01019 - Las Vegas Edition

LAS VEGAS

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

JANUARY 10-16, 2019

T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

Volume 30 - No. 2 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

Palace fi rm on criminalizing drug addiction DATELINE USA

by AJPRESS

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Darren Criss becomes first Fil-Am to win Golden Globe, dedicates award to Filipina mom

ACTOR Darren Criss became the first Filipino American to win a Golden Globe award on Sunday, January 6.

Criss accepted the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Limited Series for his role as Andrew Cunanan, the half-white, half Filipino serial killer, in “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story.”

This was Criss’ first Globes nomination and

u PAGE A3

Darren Criss

Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/SIPA USA/AP

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo

Inquirer.net photo

MALACAÑANG has answered the Psychological Association of the Philippines’ (PAP) objection to the administration’s drive to curb drug addiction.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo remained firm in his belief that the criminalization of drug addiction by the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is an effective strategy

to ultimately eliminate the drug problem in the country.

“Ineffective where? Why not?

We have reduced, dismantled in fact a huge chunk of the illegal drug apparatus,” Panelo said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“When you say you cannot solve the drug problem, what’s their alternative proposal? They are not saying anything,” he added.

PAP issued a statement ex-

pressing its contention with how the current administration is addressing the problems related to drug abuse. They emphasized that the programs were not useful since it causes more harm than good.

“We in the Psychological Association of the Philippines oppose the current approach of criminalizing drug use, with its attendant programs that vilify drug users, violate human rights, and disre-

u PAGE A2

Duterte urged to call for a ‘revolutionary government’

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

A POLITICIAN from Mindanao urged President Rodrigo Duterte to be true to his words and create the promised federal government as soon as possible in line with the upcoming plebiscite for the Bangsamoro Organic Law (BOL) on January 21.

Abdusakur “Sakur” Tan, a candidate vying for a seat in the upcoming gubernatorial race in Sulu, issued a statement as he expressed his insights on the BOL and the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).

“So President Duterte is just being true to his words and he means what he said. If you want a federal system, you must declare a revolutionary government now. Federal system through revolutionary government and if we have to declare it, the sooner the better,” Tan said.

Tan emphasized that establishing a federal form of government would be the best option to better manage the territories in the country including the farthest ones in the Mindanao area. He noted that “It is far better than creating a monster like the BOL.” “Only through federalism can you configure the territories that will constitute the federal states and not cluster only the laggards together like the five provinces in

US carbon emissions saw sharp rise in 2018, data shows Makati court reopens Trillanes’ u PAGE A2

AFTER years of declining carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the U.S. saw emissions take a sharp increase in 2018, according to new data published on Tuesday, January 8.

According to the Rhodium Group — an economic research firm that looks at energy and climate as one of its key research areas — the U.S. saw CO2 emissions increase by 3.4 percent in 2018, the largest annual gain in over 20 years.

The only year since 2004 that saw a larger yearly increase was in 2010 when the U.S. economy was making a come back after the Great Recession.

Last year’s rise came despite factors suggesting improvements in emission efforts.

Not only did emissions see a decline since

TOUCHING THE BLACK NAZARENE. Hundreds of thousands of Filipino devotees find ways to touch the Black Nazarene believing they will be blessed by such act as the procession reaches Quintin Paredes Street in Binondo, Manila at the 413th Grand Traslacion of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday, January 9.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Supreme Court sets oral rebellion case, upholds arrest order arguments for third extension of martial law in Mindanao

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

THE Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150 on Monday, January 7, reaffirmed its decision to reopen the rebellion case of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV as it denied the senator’s plea to reverse the ruling.

In a six-page decision dated December 18 of last year, Makati RTC Judge Elmo Alameda explained that the senator failed

u PAGE A3

u PAGE A2

by AJPRESS THE Supreme Court justices decided to hold its oral arguments on the third extension of martial law in Mindanao on January 22 and 23 in response to the petition filed last week by the group led

by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman.

Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV

Philstar.com photo

Pacquiao, Mayweather shake hands at LA Clippers Filipino Heritage Night

by AJPRESS

Manny Pacquiao greets former opponent Floyd Mayweather during a chance encounter at the LA Clippers game on Tuesday, January 8.

Photo by Andrew Bernstein/NBA Photos

LOS ANGELES — Past boxing opponents Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather had a chance encounter at the Staples Center on Tuesday night, January 8, as they sat across from each other during the LA Clippers game against the Charlotte Hornets.

Pacquiao was one of the special guests at the game celebrated as the Clippers’ annual Filipino Heritage Night, which

featured a half-time performance by Apl.de.ap of the Black Eyed Peas and Filipina singer Jessica Reynoso and appearances by other Filipino-American personalities. Pacquiao sat second row accompanied by his wife Jinkee.

After the first quarter, Pacquiao was on the court to toss T-shirts to fans in the crowd. He

u PAGE A3

Èä£xÊ-°Ê ÀÌÊ «>V iÊ,`]Ê-ÌiÊ£ ä] >ÃÊ6i}>Ã]Ê 6Ên £{n

The opposition group led by Lagman included lawmakers who challenged the necessity of extending the military rule in the region. Their petition urged the high court to bid the extension and the suspension of the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus in Mindanao as unconstitutional.

“President Duterte’s letter

u PAGE A2

A

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

january 10-16, 2019 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

From The FronT Page

Makati reopens Trillanes’ rebellion case...

PAGE A1 to prove that he applied for amnesty and admitted his guilt over the incident.

“Sen. Trillanes was not able to prove through testimonial and documentary evidence that he filed his application for amnesty nor expressly admitted his guilt in the application form for the crime he committed during the Manila Peninsula incident which

are the minimum requirements set forth under Proclamation No. 75,” Alameda said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The judge noted that the plea had been assessed “thoroughly and excessively” by the regional trial court and was found to be “not novel.” The same court also released the arrest warrant and travel ban for the senator in September 2018. Trillanes posted a

bail worth P200,000.

Trillanes’ camp declined to comment as they await the official copy of the ruling. However, his legal counsel Reynaldo Robles said that they “will consider the possibility of appealing or questioning the ruling before the higher court.”

Palace to Trillanes: Law is catching up on him Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo expressed his sentiments on the ruling noting that Trillanes is now facing the consequences of his actions. The spokesman further stated that it is the senator’s undoing.

“Senator Trillanes’ comeuppance is finally knocking at his door, and he can only blame himself for the situation he embroiled himself in for he created his own quagmire,” Panelo stated.

“He may have succeeded in evading his accountability before the law but the law is now catching up on him. It should dawn on the departing senator and to others who are prone to challenge the majesty of the law that it is no respecter of anyone regardless of the political and social status status of the violator,” he added.

The presidential legal counsel also called the senator an “ingrate and renegade military officer.” He also used the senator’s situation to warn those who plan to criticize the administration and rebel against the government.

“The Palace respects this decision of the trial court in finding sufficient grounds to deny Senator Trillanes’ motion for reconsideration. While currently at liberty after posting bail. Trillanes must still come to grips with the criminal transgressions he committed as an ingrate and renegade military officer,” he added.

“What’s happening to him should strike fear in the hearts of those who after being financed by the taxpayers’ money for their education will plot against the government that nurtured them as well as those who use their political power to shield them from accountability as they malign and sow intrigues against persons they dislike even inciting the citizenry to hate duly constituted authorities,” Panelo added.

Trillanes lost his appeal a week after leaving for Europe for a series of engagements. n

:8IG< ;@<D 8KK<EK@FE @DD@>I8K@FE C8NP<IJ C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi glijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f%

JK8E; FLK =IFD K?< G8:B% 8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ ilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip K_lij[Xp f] CXj M\^Xj <[`k`fe%

8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp%

:8CC PFLI 8::FLEK D8E8><I .') .0)$--./ 8jb XYflk fli GIFDFK@FE8C @EKIF;L:KFIP G8:B8>< GI@:@E> n_`Z_ ilej pfli X[ n\\bcp ]fi dXo`dld \ogfjli\ Xk kilcp X]]fi[XYc\ iXk\j%

Fli gi`ek \[`k`fej ile `e kXe[\d n`k_ 8AËj Gi`ek <[`k`fe Fec`e\% Fec`e\1 _kkg1&&`jjll%Zfd&Xj`XeaflieXc[`^`kXc\[`k`fe

CABINET MEETING. President Rodrigo Duterte greets Education Secretary Leonor Briones prior to the 33rd Cabinet Meeting held at the Malacañan Palace on Monday, January 7.

Malacañang photo by Rolando Mailo

Palace firm on criminalizing...

PAGE A1 gard legal and due process,” the statement read.

PAP also mentioned that treating people with drug problems as criminals would not help in resolving the issue. They urged the administration to focus instead on the rehabilitation methods instead of the punitive one.

“Criminalizing drug users has been shown in other countries to be ineffective in solving the drug addiction problem. Addiction can be successfully dealt with using both residential and non-residential or community approaches,” it added.

The said association noted the possible consequences of the government’s law enforcement methods. They said that the public’s exposure to summary executions of drug suspects would promote desensitization perceiving the lives of the innocent as collateral damage.

The palace spokesperson responded to PAP’s call for a “humane” approach as the group asked them to deal with “social issues that perpetuate addiction such as poverty and unemployment.” Panelo said that the rehabilitation of those they arrested is also taken into account.

“We are not limiting our solution to the arrest of those involved in the drug industry.

We are also having rehabilitation centers established all over, so two-pronged eh, aarestuhin mo (you can arrest), may rehabilitation at the same time,” the presidential legal counsel added.

The Palace made the remarks following the PAP’s recommendation that the government amends Republic Act No. 9165, or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002, to align it with RA 11036, or the Philippine Mental Health Law. n

Duterte urged to call for a ‘revolutionary...

PAGE A1

the ARMM,” he added as reported

by The Manila Times.

He also expressed his favor of federalism inasmuch as his opposition with the BOL and ARMM. According to the gubernatorial candidate, federalism would lump Sulu together with Basilan, Lanao del Sur, Maguindanao, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi.

“Now they say that [BOL] it is also federalism where one region will become the BOL, but it is not. It is an isolation because it will only be constituted by five provinces that are laggards, so it is only through federalism that you can mix the laggards with the affluent, otherwise, these laggards will never progress,” Tan explained.

“We should declare a revolutionary government to make things easier. So the president

can now appoint members of the commission that will draft the new Constitution and then come up with the new government and then come up with the form of government that we will have. Instead of a unitary form of government, then we can have a parliamentary-federal system of government,” he added.

The politician strongly encouraged the creation of a revolutionary government in favor of the residents in the South. He also noted that the majority of the leaders in the area are in favor of the said change.

“More than half of the mayors or 15 out of the 19 municipalities overwhelmingly [approved this] and joined me in this clamor for federalism and if need be, call for [the establishment of] a revolutionary government. The legitimate sultans of Sulu will

also join us, and I am very sure of that. As their spokesman and special envoy, I speak for the Royal Council of the Sultanate of Sulu comprising the five Sultans of Sulu,” Tan urged.

On Monday, January 7 in Sulu, some 10,000 Muslims rallied behind the proposed establishment of a federal government.

“For us, we held a series of fora where we tried to make the people participate and understand what BOL and federalism is all about.

You do not just come and make people participate without making them understand. That is the problem of people who just come to our area and tell our people this is it and this is that, without making them understand. They think that people here are stupid, and they don’t know that our people also think they are stupid,” he added. n

Supreme Court sets oral arguments for...

PAGE A1 dated 06 December 2018 to the Congress initiating a third extension failed to demonstrate the sufficient factual basis for his request, and his allegations of lawless violence and terrorism were not connected to rebellion,” Lagman said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Among the other petitioners were Akbayan Rep. Tom Villarin, Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr, Caloocan City 2nd District Rep. Edgar Erice, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Quezon City 6th District Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte, and Dinagat Islands Rep. Kaka Bag-ao.

The opposition group criticized the factual basis of the third extension noting that the safety of the general public in the said area is no longer compromised. They

stated that Mindanao is “not imperiled” anymore because rebellion “does not exist and persist.”

The lawmakers also argued that there is no need for another extension after the military forces ended the Marawi siege and defeated the Maute group and a faction of the Abu Sayyaf. The petitioners claimed that there was no actual, ongoing armed uprising against the government to justify the new extension.

Lagman and his colleagues who were dubbed as the ‘Magnificent 7’ in the House of Representatives cited President Rodrigo Duterte’s announcement in October 2017 that Marawi was already liberated.

SC spokesman and court administrator Midas Marquez then asked the petitioners to submit their comment within a non-ex-

tendible period of seven days from receipt of the notice to be able to set the oral arguments.

The high court earlier noted that “the manner of Congress’ deliberation with respect to the president’s request for the extension of martial law in Mindanao for one year is not subject to judicial review.” “(The legislation exercises) full discretionary authority except on a clear showing of such arbitrary and improvident use of the power such as would constitute a denial of due process,” the high court stated.

The opposition team voted against the third extension. According to them, the martial law declaration and suspension of the writ of habeas corpus would now reach a total of 891 days with the extension. n

In this file photo, students hold a rally near Malacañang in Manila to mark the first month of President Rodrigo Duterte’s declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

DATELINE USA

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 10-16, 2019

A3

Los Angeles releases its own earthquakewarning app, the first in the US

by RAE

The cast of “The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story” at the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, January 6. (L-R): Cody Fern, Judith Light, Edgar Ramired, Darren Criss, Prenelope Cruz. Ricky Martin, Finn Witrock and Jon Jon Briones.

Photo by Sthanlee B. Mirador/SIPA USA/AP

Darren Criss becomes first Fil-Am to win...

PAGE A1 win.

In his acceptance speech during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Criss recognized how the entertainment industry has improved in terms of representation.

“This has been a marvelous year for representation in Hollywood and I am so enormously proud to be a teeny-tiny part of that as the son of a firecracker Filipino woman,” the award-winning actor said.

He also paid tribute to his Filipina mother, Cerina Bru, who hails from Cebu.

He added, “So, Mom, I know you are watching this. You are hugely responsible for most of the good things in my life. I love you

dearly. I dedicate this to you.”

He described Ryan Murphy’s mini-series as “a grim story to make,” noting that it tells the tale of a murderer who killed five people including fashion designer Gianni Versace.

Criss acknowledged that the role gave him the chance to be the first Filipino-American to ever win a Golden Globe award. Aside from dedicating his award to his Cebuana mother and Filipino heritage, he also expressed his gratitude to his fiance Mia Swier.

“I’ve said this before, but being half Filipino is one of my favorite things about me,” Criss said backstage, as reported by Deadline. “ I feel like I have been given a superhero cape and I am glad to step up to that plate.”

The former “Glee” actor won against Golden Globe nominees Antonio Banderas in “Genius: Picasso,” Daniel Brühl in “The Alienist,” Benedict Cumberbatch in “Patrick Melrose” and Hugh Grant in “A Very English Scandal.”

Criss also won an Emmy for the said role and is nominated for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award.

