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US ‘cautiously optimistic’ on PH drug war

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the United states is “cautiously optimistic” that the human rights situation in the Philippines is steadily improving amid the ongoing implementation of the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign, an official said tuesday, January 30.

According to James Walsh, a senior official from the U.s. Bureau of International Narcotics and Law enforcement Affairs (INL), the number of supposed extrajudicial killings (eJKs) in the Phil-

ippines is shrinking. “many folks have been tracking the eJKs in the Philippines, and the trends are going down, so there is some encouragement that we are seeing in some of our human rights training working,” Walsh told reporters in a briefing. he added, “I would describe the United states being cautiously optimistic when it comes to the appropriate way for a drug campaign.”

Philippine President rodrigo Duterte’s socalled drug war has received heavy backlash

from human rights organizations over the alleged thousands of abuses and extrajudicial killings, including cases involving unknown vigilantes. the Duterte administration, however, has maintained that the deaths under the anti-illegal drugs campaign were not state-sanctioned and only involved suspects who violently resisted arrest. the Philippine government also claimed that only about 4,000 drug suspects were killed during legitimate operations since the campaign’s launch in 2016, and that the about 12,000 deaths

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

A fILIPINo doctor accused of financing a thwarted jihadist plot in New York in 2016 has been indicted by the Philippine Department of Justice (DoJ) over a separate Islamic state (Is)inspired kidnapping and murder case. maranao doctor russell salic has been charged for his alleged involvement in the abduction of six and the murder of two sawmill workers in April 2016 in Lanao del sur, located in the southern part of the Philippines. salic, along with 53 other suspected filipino extremists, is facing six counts of kidnapping and serious illegal detention and two counts of murder before the malabang, Lanao del sur regional trial Court Branch 11. the case against salic stemmed from complaints filed by abducted sawmill workers Gabriel Permitis, Alfredo Cano-os, esperanza Janubas, Adonis mendez, and Julito Janubas.

In their sworn statements, the complainants said they were abducted on April 4, 2016 by maute extremists, a group that has previously pledged allegiance to the Is movement.

According to the complainants, two other hostages—Jaymark Kapampangan and salvador hanubos—were beheaded six days later while the rest of them were eventually freed.

While in captivity, the complainants testified that they saw salic cleaning and guarding firearms.

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CA Senate approves bill that hampers ICE from probing state buildings New bill prevents immigration officials from easily searching schools, courts and other state offices to detain undocumented immigrants IN California, immigration officials — including agents of Immigration Customs enforcement (ICe) — may soon need to provide a warrant if they want to search any state buildings for undocumented immigrants. on monday, January 29, the California senate approved senate Bill 183 by sen. ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), which requires federal immigration officials to present a valid warrant in order to perform any surveillance on property owned/leased and occupied by the state. the facilities include public schools (including any of the California Community College campuses) and state courts to name a few. the trump administration’s iron fist on immigration and undocumented criminals provided the main motivation for Lara — who has

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Key highlights from Trump’s first State of the Union

USA

DATELINE Filipino linked to foiled NY terror plot faces murder, kidnap raps

cited by human rights organizations and critics were bloated.

According to Walsh, the U.s. previously “reduced our support to the [Philippine] police because of some of the human rights concerns.” still, he added that Washington continues to provide support manila in other areas such as “drug demand reduction programs,” rule of law, and boosting maritime security.

At present, Walsh indicated that there were

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

IN announcing what was called a “new American moment,” jobs, the economy, infrastructure, national security, trade, and immigration were all a part of President Donald trump’s first state of the Union (sotU) address on tuesday night, January 31.

In the crowd, house Democrats, invited advocates and survivors of sexual assault dressed up in black to send a statement about sexual misconduct and gender iniquity in #sotUBlackout movement by rep. Lois frankel (D-fL). first Lady melania trump broke tradition by arriving with guests she invited. republican lawmakers broke out into chants of “UsA! UsA!”; and a few boos were elicited by Democrats. here are some highlights from trump’s sotU address: Immigration policy Amidst immigration talks on Capitol hill, trump reiterated his unexpected proposal that would give the TRUMP’S SOTU. President Donald Trump delivered his first State of the Union (SOTU) address on Tuesday, January 30. He outlined the recordnearly 1.8 million possible Deferred Action for Childsetting accomplishments of his first year and cast an inspiring vision for building a safe, strong, and proud America.

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White House photo by Shealah Craighead

Marcos presents proof of Robredo’s alleged cheating in 2016 elections

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. on monday, January 29 presented what he claimed as “evidence” to support his electoral protest against Philippine Vice President maria Leonor “Leni” robredo.

In a press conference, marcos showed “highly questionable” copies of several ballot images from 12 towns in Camarines sur and Negros oriental, which supposedly indicate fraud during the 2016 polls.

Among the electoral documents presented by marcos’ camp include a ballot

image from san Nicolas, Iriga City in Camarines sur.

In the document, the oval corresponding to the slots for robredo and senator Antonio trillanes IV were both shaded, but only robredo’s was enclosed with a square among other vice presidential candidates. marcos questioned why the vote-counting machine (VCm) did not void the vote because of multiple marks. “some of the ballots, even if three names for vice president were shaded, as long as there was a ‘square’ beside the Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. shows the press evidence that votes for him were not counted in two of three pilot provinces for the recount he sought as part of his name of mrs. robredo, the vote will be electoral protest against Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo.

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ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan

Duterte leads groundbreaking Filipino solon charged for allegedly of military camp in Marawi leading an anti-Trump protest President asks residents to help government stop terrorism

by AJPress the Philippine government is set to put up another military camp in marawi City in its bid to prevent terrorism from re-entering the area.

Philippine President Duterte rodrigo Duterte led the groundbreaking ceremony for the new military camp on tuesday, January 30. the new military facility will be built on a 10-hectare lot in Barangay Kapantaran, and is expected

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

to be completed before 2020. Initial developments include the the renovation of the old marawi City hall, which will be converted into a military headquarters building.

In his speech, Duterte vowed that the government will fully compensate residents whose lands will be used for the construction.

“I’m going to set a camp here but I will pay you… We will pay para walang gulo (to avoid trouble). And that is your guarantee,”

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Rep. Carlos Zarate

Inquirer.net photo

A fILIPINo lawmaker has been charged for supposedly organizing a violent rally against United states President Donald trump during the Association of southeast Asian Nations (AseAN) summit held in manila last year.

Bayan muna rep. Carlos Zarate was accused of inciting “attack” against police officers during an anti-trump rally held on November 13, 2017 along taft Avenue. the complaint was filed by Po1 Ariel miranda ortega, who was among the police officers hurt during the demonstration.

Also named as co-respondents in the complaint were Vencer Crisostomo of Anakbayan, renato reyes of Bagong Alyansang makabayan (Bayan), teddy Casiño of Bayan muna, and einstein re-

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From The FronT Page

US ‘cautiously optimistic’ on...

PAGE A1

signs of fewer extrajudicial killings and that the U.S. is hopeful that the Philippines will maintain the positive trend.

“I would describe the United States as being cautiously optimistic in the trends when it comes to a good...appropriate way for a drug campaign,” said the INL official.

In a statement on Wednesday, January 31, Malacañang said that Walsh’s words “hint of a growing appreciation of the positive impact of the administration’s anti-illegal drug campaign.”

Malacañang, however, insisted that the Duterte administration does not endorse abuses.

“We wish to reiterate that extrajudicial killings never had — and will never have — a place in

the anti-illegal drug campaign,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque stressed.

Roque also cited that members of the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations), as well as China and Japan, have “fully supported our efforts to contain the manufacture and proliferation of illegal drugs.”

“These efforts are anchored on respect for human rights, cognizant of our obligation to protect our people’s right to life and to live in peace and security.

And we wish to reiterate that extrajudicial killings never had — and will never have — a place in the anti-illegal drug campaign,” he added.

The Palace official likewise noted that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA)led drug war has produced great

results, “with dens and clandestine laboratories dismantled and drugs seized with fewer drugrelated deaths.”

