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JANUARY 11-17, 2019 Volume 12 - No. 12 • 16 Pages

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Filipino lawmakers laud passing of HIV and AIDS law

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

MEMBERS of the legislation who pushed for the measure to address the rising cases of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in the country, said that the new law recently signed

by President Rodrigo Duterte, would “offer new hope to generations.”

Senator Risa Hontiveros and Dinagat Island Representative Kaka Bag-aolauded the signing of the Philippine HIV and AIDS Policy Act of 2018.

“I am happy that the measure was finally signed into law by the President. It is a great way to start the new year. The law affirms a human rightsbased, humane and scientific approach in adMalacañang confirmed that Pres. Rodrigo Duterte signed the law in dressing HIV and AIDS,” Hontiveros, who is the December 2018. It hurdled the the Congress before it went on a break last October 10.

Malacañang photo

USA

DATELINE US carbon emissions saw sharp rise in 2018, data shows FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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 Depression.

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

Not only did emissions see a decline since 2015, but the increase also came despite

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US Navy destroyer sails near disputed islands 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 — 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 “to challenge excessive maritime claims.”

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 so-called “freedom of navigation” operations were “not about any one country, nor are they about making political statements.”

The sail-by happened while Chinese and US officials started talks in Beijing over finding a solution to the bitter trade war that saw

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BLACK NAZERENE CROSSES JONES BRIDGE. Hundreds of thousands of devotees flock the intersection of Quintin Paredes and Escolta Streets in Binondo, Manila as the image of the Black Nazarene crosses Jones Bridge enroute to Quiapo Church in Manila during the Grand Traslacion of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Wednesday, January 9.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Court ruling against Trillanes is double jeopardy, says IBP THE decision of the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) affirming the issuance of a warrant for the arrest of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV in connection with the government’s revival of a rebellion case against him smacks of double jeopardy, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said on Tuesday, January 8.

Trillanes is considering appealing the ruling or questioning it in higher courts, his lawyer said.

But Malacañang said the Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV will appeal the Makati Regional Trial Court decision law was just catching up with upholding the issuance of an arrest warrant against him for rebellion, Trillanes, whose amnesty given according to his lawyer.

Inquirer.net photo

by the government in 2010 for participation in attempts to overthrow President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003, 2006 and 2007 was voided by President Rodrigo Duterte in August last year.

“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,” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a statement.

“What’s happening to him should strike fear in the hearts of

those who after being financed by taxpayer 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 said.

Trillanes had angered President Duterte after the senator accused him of stashing unexplained wealth in secret bank accounts and linking one of his

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Erring Cabinet men to be held accountable — Palace ‘Travel advisories

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

MALACAÑANG on Monday, January 7, assured the public that erring officials will be held accountable for their actions. This is after the Presidential Anti-Corruption 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 Lapeña 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.

“You violate the law, regardless of your status — whether you’re a friend, an ally, a political adversary, a relative, a friend or a fraternity brother — it doesn’t matter. You are accountable,” said Panelo to reporters.

“We will wait for the findings.

If there’s evidence, the president will act on it,” he added.

Bello, for his part, said he is not aware of any complaint or pend-

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will not hurt tourism’

by ROBERTZON

RAMIREZ

Philstar.com

Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo Inquirer.net photo

DESPITE travel advisories issued by Australia and the UK against traveling to Mindanao, the Tourism Congress of the Philippines (TCP) remains optimistic that these will not hurt the tourism industry in the Philippines.

TCP president Jojo Clemente claimed that they were not surprised by the travel advisories but added that they are implementing strategies to address the issue.

“I don’t think it will affect the tourism industry. We haven’t received cancellations from the areas of the travel advisory. We received calls for clarifications, but we are here to explain the whole situation,” Clemente said.

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

by AJPRESS

Darren Criss

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 win.

In his acceptance speech durPhoto by Sthanlee B. Mirador/SIPA USA/AP ing 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

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Miss Universe 2018

Catriona Gray

AJPress photo by Troi Santos

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From the Front Page

Court ruling against Trillanes is...

PAGE A1 sons and a son-in-law to the illegal drug trade last year.

Proclamation No. 572 The President issued Proclamation No. 572 voiding Trillanes’ amnesty, ordering his arrest and reviving the rebellion and coup d’état cases that had been brought against him. The Makati RTC dismissed the two cases in 2010 after the amnesty grant.

The President, however, said Trillanes did not apply for amnesty nor did he admit guilt in attempting to overthrow Arroyo.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) asked Makati RTC Branch 148 to revive the coup d’état case and Branch 150 the rebellion case.

Judge Andres Soriano of Branch 148 rejected the DOJ’s motion, ruling that the case was dismissed in 2010 and that revival was not allowed under the rules of court.

No copy of application form But Judge Elmo Alameda of Branch 150 granted the DOJ petition and ordered the arrest of Trillanes who, he said, failed to show copy of his application for amnesty.

Trillanes appealed the decision, submitting documents and the affidavits of Col. Josefa Berbigal, the former head of the secretariat of the amnesty committee of the Department of National Defense (DND), and the head of the committee, Honorio Azcueta, both of whom testified

that he applied for amnesty.

Trillanes, however, could not show his application form, as this was lost in the DND archives, and the loss was reportedly discovered after Solicitor General Jose Calida came asking for it last year.

During a hearing last year, prosecution witnesses admitted that all the records, minutes and other documents related to the amnesty given to Trillanes and 276 other military mutineers were missing from the DND archives.

In a decision dated Dec. 18, 2018, but released only on Monday, Alameda rejected Trillanes’ appeal, citing his failure to produce his application form and explain its loss.

“Trillanes failed to prove the existence or execution of the original, the loss or destruction of the original or its nonproduction in court, and the unavailability of the original is not due to bad faith on his part,” Alameda said.

In his original decision in September last year, Alameda upheld President Duterte’s authority to issue Proclamation No. 572 and ordered the arrest of Trillanes.

The senator, however, is out on P200,000 bail.

Alameda’s decision has put the Makati RTC in what the IBP called last year an “anomalous situation” where one court upheld the amnesty and the other ruled to void it.

“We stand by our earlier opinion that the earlier dismissal of the criminal charges versus Senator Trillanes on the ground of amnesty has long become final and executory. Hence, they may no longer be revived or reopened without violating the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy. No person can be held to answer twice for the same offense,” IBP president Abdiel Fajardo said in a statement on Tuesday.

Fajardo said Alameda should have upheld the principle of separation of powers by rejecting outright the executive branch’s motion for the reopening of the case.

“With due respect to the trial court, it has the power to resist the actions of the executive branch, especially when they would appear to be in derogation of judicial power. This is in consonance with the doctrine of separation of powers,” Fajardo said.

Reynaldo Robles, a lawyer for Trillanes, said the senator’s camp had yet to get a copy of Alameda’s ruling, but “we will consider the possibility of appealing or questioning the ruling before the higher courts.”

Trillanes is out of the country on speaking engagements. He is traveling with Alameda’s permission. (Jerome Aning, Leila B. Salaverria, Christine O. Avendaño and Dexter Cabalza/Inquirer. net)

COURTESY CALL. President Rodrigo Duterte engages in a conversation with Japan House of Councillors President Chuichi Date who paid a courtesy call on the President at the Malacañan Palace on Tuesday, January 8.

Malacañang photo by Rene Lumawag

Filipino lawmakers laud passing...

PAGE A1 principal author of the bill in the Senate, said as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The senator presented the data that the Philippines remains as the only country in Southeast Asia where cases of HIV and AIDS continue to increase. A report showed that there was a 170-percent increase in reported cases among those in ages 15 to 24.

“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,” the senator added.

Bag-ao, co-author of the law, attributed its success to people with HIV and AIDS and its advocates noting that through the policy act the government can “ensure economic empowerment and independence designed for PLHIVs.” Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced on Wednesday, January 9, that President Duterte has signed the HIV and AIDS policy act otherwise known as the Republic Act 11166, replacing Philippine AIDS Prevention and Control Act. “We consider its enactment and signing timely and relevant on account of the report of the Department of Health disclosing that our country has the highest percentage relative to the increase of new HIV cases in the Asia-Pacific region from 2010 to 2016,” Panelo said.

Aside from addressing the spread of the HIV and AIDS, but it would also give people living with HIV and AIDS the medicine and care they needed without discrimination and prejudice

from the general public.

“The law would deliver proper treatment, care and support services to Filipinos living with HIV in accordance with evidencebased strategies and approaches which are in tune with key principles of human rights, gender equality and meaningful participation of communities,” Panelo said.

“We laud our lawmakers including various stakeholders who immensely contributed to the passage of an updated legal framework addressing HIV and AIDS. This piece of landmark legislation will significantly reduce the stigma of people living with HIV or AIDS,” Panelo said.

Government data showed a total of 8,533 cases of HIV infections, including 1,520 AIDS cases in the first nine months of the 2018. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS reported that the Philippines has the fastest growing HIV epidemic in the Asia-Pacific from 2010 to 2016.

The new law also has guaranteed that people living with HIV would not be deprived of opportunities for livelihood, micro-finance, self-help and cooperative programs due to their HIV status. n

‘Travel advisories will not...

PAGE A1 Australia and the UK recently issued travel advisories, warning their citizens to be cautious when traveling to Mindanao a few days after two persons were killed and 34 others were injured in a New Year’s Eve bombing in Cotabato City.

Clemente said the private sector has urged the Department of Tourism (DOT) to issue a statement assuring tourists’ safety in the Philippines.

Clemente added that the DOT should also work with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and Philippine National Police (PNP) to assure tourists of the government’s security measures.

“The government is already addressing the issue – double efforts in marketing other places

far from the situation. We’re not panicking about it; it’s nothing catastrophic,” he said.

But Clemente admitted that “it is incumbent” for them to explain the whole situation to both domestic and foreign travelers.

Aside from Australia and the UK, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently issued a travel advisory on the alleged deficiency of security measures at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

“We are a bit more worried about the US travel advisory even if there seems to be no effect on us a few days after. As usual, many are making inquiries,” Clemente said.

Clemente said the TCP is challenged to sell Mindanao because of the travel advisories. n

US carbon emissions saw...

PAGE A1 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 efficiency 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)

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

JANUARY 11-17, 2019

Unshakable PH-US ties underscored in PH ambassador’s address to foreign policy discussion group WASHINGTON, D.C. — Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez spoke about Philippine foreign policy in a complicated world, and the strength of the Philippines-U.S. bilateral relations in a speech to the prestigious Foreign Policy Discussion Group (FPDG) of Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 8.

The Ambassador outlined the importance of sovereignty and independence as pillars of Philippine foreign policy under President Rodrigo Duterte. He emphasized that the Philippines seeks to be a friend and partner to all, and noted that it is working to establish closer relationships with diverse countries while strengthening traditional partnerships.

