a complaint does not itself terminate citizenship. The government must obtain a judicial determination, and the individuals named in the lawsuits have an opportunity to contest the allegations. The Justice Department expressly stated in its October 5 announcement that the complaints contain allegations and that no determination of liability had been made. n
Former Philippine Prime Minister Cesar Virata dies at 95 Longtime finance chief and economic technocrat served through much of the Marcos administration by AJPress MANILA — Cesar E.A. Virata, a former Philippine prime minister and the country’s longest-serving finance chief,
died Oct. 2 at age 95, ending a public and private-sector career that spanned government, banking and academia. Virata died of natural causes, his family said. He is
survived by his wife, theater actress and director Phylita “Joy” Gamboa Virata; their children Steven, Gillian and Michael; four grandchildren;
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OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Go, Padilla take impeachment voting dispute to Supreme Court by AJPress MANILA - Senators Robinhood Padilla and Christopher “Bong” Go have asked the
Supreme Court to overturn a Senate impeachment court ruling that could allow Vice President Sara Duterte to be convicted with fewer than 16
Former Philippine Prime Minister... PAGE 3
votes, renewing a dispute over the constitutional requirement for removing an impeachable official.
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BPI details P41.7M check...
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lowance of P73.287 million in confidential expenses of the Office of the Vice President. The defense challenged the prosecution’s interpretation of the financial evidence. BPI division head Marwin Galvez testified that a time deposit with a principal of P40.65 million was opened at the bank’s Julia Vargas branch on January 22, 2010. After 12 renewals, it had grown to about P41.72 million. The money was transferred to a settlement account in March 2011 and used to purchase a manager’s check. When the check remained unused, a replacement was issued in October of that year, according to records presented to the impeachment court. Galvez explained that a manager’s check is a liability of the issuing bank, rather than a deposit remaining in the purchaser’s account. House prosecutor James Bryan Ibrahim Alih argued that repeatedly issuing checks without presenting them for payment could keep funds out of balances reported at year-end. He identified another P55-million time deposit that he said followed a similar route. The evidence did not establish that the checks were issued to conceal assets. Other documents examined by the prosecution included four instructions for P20-million transfers from the account to insurance products in March 2014, totaling P80 million. Galvez also identified a manager’s check dated May 30, 2016, for approximately P16.85 million, with Davao businessman Samuel C. Uy named as payee. The identification of the payee did not establish an improper payment or personal involvement by the vice president. Defense lawyer Michael Poa said Duterte did not recall the joint account and had not participated in the questioned transactions. Galvez confirmed that the check applications shown to him bore Rodrigo Duterte’s signature, not his daughter’s. The witness could not establish from those documents whether she knew of or controlled the
transactions. The bank testimony forms part of Article II, which concerns allegations that Duterte failed to disclose assets and business interests properly in her statements of assets, liabilities and net worth, or SALNs. House prosecutors identified accounts involving Duterte and her husband, lawyer Manases Carpio, across eight banks and cited combined year-end balances of approximately P59 million in 2022, P71.3 million in 2023, P22.2 million in 2024 and P39 million in 2025. The prosecution said the figures raised questions about cash not separately itemized in the SALNs. The defense maintained that cash holdings were included under other personal properties and disputed attributing every amount in jointly held accounts to Duterte. The annual balances are snapshots at different dates, not sums that may be added to calculate a single pool of wealth. Another major disclosure came on October 5 from AMLC Secretariat Executive Director Ronel Buenaventura, who testified that financial institutions reported approximately P4.4 billion in covered and suspicious transactions involving Duterte and Carpio from 2007 to 2025. The total included roughly P1.63 billion in inflows, P1.31 billion in outflows and P1.46 billion that could not reliably be classified either way. The P4.4-billion figure measures reported transaction activity over many years, not assets currently held by the couple or money found to have been obtained unlawfully. Buenaventura said a bank reporting error had been validated and corrected in the data available to the court. Defense lawyers questioned the records’ accuracy, confidentiality and relevance. The AMLC testimony also identified approximately P319.33 million in remittances from China and Hong Kong to Cale88 Foods Corp., a company linked to Carpio. National Security Adviser Eduardo Oban said the National Security Council would examine possible security implications.
No finding established that the payments originated with the Chinese government or reached Duterte personally. On October 8, Bureau of Internal Revenue official Anne Loraine Garcia-Marquez testified that a search of the agency’s records found no documentation of a reported transfer of Cale88 shares or related tax payments. When a prosecutor characterized the purported sale as fictitious, presiding officer Sen. Francis Escudero sustained the defense’s objection and struck the statement. The absence of a BIR record does not, by itself, prove that a sale was fabricated. Garcia-Marquez also presented records indicating that Duterte and Carpio reported approximately P85.34 million in combined after-tax income from 2007 through 2025. The prosecution compared that with an increase in declared net worth from about P7.25 million in 2007 to P98.66 million in 2025. Income over a period and net worth at a point in time are different measures; the comparison alone cannot establish unexplained wealth. A 2023 tax certificate also listed the Davao City government as a source of compensation for Duterte, who left office as mayor in 2022. The hearing did not determine whether the payment related to earlier service or another explanation, and no violation was established. Separately, the Commission on Audit, in an October 5 resolution made public October 7, denied reconsideration of its P73.287-million disallowance covering confidential expenses incurred from December 21 to 31, 2022. It found insufficient supporting documentation for P69.787 million recorded as rewards to informers and P3.5 million in equipment purchases. The decision is an administrative audit ruling, not a criminal conviction or the Senate’s determination of any impeachment charge. The Office of the Vice President said it was preparing a legal response, while Poa said the defense intended to seek Supreme Court review.n
and two great-grandchildren. Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., where Virata had served as a director since 1995 and corporate vice chairperson for 26 years, announced his death in a regulatory disclosure. Virata served as finance secretary and later finance minister from 1970 to 1986 and as prime minister from 1981 to 1986 under President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. He also represented the Philippines at the World Bank and Asian Development Bank and served on the Monetary Board. His tenure placed him at the center of Philippine economic policymaking during the martial-law years and the severe debt and economic crisis of the early 1980s. He was widely identified with the technocratic wing of the Marcos government, which managed
Photo courtesy of Foundation for Economic Freedom
fiscal policy and negotiations with international financial institutions. Before government service, Virata taught at the University of the Philippines and served as dean of its College of Business Administration. The university renamed the school the Cesar E.A. Virata School of
Business in 2013. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos visited Virata’s wake at Heritage Memorial Park in Taguig on Oct. 7. Marcos later praised Virata’s “quiet dignity, discipline and sense of duty” and extended condolences to his family. n
Supreme Court drops initial foreign-law... PAGE 1 to remarry after a qualifying divorce involving a foreign spouse. The court announced the changes Thursday, October 8. Until now, petitioners generally had to prove both that the divorce occurred and the content of the foreign law under which it was obtained. Under the amendments, proof that the divorce took place will suffice for that initial evidentiary requirement. The change does not prevent the opposing party from contesting whether the divorce was valid or absolute. The revisions introduce Section 48-A of Rule 39, creating a rebuttable presumption that a foreign divorce involving a Filipino and a foreign spouse allows the foreign spouse to remarry under the relevant foreign law. That presumption does not apply when the divorce document expressly identifies the dissolution as limited. The burden of rebutting the presumption falls on the party challenging recognition. Such a party may introduce evidence of the applicable foreign law, including a certified copy and English translation obtained through the Office of the Court Administrator, which is to maintain a repository of foreign laws. The rules also presume that an English translation of a foreign divorce document is accurate if the translator certifies its accuracy under
oath. An opposing party may submit contrary evidence to challenge that presumption. Judicial recognition remains mandatory. The Supreme Court said the amendments do not change the substantive requirements of Article 26(2), and challenges may still be raised on grounds including lack of jurisdiction, inadequate notice, fraud or a clear mistake of law or fact. Article 26(2) was added to the Family Code in 1987 to address situations in which a foreign spouse could remarry after a divorce while the Filipino spouse remained bound by the marriage under Philippine law. The Supreme Court subsequently clarified that a Filipino spouse may seek recognition even when the Filipino initiated the foreign divorce proceedings. The amendments do not establish a general divorce procedure for marriages between Filipino citizens. The revisions also follow decisions that had required petitioners to prove foreign law. In a 2024 case involving a Filipino woman and a Japanese husband, the Supreme Court held that divorces secured abroad by mutual agreement, rather than through a foreign court, could qualify for recognition. The woman nevertheless had to establish the relevant Japanese law. In a separate ruling announced in June 2025, the court said the applicable law
to be proved was that of the jurisdiction granting the divorce. The case involved a divorce obtained in Kentucky by the Peruvian husband of a Filipino woman. The Supreme Court said the Department of Foreign Affairs had identified practical difficulties in obtaining foreign family laws, including differences among jurisdictions, the absence of officials authorized to certify legal records and limited availability of official English translations. The court said those obstacles particularly affected overseas Filipino workers. The amendments were approved on the recommendation of Associate Justice Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa, following consultations involving Associate Justices Amy Lazaro-Javier and Jhosep Lopez and a judicial working group concerned with overseas Filipinos. The Supreme Court has also approved plans for a collection of authenticated and updated foreign laws on divorce, nullity and annulment of marriage. An agreement involving the Office of the Court Administrator and the Department of Foreign Affairs is scheduled for signing October 21. The changes will take effect 15 days after posting on the Supreme Court website. The court said the full text of its resolution, A.M. No. 25-0314-SC, would be made available on the website.n
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Go, Padilla take impeachment... PAGE 4 In a petition for certiorari and prohibition filed October 6, the two senator-judges joined PDP-Laban, former Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi and several lawyers and private individuals in challenging the impeachment court’s September 23 decision. The case has been reported as docketed under G.R. No. E-08751. Article XI, Section 3(6) of the 1987 Constitution requires the concurrence of two-thirds of all Senate members for an impeachment conviction. The Constitution separately provides for a 24-member Senate. Padilla and Go argue that these provisions require at least 16 affirmative votes, irrespective of how many senators are able to take part in the final vote. The impeachment court voted 13-1 on September 23 to reconsider an earlier ruling by presiding officer Francis Escudero that fixed the conviction requirement at 16 votes. Six senator-judges did not participate in the September vote, including Padilla and Go. Under the revised interpretation, the two-thirds requi-
