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DATELINE Operator of multiple adult care facilities ordered to pay $7-M for wage theft from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Majority of caregivers were Filipino

the owner of six adult care facilities operating in the san fernando Valley’s quiet West hills neighborhood has been slapped with citations of over $7 million for wage theft and other law violations. this makes it the largest wage citation in southern California in the last three years.

Adat shalom Board and Care, Inc. has been ordered by the California labor Commissioner’s office to pay 149 of its former and current employers — a majority of whom are filipino — for underpaid wages and penalties.

j a n u a ry 1 8 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 8

SC Judge Carpio: Nationwide martial law is legally possible

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

It is legally possible for Philippine President rodrigo Duterte to expand the scope of martial law nationwide, supreme Court (sC) Associate Justice Antonio Carpio said on Wednesday, January 17.

During the resumption of oral arguments on the consolidated petitions against the one-year extension of martial law in mindanao, Carpio noted that the Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonio Carpio threat posed by the Communist Party of Inquirer.net photo

the Philippines (CPP) and its armed wing, the New People’s Army (NPA), is nationwide and not limited to mindanao only.

“But if you follow the argument that the CPP-NPA [threat] is nationwide, legally the president can declare martial law throughout the entire Philippines because there is an ongoing rebellion nationwide,” Carpio said.

While solicitor General Jose Calida agreed that the president “can” expand the martial law nationwide, he pointed out that it was unnecessary.

“there is the accompanying requisite of public safety that requires it [martial law declaration],” the Philippine government’s top lawyer added.

Under the section 18, Article VII of the 1987 Constitution, a president has the power to declare the Philippines under martial law subject to the Congressional approval “in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it.” further asked by Carpio if the first

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Pres. Duterte on his fight against corruption: ‘I’m on a purging spree’

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by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Manny Pacquiao

Philstar.com photo

Arum eyes to line Pacquiao’s return with Crawford-Horn match

After suffering a controversial defeat in July last year, filipino boxing icon manny Pacquiao is likely to make a comeback this coming April. top rank promoter Bob Arum told the Las Vegas review-Journal that he’s planning to include Pacquiao in the same card that will feature a WBo welterweight title showdown between champion Jeff horn and terence Crawford.

Arum, however, presented two main issues that are yet to be resolved: Pacquiao’s opponent and the availability of the venue.

“We’re working on an opponent. Don’t want to be too premature about that, but we’re working on it as we speak. Pacquiao seems like he wants to come back, so we’re trying to get that

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AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte inspects the new equipment under the new Communications, Navigation, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) Systems Development Project during its inauguration at the Philippine Air Traffic Management Center (PATMC) in Pasay City on Tuesday, January 16.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

PhIlIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte on tuesday, January 16 vowed to continue his drive to cleanse the government ranks from corruption by dismissing more corrupt officials.

“I am on a purging spree. And I will continue to do this, I suppose, I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll be firing more people from government,” Duterte said during a speech in Pasay City. speaking before the inauguration of new Communications, Navigation, surveillance/Air traffic management systems, the president warned officials from involving themselves in corruption, saying, “Do not do it during my watch.”

Duterte also warned officials against taking excessive foreign trips.

“And those who are into the wanderlust or are itchy

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Int’l media giants condemn SEC move to shut down Rappler

New York Times, Wall Street Journal stand in solidarity with the PH outlet

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

As rappler faces closure after the Philippine securities and exchange Commission (seC) en banc revoked its registration for allegedly violating the country’s Constitution, some of the top

media companies have voiced Inc. and rappler holdings Corsupport for the Philippine media poration, a mass media entity and its alter ego, liable for violatoutlet. the company is also being ac- ing the constitutional and statucused of violating the Anti-Dum- tory foreign equity restriction in my law, the Corporation Code mass media, enforceable through and the securities regulation laws and rules within the man- ‘We are not closing; we will fight on,’ say Maria Ressa and Chay Hofilena in date of the commission,” read the a statement at a press briefing at Rappler.

Code.

Inquirer.net photo by Grig Montegrande “the en Banc finds rappler, u PAGE A2

Senate ‘unanimous’ against joint voting in con-ass

by AJPress All members of the senate agreed that Congress must vote separately in revising the 1987 Constitution should it convene as a constitutional assembly.

According to senate minority leader franklin Drilon, senators are “unanimously” against the proposal for them to vote jointly with the house of representatives on the Charter change (Cha-cha).

“It is the entire senate as an institution. the unanimous vote Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon fields questions to legal luminaries, constitutional — no dissent — is that we should experts and other resource persons during the Senate hearing on the proposals to amend vote separately,” Drilon told reportor revise the 1987 Constitution, Wednesday, January 17, 2018. Drilon said that a possible ers on Wednesday, January 17. disagreement between the Senate and the House of Representatives on the mode of he went on to say, “In my 20 amending or revising the 1987 Constitution could not be brought for resolution at the Supreme years as a senator, there’s just a Court, since the issue “falls within the discretionary powers of both Houses of Congress.”

Also in photo is Senator Panfilo Lacson.

Senate photo by Alexis Nueva España few times where there is unanim-

ity. the unanimity was shown yesterday when all the senators said, ‘no, we should vote separately.’”

Drilon also disclosed that no one objected to senator Panfilo lacson’s proposal to expel from the senate any of its members who attend the house of representatives’ proposed constituent assembly. “there was a proposal yesterday by senator lacson to expel whoever that member is, there was no dissent. the point is that it manifests the sentiment, strong sentiments of the senators in so far as voting separately or jointly,” Drilon said. lacson, for his part,

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Trump administration to ask Supreme Court to allow end of DACA

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

the Justice Department said on tuesday, January 16, that it would ask the supreme Court to overturn a California judge’s ruling in a move it described as a “rare step.” the overturn would provide a way for the trump administration to put an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), which has taken center stage in the country’s most pressing legal disputes. the administration said it appealed to the U.s. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, an injunction made last week by

san francisco-based U.s. District Judge William Alsup. on tuesday, January 9, Alsup blocked trump’s plan to end DACA protections, allowing those previously protected by the program to apply to renew their status. the ruling does not though, require the government to accept new applications.

In carrying out the ruling, Alsup said the plaintiffs “have clearly demonstrated that they are likely to suffer serious irreparable harm absent from injunction.”

“Before DACA, Individual Plaintiffs, brought to America as children, faced a tough set of live

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January 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

From The FronT Page

Int’l media giants condemn SEC move...

PAGE A1 decision dated January 11, published on Monday, January 15.

Following the ruling, press freedom advocates and Philippine government officials including Vice President Leni Robredo were quick to defend Rappler which has maintained that the accusations are false.

“Yung media, sila ‘yung inaasahan na maging watchdog… Kung wala nang bantay, ano ‘yung makakahadlang sa pang-aabuso ng mga opisyal ng gobyerno (The media, they are expected to be watchdogs… Without watching, what will prevent the abuse of government officials)?” asked Robredo.

On Wednesday, January 17, the New York Times joined in by calling the SEC ruling “only the tip” of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s attack on media critics.

In its op-ed, the Times also highlighted the proliferation of fake news and said Duterte’s denial of being involved was predictable.

“His supporters have also made the Philippines a swamp of fake news, conspiracy theories and online harassment,” said the Times.

“Mr. Duterte has refused to condemn the flood and has denied any involvement in its creation,” the newspaper added.

“Predictably, he also denied that the revocation of Rappler’s was

political, and he said he didn’t care whether or not Rappler continued to operate.”

The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday, January 16, listed the SEC ruling as the latest attempt by the Duterte administration to “silence” the media and those critical of the administration.

“Other media organizations use the same structure; only Rappler is being singled out for punishment,” said the WSJ article.

Under the Philippine Constitution, mass media companies are required to be fully owned by Filipinos. The SEC said Rappler had violated those rules by taking funds from Omidyar Network, a self-described philanthropic investment firm created by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, a nonFilipino.

Rappler argues that the investors provided funding through a Philippine Depository Receipt (PDR) which essentially allow companies to invest in media companies without becoming owners. Many national companies are said to use PDRs. Marcus Brauchli, co-founder of North Base Media which also has investments in Rappler through PDRs, responded to a letter by Filipino journalist Rigoberto Tiglao who asked for Brauchli’s comment on the ruling that “violated our Constitution’s ban on foreign equity in a media firm.”

“Why would the SEC rescind

the business license of a truly innovative, viable and popular media company?” asked Brauchli who was also the former executive editor of the Washington Post, and former managing editor of the WSJ. “Filipinos we know are proud of the fact that the first successful digital media company in Southeast Asia took root and flourished in their country,” he added. “We admire and respect the people, laws, independence and accomplishments of the Philippines.

That’s why we got involved with Rappler.”

Rappler responded to the ruling Monday by calling it “pure and simple harassment.”

“What this means for you, and for us, is that the Commission is ordering us to close shop, to cease telling you stories, to stop speaking truth to power, and to let go of everything that we have built — and created — with you since 2012,” said a response statement

by Rappler.

Rappler argued that in 2015, the SEC had itself accepted the Omidyar-related documents submitted by Rappler.

Palace suggests “blogger accreditation” Maintaining that the move was not an attack on press freedom but on the compliance of the Filipino ownership rules, Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said Wednesday, January 17 that Rappler would still be able to apply for “blogger accreditation”.

“They may need to get accreditation as bloggers because they cannot continue conducting their business as Rappler since that company has, for all intents and purposes, been declared void by the SEC,” said Roque in a press conference in San Fernando, La Union.

“Maria Ressa can continue to blog. Pia Ranada can continue to blog,” added Roque.

Registration with the SEC is one of the requirements that allows news outlets blanket access to presidential events through membership into the Malacañang Press Corps.

Under the mentioned blogger accreditation which covers “social media practitioners who generate news and information regarding the activities” of the Philippine president, access would be given to bloggers on a per-event basis.

The accreditation though, is PAGE A4

ON SALE NOW

COMING TO LIFE. Mayon volcano, enveloped by clouds, spews ash on Sunday, January 14, prompting local officials to evacuate residents in three towns and two cities in Albay province. Mayon, an active volcano, was placed under “critical” alert when it last spewed white smoke on September 2014 and caused thousands to flee the area.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Rhaydz Barcia

SC Judge Carpio: Nationwide...

PAGE A1

condition of an actual rebellion by the CPP-NPA had been complied with, Calida responded in affirmative but expressed belief that Duterte “will not impose martial law in the entire Philippines.”

Last month, Congress granted Duterte’s request to retain the martial law in Mindanao until December 31, 2018 for the “total eradication” of the communist rebels, Islamic State (IS)-inspired groups, and other local and foreign terrorist groups in the area.

According to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), there are about 400 terrorists in Mindanao.

AFP also added that there has been an “influx” of foreign terrorists, “in the guise of tourists and businessmen,” in the southern Philippines. So far, the military said it has monitored 48 foreign terrorists currently operating and recruiting in area.

“Abu Sayyaf groups, in the presence of remnants, supporters, protectors and sympathizers of DAESH (another term for the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria or ISIS), pose a clear and present danger to national facilitation of rehabilitation, recovery and reconstruction in Marawi, and hinder peace in Mindanao,” AFP deputy chief of staff for Intelligence Maj. Gen. Fernando Trinidad said.

According to AFP Chief Gen. Rey Guerrero, the martial law in

Mindanao has encouraged “greater compliance on all government entities” and the enhancement of the “climate of safety and security.”

“People in affected areas could attest that they appreciate the implementation of martial law,” Guerrero added.

‘Paranoia’ over martial law Earlier on Tuesday, January 16, SC Associate Justice Samuel Martires questioned petitioners for supposedly being “paranoid” about the military rule.

Martires posed the question following statements from former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay who cited the rampant human rights violations in the country from 1972 to 1986 during the martial law period under late President Ferdinand Marcos.

“Why are we so paranoid about martial law and yet not worried about terrorism?” Martires asked petitioners.

Hilbay is the counsel for former Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chair Etta Rosales, who is among the petitioners.

During the deliberations, Hilbay maintained that threats of terrorism do not justify martial law.

“That is not enough to justify the imposition of martial law…

Many of us experienced martial law and it was not a pleasant experience,” he said.

While agreeing that threats of terrorism should be addressed,

the former solicitor general insisted that the military’s regular powers are the “appropriate tool” for responding to such threats.

“Why are we not worried about terrorism? We are worried about terrorism but martial law is not the answer to terrorism,” Hilbay added.

Martires then interrogated Hilbay about any occurrence of civil liberties being suppressed under the current martial law. “[Is] there a curtailment of freedom of speech? Of assembly?

Academic freedom? Just like what happened during the previous martial law?” Martires asked.

Hilbay, in response, said he was not privy to “what the military did” under the present martial law.

The SC has consolidated four petitions challenging the constitutionality of the one-year extension.

The first and second petitions were separately filed by the socalled “Magnificent Seven” of the House of Representatives, led by Albay Representative Edcel Lagman, and by human rights advocates and cause-oriented groups represented by the National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL).

The third petition was filed by Rosales, while the fourth was submitted by a group led by former Commission on Elections (Comelec) chairman and one of the framers of the 1987 Constitution Christian Monsod. n

Senate ‘unanimous’ against joint...

PAGE A1 confirmed making such a proposal: “I did suggest that yesterday after we all agreed to close ranks as one body. Nobody objected.”

“I was just concerned that in case of that remote possibility na meron in the future, he or she cannot escape a misdeed that borders on treachery to our Senate as an institution. We can use

our mechanism in the ethics committee to execute my proposal,” Lacson added.

The Senate has only 24 members, while the House is composed of 292 members.

Overwhelmingly outnumbered by the House, senators argued that the power of the Senate may be diminished in a joint voting.

Earlier on Tuesday, January,

16, the House of Representatives adopted a resolution to convene as a constitutional assembly.

The lower chamber approved the House Concurrent Resolution no. 9, which seeks to convene both the Senate and the House of Representatives into a constituent assembly “to propose amendments to or revision of the Philippine Constitution” in connection with the proposed shift to federalism.

The resolution, however, did not state whether the voting will be conducted separately or jointly by the Senate and the House. n

Arum eyes to line Pacquiao’s return...

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PAGE A1 finalized,” Arum said.

Pacquiao has not been in the ring since losing his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Welterweight title to Horn in their match last July in Brisbane.

This April, it is Horn’s turn to defend his WBO Welterweight title from Crawford. The bout will be televised by ESPN. It remains unclear, however, if Pacquiao will participate in the main event or as undercard.

The last time Pacquiao fought in the undercard was in 2005, when knocked out Hector Velasquez in Los Angeles. The event was then headlined by the match between Eric Morales and Zahir Raheem.

“ESPN has a way to solve (the main event issue), so it will be very interesting when we announce it,” Arum said.

As for the venue, Arum remarked that he wanted the match to be held at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on April 21 but can’t confirm yet because the place might be used by the Golden Knights team for the NHL playoffs, slated to begin April 11.

If failed to get an approval for the T-Mobile Arena, Arum said the bout could be held at New York’s Madison Square Garden on April 14.

“Unless they can get some clearance from the league, we can’t do it in Las Vegas because none of the other arenas are available and we would have to do it somewhere else,” Arum said. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 18-24, 2018

Trump’s work-for-Medicaid rule puts work on states’ shoulders

by Phil

and

Galewitz Pauline Bartolone

Kaiser Health News

The Trump administration’s watershed decision Thursday to allow states to test a work requirement for adult Medicaid enrollees sparked widespread criticism from doctors, advocates for the poor, and minority and disability rights groups.

Conservatives, however, hailed the change to the federal-state program for low-income people.

Stephen Miller, the Medicaid commissioner for Kentucky, which received authority Friday to implement a work requirement, said the new policy will “allow states the flexibility to pursue innovative approaches to improve the health and well-being of Medicaid beneficiaries.”

Yet states considering whether to enact the controversial strategy face major hurdles. They will have to figure out how to define the work requirement and alternative options, such as going to school or volunteering in some organizations; how to enforce the new rules; how to pay for new administrative costs; and how to handle the mil-

lions of enrollees likely to seek exemptions.

Take Arizona, one of the 10 states that have applied for federal approval for a work requirement. The state must settle basic questions, including whether people would have to meet the new conditions at the time of enrollment, at the annual renewal of their Medicaid coverage or at another time.

Jami Snyder, deputy director of the Arizona Medicaid program, said a key goal for the state is to help people find jobs — not to reduce its Medicaid enrollment, which stands at 1.9 million.

“Infusing the requirement into our eligibility requirements acts as a nice incentive for enrollees in their effort to seek out employment and job training,” she said.

But the state today doesn’t know how many of its enrollees are already employed, said Snyder.

“We are still working through all the operational details,” she explained.

Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, said she hopes the new work requirement will improve enrollees’ health while reducing

Medicaid rolls. The policy change should help people find jobs that offer health coverage or make enough money to afford private plans, she said.

Critics expressed skepticism.

They say the work requirement proposal — which was repeatedly rejected by the Obama administration on the argument it would interfere with providing health coverage — is a more subtle way to reduce the number of non-disabled adults added to Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. That Medicaid expansion was sharply criticized by conservatives, and Republicans in Congress tried to add work requirements in their unsuccessful bid last year to overturn the health law.

“This is an effort to walk back the Medicaid expansion,” said Judith Solomon, vice president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a Washington-based research organization. CMS said states would have to test whether the work requirement improves enrollees’ health — a point Solomon ridiculed. “What health outcome will be improved if we take away health care from those not able to u PAGE A4

Trump administration to ask Supreme Court...