Ambassador Romualdez also spoke about the different realities in which countries find themselves today, and how in a complicated world, leaders around the world are required, if not compelled, to adopt policies and leadership styles that better fit the current world environment, while being consistent with our democratic and libertarian values.

He reassured the FPDG, however, that the friendship between the Philippines and the United States remains strong and stable.

From the South China Sea, to the proposed bilateral free trade agreement, and to the strong people-to-people ties anchored by a nearly 4 million Filipino diaspora in the United States, the relationship between the two countries is robust and unshakable.

“We continue to build on and strengthen our deep and long friendship based on mutual respect and a strong alliance of two great nations. Filipinos and Americans alike continue to keep the fires of our friendship burning, both in times of war and in peace,” Ambassador Romualdez told his audience.

“The friendship between our two nations could only be reinvigorated and made stronger with the recent return of the Bal-

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 Ambassador Jose Manuel G. Romualdez delivers remarks at the dinner hosted by the Foreign Policy Discussion Group (FPDG) of Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 8.

angiga bells to the Philippines,” the Ambassador said, in referencing the bells that were taken

by U.S. soldiers from a church in Eastern Samar during the Filipino-American war over a hundred years ago.

“I was honored to join President Duterte in Balangiga last December, and to hear the bells finally toll once again, not with the bitter sound of war, but the sweet chimes of peace and friendship,” he added.

“We were honored to host Ambassador Romualdez at the FPDG’s first dinner for 2019. He spoke about U.S.-Philippine relations and cited the return of the Balangiga Bells as a heart-warming story that rights a centuryold wrong. In a lively question and answer session, Ambassador Romualdez discussed many important issues, including the role of China in the South China Sea and the importance of ongoing trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing,” said Thomas J. Reckford, President of the Foreign Policy Discussion Group, in a statement after the dinner.

“Ambassador Romualdez delivered on-target remarks on Philippine-American relations to this elite audience, citing shared values, enduring ties, and a range

Ambassador Romualdez with FPDG President Thomas J. Reckford during the FPGD dinner.

Pacquiao, Mayweather shake hands at LA Clippers Filipino Heritage Night

by AJPress 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.

“I’m so thankful they invited me to be there for the Filipino Heritage Night. I didn’t expect Floyd Mayweather [would be] there, nagkataon lang (It was a coincidence),” Pacquiao told the Asian Journal on Wednesday,

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January 9 after his appearance at the LA Clippers game.

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

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

half Filipino is one of my favorite things about me,” Criss said backof common interests,” also said stage, as reported by Deadline.

Ambassador John Maisto, Presi- “ I feel like I have been given a dent of the U.S.-Philippines So- superhero cape and I am glad to ciety, who was a special guest at step up to that plate.”

The former “Glee” actor won the dinner.

The FPDG was created to pro- against Golden Globe nominees mote greater knowledge and Antonio Banderas in “Genius: understanding of problems af- Picasso,” Daniel Brühl in “The fecting foreign policy among its members. It was established to offer a platform and a framework conducive to frank discussions of PAGE A1 problems of foreign policy. Mem- the two countries imposing tariffs bers of the FPDG are primarily on more than $300 billion in total from the Washington area and two-way trade last year.

“All operations … demonstrate include former and present government officials, lawyers, repre- that the United States will fly, sail sentatives of the business sector, and operate wherever internabankers, and academicians who tional law allows. That is true in are knowledgeable in foreign af- the South China Sea as in other places around the globe,” Mcfairs. n

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 anthol-

ogy 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. n

US Navy destroyer sails near...

Marr 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. (Ritchel Mendiola/AJPress)

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Dateline USa

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, pelosi’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.

“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,” said pelosi in her speech, which included tributes to former presidents ronald reagan and george H.W. Bush.

Quoting former president reagan’s last speech as president, pelosi said, “if we ever closed the door to new americans, our leadership in the world would soon be lost.” though president Donald trump’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 government shutdown that has resulted from trump’s demand for the U.S.Mexico border wall. “and in that spirit, Democrats will be offering the Senate republican appropriations legislation to re-open government later today — to meet the needs of the american people, to protect our borders, and to respect our workers,” said pelosi. pelosi vowed to make sure Congress would be “transparent, bipartisan, and unifying.” 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. “this House will be for the people! empowered by our mandate, we will pursue our mission,” 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 — the largest amount it has ever been. “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 — the highest number in history,” said pelosi. “each of us comes to this chamber strengthened by the trust of our constituents and the love of our families,” 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.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi

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. “i hear the gOp thinks women dancing are scandalous. Wait till they find out Congresswomen dance too!,” tweeted OcasioCortez, 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 — arizona’s first female senator — became the first openly bisexual person in the Senate.

While the large majority of women newcomers were Democrat, rep. Carol Miller (r-W.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.).

“With 3 newly elected #aapi Members of Congress bringing us to a history high of 20 aapi Members in the 116th Congress, we couldn’t be more excited (or proud)!,” the Congressional asian pacific american Caucus (CapaC) tweeted. n

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

by Rae

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

JANUARY 11-17, 2019

Travelers protest NAIA traffic

by Rudy

SantoS Philstar.com

Departing passengers on Monday, January 7, complained of traffic jams at the ninoy aquino international airport (naia) due to stricter inspection of vehicles. travelers said they took more than an hour to get to the departure area of the naia terminals because of the long lines of vehicles.

Consuelo Fernandez said she left her house in Cavite at around 10 a.m. for her 2 p.m. flight. She Travelers said they took more than an hour to get to the departure area of the NAIA terminals arrived at the airport before 1 because of the long lines of vehicles.

Philstar photo by Rudy Santos p.m. airport security officials called for public cooperation due to the random checking of vehicles recommended by the transportation Security administration (tSa). according to the officials, the stricter inspections were part of the Manila international airport authority (Miaa)’s response to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s observation that security at the naia was insufficient. “the government is coordinating with other international assessment agencies, including the international Civil aviation Organization, which found Manila airports to be generally satisfactory,” Miaa general manager ed Monreal said. the recommendations of the tSa include the installation of additional equipment such as X-ray machines, walk-through metal detectors and alarm systems. “procurement of these items is under process, but this will take time because these are not offthe-shelf and will require time for manufacturing and delivery. these equipment are expected to be installed in the second quarter of the year,” Monreal said. another tSa recommendation was the conduct of background check on newly hired airport personnel, which includes national intelligence Coordinating agency checks for those implementing security control and submission of new national Bureau of investigation clearance for Miaa access pass holders. the tSa also recommended a change in the “security culture” among long-time naia personnel on consistent implementation and observance of strict security procedures.

While waiting for the delivery of the security equipment, transportation Secretary arthur tugade has given instructions to implement manual intervention such as the hiring of additional contracted guards around the clock. n

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 detect 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

:8IG< ;@<D 8KK<EK@FE @DD@>I8K@FE C8NP<IJ 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.

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 added. “in a natural disaster, one extra second can save a life, and this app can provide that.” 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 governor’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 county-specific 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 entire West Coast. “the City of L.a. is an important Shakealert partner, undertaking the nation’s first test of delivering USgS-generated Shakealerts to a large population using a City-developed cell phone app,” said James reilly, USgS Director.

“What we learn from this expanded pilot in La will be applied to benefit the entire current and future Shakealert system.”

ShakealertLa is now available on android and apple app stores in both english and Spanish. n

Erring Cabinet men to be held accountable...

PAGE A1 ing 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.

“Wala pa namang (There’s still no) complaint against me and they have not asked me to reply to any complaint,” 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 ques-

tionable deals and unnecessary trips, as proof he is serious about his anti-corruption drive.

While critics claimed Duterte’s crackdown is selective, saying the president’s close allies were spared and some dismissed officials were reappointed to new posts, panelo defended him by saying the president only fires an official once there is evidence showing he committed wrongdoing. “if you say whiff of corruption, there should be substantial grounds. the president will order an investigation. if you are accused of something, it doesn’t mean you will be dismissed immediately. the president is not like that,” panelo said.

Malacañang said the paCC in-

vestigation against Bello, Lapeña and Quintayo is allowed to continue.

Bello and two other labor officials were accused in July last year by a local job recruiter of graft and corruption. amanda araneta, president and general manager of MMML recruitment Services inc., threatened to file charges before the paCC and claimed she personally gave Bello an iphone and p100,000 cash as Christmas gifts in 2016.

She also said she tried to give him an expensive bottle of perfume as well as p100,000 cash as a belated birthday gift in June 2017.

Bello, however, denied the accusations. n

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JANUARY 11-17, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

OPINION

FEATURES

Eliminating political rivals 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

Philstar.com photo

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

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

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?

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 Jo-

Philstar.com photo

sephus. 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 Aqui-

no 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 National 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 resi-

dent 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, 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)

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.

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DAteline PhiliPPines

JANUARY 11-17, 2019

A

Duterte jokes: Let’s kidnap, torture COA personnel

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

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

Lacson tells PNP to monitor expelled law enforcers, not teachers

by AJPress senAtOr Panfilo Lacson on tuesday, January 8, said the Philippine national Police (PnP) should focus their time and energy on monitoring expelled police and military personnel, not on teachers regarded as critical by the government.

He made the suggestion when the police force faced backlash over the inventory of members of Alliance on Concerned teachers (ACt), a legal organization for teaching and non-teaching personnel.

He also argued that many expelled law enforcers have been identified as suspects in recent heinous crimes.

Lacson is a retired police officer who headed the PnP from 1999 to 2001.

According to the PnP, Henry Yuson, the alleged main gunman in the killing of AKO Bicol rep. rodel Batocabe, is a former member of the Philippine Army and the Citizen Armed Force Geographical Unit. there are also reports that said former cops were part of the armed bodyguards of Guimbal, iloilo Mayor Oscar Garin and his son rep. richard Garin, who mauled a policeman in december.

“the PnP should instead conduct profiling and surveillance on dishonourably discharged PnP and AFP personnel to keep track of their post-discharge activities including their lifestyle,” Lacson said. “in that way, they may be able to solve a lot of crimes, even preempt them,” he added. since the start of the year, police intelligence agents have been visiting schools in Metro Manila, Zambales, Camarines sur, sorsogon, Cebu and Agusan del sur to inventory members of the teachers’ union, ACt claimed.

PnP chief director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday said he did not sign any document that ordered intelligence officers to conduct an inventory of ACt members; however, he did not deny that the order came from a PnP unit.

He insisted that the PnP is just undertaking simple intelligence or information gathering.

ACt secretary General raymond Basilio, for his part, said police profiling is “illegal and unmistakably wrong”, explaining that it violates the members rights to privacy, free expression and self-organization.

Lorenzana: We can’t end insurgency this year

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

deFense secretary delfin Lorenzana on tuesday, January 8. said that despite the plans made by the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), it is still impossible to end the communist insurgency this year.

“We cannot do it (end insurgency) this year because that is a big problem,” Lorenzana admitted during the sidelines of tuesday’s joint department of national defense-AFP new year’s call in Camp Aguinaldo.