rement would be calculated using senators legally and actually capable of participating when judgment is rendered. That does not automatically set a new, lower figure: the impeachment court would have to determine whether individual senators qualify for exclusion. The issue resurfaced after Senator Erwin Tulfo sought clarification of how the voting requirement would apply if senators could not participate because of legal restraints or other circumstances. The House prosecution previously said its duty to prove the impeachment allegations would remain the same regardless of the voting threshold. The new petition argues that senators do not cease to be members of the chamber because they are detained, suspended, ill or absent. The petitioners contend that excluding them from the calculation would improperly alter the constitutional standard. They seek a temporary restraining order, a status quo ante order or preliminary injunctive relief while the court considers their challenge. The filing follows the Supre-
me Court’s September 30 dismissal of three earlier petitions brought by former Executive Secretary Victor Rodriguez, Berteni Cataluña Causing and lawyer Ernesto Francisco Jr. The court cited procedural grounds, including lack of legal standing and prematurity, without deciding whether the Senate’s interpretation was constitutional. Go and Padilla argue that their roles as sitting senator-judges give them a direct interest in the voting rule, unlike the private individuals behind the earlier challenges. Whether that distinction is sufficient to establish standing remains for the Supreme Court to decide. House prosecution counsel Lorna Kapunan said on October 7 that the challenge was premature because the impeachment court had not yet voted on Duterte’s conviction or acquittal. Prosecution legal spokesperson Benjamin Tolosa Jr. said the panel respected the petitioners’ right to seek judicial remedies but maintained that the Senate’s revised interpretation had a sound legal basis. n
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Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration custody as asylum application remains pending Lawyer seeks bond hearing before Nov. 5 immigration proceeding; Philippine Consulate General in Los Angeles tells Asian Journal it is coordinating with Mark Mabasa, his family and counsel by AJPress LOS ANGELES — Mark Mabasa, son of slain Philippine broadcaster Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, remains in U.S. immigration custody in Southern California while pursuing asylum in the United States, as his lawyer seeks a bond hearing that could determine whether he can be temporarily released while his case proceeds. Mabasa has been held at the Adelanto ICE Processing Center since Sept. 21. The specific immigration ground for his detention has not been publicly disclosed. Mabasa’s lawyer, John Perry, said he filed a request for bond redetermination on Oct. 2, the day of Mabasa’s first immigration court appearance, and expects a separate bond hearing before a Nov. 5
master calendar hearing. Under federal immigration court procedures, bond proceedings are separate from the underlying immigration case and may determine whether an eligible detained person can be released while proceedings continue. Perry also said a merits hearing had been set for Nov. 16, although the schedule could change if Mabasa is released. No publicly available case-specific immigration court notice reviewed by the Asian Journal confirms those dates, so they remain attributed to Mabasa’s counsel. The Adelanto Immigration Court operates under the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, part of the Department of Homeland Security, is holding Mabasa. In response to an inquiry from the Asian Journal, the Philippine Consulate General
in Los Angeles said: “The details of Mr. Mark Mabasa’s case are being handled by his lawyer. “The Consulate General is closely coordinating with Mr. Mabasa, his family, and his lawyer but will not provide updates in observance of privacy laws and in deference to the family's request for privacy.” The consulate did not provide additional information about Mabasa’s immigration proceedings. Mabasa is a Filipino singer and was among the finalists on the first season of “The X Factor Philippines” in 2012. Since moving to the United States, he has continued performing, including at Filipino American community events in Southern California. Mabasa went to the United States in February 2023 after receiving death threats following his father’s killing PAGE 8
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Opinion
Features
Beyond the POGO ban: Dismantling the networks that remain A ban is a legal act. Dismantling the networks that survive it is a test of governing capacity. That is the larger lesson from the apprehension of 244 foreign nationals in Zamboanga Sibugay on Oct. 2 during operations targeting suspected activities linked to Philippine offshore gaming operators, or POGOs. POGOs were businesses that conducted online gambling from the Philippines primarily for customers abroad. PAGCOR brought the sector under a licensing system in 2016. By August 2019, the regulator said it had licensed 58 operators employing more than 130,000 people and had received nearly P12 billion in remittances from 2016 through 2018. But the expansion also exposed serious enforcement problems. Authorities increasingly encountered illegal operators and criminal activity associated with some POGO-linked oper-
ations, including fraud, money laundering and human trafficking. PAGCOR stopped accepting new license applications in 2019 while reviewing concerns involving security, legality and the social effects of the industry. The government ultimately abandoned the regulatory model. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. announced a nationwide ban in 2024, and Executive Order No. 74 required licensed offshore gaming operations to cease by Dec. 31 of that year. Republic Act No. 12312, the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, later made offshore gaming operations unlawful. The policy question has therefore changed. The issue is no longer whether POGOs should be allowed to operate legally, but how government should respond when illegal remnants become smaller, more mobile and harder to detect.
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Editorial
babe’s eye view Babe Romualdez
WE call our overseas Filipino workers modern-day heroes, and rightly so. Their sacrifices sustain families, educate children and help keep our economy moving. But when a worker faces an abusive employer, an immigration problem or a criminal accusation in a foreign country, praise offers little protection. What that person needs is competent legal counsel, available
Our migrant workers deserve more than gratitude promptly and able to act where the case is being heard. This is why I believe the budget of the Department of Migrant Workers must be increased to strengthen access to experienced, reputable lawyers in countries and localities where our workers live and work. Legal protection should be a dependable government service, with resources commensurate with responsibilities we have assumed toward our citizens overseas.
I have been in touch with Sen. Risa Hontiveros, who I hope will champion this advocacy. My hope is that she and her colleagues will help translate this concern into a practical budgetary commitment. Protecting Filipino workers abroad should command support across political lines. Their families deserve to know the government takes their security seriously, regardless of political affiliation.
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The Zamboanga Sibugay operation illustrates the challenge. The Bureau of Immigration said simultaneous operations in Siay and Alicia tar-
On The Move Segundo Eclar Romero
THE Philippines does not lack people who care. Every day, millions of Filipinos demonstrate compassion through volunteering, donations, community initiatives, disaster response, and countless acts of kindness. Our young people are passionate about issues they care about: climate change, poverty, education, health, inequality, corruption, and social justice. But caring alone is not
ManilaTimes.net photo
geted suspected POGO-related activities. At the Siay site, authorities recovered 78 comput-
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Thinking like a mayor enough. The country’s most difficult problems cannot be solved by goodwill alone. They are wicked problems— problems that are interconnected, constantly changing, and shaped by multiple systems, institutions, behaviors, and historical conditions. Poverty is not only a lack of income. It is connected to education, health, housing, transportation, employment, governance, and social protection. Flooding is not only a drainage problem. It is connected to land use, settlements, live-
lihoods, ecosystems, climate change, infrastructure, and political decisions made over decades. The challenge is therefore not only to produce citizens who care. The greater challenge is to produce citizens who can see the whole system and act within it. This is why we need to promote one simple but powerful habit of mind: Think like a mayor. Not because everyone should become a mayor. But because the mayoral per-
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Beyond the POGO ban: ... PAGE 6 er monitors, roughly 3,000 mobile phones, laptops, SIM cards and other technical devices that the bureau said were believed to have been used for online scams. The allegations remain under investigation. Immigration violations have not been finally adjudicated, possible human trafficking offenses are being examined, and individual culpability must be established through evidence. Most of those apprehended were reported to be Chinese nationals, but nationality is not evidence of criminal responsibility. The Anti-POGO Act recognizes that an illegal operation can depend on more than the people found inside a site. The law prohibits aiding, protecting or abetting offshore gaming, including allowing buildings, computer systems, digital platforms and other facilities to be used for prohibited activities. It also covers specified acts involving fraudulent travel documents and treats violations of the law as unlawful activity under the Anti-Money Laundering Act. That framework should guide enforcement. Raids remain necessary when supported by evidence and lawful authority, but the number of people apprehend-
ed or devices seized cannot be the principal measure of success. Investigators must be able to trace financial flows, preserve digital evidence, identify connections among sites and combine immigration, corporate, property and financial records into a coherent case. Enforcement must also reach beyond workers physically present during a raid. If evidence establishes that property owners, businesses, recruiters, financiers or public officials knowingly enabled prohibited operations, accountability should extend to them. That is not guilt by association. Liability must rest on knowledge, participation and proof. The proposed National Anti-Scam Hub could strengthen that effort if it reduces the fragmentation that gives cybercriminal networks time to move money, accounts and evidence across institutions and jurisdictions. Its value will depend less on the number of agencies involved than on whether it produces faster lawful information sharing, coordinated investigations and action before funds and digital trails disappear. The government must be equally precise in identifying victims. Scam centers across
Opinion & Features
Our migrant workers... Southeast Asia have been linked to trafficking schemes in which people were recruited for legitimate-looking work and then coerced into committing online fraud. That reality makes screening essential when large groups are found inside suspected scam or offshore gaming compounds. A serious enforcement policy must distinguish organizers from employees, willing participants from trafficking victims, and financial beneficiaries from people working under coercion. It must identify who financed an operation, who knowingly provided infrastructure or protection, who profited from it and who may have been exploited, then build cases capable of surviving judicial scrutiny. The ban removed the legal foundation of the POGO industry. The harder work is dismantling the systems that can continue without licenses: financial channels, digital infrastructure, recruiters, property arrangements and protection networks. The measure of enforcement will not be whether government can close the next site. It will be whether operating an illegal offshore gaming network in the Philippines becomes too difficult, too risky and too costly to sustain. (AJPress) n
Thinking like a mayor... PAGE 6
spective represents one of the highest forms of social responsibility. A mayor cannot afford to think in silos. A mayor cannot say: “Education is DepEd’s problem.” “Health is DOH’s problem.” “Flooding is DPWH’s problem.” “Poverty is DSWD’s problem.” The mayor inherits the reality that all these problems exist simultaneously in one place, affecting the same families, the same communities, and the same future. The mayor must ask: Who are the people affected? Why are they experiencing these difficulties? What systems produce these conditions? Who must work together to create solutions? What resources are available? What happens if we succeed? What happens if we fail? This is systems thinking applied to public responsibility. Thinking like a mayor transforms how we understand social responsibility. At the most basic level, social responsibility begins with responding to suffering. We provide relief.