PAGE A1 and career choices turning on the comparative probabilities of being deported versus remaining here,” he said in his decision. “DACA gave them a more tolerable set of choices, including joining the mainstream workforce.”

Now, the Justice Department said it will also be petitioning the Supreme Court to intervene in the case later this week.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement that the ruling “defies both law and common sense.”

“We are now taking the rare step of requesting direct review on the merits of this injunction by the Supreme Court so that this issue may be resolved quickly and fairly for all the parties involved,” said Sessions.

Sessions had announced the federal protection’s end in September 2017, before giving Congress six months to find a fix.

That gives Congressional members until March 5 to make a decision.

The action comes as Capitol Hill approaches a January 19 deadline

for avoiding what could be the first government shutdown since 2013. Advocates for the nearly 800,000 (former) DREAMers have been pushing for a DACA fix to be included in the solution.

Filipino Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jose Antonio Vargas, who outed himself as an illegal immigrant in a 2011 essay in the New York Times Magazine, took to Instagram Tuesday encouraging those that may be affected to take a vacation day from work and get needed paperwork done.

“If you’re an employer, I encourage your teammates to prioritize this (and not have them request a vacation day but just do it),” said Vargas.

“As predicted, Jeff Sessions just provided notice of their intent to appeal directly to the Supreme Court on the CA decision so we have no idea to know if this re-application window will close and if yes how quickly,” he added. “Not trying to induce panic, just trying to induce expeditious behavior in a very unknown crazy unfair and cruel period of time.”

According to data from the

U.S. Department of Homeland Security, nearly 5,000 applications from undocumented Filipinos have been approved since 2012 when the program was established by former President Barack Obama.

Trump had rejected last Thursday, January 11, a bipartisan proposal for DACA that was introduced by Democratic Senators Richard Durbin, Michael Bennett, and Robert Menendez and Republican Senators Lindsey Graham, Jeff Flake, and Cory Gardner.

The six said in a statement before the deal was rejected that they had “reached an agreement in principle that addresses border security, the diversity visa lottery, chain migration/family reunification and the DREAM Act.” In a succession of tweets posted Friday, January 12, Trump called the proposal a “big step backwards.” He argued that it did not fund the wall, it slackened policies family-based immigration “chain migration,” as well as the diversity visa lottery system. He maintained he wanted a meritbased system of immigration. n

A

Surge of AAPI candidates seek congressional office in response to Trump’s immigration policies WASHINGTON — A record number of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are running for Congress to fight back against the various policies of President Donald Trump.

To date, at least 54 progressive AAPIs are running in the 2018 elections, with many in swing and high-priority districts that can make a difference as we head toward the 2020 presidential election.

The AAPI Victory Fund has identified an initial group of 11 candidates in critical districts for whom it will focus its efforts to secure victories. In honor of the Victory Fund’s honorary chairman, former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta, this inaugural class of candidates have been dubbed the Mineta XI. The Victory Fund encourages AAPIs nationwide to pledge early support to the candidates, such as Ami Bera (CA-07), Stephanie Murphy (FL-07), Dan Koh (MA-03), Aruna Miller (MD-06), Nina Ahmad

(PA-01), Hiral Tipirneni (AZ-08), Andrew Janz (CA-22), Dave Min (CA-45), Gina Ortiz Jones (TX-23), Mai Khanh Tran (CA-39), and Andy Kim (NJ-03).

“There are potentially over 2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders at risk for deportation under the aggressive Trump immigration policies. We need elected officials to stand up for us,” said Shekar Narasimhan, chair of the AAPI Victory Fund.

“By strengthening our growing representation with the Mineta XI candidates, we are creating our best defense against threats to the AAPI community. To protect ourselves, we must back these candidates early, stand together and raise our collective voices.”

The AAPI Victory Fund’s support of the Mineta XI candidates will build on the success it had with its previous work to increase voter turnout. Past outreach efforts have resulted in game-changing results in Wake County, NC where AAPI

voter turnout was increased by 174 percent in 2016, and its work to energize turnout in Virginia and the critical Washington State Senate race in 2017.

According to the Center for Migration Studies, in 2015 there were over 1.7 million “unauthorized” migrants from Asia living in the United States. There are millions more who are eligible-to-naturalize, but their citizenship applications are now in limbo.

“With increased Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in Congress, we will be able to combat regressive immigration policies. As a community, we need to support candidates across the country, not just in our district. Whether it is by lending your voice or donating to campaigns, please join the Victory Fund in electing more AAPI Members of Congress,” said Norman Y. Mineta, former Secretary of Transportation and Commerce and honorary chair of the AAPI Victory Fund. n

Pres. Duterte on his fight against corruption...

PAGE A1 for travel and wasting the many things that you do there without necessarily an impact on the lives of the people, better think of resigning,” he said.

Duterte on Monday, January 15, said he sacked Commission on Higher Education (CHED) head Patricia Licuanan, who announced her resignation earlier that day. The president did not cite specific reasons for dismissing Licuanan but he made note of rampant corruption in government when he made the revelation.

Prior to Licuanan, Duterte also

removed former Maritime Industry Authority administrator Marcial Amaro III from office. Both Licuanan and Amaro were accused of making excessive foreign trips.

The president went on to say, “Those who made trips more than 20 a year, that’s too much.

So I will be asking almost all of them to maybe just step down, unless, of course, I have this commissioned for you to do something for the country and for the people.”

In his speech, Duterte also hit public bidding in the guise of lowest bid as another source of corruption.

He further warned that he will not tolerate winning bidders who failed to finish the public works projects at specified timetable.

“The highways in the Philippines are clogged with unfinished products and accidents multiply because of the sheer negligence also of the people handling the project. This insanity must stop,” the president remarked.

He went on to say, “If you have the contract and you incur a delay of 30 days, I’ll take over. I’ll give it to another contractor which has the money to continue and I will not pay you, you go to court, then we will fight it out. n

A

Dateline USa

January 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

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So draws with Russian, continues chase in Tata Steel chessfest WESLEy So split the point with Russian Maxim Matlakov in 30 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted to remain in the middle of the pack after two rounds of the Tata Steel Chess Masters 2018 in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands Saturday, January 13.

Playing black, the Cavite-born, Minnetonka, Minnesota-based So tried to create some counter plays by giving up a pawn and later a knight but couldn’t get anything from it as Matlakov found all the answers to escape with a draw via repetition of moves.

The draw, his second straight after halving the point with Azerbaijan’s Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in 31 moves in the opening round the night before, however, kept So

stranded in a six-way logjam at fifth spot with one point.

Dutch Anish Giri seized the solo lead by downing Russian Vladimir Kramnik for the former’s second straight win.

Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen and Mamedyarov downed Indian Baskaran Adhiban and current women’s world champion Hou yifan of China, respectively, to catch up on Vishwanathan Anand of India at No. 2 with 1.5 points apiece.

Anand drew with Russia’s Sergey Karjakin.

So is using this 13-round tournament as a last stop before Philstar.com photo going in full preparation for the Wesley So Candidates Tournament set from where the winner gains a title shot March 10-28 in Berlin, Germany against Carlsen. (Philstar.com)

Trump’s work-for-Medicaid rule puts...

PAGE A3 work?” she asked.

Dr. Richard Pan, a California state senator and pediatrician in Sacramento who sees Medicaid patients, said the idea just “doesn’t make sense.” By making it harder for people to have health insurance, “you’re going to make it less likely for them to work,” he said.

Pan, a Democrat, said the proposal would create more bureaucracy and “feeds into a fiction” that Medicaid enrollees don’t work — or don’t want to work.

More than 4 in 10 non-disabled adults with Medicaid coverage already work full time.

Despite their concerns about the change in Medicaid policy, critics of the plan acknowledge that it will touch only a fraction of the nation’s total enrollment. Solomon estimates that fewer than 2 percent of the 74 million people covered would be directly affected by a work requirement.

In addition to the large group of enrollees already working, the federal guidelines excluded children — who make up nearly half of Medicaid enrollees. Also off the hook are the more than 10 million enrollees who have a disability.

Many of those left either to go to school or take care of a relative or are too sick to work.

The CMS guidelines give states wide latitude in enacting work requirements, and state rules may differ on who gets exempted from the mandate. Arizona’s proposal has one of the longest lists of exemptions, including people 55 and over, victims of domestic violence, American Indians and individuals who have experienced a death of a family member living in the same

household.

It is unclear how enrollees will prove they meet such criteria or if states will use the honor system.

In comparison, Kentucky seeks to exempt children; pregnant women; primary caregivers for children or a disabled relative; people who are medically frail; and full-time students.

Emily Beauregard, executive director for Kentucky Voices for Health, an advocacy group, said one of the key exemption issues states must work out is defining who is “medically frail”— a designation that CMS said would exempt enrollees from the requirement.

The federal government, however, leaves the qualifying characteristics up to states.

Before coming to Washington last year, Verma was a health consultant who worked with Indiana and Kentucky to expand Medicaid under the ACA. But in a speech to the nation’s Medicaid directors in November, Verma said adding nondisabled adults to Medicaid was a mistake for a program designed to help children, the disabled and pregnant women.

“The thought that a program designed for our most vulnerable citizens should be used as a vehicle to serve working-age, able-bodied adults does not make sense,” she said at the time.

Some Democratic-leaning states are not expected to make the change. California health care leaders dismissed the idea of imposing a work requirement on the state’s Medicaid enrollees, saying it would never come to pass.

Kevin de León, a Democrat and the leader of California’s Senate, wouldn’t comment on the proposal

because he said it’s a non-starter.

“This is not an option we are considering,” said Jennifer Kent, director of the state Department of Health Care Services, which administers Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program that covers about 13.5 million Californians.

Most states contract with private health insurers to run much of their Medicaid operations. Those insurers said they remain concerned that as the work mandate unfolds, their jobs might become harder because of increased churn in enrollment and administrative work. About 52 million of the 74 million Medicaid enrollees rely on managed-care companies for their coverage.

“With this guidance from CMS, it will be essential for states and stakeholders in the states — including insurance providers — to understand the details of who will be impacted by work requirements, how these requirements will be defined and administered, and how people who are impacted will be directed to new pathways for coverage and care,” said Kristine Grow, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans, a national trade group.

Jeff Myers, president and CEO of the Medicaid Health Plans of America, another trade group, noted that most people on Medicaid already work. He said his group is concerned work requirements could affect how the health plans operate. They will need to “see all of details from states,” he said. n This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, which publishes California Healthline, a service of the California Health Care Foundation.

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PASSPORT ON WHEELS. The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) had deployed four “passport on wheels” vehicles around Metro Manila to decongest its consular offices. DFA Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and Sen. Cynthia Villar led the launching of the program, which aims to bring passport services closer to the public. Each vehicle can process up to 500 applications daily, creating a total of 2,000 additional daily slots upon its launch. The program caters to those who do not have access to a consular office.

Photo courtesy of DFA

Operator of multiple adult care facilities...

PAGE A1 The caregivers cared for elderly residents 24 hours a day, six days a week, receiving pay of less than $3 an hour, according to the complaint.

“Adult care facilities require caregivers to work around the clock, making workers in this industry vulnerable to wage theft and exploitation,” California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su said in a statement on Tuesday, January 9.

During the years in which the caregivers were employed, the state of California increased its minimum wage from $9 per hour in 2014, to $10.50 per hour in 2017 for companies with 26 employees or more.

The live-in caregivers at Adat Shalom Board and Care were reportedly paid way less, receiving fixed monthly amounts of $1,500 to $1,800 per month, or $2.40 to $2.88 an hour.

Many of the company’s elderly residents and hospice patients under the caregivers’ care suffered from Alzheimer’s and dementia, said the statement.

The citations issued against Adat Shalom Board and Care total $7,137,036 and account for underpayment of minimum wages and overtime pay, meal period violations, and liquidated damages. The average amount due to each affected worker will be over $15,500 per year, not including civil penalties.

Encino attorney Patrick White, whose firm is representing Adat Shalom Board and Care, told the LA Daily News that the company “vehemently denies that it violated any California wage and hour law. The audit conducted by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement is wrong. The company intends to appeal and vigorously fight the citation.”

The investigation was prompted after the Labor Commissioner’s Office received a report of labor law violations from the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC),

a non-profit organization in Historic Filipinotown that focuses on workers rights among the Filipino community.

“This case should be a signal to both caregivers and RCFE [Residential Care for the Elderly] owners alike that it is not acceptable to cut expenses by paying illegally low wages to the people who are providing the direct care. Pilipino Workers Center is here to support caregivers who are victims of wage theft so that they can recover the wages that they have already earned and to help transform the industry’s standard practices,” said PWC’s Executive Director Aquilina Soriano Versoza in an emailed statement.

“When caregivers are paid properly and have good working environments, both the caregivers and the people receiving care benefit from a better quality of life,” she added.

Prevalence of wage theft Wage theft remains a huge problem across the home-health and personal-care industry which is considered one of the nation’s fastest-growing occupational sectors. This is unfortunate as the aging population grows.

A recent study released last September by advocacy organization National Employment Law Project (NELP) found that a significant amount of their 3,000 respondents from 47 states and Washington D.C reported working after hours, often without pay.

Forty percent said they “never” received overtime pay, 12 percent said “sometimes”, and 11 percent reported not even knowing if they did or not.

Furthermore, 57 percent of the worker respondents reported not having sick-day benefits. Of the senior age respondents, an even larger percentage said they didn’t have any benefits for their retirement.

“In a sad irony for a workforce tasked with helping our seniors

live with dignity, of the 112 workers in this group aged 65 or older, 79.5 percent do not have employer-provided retirement benefits,” the study said.

In 2017, the Labor Commissioner’s Bureau of Field Enforcement (BOFE) received 17,924 reports of labor law violations from various industries — more than double 2016’s report number of 5,650.

The bureau went on to conduct 2,291 inspections, with 112 of them in residential care homes.

One investigation resulted in a lawsuit filed by L.A. City Attorney Mike Feuer in May of 2017, against Health Alliance Nurses Corporation (Health Alliance), a caregiver agency that also had workers in West Hills.

Versoza told the Asian Journal then that the lawsuit could result in over $9 million of restitution for the workers.

In a rally outside an upscale living facility, a former employee of the agency shared her experience of receiving only $150 a day for her live-in, 24-hour day job.

“If you calculate it, that’s only $5 an hour, even if there is already a law that provides protection for caregivers,” shared Rufina Tubo, referring to the 2016 Domestic Workers Bill of Rights.

She added that the company was supposed to pay its workers $330 a day for $10 an hour.

A trial date for the case is set for August 17, 2018.

In 2014, the Labor Commissioner’s Office launched its “Wage Theft is a Crime” outreach campaign as a resource for workers to learn how to identify wage theft and take action, and to inform employers about their responsibilities.

“Getting the word out about cases of wage theft informs workers of their rights and empowers them to take action,” said Peter Melton of the DIR Communications Office. (Rae Ann Varona/ AJPress)

Int’l media giants condemn SEC move...

PAGE A2 granted by the office of the Presidential Communications Operations Office Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson, who has not had a friendly history with Rappler.

Mocha likened the SEC ruling announcement to Christmas when speaking to followers in a livestreamed Facebook post the same day of the announcement.

“Tandaan niyo ang araw na ito, Jan. 15, napakagandang araw.

Ramdam na ramdam mo pa din ang Christmas spirit, ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang tunay na diwa ng Pasko (Remember this day, Jan. 15, a very beautiful day.

You can still feel the Christmas spirit; only now do I feel the true meaning of Christmas),” Uson said.

In November of last year, Uson wrote a formal request to Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar for Rappler to be reclassified as “social media” to be given accreditation by her office.

“Rappler, an online publication that has no counterpart print or broadcast arm is technically considered social media. This should fall under the rules on accreditation by my office,” Uson wrote.

In an interview Wednesday, January 17, Andanar said that no action in that direction would be started until the SEC move was finalized.

“They have the right to go through a process. They can appeal at the Court of Appeals, the Supreme Court and even fix it there with the Securities and Exchange Commission,” said Andanar.

“I will not even decide on that recommendation by Asec Mocha for now. Let’s wait for the decision of Rappler, what they do to be able to abide by the law,” he added.

Age of “fake news” On Tuesday, January 16, Duterte made his latest remarks against Rappler during a speech

for a new air traffic management system’s inauguration in Pasay City.

“For your information, you can stop your suspicious mind from roaming somewhere else. But since you are a fake news outlet then I am not surprised that your articles are also fake, “ said Duterte in an interview.

“Sumobra kayo (you went too far), you are not only throwing toilet paper, you are throwing shit at us,” he added. His answers were in response to recent articles published about the Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, which claim Go had been meddling in warship acquisitions.

Formed in 2012, the media company has grown to become the tenth most visited website in the country, according to Alexa.

The company has nearly seven million followers across its social media account and has expanded its local coverage to Indonesia.

The issue of “fake news” has become a burning topic in the recent media landscape, especially in the Philippines where nearly 97 percent of online Filipinos use Facebook which has proven to be a powerful platform for sharing information as evident by both Rappler and Duterte’s administration.

Headlines once linked to a report from Facebook that called Duterte the “undisputed king of Facebook conversations.”

In an in-depth Bloomberg article, Rappler’s CEO Maria Ressa was quoted being open to the opportunities Facebook offered in politics.

“At the beginning I actually loved it because I felt like this was untapped potential,” Bloomberg quoted Ressa saying.