Roque went on to say, “We are confident that the re-launch of the Philippine National Police (PNP) Operation Tokhang would have similar results. This early, there have been hundreds of surrenderers and no casualty on its first day.”

Earlier this week, the PNP resumed its resumed its Oplan Tokhang under new rules and guidelines that requires stricter observation of human rights.

Oplan Tokhang, which means “knock and plead,” is an anti-illegal drugs initiative in the country wherein authorities knock on the doors of suspected drug users or pushers and ask them to surrender. n

Marcos presents proof of Robredo’s...

PAGE A1 counted in her favor,” Marcos’ spokesman Atty. Vic Rodriguez said.

He continued, “The question now is what is the significance of that box? They always say that we should shade the oval shaped spot [to indicate our choice candidate]. Nothing was mentioned about a square.”

Marcos also contested a ballot image which showed that the oval to his name was the only shaded slot for vice presidency but the VCM counted it as an undervote.

The former senator asked, “Why did the votes for me became undervotes and were not counted? Why were the spoiled ballots counted for Robredo?

Why did ballots with the same ballot numbers register different results?”

For Marcos, who lost to Robredo by only more than 260,000, such ballots images just prove how her camp “had manipulated the voting and trampled upon the true will of the people on their choice for vice president.”

He further alleged that the Commission on Elections (Comelec) and Smartmatic conspired with Robredo to cheat in the 2016 elections.

Robredo’s camp, for its part, labeled Marcos’ latest accusations as “highly ridiculous if not outright frivolous.”

“Knowing the propensity of election losers in our country in filing all sorts of complaints in open display of unwillingness to accept defeat, they could have used such alleged questionable feature of the ballots in filing their election protest,” said Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s lawyer.

Macalintal added, “The best evidence to prove if ‘hundreds upon hundreds’ of ballots contained the questionable features raised by Marcos are the copies in the custody of the PET (Presidential Electoral Tribunal) and not the self-serving copies of Marcos.” n

ON SALE NOW

COSMIC DISPLAY. A commercial plane passes in front of a #SuperBlueBloodMoon as seen from Muntinlupa on Wednesday, January 31. It is the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse. Hawaii and Alaska have the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia. The western U.S. should have good viewing, too, along with Russia. The U.S. East Coast, Europe and most of South America and Africa are out of luck for the eclipse. The second full moon in a calendar month is a blue moon. This one also happens to be an especially close and bright moon, or supermoon. Add a total eclipse, known as a blood moon for its red tint, and it’s a lunar showstopper.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

Key highlights from Trump’s first...

PAGE A1 hood Arrivals (DACA) recipients a 10 to 12-year path to citizenship.

The Trump administration announced late last year the end of the Obama-era DACA program, giving Congress up until March of this year to make a saving move.

Around 800,000 had initially applied for DACA but not everyone sent in their renewals — approximately 690,000 are said to be still enrolled as of September 2017.

The 1.8 million people that Trump said covered “three times more people than the previous administration” refers to those potentially eligible for his proposed citizenship path.

The solution package though would come with three additional conditions: funding for Trump’s border wall and accompanying security measures, ending the diversity visa lottery program, and putting limits on family-based visas.

“This vital reform is necessary not just for our economy, but for our security and for the future of America,” said Trump.

Under the family-based visa limits, U.S. citizens would be allowed to petition visas for minor children and spouses, but not for siblings, adult children, or parents.

According to the Migration Policy Institute, roughly 30 percent of Filipino immigrants use family sponsorship as a pathway to permanent residency.

Economy In touting economic moves from his first year in office, a big part of Trump’s SOTU was dedicated to the tax overhaul he signed at the end of last year, which he said included “the biggest tax cuts and reforms in American history”.

The tax rate for businesses was cut down to 21 percent, from 35 percent last December.

“Our massive tax cuts provide tremendous relief for the middle class and small business, to lower tax rates for hard-working Americans,” said Trump. “We nearly doubled the standard deduction for everyone.”

Trump added that since passing the tax bill, around three mil-

lion workers got tax cut bonuses — “many of them thousands of dollars per worker.”

Following the December signing, a number companies like Walmart, Home Depot, American Airlines, and Wells Fargo announced bonuses, 401(k)s, and raises.

Three million workers did in fact benefit from the tax cuts according to Americans for Tax Reform, a group that supported the tax bill.

But out of the 154 million workers, three million makes up only about two percent. Around 38 percent of workers were already bound to get a bonus of some form in 2017, regardless of tax legislation, according to the Labor Department.

Trump also reintroduced plans for putting money into railways, roads, bridges, and waterways as part of his infrastructure plan.

“Tonight, I’m calling on Congress to produce a bill that generates at least $1.5 trillion for the new infrastructure investment that our country so desperately needs,” said Trump Tuesday night.

He added, “Every federal dollar should be leveraged by partnering with State and local governments and, where appropriate, tapping into private sector investment — to permanently fix the infrastructure deficit.”

Of the $1.5 trillion, $200 billion would come from direct federal investment which leaves the rest to come from state, local, and private investment.

Trump did not provide much other details on the bill, but improving infrastructure has been a concern for people from both parties.

The American Society of Civil Engineers gave an overall grade of a D-plus for U.S. infrastructure. On Tuesday, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association released a report that summed over 54,000 structurally deficient bridges in the U.S. Opioid crisis Approximately 64,000 Americans died in 2016 as a result of drug overdoses, emphasized Trump. Members of Congress

highlighted the crisis by donning purple ribbons Tuesday evening.

“One hundred seventy-four deaths per day. Seven per hour,” he added. “We must get tougher on drug dealers and pushers if we are going to succeed in stopping this scourge.”

Preliminary figures from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that 2017’s numbers may be even worse.

Trump declared a public health emergency in October in regards to the opioid epidemic, but not much else in regards to upcoming efforts was addressed Tuesday.

Congress has yet to receive a funding request, and the Office of National Drug Policy remains without a head.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has though led the Justice Department in getting tough with drug offenses.

Foreign policy North Korea threats, ISIS, and keeping Guantánamo Bay open were key in Trump’s talks on foreign policy.

“When necessary, we must be able to detain and question. But we must be clear — terrorists are not merely criminals. They are unlawful enemy combatants and when captured overseas, they should be treated like the terrorists they are,” said Trump.

“In the past, we have foolishly released hundreds of dangerous terrorists only to meet them again on the battlefield — including the ISIS leader, al-Baghdadi,” he added.

In addressing North Korea as being a nuclear threat, Trump said that North Korea’s “reckless pursuit of nuclear missiles could very soon threaten our homeland.”

He added, “We are waging a campaign of maximum pressure to prevent that from happening.”

The parents of Otto Warmbier, a university student who was detained in North Korea before being sent back to the U.S. where he later died from injuries, were present. So was Ji Sung-Ho, a North Korean who escaped the country on crutches. n

CA Senate approves bill...

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PAGE A1 penned several immigrant rights bills in the past year — to author the bill. SB 183 was designed to maintain ease within immigrant communities, arguing that ICE agents subvert the state’s services and resources California, a designated sanctuary state, has previously objected to certain tactics used by ICE, whose threats have established a mounting fear among immigrants all over the state.

“Federal immigration officials are creating a climate of fear that undermines the fundamental institutions of California’s democracy,” Lara said in a statement. “Senate Bill 183 guarantees a safe environment so students can attend classes, parents can pick up their children from school, and people can report crimes or go to court without the terror of being targeted by federal agents based on their immigration status.”

The hope, Lara suggests, is that immigrants can still utilize many of the state’s services and resources without fear of encountering federal agents.

“Trust in government is essential to the security of all Californians, and I refuse to let ICE’s campaign of intimidation erase the efforts of state and local government to bring immigrants and their families out of the shadows,” Lara added.

The Senate approved SB 183 in the middle of the hot debate over immigration including the fate of DREAMers after the termination of DACA, the border wall and completely reforming the ways in which immigrants are allowed to apply for citizenship.