We help people survive. This is necessary. But mature social responsibility moves further. The next question is: How do we help people build capabilities to improve their own lives? This means investing in education, skills, livelihoods, health, and opportunities. The next level is: How do we help communities organize themselves so they influence decisions that affect their lives? This requires participatory governance, empowered communities, and citizens who are not merely recipients of programs but partners in development. The highest level is: What future are we creating for the next generations? This is where sustainability, resilience, and intergenerational responsibility emerge. A mayor must operate at all four levels simultaneously: responding to today’s needs, building tomorrow’s capabilities, transforming systems, and protecting the future. The mayoral mindset is also an antidote to a common weakness among young leaders: aspirations without op-
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 9 - 15, 2026
erational competence. Many young people have admirable dreams: “I want to help communities.” “I want to change society.” “I want to make a difference.” These aspirations are important. But leadership requires more than intentions. It requires understanding relationships, incentives, institutions, resources, logistics, and implementation. A good idea that cannot mobilize people, organize resources, manage risks, measure results, and sustain partnerships remains only an idea. Thinking like a mayor teaches the discipline of turning knowledge into action. This mindset is particularly important for the Filipino youth. Many leadership programs focus on developing individual excellence. This is necessary. But the Philippines needs something more: A generation of leaders who understand that their talents are not only personal assets. They are public resources. Scientists, engineers, teachers, entrepreneurs, professionals,
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There is already a foundation on which to build. Republic Act 11641, which created the Department of Migrant Workers, established the AKSYON Fund for legal and other assistance to OFWs. The department’s assistance framework includes engaging lawyers and paying attorney’s fees and litigation expenses for employment disputes, immigration matters, criminal cases, illegal recruitment and trafficking. The challenge is to make this protection accessible and effective when needed. A legal assistance program must be judged by what happens to the worker who asks for help. How quickly is the request assessed? Is a qualified lawyer available nearby? Can counsel intervene before an important deadline passes? Does the worker understand the advice being given? These questions should guide decisions about funding and the delivery of services. Consider a domestic worker seeking unpaid wages, a seafarer unjustly deported and blacklisted or contesting an employment claim, or a caregiver threatened after reporting abuse. Each situation requires its own assessment. A worker may hesitate to complain because losing a job could mean losing accommodation or facing uncertainty about immigration status. Early consultation can help identify lawful options before fear forces an uninformed decision. Experienced local counsel matters because legal systems differ. A Filipino lawyer can provide valuable guidance, but representation before a foreign court or tribunal may require a lawyer licensed in that jurisdiction. Familiarity with local labor laws, procedures and available remedies can be decisive. We should engage counsel with the relevant expertise and a demonstrated commitment to serving vulnerable clients. The United States illustrates the importance of matching expertise to location. Employment and immigration
concerns can involve different authorities and procedures, and appropriate legal responses depend on the facts. From Washington, my conviction is that diplomatic support works best when it can connect a Filipino facing difficulty with the professional assistance the situation requires. Good intentions need practical support behind them. Our embassies, consulates and migrant workers offices have essential roles in assisting citizens and coordinating with host authorities. They should be supported by a dependable network of vetted lawyers, with clear arrangements for referrals and urgent cases. Where appropriate, partnerships with legal aid organizations, bar associations and community groups can extend that network. Volunteer assistance is valuable, but sustained government funding must carry the responsibility. An increased allocation should therefore come with a credible plan. The DMW should assess demand by country, identify gaps in legal coverage and establish reasonable arrangements for consultations and representation. Funding should recognize that complex proceedings can continue beyond a single budget cycle. A worker should not be left wondering whether an ongoing case will lose support before it reaches a conclusion. Accountability is equally necessary. Lawyers must be selected transparently, checked for conflicts of interest and evaluated for their quality of service. Fees and expenses should be documented. Congress should receive meaningful reports on response times, access to counsel and case progress while safeguarding confidential information. Success cannot be measured by favorable judgments alone; fair representation and informed decisions also matter. When workers receive sound advice early, they can preserve evidence, understand contracts and avoid actions that could weaken their posi-
tion. Employers and recruiters should understand that Filipino workers have access to professional help when a legitimate grievance needs attention. Workers must also know how to seek help. Information should be understandable and available through channels they actually use. Procedures should allow urgent concerns to be assessed quickly, with safe communication for those who fear retaliation. Legal assistance should connect with shelter, interpretation and other support when necessary. A person in distress cannot always navigate several offices or assemble documents without guidance. We must respect the laws and judicial processes of host countries. Providing counsel does not guarantee a particular outcome, nor does it excuse wrongdoing. It helps ensure that a Filipino understands the process, can present a defense or pursue a legitimate claim, and receives the protections available under applicable law. That is a responsible exercise of our duty to our citizens. For the families waiting at home, a legal crisis abroad is deeply personal. School fees, household expenses and hopes for the future may depend on the person suddenly facing that crisis. We should remember those families when deciding what protection deserves in the national budget. I hope Senator Hontiveros will help bring this advocacy forward. Our migrant workers carry enormous responsibilities for their families and our country. When their rights are threatened far from home, they should be able to count on their government to stand beside them, with a capable lawyer ready to help.(Philstar.com) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff *** Email: babeseyeview@gmail. com n
and community organizers may never occupy elected office. Yet they can all think like mayors. Teaching people to think like mayors may also produce better mayors. A mayor who thinks like a mayor even before becoming one is already developing the mental discipline required for responsible governance. The Philippines needs more citizens who are
able and willing to step into positions of leadership. Random heroes will not solve the Philippines’ wicked problems. They will be solved by generations of citizens who can see connections, build relationships, mobilize resources, and work together across time. That is the promise of thinking like a mayor. It is not a pathway only for elected officials. It is a mindset for ev-
ery Filipino who believes that the Philippines’ future is not merely inherited; it is something we collectively build. (Inquirer.net) *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Email: doyromero@gmail.comn
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244 apprehended in Philippine POGO raids as trafficking probe widens Authorities investigate suspected online scams and possible official involvement after raids on illegal gaming facilities in Mindanao by AJPress
COURTESY VISIT. Israeli Ambassador to the Philippines Dana Kursh arrives at Bicol International Airport and meets with Albay officials to explore partnerships for Bicol’s future, including a direct PH Israel flight to boost tourist arrivals. Photo courtesy of Albay PTCAO
Percy Lapid’s son in U.S. immigration... PAGE 5 and sought asylum. Human Rights Watch reported that his uncle, journalist Roy Mabasa, told the organization that Mark holds U.S. employment authorization. Mabasa had performed in Chicago earlier in September and was detained by ICE after returning to Los Angeles, according to Human Rights Watch. Sen. Risa Hontiveros has urged the Philippine government to assist Mabasa and called for his release. She said she had raised the case with Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Lee Lipton and Philippine Consul General in Los Angeles Adelio Angelito Cruz. Killing of Percy Lapid Percival Mabasa, professionally known as Percy Lapid, was a veteran broadcaster and commentator who hosted “Lapid Fire.” He was 63 when he was shot and killed while driving in Talon Dos, Las Piñas City, at about 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 3, 2022. Police said two gunmen on a motorcycle attacked Lapid while he was inside his vehicle. The Philippine National Police formed a special investigation task force and examined whether his work and commentaries provided a motive. Investigators later focused in part on Lapid’s reports about then-Bureau of Corrections chief Gerald Bantag. In November 2022, then-Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin
Remulla said authorities were examining Lapid’s “Cinderella Man” report concerning Bantag’s alleged wealth and properties as a possible trigger for the killing. That remained an investigative theory, not an adjudicated finding against Bantag. The inquiry extended into New Bilibid Prison. National Bureau of Investigation lawyer Eugene Javier said sworn statements from inmates indicated an alleged line of communication from Bantag and then-BuCor deputy security officer Ricardo Zulueta to inmate Denver Mayores, then to inmate Alvin Labra and gang leader Aldrin Galicia. Investigators alleged that Galicia used gang members and contacts outside the prison to reach Joel Escorial and the group accused of carrying out the shooting. Bantag and Zulueta denied involvement. Zulueta specifically denied contacting Mayores or the other inmates. Investigators also identified New Bilibid Prison inmate Cristito “Jun” Villamor as an alleged intermediary between prison contacts and the gunmen. Villamor died inside the prison on Oct. 18, 2022, the same day Escorial was presented publicly after admitting his role in Lapid’s killing. Authorities pursued a separate murder case over Villamor’s death. Prosecutors later found probable cause to charge Bantag and several others with murder. The Las Piñas Regional Trial Court archived the case against Bantag in
2025 because he remained at large, with proceedings subject to revival if he is arrested or surrenders. Several defendants have been convicted in proceedings arising from Lapid’s killing. New Bilibid Prison gang leaders Aldrin Galicia, Alvin Labra and Alfie Peñaredonda were convicted as accessories to the murder. Denver Mayores, a person deprived of liberty who initially faced a murder complaint as a principal by indispensable cooperation, later pleaded guilty to the lesser offense of accessory to murder. In December 2023, the Las Piñas Regional Trial Court sentenced him to two to eight years in prison. Escorial, who admitted shooting Lapid, entered a plea agreement and was found guilty as an accomplice to murder. In May 2024, the Las Piñas court sentenced him to between eight years and eight months and 16 years in prison. Bantag has denied involvement and has not been convicted in the Lapid case. He remains wanted by Philippine authorities. Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla said in May 2026 that Interpol had issued a Red Notice for Bantag. A Red Notice is a request to law enforcement agencies worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a wanted person pending possible extradition, surrender or similar legal action. It is not an international arrest warrant. n