“The Assassination of Gianni Versace” was the second season of FX’s true crime anthology series, “American Crime Story.”

The show also won this year’s Golden Globe for Best Limited Television Series.

Criss joined the cast — including Edgar Ramírez, Penélope Cruz, Ricky Martin and Jon Jon Briones — and director Ryan Murphy on stage to accept the award. ■

Pacquiao, Mayweather shake hands at...

PAGE A1 crossed paths with Mayweather, who was sitting courtside, and the two proceeded to shake hands.

The two boxers last faced off in May 2015 during what was billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’ — the negotiations of which were reportedly jumpstarted after the two met at a Miami Heat game in January of that year.

The Filipino boxer-turnedsenator has been in Los Angeles since December to train for his upcoming fight against Adrien Broner on January 19 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao held a media workout day on Wednesday, January 9 at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, while Broner had his at Ten Goose Boxing Gym in Van Manny Pacquiao was the special guest at the LA Clippers’ annual Filipino Heritage Night on Tuesday, January 8.

AJPress photo by Noel Ty Nuys, CA. ■

ANN VARONA AJPress

THE city of Los Angeles has become the first in the U.S. to come out with a publicly available app that alerts users of when an earthquake is expected to shake.

The app, called ShakeAlertLA, has been available for download in app stores since December 31, 2018, but its official announcement came Thursday, January 3 at Los Angeles City Hall.

“Angelenos should have every chance to protect themselves and their families when there’s a major earthquake,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, whose office partnered with the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), AT&T, and the Annenberg Foundation in developing the app.

“We created the ShakeAlertLA app because getting a few seconds’ heads-up can make a big difference if you need to pull to the side of the road, get out of an elevator, or drop, cover, and hold on,” said Garcetti.

Using a network of seismic sensors distributed through a regional network formed to de-

Screenshots of the ShakeAlertLA app show how users can prepare for an earthquake, get details on recent earthquakes, and find help after an earthquake. This app was developed in partnership with Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles, and built on the ShakeAlert system developed by the U.S. Geological Survey.

tect earthquakes, the app sends alerts to smartphones when an earthquake registered with a magnitude 5.0 or stronger is expected to be felt in the Los Angeles area.

In a county where talks of the hypothetical earthquake — often referred to as ‘the big one’ — are common, the app provides some kind of relief to Angelenos when it comes to earthquake preparedness.

“Earthquakes are a fact of life in Los Angeles, a challenge

we’ll always have to face. That’s why early earthquake warnings must also be a fact of life — on our phones and on our tablets the very moment they’re available,” said Wallis Annenberg, Chairman and President of the Annenberg Foundation, which gave a grant of $260,000 for the app’s development in 2017.

“The ShakeAlertLA app is an extraordinary breakthrough, an early warning system that’s literally at our fingertips,” she PAGE A4

US carbon emissions saw sharp rise in...

PAGE A1 2015, but the increase also came despite many of the nation’s coal plants going into retirement last year.

While the number of coal plants closing reached a record high in 2018, the data found that natural gas was still chosen over renewables in replacing the resulting electricity demand.

“As a result, power sector emissions overall rose by 1.9 percent,” said the report.

Also, a major contributor to the rise was the transportation sector which remained the nation’s largest source of emissions for three years in a row.

“The transportation sector held its title as the largest source of U.S. emissions for the third year running, as robust growth in demand for diesel and jet fuel offset a modest decline in gasoline consumption,” said the report.

This, it said, pointed to the transportation sector challenges of decarbonization beyond lightduty vehicles, or passenger cars.

While the sector did see ef-

ficiency improvements, particularly in electrification, improvements were ultimately not big enough to meet the country’s medium and long term emission goals.

But most responsible for the emissions in 2018 alone were the buildings and industry sectors — the two sectors most often ignored when it comes to clean energy and climate policymaking.

The report estimated that direct emissions from residential and commercial buildings increased in 2018 by 10 percent, the highest level since 2004.

Part of the reason, it noted, was a colder winter, or the number of heating days which saw a 15 percent increase during the first quarter of 2018 as compared to 2017.

In the industrial sector, the report said that preliminary estimates suggest the sector lead the largest gains in the year at 55 million metric tons. This was mostly due to industrial activity growth.

“While buildings have begun

to attract some creative policy thinking, the industrial sector is still almost entirely ignored. At the state and federal level, few good strategies have been implemented to begin decoupling production from emissions,” said the report.

Looking forward to 2019, it highlighted the Paris Agreement target that calls for a 26-28 percent reduction from 2005 levels by 2025.

“The U.S. will need to reduce energy-related CO2 emissions by 2.6 percent on average over the next seven years — and faster if declines in other gasses do not keep pace,” the report said, adding that the percentage is significantly faster than any seven-year average in the nation’s history, and twice the pace the U.S. achieved between 2005 and 2017 “It is certainly feasible,” it added, “but will likely require a fairly significant change in policy in the very near future and/or extremely favorable market and technological conditions.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

A

january 10-16, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com â&#x20AC;˘ (702) 792-6678

Nancy Pelosi elected House Speaker as 116th Congress becomes most diverse in history

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

AS the 116th Congress came into session, Nancy Pelosi was officially elected the new House Speaker on Thursday, January 3, defeating Republican nominee Kevin McCarthy through a total of 220 votes.

Having before served from 2007 to 2011, Pelosiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s win also marked her triumphant return as the only female House speaker in U.S. history to date, and made her the first person to take back the job after losing it in more than six decades. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We enter this new Congress with a sense of great hope and confidence for the future, and deep humility and prayerfulness in the face of the challenges ahead,â&#x20AC;? said Pelosi in her speech, which included tributes to former Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush.

Quoting former President Reaganâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last speech as president, Pelosi said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;If we ever closed the door to new Americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.â&#x20AC;?

Though President Donald Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s name was not mentioned at all in her speech, Pelosi did say the Democrats would be asking Republicans for help in ending the partial govern-

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

ment shutdown that has resulted from Trumpâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s demand for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And in that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate Republican appropriations legislation to re-open government later today â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to meet the needs of the American people, to protect our borders, and to respect our workers,â&#x20AC;? said Pelosi.

Pelosi vowed to make sure Congress would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;transparent, bipartisan, and unifying.â&#x20AC;?

In outlining the agenda for this year, Pelosi highlighted top priorities to be: tackling climate change through efforts like the creation of the Select Committee on the Climate Crisis, lowering health care costs, furthering LGBTQ rights through passing the Equality Act, tightening gun control, and protecting Dreamers. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This House will be for the people! Empowered by our mandate, we will pursue our mission,â&#x20AC;? said Pelosi.

116th Congress most diverse in history Pelosi also in her speech, highlighted the 116th Congress as being the most diverse in history, with over 100 women serving â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the largest amount it has ever been. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am particularly proud to be the woman Speaker of the House of this Congress, which marks 100 years of women winning the right to vote, as we serve with more than 100 women in the House of Representatives â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the highest number in history,â&#x20AC;? said Pelosi. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Each of us comes to this chamber strengthened by the trust of our constituents and the love of our families,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Being the most diverse, the incoming class had numerous historic firsts.

Becoming the first Muslim women to join Congress were Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) who

became the first Somali-American to be elected to Congress, and the first to don a hijab on the House floor; and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) who donned a traditional Palestinian thobe and became the first Palestinian-American woman to be elected.

Becoming the first Native American women to join Congress were Reps. Sharice Davids (D-Kan.) and Deb Haaland (D-NM) who wore a traditional Pueblo dress.

Reps. Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia became the first Latina Congresswomen from Texas, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley became the first Black congresswoman to represent Massachusetts.

Then there was Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) who at 29 years old, became the youngest woman to ever be elected to Congress.

Wearing all white in honor of the suffragette movement, Ocasio-Cortez also on Thursday, dealt with a publicized video of her dancing in college by posting another video of herself dancing outside her new office. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I hear the GOP thinks women dancing are scandalous.

Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too!,â&#x20AC;? tweeted Ocasio-Cortez, though the poster of the original video did not state it was connected to the Republican party.

After becoming the first openly bisexual member of Congress in 2013, Kyrsten Sinema â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Arizonaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first female senator â&#x20AC;&#x201D; became the first openly bisexual person in the Senate.

While the large majority of women newcomers were Democrat, Rep. Carol Miller (RW.Va.) was the only Republican woman to join in the freshmen class.

As a whole, the 116th Congress also now holds the most Black (55 members), Hispanic (39 members), and Asian-American and Pacific Islanders (20 members) in history. Among the new AAPIs is Fil-Am TJ Cox (D-Calif.). â&#x20AC;&#x153;With 3 newly elected #AAPI Members of Congress bringing us to a history high of 20 AAPI Members in the 116th Congress, we couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be more excited (or proud)!,â&#x20AC;? the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) tweeted. n

BLACK NAZARENE TRADITIONAL â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;PAHALIKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;. A devotee touches and wipes handkerchief on the foot of the Black Nazarene image during the traditional â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pahalikâ&#x20AC;? at the Quirino Grandstand, Rizal Park, Manila on Tuesday, January 8.

PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

US Navy destroyer sails near disputed islands

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

A U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyer sailed near the disputed islands in the South China Sea where China has built military installations on Monday, January 7, as trade talks between the two countries commenced.

The United States and its allies periodically send planes and warships through the area claimed by China â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an act that reminds Beijing their right under international law to pass through the waters.

U.S. Pacific Fleet spokesperson Rachel McMarr told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that the USS McCampbell sailed within 22 kilometers (12 nautical miles) of the Paracel Islands â&#x20AC;&#x153;to challenge

excessive maritime claims.â&#x20AC;?

The Paracel Islands are claimed

by China as well as Taiwan and Vietnam.

China claims nearly all of the South China Sea as its territory, while Taiwan, Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts.

McMarr added that the socalled â&#x20AC;&#x153;freedom of navigationâ&#x20AC;? operations were â&#x20AC;&#x153;not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements.â&#x20AC;?

The sail-by happened while Chinese and US officials started talks in Beijing over finding a solution to the bitter trade war that saw the two countries imposing tariffs on more than $300 billion in total two-way trade last year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;All operations â&#x20AC;Ś demonstrate that the United States will fly, sail

and operate wherever international law allows. That is true in the South China Sea as in other places around the globe,â&#x20AC;? McMarr said.

However, the latest move happened at a particularly tense time in relations between the United States and China.

U.S. President Donald Trump accused Beijing this week of seeking to interfere in congressional elections.

China, meanwhile, recently denied a request for a U.S. warship to visit Hong Kong. Beijing also postponed joint military talks this month in protest against a U.S. decision to impose sanctions on a Chinese military agency and its director for buying Russian fighter jets and a surface-to-air missile system. n

Los Angeles released its own earthquake...

PAGE A3 added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In a natural disaster, one extra second can save a life, and this app can provide that.â&#x20AC;?

The USGS has been developing the ShakeAlert Earthquake Early Warning (EEW) system for over a decade, collaborating with organizations and institutions across the entire west coast, including the California Governorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office of Emergency Services, Caltech, UC Berkeley, the California Geological Survey, and the University of Nevada in Reno.

Aside from sending out the warnings, the app also offers maps locating recent local earthquakes, an earthquake survival kit checklist, and other countyspecific information on what to do before and after a major earthquake hits.

As other countries such as Japan and Mexico have found similar earthquake warning apps to be beneficial in the event of an earthquake, seismologists and the developers behind ShakeAlertLA hope the app will eventually be adopted by the en-

tire West Coast. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The City of L.A. is an important ShakeAlert partner, undertaking the Nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first test of delivering USGS-generated ShakeAlerts to a large population using a City-developed cell phone app,â&#x20AC;? said James Reilly, USGS Director. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What we learn from this expanded pilot in LA will be applied to benefit the entire current and future ShakeAlert system.â&#x20AC;?

ShakeAlertLA is now available on Android and Apple app stores in both English and Spanish. n

60 COUNTRIES. OVER 100 CITIES WORLDWIDE. THATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INTERNATIONAL.

,1 3$571(56+,3 :,7+ 7+( '(3$570(17 2) )25(,*1 $))$,56 2) 7+( 3+,/,33,1(6 %$/,.%$<$1 0$*$=,1( ,6 12: ',675,%87(' $7 /2&$/ $1' )25(,*1 3+,/,33,1( (0%$66,(6 &2168/$7(6 2)),&(6 $1' 28732676 72 &203/(0(17 285 (;,67,1* ',675,%87,21 &+$11(/6 68&+ $6 %22.6725(6 +27(/ $1' 5(6257 52206 +263,7$/6 %$1.6 &/,1,&6 5(67$85$176 6+236 75$9(/ $*(1&,(6 (9(176 $1' 68%6&5,37,216

^chiV\gVb#Xdb$Vh^Vc_djgcVa

[VXZWdd`#Xdb$6h^Vc?djgcVaEjWa^XVi^dch

il^iiZg#Xdb$Vh^Vc_djgcVaXdb

lll#WVa^`WVnVcbV\Vo^cZ#Xdb

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARy 10-16, 2019

(702) 792-6678 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

A

Dateline PDuterte hiliPPines OKs higher excise taxes for alcohol, tobacco by ralph

villanueva ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has certified the bill increasing the excise tax of tobacco and alcohol to P60 per pack and P40 per liter respectively, MalacaĂąang said on Tuesday, January 8.

In a news briefing, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said the President approved the measure during the Cabinet meeting on Monday.

Panelo said Duterte certified Senate Bill (SB) 1599 filed by Sen. Emmanuel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mannyâ&#x20AC;? Pacquiao as urgent following the proposal of the Departments of Health and Finance. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is a key public health measure to reduce deaths and disabilities due to tobacco and alcohol consumption and, at the same time, a revenue measure RELIGIOUS FERVOR. Devotees join the procession of replicas of the Black Nazarene on Monday, January 7, part of the festivities to mark the Feast to fund the universal health care program,â&#x20AC;? he said. of the Nazarene. The celebration will be capped by the Traslacion, a grand procession expected to draw at least five million people.

Late last year, the House of ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina Representatives passed its version of the sin tax reform bill.

It imposed an additional P2.50 tax on every pack of cigarettes starting July this year.

by Catherine talavera The House called for another inPhilstar.com crease to P40 in July 2020, P42.50 MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The Philippine Identification System (PhilSys) Act is set to be tested this month and rolled out by September, the head of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are going to start what we call â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;proof of conceptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; or testing the system this January by ryan MaCasero so we hope to have a launch Philstar.com before monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end,â&#x20AC;? National Statistician Lisa Grace Bersales The PhilSys ID contain the PhilSys number (PSN)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;permanent identification number that will MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Incumbent Sen. be assigned to every citizen or resident alienâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;full name, facial image, date of birth, address Grace Poe topped the latest Pulse said.