He also pointed out that the communist insurgency has been festering for the last 50 years.

“We cannot end it in one year.

But if our target would be the remaining three years of President duterte’s presidency, we can probably do it,” he added.

Winning peace Lt. Gen. Benjamin Madrigal Jr., AFP chief of staff, reminded defense and military officials in his speech at the event of their objective this year.

“Let me remind everyone that our [objective] for 2019 is to achieve the President’s desire to ultimately win the peace and finally put an end to local communist armed conflict,” he said.

According to him, this could be attained by “unifying our efforts at various levels of government with the end view of developing conflict-resilient communities” — referring to the national task force created to end the communist insurgency.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana

He also assured the public that ending the communist insurgency is “attainable” in a few years, explaining that localized peace talks and the implementation of the enhanced Comprehensive Local integration Program, or e-CLiP, had been working to persuade droves of new People’s Army (nPA) fighters to surrender. the current nPA strength is at approximately 4,000 regular members, as placed by the defense secretary, while its militia and underground movement is at some 50,000 members.

Too many things to handle “We have to move [the 2019 deadline] because it is not yet attainable. there are still too many things to handle,” Lorenzana said.

He also said he would support the possible revival of peace talks with the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP)-nPA — as long as negotiations were held in the Philippines and there were localized peace talks that were already working.

“Mr. sison, if you want the peace process, as the president said, let’s talk here in the Philippines, not in norway,” Lorenzana addressed.

He also asked the communist rebels to be sincere in seeking peace.

“What we are seeing here is because of the success of our localized peace talks, he (sison) wants negotiations to resume so it will be held abroad,” he said. n

Inquirer.net photo

Commission on Human rights spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia echoed his sentiment, saying that such move by the PnP is similar to “red-tagging” or the practice of publicly classifying individuals and organizations critical of the government as communist terrorists, state enemies or subversives. n

President rodrigo duterte on tuesday, January 8, joked about kidnapping and torturing the Commission on Audit (COA) personnel who make life hard for local government officials.

“Ah, p**t**g**a COA yan, letse. Yung COA, every time, may mali talaga. Ano ba itong COA na ito? Mag kidnap tayo ng taga COA, lagay natin dito, torture natin dito. t*****a. (Those sons of bitches in COA. That COA, every time, it has something wrong with it. What’s with this COA? Let’s just kidnap COA [officials], put them here, and torture them. Son of a bitch),” he said in a speech during the Barangay summit on Peace and Order in Pasay City. the president railed against COA for making things difficult for government officials, which is part of his continuing diatribes against the bureaucratic processes he sees as obstacles to governance.

“Puro yan pahirapan. Yan ang ayaw ko — ang pahirapan. (All it does is make things difficult.

That’s what I don’t want — making things difficult),” duterte said. “sino ba gusto makulong nang ano? Pero yung ano, pahirapan,

‘yan ang ayaw ko, yang pahirapan (Who wants to be jailed?

But making things difficult, that’s what I don’t like),” he added. duterte slammed COA last year as well, making a joke about throwing a COA auditor down the stairs. the remark was born after ilocos norte Gov. imee Marcos claimed that COA did not allow cash advances for the purchase of building materials intended for disaster victims. sino’ng taga-COA dito? ihulog mo na sa hagdan para ‘di magreport (Who’s from COA? Push him down the stairs so he won’t be able to file a report anymore),” he said in september. duterte also criticized the circulars released by the state audit agency. “some guys in the government went to jail based on a circular, and other guys went scot-free because of the same circular.

Ganun ka-cockeyed. depende nalang saan nila eh whether they swing the legal arguments (That’s how cockeyed [they are].

It all depends on them whether they swing the legal arguments),” he said.

He added that the circulars are useless unless they are made into law. due to the president’s tirades, former COA commissioner Heidi Mendoza had to remind the pub-

lic that COA personnel deserve respect as they play a critical role in safeguarding public funds. the COA regularly reports on how local government units spend their funds. And while Mendoza admitted that some COA guidelines may appear “impractical” and “outdated”, these rules are still in place to ensure public officials are held accountable for how they spend taxpayers’ money.

COA has been instrumental for the duterte administration when it came to revealing mismanagement of funds — thus helping the president fulfill his promise of weeding out corruption by firing these officials.

COA was the one that flagged the department of tourism’s (dOt) millions of pesos worth of advertisements that aired during the PtV show of then-tourism secretary Wanda teo’s brother. it was through COA’s report that revealed former Philippine Health insurance Corporation interim president Celestina de la serna’s extravagant travel expenses.

COA was also the one that identified anomalous contracts entered into by the Presidential Communications Operations Office for the Association of southeast Asian nations summit hosting. n

A

january 11-17, 2019 • nEW yOrK anD nEW jErSEy aSIan jOurnaL

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Jose Ma. Sison: New deadline to crush NPA will fail

by JosE

rodEl clapano Philstar.com

MANILA — The new deadline set by the Duterte administration to finish off the communist movement will fail, Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison said.

“The... military and police of the same exploiting classes cannot accomplish in three years what they failed to accomplish in 50 years,” Sison said in a statement posted on the website of the National Democratic Front.

“The scheme will surely fail Cardinal Tagle, who delivered the homily during the Nazarene feast high mass, cited the three traits indicative of true devotion. from day to day, week to week, Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman month to month and from year to year as the NPA (New People’s Army) will intensify tactical offensives and mass work,” he said.

Devotion or fanaticism to the Black Nazarene?

Cardinal Tagle explains difference in homily

by EvElyn

Macairan Philstar.com

MANILA — There is a difference between devotion and fanaticism to the Black Nazarene, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said.

Tagle, who delivered the homily during the Nazarene feast high mass, cited the three traits indicative of true devotion.

He said devotees need to possess love, loyalty and being one with the Black Nazarene.

“I will be devoted to Him, unlike the fanatics who do not know how to love. The fanatics only cling on to those who give them importance, but a devotee clings on to Him because he loves Him,” Tagle said.

Fanatics, if they do not receive what they want, would no longer be followers, he said.

“But devotees, because of love, they would remain loyal whether they receive something in return or none. For as long as I love you, I will serve you,” the Manila archbishop said.

Being one with Jesus Christ, Tagle said, is not an imitation but a union.

“Two hearts that would become close and beating as one,” he said.

Tagle clarified that while the devotees do not have a perfect relationship with Christ, there should be love, loyalty and service and unity.

“They have to work toward this goal every day in order to have this kind of relationship,” he said.

The correct attitude of devo-

tion to the Black Nazarene should be spread and taught to others, Tagle said.

“The first one to be devoted to us is Jesus Christ… He is devoted to His Father in heaven and he also showed that he is devoted to us… In the Bible, He is the Son of God who came down from heaven,” Tagle added.

This devotion is also to show the intention of the Lord, Tagle said. “(He does) not want to punish us but to save us,” the Manila prelate added.

Pain and suffering If Jesus went through so much pain and suffering, so should we.

Two young devotees of the Black Nazarene, in their 20s, believed this as they participated in the traslacion.

The Star saw student Christian Cerezo limping his way out of the thick crowd along Finance Road at around 9 a.m. on Wednesday, January 9.

His right ankle had been injured as he battled the people who mobbed the image’s andas or carriage.

Cerezo beamed as he claimed that for 10 minutes he was able to hold on to the rope that pulled the andas.

The rope is believed to be miraculous, he said, adding that he saw devotees gnaw on it so they could bring bits of it home.

As he made his way toward the rope, Cerezo was praying for blessings and good health for himself and his family.

Cerezo, a devotee of the Black Nazarene since he was 14, saw

the pain and suffering as “normal.”

“Nothing compares to the suffering of Jesus,” he said.

But he said while the devotion was “not a contest” the people needed to avoid unnecessary harm.

Meanwhile, blood was oozing from the right eyebrow of promotions merchandiser Karl Louisse Leal.

He told The Star that he was hit by the edge of the Black Nazarene’s cross without noticing it as he touched the image.

The Hijos del Nazareno or Sons of the Nazarene pulling the andas came to Leal’s rescue.

Leal believed that the “accident” was worth all the pain.

“We can’t avoid getting hurt… in real life a devotee needs to go through suffering,” he said.

“When you have venerated the image, or touched the rope, the pain and suffering is all worth it.”

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) treated 619 mostly Black Nazarene devotees.

Of the number, 468 underwent blood monitoring; 131 suffered minor injuries, including punctures, bruises, abrasions and lacerations; 18 sustained major injuries like bleeding, fractures and difficulty breathing; and two others were brought to hospital, suffering from hypertension.

“The devotees endure the pain and suffering or threat to their life and limb because of their faith,” PRC’s safety manager Von Ryan Ong told The Star as their field hospital at the Bonifacio Shrine was accepting patients. n

President Rodrigo Duterte pushed back the deadline to beat communist insurgency by the middle of this year to the end of his term in 2022.

“These are lame duck years for him during which infighting among his followers will be debilitating and challenges will rise from within the ruling system as well as from the revolutionary forces,” Sison said.

P30 million heavy equipment burned Meanwhile, suspected NPA rebels burned several heavy equipment worth around P30 million in Kalamansig, Sultan Kudarat on Monday, January 7.

Chief Inspector Badrudin Esmael, town police chief, said the rebels stormed the compound of Janmerc Builders in Barangay

Hinalaan at around 4 a.m. and poured gasoline on two payloaders, a road roller, a transit mixer and a backhoe before setting them on fire.

Prior to the incident, another group of rebels reportedly burned heavy equip June Buendicho, project engineer of Janmerc, said some of the equipment were new.

Janmerc is building government infrastructure projects in Lebak and Kalamansig towns.

In Abra, police are looking into the possible involvement of the NPA in the killing of military informant Modesto Carsola Sr., 64, in Pilar town on Tuesday.

Carsola was harvesting tomatoes in Sitio Kabayugan, Barangay Gapang when he was reportedly shot at close range. n

Court finds former RCBC bank manager guilty in $81-M money laundering scheme A FORMER bank manager was found guilty of money laundering for facilitating the transfer of $81 million from the Bangladesh central bank to her branch in the Philippines in 2016.

Judge Cesar Untalan of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 149 sentenced Maia Deguito of the Rizal Commercial Banking Corp.

(RCBC) from four to seven years of imprisonment for each of the eight counts of money laundering she was charged with and fined $109 million.

Deguito was the branch manager of RCBC along Jupiter St. when $81 million from the Bangladesh bank were deposited under fake accounts and were

reportedly converted and distributed to casino operators in 2016.

The Senate, in 2017, conducted a series of investigations on the cyberheist, reportedly the biggest in Philippine history.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) cleared Deguito’s other co-accused. (DNJ Deal Cruz/ManilaTimes.net)

National Privacy Commission to PNP: Explain spying on ACT

by Janvic

MatEo Philstar.com

MANILA — The National Privacy Commission (NPC) will ask the Philippine National Police (PNP) to explain the profiling conducted on members of the Alliance of Concerned Teachers (ACT).