MANILA — Philippine authorities are investigating possible human trafficking, online fraud and government involvement following raids on suspected illegal offshore gaming operations in the southern Philippines, where the Bureau of Immigration reported apprehending 244 foreign nationals. The October 2 operations targeted facilities in Siay and Alicia, two municipalities in Zamboanga Sibugay province on the Zamboanga Peninsula in western Mindanao. Immigration officials described the raids as the country's largest crackdown this year on suspected illegal Philippine offshore gaming operators, commonly known as POGOs. The investigation has since expanded to determine whether some of those apprehended were victims of forced labor, whether the compounds were used for other illicit online activities and whether government officials facilitated their operations. On Wednesday, October 7, military personnel helped transport 50 foreign nationals from Pagadian Airport to Villamor Air Base in Pasay City for further processing. A Filipina was also reported among the passengers, bringing the group to 51. The transfer was part of efforts to identify possible trafficking victims and distinguish them from individuals suspected of organizing or managing the operations. The raids were conducted by the Bureau of Immigration (BI), working with the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and the Armed Forces of the Philippines. The targeted locations were in Barangay Kimos in Siay and Barangay Tandiong Muslim in Alicia. According to the BI's initial report, 113 foreign nationals were apprehended in Siay, including 110 Chinese nationals, two Cambodians and one person identified as being from Hong Kong. Another 131 were apprehended in Alicia, predominantly Chinese nationals, along with individuals from Malaysia,
Indonesia and Myanmar. The bureau said their identities and nationalities remained subject to verification. Other agencies have reported different preliminary totals, which have not been publicly reconciled. NBI Director Melvin Matibag said investigators were examining suspected human trafficking, physical abuse and coercion, along with online romance and investment fraud schemes allegedly conducted from the facilities. Authorities are assessing reports that some workers were recruited under misleading circumstances or compelled to participate in fraudulent online activities. Matibag said the NBI had also identified foreign nationals suspected of involvement in managing the operations. On October 6, he said four individuals were being brought to Manila for possible proceedings involving human trafficking allegations. The investigation is examining whether the compounds were used for coordinated online influence activities, commonly described as troll farms. The BI reported recovering approximately 3,000 mobile phones, 78 computer monitors, laptops and SIM cards from the Casa de Coco Pension House compound in Siay. Matibag subsequently cited a larger quantity of mobile phones and other telecommunications equipment recovered during the operations. The NBI is examining the devices to determine their use and potential connection to online fraud or other unlawful activities. Authorities have not announced a final forensic finding establishing that the compounds were used as troll farms. Investigators are also scrutinizing how the facilities were established and whether government officials played any role in permitting or supporting their operations. Matibag said the NBI intended to obtain construction permits and other local government records to determine whether any officials participated in unlawful activities or violated anti-corrup-
tion laws. No particular government official has been publicly established as criminally responsible for the operations. Separately, Philippine National Police chief Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. directed police commanders to intensify intelligence operations against suspected offshore gaming and online scam networks. He instructed the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group to conduct follow-up inquiries into the Zamboanga Sibugay operations, including possible connections to similar facilities elsewhere in the country. The raids occurred nearly two years after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the nationwide shutdown of POGOs amid longstanding concerns about organized crime, online fraud and human trafficking linked to parts of the industry. Executive Order No. 74 formalized the prohibition in November 2024. Republic Act No. 12312, or the Anti-POGO Act of 2025, subsequently established a statutory ban on offshore gaming operations and related activities. Immigration Commissioner Joel Anthony Viado said the BI would continue enforcing immigration laws against foreign nationals found to have violated the conditions of their stay. The bureau is investigating possible immigration violations, including unauthorized employment, improper documentation and illegal entry. Those found liable for deportable offenses may face removal proceedings and restrictions on future entry, subject to applicable legal requirements. Possible criminal violations involving human trafficking, financial fraud and other offenses are being investigated separately. Authorities have yet to announce final determinations on the individual roles of those apprehended, as investigators continue reviewing electronic evidence, immigration records and documents related to the establishment and operation of the compounds. n
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ICC rules former President Duterte fit for November trial in drug war killings case by AJPress THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The International Criminal Court has ruled that former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is fit to stand trial on crimes against humanity charges arising from alleged killings linked to his anti-drug campaign, removing a major procedural obstacle to proceedings scheduled to begin Nov. 30. The decision, dated Sept. 28 and made public Thursday, Oct. 8, followed a new assessment by three independent medical experts appointed by the court. The experts unanimously concluded that Duterte, 81, could understand the charges, the purpose and consequences of the proceedings and the evidence presented, and could instruct counsel in preparing his defense. The ruling addresses Duterte's ability to exercise his rights as an accused person. It does not establish that he has recovered from any medical condition or determine
whether the criminal allegations against him are true. His defense challenged the medical panel's conclusions. In a September filing, lead counsel Peter Haynes argued that Duterte had significant memory difficulties that impaired his ability to retain recent information, review extensive evidence and provide reliable instructions for his defense. Those claims were the defense's assessment, not medical findings adopted by the trial judges. Prosecutors maintained that the experts' conclusions supported a finding of fitness, while lawyers representing participating victims also urged the court to proceed. The decision follows a separate January ruling that Duterte could participate in pretrial proceedings. After his lawyers requested another examination in May, Trial Chamber III sought an updated assessment specific to the demands of a full trial. The panel included specialists in forensic psychiatry, neurology and neuro-
psychology. Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity involving alleged murder and attempted murder. On April 23, pretrial judges found substantial grounds to believe he was responsible for crimes allegedly committed between November 2011 and March 2019. That threshold allowed the case to advance to trial but did not amount to a conviction. The charges concern alleged killings in and around Davao City during Duterte's time as mayor and across the Philippines during his presidency, including operations targeting people identified as drug suspects and high-value targets. Prosecutors allege that the killings formed part of a widespread and systematic attack against civilians. Duterte denies the charges and is presumed innocent unless his guilt is established beyond reasonable doubt. In a separate April 22 ruling, the ICC Appeals Chamber
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Manila's economy remains above P1 trillion as growth slows to 1.9% Philippine capital ranks third among city economies, but 2025 expansion trails national and Metro Manila rates by AJPress MANILA — Manila's economy surpassed P1 trillion for the second consecutive year in 2025, although growth slowed markedly from the previous year and fell below the national and Metro Manila averages, according to figures released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The capital's gross domestic product (GDP) reached P1.06 trillion, compared with P1.04 trillion in 2024. Economic growth slowed to 1.9 percent from 5.4 percent a year earlier, based on the PSA's October 6 report. The figures are measured at constant 2018 prices to account for inflation. Manila remained the country's third-largest city economy, behind Quezon City, which recorded P1.40 trillion in output, and Makati, with
P1.27 trillion. Including provinces, Manila ranked fourth nationwide, behind Laguna, whose economy reached P1.14 trillion. These four economies were the only provinces or highly urbanized cities to exceed the trillion-peso threshold in 2025. Manila accounted for 4.6 percent of the Philippines' total economic output, although its 1.9 percent growth lagged the 4.4 percent national expansion and Metro Manila's approximately 4.4 percent increase. Services remained the city's principal economic sector, accounting for 77.4 percent of GDP, while industry contributed 22.6 percent, according to the Manila city government. Transportation and storage posted the fastest industry growth at 10 percent, followed by human health and social work activities at 9.4
percent and education at 6.4 percent. Performance was weaker elsewhere. Construction contracted by 4.8 percent, while electricity, steam, water and waste management declined by 1.4 percent. Wholesale and retail trade grew by 0.4 percent, and manufacturing expanded by 0.1 percent. Across Metro Manila, all 16 highly urbanized cities and the municipality of Pateros recorded economic growth in 2025. Pasig posted the region's fastest expansion at 5.8 percent, followed by Pasay at 5.5 percent. The PSA also reported that Manila's GDP per capita reached P565,047, an increase of 1.6 percent from 2024 and above the Metro Manila average. GDP per capita measures economic output relative to population and does not represent residents' average income or wages. n
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Marcos faces corruption questions at Singapore business forum President calls for cultural change alongside government reforms as investigations into alleged flood-control irregularities continue by AJPress SINGAPORE — Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. faced questions about corruption during an international business conference Thursday, October 8, as his administration sought to promote the country as an investment destination amid investigations into alleged irregularities in government-funded flood-control projects. Speaking at the 24th Forbes Global CEO Conference, Marcos said combating corruption would require changes in public attitudes as well as reforms to government institutions and procedures. The issue arose during a discussion with Forbes Media Chairman and Editor-in-Chief Steve Forbes, who asked about the investigations into questionable flood-control projects and the administration's response. Marcos acknowledged that corruption was not confined to government institutions but extended into other sectors of Philippine society. He said efforts to address the problem must confront
practices that had become socially tolerated, arguing that changes in established behavior were essential to making anti-corruption measures effective. The president also suggested that the country's colonial history had contributed to attitudes toward circumventing laws. He argued that more than three centuries of unequal treatment had encouraged Filipinos to find ways around established rules, making cultural change more difficult than administrative reform. Marcos said the challenge was substantial but necessary, maintaining that institutional changes alone would not resolve the problem. His remarks came amid continuing investigations into alleged irregularities involving flood-control contracts and public infrastructure spending. The controversy has prompted scrutiny of project implementation, government oversight and the accountability of public officials and private contractors. The allegations do not, by themselves, establish criminal or administrative liability. Any