SB 183 is now on its way to the state Assembly. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 1-7, 2018

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Duterte leads groundbreaking of military...

PAGE A1 duterte assured.

Camp Ranao, which is the headquarters of the army’s 103rd Infantry Brigade, is currently the only military camp in Marawi.

The construction of a second military camp in city comes three months since the area was liberated from the pro-Islamic State (IS) Maute terrorist group in october last year.

The armed conflict between government troopers and terrorists, which lasted for five months, resulted to hundreds of

deaths—mostly of terrorists—and to displacement of thousands of residents and destruction of their homes.

In the same speech, duterte recognized the gallantry of soldiers and others who fought for the liberation of Marawi.

“I would also like to thank the brave men of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), kasali na yung—marami akong sundalo na Moro na namatay rin (there were numerous Moro soldiers who died). Ill salute them for their katapangan (fearlessness) to face terror,” he said.

The president also appealed to residents to help in preventing terrorism to enter their community again, warning of “massive destruction” and “loss of lives” another siege occured. “let us try to avoid terrorism.

It is not the correct way to obey Islam. You do not kill and destroy for no reason at all,” duterte remarked.

He went on to say, “I beg of you not to allow them to enter because it will just cause massive destruction and the loss of lives, including the innocent ones who are really the helpless in case of war.” n

PAGE A1 cedes of Student Christian Movement (SCM).

“Sila po ang nag-uutos at naguudyok sa mga raliyista na lusubin ang police line (They were the ones who urged rallyists to attack the police line),” ortega claimed.

He also remarked that the protesters are inciting violence but he and fellow members of the ASeAn crowd dispersal management team exercised maximum tolerance. “dahil sa ginawang paglusob ng mga raliyista sa amin, at gi-

nawa nilang pamamalo, ako ay nagtamo ng sugat sa braso, na may hiwa at pasa, at nawalan ng malay (Because of the protesters’ attacks, I got cuts and bruises in the arms, and I also lost consciousness),” ortega said.

Zarate, for his part, dismissed the charges against him as “nothing but a calibrated harassment against members of the left.”

“Just to ensure that I would not be able to attend and question these baseless and trumped-up cases, the subpoena was served

today when the hearing was held,” Zarate said in a statement on Tuesday, January 30.

Zarate was scheduled to face the prosecutor on Monday, January 29, but the subpoena was only served the day after.

The lawmaker also claimed that there were more protesters injured than the cops during the confrontation.

Zarate went on to say, “Together with my co-accused, I will face these cases knowing that we did nothing wrong; we’re just exercising our freedom of expression and right to assembly.” n

Filipino solon charged for allegedly leading...

Romero Duno lives up to Golden Boy’s expectations

by Ed dE la

VEga, PhilBoxing.com

ddS

Inglewood, CA — It’s getting more and more apparent that golden Boy’s Roberto garcia made a fantastic gamble with Sanman Promotions’ rising star Romero duno. duno was an unknown fighter outside of the reaches of Sanman Promotions, a young budding promotional company led by two young promoters, JC Manangquil and dexter Tan of general Santos City, down south in Mindanao.

But he has a respectable record and was a right match for any lightweight whose career is being nurtured by any manager and promoter. duno was 12-1-0, 7Ko when golden Boy came calling looking for a decent fighter that is good but an easy target for a budding lightweight they were grooming for a championship fight in a year or two. His name is Christian “Chimpa” gonzales. The young gonzales who grew up in the greater los Angeles area was then undefeated and had knocked out 14 of his 16 opponents.

Sanman Promotions offered golden Boy their brightest lightweight prospect, Romero duno to challenge gonzales with the winner getting the wBC Youth Intercontinental Belt. golden Boy In this Nov. 7, 2017 file photo, Russell Salic, a Filipino doctor accused by U.S. authorities of plotting attacks in New York City, including concert venues and Times Square, arrives at a readily accepted perhaps thinking trial court for his extradition hearing.

Philstar.com photo that gonzalez will have no problem taking care of duno. Besides, to carry out attacks in the name of tacks targeting new York’s subway gonzalez will have his hometown IS group in May 2016. and Times Square. U.S. authorities crowd at his favorite venue, the The Filipino doctor was accused are currently seeking his extradi- famed old Belasco Theater in downtown lA. of sending money to fund foiled at- tion. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

Filipino linked to foiled NY terror plot faces...

PAGE A1 But Salic, in his counter-affidavit, denied their allegations, saying that “in his entire life, he never stepped foot in Butig, lanao del Sur, neither has he cleaned any firearm.”

The doctor further claimed that he was on duty as a resident physician at the northern Mindanao Medical Center (nMMC) in Cagayan de oro City on April 4, 2016, and that he attended an orthopedic convention in Puerto Princesa, Palawan on April 5.

Salic said he returned to nMMC on April 10.

The doJ, however, said that the complainants have no reason to fabricate their testimonies. “[Salic’s] negative assertion cannot prevail over the testimony of victims/testimony of victims/ complainants... describing in sufficient detail his active participation in the commission of the crimes charged,” the doJ added.

Salic is also facing separate criminal charges filed by the United States justice department over his alleged involvement in a plan

Filipino lightweight Romero Duno (16-1, 14 KOs) made quick work of Yardely Armenta (21-10, 12 KOs) in scoring a first round knockout. Duno was aggressive from the start attacking Armenta as a right hand did it dropping Armenta as referee Jerry Cantu reached a ten count at 1:07 of the first.

Photos by Jhay Otamias

But alas, it was not the night for gonzalez! duno who was trained in lA by Rodel Mayol and Stanley godinez was fighting for the first time in California. The crowd at the Belasco was loud and rowdy, waving the Mexican flag and declaring gonzalez their champion.

Then the fight started with gonzalez trying to impose his size. He was coming straight to duno with his heavy artillery but for some reason forgot to bring his famed jab with him to set up his punches. He just wanted to knock duno out bright and early. during a torrid exchanged he dropped his left hand and duno quickly threw a short right counter punch dropping gonzalez to the surprise of the pro-gonzales TV commentators and the hometown crowd. gonzales beat

the count but his legs were rubbery and he sagged towards the ropes. lucky for him, the bell save him from being Ko’d early. when round two started, gonzalez tried his best to get duno but the duno stayed away and waited for another opportunity. when that came he dropped gonzales again. gonzales stood up but later collapsed in his corner!

Seeing the potentials of Romero duno, Roberto garcia of golden Boy Promotions did not hesitate and readily signed up duno to a promotional contract.

Following the gonzales victory, duno scored three more wins. He knocked out Jason Tinampay at a fight card in general Santos City in June of 2017 and won via a Ud over a highly regarded Juan Pablo Sanchez of Mexico at the Forum in Inglewood last September. n

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Dateline USa

February 1-7, 2018 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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Amnesty International calls for accountability as PNP revives ‘Tokhang’

by Gaea

KatReena Philstar.com

CabiCo

AMNEsTY International has again called on the Philippine government to prosecute police officers implicated in drug-related killings in the government’s brutal anti-narcotics campaign.

James Gomez, Amnesty International’s Director of southeast Asia and the Pacific, said the cops have “unlawfully killed thousands of people” since President Rodrigo Duterte rose to power.

He said that these “extensive and brutal attacks” are tantamount to crimes against humanity.

“Now that police are once more returning to the forefront of anti-drug operations, the government must make sure that there is no repeat of the bloodshed

seen during the past 18 months,” Gomez said Tuesday—a day after the relaunch of the Philippine National Police’s Oplan Tokhang.

Gomez reiterated the calls for independent investigations to “cover each of the thousands of other unlawful killings and all perpetrators, including those in positions of command, must be held to account.”

The Amnesty International official also welcomed the filing of murder charges against the three police officers involved in the killing of teenager Kian Loyd Delos santos and called this move a “positive step.”

Human Rights Watch on Tuesday also called the indictment of Police Officer 3 Arnel Oares and Police Officers 1 Jeremiah Pereda and Jerwin Cruz a “rare instance” of accountability.