Privacy commissioner Raymund Liboro said officials of the PNP Data Protection Unit should explain the reported intelligence gathering operations on teachers belonging to the militant ACT, which is affiliated with the left-leaning group Bagong Alyansang Makaban that authorities alleged is a front organization of the Communist Party of the Philippines.

“We had conducted Data Privacy Act briefings with the PNP before, together with their data protection unit. We will be contacting them,” he told The Star.

Liboro earlier said that the collection and processing of personal data by law enforcement agencies have limits.

“The Data Privacy Act recognizes the importance of public order and safety, and that processing of personal information is important for law enforcement purposes. This, however, is not without limits,” he said.

“The processing of personal data, especially those of sensitive nature, should only be to the extent necessary for the purpose. This means collection should always be consistent with full respect of human rights and the Constitution, particularly the right to information privacy,” the NPC chief said.

Under the law, a person’s philosophical or political affiliation is considered sensitive personal

information, the processing of which is strictly guided by specific conditions.

The PNP, through leaked memos from various intelligence units, was discovered to have been gathering a list of members of ACT. Refer requests to head office The Department of Education said it would issue a reminder to school officials to refer to the central office any request on information covered by the Data Privacy Act. “Requests for personal information will have to be evaluated by our central office and we are going to reiterate that to our officials down the line,” Education Secretary Leonor Briones said.

“We are going to issue a memorandum to all our people to remind them of the policy because this is not the only time that happened. With Data Privacy Act, you have to be much more sensitive in giving away information that may cause damage,” she added.

Briones said she met with Interior Secretary Eduardo Año on Tuesday to explain their position that requests will have to be evaluated by the central office.

Education Undersecretary Nepomuceno Malaluan, who met with ACT leaders, said requests for data will be evaluated on a case-to-case basis, noting that the law neither absolutely prohibits nor allows data or information sharing.

He said no official request for the list of ACT members has been filed at the central office, but noted reports of police officials conducting school visits to request such information.

“It appears that there are requests being made directly at

our field units such as schools.

We will be issuing a reminder or a directive to all our units that for inter-agency requests that may involve sensitive personal information, such requests need to be referred to the central office,” Malaluan said.

“We are not prohibiting such requests. What we are saying is that they should be referred to the central office for evaluation if the requests possibly will involve the possible data transfer of sensitive personal information,” he said.

Discriminatory The Commission on Human Rights (CHR) said the PNP must acknowledge that the mere act of profiling prejudices and discriminates ACT members, noting a violation of the basic right to equal protection of the law.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the move also infringes on the rights to privacy and association of the teachers.

“Given the climate of harassment and threats against progressive and vocal groups, this move already raises doubts and fears, considering that the PNP has not been transparent in doing the profiling and they gave no solid justification or legitimate aim for such operation,” she said.

“Further, there is a risk that the list can be utilized to repress legitimate concerns or to silence criticisms or opponents,” she added.

De Guia urged the PNP to do away with profiling and other similar methods, saying the police can start the year right by ensuring that no method and operation will compromise the basic freedoms of any individual or group. n

Ombudsman to probe flood control ‘scam’

by GlEE JalEa ManilaTimes.net

THE Office of the Ombudsman has sought documents from the House of Representatives in preparation for a probe into the alleged flood control scam in Sorsogon involving Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and his daughter’s in-laws, House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. said on Wednesday, January 9.

Andaya said Ombudsman investigators had requested copies of testimonial and documentary evidence generated during a public inquiry in Naga City, Camarines Sur last January 3, the latest episode of the running feud between the Budget department and the House that has delayed the passage of the 2019 budget.

“Apparently, the Office of the Ombudsman has noticed red flags of corruption on the evidence presented and on the testimonies made during the hearing. We have seen these red flags of corruption ourselves,” Andaya said.

“The Ombudsman’s entry into the probe encourages us to dig deeper into the flood control scam and other questionable budget practices under [Budget] Secretary Benjamin Diokno,” he added.

Following protocol, Ombudsman Samuel Martires refused to confirm nor deny Andaya’s statements.

“It must be remembered that investigations conducted by the Field Investigation Office of the

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Ombudsman Samuel Martires, and House Majority Leader Rolando Andaya Jr. ManilaTimes.net photos

Office of the Ombudsman are highly confidential in nature,” Martires said in a statement.

Subpoenas issued Andaya, the budget secretary of former president and now Speaker Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, has thrown numerous accusations at Diokno, who has instituted budget reforms including cash-based budgeting that required funds to be used during the fiscal year, and transparent releases of funds to avoid corruption.

Andaya alleges that there was a conspiracy between the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and Aremar Construction Corp. to corner multi-million infrastructure projects in Casiguran, Sorsogon.

The House rules committee, led by Andaya, has issued subpoenas to officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and owners of Aremar Construction, the Hamor family, which Diokno allegedly favored.

Summoned were Maria Minez

Hamor, Casiguran Mayor Edwin Hamor, Sorsogon Vice Gov. Esther Hamor, and Aremar incorporator Romeo “Jojo” Sicat Jr. and his wife, Charlotte Justine Sicat, the daughter of Diokno.

The Naga City hearing found no masterplan for flood control projects in Sorsogon. Lawmakers also questioned the use of at least eight “dummy accounts” allegedly by Aremar to manipulate biddings for flood-control projects.

The Hamors have refuted allegations of colluding other contractors, including CT Leoncio Construction and Trading, another firm said to have bagged billions worth of government contracts.

Diokno: Sorsogon not favored Diokno on Wednesday presented data showing that his agency did not favor a particular district for flood control projects under the DPWH. “I have not manipulated the budget to ensure the inclusion of projects in a favored district parPAGE A10

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

JANUARY 11-17, 2019

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More Filipinos concerned about Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health

by Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

MALASAKIT CENTER LAUNCH. (From left)Former Special Assistant to the President (SAP) Bong Go; OP Presidential Assistant Secretary Michael Lloyd L. Dino for the Visayas; Office of Director Vincent M. Balanag, MD; Quezon City Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte and Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III, led the unveiling and launching of Malasakit Center Opening at Lung Center, Quezon City on Monday, January 7. The Malasakit Center is a one-stop shop housing concerned government agencies such as the DOH, DSWD, PAGCOR, PCSO and Philhealth in one location to enable and make it easier for indigent patients to avail of quick medical and financial assistance from the government plus free medicine.

The 19th Lung Center Malasakit Center is the brainchild of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and Bong Go. PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

Duterte tags human rights groups as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;enemiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

by Nathalie

Robles

AJPress

PRESiDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, January 9, clapped back at the human rights group for deeming the government as their enemy as he noted how they criticize his every move but are silent on crimes perpetrated by drug addicts.

Ang mga human rights wala akong narinig ni isa. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the problem, (I never heard anything from human rights (groups), Duterte said during his speech in Dimasalang town in Masbate as reported by The Philippine Daily inquirer. Ang human rights ninyo is Ë&#x153;yung kalaban ang gobyerno. Gusto ninyo sirain talaga ang gobyerno (For you, human rights group is the government is the enemy You want to destroy the government), the president added.

The tough-talking leader said that the human rights groups should also condemn the killing of innocent people by criminals who fall prey to the influence of narcotics and illegal drugs.

Duterte emphasized how addicts become â&#x20AC;&#x153;slavesâ&#x20AC;? to illegal drugs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;isali ninyo yung mga inosenteng pinatay ng mga criminal.

Mas marami yan. (Show concern also for innocent people murdered by criminals). They are slaves to a drug called shabu.

And they need it every day. At the end of the day, they become inutile,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pag sinira mo ang bayan ko, wala na tayong pinag-usapan. At hindi ako maghingi ng tawad sa inyo. Sinabi ko na sa inyo umiwas kayo. i will not offer any apology (If you destroy my country, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the end of it. I will not seek your forgiveness. I already told you to stay away from drugs),â&#x20AC;? he warned.

The human rights group Karapatan clarified that they are not the enemy of the government.

They emphasized that those who commit human rights violations are deemed by the general public as the enemy. â&#x20AC;&#x153;it is actually those in government who order, encourage and perpetuate extrajudicial killings, illegal or arbitrary arrests, rape, torture, and other grave violations, as well as those who engender impunity and poverty and promote the sell-out of our countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s patrimony, who are considered by the people as their enemies,â&#x20AC;? Karapatan stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We reiterate: Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sham

drug war and its consequences cannot be justified by the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s inability to resolve criminality and its distorted and unscientific analysis on the roots of the problem of the illegal drug trade,â&#x20AC;? it added.

Karapatan also condemned the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s method of using killing as all around solution to social issues. They said that the administration should focus more on the curbing the root causes in order to resolve the said issues. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As long as the government sees that the solution to social woes is through its kill, kill, kill approach if it does not nip government corruption in the bud.

By being complicit in the entry and proliferation of illegal drugs in the streets as long as it doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t solve the root causes of poverty, it will always face criticism and opposition from the people,â&#x20AC;?

Karapatan stated. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Every day, every hour, several communities and individuals uphold and defend their individual and collective rights. The people are defending our rights. As long as Duterte continues to disregard these rights, he will be made accountable by the people,â&#x20AC;? the human rights group added. n

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RECENT results of the recent Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey conducted on December 16 to 19 2018 claimed that 66 percent of Filipinos are concerned with the health of President Rodrigo Duterte. in comparison to the figures presented in September 2018, the percentage of Filipinos who were worried about the presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health rose by 11 points from 55 percent in the third quarter. Of the 66 percent, 22 percent were classified as very worried while 44 percent are somewhat worried.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo took the results positively as he deemed the response of the huge chunk of the population as an indication of Filipinos caring for the president. it means that not only many Filipinos love the President but those who care for him have increased by 11 percent. The survey results show that an overwhelming number of Filipinos are praying for his good health, for his well-being and for him to finish his term, Panelo said.

The sizeable number of Filipinos who worries about Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health wishes to convey to the president that he remains in robust wealth for the sake of the country and the people, he added as reported by The Philippine

Daily Inquirer.

According to the presidential legal counsel, the figures also showed that the people fear that a disease impairing the president would put an abrupt stop to the programs of the administration to fight crime, corruption and illegal drugs.

Our countrymen would not want to be stripped of the searing iron-clad political will kind of leadership given them by a debilitating disease or an untimely departure which will derail the unrelenting war against criminality, corruption and illegal drugs that have provided them the safety net against plunderers, criminals and scoundrels whose plunder of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wealth and resources for so long has divested the country of the economic and social engines for growth and development, Panelo explained.

Panelo stated the recent survey is a good enough proof that the criticisms thrown at the president were baseless. He emphasized how the strong-mouthed leader is providing a safety net for Filipino families.

The SWS survey is at the same time a resounding rejection of the opposition, the critics and the detractors who continuously assault the President with ruthless and baseless accusations or condemnations, the spokesperson said.