determination of responsibility depends on the evidence and applicable legal proceedings. The president's appearance was part of his working visit to Singapore, where the October 7-8 conference brought together business executives, investors and policymakers to discuss global economic developments. Forbes had announced that approximately 450 participants were expected to attend the event, organized in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board. During the forum, Marcos also discussed regional economic cooperation, including a proposed Association of Southeast Asian Nations digital economy agreement that he said would provide a framework for cooperation in emerging industries, including artificial intelligence. On the sidelines of the conference, Marcos met with FedEx Airline and International President and Chief Executive Officer Richard W. Smith to discuss the company's Philippine operations and the country's potential as a regional logistics hub. n
Pangilinan seeks Senate probe of rice shipments as government steps up smuggling cases by AJPress MANILA — Sen. Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has asked the Senate to examine the interception of two vessels carrying roughly 20,000 metric tons of rice from Vietnam, bringing renewed attention to whether large agricultural-smuggling cases lead to prosecutions rather than ending with the detention of shipments. Pangilinan told senators Thursday, Oct. 8, that the Bureau of Customs, working with the Department of Agriculture and the Philippine Navy, intercepted the vessels in separate operations on Sept. 17 and 21. He requested a referral to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food and Agrarian Reform, which he chairs. The senator identified the ships as MV Tay Son 2, carrying an estimated 12,500 metric tons of rice, and MV
Lucky Star, with about 7,500 metric tons. According to his office, the first was intercepted after reportedly attempting to leave the Port of Davao without completing Customs procedures. The second was held at the Port of Limay after authorities reported discrepancies between its cargo and import permit. Pangilinan said Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. and Customs Commissioner Ariel Nepomuceno had confirmed the interceptions to him. The vessels’ reported documentation problems are allegations under examination, not findings that their owners, operators or importers committed crimes. He put the shipments’ combined value at approximately P700 million. But his stated reference price of $420 per metric ton would place 20,000 metric tons at $8.4 million, leaving the basis for the peso estimate unclear. An inde-
pendently verified valuation was not included in the materials released by his office. Pangilinan’s call for Senate scrutiny follows his questioning of justice officials during a Sept. 24 hearing on the Department of Justice’s proposed 2027 budget. He criticized the lack of progress in cases involving major agricultural smuggling operations and urged the DOJ and National Bureau of Investigation to demonstrate that well-financed suspects would not be shielded from prosecution. In that hearing, Pangilinan said 35 of 45 agricultural economic sabotage complaints referred to the DOJ as of May 2026 had been sent back for further case preparation. Those figures were presented by the senator and do not establish how many cases subsequently resulted in charges or convictions. Justice Secretary Fredderick Vida said prosecutors were
MVP agrees to P2.19-billion Meralco share deal with San Miguel by AJPress MANILA. Manuel V. Pangilinan has agreed to buy P2.19 billion in Manila Electric Co. (Meralco) shares from San Miguel Corp.’s power subsidiary, the second agreement in a week to transfer part of San Miguel’s investment in the electricity distributor to Pangilinan and a company he leads. Under a contract signed Oct. 6, San Miguel Global Power Holdings Corp. (SMGP) agreed to sell Pangilinan 3,767,080 Meralco common shares at P580.99 apiece. The block represents about 0.33 percent of Meralco’s outstanding common shares. Pangilinan is making the acquisition in his personal capacity, separately from Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC). His direct and indirect personal interest in Meralco is expected to reach
approximately 0.34 percent if the transaction closes. In the earlier agreement, signed Oct. 1 and disclosed to the Philippine Stock Exchange the following day, SMGP agreed to sell MPIC 21,414,758 Meralco shares for about P12.4 billion. That block represents approximately 1.9 percent of Meralco. The MPIC purchase would increase the company’s combined direct and indirect interest in Meralco to around 49.4 percent from 47.46 percent, according to transaction disclosures. The two agreements cover approximately 25.18 million shares valued at a combined P14.6 billion. The agreements specified closing conditions. The agreed price of P580.99 a share is about 16.2 percent above Meralco’s 90day volume-weighted average price of P500.09 as of Sept. 30, according to transaction information disclosed earlier this month.
The shares being sold are part of a larger holding acquired by SMGP from the government-owned Land Bank of the Philippines through stock exchange transactions in 2025. The transfer followed litigation involving a purchase arrangement dating to 2008. In an Oct. 7 statement, SMGP said it had agreed in 2008 to pay P90 per share when Meralco stock was trading at approximately P57. It said the delay in obtaining the shares meant it received no dividends for about 17 years. SMGP estimated dividends it did not receive during that period at P13 billion, or approximately P21 billion after taking account of the cost of money. The figures are the company’s estimates, not adjudicated losses. SMGP said it plans to direct proceeds from the sale to MPIC toward renewable energy investments and businesses in which it has a more direct operating role. n
ICC rules former President Duterte... upheld the court's jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed while the Philippines was a party to the Rome Statute, rejecting a defense challenge arising from the country's withdrawal from the treaty. Duterte was arrested in the Philippines in March 2025 and transferred to the ICC detention center in The Hague. He appeared in court at a Sept. 16 hearing. The trial chamber has separately
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ordered his continued detention, a decision distinct from its determination on fitness to stand trial. The parties are also disputing the volume of evidence disclosed for trial. Duterte's lawyers have sought to reduce 62,130 disclosed items to a maximum of 10,000, saying they cannot adequately review the larger volume before the opening date. In a prosecution response made public Oct. 5, prosecutors opposed
the limit, arguing that it could exclude relevant material and conflict with disclosure obligations. The ICC has authorized 539 victims who participated in the pretrial phase to continue participating at trial. Trial Chamber III, led by Judge Joanna Korner with Judges Keebong Paek and Nicolas Guillou, has a status conference scheduled for Oct. 13 to address preparations for the November proceedings. n
seeking the documentation required to advance cases. On Sept. 28, the DOJ, Customs and NBI signed an agreement to improve intelligence-sharing, evidence evaluation, case preparation, criminal investigations and prosecutions. The agreement was signed by Vida, Nepomuceno and NBI Director Melvin Matibag. Customs said it had endorsed 15 complaints involving 20 respondents for alleged violations of the Anti-Agricultural Economic Sabotage Act. It separately reported 30 agriculture-related cases involving 127 respondents filed under customs law since 2025. The numbers cover different enforcement categories and are not conviction totals. Customs also announced six criminal complaints over imported shipments declared
as chicken products that the bureau said actually contained 15,029 sacks of white onions and 2,164 boxes of carrots without the required clearances. The bureau later asked immigration authorities to issue a lookout bulletin covering 13 people connected with the complaints. A lookout request is not an arrest warrant or a determination of guilt. The controversy has renewed scrutiny of the penalties available under Republic Act No. 12022, enacted in September 2024. The law classifies specified fraudulent agricultural imports valued at P10 million or more, using its statutory Daily Price Index, as economic sabotage. Penalties vary by offense and role; certain convictions carry life imprisonment and fines tied to the value of the products.
Sen. Robinhood Padilla previously proposed capital punishment for Customs, military, police and other law enforcement personnel involved in agricultural smuggling. His Senate Bill No. 2214 was filed in May 2023 and substituted by another measure later that year; it was not enacted. The Philippines has prohibited the death penalty under Republic Act No. 9346 since 2006, and the 2024 agricultural sabotage law does not authorize executions. Pangilinan’s Oct. 8 statement did not identify charges filed specifically over the two rice vessels. His proposed Senate examination would add legislative oversight while investigators determine whether the cargo documents, permits and other evidence support criminal cases. n
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people events arts culture entertainment
Aiko Melendez, Onemig Bondoc engaged after Katrina Halili, Kris Lawrence put family priorities at center proposal at her father’s resting place of reunion by AJPress
MANILA — Actress and Quezon City Councilor Aiko Melendez has accepted a marriage proposal from actor Onemig Bondoc during a visit to the resting place of her late father, nearly three decades after their first romantic connection. The engagement was documented in a video released October 6 on Bondoc’s YouTube channel. During the visit to Himlayang Pilipino Memorial Park in Quezon City, Bondoc presented Melendez with white flowers before kneeling with a ring and asking her to marry him. Melendez initially laughed in surprise and questioned whether he was serious before accepting the proposal. Bondoc said he had consulted Melendez’s mother, sibling and two children beforehand. He chose the location because of its significance to Melendez, who visits the resting place of her
father, actor and former Quezon City councilor Jimi Melendez, around his October 31 birthday. Melendez later said she had expected an ordinary day of recording video content with Bondoc, whom she calls Uno, and had no advance knowledge of his plans. In an Instagram post on October 7, Melendez reflected on their history dating back nearly 29 years. Their earlier romantic connection in the 1990s did not lead to a lasting partnership, and both subsequently pursued separate lives before reconnecting. “29 years later… I said YES,” she wrote, emphasizing that their decision to marry was based on their present commitment to each other. The couple publicly confirmed their renewed relationship in February 2026. During a September 23 appearance on Fast Talk with Boy Abunda, they discussed how an invitation for Bondoc to appear on Melendez’s YouTube channel helped bring
by AJPress
Photo from Instagram/@aikomelendez
them back into contact. Bondoc became known to Philippine television audiences through the youth series T.G.I.S., while Melendez has maintained her entertainment career alongside her responsibilities as a councilor representing Quezon City’s fifth district. Following the engagement
announcement, the couple thanked those who had sent congratulations. Melendez also renewed an invitation for television host Boy Abunda to serve as a principal sponsor at their wedding. Abunda accepted the invitation during the October 7 broadcast of his television program. n
Alex Eala makes Paris Fashion Week debut at Chanel show on by artistic director Matthieu Blazy. The athlete wore a Chanel tweed jacket over a black top, paired with faded denim trousers, oversized sunglasses and a handbag. Speaking to Vogue Philippines, Eala described the experience as surreal. “It’s so surreal to experience the collection, to experience Chanel in Paris,” she said. “I wouldn’t have had it any other way for my first show.”