“The fact that the national police chief himself has warned that this next phase of anti-drug operations may not be ‘bloodless’ highlights the need for vigilance,” Gomez said, noting that what the country needs is a public healthbased drug policy.

“The Philippines neither can nor should try to solve its drug problems at gunpoint,” he added.

Human rights watchdogs estimate that more than 12,000 have been killed during the course of the government’s brutal war on drugs.

But according to the latest #RealNumbersPH release, there have been 6,309 drug-related deaths from July 1, 2016 to January 17, 2018. Of these cases, 2,235 were tagged as homicide cases under investigation. n

US gov’t intel helped PDEA seize P34-M shabu in Cavite, says embassy

by Julius

n. leonen Inquirer.net

COOPERATION between United states’ Homeland security Investigation (HsI) operatives and Philippine authorities has led to the arrests of two drug suspects packing P34 million worth of shabu suspected to be from a Mexican drug cartel.

To recall, agents from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC) seized about P34 mil-

lion worth of shabu in Trece Martires, Cavite on Thursday, January 25.

The drugs were suspected to be smuggled by the Mexican sinaloa drug cartel from California into the country, PDEA Director General Aaron Aquino said.

According to the U.s. Embassy, the HsI provided the PDEA and the BOC an intelligence report that two parcels of crystal methamphetamine were being shipped to the country.

“With the shipping and locator information, PDEA intercepted the parcels and seized approximately six kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, with an estimated value of P34 million,” the U.s. Embassy said in a statement.

The PDEA then launched a controlled delivery operation in Cavite and arrested the two suspects, who were Philippine citizens, for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002. n

PDEA Director Aaron Aquino (right) presents to the media P34 million worth of crystal meth (shabu) believed to be shipped into the Philippines by the powerful Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel.

Inquirer.net photo by Jhoanna Ballaran

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SPEWING ASHES. The Mayon Volcano continues to spew ash and smoke as sporadic eruptions continue to occur. President Rodrigo Duterte did an aerial survey on the Mayon Volcano after attending the situation briefing at the Camp Gen. Simeon Ola in Legazpi City on Monday, January 29.

PNA photo by Toto Lozano

Philippines to back US fight vs terror ‘if efforts coincide’ THE Philippine defense chief reacted guardedly Wednesday to President Donald Trump’s remarks on fighting terrorism in his first state of the Union address, saying Manila would lend its support whenever the efforts of the two nations coincide.

Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana told The Associated Press it did not really matter that Trump failed to mention U.s.

policy on the south China sea disputes involving China, the Philippines and four other governments, saying “that’s his call.”

“If our efforts against terrorists coincide, well and good, we cooperate,” he said. “But in reality, each country will be addressing its own security problems by any legal means at its disposal.”

The U.s. deployed surveillance aircraft to help Philippine forces

quell an Islamic state grouplinked siege in southern Marawi city last year.

Lorenzana did not comment on Trump’s order to the Pentagon to keep the Guantanamo Bay detention center open in contrast to the failed efforts of former President Barack Obama to shut down the prison for high-profile terrorism suspects. (Philstar.com with reports from Associated Press)

Organizations ramp up awareness of human trafficking among API community

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

As Human Trafficking Awareness Month winds down, the Asian Pacific Islander Human Trafficking Task Force (APIHTTF) of the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON) announced on Monday, January 29, its new outreach campaign to further raise awareness of human trafficking in Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in Los Angeles County.

With over four million people living the Los Angeles metropolitan area, Los Angeles has become an epicenter for human trafficking. For one, it has one of the largest immigration populations in the world, as emphasized

by Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer on Monday.

“We’ve become a location where traffickers think we are easy prey,” said Feuer whose latest effort against human trafficking resulted in a san Fernando Valley Motel 6 paying $250,000 to settle a human trafficking lawsuit last August.

“This should outrage all of us here,” he added.

According to the latest complete data report by the National Human Trafficking Hotline (NHTH), California received the most number of phone reports (4,188) in the U.s. in 2016.

While many of the potential victims came from the U.s., many Asian countries topped the list of nearly 60 other origin countries of potential victims.

China had the third highest number of cases following the U.s. and Mexico, while the Philippines held the fifth highest. Thailand, Vietnam, India, south Korea, and Japan also held spots.

Vishal Dasa, who now a member of Coalition to Abolish slavery and Trafficking (CAsT), came to the U.s. to pursue his master’s degree only to be exploited by the president of a small university that boasted a roster of 50 faculty members, and claimed on its website to be a “Christian higher education institution.”

“I thought it was a legitimate university,” said Dasa who paid for his tuition fees upon the belief that he would be enrolled in a post-grad healthcare administration program taught by professors from stanford and UC Berkeley. “The classes never began.”

Instead, Dasa was put to work handing emails and phone calls, creating false admission documents, and then moved to hard labor jobs like washing utensils, painting walls, building furniture, and moving heavy office equipment for no pay.

Despite realizing the abnormality of the situation, Dasa and other falsely lured students were blackmailed and threatened with their immigration status if they spoke out. stephanie Ong, a young Filipina in her 20s, came to the U.s. in 2014 on a J-1 Visa after graduating from the Philippines with a degree for restaurant management, but instead found herself working in housekeeping.

It was an injury that ultimately led to her escape, which her employer persistently tried to prevent.

“They threatened me that I am going to be abducted and deported, and I was just so helpless I had to work even when I was injured,” said Ong who was tearing up while sharing her personal experience.

The injury got so bad, she felt

paralyzed and had to call 911 from bed.

For former California Assemblymember Mike Eng, his initial encounter with human trafficking came by way of his immediate circle.

Eng was just opening up a poverty-law office on Los Angeles’ Temple street with Asian Americans Advancing Justice Los Angeles’ (Advancing Justice - LA) stewart Kwoh when he got a call from a friend who lived in Beverly Hills, expressing that she wanted to sponsor someone for a green card.

Being a friend, Eng helped her and wrote the necessary papers only to have the individual working for her as a caregiver come to the office. “she was someone who was extremely withdrawn, very depressed, had some marks on her neck that I didn’t even ask about, and then I heard her story,” said Eng. “And that opened me up to the whole idea of human trafficking.”

According to the NHTH data, labor trafficking made up 14 percent of reported cases, with most happening within the domestic work and agricultural sector. The other 70 percent of reported cases were of sex trafficking.

Panida Rzonca, directing attorney at Thai Community Development Center (Thai CDC), shared that the organization is currently working on what may be the largest transnational sex trafficking case in U.s. history in which hundreds of Thai victims were recruited in Bangkok and distributed throughout the U.s. by way of Los Angeles.

One victim left her family in Thailand to pursue a massage job in the U.s. — a common venue for sex trafficking.

It wasn’t until she her trafficker brought her to buy intimate clothing did she realize she was brought to the states for foreign sex work. Her passport was then confiscated and she was told she would have to pay back $35,000 dollars — her trafficker bought her for $15,000.

“I didn’t dare say anything because I was afraid of being killed,” Rzonca quoted the survivor saying. “I had no friends I could trust. No one wants to mess with a contract girl for fear of being hurt or killed. My traffickers are so well connected and I didn’t think I could ever escape. Now, I feel that I have passed the worst moments in my life and I can finally move on.”

Importance of awareness Dasa’s trafficker was sentenced to 16 years in federal prison, nearly 40 people behind the Thai sex trafficking ring have so far been indicted, and Ong was able to get the help she needed and is slowly trying to get her life back to normal — that includes working during the day, studying to be a pharmacy technician at night, while continuing the process of obtaining her green card. she also got her T-Visa in 2016 which encourages victims of serious crimes like trafficking to stay in the U.s. and assist law enforcement officials in the investigation and prosecution of human trafficking cases. A U-Visa can also provide similar protections.

While Ong is still in the process of recovery challenged by major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder, she echoed others in saying awareness of human trafficking and what services are provided

to victims was a big part of combating the problem.