The president is offering his freedom and his life so he could

save the succeeding generation from being addicted to illegal drugs and from the clutches of certain death, as well as so he could free their families from being dysfunctional, he added.

The palace spokesman clarified that the president has no health problems and is in good physical condition. He also noted that the Filipinos being worried about the presidentââ&#x201A;Źâ&#x201E;˘s health meant that they are receiving the change that the administration has promised.

There is no cause for worry as he is in a fine state of health, and his punishing schedule of activities in attending and responding to the needs of the citizenry is proof of his good physical condition. Even as he performs his constitutional duties, he shall endeavor to always watch over his health, he said.

They worry that this President would not last his presidency.

Filipinos fear that such an unwelcome event will deprive them of the genuine change they have seen in his unorthodox, tough yet compassionate and caring governance, Panelo added.

The survey included face-toface interviews with 1,440 adults all over the country. SWS said that the margin of error for regional percentages such as Metro Manila, Balance of Luzon, Visayas, Mindanao is +/-5 percent while national percentages are +/-2.6 percent. n

National ID system to be tested this month

by Ritchel

MeNdiola AJPress

LiSA Grace Bersales, National Statistician and head of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), said on Wednesday, January 9, that The Philippine identification System (PhilSys) Act is set to be tested this month and rolled out

by September. 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 so we hope to have a launch before monthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s end,â&#x20AC;? she said.

Bersales also said that through the proof of concept, the information technology department in charge of the PhilSys will be able to identify what needs to be adjusted on the design that will be procured sometime in the middle of the year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The main procurement will be May or June for the full PhilSys and then September is the roll out,â&#x20AC;? she added.

The PSA partnered with the Philippine Postal Corp. for the proof of concept. The target is to enroll a selected group of about five million individuals to test the system during the first quarter of the year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have identified the groups

The PhilSys ID contain the PhilSys number (PSN)â&#x20AC;&#x201D;permanent identification number that will be assigned to every citizen or resident alienâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;full name, facial image, date of birth, address and fingerprints of the bearer.

Philstar.com photo

to be those that are under the unconditional cash transfers of DSWD (Department of Social Welfare and Development) and other more marginalized groups like iPs (indigenous people) and our senior citizens. But we would also want to test our mobile registration during this proof of concept,â&#x20AC;? Bersales said.

According to her, the proofing should have tested the iT processes and the process of registration that include getting a transaction number and waiting for the iD cards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then we will do some adjustments on the system (by the sec-

ond quarter) which we will then procure by May or June. These are indicative schedules but the schedule for the rollout of the national iD is September 2019,â&#x20AC;? she said.

The PSA, Bersales added, would exponentially increase the number of citizens to register to about 26 million people per year starting in 2020.

The PhilSys Act was signed

by President Rodrigo Duterte in August last year. He said the program would cut red tape, reduce corruption, improve the delivery of basic services and serve as a tool to keep the public safe. n

Duterte 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 to fund the universal health care program,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Late last year, the House of 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.

The House called for another increase to P40 in July 2020, P42.50 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 increase 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

Grace Poe tops latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey MANiLA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; incumbent Sen. Grace Poe topped the latest Pulse Asia senatorial survey released on Wednesday, January 9.

The independent senator placed first with 75 percent of respondents saying they would vote for her if the election were held today.

Poe also got an awareness rating of 99 percent, the percentage of voters who knew who Poe was prior to the survey.

The latest Pulse Asia survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews from December 14 to 21, two months after the filing of the Certificate of Candidacies last

October.

Following in second and third place are incumbent Sens. Cynthia Villar (66.6 percent) of the Nacionalista Party and Edgardo â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sonnyâ&#x20AC;?

Angara (58.5 percent) of the Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino.

While Poe and Villar held the same position as last Septemberâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s survey, Angara knocked Pia Cayetano off of the top three.

Cayetano, a former senator and congresswoman, slid down to fourth place with 55.4 percent.

Former interior Secretary Manuel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Marâ&#x20AC;? Roxas ii, running under the Liberal Party, was knocked off the top 12 by Revilla, who was

released after four years in detention last December 7, when he was acquitted on plunder charges.

All of the top 12 are either incumbents or have served in the Senate before except for former Philippine National Police chief Ronald â&#x20AC;&#x153;Batoâ&#x20AC;? Dela Rosa and ilocos Norte Gov. imee Marcos.

The campaign period for senatorial candidates and party-list groups will be from February 12 to May 11.

Candidates for the House of Representatives and other local positions could campaign from March 29 to May 11. (Philstar. com)

Ombudsman to probe flood...

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PAGE A8 ticularly the flood control structures under the DPWH,â&#x20AC;? he told reporters in a news briefing.

Citing DBM and DPWH figures, the Budget chief reported that Sorsogon ranked seventh among provinces with the largest allocation under the Flood Mitigation Structures and Drainage Systems program of the General Appropriations Act of 2018, with P2.67 billion.

Albay came first with P4.03 billion, followed by Bulacan with P3.65 billion, and Tarlac with P3.39 billion in third place. Sorsogon was behind the provinces of Cavite, Pampanga and Cebu.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Flood Mitigation Structures and Drainage Systems program ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of flood control facilities such as dikes, dam floodways, pumping stations, among others in all flood prone areas across the country,â&#x20AC;? the Budget chief underscored.

He also stressed that Sorsogon had a much smaller allocation of P377 million under the Flood Mitigation Facilities within Major and Principal Rivers program of 2018, making it the 22nd province in terms of allocation.

The province of Pangasinan had the largest allocation with P2.14 billion, Bulacan ranked

second largest with P1.50 billion, and Nueva Ecija ranked third with P1.19 billion.

The Flood Mitigation Facilities within Major and Principal Rivers program involves the construction and rehabilitation of flood mitigation facilities and structures to alleviate flooding in major river basins and principal rivers falls, Diokno explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These allocations serve to bolster the resources of the Department of Public Works and Highways to curb the impact of stronger typhoons on the country brought about by climate change,â&#x20AC;? he said. n

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JOURNAL Artemio “Temi” Tecson: Living life enjoyably in pursuit of his passion for singing On the PEP Front

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A11

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Spark Philippines Trade and Travel Fest in San Francisco

BOBBY T. YALONG IN this world of absolute chaos and topsy-turvy daily grind, an existence inevitably confronted by uncertainties, unmeasured probabilities, and startling destinies is deemed fine for there are still millions of realistic healing techniques one could possibly adapt to make life easier and worthwhile living… and one is music.

Passionately driven hopefuls feel deep satisfaction and intrinsic value from achieving an almost successful singing performance.

Oftentimes, it doesn’t really matter whether one’s rendition isn’t perfect or the performance was inescapably spoiled by technical glitch or vocal failure… for what truly matters was if he or she was able to effectually deliver the core message of the song via an uplifting personal interpretation.

Self expression through vocal interpretation has constantly been a passion for Artemio “Temi” Tecson since this, for him, is an effectual way of finding his inner self and pouring out the very essence of emotion from within his heart and soul.

“Singing has constantly been my passion since my preschool years,” Temi said, openly revealing his personal musical journey with indubitable candidness expressed in an unswervingly sentimental tone. “I started singing even before I could straightforwardly understand what the song actually meant but my mom would coach me with the lyrics and meaning. “ “So, how did your singing talent gradually developed through the years?” I inquisitively asked.

Temi, in his innate composure tried to piece together the almost lost fragments of his youth and self-assuredly vocalized his thoughts. “When I was in the elementary grades, I joined the school boys choir and participated in class programs. I also performed in several occasions at the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Choir and Shrine of Jesus: the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Those public exposures gave me that much needed confidence and ignited even more my passion for singing.”

The young aspirant constantly set aside sufficient amount of time from his studies to be able to deliberately hone his singing talent. Admittedly, there was nobody in his family from both sides who could have influenced him but proudly reflected on James Cameron’s 1997 epic blockbuster movie “Titanic” as the main “factor” that influenced him.

“After watching the Kate Winslet-Leonardo DiCaprio starrer I couldn’t get over from listening to the movie’s theme song, “My Heart Will Go On.” The song, the lyrics, and the melody never escaped my mind since I watched it on TV…and instantly became my personal favorite from that time on. I remember having sung it in numerous events every time I was requested to perform,” he shared.

Temi first saw the light of day on March 8, 1993 so he was barely 4 years old when Titanic was theatrically released and its television exhibition was just timely for Temi to fully understand and appreciate the staggering magnificence of the tragic love story movie.

The youngest among five siblings (all boys) born to Artemio, Sr. and Milagros Llamas, young Temi was never a spoiled brat even during his formative years although it couldn’t be denied that mom was more concerned about him…simply due to being the last born. To perfectly develop his singing talent, he took up voice lessons for 2 years under Butch Albaracin of Center for POP, trained under Maestro Ryan Cayabyab for a year, and underwent acting and dance workshops under Beverly Vergel.

To utilize what he had learned into the actual arena, he was chosen to represent his school (St. Andrew’s School) to the 2004 Interschool Amateur Singing Competition where he landed in second place. Interestingly, it was St. Paul’s School representative Franchesca Farr (who later would be the champion in a GMA 7’s talent search) who defeated him.

Calendar of Events across

JANUARY 11-17, 2019

A r te m i o Te cso n d u r i n g o n e of h i s performances

Temi caught in his best mood

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

The innocent tot grew up to be one of today’s most promising balladeers

The singer who would be a headliner soon.

But that only made Temi even more driven and focused. For him the challenge enormously motivated him to exert more effort to reach the zenith of success. His foresight was keen and his insight was positively bright.

One curious question that popped on my mind was how does Temi study a song?

“Firstly I listen to the entire song, maybe twice or thrice.

Then I focus on its flows, I try to be familiar with its lows and highs then the lyrics follow.

I make an effort to know the meaning and implication of every word and feel the meaning of the song’s message. From there, I can already grasp the whole essence of the song and that makes it easier for me to memorize it,” he said.

Success, to a passionately true-blooded singer, isn’t just being offered skyrocketing talent fees, having voluminous followers and adored by screaming fanatics but being able to unreservedly do what you love and being genuinely reciprocated with wholehearted appreciation and thundering approbation.

The same degree of passion and driven dedication steers Temi’s undying effort in the pursuit of his singing career. Singers, like poets, are born! It’s either you’re gifted with a singing voice or you’ll have to struggle to be one. Being gifted with a good vocal range is a special privilege (many) others were deprived of.

Temi’s unreserved enthusiasm and commitment keep him on the right track and right frame of mind.

They say singers, like doctors, are miraculous healers, too.

Through their incredible vocal prowess they can touch lives, heal broken hearts, motivate the less inspired, offer hope to jilted souls, and most of all, make the singer, himself, feel great after having successfully translated and shared his personal message through a song.