Ressa and Duterte had once sat across from each other for a question and answer Rappler forum called #TheLeaderIWant that was broadcasted on 200 television and radio stations, and live streamed at viewing parties

in over 40 colleges across the nation.

“Duterte’s campaign on social media was groundbreaking,” she added.

But in the following months, the company found itself under attack for its coverage of the administration’s war on drugs, its social media practices, and general ruling style.

After writing an article titled “Propaganda War: Weaponizing the Internet” in October 2016, Ressa said she almost immediately began receiving hate messages, many of which were violent. An armed guard was hired to stand outside her office.

Shortly after, a campaign for unfollowing Rappler was launched, causing the outlet to lose approximately 52,000 Facebook followers.

The campaign was promoted by public figures like Uson who was personally mentioned in the Rappler piece.

Ressa wrote in an article published last November after the company was recognized by the National Democratic Institute, that she had received more threats since founding Rappler than in the three decades she has worked as a conflict reporter and war zone correspondent.

She also expressed concern over Facebook’s role in monitoring fake news.

“They haven’t done anything to deal with the fundamental problem, which is they’re allowing lies to be treated the same way as truth and spreading it,” Ressa wrote. “Either they’re negligent or they’re complicit in state-sponsored hate.”

But now, the priority has shifted heavily on the SEC decision.

In a post to the company’s Instagram handle, Ressa said, “We are prepared. Bring it. We will continue to fight it and we will continue to push the government to respect and to maintain the rule of law.” n

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 18-24, 2018

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

A

D ateline PhiliPPines SC justices attend Sereno impeachment hearing Poll: More Filipinos oppose ‘revgov’

by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Three Supreme Court (SC) magistrates appeared before the house committee on justice on Monday, January 15 to testify in the impeachment hearing against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

They were Associate Justices Lucas Bersamin, Samuel Martires, and Diosdado Peralta.

Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, meanwhile, declined to attend the hearing despite being invited, saying he has no personal knowledge on the allegations hurled against the chief justice.

During the resumption of hearings determining if the impeachment complaints filed against Sereno have probable cause, Peralta claimed that the existence of “favoritism” is “very clear” in the clustering method done by Sereno in the shortlist of candidates for vacancies in the judiciary.

“Very clear, [there is favoritism] in the clustering method. This is [also] repeated in other recommendations of the JBC (Judicial and Bar Council),” Peralta said. he also slammed Sereno’s claim that several justices had waived their right to vote on the JBC short-list. “[That claim] is very shady. It is a privilege that I will not surrender. [The voting] is already

THE WHOLE TRUTH. Associate Justices Samuel Martirez, Diosdado Peralta and Lucas Bersamin take their oath before testifying at the House of Representatives on Monday, January 15.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

a practice. I was shocked. [We] were pre-empted from nominating a candidate for the position of a Justice in the Supreme Court,” Peralta said. he went on to add, “This I can say with certainty — when we were inside the room [for the meeting], not one justice inside waived [his right to vote on the short-list]. I did not agree to take that away.”

Martires, meanwhile, agreed that Sereno’s creation of a technical working group (TWG) resulted in the delay of the issuance of retirement benefits to the surviving spouses of deceased judges. he also urged families affected by the delay to file administra-

tive cases against members of the judiciary who has “slept on the job.”

During the hearing, Deputy Speaker Gwendolyn Garcia said the TWG delayed the resolution of 29 applications for benefits for at least one and a half year.

The alleged manipulation of the JBC list and the late release of benefits of the spouses of the justices who had passed away are among the grounds in the impeachment complaint of lawyer Lorenzo Gadon against Sereno.

Gadon has accused Sereno of culpable violation of the Constitution, corruption, high crime, and betrayal of public trust. n

Sanofi agrees to take back unused Dengvaxia vaccines, pay back gov’t

by Julie

M. aurelio Inquirer.net

The manufacturer of the Dengvaxia vaccine has agreed to take back its remaining unused vials and to pay back the government for the unused stocks of the anti-dengue vaccine. health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed that Sanofi Pasteur agreed to pay P 1.1 billion to the government for the unused vaccines that the vaccine manufacturer will be retrieving this week.

“It was also agreed with Sanofi that the reimbursement will be in about one to two days after retrieval (of the unused vials),” said

Duque in a press briefing.

Sanofi Pasteur came to the agreement with the Department of health after officials from the two parties met on Tuesday, January 16.

It may be recalled that the reimbursement for the unused anti-dengue vaccines was the first of the Doh’s demands to the vaccine manufacturer.

But in its demand letter to Sanofi Pasteur, the original demand was for a reimbursement of P 1.4 billion for the unused Dengvaxia vials. on Tuesday, Duque said they still have around 1,187,815 vials of the Dengvaxia vaccine, “which is equivalent to P

1,187,815,000.”

“First and foremost, Sanofi will retrieve the remaining stocks until Friday this week,” he said.

Duque added: “That is the magnitude of the agreement that was arrived at between Sanofi and Doh.” There will be designated pickup points from which the vaccine manufacturer will retrieve the remaining vials.

Duque explained that some local government units are still conducting their inventory of their stocks of the Dengvaxia vaccine.

“There is an ongoing inventory in some LGU. The Dengvaxia PAGE A7

Aquino to reinstate democracy and draft a new constitution, after More Filipinos reject Presi- the ouster of strongman Ferdident rodrigo Duterte’s threat to nand Marcos. establish a “revolutionary govAffirmation of approval ernment,” according to the latest ramon Casiple, executive disurvey by the Social Weather Sta- rector of the Institute for Political tions (SWS). and electoral reform, said FilipiThe poll, conducted from De- nos’ attitude toward a so-called cember 8 to 16, showed that 39 percent of 1,200 Filipino adults surveyed said they disagreed with the establishment of a revolutionary government.

Thirty-one percent agree while the remaining 30 percent were undecided.

Duterte has repeatedly warned that he would declare a revolutionary government if his enemies destabilize his administration.

The SWS said opposition to a revolutionary government was “stronger” among those who were dissatisfied with, or have little trust in Duterte. only 16 percent of them agreed with the idea, while 60 percent disagreed.

Sought for comment, Palace spokesman harry roque Jr. said: “We respect the people’s verdict as being consistent with PrrD’s (President rodrigo roa Duterte) position that he will resort to it only when the State is threatened.”

Revgov popular in South Duterte’s idea of a revolutionary government got support from his base in Mindanao, which registered a net agreement score of +16. other areas were negative.

Metro Manila registered –7; Balance Luzon, –16 and the Visayas, –17.

The older population, aged 45 and above, and those with higher education were strongly opposed to a revolutionary government.

Sixty-three percent of respondents believed Duterte wanted to change the government into a revolutionary one, while almost half or 48 percent of the respondents said a revolutionary government was possible under the 1987 Constitution.

SWS pointed out that there were no provisions for a revolutionary government under the Constitution.

A revolutionary government was established in the Philippines in 1986 by President Corazon

revolutionary government affirmed public satisfaction with Duterte’s performance.

“A real revolutionary government comes with support of the people. Why would they support it when they are satisfied with the Duterte performance so far?” CaPAGE A7

A

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

January 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan JOurnaL

OpiniOn

Vulnerable targets

Features

THE Philippines has a Data Privacy Act, an E-Commerce Law and AntiWiretapping Law. Yet in Southeast Asia, the country is reportedly the most vulnerable to cyber attacks. Although the Philippines ranks 37th out of 193 states in terms of cyber security preparedness, data from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation also showed that globally, the country ranks 10th in falling prey to cyber attacks.

Apart from weak enforcement of cyber security laws, experts cite the low awareness of Filipinos about practices that increase vulnerability to cyber attacks. These include readiness to click on links and open emails from unknown sources. With Filipinos reportedly spending an average of four hours and 17 minutes daily on social networking sites in 2017, there is greater vulnerability to hacking, phishing and malware.

Filipinos deeply engaged in social networking aren’t the only targets. As the nation has seen, banks and government offices have also come under cyber attack. Around the world, corporate giants and government security and financial agencies are also favorite targets.

Countries that produce many cyber security experts also tend to be favorite targets of attacks. FBI data showed that the top targets of cyber attacks in

2017, ahead of the Philippines, were Canada, India, the United Kingdom, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, China, Japan and Germany. In Southeast Asia, Malaysia and Singapore were among the top 20 victims of cyber attacks in 2017.

The presence of hackers in the country gives greater urgency to tightening the enforcement of cyber security laws. It also calls for greater effort to raise public awareness of what can be done to minimize vulnerability to data privacy breaches. The popularity of social media must be accompanied by information campaigns to make the public aware of the risks, which could include identity theft and losing one’s life savings.

The internet is a powerful took for gaining knowledge, sharing information and social networking.

Like any powerful tool, it must be wielded with a healthy amount of informed caution. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Some Republicans now ask: What has happened to the GOP under the Trump presidency?

AMID the growing par- The Fil-Am tisan divide in President Don- Perspective ald Trump’s chaotic first year in office, any criticism against his ac- Gel SantoS-ReloS tion, words, policy, and character have been deemed by our Republican kababayans as a personal attack against the president by Democrats and liberals, who could not wait to bring down the Trump presidency because they could not accept that he won and Hillary Clinton lost.

The most recent news about Trump allegedly calling certain African nations “shithole” and disparaging Haiti, among others with while saying the U.S. should have instead people from Norway, with a predominantly white population, emigrate to America just put a spotlight on what people say about Trump’s racist thoughts and attitude translating to national policies.

The problems and concerns have been real, and the Republican Party — which used to embody the values that uphold the truth, rule of law, respect for all people, kindness, fairness, and conscientiousness that I see in my Republican friends — seems to be morphing into a different animal under the Trump administration.

Republican journalist Elise Jordan summed up most of the sentiments privately shared with me by some Republican friends, in an article entitled “I’m a Republican. What on Earth Is Wrong

Opinion

FRanciSco tatad THE conflict between government and the press is no longer simply about the proper appreciation of the facts on various issues, but rather about who is telling us the truth and who is feeding us with b.s., or fake news.

In the United States, the toxic exchange between the White House and the mainstream media has grown to alarming proportions following President Donald Trump’s alleged profanities against “shithole countries” that have populated the U.S. unwanted immigrants.

In the Philippines, the Duterte government has moved to shut down Rappler, an independent online news platform based in Manila, with a bureau in Jakarta, for allegedly violating the constitutional provision on the ownership and management of mass media.

Trump and the mainstream liberal press have accused each other of peddling fake news, and the toxicity of the exchange threatens to breach the limit of the ethically permissible following Trump’s

With My Party?” published

by Time Magazine on January 15, 2017.

Jordan started the article with these words of exasperation: “I am a Republican in the era of Donald Trump, and I am emotionally depleted by the constant cruelty of the President of the United States.”

Elise Jordan wrote this piece to remind her party about the soul of America that the Republican Party has fought so hard for before the era of Trump: “While Trump spoke of ‘American carnage’ in his Inaugural address, Ronald Reagan ended his second one by describing what he called the American sound: ‘hopeful, big-hearted, idealistic, daring, decent, and fair.’”

“These are values that all Americans used to proudly champion, no matter the political party. Other Republicans still can, if they can summon the courage to state the obvious.”

She went on to give a rundown of headlines that have been making her and other Republicans like her feel so frustrated and worried about how the President has been misrepresenting the true values of the Grand Old Party (GOP): “My heart hurt when Trump went out of his way to attack Myeshia Johnson, the pregnant widow of a fallen soldier he sent to the battlefield. I recoiled in disgust when he slanderously (and laughably) insinuated that Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was willing to prostitute herself to him for a political donation. When the President offered that among the white

supremacists who killed a peaceful protester, there were ‘some very fine people,’ it felt like an alternate history, one where the Citizens’ Council ascended to power instead of ignominy. Then there’s his support for Roy Moore, even after multiple women accused Moore of preying on them when they were teenagers and he was in his thirties.”

Elise Jordan’s concern goes beyond Trump because she sees how much of the Republican spirit that made her gravitate toward the party seems to be lost among Republican members just to accommodate and work with Trump: “The GOP’s journey from embracing compassionate conservatism to accepting Trump’s unparalleled capacity for casual cruelty cannot be dismissed as craven politics; it’s a threat to our security when the President taunts a nucleararmed rogue dictator on social media.

There was a time not so long ago when Republican presidents — not to mention other Republican leaders — cared about America’s standing in the world, as a matter of principle and peace. The previous Republican president George W. Bush made compassion a literal domestic policy priority by funding what he called ‘armies of compassion’ through faith-based initiatives. This Republican president seems hell-bent on stripping any semblance of compassion from the national and global conversation.”

Jordan also wrote about how the Trump presidency seems to isolate the United States from other countries all over the world, losing our allies’ respect, trust and support for the U.S. leadership in international relations, providing his-

torical context on how previous Republican presidents have valued these relationships in the past.

She writes, “Trump believes there’s no need to fill diplomatic appointments — there’s still not an Ambassador to South Korea — because, as he puts it, ‘the only one who matters is me.’ His strategy of demeaning the homes of the men and women of an entire continent and a neighboring island and country is as cruel as it is irresponsible.”

“In 1953, in response to the CIA’s pressure to overthrow the elected leader of Iran, President Dwight D. Eisenhower wondered aloud in a National Security Council meeting if perhaps we couldn’t try “to get some of the people in these downtrodden countries to like us instead of hating us?” Though Eisenhower would end up taking the CIA’s destructive advice to overthrow Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, in general the former Supreme Commander of Allied Forces during World War II belabored the importance of alliances during the war and his presidency. ‘There is no strength equal to the strength of an enduring friendship,’ Eisenhower said, reflecting his belief that military might was meaningless without relationships based on mutual respect.”

“President George H.W. Bush was another World War II hero who leveraged human connection for the national interest. By practicing exhaustive personal diplomacy, Bush organized a financial and military coalition that forced Iraqi tyrant Saddam Hussein’s withdrawal from Kuwait. A hypothetical question: how many world partners

could Donald Trump enlist to join him for a cause?”

“In the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, other nations did join with us against al-Qaeda. But although we must learn from our failures in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, the solution isn’t to withdraw from the world—or, worse yet, actively insult and alienate it.”

Jordan finds it hard to come to terms with how supporters let Trump get away with words, behavior, policies that run against the principles her party used to uphold: “Trump’s most ardent supporters will continue to praise him for ignoring the social mores of political correctness.

While I resent the stifling of free speech in an increasingly hypersensitive world, Trump is not a brave truth-teller; he’s the figurehead of our nation whose first year in office is most notable for his destructive casual cruelty.”

“It is not hypersensitivity to be offended by blatantly racist, misogynistic and war-mongering statements from a man who refuses to exercise an ounce of self-control. Republicans used to believe that individuals were responsible for exercising self-control. Why does the Commander-in-Chief get a pass?”

Does Trump represent the true Republican values you hold dear? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column 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

Censuring Trump, silencing Rappler Family reunification is 90-minute meeting with US congressmen at the White House last week, where he allegedly asked, “why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here? Why not from Norway instead?” He was reportedly referring to Haiti, El Salvador and African countries.

Haiti is one of the world’s poorest countries in the Western hemisphere; it is still recovering from the last deadly earthquake that hit it on January 12, 2010. Norway on the other hand is one of the world’s richest countries, with a GDP per capita of 62,510 PPP (purchasing power parity) dollars in 2017, according to the IMF. The Times vs Trump In one of the longest and more trenchant New York Times editorials I have ever read (Donald Trump flushes away America’s reputation, January 13, 2018), this flagship of the world’s liberal establishment press minced no words to show its contempt of Trump. This is an extensive quote: “Never mind that Norwegians are not clamoring to leave what is rated as the happiest nation on earth, and setting aside questions about Mr. Trump’s fitness, the flip-flop (on immigration) left

the issue…more confused than before.

“Where to begin? How about with a simple observation: The President of the United States is a racist. And another: The United States has a long and ugly history of excluding immigrants based on race or national origin.

“Mr. Trump seems determined to undo efforts taken by presidents of both parties in recent decades to overcome that history.

“Mr. Trump denied making the remarks on Friday (January 12), but Sen. Richard Durbin, Democrat of Illinois, who attended the meeting, said the president did in fact say these ‘hate-filled things, and he said them repeatedly.’

“Of course he did. Remember, Mr. Trump is not just racist, ignorant, incompetent and undignified. He’s also a liar…

“The current turmoil over immigration conflates several special issues. One is DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which has provided temporary work permits and reprieves from deportation for undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children.

These are the so-called Dreamers who number about 800,000.

“Another issue is the Tempo-

rary Protected Status program under which undocumented foreigners who were in the United States when disaster or conflict struck their homeland are allowed to remain in the United States. In November, the Trump administration ended the protection for about 60,000 Haitians, and on Monday the administration lifted it for almost 200,000 Salvadorans, most of whom have been in the United States for two decades.

“A third issue is the future of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants who have come to the United States over decades and have effectively integrated into American life. The Trump administration has ordered a broad immigration crackdown against them.

“And finally there’s President Trump’s imagined wall.

“What is concerning is not the wall, or the word ‘shithole’ or the vacillation on the Dreamers or the Salvadorans. It’s what ties all of these things together: the bigoted worldview of the man behind them.

“Anyone who has followed Mr. Trump over the years knows this.