“The greatest thing that has happened to me were the people in the community that have helped me and supported me in fighting for the justice that I deserve,” said Ong who was redirected to the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) and Advancing Justice - LA after finding the NHTH number on a flier given to her.

Aquilina soriano-Versoza, executive director at PWC, said that 32 trafficking survivors like Ong found help through the center last year alone.

“Raising awareness so everyone is conscious in what to look out for and how to help when they think there’s a victim of human trafficking is very important,” said Feuer.

Many times, victims are unsure of what exactly trafficking looks like as was the case for Dasa.

“How could it happen to me when I have heard about trafficking?” asked Dasa. “The thing is, I was lacking awareness of what exactly trafficking was.”

It wasn’t until the U.s. Department of Homeland security told Dasa that he might be a victim of trafficking, did the idea click.

“You don’t have to be shackled, enclosed, or kept in one place to be a human trafficking survivor,” said Versoza. “There’s different types of force and fraud that also coerce and keep people in these conditions.”

Eng said the most common situation in which potential abuse occurs is when a green card is promised to a caregiver who is induced to marry the petitioner — a situation particularly common among his clients from the Philippines.

“The gentleman may be 85, and the potential fiancé may be in her twenties,” said Eng. “This is a potential abuse because in exchange for petitioning this person for a green card, he will then tell me that, ‘I’m not really marrying her to give her a green card, I’m ‘marrying her because I need a caregiver and I can’t afford anyone else’.”

Other common situations are when employers promise green cards despite not being able to, and when students are lured into “practical training” in exchange for internship credit or similar.

Eng also shared a few warning signs of potential human trafficking which were having ones passport confiscated, having to do services beyond the scope of what is initially asked, being moved to work in other areas especially residences, and having to make payments for immigration papers despite never actually seeing them.

Eng added that the issue of human trafficking remains vulnerable to things like immigration policy which he linked to the simple concept of supply and demand, with the supply being green cards and work permits.

“The greater the demand and the lesser the supply, the larger the crisis,” said Eng. As for the victims themselves, Ong encouraged them to take the first step in seeking help.

“I’m calling out to the people who are currently in the situation of any form of human trafficking and abuse, please have the courage to come out and speak up, and seek for help,” said Ong. “One step of getting help is you making the initial step of helping yourself to be out of the situation, and trust in God and He will do the rest for you.” n

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Dateline PPNPhiliPPines chief: Bloodless drug war ‘impossible’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

INVESTIGATING THE BOC. Senator Richard Gordon chastises former Bureau of Customs (BOC) Chief Nicanor Faeldon during the resumption of the inquiry into the alleged corruption at the BOC and the P6.4 billion worth of shabu shipment from China, Monday, January 29, 2018. Gordon earlier said that the committee had decided to transfer Faeldon to a city jail for refusing to testify on the accusations made by Sen. Panfilo Lacson that there was corruption in the BOC. Faeldon has been detained in the Senate since September of last year.

Senate photo by Joseph Vidal

Malacañang wishes Rappler ‘good luck’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

“GOOD luck to them.”

This was Malacañang’s short message to online news site Rappler on its efforts to invalidate the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)’s revocation of its license.

Rappler on Monday, January 29, filed a petition before the Court of Appeals (CA) seeking to reverse an earlier SEC ruling that voided the news organization’s incorporation papers for allegedly violating the constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership.

The SEC en banc on January 11 ruled that Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corp. (RHC) made violations when it allowed Omidyar Network, one of the Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDR) holders of Rappler, to exercise control over the news outfit.

“Good luck to them. After all, the noise that they’ve created, they are certainly hoping that they could influence the Court of Appeals,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

In its petition, Rappler claimed that the SEC erred in its interpretation of the Omidyar PDR. “The clause does not give Omidyar the power to decide when and how the articles of incorporation or by-laws of Rappler, or any other corporate matter, are to be made. Therefore, Omidyar has no control over the

Palace Communications officials Martin Andanar (left) and Lorraine Badoy (middle) and Rappler Chief Maria Ressa (right) appear before the Senate Committee on Public Information and Mass Media on Tuesday, January 30. Ressa claimed the State had enabled an ‘information ecosystem’ spreading ‘fake news.’

ManilaTimes.net photos by Bob Dunno

actions of RHC, and also Rappler,” it said.

Rappler also pointed out that the SEC has no findings that Omidyar actually exercised control over the company, making the ruling baseless.

“Thus, Rappler and RHC cannot be punished, in any way for a violation that never occured,” it stressed.

Rappler further argued that it cannot be held liable for violating the law banning foreign ownerships on mass media because it “is not engaged in the business of mass media.”

The news outfit noted that the Article XVI, Section 11 (1) of the 1987 Constitution only refers “mass media” to print and broadcast media, while Rappler is fully internet-based.

“The activities of Rappler are more akin to the way Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and blogs oper-

ate,” Rappler said, adding that it is the country’s first “all-digital news organization.”

In its petition, Rappler also claimed that the SEC did not follow due process when it issued the revocation in the absence of a formal charge, depriving the news organization of opportunities to defend itself.

“There was also no formal administrative action filed against Rappler and RHC before the SEC. Without an administrative action, surely, no administrative action, including the suspension or revocation of the corporation’s franchise, could have been imposed by the SEC,” Rappler said.

It added, “Since no administrative charge was instituted against Rappler and RHC, they were not provided with sufficient notice of the formal charge against them (because none was issued) and the opportunity to be heard.”

The use of body cameras and other similar gadgets during operations, however, was only enAS the Philippine National Po- couraged and not required.

“I express optimism that this lice (PNP) resumed its controversial “Oplan Tokhang” on Monday, time, police interdiction operaJanuary 29, the country’s top cop tions against illegal drugs will admitted that it is “impossible” to be carried out with greater efficonduct a completely bloodless ciency, and with less violent conanti-illegal drugs campaign.

But while saying that he cannot guarantee zero casualties, PNP Chief Director Gen. Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa vowed that the police will do everything to make the drug war “less bloody.”

“We are just giving you the assurance that what we’re going to make the anti-drug campaign less bloody because we are not dealing a person in his right mind,” Dela Rosa said in Filipino during a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The PNP chief even remarked that he’s willing to give up his post to anyone who can handle drug war operations without anyone getting killed.

Dela Rosa challenged, “Give me someone who can do it, a commander who can do it, and I’m willing to give up my post if you can tell me that there’s a person who can be successful in conducting anti-drug operations without casualties.”

“That’s impossible,” he stressed.

This week, the PNP resumed its controversial Oplan Tokhang under new rules and guidelines that require stricter observation of human rights.

On the first day of the re-implementation, the PNP said it has conducted 36 separate anti-drug operations across the country and was able to arrest 52 alleged drug offenders with no casualties.

More than 563 drug personalities also surrendered.

Oplan Tokhang, which means “knock and plead,” is an anti-illegal drugs initiative in the country wherein authorities knock on the doors of suspected drug users or pushers and ask them to surrender.

Under the new supplemental operational guidelines, Tokhang operations must be led by a police commissioned officer and be conducted from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday. Implementers are also required to be in proper PNP uniform.

frontations between law enforcers and offenders through better equipment to ensure the personal safety of our personnel, such as body armor, body camera, communications and fire suppression, complemented by skills training and enhanced capacity,” Dela PAGE A7

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February 1-7, 2018 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn

HIV epidemic

Features

HERE’S another reason to take precautions against the AIDS-causing human immunodeficiency virus: health experts warn that a drug-resistant HIV strain is on the rise.

Mutation to resist drugs is a common characteristic of viruses and bacteria, so the emergence of the new HiV strain is not unexpected. This makes safe sex and other precautionary measures all the more important to prevent the spread of HiV. Six months ago the United Nations’ health ministry reported that for the past six years, the Philippines has registered the fastest HiV/aiDS infection rate in the asia-Pacific, with 10,111 new HiV cases recorded in 2017 alone.

There are no signs of a let-up, and the toll keeps growing. From January to November last year, aiDS claimed 428 lives in the Philippines.