Philstar.com photo Asia senatorial survey released on Bersales said the proof of con- and fingerprints of the bearer. cept would help the information to be those that are under the ond quarter) which we will then Wednesday, January 9. technology department in charge unconditional cash transfers of procure by May or June. These The independent senator of the PhilSys identify what needs DSWD (Department of Social Wel- are indicative schedules but the placed first with 75 percent of to be adjusted on the design that fare and Development) and other schedule for the rollout of the respondents saying they would will be procured sometime in the more marginalized groups like national ID is September 2019,â&#x20AC;? vote for her if the election were middle of the year.

IPs (indigenous people) and our Bersales said. held today. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The main procurement will be senior citizens. But we would also She added that the PSA, startPoe also got an awareness ratMay or June for the full PhilSys want to test our mobile registra- ing in 2020, would exponentially ing of 99 percent, the percentage and then September is the roll tion during this proof of concept,â&#x20AC;? increase the number of citizens to of voters who knew who Poe was out,â&#x20AC;? she added. register to about 26 million people prior to the survey.

Bersales said.

Partnering with the PhilipThe proofing, according to per year.

The latest Pulse Asia survey pine Postal Corp. for the proof of her, should have tested the IT President Duterte signed the was conducted using face-to-face concept, the PSA is targeting to processes and the process of PhilSys Act in August last year. interviews from December 14 to enroll a selected group of about registration that include getting He said the program would cut red 21, two months after the filing of five million individuals to test the a transaction number and waiting tape, reduce corruption, improve the Certificate of Candidacies last system during the first quarter of for the ID cards. the delivery of basic services and October. the year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then we will do some adjust- serve as a tool to keep the public Following in second and third â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have identified the groups ments on the system (by the sec- safe. n PAGE A7

in July 2021 and P45 in July 2022.

Thereafter, the rate will be raised by 5 percent annually.

The Senate had separate proposals increasing the tax imposed on cigarette packs as well.

Pacquiao filed SB 1599, which increases the tax to P60 per pack, while Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito filed SB 1605, which seeks to in-

National ID system to be tested this month

Grace Poe tops latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey

crease it to P90.

Under the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion Law, cigarettes packed by hand and by machine were levied a tax of P32.50 per pack in 2018, rising to P35 in 2019, P37.50 in 2021 and P40 in 2023.

Tax rates will be raised by 4percent annually thereafter. n

LEGAL NOTICE DESIGNATING ELECTIVE OFFICES FOR WHICH CANDIDATES ARE TO BE NOMINATED AND ELECTED 2019 CITY OF BOULDER CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS IN COMPLIANCE WITH AND PURSUANT TO Nevada Administrative Code 293C.060, the City Clerk for the City of Boulder &LW\ 1HYDGD KHUHE\ GHFODUHV WKH RIÂżFHV IRU ZKLFK FDQGLGDWHV DUH WR EH QRPLQDWHG IRU WKH $SULO 3ULPDU\ (OHFWLRQ DV IROORZV (OHFWLYH 2IÂżFHV Mayor &RXQFLO PHPEHU >WZR YDFDQFLHV@ 7HUP RI 2IÂżFH 0D\RU Âą \HDUV PRQWKV &RXQFLO PHPEHU \HDUV PRQWKV &DQGLGDWHV PD\ ÂżOH D 'HFODUDWLRQ RI &DQGLGDF\ EHJLQQLQJ 7XHVGD\ -DQXDU\ WKURXJK DQG LQFOXGLQJ 7KXUVGD\ -DQXDU\ DW WKH 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ &OHUN &LW\ +DOO &DOLIRUQLD $YHQXH Boulder City, Nevada 89005.

'DWHV DQG +RXUV RI )LOLQJ IRU &DQGLGDF\ 7XHVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P :HGQHVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P 7KXUVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P 0RQGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P 7XHVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P :HGQHVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P 7KXUVGD\ -DQXDU\ Âą D P WR S P $Q\ SHUVRQ VHHNLQJ PRUH LQIRUPDWLRQ UHJDUGLQJ WKH FDQGLGDWH ÂżOLQJ SURFHVV PD\ FRQWDFW WKH &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH DW Dated this 2nd day of January, 2019. /s/ Lorene Krumm_________________ LORENE KRUMM, MMC, CITY CLERK

New law may change course of HIV, AIDS in Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; lawmakers

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

patag

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Two lawmakers who lobbied for the new law on Human Immunodeficiency Virus infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome said that the measure would change the course of the rising epidemic in the country.

Sen. Risa Hontiveros and Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat Island) hailed the passage of Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018.

Hontiveros, principal author of the bill when it was in Senate, said that the signing of the law â&#x20AC;&#x153;offers

a new hope to generations.â&#x20AC;?

The senator noted that the Philippines remains the only country in Southeast Asia where cases continue to rise, even posting a 170-percent increase among those whose ages are 15 to 24.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that Duterte signed the law in December 2018.

It hurdled the the Congress before it went on a break last October 10.

Government data showed a total of 8,533 cases of HIV infections, including 1,520 AIDS cases in the first nine months of the year.

Joint United Nations Pro-

In this file photo, a red ribbon, the international symbol of AIDS awareness, is displayed during an event celebrating World AIDS Day at the Vista Mall in Taguig City.

Philstar.com photo by Krizjohn Rosales

gramme on HIV and AIDS reported that the Philippines has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific from 2010 to 2016.

With the passage of the law, young Filipinos would have access to information and adopt healthy values on the disease, Hontiveros said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The law affirms a human rights-based, humane and scientific approach in addressing HIV and AIDS. It will protect the rights of persons living with HIV, afford accessible treatment through updated health technologies, and educate more people for prevention and destigmatization,â&#x20AC;?

Hontiveros added.

More safeguards for PLHIVs Bag-ao, who also co-authored the bill at the lower house, said that the law is a victory due for people with HIV and their advocates.

Bag-ao recalled that she first filed the bill when she was representing Akbayan party-list during her first term, and that it was finally made into a law on her third term.

The lawmaker said that she learned from people living with HIV that some use â&#x20AC;&#x153;HIV/AIDSâ&#x20AC;? as one term and why it was wrong. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It may be that you were infected

by HIV, but it does not mean that you have AIDS. This is what we need to explain to people,â&#x20AC;? Bagao said.

PAGE A7

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IFB B19019 BROWN HOMES WAREHOUSE REHABILITATION AT 5335 FARNDALE AVENUE, LV, NV 89122 THIS IS AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT: DAVIS BACON & SECTION 3 DOES NOT APPLY TO THIS PROJECT

PRIMARY CONTACT PERSON(S): Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named here, including SNRHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residents and Board of Commissioners will result in your Bid being rejected.

Linda P. Simpson, Contracts Administrator Procurement & Contracts Ph: (702) 477-3144; TDD (702) 387-1898 procurement@snvrha.org or if not available

HOW TO OBTAIN AND RESPOND TO THE SOLICITATION:

DOWNLOAD THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENT: Housing Agency Marketplace: ha.economicengine.com.

You must first register your company on this website; Registration Assistance: call 1-866-526-0160, M-F (9AM EST- 4PM PST; or SNRHA Website: www.snvrha.org, click on Procurement and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Current Bid Invitationsâ&#x20AC;? and proceed to the appropriate solicitation number. Downloading Assistance: call (702) 477-3160, M-F, 8AM-4PM (PST)

PRE-BID CONFERENCE AND SITE VISIT:

Thursday, January 10, 2019, 9:00 AM 5335 Farndale Avenue, LV, NV, 89122

QUESTION & ANSWER PERIOD:

Thursday, January 10, 2019 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Monday, January 21, 2019, 10:00 AM All questions and answers shall be submitted in writing to the SNRHA at ha.economicengine.com in order that all questions are responded to simultaneously. No questions will be answered after the Q & A deadline date and time.

No Exceptions.

BID SUBMITTALS RETURN & DEADLINE:

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Attn: Linda P. Simpson Procurement & Contracts 340 North 11TH Street, Suite 180 Las Vegas, NV 89101

Erring Cabinet men to be held accountable â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Palace by ritChel

Mendiola AJPress

MALACAĂąANG on Monday, January 7, assured the public that erring officials will be held accountable for their actions.

This is after the Presidential AntiCorruption Commission (PACC) announced that it is investigating three officials accused of irregularities.

The three officials namely Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III, former Customs commissioner and now Technical Education and Skills Development Authority chief Isidro LapeĂąa and National Commission on Indigenous People chairman Leonor Oralde-Quintayo were the ones identified by PACC Commissioner Manuelito Luna.

According to Presidential

Spokesman Salvador Panelo, there would be no sacred cows in the Duterte administration. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You violate the law, regardless of your status â&#x20AC;&#x201D; whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a friend, an ally, a political adversary, a relative, a friend or a fraternity brother â&#x20AC;&#x201D; it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t matter. You are accountable,â&#x20AC;? said Panelo to reporters. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will wait for the findings.

If thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s evidence, the president will act on it,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Bello, for his part, said he is not aware of any complaint or pending investigation being conducted against him by the PACC. However, he said he is prepared to address the issue once the PACC required him to answer the allegations of corruption being thrown at him. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wala pa namang (Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s still

no) complaint against me and they have not asked me to reply to any complaint,â&#x20AC;? Bello said, in reference to PACC. President Rodrigo Duterte, who won on a platform of curbing corruption and crime, promised he would not tolerate even a whiff of corruption in his administration.

Case in point, Duterte has already fired several officials, including members of the cabinet accused of involvement in questionable deals and unnecessary trips, as proof he is serious about his anti-corruption drive.

While critics claimed Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s crackdown is selective, saying the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s close allies were spared and some dismissed officials were reappointed to new posts, Panelo defended him by PAGE A7

Wanda Beckett, Contracts Administrator procurement@snvrha.org Ph: (702) 477-3145

IFB B19019 Brown Homes Warehouse Rehabilitation Services at 5335 Farndale Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89122 2 Sealed, Hard Copy Bids Due: Fri., February 1, 2019, 8:00 AM (PST) at the above-stated address Public Bid Opening: Fri, February 1, 2019, 8:15 AM (PST) at the above-stated address EMERGING SMALL BUSINESSES (ESB), WOMEN AND/OR MINORITY-OWNED BUSINESSES ARE ENCOURAGED TO PARTICIPATE. ESB PROGRAM ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: NATHAN JACKSON, (702) 486-4674 NJACKSON@ DIVERSIFYNEVADA.COM

A6

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

JANUARY 10-16, 2019 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Eliminating political rivals

FEATURES

THE mayor of Daraga, Albay is professing innocence and describing himself as a “convenient scapegoat.” The Philippine National Police, however, says it has solid evidence to pin down Carlwyn Baldo for the murder of Ako Bicol party-list Rep. Rodel Batocabe and his police bodyguard Orlando Diaz on December 22.

The accused gunman together with the driver of the getaway motorcycle have surrendered, pointed to Baldo as the brains, and apologized to the victim’s family. Batocabe was on his last term as congressman and had filed his candidacy for Daraga mayor, challenging Baldo and the vice mayor in the May elections.

This makes the murder a case of election-related violence, and it won’t be the last in this election season. Because the victim was a congressman, there was strong pressure, including from President Duterte, to catch Batocabe’s killers and solve the case. A P50-million bounty for information leading to the killers must have also helped.

As of the 2015 census, Daraga had a population of only 126,595, with 66,648 registered voters in the 2016 elections. The first-class municipality has 54 barangays. Why do politicians commit murder for a three-year term with modest pay in such a small town?

Such killings are not unique in this country. Candidates have been murdered by their rivals in remote areas with fewer than 5,000 voters.

The attacks are carried out, usually by hired guns, because the masterminds believe they can get away with it.

The country’s worst case of election violence – the massacre of 58 people in Maguindanao – took place in 2009, but justice has yet to be rendered.

Several members of the Ampatuan clan are on trial for carrying out the massacre because Esmael Mangudadatu had dared challenge an Ampatuan for the post of governor of Maguindanao.

If it takes a decade for the courts to resolve such a heinous crime, it can only embolden politicians to keep resorting to murder as an ideal tool for eliminating rivals. Authorities know which are the socalled hotspots for election violence in this year’s polls. The attack on Batocabe should lead to intensified efforts to curb the violence. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PUT YOURSELF for a moment in the shoes of some 800,000 federal workers who have been working without pay or have been furloughed for almost three weeks now because of the partial government shutdown, and are worried about rent or mortgage obligations to pay, sending their kids to school, putting food on the table for their family to eat.

Or maybe you are among those who have been waiting for your tax refund to pay for a personal or family obligation, or perhaps you depend on government services for your business or livelihood or are using the airports for your job or your business. TSA has revealed how Trump’s shutdown has already been causing security issues in our airports because of the crisis in manpower.

We are all in this together.

The United States of America — we the people, the taxpayers — has now been made hostage by President Donald Trump’s obsession with the border wall that he couldn’t care less about how this government shutdown has been hurting us all because to him, it is

Philstar.com photo

The US national emergency isn’t the border crisis — it’s Trump and his chaotic governance based on lies, vanity & ignorance

either the $5-billion dollar funding for the wall, or nothing at all.

The Constitution mandates that Congress — the House of Representatives, to be more precise — is invested with “the power of the purse” — the ability to tax and spend public money for the national government.

In funding the government, both the Republicans and the Democrats of Congress have appropriated $1.6 billion for border security, but Trump wanted $5-billion to build his ‘beautiful’ wall, which he promised during the campaign that Mexico would be paying for.

As polls after polls reveal how increasingly unpopular this wall is for a majority of American taxpayers, and how Trump and the Republicans are now being blamed for the government shutdown, Trump uses and abuses the sacred Oval Office to make his case with the American people on the need for this wall during a televised address on Tuesday, January 8.

Reading from a teleprompter for eight minutes, Trump opened his remarks by framing the problem at the border as a “humanitarian issue” whereby families are separated at the border, children are used as pawns and smuggled in,

women are raped by criminals, and gang members, drug dealers, rapists are coming in illegally through the southern border.

He stopped short of calling for a national emergency after reportedly being told by his advisers this just won’t work.

Trump instead called for $5.7 billion for modern high tech solution which he said “includes” a “steel barrier,” falsely claiming it was as the Democrats requested, when in fact they did not and would not give Trump money for the wall more than the $1.6 billion the Republicans and Democrats have already appropriated in the spending bill to improve border security.

It is ironic that Trump would call this a humanitarian crisis and blamed it on Democrats when he and his policies have been causing the family separation at the border, ignoring the existing laws on asylum.

In demanding for the funding for the wall , he again demonized immigrants, especially those coming from the border without basis in facts.

Days leading up to Tuesday, Trump and his surrogates in the administration had been claiming that the wall is important to stop the

4,000+ people with ties to Islamic terrorism who come in illegally through the U.S.-Mexico border.

He has been claiming that these people are there to bring in drugs, infest the country with crimes like murder, rape, etc. — the same argument that stoked fear among voters that helped him win the Republican nomination, and eventually the presidency.