“To perform on stage and pour out every ounce of frustration, every smidgen of sadness, every touch of love, every snippet of pain, every bit of anger, every speck of anxiety, and every snatch of desire through a song is all worth it,” Temi justifiably uttered in a seemingly sentimental tone effortlessly struggling to convince me, to which I unhesitatingly agreed. “I will never deliver a song if I don’t feel its entirety. I need to relate with it and allow its very essence to get into my system and have an effect on me. Then I’m quite certain that this is what could truly make me effectually convey the message across.”

After years of being under the spotlight and having shared the same stage with homegrown talents and Manila-based celebrities, Temi has proudly accumulated a long roster of performances neatly tucked under his sleeves.

Back in Manila, Temi had enjoyed the sweet tip of success through ABS-CBN station ID, Duet Bulilit TV (a segment on

ABS-CBN Channel 2’s MTB), SM Mall of Asia, ABS-CBN Talent Center (two years), Maalaala Mo Kaya (ABS -CBN weekly drama anthology), television and print ads like Globe Gizmo (with Elmo Magalona), Nido (with AiAi Delas Alas), Zesto Juice, and as a regular performer at Dreamscape at Robinson’s Galeria with his band, XYKidz (a four-member kid group composed of 8 and 9 year-old boys who did variety and cover boyband music).

He came to America in 2007 to visit his mom, Miles, and finally joined her in 2010. Temi may have left the Philippines with a heavy heart but never left behind his passion for music. Here in New York, his talent relentlessly shines, such dazzling treasure that cannot be kept hidden underneath for its luster will find its way to be found.

No matter how occupied he is with his studies and parttime job, Temi still finds a way to squeeze into his already tight schedule weekend gigs and small-time shows, just so to free his passion and resume an almost aborted career.

Here in New York, Temi used to perform at Promdi, House of Inasal, D’Haven, and other most visited weekend watering holes.

His unique singing style and charismatic demeanor propelled him to the mainstream stage of celebrity concerts either as either one of the front act talents or among the feature artists in shows like: Wency Cornejo’s Concert, OPM Hitmakers Concert Tour at Resorts World, Bryan Magsayo’s Concert @ Melrose Place, 6th TOFA Awards at Carnegie Hall, Take The Stage Christmas Fundraising Event at Perlas, Gabby Concepcion Concert at Sheraton Hotel Flushing, Sarah Geronimo Concert, PIDCI Parade in NYC, Jenn Cuneta Concert at Baruch College Auditorium, and a few more.

Currently, when away from the spotlight, Temi is affiliated with a media advertising and investment company for more than three years doing concierge management and booking corporate rooms for conferences and private meetings.

“If ever I have the opportunity to go back to school I want to study Culinary Arts or look for a more stable and secure job,” he said.

The year 2019 has just began and Temi is already at the verge of excitement with the immense offers that landed on his lap: as a performer in the upcoming “He’s Back Concert” of Mr. Pure Energy, Gary Valenciano on April 14 at the Town Hall and as a member of the New York delegation to the 2019 WCOPA (World Championships of Performing Arts) July in Long Beach, California.

At the moment, time is running short for Temi as he breathlessly prepares for his pre-Valentine’s fundraising solo concert on February 2 at D’Haven.

For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com.

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).

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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA [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 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 significant 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,

The Bucket List 2nd of a series

“…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.” 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 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 eter-

nally 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… *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc. com. To read past articles, click on the link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

A12 january 11-17, 2019 • nEW yOrK anD nEW jErSEy aSIan jOurnaL

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, and specific, almost illusive. It is actually an allconsuming 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 builtin pharmaceutical laboratory in our body. Even the magnetic

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Love chemistry 101

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 pre-nups 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 writing in a general setting makes marriage appear like a business transaction, more material, less sacred, and less romantic.

Famous and infamous lovers

Community Journal

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 crazyglue 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, deepseated 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 Continued on Page 13

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By Monet

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Fashion forward: The trends of 2019

Lu

THE time has come when stripes and sheer fabrics were “a thing of the past” — or the past year (2018), so to speak. As we welcome the year 2019, we look forward to the latest fashion trends and forecast that soon to invade the fashion scene.

In this week’s column, I’d like to take a moment to share with you what I believe is going to be so “in” in 2019.

Futuristic and flashy materials are set to make a debut this year. One example would be reflective sportswear. The material that was reserved nighttime bikers and runners is now a major fashion statement. Fashion photographers have spotted Bella Hadid and Gigi Hadid wearing athletic suits with an iridescent hue. Sequins are also in this year. There is a multitude of ways to wear them, but I suggest you opt for a more gently beaded style.

And since we are on the subject of seeing much of these patterns and materials this year, I thank the fashion gods for allowing cycling shorts and/or short shorts to say farewell – about time! This year, sensible (meaning: looser) shorts will be stealing the show.

Taking a cue from cycling shorts that are making its way out in 2019, skinny jeans are also set to be a thing of the past.

Now, after mom and straightleg denim reigned 2018, wideleg silhouettes are making their way to the forefront. The tie waist details are also very trendy lately. While seatbelts on tops and dresses aren’t new, the tie waists on trousers, skirts and denim feel fresh and chic.

They are easy to style with crop tops and tucked-in blouses. Paper bag waists are a key detail as well. The flirty ruffled skirts as well as wrap style miniskirts and pencil midi styles that feature ruffles, tiers, and flounces will also be making a scene. The more details, the better. Oh, and puffed shoulders and pleats are back!

Looks like bold is the way to go because bold and bright colors are now invading us like never before. The fearless hues will be a trend in 2019 and are expect-

ed to grow and glow throughout the year. Also, be on the lookout for vertical stripes and pastels (yes, in that combination), they will be out there in your favorite neighborhood boutiques!

Spring/summer is the season of stripes, more specifically, vertical stripes. When teamed with the aforementioned ruffles and tie-waist details, it creates a fun, embellished look for summer. Color trends are all over the map, but one major theme stood out. I spotted a wide variety of pastels including mint, lavender, blush, mauve, banana, lilac, and peach and neon! I yes, you read that right - NEON! As I’ve said earlier, these vibrant hues and bold patterns are back with a bang!

I wouldn’t want to break the momentum, so I just have to say it one more time that more colors are set to conquer 2019.

A perfect example would be the colorful camouflage prints that are bound to be in our closets for a foreseeable future. While florals, stripes, and gingham are standard spring/summer print staples, camouflage is emerging in colorful and embroidered versions for a modern take on the military-inspired style. To contrast that, a throwback of tie-dye designs is also taking on the trend this year.

Fashion staples such as cowboy boots, woven bags, oversized hats and fashion flats are also showing off in 2019.

Cowboy boots are a must-have.

Whether you go all out with the knee-high version or swap out

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SERVICES

your ankle boots for a pair like Jaime King’s, you’ll show your fashion prowess with this celebloved trend.

Jacquemus La Bomba hats and the likes of it are looking to be a cult status in 2019. Woven Straw Bags and the straw/acrylic handbag craze launched by Cult Gaia’s ubiquitous Ark bag in 2017 continue with new styles that include round shapes, ring handles, and picnic-inspired silhouettes. And before I forget, fancy stiletto heels will be bidding us goodbye for now, because, the flats are here to stay – yes, finally!

There you have it, my dear readers: a list of things you are most likely to be wearing this year – me, included. And while these are merely predictions and suggestions, I still recommend the best fashion statement of all time – and that is to wear what brings out the best in you. Happy fashionable 2019 to everyone! May you all have a fruitful year ahead. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon. com or email him at monetsalon@aol. com

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Community Journal

Spouses of US citizens should not be guilty of fraud because of ‘preconceived intent’ Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ “PRECONCEIVED intent” typically involves a person who enters the U.S. on a visitor’s visa and immediately begins working or takes steps to permanently reside in the U.S., by marrying a U.S. citizen, etc. The government’s reasoning is that when the person applied for their visitor’s visa or entered the U.S., they represented to the consul (or the immigration officer at the airport) that they had absolutely no intention to remain in the U.S., and their sole purpose was to visit and then depart. Because they remained in the U.S., it meant that they lied to the consul or immigration officer, by concealing their intentions to work and/or remain indefinitely in the U.S. At the present time, the U.S. Embassy in Manila seems focused on preconceived intent and charging people with fraud, especially when the spouse of a U.S. citizen returns to the Philippines for immigrant visa processing, based on an approved provisional waiver. They charge people with fraud by retroactively applying a new 90-day rule to conduct that may have occurred decades ago. If a person entered the U.S. in 1999 and began working within 90 days, the Embassy may charge them with fraud in 2019.

However, there are several things wrong with this approach: • USCIS Operating Instruc-

tions (OI) as well as several precedent decisions from the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) state that notwithstanding the fact that a person entered the U.S. as a non-immigrant with preconceived intent to remain, it should not be considered fraud if they are the spouse of a U.S. citizen. Therefore, why is the U.S. Embassy charging spouses of U.S. citizens with fraud based on preconceived intent when U.S. law and cases state otherwise?

• The USCIS repudiates (refuses to accept or be associated with) the State Department’s (DOS) new 90-day rule. In its Policy Manual on adjudicating inadmissibilities, the USCIS expressly states that the 90-day rule is not a “rule” in the sense of being a binding principle or decision, and “This DOS 90day rule is not binding on USCIS.” Therefore, the Embassy is charging people with fraud for violating the DOS’s 90-day rule, and having them apply for fraud waivers to the USCIS, which does not even follow the 90-day rule.

• The Embassy is supposed to give people the opportunity to present evidence and documents to prove their innocence, before charging them with fraud: “You must give the alien the opportunity to rebut the presumption of willful misrepresentation by presentation of evidence to overcome it.” What typically happens is during the interview, the person is told their case is being put under “administrative processing.” The next thing is they receive a notice that they have been charged with fraud and have to file a fraud waiver, without giving in a meaningful opportunity to present evidence

of their innocence.

• The U.S. Supreme Court, as well as established U.S. jurisprudence, declare it is unfair to impose new punishment on past conduct, which is exactly what the U.S. Embassy is doing. They apply this new 90-day rule to conduct that may have occurred decades ago.

If you are the spouse of a U.S. citizen and charged with fraud because of preconceived intent, you should seek the advice of an attorney who can evaluate your situation, and see if this charge was unfairly and improperly imposed, and fight to clear your name. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and reenactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Love chemistry 101...

From Page 12 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, a Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus based in Northwest Indiana and Las Vegas, Nevada, is a medical lecturer/author, and Chairman of the Filipino United Network-USA, a 501(c)3 humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Websites: FUN8888.com, philipSchua. com Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

JANUARY 11-17, 2019 A13

“ABANDONED” PETITION SUCCESSFULLY REOPENED 10 YEARS LATER BY ATTY. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL. Elsinore (left) was petitioned by his father back in 2001. However, when his younger sister, Elvie (center), checked the petition status online in 2005, she found out it was denied due to “abandonment.” USCIS had sent a notice to petitioner’s old residence requesting additional documents, but the petitioner never received the notice because he had moved, and therefore did not respond. Their first lawyer’s motion to reopen was denied for being untimely, so their mother, an avid viewer of “Citizen Pinoy,” suggested they retain leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel.

