Sixty-four

“Never spend your money before you have earned it.”

—Thomas Jefferson

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IT’S not my age. I thought about the number when I saw the exchange rate at the remittance center inside a Queens, New York Filipino store on the morning of October 27, which showed that one U.S. dollar was equivalent to 64 Philippine pesos.

Suddenly, a melody by Paul McCartney, recorded in 1967 and featured on the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, echoed in my mind.

In their 1967 song of the same name, the Beatles, where McCartney belonged, asked whether a partner would still need and feed them "When I'm Sixty-Four."

The track explores aging, domestic life (such as renting a cottage on the Isle of Wight, gardening, and knitting), and whether love will endure into old age.

Number 64 is often viewed as a sign of transition, balance, and quiet personal rediscovery after long-term commitments or caregiving roles.

It also represents support, nurturing, and maintaining stability while encouraging us to trust our path and personal abilities.

 

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According to reports from the Bankers Association of the Philippines, the currency closed that day at P64.17 against the greenback, marking a new record low.

Analysts pointed to a strong US dollar, rising global oil prices, and broader economic pressures driving the peso to these record lows.

Persistent high US interest rates, elevated Treasury bond yields, and hawkish signals from the US Federal Reserve continue to strengthen the US dollar relative to emerging market currencies.

The Philippines relies heavily on imported fuel and commodities. Ongoing Middle East conflicts and high global crude oil prices have driven up demand for US dollars.

Another key driver of the Philippine peso’s decline is the country's ongoing external payments and trade deficits, alongside a drop in foreign exchange reserves, which put sustained structural pressure on the local currency.

Cautious or measured responses from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas regarding aggressive market intervention have sometimes triggered short-term speculative selling or panic among market participants.

 

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P50,000,000 is a substantial amount of wealth in the Philippines, equivalent to roughly US $850,000 to $900,000 depending on current exchange rates.

If the Philippine government will only give the amount to tipsters who could help arrest International Criminal Court (ICC) wanted person, Senator Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa, it’s like throwing away a fortune just to catch one suspected criminal.

If we placed the amount in a high-yield digital bank or government bonds like Retail Treasury Bonds at a conservative 5 percent annual interest, it could generate P2.5 million per year (before taxes) in passive income.

It can also fully fund the entire K-12 and international college education—including tuition, housing, and living expenses abroad—for 2 to 3 children.

For an average Filipino family spending a comfortable P100,000 a month, P50 million can sustain their lifestyle for over 41 years without adjusting for inflation.

The money can completely cover the most expensive medical procedures, long-term private nursing, and top-tier critical illness insurance policies for an entire extended family at premier hospitals like St. Luke's Medical Center.

 

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110 SUPER SNEAKY WEIGHT-LOSS SECRETS: 1. Never food-shop without gum 2. Ditch your Tupperware 3. Give your guy the first bite 4. Sip from only one type of glass 5. Dish it out 6. Eat after happy hour 7. End your workout with protein 8. Love pretzels 9. Lose the serving dishes 10. Drink after-dinner coffee. (Sources: Cornell University Food and Brand Lab; Nutrition and Metabolism Specialist Jana Klauer, M.D.)

EIGHT THINGS GUYS NOTICE ABOUT LADIES INSTANTLY: 1. How thick their hair is 2. If their smile is genuine 3. The size of their group 4. The pitch of their voice 5. Their hip-to-waist ratio 6. Their glowiness 7. What's fake about them 8. Their eyes. (Source: Daniel Amen, MD, author of The Brain and Love)

WEIRD BUT TRUE TURN-ON. Our armpits are full of sensitive nerve endings that can send feel-good shivers down our spine. But it creeps some people out. (Source: Rachael Ross, MD, PhD)

SIX WORST THINGS A LADY CAN SAY TO A GUY: 1. You're so much better than all the other jerks I've dated 2. Can you really afford that? 3. So, we are running a little late. Relax 4. He's a great guy--you should be friends with him 5. She made me promise not to tell, but...6. Don't be silly--I haven't done that in ages. (Cosmopolitan, November 2009 issue)

SOME PRESIDENTS ARE BRAVER AND SMARTER THAN OTHERS: When he was still general during the Revolutionary War, George Washington refused to receive any salary. He did, however, file expense reports that critics claimed were more than his salary would have been. Hehe wise!

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor in chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo.—Ed)

 

Gibo Teodoro’s disturbing temper

“When a man wears his pants that tight, they tend to pinch his balls, and that tends to pinch his temper.”

—Anne Bishop, Queen of the Darkness

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IN a democratic society, criticism is essential and important because it provides an objective, external perspective that drives personal growth, refines skills, and prevents blind spots.

In fact, those working in government and holding higher positions must encourage constructive criticism because it acts as an objective tool to improve accuracy, break through the danger of comfort zones, and spark creative problem-solving.

Philippine Defense Secretary Gerardo “Gilbert” Teodoro, Jr. probably forgot this ethos, judging by his emotional outburst over a social media criticism of the mid-air collision that killed four Philippine Air Force (PAF) pilots.