These claims have been negated by actual government studies and statistics, fact-checked and reported by news media, including Trump and the conservative’s favorite cable news channel, Fox News. Yet, the president and his cohorts continue to knowingly use these dirty tactics to deceive the American people and justify taxpayer funding for his wall.

Facts state that these 4,000+ people mostly come through the airports, and not from the southern border. They come in the U.S. legally and overstay. Only 12 out of the 4,000+ came from the southern border. Some become homegrown terrorists. This does not even include the terrorism perpetrated by white supremacist American citizens.

The infestation of drugs come through the legal ports of entry as

well, and also through the underground tunnels in the border, not above ground.

Crimes, rape, and other transgressions likewise do not come from people coming through the southern border. Statistics show that violent crimes in the country are committed mostly by U.S.-born citizens, and NOT by immigrants — documented or undocumented.

Trump claimed the number of people coming in illegally through the borders has been escalating and out of control, when in fact there are fewer people coming in now compared to the 2000s.

He also claimed that immigrants have been stealing American jobs when labor statistics show that we are in need of more workers, especially to do the jobs most Americans would not do — farming, caregiving, housekeeping, etc. — jobs Trump himself give to undocumented immigrants in his own homes and companies.

This unfortunate chapter in our nation’s history is proof why indeed we have a national crisis and security threat, both domestically and internationally. But the threat is coming from no less than Donald J. Trump and his accomplices, includ-

ing people who blindly follow and believe their reality show president who would do anything and everything without regard for the truth, the facts, and the collective good of the American people.

Democratic leadership in their rebuttal to Trump’s address called for the president to end the government shutdown and not use this as a pawn. They urged him to continue their negotiations on how to improve border security but this should not jeopardize the life and livelihood of the federal workers, as well as the safety, security and economy of the nation.

Has he been using this fabricated emergency crisis at the border because of the new findings of the Mueller probe about the alleged collusion between Team Trump and Russia to help Trump win the 2016 U.S. presidential election?

We, the people, should stand up to this president. This nightmare has to END. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective. com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos

President Duterte vs God Almighty: Who’s winning? Celebrating APIA representation Commentary

RICARDO SALUDO HEROD said, “Go and search diligently for the child. When you have found him, bring me word, that I too may go and do him homage.” After their audience with the king they [the wise men] set out. … They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country another way.

— The Gospel of Saint Matthew, 2:8-12 For Catholics true to their faith, there is only one constant answer to the headline question, despite heaven’s seeming silence amid repeated presidential affronts against Church prelates, priests and practices, not to mention the Almighty.

For the devout, God always wins, whoever may have the audacity to challenge Him. Indeed, even when all seemed irretrievably lost on Good Friday, when His Son was

a battered, bludgeoned, bloody mess, abandoned by followers and buried lifeless, the Lord triumphed over erstwhile unbeatable Death, thus opening the door to life everlasting for all humanity. Even for Rodrigo Roa Duterte, if he would have faith.

Still, many a believer may be forgiven for thinking that the popecussing, God-blaspheming former Davao mayor has cowed the Lord above. No divine lightning bolt has struck, no world-shaking calamity has swept the land, and even public approval ratings still seem blessed from above.

Is God letting Duterte off the hook?

Seasoned Scripture readers won’t raise eyebrows over heaven’s silence. God bides and moves in His time.Take this Sunday’s Epiphany mass Gospel story, quoted above. Yahweh did not slay King Herod, even when plotted to murder God’s own Son, the Messiah and King He promised many centuries before to Abraham, Moses and David, and of whom prophets and angels spoke.

Angels did warn the Magi or wise men not to return to Herod, and told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus, and escape from the despot’s plot. But God still allowed the king to massacre countless baby boys in Bethlehem.

But heaven seemed to have eventually exacted justice. In his dying days in 4 BC, about two years

after Jesus’ birth, Herod suffered an excruciating disease, said to be a kidney ailment. The pain drove the tyrant to attempt suicide, according to the Jewish historian Josephus. And only God knows what was in store for Herod’s soul.

Did heaven punish Aquino?

A good number may doubt or dismiss Bible stories and even ancient history as dubious tales unworthy of serious attention today.

These modern minds may wish to consider events from our time, indeed, right before Duterte’s presidency.

Then President Benigno Aquino 3rd did his own bishop-bashing and even seemed to go so far as undermining the voice of God Himself. Early in his rule, his appointed head of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office accused eight prelates of receiving luxury sports utility vehicles from PCSO during the Arroyo administration.

This was utterly false, but Aquino let his sweepstakes maven Margaret Juico publicly malign what she labeled the “Pajero bishops.” Thankfully, Senators Juan Ponce Enrile and the late Miriam Defensor-Santiago came to the prelates’ defense, and it emerged that PCSO funds were used to buy mostly used vans and pickups for Church charity projects — all perfectly lawful for entities aiding the poor.

But the bigger affront to heaven came during the Reproductive

Health bill deliberations in Congress. Aquino called on legislators to vote according to their conscience — which is the voice of God in their souls. But when voting was conducted in December 2012, solons were told to approve the contraceptive measure or lose their pork barrel.

Hence, mammon was used to induce lawmakers to disobey God’s inner promptings.

What happened next would seem to be divine retribution for those looking with the eyes of faith.

In July 2013, the pork barrel controversy erupted, sparking the largest protests under Aquino at the time. That was just half a year after the RH bill became law, and the month after the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) consecrated the nation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The following month, then Senators Jinggoy Estrada and the late Joker Arroyo exposed another pork barrel scheme, the Disbursement Acceleration Program, which illegally diverted budgetary allocations to expenditures not in the budget, many of them pet projects of senators who voted to oust the late Chief Justice Renato Corona in mid-2012.

After the DAP brouhaha in August came three big calamities in succession: the September Zamboanga siege by the Moro NationPAGE A7

in Clark County Commentary EVAN LOUIE, ONE APIA NEVADA

I AM grateful to Commissioner Justin Jones and all the Clark County Commissioners Paul Nimsuwan for their work ensuring diversity and inclusion of all Nevadans.

Commissioner Jones’ district has the largest growing Asian Pacific Islander American (APIA) population in the state, and the appointments of Paul Nimsuwan, Kathy Godges, and Duy Nguyen reflect that great diversity.

This cycle, the APIA community, and Nevada as a whole, made great strides in representation.

Rochelle Nguyen, the first Vietnamese-American Legislator in Nevada’s history, was appointed Rochelle Nguyen mere weeks ago. Paul Nimsuwan, newly appointed to the Enterprise Town Advisory Board, is the only APIA on the board. This leadership and new representation are paralleled by Kathy Godges, newly appointed to the Spring Valley Town Advisory Board. And, One APIA Nevada Executive Director Duy Nguyen was appointed to serve a four-year term as the first APIA to serve on the Clark County Planning Commission.

PAGE A7 Duy Nguyen

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2/F D&E Fort Palm Springs Cond.

30th St., Cor. 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • 856-0397 • Fax: (632) 856-1661

Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253

New York office: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (213) 481-0854

Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

New Jersey office: 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer ROBERT MACABAGDAL Vice President & General Manager Las Vegas Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor German P. Palabyab Advertising and Business Development Director

Asian Journal Publitions, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publition by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applible law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publition of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, uses of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publition of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being ncellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republition of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publitions, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern lifornia, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 10-16, 2019

A

Celebrating APIA representation in...

PAGE A6 Our place at the table can only grow with more representation and higher civic engagement.

I am confident that these individuals will provide a voice for nevada’s burgeoning aPIa community and only expand our

influence. *** Evan Louie is the chair of One APIA Nevada, a grassroots, nonprofit organization that advocates for policies empowering everyday Asian Pacific Islander Americans (APIA) in Nevada. Its mission is to coordinate APIA electoral work of local and national

organizations in-state, engage in direct voter contact, and recruit and endorse candidates who engage and uplift the voices of the APIA community. The organization focus on immigration, education, healthcare and workforce policies that uphold the dignity and self-determination of working Asian Pacific Islander communities.

President Duterte vs God Almighty: Who’s...

DND-AFP NEW YEAR’S CALL. Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (middle) welcomes a foreign military official during the Joint DND-AFP New Year’s Call 2019, held at AFP Commissioned Officers’ Club, Camp Emilio Aguinaldo, Quezon City on Tuesday, January 8.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Palace calls for 2019 budget approval ASAP

by AJPress Malacañang on Monday, January 7, urged the lawmakers to expedite the approval process of the the 2019 budget noting that any further delay in the passing is not a feat acceptable to the Filipino public.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that the “unreasonable delays” of the legislation in the approval of the general appropriations Bill would hinder the implementation of government projects and programs.

“We urgently call on congress and graciously urge it to approve the general budget in the soonest possible time, otherwise delay in its approval will affect the release of the funds for the salary hike of soldiers, policemen, teachers and civilian employees,” Panelo said.

“Further unreasonable delay on the part of congress to approve the general appropriation Bill that will throw a monkey wrench on the program of the administration will be unaccept-

with even the cJ Maria lourdes Sereno and other aquino appointees voting PDaF down. Six months later in July 2014, DaP was also voided unanimously, prompting a nationally televised presidential outburst. apparently, that didn’t teach aquino a lesson. another half-year later in mid-January 2015, right in the face of visiting Pope Francis, aquino falsely claimed that bishops were silent during his predecessor gloria arroyo’s rule, while criticizing his regime. In fact, the cBcP used stronger language in her time, even lamenting: “We

look at our landscape and see darkness everywhere.”

Just over a week after aquino’s untruth about the church hierarchy, the January 25 Mamasapano Massacre of 44 police commandos happened in a botched mission presided over by aquino and his suspended Philippine national Police chief alan Purisima. That plunged presidential ratings to their lowest ever, leading to the loss of his chosen successor Mar Roxas in the 2016 elections.

Will something similar happen to Duterte? Only heaven knows.

(ManilaTimes.net)

not to mention the adverse effect on the efficient delivery of social services. The maintenance and operating expenses would be impaired as they will not be fully PAGE A5 covered,” Panelo explained. place are incumbent Sens. cynthia Villar (66.6 percent) Panelo emphasized that the of the nacionalista Party and Edgardo “Sonny” angara executive branch have nothing (58.5 percent) of the laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino. to do with the delay noting that While Poe and Villar held the same position as last the office of President Rodrigo September’s survey, angara knocked Pia cayetano off Duterte submitted the budget of the top three. proposal way ahead of time so cayetano, a former senator and congresswoman, slid that the lawmakers could assess down to fourth place with 55.4 percent. it better.

Former Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II, “(The executive branch) has running under the liberal Party, was knocked off the submitted the proposed general top 12 by Revilla, who was released after four years in budget on the very day that the detention last December 7, when he was acquitted on president delivered his State of plunder charges. nation of address, twenty nine all of the top 12 are either incumbents or have served (29) days earlier than the maxiin the Senate before except for former Philippine national mum period required by the Police chief Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa and Ilocos norte constitution, precisely to give gov. Imee Marcos. congress the ample time to reThe campaign period for senatorial candidates and view it and make amendments party-list groups will be from February 12 to May 11. thereto,” the spokesperson said. candidates for the House of Representatives and “congress must not shirk from other local positions could campaign from March 29 to its constitutional duty to approve Grace Poe tops the latest Pulse Asia survey again.

Philstar.com photo by Efigenio Toledo IV May 11. n the general appropriation Bill.

The swift passage of the general appropriations Bill will merit approbation and accolade to all the members of congress by a PAGE A5 grateful nation,” he added. n like that,” Panelo said. threatened to file charges before saying the president only fires Malacañang said the Pacc in- the Pacc and claimed she peran official once there is evidence vestigation against Bello, lapeña sonally gave Bello an iPhone and showing he committed wrongdo- and Quintayo is allowed to con- P100,000 cash as christmas gifts ing. tinue. in 2016. for livelihood, micro-finance, self- designed for PlHIVs,” Bag-ao “If you say whiff of corrupBello and two other labor ofShe also said she tried to give help and cooperative programs explained. tion, there should be substantial ficials were accused in July last him an expensive bottle of perShe added that with the passage grounds. The president will or- year by a local job recruiter of fume as well as P100,000 cash due to their HIV status. government agencies are man- of HIV Policy law, advocates and der an investigation. If you are graft and corruption. as a belated birthday gift in June dated to develop polices and the government could now work accused of something, it doesn’t amanda araneta, president 2017. guidelines “to ensure economic together in ensuring the rights mean you will be dismissed im- and general manager of MMMl Bello, however, denied the acempowerment and independence and better protection PlHIVs. n mediately. The president is not Recruitment Services Inc., cusations. n able to the sovereign people that place them in office,” he added as reported by Rappler.

The palace spokesman urged the legislators to veer away from partisan politics and focus on their duties so that they could further provide the service that they promised the Filipino people should they be elected.

“It behooves members of congress to steer off partisan considerations and sweep away the indifference to the plight of the citizenry and collectively focus their attention to pass the general appropriation Bill into law for the service of the people that they have sworn to protect,” Panelo stated.

In an article from The Philippine Daily Inquirer, the presidential legal counsel also enumerated the domino effect that the delay would entail. He explained that the government services will be compromised if the 2019 national budget would not be approved as soon as possible.

“It will also delay the commencement as well as the continuation of infrastructure projects,

New law may change course of HIV...

PAGE A5 “In the new law, human rights is valued as a core guiding principle,” she also said.

The new law also has guarantees that people living with HIV would not be deprived of opportunities

PAGE A6 al liberation Front, disgruntled over aquino’s favor toward rival Muslim rebels; the October Bohol earthquake, leveling many centuries-old churches; and the november Supertyphoon Yolanda. all these crises showed aquino’s governance failings, including his callous retort to a Tacloban resident decrying armed looters during the storm: “You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

December saw the Supreme court unanimously declare the pork-barrel Priority Development assistance Fund unconstitutional,

Grace Poe tops latest Pulse Asia senatorial...

Erring Cabinet men to be held...

A

January 10-16, 2019 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 10-16, 2019

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

5 Fil-Am books to add to your reading list by

MoMar G. Visaya, Malou bledsoe and Christina M. oriel / AJPress

IF one of your New Year’s resolutions is to read more, the Asian Journal recommends books by several Fil-Am authors to add to your own list.

In the past year, books on our radar have included Jose Antonio Vargas’ memoir “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen,” fiction novel “Aliasing”

by Mara Coson, graphic novel “Blame This on The Boogie” by Rina Ayuyang, and poetry collection “ESL or You Weren’t Here”

by Aldrin Valdez.

There are a handful of books we’re excited about this year, such

Gina Apostol — winner of a PEN/Open Book Award and a Philippine National Book Award — released her fourth novel “Insurrecto.”

Sarah Gambito, author of the forthcoming book “Loves You.”

as “Lalani of the Distant Sea” (May 2019), an epic fantasy inspired by Filipino folklore by 2018 Newbery Medal Winner Erin Entrada Kelly and “Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self Delusion” (August 2019), a book of essays on contemporary digital culture by New Yorker staff writer Jia Tolentino.