by AJPress PARIS — Filipino tennis star Alexandra “Alex” Eala attended Chanel’s Spring-Summer 2027 runway presentation at the Grand Palais on Monday, October 5, making her Paris Fashion Week debut days after winning a bronze medal at the Asian Games in Japan. Eala, 21, was accompanied by her mother, Rizza Eala, at the presentation of the French fashion house’s latest collecti-
MANILA — Actress Katrina Halili and singer Kris Lawrence say their renewed relationship developed from a friendship they rebuilt while working more closely together to raise their daughter, Katie. The couple discussed their reconciliation at a product endorsement event in Muntinlupa City on Wednesday, Oct. 7. Halili said Lawrence’s increased involvement in family responsibilities helped her become open to resuming their relationship. She said having his help in dealing with household concerns and matters involving Katie had made daily life easier. Lawrence said both had grown more mature since their earlier relationship and were making more deliberate choices. Lawrence traced the rebuilding of their friendship to January. He said they first improved their relationship as co-parents, allowing their connection to develop without immediately pursuing a romance. In April, Lawrence said on
GMA’s Fast Talk with Boy Abunda that they were not romantically involved. By June, he had begun courting Halili again. They announced their reunion on Sept. 27 in a video posted on Halili’s YouTube channel. Their daughter identified Sept. 13 as the date they had officially resumed their relationship. The actress and singer were together for about five years before separating more than a decade ago. Katie was born in 2012. At the Oct. 7 event, Halili said the couple were saving for their daughter’s future. She also said they had purchased two parcels of land together. Their professional schedules have overlapped as well. Lawrence appeared in the Oct. 8 episode of GMA’s afternoon drama Kamao as David Baltazar, a character who expresses romantic interest in Nadia, played by Halili. Asked whether they were engaged, Lawrence said no. He said he had a vision for their future but would not disclose specific plans. n
Photo from Instagram/@alex.eala
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Photo from Instagram/@imkrislawrence
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Dennis Trillo says protecting family guided response to Patrick Garcia interview
The television host says his mother’s decades in Philippine entertainment speak for themselves, while Santos accepts the government’s latest selection.
by AJPress MANILA — Actor Dennis Trillo said he felt a responsibility to defend his wife, Jennylyn Mercado, and their family after her former partner, Patrick Garcia, publicly revisited their separation. He also signaled a willingness to settle their differences through direct conversation. Trillo spoke to reporters on October 4 after the Golden Screen Awards: Dekada Awards in Pasig City, where he received two trophies recognizing his performances in Felix Manalo (2015) and Green Bones (2024). He said the decision to respond publicly was his own, not an arrangement he had made with Mercado. Defending his family, he said, was part of his responsibility as a husband and father. The renewed attention followed Garcia’s September 29 interview with entertainment host Ogie Diaz about his relationship with Mercado, which ended in 2008 while she was pregnant with their son, Alex Jazz. Garcia disputed the characterization that he had abandoned Mercado, although he acknowledged that he was not present during her pregnancy. He said he chose to discuss the past after his teenage daughter faced hostile comments online about him. Garcia also said he last saw Jazz in December 2017 and acknowledged that financial
by AJPress
Photo from Instagram/@dennistrillo
support stopped after their contact ended. He maintained that he had tried to reconnect. Those statements reflect Garcia’s account; Mercado has not publicly addressed those specific claims in the current exchange. In a statement, Aguila Entertainment said Mercado would not comment on Garcia’s interview out of respect for both families’ privacy and peace of mind. The agency also urged the public to stop directing hostile comments
at Garcia’s relatives, particularly his daughter. Star Magic, which represents Garcia’s daughter, separately called for the public to leave her out of the dispute and said it was prepared to take appropriate action over continued harassment. Trillo’s earlier social media responses drew scrutiny, including a response to actress Gelli de Belen after she urged adults to consider the children affected by the
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Alex Eala makes Paris Fashion... PAGE 11 Eala also shared photographs from the event on Instagram, thanking Chanel and commenting on the collection’s combination of historical references and contemporary design. Blazy’s Spring-Summer 2027 collection explored different periods in the life of Chanel founder Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel. According to the fashion house’s collection notes, the designs emphasized freedom of movement through lightweight fabrics, updated tailoring and new interpretations of its signature tweed suits.
Luis Manzano says Vilma Santos’ legacy goes beyond National Artist recognition
The presentation featured a suspended moon and illuminated birds above the runway. International guests included Nicole Kidman, Dua Lipa and Pedro Pascal. Although the event marked Eala’s first Paris Fashion Week appearance, she previously attended presentations by Tory Burch, Michael Kors and Calvin Klein during New York Fashion Week in September. Her visit to Paris followed the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where she earned her second women’s singles bronze medal after losing to China’s Wang Xiyu
in the October 1 semifinals. Eala also won singles bronze at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. In August, she became the first Filipina to win a maintour Women’s Tennis Association singles title, defeating American Jessica Pegula in the rain-delayed Washington final. The victory helped Eala break into the world’s top 20 for the first time. Ranked No. 18 during her Paris appearance, Eala is entered in the Wuhan Open in China, scheduled for October 12–18. She is also listed for the Hong Kong Tennis Open in November. n
MANILA — Actor and television host Luis Manzano said his mother, veteran actress and Batangas Gov. Vilma Santos-Recto, does not need the National Artist title to establish her contributions to Philippine entertainment, following her absence from the latest list of honorees. In an interview with The Philippine Star published Oct. 9, Manzano said his mother’s extensive work in film and television, as well as her years in public service, had already established her record of achievement. He said the family would welcome the distinction if Santos eventually received it, but emphasized that her sense of fulfillment did not depend on the award. Santos, he added, takes pride in her accomplishments, particularly her roles as a mother and grandmother. He also thanked her longtime supporters, known as Vilmanians, for continuing to advocate for her recognition. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. conferred the Order of National Artists on 10 Filipinos under Proclamation No. 1414, signed Sept. 1, 2026, and announced Sept. 11. The recipients, designated National Artists for 2025, include screenwriter Armando “Bing” Lao, recognized posthumously, and cultural scholar Nicanor Tiongson. The distinction is the Philippines’ highest state recognition for artistic achievement. Recipients are selected by the president upon the joint recommendation of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts and the Cultural Center of the Philip-
Photo from Facebook/@luismanzanoofficial
pines. Santos was not among those named. Santos, 72, had addressed her nonselection during a Sept. 20 screening of the restored 1984 film Sister Stella L. at the Metropolitan Theater in Manila. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be,” she said during a discussion following the screening, according to the Philippine Entertainment Portal (PEP.ph). She expressed gratitude for the opportunities and recognition she had received during her 63-year entertainment career and said the selection process should be respected. Santos congratulated the newly proclaimed National Artists and urged supporters to avoid personal attacks over the decision. She said her priorities included her fami-
ly’s well-being, the health of loved ones and maintaining her peace of mind. She also reaffirmed her commitment to serving her constituents in Batangas. Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Jose Javier Reyes separately said Santos’ omission did not lessen her importance to Philippine cinema. Reyes, whose remarks were reported by PEP.ph in September, called for mutual respect amid discussions about the award. The restored Sister Stella L., directed by Mike de Leon, was presented at Manila’s Metropolitan Theater on Sept. 20 as part of Philippine Film Industry Month. The
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Maui Taylor says Viva Hot Babes remain open to SexBomb Girls collaboration by AJPress MANILA — Maui Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes remain open to performing with the SexBomb Girls, although no joint appearance has been confirmed for the Viva group's
reunion concert later this month. Taylor said the Viva Hot Babes had previously been invited to take part in a SexBomb reunion show but could not coordinate their schedules because members had sepa-
rate commitments during the holiday season. The interest is mutual, according to Andrea del Rosario, who said in a September television interview that the Viva Hot Babes had also invit-
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SB19 performs ‘Together in Motion’ for Philippine ASEAN chairship
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Michael V. finds unexpected career highlight in ‘Family Feud’ hosting role Veteran Filipino comedian fulfills a longstanding ambition while temporarily taking over for Dingdong Dantes by AJPress
Photo from Facebook/@SB19Official
by AJPress MANILA — The Department of Tourism has released a music video of Filipino pop group SB19 performing “Together in Motion,” which it is promoting as an official song of the Philippines’ 2026 chairship of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Issued in early October, the video features Pablo, Josh, Stell, Ken and Justin, along with scenes depicting destinations and communities in Southeast Asia. Anya Lagman composed the music; Jimmy Antiporda and Louie Ocampo arranged it. Lagman identifies the piece on her professional website as an official theme song for the Philippine chairship. Tourism Secretary Dita Angara-Mathay said SB19 was
chosen partly for its contribution to Filipino culture and its ability to connect with younger audiences. She also said the group projects hope and positivity. SB19 was named a Philippine tourism ambassador in July. In August, the department introduced travel microsites for SB19 and fellow P-pop group BINI, featuring members’ dream destinations and discounted packages from accredited tourism partners. The initiative forms part of the department’s “Discover More to Love” campaign, launched in June to encourage domestic travel. The Philippines’ ASEAN chairship operates under the theme “Navigating Our Future, Together.” Its three stated priorities are Peace and Security Anchors, Prosperity Corridors and People Empow-
erment. In February, the Presidential Communications Office introduced a separate ASEAN 2026 song, “One Vision, One Ocean.” A March 31 presidential memorandum circular directed national agencies and public and private educational institutions to play that song’s music video after flag ceremonies and during relevant official events, while encouraging local governments to do the same. ASEAN’s longstanding institutional anthem is “The ASEAN Way.” The 49th ASEAN Summit and related summits are scheduled for Metro Manila from Nov. 16 to 18. The government has designated those dates special nonworking days across the National Capital Region to ease traffic congestion and accommodate security arrangements. n