Since January 1984 when the Department of Health began keeping a registry of the affliction, 49,733 HiV cases have been recorded in the Philippines, with 4,942 cases developing into full-blown acquired immune Deficiency Syndrome and 2,397

deaths. in recent years, the fastest rate of infection has been recorded among men having sex with men, with most of the patients not yet in their 30s.

Health experts have always stressed that HiV can be prevented through the use of condoms and other safe sex practices as well as regular screening for the sexually active. Despite the development of potent drug cocktails against the virus, there is still no guaranteed cure for aiDS. But early diagnosis and treatment can prolong lives.

Other countries such as Thailand have shown that it is possible to reverse a rising tide of HiV cases. Many aiDS victims died at the prime of their lives. With heightened efforts, this tragedy can be eased. Health experts have warned that the Philippines’ HiV/aiDS problem has reached epidemic proportions. The country must move quickly to prevent more deaths. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Babe’s Eye View

US-PH cooperation goes beyond military alliance

EarliEr this week, i was invited as a special BaBes Romualdez guest at a reception hosted by the US National Guard Bureau (NGB) chief, General Joseph lengyel, and his charming wife Sally. The reception at Fort lesley J. McNair was correspondingly held to celebrate the partnership between the Philippines, Hawaii and Guam via the “State Partnership Program” (SPP) spearheaded by the U.S. Department of State and Department of Defense, and with us were Senator Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and the State Department’s Deputy assistant Secretary (DaS) for Southeast asia W. Patrick Murphy. as chief of the NGB and member of the joint chiefs of staff, General lengyel also serves as military advisor to President Donald Trump, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and the National Security Council. i had a very engaging conversation with the general who told me that he will be traveling to the Philippines on the first week of February for meetings with officials of the armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Defense to discuss the SPP involving a wide range of issues that include humanitarian assistance and disaster response (HaDr), as well as capacity building and security cooperation.

The last time the general visited the Philippines was more than 30 years ago and so he is really looking forward to his upcoming trip which we

From the Stands domini m. ToRRevillas PErSia, as iran was known before 1935, was one of the greatest empires of the ancient world, dating back to around 7,000 B.C. iran became an islamic republic in 1979, following the iranian revolution which overthrew the monarchy and clerics assumed political control. During the next three days, heads of 100 principal political parties from 39 countries in the asian region are meeting in iran’s capital, Tehran, to share their views on the topic “Different Nations, a Shared Destiny” and on regional development and regional security at the iCaPP Special Conference on the Silk road. The conference is hosted by the islamic Motalefeh Party with the support of the iranian government.

Former House Speaker Jose de Venecia is speaking on the topic of a shared destiny among nations, as he is a leader in getting political parties together, he being founding chairman of the international Conference of asian Political Parties (iCaPP), co-founder of the asian Parliamentary assembly (aPa), and chairman of the international association of Parliamentarians for Peace (iaPP). His latest title is as special envoy of the Philippine president to the asia-Pacific

Philstar.com photo

anticipate to be very productive.

Filipinos are familiar with the National Guard and know it as a reserve military force whose members hold fulltime civilian jobs while serving part time as airmen or soldiers. People know that the National Guard (from 50 states plus the U.S. territories of Guam, the Virgin islands and Puerto rico as well as the District of Columbia for a total of 54 separate units) can be called upon during times of crisis or natural disasters such as hurricanes, floods and earthquakes.

However, not many Filipinos know about the State Partnership Program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Defense with guidance from the foreign policy goals set by the State Department, and managed and administered by the National Guard Bureau that also provides the personnel.

The SPP came about in 1993 at the Baltic region in Europe (after the collapse of the former Soviet Union) when the U.S. European Command decided to set up the “Joint Component Contact Team Program” made up of reserve component personnel as they were deemed to have a less aggressive posture and thus, would encourage security cooperation. a subsequent proposal by the National Guard Bureau to pair up NG units with Estonia, latvia and lithuania (nations that were formerly part of the USSr or the Soviet Union) gave birth to the SPP, which soon became a key security cooperation tool by the United States.

Through the SPP, cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs are facilitated,

and people-to-people ties at the state level are also enhanced and encouraged.

Simply put, the SPP pairs up specific National Guard units with a particular country for nation building and other activities aimed at strengthening linkages and security partnerships. in 2001, the SPP was established in the Philippines with the Guam and Hawaii National Guard units as partners. Underscoring the deep relations between our country and the United States is the fact that the SPP with the Philippines is the first and therefore the oldest in the asia Pacific region.

Over the years, the Philippines has been one of the most active as far as the SPP is concerned. in September last year, air defense experts from the Hawaii air National Guard (HiaNG) shared air defense skill – the fifth time in a row – to members of the Philippine air Force (PaF), with the level of engagement and interaction heightened as the focus has expanded to include training, checklists, procedures, and aerospace medicine (also known as flight or aviation medicine). aside from discussions and Q & a sessions, these exchanges involve tours and inspections on air defense system components, with the focus going from the tactical to the operational and strategic.

One of the most tangible aspects of the SPP was demonstrated in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Yolanda when airmen and soldiers from the Hawaii National Guard and the Guam National Guard worked with elements of the armed

JDV: A shared destiny

Economic Cooperation (aPEC) and for intercultural Dialogue. it must be said that the iCaPP, according to de Venecia, supports the vital agreement signed by iran and a group of world powers — the United States, the United Kingdom, russia, France, China and Germany in 2015. The EU, which helped facilitate the iran nuclear talks, reported that “the international atomic Energy agency has verified eight times that iran is implementing all its nuclear related commitments following a comprehensive and strict monitoring.” The Deal — called the joint Comprehensive Plan of action (JCPOa) — is a culmination of 12 years of long drawn-out negotiations, strengthening cooperation, and which is “critical for the security of the region.”

De Venecia’s message, of which we have been furnished a copy, underscores the role of political parties and civil society organizations in generating economic, trade, political and cultural connectivity and people-topeople bonds with the ‘Silk road spirit.’” “iran played a vital and actual role in the ancient silk road, connecting the East and the West, serving as the main hub for the international trade and exchange of various cultures,” says De Venecia. “iran today is also expected to play a strategic role in the new Silk road, by connecting and developing keen overall ties

with the other regions.”

The Silk road initiative, says De Venecia, could be the key in unleashing 21st century economic development. The initiative has “the potential as a constructive force that would facilitate the emergence of model upon which our nations could enhance our collective security.” Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed the idea of a “common destiny,” which a closely-knot China and aSEaN community could build together. The “two sides need to bring out their respective strengths to realize diversity, harmony, inclusiveness and common progress.” already modern infrastructure is bringing together Kunming in Yunnan with Phnom Penh and Singapore in the beginnings of a southeast asian ‘Growth Triangle.” The long-distance trains are moving great cargos between asia and Europe. The Central asian states are awakening to the possibilities of modernization — as Silk road arteries begin to link them, westward, all the way to london and eastward to Beijing, encompassing Budapest, Hamburg, Moscow and Warsaw, freight to 28 European cities, moving them by sea and by air.

De Venecia further envisions expanding, deepening and strengthening of the economic, trade, political, cultural and people-to-people linkages of the historic Silk road by developing a

“third route” to complement and extend China’s great “Belt and road” initiative.

This means from Hainan island off Guangdong province in southern China, the route could also pass through the Philippines, Malaysia, indonesia and Timor leste, to australia’s Gold Coast to Sydney and New Zealand, then move across the south Pacific, and enter latin america — Chile, argentina, Brazil, and the Caribbean islands, then Mexico, then all the way to the US as in the old days of the Galleon Trade from Manila to acapulco, Mexico, which sailed for 250 years.

The proposed 21st Century “third route,” hopefully an enlargement of the Silk route, would make the celebrated “Belt and road” initiative almost globally inclusive, after Europe and africa, and “create a linkage with two more continents – australia and latin america – in a new circumnavigation, in a revival of the age of Exploration, and new spirit in the age of Globalization.”