We knew it in the 1970s, when he and his father were twice sued by

the American Dream

IT is in the best interest of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) to support a clean Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) bill and oppose efforts by Republicans to eliminate family reunification and the diversity visa. You may think that caRoline Fan DACA does not apply to AAPIs, but thousands of the 800,000 young people who have DACA status are AAPIs, and we should help them remain in their homes. Republicans are trying to tie DACA to eliminating family reunification. Family reunification is how 80 percent of Asian immigrants, such as my family and probably your family, came to America. Therefore, it’s important to ensure that we can continue reuniting families who have been separated, sometimes for up to 20 years — which is how long some Filipinos have to wait.

In two decades, children are born and become adults, estranged by an ocean and antiquated immigration policies.

Tearing up families is immoral. And yet so many supposedly family values politicians are eager to separate DACA children from their parents, and to prevent Asian American families from being whole.

Indeed, Republicans now call family reunification “chain migration” — the better to ignore the fact that they are keeping father and son, sister and brother apart.

Think about your family, and how they came to America. What would have happened without family reunification? Indeed, my whole family is tied through family-based immigration — after my father came, he brought my mom. After I was born, they brought my grandma who applied for my uncle and he brought my two cousins. After benefiting from a public school education, my cousins taught in Riverside and Los Angeles, giving back to the community as teachers. Family

Commentary

u PAGE A7

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Censuring Trump, silencing...

PAGE A6 the Justice Department for refusing to rent apartments to black people. We knew it in 1989, when he took out a full-page newspaper ad calling for the execution of five black and Latino teenagers charged with the brutal rape of a white woman in Central Park.

(The men were convicted but later exonerated by DNA and other evidence, but Mr. Trump never apologized, and he continued to argue as late as 2016 that the men were guilty.) We knew it when he built a presidential campaign by demonizing Mexicans and Muslims while promoting the lie that Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first black president wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t born here. Or when, last summer, he defended marchers in a neo-Nazi parade as â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;very fine people.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; â&#x20AC;&#x153;Just last month, The Times reported on an Oval Office meeting on immigration during which Mr. Trump said that 15,000 Haitians now living in the United States â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;all have AIDS,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; and that Nigerian immigrants would never â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;go back to their hutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in Africa once they have seen the United States. See a pattern yet? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Donald Trump is by no means Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first racist president.

But he ran a campaign explicitly rooted in bigotry, exclusion and white resentment. To his die-hard but ever-shrinking base, comments like those he made recently only reaffirm his solidarity with the cause. The Daily Stormer, a neoNazi website, certainly saw it this way. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is encouraging and refreshing, as it indicates Trump is more or less on the same page as us with regards to race and immigration,â&#x20AC;&#x2122; the site wrote in a post.â&#x20AC;?

The editorial does not end there.

Here we see Trump being pounded to a pulp on the NYT op-ed page. But whatever he may want to do in return, there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t very much he can likely do to threaten The Times with possible closure, or any of its editorial writers with possible imprisonment. He, rather than The Times, is on the receiving end. Not so in the case of the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Rappler Inc. The case vs Rappler The decision of the Securities and Exchange Commission to revoke Rapplerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incorporation papers, for allegedly violating the foreign equity restriction in the ownership and management of mass mediaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;although not yet final and executory, according to SEC spokesman Armand Panâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; sends out a most alarming signal not just to the national press, but to Philippine society as a whole.

Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JANUARy 18-24, 2018

Poll: More Filipinos oppose...

PAGE A5

siple told The Manila Times.

Antonio â&#x20AC;&#x153;Butchâ&#x20AC;? Valdes, who heads the Save the Nation Movement, described the latest survey results as â&#x20AC;&#x153;inconclusive.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think the SWS survey went like this because the President early on pronounced that he does not agree with a revolutionary

Groups opposed to RevGov stage a noise barrage near Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City.

Inquirer.net file photo

Rappler is the first Asian website, and the only truly independent news platform operating today in Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Philippines. It has performed a critical role at a time when the national media, with but a few exceptions, have tended to turn a blind eye on many execrable things happening before their very eyes.

Indeed, the Constitution provides that â&#x20AC;&#x153;ownership and management of mass media shall be limited to citizens of the Philippines, or to corporations, cooperatives or associations, wholly owned and managed by citizens.â&#x20AC;?

But given the cavalier regard the administration has shown for the most sacred constitutional issues, like the separation of powers and the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to choose their own leaders, I suspect not many Filipinos would mind a foreignowned news platform trying to supply some balance in the lopsided news reporting.

Isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t this, in fact, the case of all the foreign wire service agencies operating in the Philippines?

But is Rappler, in fact, foreignowned?

The controversy appears to center on Rapplerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s issuance of Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to Omidyar Network Fund LLC, a fund created by eBay founder and entrepreneur Pierre Omidyar. A PDR is defined as â&#x20AC;&#x153;a security that grants the holder the right to the delivery of sale of the underlying shares, but not ownership.â&#x20AC;? Media giants like ABS-CBN and GMA Channel 7 are known to have issued their own PDRs to certain foreign fund providers.

But hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the rub. In 2015, the PDRs issued by Rappler to Omidyar were approved by the SEC itself, without an iota of suspicion the Constitution was being violated.

Has the SECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s understanding of it changed just because President Duterte ordered Rapplerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true ownership investigated during his last State of the Nation Address?

Assuming the SEC had erred be-

fore, and Omidyar PDRs are now to be construed as giving Omidyar ownership or management control of Rappler, wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t it be more fair and just to simply cancel those PDRs, which the SEC itself had erroneously approved, without revoking Rapplerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right to operate its website? After all, why should Rappler be punished for the SECâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s obviously â&#x20AC;&#x153;honest mistakeâ&#x20AC;??

I am assuming, of course, that the silencing of Rappler altogether is not the real non-negotiable official objective of this government move. But is it?

Silencing Rappler solves nothing I am afraid DU30â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minions might yet succeed in silencing an entity like Rappler, but it would be at the cost of provoking a mighty and extended roar of angry lions from various corners of the world.

I personally saw this and had to deal with it for years when Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; martial law silenced the freewheeling national media in 1972; I would not want to see PDU30 inflict the same injury upon himself.

While we are on the subject, a truly sensible and far-seeing move which those seeking to reform the Constitution may want to consider is the scrapping of the present provision barring foreign ownership and/or management of all mass media establishments. This ban serves no useful purpose except to protect the monopolistic interests of media oligarchs who want to use the mass media for their own extractive ends.

The revolution in communications technology, which has given us a digital economy, has abolished all barriers to information from various parts of the world.

Through the Internet and television, people of all ages are now able to share knowledge of everything with everyone else. The ban on foreign ownership merely prevents foreign capital and intellectual expertise from entering the country at a time they are sorely needed. (ManilaTimes.net)

Buenos Aires, Argentina and Lima, Peru and Machu Picchu 0D\ WR 0D\ would go to pick it up himself. That was the news May 21 (Monday - Day 1) Los Angeles/Buenos Aires, Argentina (LA 601 agent Bergoglio phoned when he was elected as the Pope to cancel Newspaper delivery.

LAXLIM 2130 -0750) Finally we will visit San Ignacio de Loyola church, the first adobe church and the most ancient one in May 22 (Tuesday - Day 2) Buenos Aires, it was built by the Jesuits in 1675 and Buenos Aires (LA 7901 0931 1556) Meet our tour escort, panoramic tours on the way to a declared Historic Monument in 1942. He assumed the position of Superior in this Order until he was elected restaurant for Lunch, at EL Porteno Restaurant, located overlooking the river in Puerto Madero then as the Pope. to Hotel. (D) Tango Show with dinner this evening.

May 24 (Thursday - Day 4) Buenos Aires/Lujan Visit the Basilica of Lujan with Lunch Private Services May 23 (Wednesday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Day 3) Buenos Aires Half day city tour of Buenos Aires, will give us an idea with English Speaking Guide - Full Day (8hs 120 kms) about the Demographic,Architectural and Historic Depart from hotel toward the city of Lujan, situated 68 km. from the city of Buenos Aires. This locality, characterisitics of Buenos Aires.

Sightseeing includes the Principal spots of the City, considered sacred, developed around the Sanctuary Like Plaza De Mayo,La Rosada,The Cathedral,Avenue of the Virgin of Lujan, and always a center of 9 of July, Theater Colon, Obelisco, National Congress, pilgrimages. Each year in October, there takes The Neighborhood of â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Bocaâ&#x20AC;? with its traditional and place an important pilgrimage of the young in the colorful â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ciminito Streetâ&#x20AC;?,Plaza San Martin, Recoleta direction of the monumental church, the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan, which faces the Plaza Belgrano.

Cemetery And the Gardens of Palermo.

Afternoon tours recreates the life and work of Pope The actual cathedral, with gothic lines, began Francis,during this tour we will discover the real Jorge construction in 1889 but was concluded in 1937.

Mario Bergoglio also known as Pope Francis. He has Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s an impressive architectural example as much always been focused on the simplicity of his way of for its facade as for its interior design. Aside from living .He was born in 1936 in the middle or lower appreciating the majestic cathedral, during the tour class neighborhood like Flores, son of italian worker, expect to visit the Historic Colonial Museum, located in the old church that contains a valuable collection his father was a railroader, a humble man.

Our first stop is at the neo classical San Jose De of arms and uniforms, objects of art history, colonial Flores Church, where he used to pray as a teenager. silversmithing, indigineous and gaucho arts and the Nearby this Church we can find the house where the Museum of Transport that presents a vast collection of Pope and four siblings grew up with their Parents, carriages, airplanes and the first steam locomotive of the country, named â&#x20AC;&#x153;La Portena.â&#x20AC;? During the course Regina Maria Sivori and Mario Bergoglio.

In this area we will also admire Maria Auxiliadora of the visit, there will be lunch at a local restaurant.

Basilica and San Carlos Borromeo Church where the In the afternoon begin the return toward the city of Pope was baptized Christmas of 1936, here you can Buenos Aires and finally the hotel. (B,L,D) appreciate the font. In the 70th Anniversary of his baptism, the church hung a frame with the copy of May 25 (Friday - Day 5) AM departure Buenos the record of the parish book, where you can see his Aires to Lima, Peru (2428 EZELIM 0750 1050) sacramental record (you will be able to see it during Arrive in Lima. A transportation Service with a guide the evening mass). A curious thing about this church will pick us up from the airport and transfer us to is that Carlos Gardel frequented this church and was our Hotel Lunch, will be in a local restaurant, try the part of the choir at the beginning of the 20th century, delicious Pollo a la Brasa.

After Lunch will start the tour en route to downtown. you can see a memorial plaque.

The Image of Maria Auxiliadora is also important, for We will first go to the Birth house of San Martin De San Lorenzo because Lorenzo Massa was inspired Porres, currently an institution of Social Assistance to by the blue cape of the Virgin to design the team´s the underprivileged that bears his name. t-shirt. This t-shirt was worn by Los Forzosos del There is a small Museum dedicated to St Martin, the Almagro, the first name the team received. These chapel located in the room where he was born and colors have identified the club through history. Then then the dining room, where lunch is served free to the elderly.If you wish to bring any donations, it will be we continue to San Antonio Church.

Heading downtown, the tour passes by the Jesuit very appreciated and welcome.

College of El Salvador, where Bergoglio taught We will visit the Saint Rose of Lima Church. Visit Santo literature and psychology in the 1960s, and Salvador Domingo Convent ,where the first Peruvian Saints are University which he later oversaw. We will also pass Buried: Saint Martin De Porres and Saint Rose of

by Santa Catalina church, which was the first women Lima. Dinner then return to the hotel.

Monastery in Buenos Aires City and one of oldest and May 26 (Saturday - Day 6) Lima Fly to Cusco most prestigious convent.

The tour ends at Plaza de Mayo where we will walk (LA 2043 LIMCUZ 1455-1612) around the area and see Buenos Aires Archbishopric After breakfast, guided tour of both the colonial and where Bergoglio lived until he was elected pope, the modern sections of Lima, City of Kingsâ&#x20AC;?. Colonial Metropolitan Cathedral, which looks more like a Lima includes a visit to the Main Square, located in the classical Greek temple than a typical Catholic church. heart of downtown to view the Government Palace, There, Bergoglio eventually presided as the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the Town Hall, The â&#x20AC;&#x153;Desamparadosâ&#x20AC;? Train Station ,the archbishop. Inside the imposing building there is the old streets with their vice royal mansions and Moorish tomb of the South American independence hero Jose style balconies, the Bishop Palace with its beautiful de San Martin. A new Museum will be set up in one of balconies and the Cathedral of Lima. (Its outstanding the halls to the left of the central nave of the temple, features are the choir stalls, the Churrigueresque the name will be â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jorge M. Bergoglio Cardinalâ&#x20AC;? .The Chapel of the Immaculate, the main altar and a Christ exhibit will include personal and liturgical objects that made of carved ivory). Then walk towards the Aliaga he used during the archbishopric, like ornaments, House â&#x20AC;&#x201C; viceregal house delivered by Francisco cassocks and a pastoral staff that the bishops wear Pizarro to one of his captains (Jeronimo de Aliaga) as a representation of their pastoral function. Here you when the city was established â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a jewel of colonial will also find the ring that identified him as a cardinal, architecture currently inhabited by family members.

Continue your tour by visiting San Francisco with he decided to give it away to the Cathedral.

Then we will pass by Roverano Passage, the first one its convent (considered to be the most important in the City and where we find Romano Hairdresserâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s, religious monument of Lima, built in 1542 in Baroque the one that the pope frequented during 20 years. A style and consecrated in 1673) and the museum short distance away we find the news agentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s where of colonial art, cloisters and catabumbs. Your drive he daily bought the newspaper, and on Sundays he through Lima will pass by several Colonial squares,

churches and mansions, and then you will continue to the Modern Districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, for a glimpse of life in this huge city, as well as its beautiful parks, modern buildings and great ocean views. After lunch transfer to the Airport for the flight to Cusco.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

In the evening you will be transferred to local restaurant for Dinner show.

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner May 27 (Sunday - Day 7) Lima - Cusco (Pls Schedule Sunday Mass) Early morning, transfer to Sunday Mass.

Rest of the morning Free time. Take the remainder of the morning to nap or relax as you adjust to Cusco high altitude.

In the afternoon your guided tour of the Inca Royal City of Cusco starts in the very impressionable Plaza de Armas, which is surrounded by a beautiful stone arcade. In the Plaza is the Cathedral, with outside façade in Renaissance style is in contrast to its Baroque and plateresque style of its interiors.

The Convent of Santo Domingo was built above the most important Inca Temple, the Temple of the Sun, or Koricancha. Near the City of Cusco, you will visit the Inca Fortress Sacsayhuaman, made up of three gigantic terraces, superimposed in a zigzag form.

Qenqo, was a religious centre formed by a singular flowering of calcareous rock. It has underground galleries and a semicircular amphitheater with a series of stone seats.

Nearby is a Tambomachay, well known as Baths of the Incas, a place dedicated to the cult of the water, formed by aqueducts, channels.

Stop at Pisac Market for a display of colorful native craftsmanship, enjoy Lunch in Urubamba and head for temple of the sun.

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner May 28 (Sunday - Day 8) Cusco - Sacred Valley Your tour will start en route to the Sacred Valley, Where you will visit Awanakancha, a farm of South America camelids and showroom of textiles, where local families show the entire traditional process of weaving and making garments. You will then visit the Pisac citadel, a town shaped as a partridge, which is known for two reasons: for the craft market established between colonial buildings and for housing one of the most impressive complex of agricultural terraces of the valley. The market has scores of stands that exhibit and sell products manufactured by the residents of the area.

You will then have lunch at the agreed restaurant and will arrive in Ollantaytambo, a typical example of the urban planning of the Incas, whose residents still live in accordance with their old traditions. Pachacutec (1438-1471) conquered the town, destroyed it and built a new one, absorbing it as part of his empire.

The Ollantaytambo fortress is a huge archaeological complex which, although it bears the name of fortress, it was actually a tambo, a leisure city used to accommodate the delegations that traveled long distances. Without a doubt, it is one of the most monumental works of the Inca Empire.

Accommodation at Casa Andina Private Collection Urubamba â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Superior room.

Meals included: Breakfast at the hotel, Lunch *Important â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tonight, please pack an overnight bag for your journey to Machu Picchu. Due to luggage restrictions aboard the trains to/from Machu Picchu, passengers may only take 1 small bag weighing no more than 5 kg (11 lbs.). The rest of your luggage will be taken to Cusco city and will be stored at your selected hotel. You will retrieve your luggage on May 30

governmentâ&#x20AC;Ś and qualified it as an extreme measure to save a critically threatened nation state,â&#x20AC;?

Valdes told The Times. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If he had instead hinted that the option of a revolutionary government is still on the tableâ&#x20AC;Ś. the survey would probably 70 percent in favorâ&#x20AC;Ś 10 percent against,â&#x20AC;? he claimed.

A

The SWS survey was conducted using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, with 300 each from Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.

It had sampling error margins of Âą3 percent for national percentages, and Âą6 percent each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. n

Family reunification is the American...

PAGE A6 is fundamental to Asian culture, with many of us living in multigenerational homes together, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fundamental to how we are able to start small businesses, working alongside aunties and uncles to make our lives here a success. And family is fundamental to American culture.