Watch this success story on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

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people events arts culture entertainment

Catriona Gray’s Miss Universe reign off to a great start

W

by

MoMar G. Visaya

HEN Catriona Elisa Magnayon Gray left Manila for Bangkok to compete in the Miss Universe pageant, she had meticulously planned and laid everything out so that the moment the competition started, she let go and told herself to enjoy and have fun representing the Philippines.

“Every single time I stepped onstage I just enjoyed myself and I think people saw that. I was just happy to be there,” Gray told the Asian Journal in a freewheeling interview at the Miss Universe Organization’s new office in midtown Manhattan.

This was Day 3 of her hectic Media Week schedule doing interviews with Good Morning America, Live with Kelly & Ryan, AOL Build Series, Good Day NY and also with ABS-CBN and GMA Network from the Philippines.

Gray arrived in New York on January 2nd, after spending the holidays in seclusion. She celebrated her 25th birthday on January 6th which she spent going to church, eating out and watching Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

“I feel so grateful that I am here in New York City. I love it! It feels like it has sunk in na,” she shared.

“I had a quiet holiday season and it feels like I am now stepping into my shoes as Miss Universe. I am suffering just a little bit of jetlag but aside from that, everything is well.”

The newly minted Miss Universe is looking forward to 2018 Miss Universe Catriona Gray a year of opening doors and AJPress Photo by Troi Santos exploring possibilities to promote the platforms that she holds near and dear her heart.

“I want to have the best year that I could possibly have and that for me would be to do as much work as I could for different organizations because it has really been my identity for the past three years,” Gray said.

“The reason why I do what I do is that I really aim to have this platform, to reach more people, and now that I am given this opportunity, I am so overly aware of the responsibility that I have. It is a challenge that I am so excited to pursue.”

Gray is excited to expand her work on children’s education and HIV/ AIDS to other countries which have the same problems.

These two are platforms that she is passionate about because of personal reasons.

She is looking forward to expanding these causes and focus on things where she could make a difference like going to countries, for example, which have been successful in focusing on the social problem of HIV/AIDS and bringing what they have applied there back home to the Philippines.

Gray was 21 years old and she was going through a hard time in her personal career, struggling and frustrated and one day, she just told herself that she did not want to think about her problems for a moment and decided to do volunteer work, something that she has never done before.

It was as simple as logging to the internet and through Google, she found Young Focus. She was then living in Paranaque and Young Focus is based in Tondo, Manila, which was not that far.

Gray went to Tondo and met with the people behind the organization and she knew right then that she has found what she was looking for. More than that, the impact of meeting the kids and seeing their situation changed her life and her perspective on things.

“People there live with so little and yet, and yet, they still had smiles on their faces. They were greeting us as we walked past. Coming as someone who was frustrated with my own life, I had so many things that I wanted that I felt like I could have,” she said.

It struck her.

“I had so much to be grateful for. That really impacted me so strongly. That, and seeing the kids, made me question why was I born into a situation where I had the opportunity and here they are born to a circumstance where they don’t. That’s not fair,” she said.

Gray is a firm believer that education is one tool that could level out the opportunity. Children could have dreams of becoming a musician, the next president, to be an astronaut.

“Education is a platform that can validate that dream and allow them to pursue their dreams,” she affirmed.

Miss Universe: Behind the scenes People now see a glamorous Miss Universe who worked hard to get that crown, something that a lot of people did not see.

You see, Catriona Gray did her homework.

“This is my second foray into pageantry and I knew what I wanted,” she said straight up. “I knew that I wanted to be hands-on in everything.

That’s just me naturally.”

As a newbie before, she wanted to be guided by people who are experts in the field.

Gray represented the Philippines in the Miss World competition held in Washington, D.C. in 2016. She placed in the top five. Pageant enthusiasts contend that she should have won.

For her next foray a year later, which was Binibining Pilipinas, Gray said she knew what she wanted and what she would be most confident in. She knew how she could see herself as most beautiful in terms of her final look and styling.

She went in as an independent candidate and built her own team, which back then was an unpopular decision.

A lot of people told her that she was crazy for doing so because “there’s never been a Miss Universe Philippines who hasn’t come from one of the camps.”

“But I knew I could do it. And that’s my stubbornness. That was my vision and when I have a vision, I stick to it and I want to execute it,” she shared.

In the end, she gained a family from the team that she pooled together.

“We’re all good friends now and that’s something that I am so grateful for, that gift of family, they created that support for me and they allowed my vision to come to reality,” she said.

Hands-on Not a lot of people know but Gray herself was the one who designed the now famous ear cuff that she wore during her coronation.

She wanted to be a Miss Philippines in her wardrobe and not just the letterings across the sash.

She and her team met with historians and travelled across the

Philippines to research for her national costume and derive inspiration from the people, the culture and the history of the regions.

“I feel the Filipino people deserved that.

I wanted to share what we could offer as a country. We’re not just nice people and beautiful beaches, we’re so much more than that,” she said. “I wanted people to learn about what I was wearing, that there is a story behind it.

It was more meaningful that way.”

From the folklore of Ibong Adarna to the T’nalak weave to the various islands that her team featured in the video series that they released as the Miss Universe competition began, it was her way to generate more interest among her now growing team of followers, particularly on social media.

“It was such an amazing experience, probably one of my most memorable for the whole year. I am so grateful to my team for believing in my crazy vision. I went up to them and I said ‘I want to make a video series about my national costume’. It has never been before,” she said.

As a Miss Universe now and even during her reign as Miss Philippines, Gray has become a tourism ambassador for the Philippines, promoting not just the sites but the country’s culture as well.

Asked about her favorite Photo courtesy of Miss Universe spots, she mentioned “the Organization mountainous provinces like Sagada (Mountain Province) and Batad (Ifugao)” along with the “beaches of Palawan, Coron especially”.

“More than these beautiful places though, I would like to share aspects about our culture too, [especially] our textiles because these textiles could mean the livelihood of one community. Beyond our beaches, we have T’nalak and hand made brass and I think that is something to be incredibly proud of that is Pinoy talaga (really),” she explained.

Gray maintains that for as long as she can, she will wear Filipino accessories and showcase Filipino textiles and fabrics.

One designer who does her outfits is Jearson Demavivas, who created her national costume for Binibining Pilipinas and also designed the main body suit of her national costume at the Miss Universe pageant.

He hails from South Cotabato and he works with T’nalak all the time and he has respect for the fabric and knows what it means to the community, according to Gray.

Who could forget her national costume?

Gray paraded what she and her team called the “LuzViMinda,” deriving inspiration from the parol of Pampanga with her bodysuit printed with tattoo patterns used by the “Pintados,” indigenous people from some of the islands in the Visayas and a headpiece and brass accessories from South Cotabato.

Through her platform as Miss Universe, Cat looks forward to showcasing some of the Philippines’ many indigenous textiles and accessories, whether it is a sampaguitainspired rattan bag or a hand-made burda callado silk top.

The red gown and famous walk “I don’t know if you’ve heard if it, but my mom dreamt of me winning Miss Universe in a red dress,” she said laughing. “That is true, and that time I didn’t really think anything of it because I was just a teenager and I didn’t have any interest in it yet.”

Right after she won the right to represent the Philippines in the Miss Universe pageant, Gray remembered her mom’s dream. She knew she wanted red and she did not want to test fate so she said there was no other choice but to wear the red gown.

Mak Tumang, the gown’s designer, conceptualized it as a tribute to the Mayon Volcano, a national symbol and one of the most iconic sites from the Bicol region where Gray’s mom is originally from. He submitted his first sketch to Gray a month after she won the title and Throughout the competition, Catriona incorporated Filipino materials and textiles in her attires.

Photos from Instagram/@catriona_gray right there she decided it was going to be her finals gown. a very important reason why I am here today because they’ve always “Daragang Magayon is a folklore and my mom’s maiden name is Magnayon which is a pre-colonial Filipino name so it all tied up together,” instilled that confidence in me, that I am capable, that I am worthy and that my dreams are valid,” she shared. she said. “It felt like a beautiful tribute and there was no other option.”

In an Instagram post, Gray said her dad taught her to be “tough, gutsy The details of that fiery red gown symbolized the lava from Mayon’s and give power to my words” while her mom told her to always trust her eruption and her team tied it up with her now famous “lava walk,” intuition and “hold a firery (sic) soul in a soft heart.” although technically the walk came before the gown.

More than that, what is the biggest lesson her mom taught her?

“Mak is exceptionally talented at what he does and he is incredibly “If something is worth doing, it’s worth doing well, which I can apply meticulous which I greatly respect being a perfectionist myself,” Gray to this journey because I really went all out,” she said, letting a loud said. guffaw. “I pulled together all of my resources, I really put my heart out The gown is made out of digitally printed material with 12 tones of in every single aspect up to the jewelry, the turns. My signature is on Swarovski crystals and put on each tone of the fabric. everything [on] this journey, I was really hands on.”

“Just imagine the labor and love and attention to detail that went Cat believes that her biggest weakness is her being “over-analytical,” into that gown, it was something amazing. When I wore it the first time I was in tears just because, it looked like it has a life of its own,” she shared. particularly when she was younger when she wouldn’t even stop to savor and enjoy her moments of victory.

And speaking of the now famous walk, Gray clarified some of the On the other hand, she considers being creative as her biggest headlines that have appeared saying that because of her scoliosis, she strength. was in tears as she practiced and perfected her walk.

“I always try and do something different and being creative, I feel like “Some of them are a little out of context saying that I was crying in pain. I wasn’t. My scoliosis causes me mild discomfort especially on a long it flows to every aspect that I put my hands on,” she said.

Gray describes her first week as Miss Universe with two words: day of heels but it doesn’t hinder me in any other way,” she explained. grateful and fulfilling.

“It is about learning the balance and coordination and it’s all about “Every step of the way, I have always been overwhelmed by the practicing.” support not only from team, family and friends, but from the people, the Childhood in Australia Filipino people. They are the reason why I even considered joining again,” Gray admits that she was very outdoorsy as a child and she had a she said. very carefree and happy childhood. Since she was an only child, she Exactly a year ago, Gray was at the Binibining Pilipinas office turning said, “medyo sheltered ako (I was a little sheltered). I am very close to my parents who I love, love, love very much. I always spent time with my dog in her application. In between, there were moments of doubt and she would question herself if she is doing the right thing or if this was the kasi wala akong sibling (because I don’t have a sibling).” right path for her.