China’s “noble vision,” says De Venecia, is “being put to the test with the tough tasks it faces in peacemaking and promoting regional stability.” asia’s “most dangerous flashpoints happen to be in its neighborhood,” says the iCaPP founding chairman. On its northern flank is the rising danger of explosion in the Korean Peninsula, and on its southern flank the dis-

Forces of the Philippines to conduct a humanitarian assistance project by helping rebuild the Marasbaras National High School in Tacloban.

Super Typhoon Yolanda – the strongest typhoon ever in history to make landfall and the fourth strongest storm ever recorded in the world – destroyed seven classrooms in three buildings. let’s not also forget the timely arrival of the USS George Washington aircraft carrier that saved thousands of lives. it took two months for the three buildings to be rehabilitated, with new roofs constructed, electrical and lighting fixtures installed, comfort rooms built, ceiling fans provided, etc. – but the impact is lifelong for the students who will all benefit from the project. as noted by the now retired Maj. Gen. Benny Paulino who was the adjutant General of the Guam National Guard during that time, the school buildings represent “a new beginning” for the students of the public school who had to attend classes outdoors.

“Education is not just the key to ensure the next generation prepares for the future, it’s the best indicator that a disaster area is turning normal,” also remarked then Hawaii National Guard adjutant General Darryl Wong, who retired in 2015.

More than anything, such humanitarian projects demonstrate the life-changing impact of the partnership between the Philippines and the United States – one that has endured and gone way beyond our military alliance. (Philstar.com) *** Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com.

turbing conflict over sovereignty in the disputed islands in the South China Sea. The disagreement in the South China Sea with conflicting sovereignty claims may be settled, says De Venecia, by temporarily shelving the issue of sovereignty, and as advised much earlier by Deng Hsiao Peng, architect of China’s economic modernization, undertaking joint exploration and development in the disputed areas and converting the zone of conflict into a Zone of Peace, Friendship, Cooperation and Development.

Sharing of resources —hydrocarbons and oil and natural gas — as practiced among countries, instead of engaging in conflict and war, could help build a model for lessening tensions and solving conflicts, and avoiding the possibility of war in asia’s manifold and dangerous flashpoints.

He mentions his proposal last May 15 at Bejing’s “High-level Dialogue on the Belt and road Forum for international Cooperation,” about transforming the area from one of conflict, into a landscape and seascape of small seaports, airports and oil pipes.

Fishing villages and small tourism townships could rapidly rise in the areas contested principally by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, into a Zone of Friendship, Commerce, Navigation and Development, and become the passageway, untrammeled, for global shipping, carrying more than 50 per cent of the sea

freight of the world.

De Venecia upholds the prominence of peace among nations through interfaith dialogue. in partnership, the Philippines and iran successfully sponsored a resolution in the General assembly in November 2004, binding the UN to promote interfaith dialogue “as a way of resolving politico-religious conflicts, strengthening the religious moderates, and isolating those who advocate terrorism in the name of religion.

Other pundits have spoken of the dangers of the “clash of civilizations”, but iran’s then President Mohammad Khatami and other scholars introduced the more strategic, more pragmatic idea of a “dialogue among civilizations.” One of the great fruits of dialogue was the nuclear accord of 2015 which provided iran relief from the U.S., UN., and multilateral sanctions on energy, financial, shipping and other sectors.

De Venecia says iCaPP has advocated in letters to Saudi arabia’s then King abdullah and iran’s spiritual leader ayatollah ali Khamenei to meet perhaps in Mecca and Medina and bring about the beginnings of reconciliation (between Saudi’s Sunnis and iran’s Shiites) and the end of violence in the lands of islam, and head off decisively the expansion and internationalization of the extremist groups, iSiS-iSil. “We believe the initiative is most difficult but not impossible.” (Philstar.com)

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

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RENOVATION.Motorists pass workers who have started laying down the groundwork for the construction of MRT 7 along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. Traffic officials have advised motorists going to the Quezon City Memorial Circle and other nearby areas to take other routes especially during rush hours.

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European Union still open to aid for Philippines

by Helen

Flores Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Despite the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s repeated rejection of its development assistance, the European Union remains open to providing aid to the Philippines, EU Ambassador Franz Jessen said on Tuesday, January 30. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have not closed any doors,â&#x20AC;?

Jessen said.

Last month, the government formally rejected the EU-Philippine Trade Related Technical Assistance (TRTA) worth 6.1 million euros or around P383.64 million.

President Duterte has repeatedly slammed the EU for supposedly

meddling in his war against drugs, which has killed thousands. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We expect, at the end of the day, to continue much of our development assistance,â&#x20AC;? Jessen said, noting that a delegation from Brussels is headed to Manila.

The envoy said the EU could work â&#x20AC;&#x153;directlyâ&#x20AC;? with government agencies and on a â&#x20AC;&#x153;case by caseâ&#x20AC;? basis even without the TRTA. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will be pleased to continue the work we are doing in the past,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The Philippines also recently rejected EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s P2.5 billion (39 million euros) worth of sustainable energy projects in Mindanao.

However, the Philippines will

keep its zero tariff privileges for certain exports under the blocâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Generalized Scheme of Preferences Plus (GSP+), the EU said last week.

The Philippines is among nine countries that qualify for the EUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s GSP+, which removes tariffs on 66 percent of products as long as they commit to international agreements on human and labor rights, environmental protection and good governance.

Philippine shipments worth an estimated P120 billion ($2.35 billion) to EU will carry no duties, the European Commission said.

The EU is the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; second top export destination. n

PNP chief: Bloodless drug war...

PAGE A5 Rosa said.

But despite the new supplemental operational guidelines for Oplan Tokhang, the PNP chief noted that the flow of anti-drug operations still depends on the reactions of drug personalities.

He went on to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It would be better if we can only take over the minds of the drug personalities and tell them not to be violent, not to fight back, so there will be no bloodshed in our anti-drug operations, but our situation in the ground is very volatile.â&#x20AC;?

Dela Rosa further emphasized the need for the cops to defend themselves from drug suspects who chose to retaliate. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We also have to protect ourselves, preserve our own life, and life of the people thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why I cannot give you 100 percent or foolproof anti-drug campaign will be bloodless,â&#x20AC;? he explained.

Dela Rosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s remarks came after

Catholic Bishopsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President and Davao Archbishop Romulo Valles made an appeal to the PNP to follow proper procedures in its revamped anti-drug operations.

In an article posted on the CBCP website, Valles also asked the PNP to make sure that the antidrug activities this time around wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t â&#x20AC;&#x153;waste any lives.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We pray that the police follow the prescribed steps in implementing the lawâ&#x20AC;Ś steps that should be done in exercising their responsibility as policemen,â&#x20AC;?

Valles said.

He continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us inspire them to follow the necessary steps when they need to apprehend and as much as possible, we make sure that we do not waste any lives.â&#x20AC;?

Less controversial In a separate statement, MalacaĂąang expressed optimism that the anti-illegal drugs cam-

paign will be less controversial this year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re we are hoping that they have learned from their past experience. The PNP has said they want this Tokhang operation to be less bloody, we are hoping it will be,â&#x20AC;? Palace spokesperson Harry Roque said.

Since the start of the drug war in 2016, the PNP has claimed nearly 4,000 casualties during legitimate anti-drug police operations.

But the figure was heavily disputed by human rights organizations, including United Statesbased Human Rights Watch (HRW), which has pegged the number of casualties at around 12,000.

Roque went on to say, â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are certainly hoping that it will be less controversial because controversy will only blur the real intentions behind the Tokhang which is really the fight against dangerous drugs.â&#x20AC;? n

Note: Contact with any other SNRHA staff other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected. This also includes contact with SNRHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Residents and Board of Commissioners.

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Journal From tech entrepreneur to travel journalist: Garrett Gee and his ‘bucket list’

By Christina

AJPress

Oriel

In nearly three years, Garrett Gee and his wife Jessica have traveled to 45 countries and have been on over 150 flights with their two toddlers in tow, digitally documenting the adventures along the way as the “Bucket List Family.