Email us at editor@asianjournalinc.com to share your reading

list and other books by Filipino and Fil-Am authors from 2018 as well as those to watch in 2019.

“Loves You” by Sarah Gambito “Loves You” — which will be released on January 22 by Persea Books — is a collection of recipes in poetic form and a mode of resistance. Author Sarah Gambito PAGE B2

B

EntErtainmEnt

B January 10-16, 2019 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Alex Diaz shares his side of Tony Labrusca’s Fil-Am actor Tony Labrusca may be deported ‘outburst’ at immigration officers

by AJPress

by Katrina

Hallare Inquirer.net

ALEX Diaz shared his side of what happened when Tony Labrusca allegedly had an outburst at an immigration officer at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 1.

Labrusca was recently in hot water after he reportedly shouted at the officer for giving him only 30 days in the country. This led the Bureau of Immigration to warn foreign nationals that they may be blacklisted in the Philippines if they show disrespect to its personnel.

The Kapamilya actor, who was with Labrusca when they arrived from Canada, said he was a witness at the immigration and “saw the whole thing go down.”

This he said in a series of Twitter posts Friday, January 4. “@tonythesharky (Labrusca) wasn’t the only one at fault but he was made to look like the bad guy when both sides had faults,” Diaz added.

He pointed out that nobody mentioned that Labrusca was going to have a private conversation with the immigration

Alex Diaz Photo from Instagram/@alexandermcdizz

supervisor. Diaz also revealed that three other officers went to him trying to “fish information” on what was happening, with the superior repeatedly telling them to leave the office.

“I don’t think that’s their job,” Diaz said about the three officers.

Diaz also shared that when

he first left the country, he had an encounter with a “not-so friendly” officer who saw his Canadian passport. “Oh anong gusto mong gawin ko dito (Oh, what do you want me to do with this)?” the officer reportedly told Diaz, with the actor noting he said it in a sarcastic tone.

“Immigration [isn’t] [sunny] and [pleasant] by any stretch of the imagination,” he expressed.

Everyone is human and capable of mistakes even Tony who got heated and these IO’s who claimed not to know who he was at all but proceeded to blast him on social media right off the bat,” Diaz said his last words on the matter. “Sana (I hope) we hunt for both sides always before passing judgement, slandering or defaming people.”

Labrusca on Friday night issued an apology for his behavior, adding he was unaware of the Immigration policy on Balikbayan Privilege—which qualifies for one year and is “exclusively given to former Filipinos naturalized abroad and their spouse and children who are traveling with them.”

Fil-Am actor Kit Thompson ups his acting game

by Marinel

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

WHILE he said he wasn’t looking forward to flaunting his body on the big screen, actor Kit Thompson claimed he would do so if work required it.

Kit became controversial because of his role in the 2014 Cinemalaya entry “#Y,” where his character Ping ronquillo had a steamy shower scene. In one media gathering, Kit was asked whether he would be okay to doing frontal nudity, something similar to what American actor Michael Fassbender did in “Shame.”

Kit replied: “I’m open to anything. If I like the script, I will do it. Thankfully, there hasn’t been any similar requirement in the projects that I’ve done so far…

When I do work, it’s not about me, but the character.”

Kit was part of the 4th season of the reality series “Pinoy Big Brother: Teen Edition.” After his stint in the ABS-CBN program, he bagged other projects like “Kahit Puso’y Masug atan,”

“Must Be Love,” “Galema” and “Forevermore.”

Kit then went to New York City and then to Los Angeles in California to study acting. “It was more of a personal thing. I love what I’m doing so I really want to be the best that I can be,” he declared.

Kit’s trip to the United States was after he got arrested at a music event in Clark, Pampanga, for marijuana use. The 21-yearold actor claimed to have learned from the experience, but refused to elaborate.

“Feeling free, I guess,” he explained. “You know, I was still young then. It’s all part of growing up, committing mistakes and learning from them.”

When he returned to Manila, Kit joined the cast of Cathy Garcia-Molina’s “The Hows of Us.” He is currently working on another Cinemalaya entry, Joji Alonso’s romantic drama “Belle Douleur,” with Mylene Dizon; as well as a digital web series, where he plays a lawyer.

“I don’t mind going bolder,

ACTOr Tony Labrusca, despite being apologetic for his behavior at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, is not off the hook yet and might still be deported, according to the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

While Labrusca was granted a 30-day visa, BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the agency would still look into his record of stay in the country.

“What happened at the airport has already been resolved by our supervisor… Now, if we will see that he violated an Immigration rule while in the country, for example if he worked here in the past without the proper permit or visa, then that could be a reason to initiate a deportation (proceeding) against him,” Sandoval explained.

The actor might be blacklisted or barred from returning to the country aside from being deported. He would only be allowed to return if the BI issues a lift order.

In the instance that Labrusca would be deported, he could file a legal complaint to contest his deportation before the BI or the Department of Justice (DOJ). As of Tuesday, January 8, however, no deportation case was filed against him.

Labrusca drew flak on January 3, Thursday, for shouting at an immigration officer who only gave him a 30-day visa.

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. even wanted him deported, taking his opinion on Twitter after the incident.

“Just deport him,” Locsin said in reaction to the airport incident.

Labrusca has already apologized for his actions on his social media accounts, explaining he was just frustrated and was not aware of the policy that he needed to be with his parents to qualify for a balikbayan stamp.

“It was very upsetting for me.

And I’m sorry that I somehow took my frustrations out on the

ABS-CBN photo

Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr Philstar.com file photo

officer. But never did I call anyone stupid, nor an idiot, much less brag about being a celebrity,” he said.

“I know for a fact that the officer is merely doing her job. My biggest mistake perhaps was letting my emotions get the better of me and again I’m sorry,” he added.

Labrusca was warned by the BI on Friday, January 4, reminding the actor the limits of privileges accorded to returning Filipinos.

The one-year visa privilege is for former Filipinos and their immediate family members who are traveling with them, it said.

Requirement puzzles DFA chief Locsin said he is puzzled with a Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) policy that requires the birth certificate for passport renewals.

Locsin questioned why it is necessary for applicants to submit their birth certificates when renewing their passports on Twitter after an exchange with an overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who encountered a problem renewing his passport.

“Isn’t the expired passport sufficient ID? How many times do you have to prove you are what the State declared you are in the expired passports?” he said. The tweet was directed to assistant secretary Elmer Cato.

“Why even need to show birth

certificate when he is holding a government-issued passport that’s expired and he wants it renewed,” he added.

Cato’s replies are now deleted, but he explained that the birth certificate requirement would allow the department to capture additional data, especially from those who have yet to obtain an e-passport.

“Fact that they are holding a genuine government document is totally sufficient. What we are trying to do is play catch up with personal data while renewing passports. Can’t do two things at the same time,” replied Locsin.

“Passports are not prima facie evidence. They are conclusive evidence that you are what your passport says. Otherwise you will need to show video of your parents copulating, you gestating in the womb, being delivered and growing up sufficiently to look like you do now,” he added.

Locsin gave a suggestion to OFWs, saying they should keep documents like birth certificates for passport renewals and other things that require them like school enrollments.

He also suggested to renew passports as early as two years before expiry for Filipinos working in an inaccessible area, due to the pace of renewal process.

Cato, for his part, said the problem would be addressed by the new passports with 10-year validity.

Tony Labrusca

5 Fil-Am books to add to...

Kit Thompson

Inquirer.net photo

but it’s not really heading in that direction with the projects I’m AJPress illustration Godwin Gasacao doing so far,” saidbyKit.

PAGE B1 includes real recipes she and her family cook to bring readers on her table not only to enjoy the bounty of her poems but, slyly to consider the ways in which Filipino-Americans, and people of color in general, are assailed and fetishized. The book also explores ways for poetry to nourish the reader’s soul and mind through Gambito’s playful style and zest in her words.

Gambito is the author of the poetry collections “Delivered” (Persea, 2009) and “Matadora” (Alice James, 2004). She has received honors for her work from Barnes & Noble’s Writers for Writers Award from Poets and Writers, and the Wai Look Award for Outstanding Service to the Arts from the Asian American Arts Alliance.

She is also an Associate Professor of English and Director of Creative Writing at Fordham University, and co-founder of Kundiman, a non-profit organization serving Asian American writers. Pre-order available on Amazon.

“Insurrecto” by Gina Apostol “Insurrecto” is the fourth novel

by Gina Apostol, who has previously won a PEN/Open Book Award and a Philippine National Book Award. “Insurrecto” follows two women — Filipina translator Magsalin and American filmmaker Chiara Brasi — on a trip in present-day Philippines (under Duterte) to work on a script about the Balangiga massacre during the Philippine-American War. Magsalin and Chiara end up writing and clashing on two different scripts, one from the perspective of a Filipino schoolteacher and the other from the lens of a white photographer.

“I’m very interested in that concept of multiple ways of looking at things,” Apostol told NPr. “You know, this notion that in all of us there are multiple identities, you know, and we don’t recognize the simultaneity of them. I’m a mom, I’m a daughter, I’m a teacher, I’m a writer, I’m a Filipino, I’m an American. And I really like this kind of seeing things from various points of view.”

Praise has trickled in for Apostol’s novel, including BuzzFeed’s Best Fiction of 2018, Publishers

Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad at the launching of their book “I Am A Filipino” in San Francisco last November 2018.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Weekly Top 10 Best Book of 2018, and a New York Times Book review Editor’s Choice.

“This is a complex and aptly vertiginous novel that deconstructs how humans tell stories and decide which versions of events are remembered; names repeat between scripts, and directors suddenly interrupt what feels like historical narration. Apostol’s layers of narrative, pop culture references, and blurring of history and fiction make for a profound and unforgettable journey into the past and present of the Philippines,” Publishers Weekly wrote in its review.

“I Am a Filipino (And This is How We Cook)” by Nicole Ponseca & Miguel Trinidad Trailblazing restaurateurs Nicole Ponseca and Miguel Trinidad’s latest collaboration, a cookbook titled “I Am a Filipino (And This is How We Cook),” has made it to the Best of 2018 lists of many reviewers. From The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times Book review, Houston Chronicle, Food52, PopSugar, they are one in saying that.

Ponseca and Trinidad made sure that the whole spectrum of Filipino cuisine is somehow represented in this book, from the simple to the most complex recipes and from casual, street food to the classic national dishes like adobo, kare kare and kinilaw to regional dishes.

At their San Francisco launch, Trinidad shared that one of the biggest challenges they had to face was sourcing for the right ingredients, particularly those that are really hard to find here in the United States.

“We had to find alternatives, and we mentioned that in the book.

Filipinos are very resourceful,” he said. Ponseca made a shout out and thanked people like Clang Garcia, Ige ramos and Cocoy Ventura in the Philippines for showing them around the regions to discover recipes and ingredients that are specific to the provinces and towns they visited.

“Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong” by Dawn Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta The late historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, writer Gayle romasanta and illustrator Andre Sibayan collaborated on “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong,” released in October 2018

by Bridge + Delta Publishing.

“Journey for Justice” — the first nonfiction illustrated children’s book on Fil-Am history — details Itliong’s efforts as a farm labor organizer and civil rights activist who led the Delano Grape Strike in 1965 and eventually co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez. Though efforts in recent years have been made to highlight Itliong and fellow Filipino labor leaders’ roles in one of the most pivotal social movements in U.S. history, this is the first-ever book on Itliong.

A percentage of proceeds from this book will be donated to the nonprofit organizations, Little Manila rising and the Filipino American National Historical Society.

Itliong’s story will be the first of a series of eight children’s books on Fil-Am history under romasanta’s Bridge + Delta Publishing, under the authors’ mission that Fil-Am stories should be part of K-12 education. *The first edition of the book PAGE B3

EntErtainmEnt

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Can Dennis Trillo thrill you?

B

Kris: My doctors are delaying the inevitable

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

by riCky lo Philstar.com

THE answer to today’s interrogative title is a resounding yes.

Actually, that same rephrased question was already answered in the affirmative in a story about Dennis Trillo several years ago when the maturing process of Dennis the Actor started right on his first film, Regal Films’ “Aishite Imasu 1941” for which he bagged a Best Supporting Actor plum at the 2004 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF). He was 22 then.

Fourteen years later, Dennis would surprise himself by winning Best Actor at the 2018 MMFF for “One Great Love”, also by Regal Films directed by Eric Quizon (the 2004 film was megged by Joel Lamangan), which was named 3rd Best Picture.

Downed by flu, Dennis was unable to attend the Gabi ng Parangal. It was his manager Popoy Caritativo who received the trophy for him and thanked those involved in the film on Dennis’ behalf. Dennis repeated the “thank you’s” in his Instagram, accompanied by his “awarded” photo from 14 years ago.

“But even if he had high fever,” said Popoy, “Dennis had to get up to shoot for Cain at Abel (his GMA action-adventure series with Dingdong Dantes) on Dec. 28 and 29, and went right back to bed after that.” The show must go on!

Conversations retrieved Dennis’ 2004 photo with his “Aishite Imasu” trophy from the archives.

For a photo with his latest award, Popoy said that he had to send Dennis’ trophy to the Cain at Abel set and asked Dennis’ handler to do the “quickie” job. Good enough shot!

Dennis had hardly recovered when Conversations talked to him on the phone (he was at his parents’ home while nursing a fever).

He sounded somewhat hoarse, would excuse himself when he coughed, but was generally as engaging as he has always been.

How many trophies have you harvested so far?

“I have lost count. Pero maramirami na rin since I first won 14 years ago. Before this MMFF award, I won a Best Actor FAMAS for ‘Felix Manalo,’ and also one from Star Awards.”

Where do you keep all your trophies? May space pa ba?

“Some are here at home, some are in my condo unit and the others are at Popoy’s office.”

How different was the feeling of winning now from winning 14 years ago?

“Very different. ‘Aishite Imasu’ was my first movie so I was a greenhorn at that time. But since then, I have learned a lot. Kahit paano may dagdag na skills sa aking craft. The most important thing is pakikisama and having a positive work ethic.” (Dennis was launched as a member of the ABS-CBN’s Star Circle together with the likes of Bea Alonzo and Alfred Vargas.)

You are a lucky Regal Baby.

“You can say that because it was Regal who produced my winning

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 10-16, 2019

It took Dennis Trillo 14 years to duplicate his MMFF feat, the first having been for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for “Aishite Imasu 1941” (left) and the latest for Best Actor at the 2018 MMFF for “One Great Love” (right), voted 3rd Best Picture. Both were produced by Regal Films, ‘my lucky charm,’ says Dennis.

Contributed photos

films. ‘One Great Love’ was my first Regal movie since 2009 when I did one of the ‘Shake, Rattle & Roll’ films. Regal is my ‘lucky charm’.”

Did you have a hunch that you would win? Mabibigat ang mga “kalaban” mo.

“To be honest, every time I make a movie, hindi ako umaasa.