He reacted angrily and strongly condemned as "traitors" those who criticized the bizarre jet collision on October 23, 2026, in Lipa City, Batangas.

Teodoro’s rage was unnecessary and unpalatable, to say the least.

A critic does not become a traitor for expressing spoken or written disapproval over certain subject matters. Traitors wish for our destruction. Critics help us grow, improve, and correct our imperfections.

The critic’s views, no matter how unacceptable or undesirable, are normal and necessary in a democracy because power must be held in check, and public debate drives accountability and progress.

Passionate feedback and disagreement show that people have a stake in their communities, signaling whether policies actually serve the public good.

 

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Teodoro Jr., popularly known as “Gibo,” blasted as "sarcastic and inhuman" social media comments regarding the mid-air training accident involving two SF-260 aircrafts.

He deplored the sarcastic posts as "unacceptable" and a "slap in the face" to the sacrifices of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

The defense boss went as far as calling those who were supposedly poking fun at the tragedy as "traitors to the Republic" who "do not deserve to be called Filipinos."

The country’s 23rd national defense secretary dismissed claims of military incompetence, explaining that tactical training requires tight formation flying, and rejected attempts to link the crash to external tensions with China.

The defense chief, a lawyer, honored the fallen pilots for choosing military service over commercial careers while deferring final conclusions to the official Air Force Safety Office investigation, noting that the PAF temporarily grounded its SF-260 fleet.

Processing feedback correctly strengthens emotional self-control, deepens self-awareness, and helps separate identity from output.

It is widely believed that when delivered constructively with supporting evidence and clear criteria, criticism prevents arguments, solves problems, and deepens mutual understanding.

 

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Anxieties have taken roots six days before the November 3, 2026, U.S. midterm elections even as overwhelming predictions point to Democrats winning control of the House of Representatives.

“But what is remarkable about the Senate is that, so close to Election Day, the battleground map is still wide and unsettled, making both parties nervous,” observed Patricia Mazzei of New York Times.

“The spending reflects the ongoing Senate fight: Republicans are outspending Democrats on advertising in the seven Senate races considered tossups by the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. By comparison, Republicans have only a narrow spending edge in House races.”

Mazzei noted that several scenarios remain possible. Competitive Senate races could tighten in Republicans’ favor as they get their most loyal supporters to the polls.

Democrats, she added, could do well in red states but struggle in some bluer ones. Or the bottom could fall out for Republicans in a potential wave that Democrats are too apprehensive to consider after past disappointments.

 

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LOLLYPOP. Some of our greatest words go back to the mother country, and lollypop is one such example. Even in some parts of England today, lolly is the word used for tongue. Take a piece of candy that pops in and out of your mouth (as in the case with Americanized sucker) and you've got lollypop! (It just sounds more proper than our word, don't you think?)

WHITE AND BLACKMAIL. If there's such a thing as blackmail, is there a whitemail? Yes! Scottish farmers in the mid-16th century paid their landlords by either silver (known as whitemail) or produce (blackmail). The latter was the least preferred, so it was often abused. When greedy landlords forced cashless tenants to pay far more in goods than they would've paid in silver, blackmail took on its negative connotation.

GOD BLESS YOU: Why would we have "God bless you" after a sneeze? In much the same way that it was believed man could part body and spirit and be beside himself, the ancients believed a good sneeze could literally blast your soul right out of your body! To ensure that no bad spirits moved into the vacancy, "God bless you" was said to clear the way so soul and body could reunite.

SAVING OUR PLANET: Panel in warmth. We must choose wood paneling for our bathroom to help keep in heat and reduce air pollution. But we have to make sure we wax rather than varnish it--varnish releases fumes when it gets warm. Wooden floors are a good choice, too. (1001 little ways to save the planet).

(The author is based in New York City and used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

Miss Filipina Int’l Pageant owner among those charged in $2 billion health care fraud

“I was truly shocked to discover how bad the modern medical profession really is!”

―Steven Magee

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

THE owner of the Miss Filipina International Pageant (MFI) was among those charged by the U.S. Department of Justice in relation to the $2 billion health care fraud in California.

Geoffrey Lapuz Jimenez, 60, of Los Angeles, was one of the 15 individuals charged by the U.S. Department of Justice, according to the United States Attorney’s Office Central District of California.

He allegedly operated a fraudulent hospice scheme through Transitions Hospice Inc.

The U.S. Department of Justice said Jimenez, a Filipino-American, enrolled nonterminal Medicare beneficiaries into hospice care and submitted claims for medically unnecessary and often unprovided services, resulting in approximately $9.8 million billed to Medicare and more than $8.3 million paid out.

Transitions allegedly had a non-death discharge rate of roughly 85 percent–more than four times the national average–indicating that beneficiaries were not terminally ill.

Jimenez and his marketers allegedly recruited seniors at community centers with offers of free medical services and, in many cases, illegal kickbacks.

 

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The Fil-Am health care operator purportedly avoided the word “hospice,” instead describing “palliative services,” took photographs of beneficiaries’ identification, and completed paperwork outside their presence.