America was built on bedrock principles â&#x20AC;&#x201D; principles of fairness, equality, and inclusion. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what the Pilgrims sought, and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s what my dad was aiming for when he came here by himself after 1965, when the quotas were lifted with the signing of the Immigra-

tion and Naturalization Act. Prior to that, the Chinese Exclusion Acts of 1882 kept Chinese and Asians from immigrating to the U.S. Many AAPIs are under the assumption that Trump and his anti-immigrant base only seek to reduce undocumented immigration, but in reality, they want to limit the overall numbers of immigrants in America. That is why they seek to prevent people from bringing their family here, regardless of status. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to go back to the Exclusion Acts, overturn birthright citizenship, and leave our family members stranded. AAPIs need to be vocal and call on our elected

officials to pass a clean DACA bill, and to preserve family reunification and the diversity visa, which allowed 16,000 Asians from places like Taiwan and Macau to come to the U.S. last year. We need to recognize that when the President hatefully maligns certain countries as being dirty and inferior, that he is talking about our family members, too.

Caroline Fan is the Communications Director for the Asian American Action Fund (www.aaa-fund.com), a Democratic political action committee dedicated to empowering Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by electing better officials at the local, state, and federal levels.

Sanofi agrees to take back unused...

PAGE A5 immunization program was not only confined to schools, but also a community-based immunization,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In November 2017, Sanofi Pasteur admitted that the antidengue vaccine may increase the risk of severe dengue in those who had no prior dengue infections.

Dengvaxia is a live attenuated yellow fever virus combined with other four antigens from the dengue virus.

This prompted the DOH to suspend its anti-dengue vaccination program and to conduct close monitoring, surveillance and care for the more than 830,000 children who received the vaccine.

Also discussed was the DOHâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s request for Sanofi Pasteur to conduct a sero-testing of more than 830,000 children who received the vaccine to determine if they had previous dengue infections. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They said that they will send us a letter explaining the testing kit, NS1 Antigen. There was a brief discussion,â&#x20AC;? Duque said.

He added: â&#x20AC;&#x153;But for the benefit of everyone, it might be good that we have read the letter of Sanofi Pasteur first and we will resume talks

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III revealed that Sanofi Pasteur agreed to pay P 1.1 billion to the government for the unused vaccines that the vaccine manufacturer will be retrieving this week.

Inquirer.net photo

after we read the full text of their letters in response to our request or our demand for testing kits, to be able to differentiate the vaccinees who were seronegative and those who were seropositive.â&#x20AC;?

Gundo Weiler, the World Health Organization representative to the Philippines, noted that

the testing kit was â&#x20AC;&#x153;developed in a research context.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We do not have the data at this point in time but Sanofi Pasteur promised to share full data with the DOH. With that data, I think we can discuss what the potential benefit of the test would be,â&#x20AC;? he said. n

Marian Pilgrimage France, Spain & Portugal

6HSW WR 6HSW ĹĄ 6SLULWXDO 'LUHFWRU 5HY -RKQ 'X\ 1JX\HQ the sisters of charity of Nevers. St Gildard convent Sept 8 - (Saturday - Day 1) USA/PARIS Transatlantic flight from USA to Paris (CDG )Meals is her final resting place. After she was blessed with the apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, serve on board.

St. Bernadette retired in Nevers. She received her religious habit in 1866. Continue to Paray-Le-Monial Sept 9 - (Sunday - Day 2) Paris (CDG) Arrived Paris CDG, Then after we clear immigration for Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) and collect our Luggage,. you will proceed to your hotel and have mass and dinner. Overnight in Paris. Sept 13 - (Thursday - Day 6) Paray-Le-Monial (D) After Breakfast, you will tour Paray-Le-Monial. Your first stop is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and Sept 10 - (Monday - Day 3) Paris Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations here you will celebrate Holy Eucharist. Then you will in the world, also known as the City of Light. Full day tour and admire the Romanesque basilica and see touring with local guide, including visit of the Eiffel the Chapel of Apparitions. After the Basilica, you will tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Basilica of Sacre proceed to the Monastere e la Visitation. Visit the Coeur, The chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Rue de reliquary of Saint Margaret Mary of Alocoque at the Bac is the site of Marian Apparitions and contain the Chapel of Visitation. Still to see and visit after lunch reliquaries of St. Catherine Laboure and St. Louise De is the Park of the Chaplain and the Chapel of St. Marillac. The shrine of St. Vincent the Paul is within Colombiere. Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) walking distance, a few blocks from Rue De Bac, visit the chapel which houses the relic of St. Vincent the Sept 14 - (Friday - Day 7) Paray-Le-Monial / Lourdes Paul. Overnight in Paris (BB/D) After breakfast you will continue your pilgrimage to Lourdes. Lourdes, celebrating 160 Years of Sept 11 - (Tuesday - Day 4) Paris/Lisieux After breakfast, Full day in Lisieux, home of St apparitions of Blessed Virgin to Bernadette. Still one Therese, who at age 15, entered the convent and of the great pilgrimages shrines in the world, visited became Carmelite nun, she took the religious name by thousands of pilgrimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s. Arrive in Lourdes in the of St Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy face. late afternoon, orientation to the shrines and spends The spirituality of her little ways was not about some time in the sanctuary. Dinner & overnight. extraordinary things, but rather about doing simple (BB, D) things of life well and with extraordinary love. She believed and taught that â&#x20AC;&#x153;Everything is Graceâ&#x20AC;?, Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Sept 15 - (Saturday - Day 8) face and presence could be experienced in every Lourdes person and situation of our lives, if we just attend You will have early morning bath at the healing water with love and expectancy. She died at the age of 24 of Lourdes. Then return to the hotel for breakfast. believing that her life was really the beginning for There after attend Holy Mass at the Grotto. continue God, promising to spend her heaven doing good on the day with a walking tour of the shrines and earth, her promisedâ&#x20AC;? shower of Rosesâ&#x20AC;? began and places associated with the life of St. Bernadette. have become a torrent in the church ever since. Spend some time meditating on the passion of our Return to Paris, Dinner in a restaurant near the hotel. Lord through more than life size exotic way of the sacrament and prayers. Afternoon will be free time for Overnight in Lisieux (BB, D) private devotion. Dinner/overnight (BB, D) Sept 12 - (Wednesday - Day 5) Sept 16 - (Sunday - Day 9) Lisieux / Nevers / Paray-Le-Monial After Breakfast, Continue your drive to the Lourdes / Zaragoza picturesque Loire valley to Nevers, visit the convent After Breakfast, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll continue your drive towards of St. Gillard, where St. Bernadetteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s incorrupt body Zaragoza, Spain. Visit the shrines of Our Lady of miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Pillar, the 2nd most popular pilgrimages sites in At the conclusion of the eighteen apparitions of Spain. See the Magnificent altar in the Basilica, built the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, St. Bernadette lived on site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to for 12 years as a member of the congregation of the apostles St. James, before her assumption into May 29 (Tuesday - Day 9) Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu After Breakfast Board the Vistadome train and travel through the sacred Valley of the Incas on the way to Aguas Calientes, then Hop on the Bus headed to the Citadel, explore Machu Picchu with a Guided tour and admire the seven Wonders of the World, enjoy exploring the sites.

Upon arrival at Machu Picchuâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Aguas Calientes Station, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll meet your guide and will take a 30-minute shuttle-bus ride to Machu Picchu, the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Lost City of the Incasâ&#x20AC;?. The ruins are located in a lush jungle and are believed to have been built in the mid-15th century by Inca Pachacutec. Lost in history, it was not discovered until 1911 by the merican explorer Hiram Bingham. Enjoy a guided tour of the fabled ruins.

Now Recognized as a member of the new 7 Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu is a marvelous and famous citadel which combines the visual and spiritual force of magnificent natural scenery with the natural diversity of a historic sanctuary. Machu Picchu is recognized as a Cultural and Natural Patrimony of the World which rises to an altitude of 7,900 feet above sea level between the Huayna Picchu (young peak) and Machu Picchu (old peak). It lies within the spectacular framework provided by the exuberant vegetation of nearby jungle and the rugged landscape. The ruins are situated on the eastern slope of Machu Picchu Mountain in two separate areas â&#x20AC;&#x201C; agricultural and

urban. The latter includes the civil sector (dwellings, canalizations) and the sacred sector (temples, mausoleums, squares, royal houses).

Although the constructions show different levels of architecture, the religious buildings exhibits a high degree of perfection. The construction was generally in stone and the roofs were built of tree trunks and thatched with ichu or straw. The walls lean slightly inward to protect against earthquakes.

Later, board the bus down to Aguas Calientes for lunch.

Overnight at Casa Sel Sol boutique Hotel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Standard room.

Meals include: Breakfast at the hotel, lunch and dinner.

heaven. Dinner/overnight Zaragoza (BB, D) Sept 17 - (Monday - Day 10) Zaragoza / Salamanca After breakfast you will embark on a trip to Salamanca. You will have a short stop and panoramic tour of Avila. Upon arrival in Salamanca, you will visit the Old Cathedral and tour the city. Dinner /overnight Salamanca (BB, D) Sept 18 - (Tuesday - Day 11) Salamanca / Fatima After Breakfast, you will spend the first half of the day touring Salamanca. You will visit the new cathedral with a short stop at Plaza Mayor for lunch. After lunch you will continue to Fatima, the famous Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Upon arrival you will have a short orientation tour of the Sanctuary. Attend the nightly Candlelight procession at the Shrine. Dinner and Overnight Fatima (BB, D) Sept 19 - (Wednesday - Day 12) Fatima Breakfast, then Visit the Museum dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary followed by Mass at the Apparitions chapel, Full day Guided tours includes the Shrines ground, visit of the tombs of Francisco and Jacinta in the Basilica, In Aljustrel and Valinhos, you see the two homes of the shepherds, site of Our Ladyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth apparitions. Stop at the Parish church where the seers were baptized, and the cemetery where Francisco and Jacinta were once buried. You will do the station of the Cross. We encourage everyone to spend some time in the Blessed Sacrament, which is open every day. Dinner/ overnight FĂĄtima. (BB, D) Sept 20 - (Thursday - Day 13) Fatima / Lisbon After breakfast ,you will proceed to Lisbon with stops at Santarem to visit the church of the Holy Miracle containing the Glorious 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem .Then you will do a panoramic city tour of Lisbon, with a visit to the Basilica of St Anthony de Padua, St Jeronimoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Monastery and the famous Belem Tower. Dinner/Overnight Lisbon (BB, D) Sept 21 - (Friday) Early AM transfer to Lisbon Airport for flight home to USA Full of wonderful memories of Our Pilgrimage

meters in the middle, on which they placed two large wooden boards. Thus, the Incas could isolate the city and protect themselves by removing them.

Later take the bus down to Aguas Calientes, head to the train station and board the Vistadome train Ollantaytambo station. On arrival, you will be transferred to your selected hotel in Cusco city.

Accommodation at Hilton Garden Inn â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Superior Room Meals included: Breakfast, dinner at the hotel *Important â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The visits to Huayna Picchu have a restricted access to 400 passengers per day â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 200 at 7:00 a.m. and 200 at 10:00 a.m. This entrance is subject to availability and the guests have to choose and inform their preferred scheduled with time in advance. Guestsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; information such as complete May 30 (Wednesday - Day 10) Machu Picchu name, passport number, nationality, date of birth and pre payment are required to purchase the to Cusco After having breakfast today, you will meet your guide entrance fee. Entrance fees to Huayana Picchu and at the lobby of the hotel and will enjoy a second visit Machu Picchu are non refundable/non endorsable. to Machu Picchu.

You may climb the Wayna Picchu (entrance fee May 31, 2018 (Thursday - Day 11) End of the included), which means â&#x20AC;&#x153;Young Mountainâ&#x20AC;? as opposed tour, flight schedule as below to Machu Picchu. Its ascent takes approximately an 6:10 am Transfer to airport to board your flight to Lima hour and its top attraction is the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Temple of the Moonâ&#x20AC;?, Cusco - Lima- Lax (LA2054 CUZLIM 0840 1010) a complex of underground constructions probably Upon arrival, connect with your international flight used for the elite. You may finally go to the Inca Bridge, LAX ( LA600 LIMLAX 1220 1900) an amazing stone construction which served to enter Welcome Back home to USA or exit the citadel that has an empty space of several

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 18-24, 2018

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Journal

Lea Salonga launches Bahaghari, an album of traditional Filipino songs Filipino artist wins Hollywood

By MoMar

movie’s poster contest

G. Visaya

AJPress

Broadway star and Philippine pride Lea Salonga, with the Global Language Project through GLP Music launched last month at the Philippine Center in New york the album “Bahaghari” which features new recordings and arrangements of Philippine folk songs.

The songs come from different regions of the Philippines and are performed in a variety of Philippine languages from Capampangan, Bicolano, Bisaya, Ilonggo, Ilocano to Tagalog. among the popular songs featured include, “Pobreng alindahaw,” “Tinikling,” “atin Cu Pung Singsing,” “Ili Ili,” “Pamulinawen,” “Sarung Banggi,” and “Leron Leron Sinta,” among others.

Salonga’s powerful emotional ties and artful interpretation shine on “Bahaghari,” GLP Music’s latest release chronicling the traditional songs of the island nation.

Producers tapped a series of young arrangers to craft the right musical settings for Salonga’s powerful voice, including Salonga’s brother, Gerard. They are straightforward, highlighting the songs’ melodies, words, and Salonga’s wonderfully expressive voice.

“This project felt like the perfect opportunity to introduce the languages of my country to a bigger

a CaVITE-born visual artist has been proclaimed one of the five winners of the “Insidious: The Last Key” alternative poster contest.

The competition was organized

by Blumhouse Productions, the powerhouse studio of blockbuster thrillers (“The Purge,” “Get out,” “Split”) in collaboration with the open-source creative platform Talenthouse.

Blumhouse’s Jason Blum himself selected the five winners from participants all over the world.

The winning Filipino artist

is adriann delmo from General Trias, Cavite, a 25-year-old freelance graphic artist/designer and owner of T-shirt printing business. He is joined in the winners’ circle by artists from Peru, Ecuador, Spain and France. The five winning artworks received a cash prize of $2,000 each. delmo gave his thoughts about his victory in the following interview.

Question: When you learned about the contest, did you imPAGE B3

Photos courtesy of LeaSalonga.com

world. a world that might not be aware of the intricacies and differences between these languages,” Salonga says. “as a Tagalog speaker, many of these tongues feel very foreign and strange, and since there’s always a danger that these languages won’t be spoken by future generations, there was a need on our part to preserve them in some way.”

In his remarks at the launch, GLP a & r Music director rex Niswander, thanked Ms. Salonga for taking part in this latest undertaking of the Global Language Project and expressed the hope that more and more young people

Ms. Lea Salonga performs two selections from the Bahaghari album

Photos by NYPCG

would be encouraged to learn foreign languages and cultures through music. representing the Philippine Consulate General at the event, Consul General Theresa dizonde Vega lauded the entire team behind the project and expressed support for the initiative towards engendering more inclusive and multi-cultural interests among young Filipino-americans.

Language learning and preservation “Bahaghari” joins GLP Music’s growing catalog. Founded by angela Jackson and rex Niswander, the label aims to deepen

Lea also signed copies of the Bahaghari CD.

connections to language learning and preservation via compelling music.

Jackson came from a background in media and corporate communications, a highly successful career that brought her into collaboration with international colleagues. That work opened her eyes to the importance of new language acquisition and language retention in diaspora.

She launched an education nonprofit Global Language Project, which brought language learning to under-resourced schools and learners. Jackson teamed up with Niswander to create musical projects that furthered these same goals.

Through a mutual friend, Jackson and Niswander were introduced to Salonga. The singer agreed to participate in their next project. Jackson was intrigued by the educational and cultural resonances an album of songs in Filipino languages might have. She was struck by the state of many of the country’s languages--Salonga sings in several endangered languages on “Bahaghari”—and wanted to find a way to highlight them.

“There is a large Filipino diaspora in the U.S. and around the world. They have very tight ties to PAGE B2

Filipino artist is Adriann Delmo (left) and his winning poster.

Philstar.com photos

National Artist for Fashion Pitoy Moreno passes away at 87 by iza iGlesias ManilaTimes.net

CELEBraTEd fashion designer Jose “Pitoy” Moreno, one of the earliest advocates of the Maria Clara, died on Monday, January 15, at the age of 87.

His grandson Paul Jason Cruz first confirmed the news with GMa Network’s prime time newscast “24 oras” without giving further details on the cause of death. The last time Moreno’s health had been reported was in PAGE B3

Pitoy Moreno

Inquirer.net photo

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‘Adventures in ticolAnd: Where the MAgic of AniMAls never ends’

A story of imagination and innocence

By Malou liwanag-Bledsoe AJPress

AFTER his first book, “Half My Life: The Testimony of a Father and His Special Needs Child,” about the challenges a father is facing with a son diagnosed with autism and diabetes, author Joseph Lim is now equally proud to share his new book, “Adventures in Ticoland: Where the Magic of Animals Never Ends.”

“It’s a children’s book based on a fictitious world and original SHOPPERS at The Boulevard and Chairman John Cahill. Fa- of dedicated award-winning animal characters created by my Mall in Las Vegas now have two ther Frank Yncierto and Father chefs, cooking authentic Italian daughter, Ashley, when she was 7 new dining options as Mam- Vic Panaligan were also at the food from scratch using fresh imported Italian products. The years old,” said Joseph in an email ma Olivia and ChiAM officially grand opening. interview with the Asian Journal.

ChiAm is an affordable dim restaurant features an open opened their doors this week.

‘Tico’ is a nickname I gave her at Former Nevada Senator Harry sum restaurant serving classic kitchen to create an enjoyable age 4, and she named ‘Ticoland’ Reid led the ribbon cutting dishes, as well as high-quality family atmosphere.