Once I finish it, that’s already an achievement. If I am recognized by critics and award-giving bodies, that’s already a bonus. I just give my best. Mahirap mag-expect, especially since our movie is very simple…simple lang ang estorya.

I was aware naman na mabibigat sila, like Jericho (Rosales in ‘The Girl in the Orange Dress’) and Eddie (Garcia in ‘Rainbow’s Sunset’).”

Did you jump in your sick bed when you were announced the winner?

“Hindi naman. I learned about it when somebody texted me congratulations.”

Speaking of Aishite Imasu, you played a cross-dressing comfort woman. Didn’t you have any second thoughts about playing a role that was a big no-no among young actors at that time?

“For me, that was a challenge.

Kung ayaw gawin ng iba, parang natsa-challenge lalo akong gawin. I consider it a plus factor if you dare or volunteer to do it.”

You did a kissing scene with Jay Manalo (as a Japanese soldier), just as you did with Tom Rodriguez in the GMA soap My Husband’s Lover. No qualms (hesitance) doing those kinds of scenes?

“None at all as long as hindi naman malaswa ang pagka-gawa and it’s really needed and essential to the story.”

Good thing you are not homophobic.

“Of course, I am not homophobic. If I am, hindi ko magagawa ang mga ‘yon. Besides, I don’t want to limit myself. Sabi nga nila, for art’s sake. Hehehe!!!”

You have played varied roles (including a macho dancer in a GMA show). Is there a role that you wouldn’t do?

“As I’ve said, I don’t want to limit myself. As an actor, I’m willing to play any role.”

In One Great Love, you play

Ian, a martyr in love. How do you see yourself in that character?

“Ian gives his all when he’s in love. His motto in life is…if you love a flower, you don’t pick it otherwise it will die with whatever you love about it. So you have to nurture it, palagi mo siyang didiligan at hindi mo siya pipitasin para mamulaklak ng marami pa.

For Ian, love is more appreciation than possession.”

Very poetic! Are you like that with Jennylyn (Mercado, his girlfriend), that she’s like a flower na dapat dinidiligan araw-araw?

“Dapat, eh. You know, I think the notion of some people about love is wrong. When they like someone, they become possessive to the point na nasasakal na nila ’yung tao. I don’t think they understand the real meaning of love. I think I was like that when I was younger. But as you grow older, you learn things and your outlook in life changes. When you love somebody, you shouldn’t stop her from doing what she wants and loves to do.”

Is Jennylyn like that?

“Hmmmm, I think so…Ganoon din naman po!”

Obviously, you (and Jennylyn) believe in “second time around…” (They broke up and reconciled before long.)

“Yes, we are closer now than ever before.” (Their families were together for the Christmas dinner, with Jennylyn seated beside Dennis’ mom.)

Would you say that Jennylyn is your one great love?

“Hmmmm, I would say that, yes, she is. We are in a good relationship so…sana naman po!”

Jennylyn has a love son (Alex Jazz, by ex-boyfriend Patrick Garcia) and so have you (Calix, with ex-girlfriend Carlene Aguilar). How are you as a dad to the kids?

“I try to be a hands-on dad to them, even if I am always busy. I make it a point to spend my free time with them.”

So what do you look forward to this year and beyond?

“I want to do a project that will make me known internationally, maybe a series for Netflix.

That’s one of my main targets this year.”

5 Fil-Am books to add to...

PAGE B2

will be launched and sold in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 27, while the second edition will be available online in late March.

“America is Not the Heart” by Elaine Castillo Elaine Castillo grew up in what she describes as a “very Filipino neighborhood in a very Filipino atmosphere.” Her town, Milpitas in California is a majority-minority where there’s a large Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican, Taiwanese communities, which is why she said she didn’t grow up thinking of herself as a minority.

“I read quite a lot of translated works, which I realize now probably is a sub-conscious political response to a white mainstream canon. I read a lot of Filipino American writers from Jessica Illustrator Andre Sibayan, writer and publisher Gayle Romasanta, and the late historian Hagedorn to Carlos Bulosan. That Dawn B. Mabalon hold copies of the cover of children’s book, “Journey for Justice: The Life book, ‘America is in the Heart,’ of Larry Itliong.”

“As a Filipino, I like a pun. So Heart,’ just as a rhyming joke that I was the first time I ever read about someone from Pangasinan,” she whenever I read the title ‘America used to say to myself. It was never a is in the Heart’ from Bulosan, I big thing. It came from that private, told the Asian Journal.

Asked if her novel is her re- always thought, ‘America isn’t the personal joke,” she said. sponse to Bulosan’s classic masterpiece, she replied, “To be honest, I didn’t actually think of the title as the grand, ambitious answer to Bulosan.”

Elaine Castillo

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

IS Kris dying?

This would cross the mind of anyone who has viewed Kris Aquino’s viral social media post regarding her health.

The “health bomb” that Kris dropped during a panel feed with her lawyers Sigfrid Fortun, Enrique dela Cruz and University of Santo Tomas Law Dean Nilo Divina to refute the allegations of her former manager Nicko Falcis eclipsed her court battle with her erstwhile business partner.

Kris admitted that she has “a form of lupus.”

“Ang inamin ko po sa inyo is [having] chronic spontaneous urticaria and that is true. I did not want to specify because Atty.

Sig told me wag mo sabihin ang iyong allergies kasi pinapadali mo for your enemies to kill you.

But now I can tell you the truth, I’m allergic to every single medicine that can cure you or at least manage your symptoms kung may lupus ka. All my doctors are doing now is delaying it.

They’re delaying the inevitable,” she said.

According to Aquino, her form of lupus, which she did not explain, was the reason why she had to seek medical attention in Singapore in October. The disease emerged in all her test results in the Philippines, forcing the top TV host and movie actress-turned-online celebrity to submit to more examinations abroad.

“Thankfully the tests showed that my kidney functions are still OK,” she added.

Aquino also listed her other health concerns — high blood, hypothyroidism and fibromyalgia, which on many occasions rendered her unable to get out of bed without help.

“Joshua and Bimby (her sons) would literally have to lift me off the bed so I can go to the bathroom,” she tearfully revealed.

With an endless list of allergic triggers identified in her Singapore tests — including exposure to trees, pollen and temperatures from the mid 30s and up — Aquino said that emotional stress was yet another element that sets off her chronic spontaneous urticaria, making her merely “one fatal allergic reaction from anaphylactic shock.”

Aquino said she would fly to Singapore again this week to address a lump in an unspecified

Kris Aquino

part of her body and would be away for two weeks.

“In church before Christmas [in Japan], I told God I’d let go of all my anger if only he would let me live until my son Bimby turns 18th in seven years,” she said.

“Kaya hindi na ako galit sa’yo Nicko, pero harapin mo naman lahat ng kaso mo. ’Yun lang. I did not lie. I don’t want to die being accused as a liar.”

Forms of lupus According to the Lupus Foundation of America [lupos.org], the said condition is a longterm autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation, pain and damage to the skin, joints or organs. Having lupus means that something is wrong with one’s immune system [thus the term autoimmune disease] which enables the body to fight off viruses, bacteria and germs.

Put simply, the immune system is therefore unable to identify the difference between viruses and healthy tissues, thereby attacking both.

The disease can become mild or life-threatening but with the proper treatment, those diagnosed can still lead a full life.

Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino

The Lupus Foundation of America lists four different types of lupus – systemic lupus that causes inflammation to the kidneys, nervous system, blood vessels of the brain and the hardening of the arteries; cutaneous lupus which is limited to the skin and which causes rashes and sores; drug-induced lupus which is caused by prescription drugs commonly used for treatments of high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, and tuberculosis; and neonatal lupus, a rare condition that affects infants of women who have lupus.

Former president Ferdinand Marcos succumbed to systemic lupus erythematosus.

A staunch advocate of living with lupus is Diwa party-list Rep. Emmeline Aglipay-Villar, wife of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, who has been battling the illness for a decade.

Pop singer Selena Gomez drew attention to the condition when she revealed she had a kidney transplant after her diagnosis. Other foreign celebrities living with lupus include Lady Gaga, Toni Braxton, Nick Cannon and Seal, among others.

B January 10-16, 2019 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

EntErtainmEnt

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Sharon touched by her children’s birthday gifts

by Krissy

aguilar Inquirer.net

Miss Grand International-Philippines 2018 Eva Patalinjug, Binibining Pilipinas 2018 Second Runner-Up Samantha Bernardo, Binibining Pilipinas Charities Inc. Chairman and Miss Universe Philippines National Director Stella Marquez-Araneta, Miss Intercontinental-Philippines 2018 Karen Gallman and Miss Globe-Philippines 2018 Michelle Gumabao.

Photo courtesy of BPCI

Bb. Pilipinas not going down without fight for Miss Universe franchise

by MJ

Marfori ManilaTimes.net

THE send-off party for Miss Intercontinental Philippines Karen Gallman last week at the Araneta Center started as the opening salvo of 2019 events for the pageant press but it was the most melancholic event the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) ever had.

Everyone in attendance was anxious yet eager to know what would happen to BPCI after stories during the holidays and the Miss Universe season circulated that the franchise will be awarded to the company of former Governor Chavit Singson’s LCS Group headed by his daughter Richelle Singson-Michael.

Currently, besides Miss Universe, BPCI selects Filipinas to be representatives and compete in Miss International, Miss Intercontinental, Miss Supranational, Miss Globe and Miss Grand International. Only Miss International belongs to the major league of beauty contests if Miss Universe will be stripped off Bb. Pilipinas. Since the reputable institution started in the 1960s, people trust the organization in choosing the best lady to represent the Philippines in various parts of the world.

Last December 19, Richelle Singson-Michael already denied initial reports about the franchise, “No talks yet about the Miss Universe franchise.”

Fans were not satisfied with her answer and the silence from

the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) as well as BPCI. Staff of the BPCI last week even dodged the press and requested not to ask BPCI Chairman Madame Stella Marquez-Araneta about the issue, but since it’s our job, In The Know got lucky to face Mrs. Araneta and asked her head on, to which she had a fierce reply, “It’s still with us!

I don’t know why people are talking about it. I worked with them for so long!”

Hopefully, Mrs. Araneta’s decades long relationship with MUO would be enough to continue their relationship. We’ll wait and see until Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s alleged homecoming this February when MUO is said to announce something big.

SHARON Cuneta expressed gratitude to her children who gave her birthday gifts as she turned 53 on Sunday, January 6.

The Megastar shared snapshots of presents from her children, Miel, Miguel, Frankie and KC, in a series of Instagram posts.

Miel painted the Megastar’s crush from K-pop boy group NCT Taeyong. She also wrote her mother a sweet letter.

“From my Miel who painted my crush from NCT, Taeyong,” Cuneta said in the caption. She added, “I LOVE most of all Miel’s letter. I feel blessed to have my children and am so proud of how they have grown up to be good human beings.”

Cuneta’s youngest child Miguel, on the other hand, gifted flowers and a simple birthday letter to her mother.

“From my sweet, sweet, obedient, handsome son, my good boy Miguel whom I believe truly was meant for me/us. I love you my son, my lovey-dovey Gugie!

Thank you so much for the note and flowers!” Cuneta wrote.

Meanwhile, Frankie bought her mother’s favorite kind of notebooks. But what the veteran actress mostly treasured was the letter that came with it.

“I love my children. I’m not celebrating my birthday because

Sharon Cuneta recently celebrated her 53rd birthday.

Photo from Instagram/@reallysharon cuneta

I just don’t feel like it. But Kakie insisted on making us tacos for dinner tonight. That’s more than enough for me,” Cuneta wrote.

Megastar’s eldest daughter, KC, gave a label maker and her favorite liquid soaps from France.

“The labelmaker was on my wishlist even if I have two old ones na! Still, I screamed “You gave me a labelmaker!!!” when I opened KC’s!” Cuneta gushed.

As seen in an Instagram video, the Megastar was also surprised by her household helpers with a happy birthday song and a cake.

“When your household helpers barge into your room just after you’ve woken up and sing to you the Happy Birthday song with a cake and a gift pa in tow, you just feel so…loved and appreciated on a whole different level,” she wrote.

JC Santos, Agot Isidro rave about European and Asian coworkers in ‘Motel Acacia’

by Marinel

r. Cruz

Inquirer.net

Isabelle Daza’s son Baltie baptized in France

Isabelle Daza with husband Adrien and son Baltie

EMPLOYMENT

Photo from Instagram/@isabelledaza

“I GET to witness different acting processes, especially that of the Europeans,” said actor JC Santos on what for him was the

by Christia Marie raMos best part about working on BradInquirer.net ley Liew’s horror-thriller, “Motel ACTRESS and model Isabelle Acacia.”

Daza’s son with her French husAt the time JC was interviewed band Adrien Semblat has been by Inquirer Entertainment, he has baptized in France. already worked on the film for five In an Instagram post on Sun- straight days, with coactors from day, January 6, Daza shared a Indonesia (Nicholas Saputra), Maphoto with her son Baltie. laysia (Bront Palarae), Australia “Baptized my son in France to (Will Jaymes and Talia Zucker), share milestones with his French Belgium (Jan Bijvoet) and Thaifamily,” she wrote in the caption. land (Vithaya Pansringarm).

Daza’s husband and some rela“I’m curious about what acttives and friends have also posted ing methods Europeans use, like photos of Baltie’s baptism on Tom Hardy or Cillian Murphy, so December 23 on their respective I asked my European coactors, Instagram accounts.

‘How do you guys do it in such Daza gave birth to her son on an unpredictable way?’ They’re March 31, 2018. all amazing! If you notice, most

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

Nicholas Saputra, JC Santos and Agot Isidro

Contributed photo

of the actors making big waves in Hollywood these days are Europeans,” JC pointed out.

“Motel Acacia” is Bradley’s second film, following his debut project, “Singing in Graveyards.”

Set in a fictional snowy state

in the United States, it tells of a young Filipino (JC) who is being groomed by his tyrannical Caucasian father (Jan Bijvoet) to take over the management of the motel, which incidentally is being PAGE B6

FOR RENT

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Your Immigration Solution GEOFFREY J. LAMOUREUX AN asylum applicant has the burden of proving by clear and convincing evidence that he or she filed their asylum application within one year of the applicant’s last arrival in the U.S. However, an applicant who misses the one-year deadline may still be eligible for asylum if he or she can establish the existence of either changed circumstances or extraordinary circumstances.

Changed circumstances can arise from either a change in country conditions of an applicant’s home country, or from changes in an applicant’s circumstances, which include changes in U.S. law and activities an applicant becomes involved in while in the U.S. For example, what happens if violence significantly increases against members of the religious minority an applicant belongs to after he or she has been in the U.S. for more than one year? Or, what happens if a new U.S. law arises that makes a previously ineligible foreign national now eligible for asylum? What about if an applicant starts to speak online against his or her home country’s oppressive regime after having been in the U.S. for more than one year? These examples could fall under the changed circumstances exception. They also highlight the importance of being aware of recent changes in U.S. law.