Beneficiaries consistently reported they had never been diagnosed with the terminal conditions listed on claims, had received little to no care despite dozens of visits billed, and only discovered their enrollment when contacted by Medicare or their primary care providers.

The complaint further alleged that Jimenez controlled more than a dozen additional hospice entities that collectively billed over $107 million in similar fraudulent claims, many showing non-death discharge rates above 75 percent and, in some cases, exceeding 90 percent.

Bank records indicate that Jimenez personally received more than $444,000 in direct transfers and routed hundreds of thousands more to family members, associates, and marketers.

Fraud proceeds were also allegedly used to make payments on vehicles purchased or financed in a beneficiary’s name without consent.

The FBI and HHS-OIG are investigating this matter.

Assistant United States Attorneys Kerry L. Quinn and Alexandra Michael of the Major Frauds Section are prosecuting this case.

 

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A Georgia-based entertainment magazine described Jimenez as “celebrity philanthropist and CEO” who used the MFI as a platform to amplify Filipina voices and inspire the next generation of young women to share their stories and accomplishments.

“Prior to his acquisition of the Miss Filipina International Pageant, Geoff found a way to achieve his dream of helping others by making his mark on the home health industry,” the entertainment magazine reported.

Home health care can help patients recover from illnesses and injuries in a way that conveniently allows them to maintain as much self-sufficiency as possible.

“In particular, Geoff used his home health companies to help the elderly, especially those on Native American reservations. By making home health services become more accessible, Geoff has helped countless individuals,” added the entertainment magazine.

“After achieving such immense success with home health, Geoff is now ready to lend his efforts and attention to the lifestyle industry.”

 

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According to the magazine, MFI is passionate about empowering young women and giving them invaluable help with their professional growth through exposure, networking opportunities, and support from the community.

In the 2023 MFI pageant, each candidate had a shot to win impressive cash prizes, including a $10,000 Grand Prize with additional gift certificates and bonuses. As each young woman competed for enviable prizes, she would be able to share the ways in which she embodied the ambition, dedication, and generosity of Filipino culture, according to the magazine.

The pageant reportedly aimed to inspire the next generation of Filipina women to become leaders in their respective fields and proudly share their stories and successes.

(The author is based in New York City and used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)

 

 

In disunity there is weakness—and paralysis

“How can you render the duties of justice to men when you're afraid they'll be so unaware of justice they may destroy you? Especially since their attitude toward their own race is a destructive one.”

―John Howard Griffin,

 

By Alex P. Vidal

 

IF foreigners invade the Philippines tomorrow, the Filipinos will be wiped out.

Even if it isn’t China, the invader or group of invaders will make mincemeat of the “inferior” and fractious Filipinos. We will be massacred in our own homeland.

There will be resistance, of course, but it won’t be enough to repulse the enemies.

We don’t underestimate the courage and resilience of our compatriots, but courage or valor and resiliency alone can’t win a war.

Why are we saying this?  

We need a sophisticated army and logistical support from our Big Brothers like the United States and the European allies, if possible. And the greatest weapon of all: a united Filipinos.

Unfortunately, we don’t have the “united Filipinos.” We don’t have harmony and solidarity. Therefore, we don’t have that great weapon.

When a nation is not internally united, it faces severe political, economic, and social instability.

This internal division can lead to polarized governance, stalled public services, economic decline, and in extreme cases, civil unrest, regional secession movements, or violent civil war.

 

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Even without actual invasion, we already quarrel; we are at loggerheads and cannot unite behind a common stand and principle against China.

While majority of the Filipinos rue China’s bullying of our fishermen in the South China Sea, there are traitors—prominent politicians included—who don’t only tolerate the harassment, but also side with the enemy.

Instead of rallying behind their fellow Davids, the traitors cuddle Goliath.

Our vulnerability to foreign interference will be crystal clear. Rival nations will be tempted to exploit our internal disunity through propaganda, cyberattacks, or financial backing for opposing factions.

If there is breakdown of trust and confidence, citizens lose faith in democratic institutions, the legal system, and public officials, leading to widespread civic apathy or protest.

Even without the actual invasion, we are already being bedeviled by paralysis, because in disunity there is weakness.

If we are weaklings, it’s only a matter of time before we collapse and get destroyed.

 

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American voters have consistently ranked the cost of living as the top issue this election cycle, according to latest news related to the November 3 U.S. midterm election.

Half of registered voters surveyed in a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll cited the cost of living as the most important factor in how they will vote.

In the same poll, voters highlighted healthcare, gasoline, food and housing as the top household bills lawmakers should focus on.

Republicans' top legislative achievement was a tax cut extension that slashed roughly $1 trillion in spending for Medicaid, the government health insurance program for low-income Americans, and other health programs.

Democrats last year forced a government shutdown over a failed effort to extend expiring health subsidies that benefited 24 million Americans.

Reuters reported that gas prices have spiked since the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran in February. The national average price of gas is $4.28 — $1.20 higher than it was a year ago, according to AAA. The average cost of diesel is $6.32 — a $2.70 increase from a year earlier.

(The author is based in New York City and used to be the editor-in-chief of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)