ChiAm and Mamma Olivia are after herself.” ceremony for the restaurants, meat, farm-grown vegetables Explaining that Ticoland is located at The Boulevard Mall and was joined by ChiAM Res- and organic choices. a fairytale world of animals livMamma Oliva is a modern (3528 S Maryland Parkway, Las taurants CEO Steven Lee, Presing their lives, learning lessons, i d e n t C h r i s t o p h e r S u g d e n , culinary experience with a team Vegas, NV 89169) and having fun; the book is also the realization that his daughter won’t be that innocent little girl forever.

“As I witnessed my daughter create several dozen animal characters, draw and color them, describe them, and even tell some stories about them, I was impressed by her creativity and wild imagination.

“Then it dawned on me, she’s going to grow up one day. She’s not always going to be a seven-

Mamma Olivia and ChiAm open at The Boulevard Mall

year old little girl. One day, she will lose some of that childhood innocence and carefree spirit that so defines her character. So I decided to ‘capture her imagination,’ so to speak, while she is still young. So that when she eventually grows up, she can see this book as a reminder of a really fun and innocent time in her life,” he said.

Even when he has successfully published two books, Joseph admits that his first book, “Half My Life,” has a different purpose than “Ticoland.”

He said, “With that first book, I wrote it for the purpose of bringing forth greater awareness and compassion towards the special needs community. So I’ve been busy spreading the word about it. This second book, on the other hand, has a completely different purpose. It is simply a gift for my daughter – nothing fancy, just a simple gift. But if it does well also, that’s icing on the cake, because it has obvious sentimental value.”

Joseph also added he does feel that he is an accomplished author, but then again, for him, it’s not just checking the box and claiming a goal.

“Because there is so much more sentimental value in these books than I can ever really describe in a few short sentences.

These books are for my beloved

Former Nevada Senator Harry Reid led the ribbon cutting ceremony on Wednesday, January 17 of the grand openings of local dim sum chain ChiAm and Mamma Olivia Italian Restaurant & Bar as they opened their doors to the public at the main entrance of Boulevard Mall in Las Vegas (located at 3528 Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89169).

AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

Joseph Lim

children, the first for my son, and the second for my youngest daughter,” he said. “It’s not important for me to be an accomplished ‘author’ unless I am also an accomplished ‘father.’”

Joseph also wants to emphasize that a portion of the proceeds from the sales of “Ticoland” will be donated to selected charities such as the Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), St. Jude Children’s Hospital and the Ronald McDonald House of Charities.

He also wants to invite everyone to his YouTube channel, “Autism and Diabetes Dad.” His video blogs aim to impart his experiences and knowledge as a parent of a special needs child.

As an author, Joseph shared that he hopes to inspire other Filipinos — in the Philippines, the United States and all over the world — who are thinking of being a writer, to go for it.

“Everyone has a story to tell, challenges that they’ve overcome, and causes they want to support. Writing is a great way to share their message. For me personally, I know there are many Filipinos with special needs loved ones who I hope can relate to the experiences I share in my first book, and in my YouTube videos.

Also, I hope all children will find the stories in “Ticoland” to be fun and entertaining, while learning valuable lessons at the same time,” he said.

“Adventures in Ticoland” is available on Amazon by clicking www.amazon.com/AdventuresTicoland-Where-Magic-Animals/ dp/1640289062.

To view Joseph Lim’s YouTube channel, “Autism and Diabetes Dad,” go to: www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dKvtY9nHibg&feature= youtu.be.

Lea Salonga launches Bahaghari, an album of...

PAGE B1 their homeland, yet many children in the diaspora don’t learn Tagalog or one of the other languages,” she explains. “We hope this album can become a resource for families and young learners in these communities, inspiring interest in these languages and their wonderful songs.”

Salonga picked songs that appealed to her, both artistically and personally. Her mother had sung her the delicate “Ili Ili” and several others when she was a child, and came to visit during a recording session. The Tony Award-winning actress and vocalist, used to selling out prestigious venues worldwide, harnessed this connection and dived into the repertoire with heart and grace.At the launch, Salonga sang two selections from the album, “Ili Ili” and “Paruparong Bukid” to the great admiration of those present.

“The spirit behind the project really came from the team, a collective that has deep expertise,” says Jackson. “There’s Lea, whose contribution is central. Ryan is a leading light in Filipino music and straddles the academic and pop worlds. The album’s designer, Lucille Tenazas, is Filipina, and the liner notes were written by a respected Filipino author, Floy Quintos. They all share a real passion for the country and the language and the culture,” a passion that’s audible on “Bahaghari.”

Cayabyab is a leading composer, arranger, conductor, and film scorer. He has researched his country’s musical traditions, as well as championed new voices, via a songwriting competition he founded and as a judge on several popular TV talent shows. His deep knowledge of Filipino music proved key to the project.

“I had to choose the most popular folk songs from each region — but there are many to choose from!” he recalls. “The Visayas region has other subregions but I chose one song each from the Cebuano and the Hiligaynon languages. In Mindanao, the main economic and cultural centers either speak Cebuano, Hiligaynon, or Tagalog.”

Capturing the diversity of languages was only one part of the

Lea with Global Language Project A&R Music Director Rex Niswander.

Lea Salonga with Loida Nicolas Lewis and Consul General Tess de Vega.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

puzzle. Cayabyab also wanted to make the album musically interesting, taking listeners through different moods. “The songs had to be varied in subject, in emotion and in tempo and rhythm,” Cayabyab notes. “The collection could not all be slow songs or only celebratory songs. We had to have a good representation not only of language but of a variety of subjects and emotions. This would hopefully make for a lovely aural spread.””Bahaghari” moves from the sprightly “Leron Leron Sinta” and the playful vocal layers of “Sitsiritsit Alibangbang,” to the gentle sway of “Magtanim Ay Di Biro” and the pensive “Matudnila.”

Diversity also reigned in the arranging process, which Cayabyab handed over to several arrangers and musicians. “I was surprised by his proposal, that six different arrangers and performers each work on a few songs. I was skeptical about it, but it actually worked

perfectly,” recalls Niswander. “For one thing, the arrangers were so good. They were following Ryan’s directions but they each had their own style.” The arrangements revolve around piano and guitar, with gentle percussion, vibes, flute, and other colorful elements to play off Salonga’s rich voice.

That voice is the thread tying “Bahaghari” together. “Because the arrangements were all so different from one another, I needed to stylistically adapt my vocals to fit them while holding on to my own voice and how I sing,” reflects Salonga. “The more playful stuff, like ‘Pobreng Alindahaw,’ was just so much fun to do in the studio, and some of the more dramatic music, like ‘Matudnila,’ was straight from the heart. The melodies are just as informative as the lyrics, so I latched on to them.”

Listeners will as well, forging new connections to these songs and languages.

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Why Judy Ann doubted herself Maxene Magalona, Rob Mananquil’s ‘simple’ wedding fulfilled in Ang Dalawang Mrs. Reyes Glorioso Philstar.com

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

by Bot

JuDY Ann santos is not shy to admit that she needed assurance from director Jun Lana for her acting while shooting for what is considered as her comeback movie “Ang Dalawang Mrs. reyes.” she has been away from doing mainstream movies for quite some time with the indie film Kusina as her last acting project. the actress, who plays Lianne reyes in the latest flick produced by star cinema with Quantum Films and Idea First company, said during the grand presscon: “Natakot kung sa natakot that I had to ask direk Jun and the rest of the production staff if my work was okay. I wanted to know if something was lacking in what I did or if there was anything I needed to do. Ganun ako hindi ka-confident sa trabaho ko. I needed that assurance na tawid ‘yung ginawa kong punchline.”

After two years of being away from acting (hosting kept her busy), Judy Ann was aghast to learn about the rapid changes in film production. For one, it was her first time to be in front of the grinding cameras without hearing any noise from the background.

Neither was there anyone in sight nor roaming around the set during takes.

“A lot have already changed,” she said. “It took some time before I calmed down. even in the past movies I did last 2017, I kept on asking. Ganun ako kawalang confidence sa trabaho ko and in myself as an actress. I felt I’ve just lost it at ako ‘yung bagong luma sa grupo. But I enjoyed the whole process because my motivation is to learn and challenge myself… and I guess I’m about to reach my finish line when the movie opens in cinemas.”

Direk Jun, on the other hand, said that Judy Ann’s “feeling like a newbie” attitude worked in her favor. He liked her being so inquisitive and “I liked her being not so confident because her performance turned out so refreshing. she’s really funny here.”

It is now obvious that “Ang Dalawang Mrs. reyes” steers Judy Ann away from heavy drama. thus, curious minds are eager to know what caught her interest to star in a laugh-out-loud flick. “I was really looking for a material that would challenge me to go out of my comfort zone, something refreshing because most of the films I’ve done before were all drama and people are already used to seeing me cry. so, I challenged myself that this 2018, I should do something different before I reach 40 (years

Actress Maxene Magalona and her musician/model husband rob Mananquil have always been adventurous even when it comes to fashion, but when they walked down the aisle last week—on two occasions—they kept it classic.

“I’m generally very traditional.

I love classic and girly pieces, so I guess I’ll go with something along those lines,” Magalona told the Manila times in an interview in May 2017, just two months after OPM band Pulso’s vocalist popped the question. true to her vision, the couple first exchanged “I do’s” in an intimate church ceremony on January 8 at santuario de san Antonio Parish in Makati. Magalona wore a custom bow clover dress by Filipino designer Mark Bumgarner, while Mananquil was preppy in his plaid suit for the morning wedding.

Only family members and principal were present for the “first wedding,” which was followed by Judy Ann Santos returns to the big screen via the Jun Lana-directed initial comedy offering of their star-studded grand wedding Star Cinema with Quantum Films and Idea First Company after being away from mainstream three days later at shangri-La acting for years.

Star Cinema photo Boracay resort and spa. old), something that will make me think twice before accepting yet too tough to refuse and this is it.”

In fact, after seeing the movie rushes, she told herself that she should have done it long before raising a family. “It’s fun and at the same time you’ll get to realize that the story alone is a good material.

It’s not new because it’s a reality but it’s not (the type) people are expecting to see (in a movie).”

“Ang Dalawang Mrs. reyes” is not your usual love triangle movie where two women are fighting for the same man. It is a journey of two women who pursue their erring husbands who have the same surnames. their seemingly happy marriages are put to the test when both wives discover that their husbands have an affair, leaving the wives in a series of misadventures in hopes of foiling their husbands’ relationship.

Apart from Judy Ann’s Lianne, portraying the other Mrs. reyes is Angelica Panganiban as cindy whose husband Felix reyes (Jc de Vera) is the lover of Lianne’s husband Gary (Joross Gamboa).

Lianne and cindy’s desire to win back their respective husbands will take moviegoers to an emotional rollercoaster ride as both women turn to humor and laughter in the midst of life’s most painful experiences.

Working with her co-stars Angelica Panganiban, Jc de Vera and Joross Gamboa, Judy Ann shared,

took all her worries away what with the happy and all-play mode on the set every shooting day. Angelica also related that her and Judy Ann’s friendship has become deeper than before. the two have worked together in “sa Puso Ko, Iingatan Ka” many years ago but this is their first big-screen outing.

“I believe, we’re able to build a deeper friendship because we were together for a long time making this movie,” Angelica said. “Grabe ‘yung separation anxiety, perhaps I’ll be hanging out often in the south, at their house (laughs).”

Judy Ann, for her part, said, “Before we became friends, she was my baby but now she’s not a baby anymore kumbaga with what she’s been through in life, Ange blossomed in a very nice way.”

Asked if she could possibly fall in love with a gay, Judy Ann replied that it always depends on one’s love and feelings. Of course, everybody knows she is already married to ryan Agoncillo and they have three children. she explained, “If you meet someone whose love is true, you can’t think anymore of the gender whether he’s gay or straight kasi masyado ka n’yang mahal, inaalagaan (ka) yun naman ang pinaka importante at ‘yung respeto.

“For you to love a gay or a lesbian, it doesn’t really matter as long as your love for each other is true.”

Miss International Kylie Verzosa calls for changes in Binibining Pilipinas WHILe Binibining Pilipinas winners like Binibining Pilipinas International and Miss International 2016 Kylie Verzosa is excited for the new pageant to be held held on March 18 at the smart Araneta coliseum, Kylie hopes to see more changes in the pageant this year.

“I hope Binibini will (introduce changes) and good changes,” Kylie told Philstar.com in a recent interview.

According to her, pageant organizers should get to know the contestants more.

“Siguro… more one-on-one interviews so every girl can get Binibining Pilipinas International and Miss the chance to express herself, so people can learn about her more, International 2016 Kylie Verzosa.

Philstar.com photo by instead of just watching their perEfigenio Christopher Toledo IV formance onstage with that one

time question and answer. so sana, makilala nila ‘yung girls isa isa,” Kylie explained of the changes she wants to see.

Besides the pageant, Kylie is also excited to join her second cruise as a superstar Virgo ambassador. she joined the maiden Manila-Laoag- Kaohsiung-Hong Kong trip last year, which launched Manila as a cruise homeport for the first time.

“For the first time, Filipinos don’t have to go outside (the country) to join a cruise!” she said, believing that the cruise gives tourists a good opportunity to discover more about southeast Asia without the need to get a visa. (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar. com)

Filipino artist wins Hollywood movie’s...

PAGE B1 mediately want to join? What convinced you to take part?

Delmo: I’ve been joining the creative Invites of talenthouse for more than six months. When I learned about the contest for the Insidious poster, I knew I wanted to join ‘coz the concept was interesting. I previously joined a couple of contests before but unfortunately I didn’t win dahil sobrang gagaling ng mga participants. Ang nakakatuwa almost lahat ng magagaling na ‘yun ay Filipinos.

Q: Do you have funny or interesting experiences with these contests?

AD: In one of the contests, I submitted entries full of confidence, really feeling I’d win. And then “nakita ko bigla mga malupit na entries. Natawa nalang ako kasi hindi pala.” since then, I promised myself to always try something new and be more creative. After that, I didn’t notice at first but there were already improvements in my craft.

Q: For your “Insidious: The Last Key” entry, how did you arrive at the concept?

AD: the participants were encouraged to submit artworks with movie poster styles from the

‘50s to early 2000s. I did a lot of research as I wasn’t familiar with vintage style since I’m still in my early twenties. My winning entry is simple but it gave emphasis to the demon coz that’s the style of old posters.

Q: Did you have a feeling that you will win this time?

AD: Actually, I didn’t expect to win “dahil sobrang dami talagang magagaling.” I told myself it is enough if people seek out my entry and like it. that’s why I was so happy and feel blessed when I learned my artwork was chosen.

Q: You used Adobe for your entry. Do you consider yourself a digital artist? Do you also hand-draw? What works better for you?

AD: Yes. I consider myself a digital artist. I used to hand-draw before I got familiar with vectors and vexel arts. What works better for me? When thinking of a concept, freehand is better until an idea pops up. then I just render the sketch digitally. I find my work better and complete “pag nagawa ko na sya in digital.”

Q: What will you do with the U.S. dollar cash prize?

AD: I am planning to buy higher specs laptop and pen tab to be able to catch up with the latest applica-

tions. the rest of the prize will be for financial savings.

Q: Any advice for aspiring artists?

AD: Always pursue what you want to be. Don’t be afraid to fail.

Failures teach us to make something new and move forward. “set kayo ng competition sa mind ninyo. Wag kayo papayag na di nyo nahihigitan yung last na gawa nyo. Magugulat nalang kayo sa improvements. And lastly ibigay lang lagi yung best and be happy sa napili nyong field.”

“Insidious: the Last Key” is the new installment in the Insidious franchise coming to Philippine cinemas January 17. In the supernatural thriller, which welcomes back franchise standout Lin shaye as Dr. elise rainier, the brilliant parapsychologist faces her most fearsome and personal haunting yet: in her own family home. the film is written by co-creator Leigh Whannell (“saw”), who wrote the trilogy and directed “chapter 3”; produced by “Insidious” regulars Jason Blum, Oren Peli (“Paranormal Activity”) and co-creator James Wan (“the conjuring,” “Furious 7”); and directed by series newcomer Adam robitel (“the taking of Deborah Logan”). (Philstar.com)

Newlyweds Rob Mananquil and Maxene Magalona Photo from Instagram/@maxenemagalona

An all-white wedding, Magalona, wore a very simple yet elegant Vera Wang gown, while her dashing groom donned a bespoke all-white suit. the actress also lovingly remembered her father, the late OPM “Master rapper” Francis Magalona, by adding a locket with his photo to her bridal bouquet,

and marching down the aisle to his iconic song “Girl Be Mine.”

Besides the whole Magalona and Mananquil clan, the union was witnessed by the likes of Julia Montes, sisters Megan and Lauren Young, Mikael Daez and Janella salvador.

Magalona and Mananquil have been dating since 2015.

National Artist for Fashion Pitoy Moreno...

PAGE B1 2014 when he was hospitalized for pneumonia.

Hailed as Asia’s fashion czar, Moreno last appeared in public at a grand fashion tribute for him at edsa shangri-La Manila in 2011. It was in this decade that the designer slowed down running his atelier in Malate owing to poor health.

With an illustrious career that

spans over 50 years, Moreno’s fashion designs had been exhibited at the World’s Fair in seattle, Washington and New York city.

His work appeared on the pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar, Holiday, and Le Figaro, where he introduced the words jusi, piña and lepanto to world fashion.