Further, the changed circumstances exception applies even if the circumstances do not create a new basis for asylum, but simply provide further evidence of the type of harm already suffered.

The applicant must file within a reasonable period given the changed circumstances. The legal standard for what constitutes a reasonable period has continued to evolve over time.

An applicant does not have to prove the existence of changed

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Second of a series) [Select a handful of those things in your bucket list that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s energy goes into ‘low batt mode’ and life has run out of sockets to plug into.]

You gaze at the photos on the walls, dig up the albums in storage boxes – memories of days gone by, milestones — the springtime of one’s life: birthdays, anniversaries, graduations — so many happy, wonderful memories frozen in print. Now you have them too in digital form, thousands of images and videos, trapped in computer hard drives and smart phones or spread far and wide via social media for all to see. Then there are also the awful ones encrusted in your memory, the things you would rather forget.

These are your raw materials to get this project going.

So here’s one suggestion to

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS THERE is nothing more universal, more powerful, more wholesome, and more sublime than love. Its intensity and gravity could transcend all forces of nature, even disasters and calamities, natural or man-made, including a nuclear devastation of nations or of the world. Indeed, nothing can make our innate love for our country, family, friends, even pets, vanish into oblivion.

If anything at all, this exciting and inspiring unselfish emotion, between or among people, is heightened by any counterforce that threatens or stands in its way.

Love, as they say, conquers all.

Patriots have sacrificed with their lives for their love of country.

Forbidden lovers have committed suicide in the name of love.

Saints have been burned alive or beaheaded for refusing to deny their belief, kings have abdicated and given up their throne for love, parents have died shielding their children from bullets, and people have risked their life saving a pet.

And there are countless other manifestations of this phenomenon called love. What a colossal might!

What is this love?

Love is to the lover as beauty is to the beholder. Its correct definition is not absolute, precise,

Seeking asylum more than one year after arrival in the US circumstances by clear and convincing evidence. The clear and convincing standard applies to whether the asylum application was filed within one year, but it is not the applicable standard for determining changed circumstances. This highlights the importance of knowing and ensuring that the applicable legal standards are clearly outlined in an asylum application.

Extraordinary circumstances may include serious illness or mental or physical disability, including the effects of persecution; legal disability (e.g. minority of age or mental impairment); ineffective assistance of prior counsel; maintaining lawful immigrant or nonimmigrant status or parole; filing within one year but having the application rejected as incomplete and then refiling soon after; or the death or serious illness or incapacity of an applicant’s legal representative or a member of an applicant’s immediate family.

For example, what happens if an applicant was very ill during the applicable one-year period, or was still suffering from the effects of past persecution?

What happens if he or she was a minor child, or had a temporary mental impairment? What about an applicant who maintained visitor or student status, or had incorrectly filled out the asylum application and it was rejected?

These examples could fall under the extraordinary circumstances exception.

The extraordinary circumstances outlined above are not exhaustive, and there are many other circumstances in which a properly presented asylum application might establish the existence of extraordinary circumstances.

The burden is on an applicant to show that the circumstances were not intentionally created through his or her action or inaction, that the circumstances were directly related to the applicant’s failure

to file within one year, and that the delay was reasonable under the circumstances. For example, an applicant cannot cause his or her own illness or disability to take advantage of the extraordinary circumstances exception.

As with changed circumstances, an applicant must file within a reasonable period given the extraordinary circumstances. Again, the legal standard for what constitutes a reasonable period has continued to evolve over time.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, a federal-level appeals court with jurisdiction over California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Montana, and Alaska, has held that the supporting evidence requirement for determining asylum or refugee status may not be brought into other areas of asylum law. This means that an applicant’s own testimony regarding the existence of an exception – if considered credible – may be sufficient to overcome the oneyear filing deadline.

The failure to properly file an application for asylum within one year of entry to the U.S. does not automatically disqualify a person.

It is important to consult with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to ask whether an exception applies in their case. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

(Advertising Supplement)

The bucket list Write your story

“...Healing begins with forgiveness.

It can make us whole again. And when we are whole and bathed in God’s light, darkness no longer holds power over us.” sum it all up while you still can — something you may want to include in the top tier of your bucket list.

Write your story So many stories to tell… So little time… Though you may think that your life is generic like plain vanilla, if you are honest and dig enough, there are so many tiny montages, vignettes of a past life. Uniquely yours, these may be sweet, sour and even bitter moments of one’s life. Imperfect as it is, you have lived through it all. Somehow, by God’s grace, you made it through. That is victory enough.

A bit of caution! You don’t have to write a tedious, biographical tome, so boring you may induce flat lining even yourself to early death. I would recommend choosing a typical day, a sig-

nificant year or seasons which reflect the peaks and valleys of your life. You can paint your story in broad brush strokes at first and fill in the details later, like a painter would, with the precision of a palette knife.

Write in your own style. If they block the creative flow, forget grammatical rules, syntax, and the rigid rules for writing, for the time being. It is like recording streams of memories. There is no grading system here. Be honest. One rule I recommend that should apply at all times — REFRAIN from causing even more hurt, if somehow, someone else reads your story when you’re gone.

Believe it or not, the written word is precise and like a laser sword, it can slice a heart or like PAGE B6

Love chemistry 101 and specific, almost illusive. It is actually an all-consuming addiction to or for anyone or anything we truly care about, for which we are willing to give up ourselves or even our life for. While it varies among individuals, the common denominators are selfless adoration and sacrifice. Social love, a form of respect and friendliness, is expressed daily in our life. Mother Teresa once said: “Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”

The science of love While the emotional and physical attributes of this very potent feeling is obvious to everyone, medically speaking, love is chemistry at its best, a concoction of various substances produced by our own built-in pharmaceutical laboratory in our body. Even the magnetic force and interaction between two individuals meeting for the first time , especially the so-called love at first sight (jokingly said to be cured by a second look) is nothing but chemistry.

Scientifically, love is the result of an inexplicable great attraction we feel with all our five senses (some people have 6) that stimulates the brain to send electrical messages to the various exocrine and endocrine glands in the body to secrete happy “love” hormones and flood the entire body, supposedly especially the heart (actually the brain) which induce that romantic amorous and exciting joyful sense we call love.

The anatomy where love resides Love, like fear and other emotions, is carried out by the limbic system in the brain, with the processing center of various emotions is the amygdala. To know the location of the amydala, picture this part of the base of the brain as the head and beak of a bird. The thalamus is where the eyes are, the hypothalamus is the beak and the amygdala is located precisely at the corner of the jaw and the neck of the bird (just above the Adam’s Apple by the jaw in humans).

This wonderful amorous feeling varies in different individuals.

Some fall in love fast and others more slowly. Some are more impulsive and daring, and others more careful and guarded. Still, others use their cerebrum (largest part of the brain where intellect and wisdom are processed) more than their heart, as the saying goes.

The desire for another person because of physical (sexual) attraction only is lust not love, not to say that this could evolve and develop to true love. And material love is not love but greed and deception of the worst kind, the very reason why and how prenups were invented 2000 years ago and perfected today, thanks to the lawyers. While this form of pre-marital contract is reasonably justified in some cases, having this formal agreement in writPAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARY 10-16, 2019

Calendar of Events across

B5

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS JA N UA RY 1 6 -1 8

Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest in San Francisco Discover creative and delectable culinary products and enticing travel destinations of the Philippines in a three-day event – January 16-18, 2019 — at the Philippine Consulate General (447 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA), a block away from Union Square San Francisco.

Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest is a sneak preview of two of the best things that the Philippines can offer — food and travel. Discover many innovative food ingredients, such as the coconut floral sap vinegar or Sukang Tuba and the mango flour. Uncover the uses of the “dinosaur egg” salt or Asin Tibuok. Learn more about Philippine food products from a few Philippine companies participating in the Winter Fancy Food Show 2019. The Fest affords visitors to savor Filipino fusion-style eats and dine kamayan-style (no cutlery required) in a salu-salo or a gastronomic feast featuring locally sourced ingredients using Filipino heirloom recipes. Guests can also explore attractive travel packages in the land of fun and sun. Choose from a number of inviting tourist attractions of the Philippines. Travel agents will have the opportunity to meet with others. Importers and participating food companies can continue their conversations in the event.

JA N UA RY 1 7

4th Homeless Service Professionals Job Fair in LA Mayor Eric Garcetti, the LA Homeless Services Authority, the County of LA Homeless Initiative, Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson, United Way of Greater LA, Workforce Development Systems, and LA Southwest College invite you to the fourth Homeless Service Professionals Job Fair on Thursday, January 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Over 30+ employers will be in attendance, who are looking to fill hundreds of positions throughout the greater LA area — everything from case managers and outreach workers to housing navigators, supervisors and executives. Join us for our job fair and learn about the incredible impact you can have to help people get all the support they need to start a new chapter. You can help change lives. Types of Positions: Direct Service / Entry Level: case managers, outreach workers, housing navigators, employment specialists, administration, finance, and more; Management / Supervisory Level: supervisors, coordinators, program managers and directors, and similar positions; Professional Level and Executive Level: with advanced degrees such as MSW, MPP, MPH, LCSW, certifications; senior management. On-site resources available: Resume review and editing; Interviewing preparation and tips; and Connections to more local services. Please RSVP at: HSPJobFairLa.eventbrite.com. The job fair will be held inside the Thomas G. Larkin Fitness and Wellness Center at Los Angeles Southwest College (1600 W. Imperial Hwy., Los Angeles, CA 90047).

JA N UA RY 1 8

Santo Nino Celebration at St. Catherine Laboure Church in Torrance, CA Most Rev. Bishop Oscar A. Solis will celebrate the holy sacrifice of the Mass on Friday, January 18 at St. Catherine Laboure Church (3846 Redondo Beach Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504) at 7 p.m. The Novena prayers and Chaplet will follow after the Mass. The parish has an exact replica of the Infant of Prague (Santo Nino) clothed in a relic of the Holy Robe that adorns the original statue in the shrine at Prague. Attendees are encouraged to bring their own statues; the devotion of touching them to the Holy Robe will conclude the celebration. For more information, please contact Lorna Arceo at (310) 345-4637, Maria Quan (310) 714-6537 or Vicki & Romy Balliyut at (310) 406-6575.

JA N UA RY 1 9 -2 0

38th Annual Asian American Expo in Pomona, CA The 38th annual Asian American Expo will be held on Saturday, January 19 and January 20 at the Pomona Fairplex (2705 Fairplex Dr. Pomona, California 91768). The Asian American Expo features 6 large expositions, 1,000+ vendors, 9 non-stop performing stages, and 3 separately unique food courts. Attendees from all different ethnic and work backgrounds, from both local and international, are bound to be at the Expo. The Asian American Expo is hosted at the beginning of each year to celebrate the coming of the Lunar New Year Festival, with the goal recreating the New Year celebrations found across Asia at this time of the year.

Food, shopping, entertainment and fun – these are all annual staples that can be found at each year’s event. The hours for both Saturday and Sunday are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tickets are $11/day for adults (age 13 to 65) and $9 / day for seniors (above 65) and children (under 13).

For more information, please visit http://www.asianamericanexpo.com/.

JA N UA RY 1 9

Sto. Niño celebration at St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA Please join us for Sinulog on January 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Finbar Church (2010 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91506). Bring your statues of the Infant Jesus. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m.

JA N UA RY 2 0

Feast of Sto. Niño at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels in LA On Sunday, January 20, 2019 at 3:30 pm, the Santo Niño Cruzada USA will sponsor a mass at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to be presided by its Pastor, Fr. David Gallardo, and to commemorate its 32nd year anniversary of the solemn Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus. Participating are the choir of St. Paul the Apostle Church from Chino Hills, The Southern California Sinulog Dance Co., The Saint Junipero Serra Province Knights of Columbus, and various religious organizations. We also offer the mass to the late Cardinal Ricardo Vidal of Cebu who gave the Santo Nino statue that we use for this event to Cardinal Roger Mahony and Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik. For more information of this celebration, please contact Romy & Tess Esturas at (213) 219-0590.

JA N UA RY 27

“Journey for Justice” book launch in LA Get a first edition “Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong,” written by the late historian Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and writer Gayle Romasanta, on Sunday, January 27 at the launch in Los Angeles! It will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Park’s Finest (1267 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026). The book tells the story of Larry Itliong’s fight for a farmworkers union, the birth of the farm workers’ movement, and more. Books will be sold and signed with a Q&A with co-author Gayle Romasanta). A percentage of proceeds from this book will be donated to the nonprofit organizations, Little Manila Rising and the Filipino American National Historical Society. For more information, please visit http://bridgedelta.com/.

F E B R UA RY 9

St. Finbar Church in Burbank, CA celebrates its 9th Annual Valentine Dinner Dance Come and celebrate Hollywood glamour on February 9, 2019 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For information contact Marian at (818) 562-6819 or send an email to minobleza@yahoo. com.

F E B R UA RY 1 5

Franchising Retail & Trade Conference in Cerritos, CA The Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) hosts this highly anticipated business event at the Cerritos Sheraton located at 12725 Center Court Drive South, Cerritos, CA 90703. Attendees will have access to opportunities in business match making & referrals, roundtable discussions, entrepreneurship training programs, and networking & business connections with participants representing both the United States and the Philippines. Business owners, entrepreneurs, corporations, and the general public are all invited to attend. The Philippine Retailer Association (PRA) and the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) will be present to network with the US business community. Also present will be local franchisor and franchisee business owners, the U.S. Small Business Association (SBA), the National Asian American Coalition (NAAC), the National Diversity Coalition (NDC), the Asian Pacific Islander Small Business Program, the Philippine Consulate Los Angeles Office, Philippine Dept. of Trade & Industry (PTIC) Los Angeles, and the Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA).Basic entry is only $10 but can and will vary depending on the participation experience desired. Registration for the Conference is simple and is processed online at by going to https://cofacc.org.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

Features

B January 10-16, 2019 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

PAGE B5

The bucket list

a soothing miraculous balm, heal brokenness. Choose wisely.

How you choose reflects the beauty or ugliness of your soul.

Kindness is a car that can get you to heaven. The Good Samaritan is a case in point. Is it a Pollyana view of life on earth?

It sure is. But life can be brutal and in some cases, so cruel we need all the kindness we can get from one another.

Or if you live a relatively charmed life and have a generous spirit, dispense acts of kindness to strangers without fanfare. Someone wise once said to choose those who can never repay you back. No one has to know. If you do it for applause and recognition, then you have cashed in your reward prematurely. Don’t post on social media for all to know. But if you do, remain anonymous. Your act of kindness can go viral and inspire others to do likewise. Focus on the act to squeeze the max out of it.

Memories can be faulty. The way each of us sees things is uniquely processed through a set of largely emotional filters that may not align with how others in our immediate orbit remember them. In story writing, it is called POV or Point of View.

Remember that in the eternal scheme of things, only God’s POV knows the pure, unvarnished, unadulterated truth.

