AJ columnist Rogelio Medina on the way to Narita, Japan onboard Japan Airlines.
THANKS to the nice and courteous service from Japan Airlines, I was well taken care of during my flight from Manila to Narita, Japan to San Francisco, California.
From left: Rogelio Medina ,and couple Ren and Viniel of Boston, Massachusetts
I met kind couple Viniel and Ren Diaz of Boston, Massachusetts as well as writer Hollis Cambodia and retired American military service officer Ambrosio Siaotong, both from California.
While on the plane I memorized by heart the 47 presidents of the United States from George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William Henry Harrison, John Tyler, James Knox Polk, Zachary Taylor, Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pierce, James Buchanan Jr., Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, James A. Garfield, Chester Alan Arthur, Stephen Grover Cleveland, Benjamin Harrison, Stephen Grover Cleveland, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, William Howard Taft, Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Warren G. Harding, John Calvin Coolidge Jr., Herbert Hoover, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Harry S. Truman, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John Fitzgerald Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, Gerald R. Ford, James Earl Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walter Bush, William J. Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Joseph R. Biden Jr. to Donald Trump.
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I was grateful to Justin Wilson, director of U.S. Senate Periodical Press Gallery, who assists bona fide correspondents working for a magazine, newsletter, non-daily newspaper or online publication and serves Members of Congress and Congressional staff with any periodical press related questions or issues, as well as from the Executive Committee of Periodical Correspondents (that decides which publications qualify for press credentials) and the Congressional Periodical Press Galleries (in charge of administering credentials).
I was supposed to be assigned in the West Front seat of The Capitol for U.S. President Donald Trump’s inauguration, but due to extreme weather conditions the venue was changed. The oath-takings of President Trump and U.S. Vice President JD Vance were held inside the Capital Rotunda.
Speaking of VP Vance, I was mesmerized by how caring he is toward his children. I could sense he might be the next president after Trump in the near future.
U.S. 50th and current Vice President JD Vance, who is also author of the memoir “Hillbilly Elegy,” which was adapted to a film with the same name directed by Ron Howard. Photos courtesy of Rogelio C. Medina
VP Vance’s memoir “Hillbilly Elegy” (a 2016 memoir about the Appalachian values of his family from Kentucky and the socioeconomic problems of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio where his mother’s parents moved when they were young) was adapted into the 2020 film directed by Ron Howard and starring Glenn Close and Amy Adams. It is a story of rural sociology, poverty and family drama.
James David Vance (born James Donald Bowman, August 2, 1984) is an American author, attorney and Marine Corps veteran. A member of the Republican Party, he represented Ohio in the U.S. Senate.
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Former U.S. President Joe Biden (2nd from left) recently awarded Pope Francis with the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
Former U.S. Pres. Joe Biden spoke recently with His Holiness Pope Francis and named him as a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction. For decades, Pope Francis served the voiceless and vulnerable across Argentina. As a loving pastor, he joyfully answers children’s questions about God. And as a welcoming leader, he reaches out to “different faiths and commands us all to fight for peace and protect the planet.”
This is the only time that former President Biden has awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom with Distinction.
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On January 29, 2025, it will be Chinese New Year! I randomly asked three couples (the last batch) to answer two questions: (1) What are your plans/projects this year? (2) Any insights/learnings on the past year?
Here are their honest replies:
Dr. Mark and Leane Bunag with their kids
Dr. Mark and Leane Bunag, a medical doctor and a nurse, respectively: (1) “Build our savings, have more travel, invest in properties, and have more quality time with the family.”; (2) “We prioritized our time and our health.”
Patrick and Maricar Saburit with their kids
Patrick and Maricar Saburit of Kylledmed Philippines: (1) “In 2025, our focus is on growth and meaningful connections. We’re looking forward to pursuing projects that align with our passions and exploring ways to contribute to the community. This year, we’re also excited to create more memorable experiences with our children as we travel and work on new ventures together. Balance and progress are our key priorities for the year ahead.”; (2) “2024 was a year of lessons. It taught us the importance of patience and adaptability when navigating life’s challenges. We’ve also come to value the power of being present — celebrating small victories, cherishing time with loved ones, and embracing every moment as a chance to grow and connect. These insights are shaping our perspective as we step into 2025.”
Chris and Adelle Lim
Chris and Adelle Lim, Philstagers Foundation thespians: (1) “For 2025, we will still continue to perform in PSF as actors and marketing officers. We’ll save, invest and travel. We are planning to buy a retirement property outside Manila and we will be focusing in improving our fitness and health, to be young looking this year.”; (2) “The opportunities and experiences given were eye-opening. It taught us how contentment can bring a whole new scale of happiness. It taught us how invaluable people are – our conversations, their insight, their experiences, and so much more. Looking forward to the new things I am about to encounter and the new version of ourselves who we ought to become – a healthier, braver, tougher and wiser version of ourselves!”
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Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” is now showing worldwide.
The movie Mark Wahlberg’s “Flight Risk” is now showing in cinemas worldwide, including the Philippines.
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The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of Asian Journal, its management, editorial board and staff.
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