Prominent personalities who admired and wore Moreno’s

creations which bore inimitable beadwork, embroidery as well as hand-paintings included beauty queens, most first ladies of the Philippines and the united states — Nancy reagan and Pat Nixon — and the world’s royalty such as Queen sirikit of thailand, Queen Margarretta of Bulgaria and Princess Margaret of Britain to name a few.

Moreno will also be remembered as the first president of the Philippine couture Association, the very first association of fashion designers in Manila.

In 2009, former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo declared Moreno the second National Artist for Fashion Design after ramon Valera in 2006. However, awarding on this batch—which included theater proponent cecile Guidote Alvarez and filmmaker carlo J. caparas—was met with protest and controversy that the supreme court was forced to issue a temporary restraining order (trO) on the conferment. the trO has not been lifted up to now.

Features

B january 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Ins and outs of 2018

By Monet

Yul Servo on making pictures, politics and Piolo

by Arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

Lu

The start of a new season means different things to different people. But as a hair expert, it primarily means one thing for me: new season equals new haircut.Winter is here and it’s the best time to hit up the salon and get your season haircut. But before you do, check out these chicest hairstyles and cut. Based on my opinion, these are the six best “hair looks” that are suitable for both men and women this season. Let me start with the ladies.

The bob cut Seventy percent of my customers would request this type of cut for either of the following reasons: a new phase in their life (a relationship status-change or a new job), wants a new look to reinvent their selves, or just because someone they know—and like—is sporting it. Your reasons may or may not fall under any of the aforementioned categories, but you are definitely in the best season to get a bob cut.

There is one thing you need to remember if you’re interested in trying a bob like Keira Knightley’s, Ginnifer Goodwin’s or Rachel McAdams’s. You have to be prepared for the attention—or the shock (if you had long hair)—that this haircut draws. Know that this cut makes a serious statement. Don’t dare if you can’t take the heat. Also, you have to manage your hair’s density with this look, or else the bob will look like a mushroom.

Grown-out lob According to Marie Claire’s “20 Chicest Lobs of the Year,” ‘The Lob was this year’s tour de force cut.’ But while it is lovely, it is also way too much work to blow out the strands as regularly as the LA traffic permits. Don’t worry, I have good news! You can still grow you Lob and look like you step out of the salon every time.

Just ask your stylist to texturize your mane for body and movement. You can also add some beachy waves to this cut.

That is what’s great about a grown-out lob, you can style it in a variety of ways and it still looks chic.

One renowned stylist’s re-

EMPLOYMENT

minder: “Use a combination of oil and hold products to blow dry,” he suggested, “and style with a flat iron to add bend.”

Choppy and messy Since we are on the subject of adding playful waves and body to your hair, let’s push it further with some carefully sliced strands. It’s razor-meets-gorgeous! You may check out Kim Kardashian for inspiration for this style.

If you think this should be your look for autumn, enhance the “messy” effect by using a curling wand on your waves. Use plenty of texturing sprays to out some volume at the roots.

The Mixie Mixie is portmanteau for midlength pixie. This haircut is best suited for fine to normal strands that are straight. I suggest this cut for those who aren’t ready for a super short style, but want something short yet feminine.

For the men After the goddesses, we move on to the gods of killer haircut.

And what easier way to describe the famous cuts is to name the celebrities who are sporting such looks. Allow me to borrow and coin the styles with their names.

The “Ryan Gosling” cut Google it if you don’t agree

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

with me, but I must say this style is suited for any face or hair type.

Ask your stylist for something high and tight on the side. Make the top about an inch longer and polish the look by combing it with a matte pomade. I must warn you: this is a head-turner look. Proceed with caution.

The “Chris Pine” cut If you’ve seen “Starship enterprise,” you pretty much have an idea of your new look sans the highlights. Rock the “Chris Pine” cut by going shorter and with much tight on the sides. And please make sure you go easy on the pomade or you just might become the next most eligible bachelor.

For curly hair I also have a recommended cut for those who have curly hair.

This is also for those who want a more modest, subtle and less-attention-grabbing look.

If you’ve got curly hair and a more angular face, go with a round cut. You’re going to have to ask your stylist to cut about a half an inch longer on top than on the sides for best results.

And there you have it, ladies and gentlemen. These haircuts are sure to make you look trendy this season. For a more detailed explanation and on-point demPAGE B6

EMPLOYMENT

biz, however, politics eventually beckoned for John Marvin Nieto (Servo’s real name), son of a former city councilor in Manila’s Third District of Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo.

“My father urged me to run in his stead. he was councilor who was very dedicated in serving the people. I was hesitant because I already had a good career as an actor, but I still asked Direk Maryo for his blessing,” Servo recalled. “he said no—I tried again two more times. Sa akin kasi, hanggang three times lang ako magpaalam at pag no pa rin, hindi ko na pipilitin.”

Just as a joke, he asked delos Reyes for his permission for the fourth time, and to his surprise his mentor said yes.

“But he gave me one condition—na hindi ako mangugurakot kahit piso o singkong duling. I promised I won’t. I saw how my father dedicated his time for the sake of the people and I promised to do the same.”

Long story short, Servo won by a landslide and shuffled between acting and public service until he had maximized his allowable term as councilor. Today, he is a hardworking congressman and feels blessed with the opportunity to continue his father’s good name in public service.

‘Tukhang’ Despite his obligations as an elected official, Servo is still able to pursue his passion for acting

ACTOR Yul Servo recalled that at age 19, seasoned director Maryo delos Reyes told him he looked like a rat. Delos Reyes’ exact words were “mukha kang daga” when Servo’s uncle presented him to the moviemaker. he was a college student back then taking up BS Criminology, and rather than feel slighted by the director, he heeded every piece of advice the wise man gave him and for that he is eternally grateful.

Servo, as guided by delos Reyes, attended every workshop available, took on small roles for television until his hard work and patience paid off. In 2001, he bagged the lead role in the fivehour film “Batang West Side,” directed by Lav Diaz and produced

by Tony Gloria of Unitel.

Shot in New Jersey, Servo won the Best Actor plum at the Cinemanila International Film Festival and Brussels (Belgium) International Film Festival for his role as teenager hanzel harana who was murdered on a sidewalk of Jersey City. Batang Westside also won Best Picture in the Gawad Urian Awards, Best Film at the Singapore International Film Festival and Best Film of the Decade (also known as the Dekada Award) in 2011 given by the Filipino movie critics circle.

Despite his success, Servo recalled to The Manila Times that he almost stayed behind in the U.S. after filming “Batang West Side.” he said he felt at home somehow what with many Filipinos already living there and more importantly, he had a green card and a job ready for him had he decided to stay.

It was delos Reyes who changed his mind. his mentor told him he will not regret returning to Manila and that his career will surge within the next three years.

True enough, the noted director cast him as Noah, the cab driver-turned-lover of judge Nora Aunor as Dorinda in the film, “Naglalayag.” One of the most awarded films of 2004, it won nine major awards in the Manila Film Festival, Best Picture at the 53rd Famas Awards, and for Aunor, Servo and delos Reyes, the movie earned them Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Director and Special Jury awards at the 2004 Brussels International Independent Film Festival.

His father’s son happy as he was in show- Yul Servo

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FOR RENT

every so often. Nowadays, he is busy with “Tukhang,” a fourpart mini-series on Cignal TV that explores the social cost of the Duterte administration’s war against illegal drugs.

In Tukhang, Servo plays a hired hitman in a cast comprised of James Blanco, Karel Marquez and Mon Confiado. And in doing the show, as well as being in politics, he has formed his opinions on the government program, which has spawned the issue of extra-judicial killings or eJKs. “In tokhang, they [the police]knock on doors to warn users and peddlers to change their ways. It’s a good program, but the implication has become bad because when one says ‘natokhang,’ it may suggest someone had been killed.

“But as I see [through tokhang]the government gives a chance to a person who wants to change. The problem is, many of our fellow citizens are hard headed—they’ve already been warned yet they still go back to their old ways affecting the lives of others around them.”

Servo admitted he once tried drugs while in high school and can tell anyone they can do no good for a person.

Friendship Despite persistent rumors lasting more than a decade that he and Piolo Pascual have a special friendship, Servo admitted he had PAGE B6

ManilaTimes.net photo

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

Your Immigration Solution Atty. NANcy Miller & lorellA t. Hess In California, Prop 64 took effect January 1, 2018, allowing recreational marijuana use for adults over age 21 and the state has allowed medicinal use of marijuana for several years.

However, the relevant federal laws have not changed. You won’t be facing time in county jail or state prison for your recreational use of pot. But that doesn’t mean you won’t end up in federal prison, as Attorney General Jeff Sessions has announced that despite conflicting local laws, federal drug laws will be vigorously enforced.

And non-citizens should also be aware that possession of even a very limited amount of marijuana which would not trigger any state penalty whatsoever under Prop 64 can still have se-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Continued from last week) YOUR postings at all social networking sites define who you are and delineate your character to the world. Your thoughts, your ideas and comments, your images, even your choice of words give an insight to your personality and character traits. They reflect your values, give a hint of your weaknesses and vulnerabilities and can be a measure of the size of your ego. Taken altogether, they paint a composite picture of you, either flattering or not.

Even the amount of time you spend on online games is a sliver of insight into your interests and how you spend your free time. It may be indicative of whether you are near the brink of obsessivecompulsive behavior or a candidate for the nuthouse.

Unfair? Of course it is. It is a flat and one-dimensional picture of who you are. You are a far more complex person than what your Facebook and Twitter postings give you credit for. But based on available information that you yourself provided, that’s how you want the people that orbit in your universe see you.

Take heed from a phrase that police officers read to suspects, “ …

Anything you say (and in social networking, what you post) can and will be taken against you…”

If you have posted something offensive, ranting and raving at someone or something as a gut reaction to a situation that angers you, you would get the instant gratification of venting your ire. But do think about the far-

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS What is Sudden Cardiac Death?

Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is a swift and unexpected death caused by a heart condition or mechanism, which may or may not be obvious. SCD varies in its range of definition. Usually, though, it applies to a situation where the person, who was thought to be free of heart disease, or only had a “mild” heart disease, suddenly died.

What causes these sudden deaths?

In the age range between 40 and older, the vast majority is due to coronary artery disease (heart “attacks”). In 20 percent (one out of five) of those who develop symptoms of coronary artery disease, and even among those with advanced coronary artery disease, the first symptom of the disease is sudden death. In those younger than forty years old, including teenagers, sudden death from “no apparent reason” is usually due to fatal ventricular arrythmia (heart irregularity), which could be brought on by electrolyte imbalance and other factors, and in some cases, to totally unknown cause. Brugada Syndrome, discussed below, is one such demise from a fatal heart rhythm abnormality.

Can illegal drugs cause sudden death?

Yes. Other “recreational” drugs could also lead to sudden death, many by causing deadly heart irregularity. Among some individuals, cigarette smoking could cause heart rhythm problems that lead to cardiac arrest. Thank God, this is rare.

What is a “Widow-Maker” heart disease?

As the name implies, this particular condition results in sudden

Community Journal

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 18-24, 2018

B

Recreational marijuana is now legal in California: How are non-citizens affected? vere immigration consequences.

An alien pot-user might end up in ICE detention or even be deported back to your native country. For immigration purposes, comply with federal law.

If you are not a U.S. citizen, your ability to live in the United States could be under threat if you use marijuana, even if you are careful to comply fully with state law. Marijuana is listed in Schedule I of the federal Controlled Substance Act (CSA) (along with heroin, cocaine, and meth), and drug offenses are accorded particularly severe treatment under the Immigration & Nationality Act (INA). A marijuana conviction can therefore make an alien inadmissible or removable, and can even be designated as an aggravated felony.

Someone who is inadmissible is not qualified to be granted lawful immigration status—such as a visa or a green card. Applications for such benefits can be denied based on a marijuana conviction, and can also be denied based on

an admission of marijuana use or involvement in a state-legal marijuana business. Even family members’ applications could be denied if an alien is involved in a marijuana business, because the business could be seen under federal law as drug trafficking.

Marijuana use could thus lead to a finding of inadmissibility—which could result in denial of a visa or green card application, and then removal from the United States.

For non-immigrants, waivers are possible if the applicant can show s/he presents a low risk of harm to society, committed a violation that was not very serious, and has a good reason for wanting to enter the U.S. on a temporary basis.

For those who hope to stay in this country long-term (such as those applying for lawful permanent residency of asylum, a waiver of inadmissibility is available but only for one-time possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Think before you post “You are free to post whatever you like. You are not free of its consequences however.” reaching consequences of being hauled off to court and wasting your time and money defending yourself.

A recent story is told of a CFO of a pharmaceutical firm earning $200,000 per year and with stock options worth $1 million.

A few years back, he decided to take advantage of the free water offered in a Chick-fil-A drive thru as a ruse for his hidden agenda to film himself berating the staff who served him the water so he can attack the corporation’s stand on traditional marriage.

He recorded himself saying some awful words to the staff member who was stunned but remained gracious under fire despite the unwarranted attack.

The guy then gleefully posted his video on youtube. Upon returning to his office, his secretary was in shock because of the overload of emails sent to him by people who took umbrage against his action.

To make a long story short, the married father of four was fired from his job, lost his home and his possessions reducing his status to live on food stamps. He found another job but when it was discovered that he was the author of that video, he was fired again. He has since then apologized to the staff member but maintains his position. No job offers seems to be forthcoming though. He has written a book about his experience and hopes that his book sells.

In the internet, karma can be swift and unforgiving. Not only do we now live in a sue-happy,

highly litigious environment, we also have to deal with unpredictable backlash. Your posts are evidentiary proof.

You are free to post whatever you like. You are not free of its consequences however.

So if you’re angry, try venting the old fashioned way. Punch a bag. Break some plates. Or sweat it out. Write if you have to vent as a form of release but give yourself a week or two to cool down and pull yourself together.

Write it, then trash it. Think of posting to the public as ripping a pillow filled with countless goose down feathers to the four winds.

Damage is beyond repair. Someone once said that you can’t take something off the internet. It’s like peeing in a pool.

It is quite easy for professional internet sleuths to find out where a message posting comes from even if you try to cover your tracks with bogus identities. 9 out of 10, you will be unmasked.

Like it or not, transparency has become the nature of this wired world.

Of course, as it is playing out on the political stage at the moment, a noted political figure has wiped her internet server clean to erase all emails and proof of possible wrongdoing. Is there a technology out there that can undelete deleted emails? How about recipients of those emails who have their own servers? This drama bears watching if only to see if it is really true that emails can be wiped out clean.

For now, you will be held accountable and may have to plead

Sudden cardiac death deaths among men, leaving their wives widows. This is usually due to a severe blockage of the left main coronary artery. If the left main coronary artery is blocked, all the left ventricular muscles are deprived of blood causing a massive acute heart attack, followed by sudden death. Even a single coronary blockage, if severe enough, could be dangerous, and deadly, depending on the portion of the heart that suffers.

Could Mitral Valve Prolapse cause sudden death?

Yes, but, fortunately, very rarely. Mitral Valve Prolapse is a condition where this valve on the left side of the heart (between the left upper and left lower chamber) is kind of “limp” and “weak” resulting in a slightly or moderately leaking Mitral Valve. This condition is generally benign and does not require surgery in majority of cases. Medications and some lifestyle changes are the therapies of choice.

What are the usual symptoms prior to SCD? Interviews with family of the victims usually reveal some angina (chest discomfort or tightness), or heart irregularity, and/or shortness of breath, and worsening of the symptoms over a few days or a few hours before sudden collapse and death in 75 percent of these people. Some of these symptoms may even be confused with indigestion, fatigue, muscle pains, or depression. Self-denial (of symptoms) makes this condition treacherous. Anyone with any of these symptoms should consult their physicians without delay. In many cases, the first symptom is cardiac arrest.

Does a normal EKG preclude SCD? No, a plain resting EKG that is reported as normal does not eliminate the possibility of Sudden Cardiac Death, especially among patients with coronary artery disease, whether previously diagnosed or still undetected. This is

the reason why a Stress EKG, preferably with Thallium, or Stress Echocardiography, are recommended to find out how the heart would behave under stress. These are more accurate and significant tests compared to a simple resting EKG. A plain EKG is only helpful if it shows abnormal findings. If it is “normal,” it does not have an accurate diagnostic value, and thus, cannot be depended upon for prognostication.

What is Brugada Syndrome?

Brugada Syndrome is a baffling condition where a young person, who appears to be healthy, unexpectedly develops cardiac arrest, for no apparent reason. Most victims do not survive the episode.

This condition is now believed to be responsible for countless sudden deaths among young people — athletes, students, etc., — who suddenly dropped dead.

Did the victims have any prior symptoms?

No, majority of victims did not have any prior symptoms. They were “in good health” when suddenly they collapsed, went into coma, and later died, or instantly died on the spot. Three Doctors Brugada (R, P & J) and their colleagues at the Unitat d’Aritmies, Hospital Clinic, in Barcelona, Spain, were the first to describe the syndrome in November 1992.

The characteristic EKG findings in this syndrome was first described in 1980 among six patients who had cardiac arrest and were successfully resuscitated. It was not recognized at that time as a disease entity, but those were classic victims of Brugada Syndrome.

How does one prevent Brugada Syndrome?