Maui Taylor says Viva Hot Babes remain... PAGE 12 ed the SexBomb Girls to their concert. At a recent media conference, Taylor said an appearance by SexBomb performers was still being explored, even if only two members could participate. The published concert lineup does not include the SexBomb Girls. The Viva Hot Babes' reunion show, “Bulaklak,” is scheduled for October 23 at 8 p.m. at the New Frontier Theater in Quezon City. The announced performers are Taylor, Del Rosario, Katya Santos, Gwen Garci, Sheree Bautista, Jaycee Parker, Ella V. and Jennifer Lee. GB Sampedro is directing the production. Taylor said rehearsals had been taking place almost daily as the group prepared its routines. The Viva Hot Babes also released a new single, “Kumendeng Tayo,” on October 2, which Taylor said they intend
Photo from Facebook/@therealmauitaylor
to perform at the concert. Formed in 2003, the Viva Hot Babes became known for songs such as “Bulaklak” and “Kikay,” as well as appearances in film and television. The SexBomb Girls rose to prominence through televised dance performances and recordings. Although the groups were frequently compared, their members have described their
relationship as friendly rather than competitive. Taylor is also hosting “Pantaxa Laiya: Uncut,” a VMX special directed by Carlo Alvarez and scheduled to begin streaming October 13. It features previously unreleased material from the 2023 reality competition “Pantaxa Laiya,” in which Taylor and Santos served as mentors. n
MANILA — After years of working in television comedy, Michael V. has returned to game show hosting through an assignment he says he had long hoped to receive. The veteran Filipino comedian, popularly known as Bitoy, described his temporary stint presenting GMA Network’s Family Feud as one of his professional highlights of 2026, an opportunity that came as a welcome surprise. Michael V. said he had often wondered what it would be like to host the Philippine version of the internationally known game show. He recalled watching previous editions presented by Richard Gomez, Ogie Alcasid, Edu Manzano and Luis Manzano. The opportunity arose when regular host Dingdong Dantes took a temporary break to concentrate on filming The Master Cutter, GMA’s primetime action-drama series. Michael V. made his hosting debut on September 17, with cast members of his long-running sitcom Pepito Manalotoparticipating as contestants. The opening episode featured two teams drawn from the sitcom’s ensemble. Team Bahay included Manilyn Reynes, Jake Vargas, Arthur Solinap and Mosang, while Team Office featured Chariz Solomon, John Feir, Maureen Larrazabal and Tony Lapeña. Although Michael V. is closely associated with GMA’s comedy programs Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto, hosting is an established part of his television career. He previously appeared as a host on Eat Bulaga! and presented programs including Bitoy’s Funniest Videos and Hole in the Wall. He credited
Photo from Instagram/@michaelbitoy
those experiences with helping him adapt to the demands of Family Feud. The comedian said his preparation involves learning about contestants and developing material appropriate to their personalities. At the same time, he relies on spontaneous exchanges, an important element of a program built around contestants’ answers and reactions. He acknowledged initially being cautious about allowing jokes to run too long, given the show’s production requirements. He subsequently learned that some material could be edited for television, with additional exchanges potentially appearing on social media. Dantes welcomed Michael V.’s temporary appointment. Michael V. recalled receiving a congratulatory message from Dantes before the host-
ing arrangement had been finalized. Michael V. said he appreciated the encouragement and was pleased to take on the assignment while Dantes concentrated on his acting commitments. The comedian has also expressed interest in a possible future episode featuring his family competing against the Dantes family. The idea has not been announced as a confirmed production. Dantes has said he intends to resume his regular hosting duties, although GMA has not announced a specific return date. The temporary hosting assignment has allowed the veteran comedian to revisit a familiar aspect of his television career while continuing his regular commitments to Bubble Gang and Pepito Manaloto. n
Dennis Trillo says protecting... PAGE 12 public disagreement. Trillo subsequently said he was not angry with de Belen or anyone else, describing his remarks as an effort to protect his family from further distress. Asked whether Garcia might see Jazz again, Trillo said he saw no objection in
principle, but acknowledged that the public exchanges had complicated the situation. He said the matter could be discussed privately and expressed openness to reconciliation, adding that people deserved opportunities to change. Trillo also appealed for an end to online attacks and
asked that children not be drawn into disagreements among adults. He did not announce any new arrangement between Garcia and Jazz. On October 7, Mercado posted photographs of a family meal with Trillo and their children, captioned “Together is the best place.”
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Health @Heart Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS The ongoing controversy, which started in 1970, fifty years ago, about men and transgender people in women’s sports appears to be a dilemma not only in the United States but around the world, including the Philippines. While brilliant leaders in society and in the government seem to be at a stalemate, and the equitable solution manifests as unattainable, I personally think, using common sense, the just remedy is simple and clear. I remember the days of decades past when there were only two sexes, female and male. There was no confusion, unlike today, where a woman candidate to the US Supreme Court did not even know her gender. For heaven’s sake, that is the highest judicial house, the pinnacle of brain power, whose members are supposed to be among the brightest minds in the country and who at least knew their sexual orientation lucidly; how this confused judge was able to join the other 8 was mind-boggling to me. A segment of modern society, seemingly oblivious of history, is even favoring socialism, Marxism, and communism over democracy. While victims of those oppressive and collapsing nations are escaping to the United States to run away from despotism and tyranny and enjoy freedom in a genuine American democracy, many mentally disjointed Americans, a majority of whom are Gen Zs and Millennials, are embracing idiocy to abolish the Police, ICE, national borders, and government, as we know it. This is the height of stupidity, to say the least. Thank God, we do not see this degree of lunacy in the Philippines. Going back to gender in sports. God created men and women to be equal, perhaps mentally, but not physiologically, emotionally, or physically. There is nothing fair or just about allowing men or transgender people to play in women’s sports. The results have been clear and one-sided. And expectedly so. As I said earlier, the solution is simple; it is staring us in the face, right under our noses. And common sense is magnifying it!
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Genders in Sports Since society has added one more gender, then, to be just and fair, we must add a new category for transgender athletes, since they, too, have a right to compete, but only against their fellow transgenders, not women. Therefore, I propose that transgender athletes (even subdivided into their true birth sex) have their own category: transgenders playing against their own kind, transgenders, men against men (only), and women against women (only). No intermixing. If transgenders want to split up, so be it: transgender women, transgender men, LGBTQ plus… I honestly do not understand why all the powers-that-be and experts in various pertinent fields are having a difficult time figuring out the solution to this, what they consider a “complex” dilemma, which to me is a simple problem, with the answer glaring at us. The question is, will our legislators have enough common sense, be pragmatic enough, and have the wisdom and courage to adopt this simple solution and finally achieve fairness and justice for women in sports? We must all respect and protect all women, not only in sports but in all other challenging arenas of life. Let’s revive chivalry. Hot drinks and cancer A large new study from the UK reveals that drinking hot beverages “was associated with a threefold higher risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) than consuming warm beverages.” If the link is causal, consuming beverages “hot” instead of “very hot” could prevent an estimated 14% of new ESCC cases, or 440 cancers each year in the UK, researchers reported. “The study of nearly 1 million people is consistent with previous research from countries such as Iran and China, where ESCC is much more common, and with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classification of beverages consumed above 65 °C (149 °F) as “probably carcinogenic” to humans based on limited epidemiologic and experimental evidence.” – MS Kratom: new killer Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), which contains more
than 40 chemical compounds, alkaloids, is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia and has been used in traditional medicine for centuries. It was in the late 20th century (1980s, 1990s) that immigrants brought it to the United States and Europe. Kratom mimics opioids in larger doses and can cause severe, life-threatening adverse reactions, especially among children. Symptoms include seizures, severe agitation, tremors, hallucinations, tachycardia, spike in blood pressure, slowed breathing, and comas. This deadly “all-energy, all-natural booster,” as it is deceptively advertised, comes in bright, sweet-flavored packaging sold at gas stations, where adults and teens get them. Very dangerous to pregnant women and their babies. It might sound ridiculous, but at the national level in the United States, Kratom remains federally legal to possess and buy, and is not listed as a controlled substance. My question is: why? Killer substances with medicinal use must be completely banned in public and legally allowed only for medical use. We already have too many dangerous, deadly substances around; legislators do not have to approve more. Look at what happened to recreational marijuana. More and more clinical data and studies are showing various health hazards among users, their families, and the people around them. Drugs have been known to destroy empires, nations, and people. Let us learn from history; otherwise we shall be doomed to repeat it, and this time around, labelled “stupid” also on our tombstone. Diagnosing Dengue Recognizing and diagnosing dengue in the United States is not an easy task because it is rare and mimics other viral infections like Zika and chikungunya. Diagnostic tests help in the diagnosis. In the Philippines, even a medical intern could smell it miles away. Filipino physicians almost always clinch the diagnosis even before blood test confirmation arrives. There are now about 2,008 cases of dengue in the 40 jurisdictions of the United
Vic del Rosario maps Viva’s next chapter with new films, OPM musicals by AJPress MANILA — A lifetime achievement award gave Vic del Rosario Jr. an occasion to look back on Viva’s four decades in Philippine film. He used it just as much to discuss what comes next. The Viva Communications founder and chairman said the company intends to keep producing movies while expanding into musical theater, including projects built around the music of Ogie Alcasid and Louie Ocampo and a stage adaptation of “Working Girls.” The Film Development Council of the Philippines honored Del Rosario at the Sept. 30 closing ceremony of Philippine Film Industry Month 2026 in Quezon City. Fellow Lifetime Achievement Award recipients were actress Hilda Koronel, the late cultural scholar Tito Genova Valiente and the Manunuri ng Pelikulang Pilipino. Del Rosario said he has spent 60 years in music and nearly 45 years in film. He also said Viva has produced about 1,000 films and remains committed to filmmaking for decades, with his children helping carry the company forward. Viva Films, meanwhile, is preparing the Philippine adaptation of the Thai horror-comedy “Pee Mak,” starring Wilbert Ross and Bea Binene, for an Oct. 14 theatrical opening.