Your stories are all there buried deep within you. The early sunset years when you still have a sound mind in a sound body are probably the best time to write your story. Those neurons firing in our noggin are still sharp but we know, these have a definite shelf life.

Don’t do it as an ego trip listing your accomplishments but put pen to paper or chase a cursor like mad on your laptop as an exercise in validating your life, putting into words, those memories that sparkle like diamonds, like the joys that you have caused to make others glad and appreciate life and how others made you a better person.

Accolades are fine but those you leave behind who feel eternally grateful to God for the life you lived as it left a mark on their own lives even when you’re gone are probably the highest tribute to your time on earth.

I guess these are the things that make God smile. You’ll be one of those good and faithful servants. The act of recording your life story reveals to us God’s presence in every minutiae, facet and seasons of our lives. You realize that even in your darkest moments when all seemed lost, God is always there for us all.

You begin to see clearly your purpose in life.

Of course, as in any story, there are parts you want to share

because they are happy and inspiring. There are parts that must remain secret by choice, known only to you, the God of your being and the characters of those tragic, dark vignettes you would rather forget, locked away forever or better yet, erased for all eternity. let go of these, if you can.

Healing begins with forgiveness.

It can make us whole again. And when we are whole and bathed in God’s light, darkness no longer holds power over us. life is a mural of many colors and infinite designs. Savor yours during these precious sunset years. There are so many twists and turns and variations and, if taken in one go, can seem like a blur on a whitewater tube ride.

Scoop up a few golden snippets and record them. This could be well worth your while.

Become the writer/editor of your life story. Dare to write it.

Edit it. Even critique it, if you wish. Don’t worry about other people’s criticism. You are your own target audience for the time being.

Someday when you’re gone, your story might have the power to inspire someone else.

Next week: An idea for The Bucket List … ***

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

City of Las Vegas February 2019 recreation, adaptive recreation, sports and community special events Discover the fun!

All activities are subject to change. For links to facilities, programs, classes and activities in the current Beyond the Neon guide, go online to www.lasvegasparksandrec.com or for more information call 702-229-PlAY. Most activities require advance registration. Register today to build your healthy lifestyle! Parents can subscribe here to receive a monthly email, or text lV PARENTS to 468-311, about upcoming events and activities for their kids. Centers will be closed for holiday observance Feb. 18.

Heart of Black History Contests (ages 5-15) East las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave. Submit your Black History Month contest entry on or before 5 p.m. Friday, Feb. 15.

First- second- and third-place winners from each division will present their submissions at a Feb. 23 luncheon. Call 702-2291515 for more information.

Generation-2-Generation Old-School Softball Game Saturday, Feb. 2, noon.

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is Free and open to the public.

SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To Kianga Isoke Palacio Park at send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ Doolittle Complex, 951 W. lake asianjournalinc.com Mead Blvd.

Come support our youth and enjoy food and fun. This event is held In conjunction with Palo Alto Pitching Machine. For more inforfilm hoped to convey. “It tackles mation, please call 702-229-1527. different social issues, like how to protect the forest and respect mother nature. There’s also the issue on immigration and how

by Honey orio-escullar everyone wants to cross borders,” Philstar.com Agot explained.

“You know that it’s a horror FRESH from his stint as the gay film, but it’s up to you to dig foster father of Coco Martin’s Jack deeper and look at the underlying in “Jack Em Popoy” at the recent issues,” the actress declared.

Metro Manila Film Festival, Jose “Motel Acacia,” set for re- Manalo starts the year with a bang lease this year, is a multinational by topbilling VST Productions’ coproduction, with executive maiden venture titled “Boy Tokwa: producers from the Philippines lodi ng Gapo”.

(Black Sheep), Slovenia (Studio Jose, who initially thought that Virc), Thailand (White light the film’s producer Sen. Tito Sotto Post), Singapore (Tier Pictures), was kidding when he was offered Croatia (Nukleus Films) and Tai- to do the film a few years back, wan (Mandarin Vision). However, admitted that there was so much it has an all-Filipino production pressure because he knows there team, led by cinematographer are expectations of him to make larry Manda, and Benjamin VST Productions’ first-ever project Padero and Carlo Tabije as pro- a success. duction designers.

“Si Tito Sen ang kulit nang kulit sa akin nang matagal na. I thought he was just joking. I didn’t know that it would push through,” said Jose in the vernacular.

“I am pressured because I don’t want to fail him. Hindi naman dahil dito lang sa pelikula na ‘to na kapag hindi kumita wala nang tiwala hindi naman yun. Kaya lang, kumbaga sa isang sundalo, inatangan ka ng obligasyon. So I really had to grab the opportunity because it only happens once in a lifetime,” he said, adding that he was happy to be working again with director Tony Reyes. “Alam ko namang hindi magpapalabas ang isang direk Tony Reyes ng pelikula na basta-basta lang. Sabi ko nga kung ibang direktor baka kakabahan ako e.”

Asked why he was tapped to play Boy Tokwa, Jose replied that he was told the role was fitting because it was very him. “I guess his talkativeness bagay na bagay daw sa akin pero hindi ko na naisip pa kung bakit ako. The concept was formed because Tita Kitchy Benedicto told Tito Sen that Boy Tokwa, a good friend of Tita Kitchy’s deceased husband Robert Paulino, had a beautiful story.”

“Boy Tokwa: lodi ng Gapo” is based on the true-to-life story of Rodrigo Morelos (a.k.a. Boy Tokwa) who was known in Olongapo

JC Santos, Agot Isidro rave about European...

PAGE B4 used by the government in its bid to exterminate immigrants.

“The script is very difficult,” JC added. “We’re progressing little by little. This is, so far, my best experience in shooting a movie.

I come from theater, so I can say that our working process here is very natural. We rehearse before filming. Even though we work every day, there’s always something new to learn. They’re happening right before my eyes!”

According to Bradley, a Malaysian national, the motel is haunted by “a Filipino tree demon that eats men and impregnates women.”

However, besides the mythological part of the film, the director said that “it’s really about the themes that I want to talk about— the present state of the world we live in, how we’ve become so desensitized to killing, how we react

to immigration issues in different parts of the world.”

JC said of Bradley: “He is super intense!”

The two began discussing the project three years ago. Bradley wrote the story with the latter in mind.

“I’m flattered. It’s the first time someone wrote something to fit me,” JC told the Inquirer.

Meanwhile, JC’s Filipino coactor, Agot Isidro, plays Angeli in the film. Agot could not help but rave about the multinational production.

“The set is very beautiful! Every person really upped his or her game for this,” she pointed out. “I also liked that our working hours are pretty much shorter, since every one is working hard. They’re all very efficient.”

The actress said she was also excited about the message the

Talent Showcase: A Night of Expressions 4 Theme: Extending the Dream Friday, Feb 8, 7 p.m.

Free and open to the public.

Charleston Heights Arts Center, 800 Brush St. Enjoy this youth talent showcase open to performers ages 8-22, showcasing the talents of community youth with singing, dancing, spoken word, and music, all in recognition and celebration of Black History Month. For more information, call 702-229-2473.

Dive-In Movie “Pride” Saturday, Feb. 9, 7:30 p.m.

Cost: $4 Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza Road.

Enjoy the 2007 PG-rated film “Pride” — the 1974 Philadelphia true story of a black swim team and its mentors at the Marcus Foster Recreation Center. For more information, call 702-2296309.

Parent’s Night Out (ages 5-12) Thursday, Feb. 14, 6-9 p.m.

Registration opens Jan. 7.

Cost: $20/child.

Veterans Memorial Community Center, 101 S. Pavilion Center Drive, 702-229-1100.

Children will enjoy fun and engaging things to do like arts and crafts projects, fun games and much more. Dinner and snack will be provided.

Inaugural Choices Rap-Off

Saturday, Feb. 16, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

East las Vegas Community Center Ballroom, 250 N. Eastern Ave., 7072-229-1515.

Sponsored by Councilman Bob Coffin, las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and the Clark County School District. For more information, contact: Detective Antonio Morales at 702-3032578 or email at A3943M@ lVMPD.COM. 2019 Spring Adult 6v6 Sand Volleyball (ages 18+) Register Feb. 19-26 for Thursday 7 and 8 p.m. games March 14-May 2.

Cost: $150 per team.

Centennial Hills Park, 7101 N. Buffalo Drive For information, call 702229-1642 or email municipalsportsunit@lasvegasnevada.gov.

Teams register online here.

Heart of Black History Essay Contest Luncheon Saturday, Feb. 23, noon to 2 p.m.

Cost: $5 per person. Free admission for registered contest participants.

East las Vegas Community Center, 250 N. Eastern Ave. All participants of the contests will be recognized and the winners will be announced at the banquet. For additional information, please call 702229-1515.

Jose Manila tackles his ‘first’

PAGE B5

“Boy Tokwa: Lodi ng Gapo” lead star Jose Manalo: I am pressured but I had to grab this opportunity because it only happens once in a lifetime.

Philstar.com photo by Honey Orio-Esculiar

as a con artist to foreigners but was loved by the community because of his loving nature, generosity and loyalty to friends. From the accounts of Boy Tokwa’s friends, the movie sees Boy Tokwa’s grandson Andy Morelos Woods return to the Philippines in search of the truth about his grandfather. He learns that his grandfather’s American dream did not succeed but it led him to Olongapo where his wit, ability and skills in card games became his tools for survival. Boy Tokwa met and courted Naval officer Anne McArthur, granddaughter of Gen. Douglas McArthur but was turned down. His journey eventually led him to meet Patricia Woods who was also a Naval officer. They married and had a child. But Boy found himself in the middle of a conflict within the community he considered his family.

Direk Tony, who agreed that Jose fits the role to a T, related that what’s good about the movie is “madali mo siyang kapain be-

cause it is a true-to-life story. The only challenge was on how we will attack the scenes because it is comedy with a touch of drama so mabigat yun. Jose is effective as Boy Tokwa, especially in the heavy scenes that you will really be carried away by him.”

Direk Tony added it was a breeze working with Jose and has already formed a rapport with the latter after working together for so many times.

“Kasi si Jose nung mag-start sa movie kami na ang unang magkasama e. The only difference here is it’s a really (challenging) project for us because No. 1, the concept is very good and everything but definitely I know how Jose felt like, ‘Direk, can I pull this off?’ Parang ganun kabigat yung project sa kanya. So we really did our best so that, at least, (the audience) will see who Jose Manalo really is. He is a comedian but you’ll see that he has the ability (galing), he has heart and everything.”

Love chemistry 101

ing in a general setting makes marriage appear like a business transaction, more material, less sacred, and less romantic.

Famous and infamous lovers The most famous lovers are Romeo and Juliet, a tragedy written

by William Shakespeare between 1591 and 1595. The other popular pairs are Cleopatra and Mark Anthony, lancelot and Guinevere, Napoleon and Josephine, Paris and Helena, Tristan and Isolde, Orpheus and Eurydice, Odysseus and Penelope, and Tristan and Iseult, ShahJahan and Mumtaz Mahal, Alexander I of Serbia and Draga Masin, King Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson, Catherine the Great and Grigory Potemkin, Czar Nicholas II and Alexandra Federovna, Charles Augustus lindbergh, Jr. and Anne Spencer Morrow, Juan Domingo Peron and Maria Eva Duarte (Evita), Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

Till death do us part The epitome, the incarnation, of loyalty and faithfulness are seen among the prarie voles (Microtus ochrogaster), from the rodent family. They are usually about 4.8 inches and weigh 1.5 ounces.

The word vole is an anagram of

love, and this cute rodent “has been designated as the unofficial species to study monogamy in lab animal,” since they mate for life and are purely faithful, even sharing child care duties. The extreme bond and crazy-glue behavior is regulated by the neurotransmitters (oxytocin and vasopressin).

Guys, we can learn something here, in spite of the jest that says “Herpes infection is always forever, unlike some love.”

Manifestations of love Being in love rates number one in human emotions. It is a sense of extreme joy, deep-seated happiness, and heavenly sentiment that makes one’s spirit soar above the clouds, when one thinks of or holds the hand of a best friend, when addicted to a person, near or far, when the absence of one makes the heart grow fonder and produces “withdrawal symptoms,” etc. Besides the ethereal, the earthly signs include among others, the feeling of selflessness and intense desire to be together, to dream and plan as a team, to give and share, to protect and provide security in all forms and needs, and the endless dream to grow old together. Indeed, that’s amore!

If all the peoples around the world would only have more understanding, love, and compassion than intolerance, anger, hatred, and vengeance, more love than wars, we might capture the elusive peace on earth that everybody has been talking about for aeons but never achieved. Clearly, this is only wishful thinking, day dreaming. Of course, don’t hold your breath. But I am a hopeless eternal optimist. Naïve, perhaps, but confident and hopeful in the power love.

Here’s wishing you and your loved ones, whoever and wherever you are, a New Year blessed with love, good health, joy, prosperity, and peace…and a long life to enjoy them.

*** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 10-16, 2019

B

B8 JANUARY 10-16, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com â&#x20AC;˘ (702) 792-6678

Located in Montemaria, home to the ninth largest monument in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shrine to Mother Mary,Tower of Peace.

A world-class township development located in Montemaria, Batangas City, the Philippines.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For your retirement, family vacation, pilgrimage, and investment...for generations.â&#x20AC;?

THE TOTAL LAND AREA OF THE MONTEMARIA DEVELOPMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 130 HECTARES WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TOWNSHIP* PROJECTS: 01 Condominiums, hotels, and resorts 02 Commercial developments such as a shopping center which includes restaurants and cafes 03 Golf Course and Water Park 04 Spa and Wellness Centers 05 Marina and Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharf 06 Housing, residential subdivision, and retirement village 6XEMHFW WR Ć&#x201C;QDO GHYHORSPHQW SODQ TOTAL LAND AREA 2.1 Hectares

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

01 Development site is adjacent to the Statue of Virgin Mary.

02 5HVRUW VHWWLQJ ZLWK PDJQLĆ&#x201C;FHQW YLHZ RI WKH ED\ 03 High-quality asset with world-class exterior and interior design.

04 Designed by award winning and internationally renowned Architecture and Design Firm, ARCH HAUS ASIA. 05 Montemaria is located on top of the Batangas Bay Peninsula facing the Verde Island Passage, reputed to be the U.N. recognized â&#x20AC;&#x153;Center of the Center of Marine Bio-Diversity of the World.â&#x20AC;?

DATE OF COMPLETION Second Quarter of 2020 TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS PHASE 1 866 Units BUILDING 1 164 units

BUILDING 2 Clubhouse

Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between 3UHPLHU $VLD 3DFLĆ&#x201C;F 5HDO (VWDWH DQG Development Corp.and Omnicor ,QGXVWULDO (VWDWH 5HDOW\ &HQWHU ,QF

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN K. GROSS-NIEDERMEYER AT (480) 227-7782 SUSAN@SUSANGROSSREALTOR.COM I SUSAN.GROSS@PREMIERASIAPACIFIC.COM I LOMBARDBYTHEBAY.COM