Since this disease entity has now been “described,” which makes diagnosis of this entity possible, everyone, especially those with a family history of unexplained sudden cardiac arrest, should be tested, starting with an EKG, and some “provocative” PAGE B6

Even someone who already has lawful status, like an LPR, can be removable from the United States for a marijuana conviction. A waiver of removability is possible for aliens who have a non-drug trafficking conviction, if they meet the physical presence, good moral character and other requirements. In addition to statutory eligibility, the alien must convince the immigration officer or the judge that s/he is worthy of a favorable exercise of discretion. As in all waiver cases, the burden is upon the applicant to prove that the waiver should be granted. All bases of eligibility must be supported by credible evidence.

More seriously still, while any marijuana conviction can make an alien removable, if the conviction is classified as an aggravated felony it can also make the alien ineligible for the most effective defenses against removal. Aggravated felons are not eligible for many waivers, asylum, or cancellation of removal, and they

become permanently inadmissible to the United States once they are deported. Moreover, aggravated felons are subject to mandatory ICE detention during the whole time their immigration case is pending. Aggravated felonies include “illicit trafficking in a controlled substance.” Possession of more than a small amount of marijuana may be viewed as a trafficking offense. Also, since marijuana sales and distribution are illegal under federal law, involvement in a state-legal marijuana business could count as an aggravated felony for immigration purposes.

Any non-citizen who has a marijuana conviction, uses marijuana, or plans to become involved in a marijuana-related business should be aware that these state-legal activities are still unlawful under federal law and may well result in being denied admission to the United States, being deported from the United States and/or being denied naturalization. The best advice is

“don’t take the risk”.

What should one do who already has a drug conviction or who has taken action in reliance on state law? Post-conviction relief is a possible resolution and should be explored. And no one in this situation should apply for any benefit under the INA before consulting with an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer. ***

temporary insanity to free yourself from the sticky mess of your own doing. Increasingly, the justice system has come to rely on words in documents, images in photos and videos on the internet and DNA matches, as irrefutable evidentiary proof.

As they often say in the movies, but no longer as empty bluster these days, “You can run, but you can’t hide.” The ease with which we send and receive information is matched only with the ease with which messages

are traced and tracked back to the original source. This is the reason why terrorists and kidnappers revert back to the old fashioned, slow way of communication — coded messages by couriers on beasts of burden, for fear of being traced.

Your postings and when you log on to Facebook, particularly during work hours, can get you fired. Employers are exercising their right to be picky when there are millions out there who are qualified to take your job.

As in anything, balance, good old common sense and a smidgen of humility should guide us all while social networking. Since we still live in a physical world, what a real still trumps what is merely virtual.

Or you can just log off, canoodle with a loved one or go fly a kite with your kids. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Calendar of Events across

Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

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Dinner for GK e-Rotary Club for PH incoming governors in Westminster, CA The 6-year-old GK e-Rotary Club will be hosting a dinner for two incoming Rotary District Governors from the Philippines — Gov. Mar Reyes from QC D3780 and Gov. Nisce from La Union D3790 — on Saturday, January 20, at the new Luxe Buffet Restaurant at 2008 Westminster Mall, Westminster, California (restaurant is in the 2nd floor of the mall, along Bolsa Ave. at Godldenwest, just off the 405 freeway).

Invited guests include Consul General Adelio Cruz, presidents and officers of several Filipino-American organizations, like the Fil-Am Chamber of Commerce of OC, the PressClub of California, the Phil American Society of CPAs, Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA, the Historic Filipino Town Rotary Club and many others.

Please come and witness the launching of our first GK e-Rotary Annual Fil-Am and their Friends Young Professionals Ambassador Tour to the Philippines in July, that will also a part of the official Phil Government Ambassador Tour that is being done annually for many years now. For more information, please contact the Project Chair, Jhenny Evans at (714) 5986446, or e-mail at jhenny_evans@yahoo.com; or Ernie Delfin at (714) 746 3088 or e-mail him at ernie.gkerc@gmail.com.

JA N UA Ry 2 1

31st anniversary of the Feast of Santo Niño in Los Angeles Santo Niño Cruzada USA, with the participations of the Filipino Catholics Choir of St. Paul the Apostle Church, The Saint Junipero Serra Province Knights of Columbus and The Southern California Sinulog Dance Co., is inviting everyone to attend the holy mass of its 31st year anniversary celebration of the Feast of Santo Niño, the Divine Infant Jesus, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, on Sunday, January 21, 2018 at 3:30pm. The main celebrant is Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik to be concelebrated by various priests from different parishes. We also offer this mass to honor the late Cebu Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, who returned to our Creator on October 18, 2017 in Cebu, Philippines. The Santo Niño image that we use to celebrate the annual feast was given by Cardinal Vidal to Los Angeles Archbishop Emeritus Roger Cardinal Mahony and Monsignor Kevin Kostelnik several years ago. For more information, please contact any of the following officers and members: Romy and Tess Esturas (213) 387-6982; Tess and Rey Edpao (818) 469-7292; Carmen Estrada (213) 413-2881; Fe Montano (323) 218-1587; Ester Paredes (213) 864-1149; Lilia Figuracion (626) 394-2661; Fe Reyes (213) 413-5286; Cherry Guerrero (323) 747-6508; Cherry Nicodemus (323) 304-6195; Vicky Samia (818) 851-2262; Tessie Cruz (213) 361-0937; Purita Prather (626) 798-4674; Lourdes Cronin (310) 880-6069; Maria Oclarino (213) 427-0353; Jun Panlaqui (213) 413-2881; Flora Ferrer (323) 556-4855.

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Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be an immigration forum on Thursday, January 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). RSVP is a MUST to attend. No registration fee required. Please contact (714) 657-7460 or admin@globallawcenters.com. The immigration forum is about employment-based immigration information regarding FAST TRACK Work Visas ( H-1B1, TN, E-3), green card by marriage, family-based immigration employment sponsorship for green card and work visas after graduation. Candidates with H-1B, TN, F-1, OPT & other visas issues are encouraged to attend for a FREE immigration consultation & immigration assistance. As you have already seen there are many changes happening in the field of immigration with regards to the new executive administration and their agenda. Global Law Centers strives to inform the immigrant community of its rights and make sure it is knowledgeable about what immigration processes might be available. The forum will also update everyone about new and recent changes which may affect immigrants and their families.

Asian American Professional Association intro session in Rosemead, CA Join the Asian American Professional Association (AAPA) introductory session on Thursday, January 25! Hear from Paul Park, Founder and CEO at American Dream Builders Now Inc. As a “Gold Miner” Paul’s mission is to search and help develop hidden potential, inspire, and motivate others to dream big. He believes “If you can dream it, you can do it. Build your dream and it will build you.” During the second half meet and interact with AAPA Mentors!

Registration begins at 5:30 p.m., with the program from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. It will be at Southern California Edison, GO-1 Employee Lounge at 2244 Walnut Grove Ave., Rosemead, CA. It is free and open to all professionals. To RSVP, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/aapaintroductory-session-tickets-40791228663.

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Annual dinner/dance at St. Finbar School in Burbank, California You are invited to the annual dinner/dance at the Albert Hall of St. Finbar School (2120 W. Olive Ave Burbank, CA 91506) on Saturday, February 10 from 6:30 to 11:00 p.m. For tickets, please call: Marian Nobleza at (818) 562-6819.

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

EntErtainmEnt

B january 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

Tackling love and justice in ‘Asintado’ ABS-CBN opens 2018 with a new action-drama about a ruthless fight for love and justice in “Asintado,” which stars Shaina Magdayao, Paulo Avelino, Aljur Abrenica, and Queen of Daytime Drama Julia Montes. The series begins airing this week on the network’s “Kapamilya Gold” timeslot.

Montes’ return to television marks her portrayal of another fearless character named Ana (Julia), a woman who is part of a rescue team and aspires to give her adoptive family a good life. Despite being tough, her heart longs for her sister, whom she lost in a fire that killed their parents.

Dedicated to duty, she meets Gael (Avelino), the son of an influential family, who hires her as his personal nurse after she saved him from a mining incident.

After spending time together, they get to know more about each other and eventually fall for one another.

However, their budding romance is cut short with the return of Gael’s ex-girlfriend Samantha (Magdayao), a famous jeweler who does what it takes to win

Plus-sized like Greg Slaughter?

Fashion editor gives style tips

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

New team-ups for daytime drama: Aljur Abrenica, Julia Montes, Paulo Avelino and Shaina Magdayao.

ABS-CBN photo

the love of her life back, even if it means putting matters in her own hands.

Blinded by obsession, Samantha then plots to kill Ana in order to get her out of Gael’s life.

But Samantha’s evil ploy does not go as planned because Ana survives the attempted murder with the help of Xander (Abrenica). And then Ana wakes up to

the most shocking news — Gael and Samantha are getting married — and seeks vengeance to destroy the both of them.

Also part of “Asintado” are Lorna Tolentino, Cherry Pie Picache, Lito Pimentel, Agot Isidro, and Nonie Buencamino. It is under the direction of Onat Diaz and Lino Cayetano. (ManilaTimes. net)

Maja Salvador: Non-showbiz boys are better lovers

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Maja Salvador

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

DESPITE her busy schedule, Kapamilya actress Maja Salvador admitted she still has time for romance and she is now dating a non-showbiz guy.

“Kung masugid naman ang love life mo, wala namang problema dun. Kasi meron at merong time,” the hit afternoon teleserye “Wildflower” star said during her press conference for “Maja On Stage.”

For Maja, it is better to date non-showbiz guys because of the difference between each other’s worlds.

“Ang maganda dun is nakakausap mo kung ano nangyayari sa mundo niya, nangyayari sa mundo ko, maraming napaguusapan.

Fifteen years na magkaibigan so kabisado ang isat-isa.”

“Lily Cruz” also noted that great relationships come from solid friendship as foundation. “’Yung sa akin ngayon is 15 years ko na kakilala. Barkada ko kahit dati pa. So okay kasi iba yung foundation. Yung friendship, buongbuo.”

With only weeks left in her top-rated teleserye, Maja will return as a performer this 2018 with “Maja On Stage,” her concert tour around the country and abroad.

Maja’s much-awaited concert tour kicks off at the IEC Convention in Cebu this coming February 4, then she is heading to the The Big Box East Jurong in Singapore on February 18, and will be back in Manila at the KIA Theater on March 23.

“Nung sinabi na may plans about concert and ano magiging title, sinabi ko lang na parang sa buong 2017, nagpaka-actress ako, nag ‘Wildflower’ ako the whole year diba? So parang sa 2018, sasampa ulit ako ng stage,” Maja said.

According to her, if there is another thing she loves besides acting and her current boyfriend, it is performing live. “Forever love ko ‘yon, forever love ko ‘yong pagso-show kaya hindi man kami magsama, ABS-CBN photo magkahiwalay man kami ng ilang taon, babalik-balikan ko siya!”

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DO you consider yourself plussized like basketball star Greg Slaughter and chef and restaurateur Luigi Muhlach?

Preview magazine fashion director Daryl Chang believes that when it comes to fashion, there is little difference between a plussized one and a “regular” one.

“I think it’s just more of your choice of clothing. Parang if you really like going all-out fashion, then you just pick what’s there and do fashion. But if you want really basic, then you can be very basic. I think at the end, it’s just really finding the right brand that has your size. That’s always the problem for plus-sized people,” she told Philstar.com during the recent SM Men Plus event.

As the stylist for the campaign, Chang advised plus-sized men to stick with fabrics that breathe, so the clothes can stretch and make them comfortable, even when they are on the heavier side.

Chang added: “I think it is depends on the person’s personality.

If you’re more on the bold side, you pick more colorful colors.

But if you like to blend in, just go with the monochromatic look, so maybe just a black top and a dark pair of pants. The monochromatic look is always slimming because it gives you a straight vertical line, so mas payat.”

In general, Chang recommended dressing appropriately depending on the event you will

From left: Preview magazine fashion director Daryl Chang giving style advice to Luigi Muhlach, son of actors Aga Muhlach and Janice de Belen; PBA star and 2017 Governor’s Cup Player of the Conference Greg Slaughter.

Philstar.com photos by Jan Milo Severo

be going to.

“Of course, if you’re going to dinner, you don’t wear shorts.

Wear a polo shirt and nice pants. I think it’s more of that.

At the end of the day, the person who’s wearing that should feel comfortable. When you’re happy with what you’re wearing, it shows.”

During the launch, SM Men Plus also introduced three new ambassadors to revolutionize the meaning of plus-sized men.

These endorsers are Philippine Basketball Association player and 2017 Governor’s Cup Player of the Conference Greg Slaughter; chef and restaurateur Luigi Muhlach; and culinary blogger Alexis Deocaris.

“I’m pretty stoked. This is actually the first time I will be representing a clothing brand. My advice for plus-sized men is not to be discouraged, as there is a brand available that is both stylish and suited for us,” Muhlach said.

Slaughter agreed, saying: “Clothing was always limited to me in the Philippines. It’s like I lived in my basketball clothes because that’s all that ever fit me here. But this new clothing line has given me a whole new range of options.”

“Whatever your size is, there should be no hindrance in terms of expressing yourself through clothing. Happiness is what comes out when you express yourself,” Deocaris assured.

Regine Velasquez says goodbye to movies for now YOu won’t be seeing her on the big sceen anytime soon. That was what Regine Velasquez told The Times last week, even as she confirmed how Viva Entertainment’s Boss Vic Del Rosario has an offer on the table.

“Yung interes ko kasi talaga nasa recording, but he wants to meet me and he’s convincing me to make a movie this year,” related Asia’s Songbird.

She also admitted she believes movies are trickier these days since viewers’ preference have changed.

“Alam ko naman that my audience is different but nowadays, they make films na semi-indie at iyon ang tinatangkilik.”

Actually indies are exactly what Boss vic is encouraging Regine to try. But the singer who has several box office titles to her name expressed, “Masyado siyang demanding [indies] para sa akin, and pagka yung mga ganon ay drama, hindi iyon ang strength ko and my audience knows that.”

But fret not Reginians because your idol is actually open to teleseryes.

“Yung soap is different and it’s free TV and naka-kontrata talaga ako sa kailangan ko gawin.”

Regine will also be very busy this early part of 2018 with a

Regine Velasquez

Valentine’s concert together with her husband Ogie Alcasid, Martin Nievera and Erik Santos titled “#PaMORE” on February 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena.

“Iba ito kasi ako lang ang babae ngayon. Parang exciting ‘yung mga songs na puwede naming gawin. We want to do songs that we all grew up listen-

GMA photo

ing to so iba-iba pa rin siyang genre.”

Before #paMORE, however, Regine is headed t Waterfront Hotel Cebu on January 20 for a concert titled “Three Stars, One Heart” show with fellow GMA Network artists Christian Bautista and Julie Anne San Jose. (ManilaTimes.net)

Ins and outs of 2018

PAGE B4 onstration, visit Monetsalon. com or at its brand new location at 20113 Vanowen St., Winnetka,CA and at 8340 Van Nuys Blvd, Panorama city inside the Island Pacific supermarket for information,call 213-216-

4923 or 818-891-8949. *** 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

Yul Servo on making pictures, politics...

PAGE B4

been affected by the issue before, more than showbiz’ ultimate heartthrob.

But now that they are both 40 years old, they’ve learned to ignore the gossip around them and maintain their brotherhood.

In fact, Pascual will stand as godfather anew to his newest son this new year.

“The intrigues, they’re nothing to me anymore. Piolo was never

affected at all actually and I was the one who was more affected by the issue back then. All I can say is that he is a good person, that’s why ninong siya ng lahat ng anak ko.” Of Servo’s five children, Pascual is godfather to four.

Asked further if he thinks his friend should get married to end all the speculation about his sexual preference, Servo simply said Pascual told him the right girl still hasn’t come along.

“If I were in his position, it’s OK to be not married—no responsibilities. He can go out with as many women as he wants,” he laughed, but quickly added that his friend has stopped dating different girls, “kasi nag-Born Again siya.”

Asked for his message to people who keep fuelling the special friends issue with Pascual, Servo finally replied, “Just be happy!”

Sudden cardiac death If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

PAGE B5 tests (with disopyramide, flecainide, ajmaline, procainamide) done to reproduce the characteristic Brugada EKG findings.

Can genetic testing help?

Since this disease is secondary to a mutation of SCN5A gene of chromosome 3 that has a dominant autosomic transmission pattern, with genetic defect in the alpha subunit of the sodium channel, genetic testing may be in order. However, 30% to 80% of patients will have negative (normal) gene screening in spite of overt or latent clinical Brugada Syndrome.

What’s the treatment for Brugada Syndrome?

If one is diagnosed to have Brugada Syndrome, an automatic implantable cardiac-pacemaker defibrillator (AICD) may be implanted, which will pace

the heart and increase the rate if the rate goes down (awake or when asleep, 24/7), shocks and jolts the heart back to normal rhythm, when the heart goes to ventricular fibrillation. Hundreds of thousands of people worldwide have AICD to prevent sudden death from a variety of causes.

None of the available drugs today are effective against Brugada Syndrome. When diagnosis is made, which may be missed a lot of time, then, cardiac arrest may be prevented with AICD. Can other sudden cardiac deaths be prevented?

Since most of these SCDs are due to coronary artery disease, primary prevention should be aimed at warding off coronary artery disease before it develops, like avoidance of cigarette smoking, obesity, sedentary lifestyle; and the management of high

blood pressure, diabetes, and elevated cholesterol, if these are present. Secondary prevention is by early diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, and any medically significant heart irregularity present. Where indicated, coronary angioplasty or bypass may be done. AICD implantation should be considered for those with a history of recurrent cardiac arrests. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JANUARy 18-24, 2018

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B january 18-24, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIan jOurnaL

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