Her parents Ian and Normita were very supportive, even when she It is the spirit of support from the Filipinos (including those decided to move to the Philippines, and for that she feels very blessed. overseas) that has helped Gray carry through the journey despite feeling “My parents have supported me 110 percent in anything I’ve ever wanted to do. They never tried to define my dreams, they always pushed overwhelmed at times, the same support that she says is helping her now fulfill her duties as Miss Universe. n me to dream bigger because they always believed in me. I feel that is

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EntErtainmEnt

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JANUARY 11-17, 2019 A15

Kris shrugs off Gretchen Is Alden putting lovelife ‘on hold’?

Barreto comment on ex-business partner’s case By ricky lo Philstar.com

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

MANILA — “Queen of All Media” Kris Aquino responded to actress Gretchen Barretto on Instagram when the latter shared her thoughts and sided with Kris’ embattled former business partner Nicko Falcis.

Gretchen posted on her Instagram account that she “feels” for Nicko after reading an article on Kris’ alleged death threats to her ex-business partner.

“I feel for Mr. Nicko Falcis after reading this article. I salute him for his courage to speak the truth, fight for his family name an reputation inspite of the threat to his life. No to bullies!!!!

STOP POWER TRIPPING,” Gretchen wrote.

When a netizen asked Kris for her opinion on the matter, she said she chooses to remember when Gretchen supported her mother Cory Aquino against the Marcoses.

“In this issue, I shall choose to look back on the year 1986.

Gretchen may dislike me now, but she campaigned for my mom against the Marcoses.

Dedma na sa pagtingin niya sa akin,” Kris said.

“I have stated this time and again — I can look beyond insults against me because it’s part of the territory. But if my mother was treated with respect and my sons weren’t hurt — I am chill. So if I can chill, maybe all of you should be too?” she added.

Last November, Kris filed complaints on qualified theft against Nicko. He faces charges for 44 counts of qualified theft under Article 310 in relation to Articles 308 and 309 of the Revised Penal Code and for violation of the Access Devices Regulation Act of 1998.

Nicko already filed his

Kris Aquino

Gretchen Barretto

counter-affidavit before the Office of the City Prosecutor in Manila saying the qualified theft complaint filed by Kris is “false, baseless and malicious.”

DESPITE the lingering speculation that he has a “secret” girlfriend (first reported in this corner two years ago and was promptly denied), Alden Richards (who turned 27 on Jan. 2) insisted that he hasn’t found the right girl yet. Thus, it’s not right to say that he’s putting his lovelife “on hold” because there’s none.

“It’s fake news,” smiled Alden.

“If ever I have a lovelife, I will tell you.”

Is he, uhm, choosy? What kind of girl is he waiting (not looking) for?

“Somebody who possesses the qualities I am looking for,” he said during an ”ambush” group interview after he presided over a raffle that highlighted the annual thanksgiving party for movie writers last Sunday at the familyowned Concha’s restaurant (on Scout Madrinan St., across from Il Terrazzo, Quezon City). “It doesn’t matter if she’s showbiz or nonPhoto from Instagram/@krisaquino showbiz, at ’yung looks ay bonus na, as long as she’s understanding at maiintindihan niya ang gusto ko. But at this time, it’s hard to find one like that. Sana this 2019 magka-lovelife na ako.”

His AlDub partner Maine Mendoza perfectly fits the bill but so sorry, they are just friends. But Alden added that, in fact, he and Maine are closer now than ever.

“We are more open to each other,” admitted Alden, “but we don’t meddle in each other’s personal life. Being a gentleman, hindi ako nanghihimasok sa buhay niya, although if she’s willing to share I’m also willing to listen.”

Maine is rumored to be “dating” (usually with a group) Arjo Atayde who appears with her in Jack Em Popoy, a Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) entry also starring Vic Sotto and Coco Martin on extended run in some theaters Photo from Instagram/@gretchenbarretto after the filmfest officially ended In his recent statement, on Jan. 7. But Alden wouldn’t Nicko backed his brother Jesus’ comment about that.

November 2018 statement Asked if something about saying Kris supposedly AlDub went wrong since he and threatened Nicko’s life.

Maine have lately been pursuing

Alden Richards

different directions, Alden said no.

“It was a matter of choice.

I’ll leave it at that. I would say that our temporary separation has even helped us because we learned so many things; marami kaming natutunan. AlDub is still solid, as alive as ever. The AlDub Nation continues to support even in our individual projects.”

Hopefully (keep your fingers crossed, AlDub Nation!), Alden and Maine might be together again in the Philippine version of the hit Koreanovela Descendants of the Sun. “But nothing is final yet,” added Alden. “What I also hope to do is a movie…not a romcom but something with a dark story, something different from Imagine You & Me (his 2016 hit starrer with Maine). The last time I did a dark character was in The Road in 2011.” (Yam Laranas, director of the movie, said, “Alden played a murderer of a 12-yearold unsolved case.”) “I want to go back to drama (after the GMA action-adventure series Victor Magtanggol) para ma-iba naman ang maipakita ko.”

By the way, the issue about Alden’s lovelife cropped up after he said, “I am at my happiest.”

“What I mean is that I’m very

Photo from Instagram/@aldenrichards02

happy with all the blessings I got in 2018. I helped a lot of people and I brought my family on another vacation in Japan.”

(In 2017, the family also spent Christmas in Japan. They planned to go to the States last year but they changed the plan because Alden’s grandfather wasn’t up to the long flight.)

Besides Concha’s in Quezon City, the restaurant also has a branch in Tagaytay City. In April (Easter Sunday), Alden will open his own McDonald’s franchise in Biñan, Laguna (near the University of Perpetual Help), just like that of Maine’s in Bulacan.

“Our family is an avid fan of McDonald’s,” said Alden. “We often eat at a McDo branch at a supermarket near our place.

Maine shared the idea that McDo is a good business. ‘Masarap na mahirap,’ she told me. My little sister will manage our McDo business. It’s also Maine’s sister who is managing their McDo business.”

Both he and Maine are McDo endorsers.

“No,” explained Alden.

“Walang special treatment sa amin. We followed the regular process in getting a franchise.”

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler visits Manila anew By roSette

adel

Philstar.com

AFTER having two other leisure trips in South East Asian countries, Miss Universe 2013, Gabriela Isler is now in Manila, also for vacation.

In her Instagram story posted on Wednesday, January 9, the Venezuelan beauty queen shared that she just arrived in Manila from Bali.

Isler posted a video of her strolling in Bonifacio Global City.

She was last seen visiting Bangkok, Thailand and Bali, Indonesia.

Isler attended the recently concluded Miss Universe 2018 final competition in Bangkok and its after party. She also spent a vacation in Bali with her husband as part of her honeymoon.

The former Miss Universe last visited the Philippines in 2014 when she served as one of the judges of Binibining Pilipinas.

Isler asked the question to thencandidate Mary Jean Lastimosa.

In the same year, Isler also served as a judge for Miss Russia

Philippine bet Francesca Taruc was crowned as Miss Tourism World Intercontinental on Jan. 8, 2019.

Photo from Facebook/Miss Tourism World 2019 Intercontinental Final

Filipina beauty wins Miss Tourism World Intercontinental

By Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Miss Universe 2013 Gabriela Isler

2014 with Miss World 2013 Megan Young.

Isler was named the 62nd Miss Universe in 2013 in

Moscow, Russia. She competed against Philippines’ Ariella Arida who then bagged the third runner-up place.

AFTER ending 2018 with a Miss Universe title, the Philippines kicked off 2019 with a bang and continued its winning pageant streak after Francesca Taruc was crowned on Tuesday, January 8 as Miss Tourism World Intercontinental.

Francesca was also awarded Best Body during the preliminary round of the competition held in Nanjing, China. Candidates from Tatarstan and Ukraine were first and second runners-up, respectively.

Reports said that Francesca was set to represent the country in the Miss Freedom of

the World 2018 in Kosovo but upon her father’s advice, chose to finish her studies first.

Francesca hails from Angeles City, Pampanga.

She graduated from the Holy Angel University in Pampanga with a degree in Mass Communication. The newly crowned beauty queen is also a model and a vlogger.

Kisses Delavin expects suitor(s) to possess dad’s qualities By ricky lo Philstar.com

Kisses Delavin

Photo from Instagram/@kissesdelavin

IF ever Kisses Delavin seriously entertains a suitor, for sure the guy should possess the qualities that Kisses loves in her dad — loving, faithful and forever true. Kisses is turning 20 (on May 1) and yet, her parents, Gilbert and Carrie Delavin, would rather that she concentrate on her career for the meantime and let love wait.

It’s understandable why Kisses’ parents are protective…reasonably so. Carrie suffered seven miscarriages and lost a premature baby. After she was born, Kisses had to be put in an incubator because for a while she stopped breathing. That’s why when she joined PBB (Pinoy Big Brother), Kisses was called The Miracle Baby of Masbate.

“My premature sister’s name was Keithleen Gracerie; she was born on my mom’s sixth month of

pregnancy,” related Kisses. “My dad took care of my sister at a hospital in Manila while my mom took care of me while running our business in Masbate. It was a tough time for us. Keithleen lived for only one year and eight months and she was a warrior.”

Remaining an only child, Kisses grew up in a family full of love.

“My mom and my dad define what love is,” Kisses told Funfare.

“That’s what I saw when they renewed their vows to mark their 25th wedding anniversary in Seoul where we spent the Christmas holidays. Their anniversary was on Dec. 26 but their renewal of vows was done on Dec. 29 at the St. Francis Catholic Church at Yongsan-gu. I was their official photographer and videographer.”

Kisses knows by heart her parents’ love story.

“My dad was 31, a handsome good man. He went to the

miraculous church in Tiwi, Albay, to tell God that he wanted to settle down and have a family. He asked for God to guide him.

“He got a bit thirsty and looked for an ice-cold Coke. He passed by one sari-sari store but it didn’t sell Coke so he went to another nearby sari-sari store where he saw my mom who was 27 and a hard-working simple lady. Right there and then, my dad recalled that he felt ‘something.’

“My mom gave him the icecold Coke and was taken aback when my dad blurted out, ‘Babalik ako.’ My mom told me that as soon as my dad left, all the girls at the store started gushing about him, wondering kung sino ang ‘babalikan.’”

After a few months, Gilbert kept his promise and came back.

“He asked my mom out and began courting her. He was working in Manila but he would travel every month to Albay just

to see her and prove his love. The courtship lasted for one year.”

Gilbert and Carrie got married at the St. Michael The Archangel Church in Legaspi City.

“After 25 years,” continued Kisses, “they act as if they are still in the courtship stage.”

Asked if she expected Donny Pangilinan, her loveteam-mate and predicted to be the “right guy” for her, to be as romantic and as determined as her dad, Kisses only smiled. Nope, they are not an “item”…yet.

“My dad is the coolest, aside from being the most devoted husband,” Kisses said. “He is witty, funny, inspiring, selfless, expressive of his love, kind, sweet, pro-active, a leader, a man of his words, a bookworm. Most important of all, he is a man of God. He raised the standards so high, loves me and my mom so deeply, that I can’t even think of suitors anymore.”

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