Photo from Instagram/@ vivaartistsagency
Viva’s theater expansion is already visible in “Bongga Ka, ’Day!: The Annie Batungbakal Musical,” which opened Sept. 18 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater. Built around songs by Hotdog, the production stars Atasha Muhlach, with performances listed through Oct. 24. Del Rosario said another musical is being developed around Alcasid’s music, with Alcasid and Regine Velasquez-Alcasid expected to participate. Alcasid’s official website separately lists an “Ogie Alcasid Musical” for May to June 2027. Del Rosario also disclosed plans for “Si Aida, Si Lorna at Si Fe,” using the music of composer Louie Ocampo, and
a musical version of “Working Girls.” No cast or opening dates have been publicly announced for those two projects. He said performers for Viva’s planned musicals would still have to audition rather than receive roles automatically because of existing ties to the company. He cited Muhlach’s selection for “Bongga Ka, ’Day!” as an example, saying she auditioned before being chosen. Del Rosario traced Viva’s beginnings to 1981, recalling Sharon Cuneta as the company’s first artist and the late Eddie Garcia as its first director and saying he started Viva with Mina Salvador and his sister, Tess Cruz del Rosario. n
Luis Manzano says Vilma Santos’ ... 1984 political drama follows a nun’s growing involvement in a labor struggle and remains among Santos’ notable screen performances. Manzano also reflected on growing up as the son of
Santos and actor Edu Manzano, acknowledging that their established careers provided opportunities when he entered the entertainment industry. He said maintaining a career, however, depended on continued work and the trust of audiences.
Asked about a possible return to politics after losing his bid for Batangas vice governor in 2025, Manzano said he was not currently considering another campaign. He also expressed gratitude for the support he received from voters. n
States, with Florida ranking first with a record-breaking outbreak. There is one confirmed death. While there is no specific direct treatment for dengue, the supportive management available today here and in the Philippines results in over 99.5 percent success and recovery with early diagnosis.. *** The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do
not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is an international medical lecturer/author, Health Advocate, medical missionary, newspaper columnist, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States. He is a decorated recipient
of the Indiana Sagamore of the Wabash Award in 1995, presented by then Indiana Governor, US senator, and later a presidential candidate, Evan Bayh. Other Sagamore past awardees include President Harry S. Truman, President George HW Bush, Astronaut Gus Grissom, pugilist Muhammad Ali, distinguished educators, renowned scientists, etc. (Wikipedia). Websites: FUN8888. com, Today.SPSAtoday.com, and philipSchua.com. On Amazon.com, search for “Where is My America?” Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com n
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My P.E.P. (People, Events,Places)
Rogelio Constantino Medina It was my second encounter with Philippine First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos, or FL LAM. It happened during the opening of “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi Ko,” where she was the guest of honor. Upon entering the LIKHA Tent at the Likhang Filipino Exhibition Halls, I saw Joanne Rae M. Ramirez of The Philippine Star, and we had our photo taken together. I then saw Social Undersecretary Dina Arroyo-Tantoco and greeted her. She is the daughter of my late boss, Congressman Iggy Arroyo. I remember serving as a management consultant in her father’s congressional office at the Batasang Pambansa. It was also Dina Tantoco who took my first photo with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos during the opening of Likhang Filipino in January 2026. I also saw Leah Pulido Ocampo, executive director of the Center for International Trade Expositions and Missions (CITEM), a former officemate from the time Mina T. Gabor served as CITEM’s first president and CEO. Next, I had a photo taken with Social Secretary Bianca
faith & finance kathy current A friend going through a divorce recently shared a fear that many people quietly carry: “What will happen to me financially now?” The life she had planned suddenly looked uncertain. Her question felt familiar because I have asked it too, especially as I approach retirement and wonder whether I have saved enough. We live in a culture built around accumulation and safety margins. We are told to save, invest, prepare for emergencies, and build enough wealth to protect ourselves from the unexpected. All of that is wise. Scripture itself encourages planning, diligence, and stewardship. But without realizing it, we can begin to place so much confidence in our savings and investments that we believe we are secure only when ev-
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My Second Encounter with First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos Zobel and Social Undersecretary Dina Tantoco. I also saw Vivian Recio, events director at the Office of the Social Secretary. Later, First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos saw me. To my surprise, she walked toward me, and we had a photo taken together as I handed her my Asian Journal calling card. I recalled meeting her years earlier with her husband, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., now the 17th president of the Philippines, in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur. Those encounters took place while the late Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office Chairperson Honeygirl S. De Leon was my immediate superior. “LIKHA 5: Likha Ko, Lahi Ko,” which was open to the public free of charge from October 2 to 4, 2026, celebrated traditional Filipino craftsmanship and featured more than 100 artisans, designers and makers from across the country. Implemented in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry, the LIKHA program seeks to support local creative industries and help preserve traditional handweaving and crafting techniques that are at risk of disappearing. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos has become a visible supporter of Filipino arts, culture
and heritage through a number of preservation and promotional initiatives. Her involvement has included efforts to support local artisans and promote the restoration and renewed use of historic landmarks. Among the cultural and heritage projects associated with the current administration are the restoration and revitalization of historic properties within the Malacañang complex, including the Laperal, Teus and Goldenberg mansions, as well as Bahay Pangulo. Major heritage sites have also undergone restoration and rehabilitation in recent years, including the Philippine International Convention Center and the Coconut Palace, both of which have been reopened following preservation work. The First Lady’s background as a lawyer and educator also provides context for her interest in culture and heritage. Her advocacy has drawn attention to the importance of documenting, preserving and promoting the country’s cultural resources for future generations. I also admire her interest in urban renewal and cultural tourism. Beyond individual exhibitions, she has supported initiatives aimed at bringing renewed attention to historic districts. One example is a cul-
tural and tourism illumination initiative in Manila’s Binondo Chinatown, highlighting the district’s centuries-old Chinese-Filipino heritage while promoting it as a destination for visitors. Through LIKHA and other cultural and heritage initiatives, First Lady Louise Araneta-Marcos has helped bring greater public attention to Filipino (From left) Asian Journal columnist craftsmanship, historic land- Rogelio Constantino Medina, First Lady marks and traditions that form Louise Araneta-Marcos and Yayot Garcia. part of the country’s identity.. *** 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 lII Rogelio Constantino Medina is an award-winning Filipino international journalist, columnist, and aca- National Commission for Culture and demic. He is well-regarded for his extensive the Arts Chairman Eric B. Zerrudo, Ph.D. contributions to both local Philippine media and Department of Trade and Industry's and major international news publications. Assistant Secretary Al M. Valenciano (right). He has built a career spanning several decades across various domains, including news, business, travel, lifestyle, science, sports, and health. He has written for major global outlets like 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 a credentialed member of the U.S. Department of State's Foreign Press Centers in New York City and Washington, Siyabit artisan from Maibung, Sulu. D.C. rogeliocmedina@yahoo.com n
Social Secretary Bianca Zobel with Yayot Garcia (right).
Artist/wood carver James Liwanagan of Marinduque.
Will I Have Enough? ery future need has already been accounted for. Then life changes. A marriage ends. A job disappears. A business slows down. Interest rates rise. The market crashes. An unexpected expense consumes the cushion we worked so hard to build. And when the plan no longer works, we discover whether our trust was in the cushion or in the One who helped us fill it. The Israelites experienced this lesson through manna in the wilderness. God provided food for an entire nation, but He did it one morning at a time. They could not stockpile it for the future. Each new day required them to trust that provision would appear again. Jesus echoed this same principle when He taught His disciples to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Not yearly bread. Not enough bread to guarantee that nothing difficult would ever happen. Daily bread.
This does not mean we should neglect saving, investing, or preparing for retirement. For some, this may be a wake-up call to begin. But for those who started late, saved too little, or watched their plans unravel because of circumstances they never expected, it is also an assurance: Your financial history is not a verdict on your future. When I look back over my own life, including the financial crash of 2008, the pandemic, and the painful years of rebuilding after my marriage ended, I can say this with confidence: God has always provided for me. His provision did not always arrive according to my timetable or in the form I expected. Sometimes it came through one client, one opportunity, one open door, or simply enough strength and resources for that day. But it came. And it was more than enough to help me move for-
ward, rebuild, and eventually help others do the same. If God could provide for me during seasons when I could not see the way ahead, I believe He can do the same for you. Plan wisely. Save what you can. Keep moving forward. But never mistake the size of your cushion for the size of God’s provision. Tomorrow is not here yet, but the One who will meet you there already is. *** 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. *** Kathy Current is a financial coach, mortgage advisor, and author of Heal Your Money Wounds God’s Way, where she combines over three decades of financial experience with timeless biblical wisdom. Kathy addresses real-life questions about God and money, helping readers find freedom and purpose in their financial lives. n
(From left) Rogelio Constantino Medina, Social Undersecretary Dina Tantoco and Yayot Garcia.
Some employees of the Center for International Trade, Exposition and Mission with CITEM executive director Leah Pulido Ocampo (3rd from right, standing).
Tau_t Bato Otar weavers from Punta Baja, Rizal, Palawan.
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