Their travels have been widely followed on platforms like YouTube and Instagram, as they’ve spent days in places such as nepal, Greece, Indonesia, and Germany.

For Gee — a 28-year-old Utahnative who is Filipino from his mother’s side — a trip that continues to be memorable was in 2016 when the family was en route to Turkey as political unrest transpired.

“We were on the plane so we weren’t connected to the Internet and didn’t hear anything about the unrest in the air. By the time we landed in Turkey, the U.S. government had put an alert, like evacuation warnings for Americans to get out of Turkey as soon as possible,” he told the Asian

The multi-talented Bruno Mars went home with a whopping six awards, including three wins in the award show’s major categories at the 60th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 28.

Garrett Gee (center right) with his daughter Dorothy, wife Jessica, and son Manilla Photos courtesy of Garrett Gee/the Bucket List Family and Discovering Routes

Journal in an interview. “There was no flight to get us out so we were stuck in Turkey for 24 hours during the evacuation. We were terrified and we didn’t sleep that night. Just going through something that scary and emotional really made us closer.”

However, the family ended up staying in Turkey for five days, during which they realized that

Garrett and Miristi were joined by their mother Mel Gee Henderson for the final episode of “Discovering Routes.”

the country “wasn’t a scary place” that the media had been portraying it as.

“When people ask us ‘who are some of the nicest people and cultures in the world?’ We have an ongoing list but number one for… the nicest, most affectionate and loving people in the world are the people of Turkey. So that was a big life lesson to us as a family, you can’t really judge people based on what you hear or what you hear in the media and the rumors. You have to find [out] and learn for yourself,” Gee said.

Lessons like this are what continue to drive the Bucket List Family and the invaluable real-life education that their young children are receiving, being exposed to different cultures and customs around the globe.

From tech to travel Gee and Jessica had met in Russia as missionaries serving the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints and married in 2009 while both attending Brigham Young University (BYU) in Utah.

As a freshman at BYU, Gee founded Scan, a QR code-scanning mobile app. Four years later, the app was acquired by Snapchat in 2014 for $54 million.

“ T h e re a re s o m e w e i rd thoughts that come into your mind when you sell your company, especially when it’s for a lot of money. There’s kind of a lot of soul-searching during that time,” Gee recalled, noting that he didn’t want to spend his earnings on material possessions like a house or car as young families were doing. “And one of the things that I realized, I had the fortune, opportunity and position for whatever I want to do next in life, like how I want to live my life, where I want to live my life, what career, what industry.”

That led him to “pick an industry [he] was absolutely passionate about” — one that allowed him to pull away from sitting at a computer all day and instead use that time to spend with his growing family.

From there, the Bucket List Family was created in 2015 — an online journal (blog, YouTube, and social media accounts) that follows Gee’s global adventures with wife Jessica (“Settie”), daughter Dorothy, and son Manilla. At the time, Dorothy and Manilla were 3 and 1, respectively.

The family sold all of their PAGE B3

Bruno Mars scores big at 2018 Grammys The Fil-Am superstar wins six Grammy Awards, including ‘Album of the Year,’ ‘Record of the Year’ and ‘Song of the Year’

by Klarize Medenilla AJPress

THe 60th annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, January 28 proved to be a big night for the multi-talented Bruno Mars, who went home with a whopping six awards, including three wins in the award show’s major categories.

The half-Filipino/half-Puerto Rican maestro of nostalgic pop swept the night with his highlyacclaimed third studio album 24K Magic which won the coveted Album of the Year; and, singles “24K Magic” and “That’s What I Like” won Record of the Year and Song of the Year, respectively.

“I’ve been knowing these guys for over a decade,” Mars said in his speech, referencing the innovative process of pop music production that involves a large collaborative team of specialized writers. “All the music-business horror stories you’ve seen in the movies, we’ve been through all

Photos from Instagram/@brunomars

of them. It’s an honor to share this with you all tonight.”

In addition to the wins in the three major categories, he also took home Best R&B Song and Best R&B Performance for “That’s What I Like” and Best R&B Album for 24K Magic. earlier in the night, Mars perPAGE B2

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Andre Paras: Slowly but surely Kris Aquino can’t have politician BF

by Jerry

Donato Philstar.com

Taking things slowly — but surely — seems to be andre Paras’ game plan in his showbiz career. This is logical, especially if he sees himself working on TV and in the movies for the long haul.

“For now, i wanna be there for the lead, i wanna be there for someone,” said the gMa-Viva artist during the recent grand presscon of ‘Sherlock Jr.,’ which stars Ruru Madrid and premiered this week on gMa Telebabad. “i’m there to make people happy or laugh, (you know,) give comic relief, or maybe next time, i wanna be a leading man. For now, i wanna learn the bits and pieces of how to be a good actor before accepting a role na (nasa akin) naka-tutok ang lahat ng tao.”

Playing Pido Lumabao to Ruru’s Jack/Sherlock perfectly fits that path andre is treading on.

“From the trailer, one notices that it is light, funny and sad,” shared andre. “Quick description for my role. i play Pido Lumabao, a police officer (and) childhood friend of Ruru’s Jack/Sherlock.

Basically, he’ll be there for Jack. if he’s not working or is off-duty, he goofs around or hangs out with Jack/Sherlock, gives him (Jack/ Sherlock) love advice.” andre’s Pido and Serena (the dog character in the series) will be Jack/Sherlock’s partners in solving mysteries. That explains the “Sherlock” in the title, which hints at detective storytelling, and jibes with Jack’s nature of work: investigative reporting.

Televiewers will see andre’s serious and funny sides when Pido is sent on missions as a police officer and in light moments, respectively. “Of course, i need to give justice to my role as a police officer,” he said. “i have to make it believable that i’m (one). it is my first time to play a cop. i re-

Andre Paras, star of GMA 7’s Sherlock Jr.: For now, I wanna learn the bits and pieces of how to be a good actor before accepting a (lead) role.

GMA photo

ally like it, kasi may discipline na kailangan… i’m focusing on how (my character) will help (Jack) with all his problems in the story.”

While Jack is preoccupied with shedding light on different mysteries, he starts to draw himself away from love interest Lily Pelaez (gabbi garcia) and the latter will find a shoulder to cry on in Pido. a potential love triangle will brew from there. “no, i will never. i don’t want to be part of any love triangle kasi malaking problema yun,” replied andre when asked if he could see himself in that affair. “Ayaw ko yung may third party.”

Doing showbiz — acting in Sirkus and Sherlock Jr. and cohosting “Sunday Pinasaya” — is not the only thing that keeps andre busy these days. Off-cam, andre is an English Studies third year student at aMa Online Education and a player for its basketball team. “i’m not having a hard time,”

he said. “i’m just having a hard time sleeping and recovering. i don’t have a cut-off. Sometimes after taping, i’d sleep in the car. if there is no traffic, i’ll be home… go straight to training. it’s more of balancing (your time).” andre is happy the way things are going in his life. He has the best of showbiz life — and student life.

“Whatever the network gives… whatever they give me is really an honor,” he said. “i never think twice with everything.” That’s why he gave his go-signal when the Pido role was offered to him.

He has no qualms if his projects are mostly comedy and loves to follow in the footsteps of his dad, Benjie Paras. “My comedy (can be described as) being awkward, wala sa timing, parang kenkoy.

Parating sablay,” he shared. But he is open to do dramatic roles — like getting deglamorized — in the future.

“That would be great… it’s amazing,” said andre, who is again into “getting to learn more.”

The closest to drama that he had done was that of “The HalfSisters” with Barbie Forteza.

“Towards the end (of the series),” andre recalled, “when my character got sick and admitted his feelings for Diana (Barbie). That’s my only taste of drama.” as for his studies, andre said, “i don’t want to end up not having work in the future.” Wearing the jersey of aMa Online allows him to play in the PBa D-League, which, according to him, “that’s the next step to PBa.” “i need my diploma as much as possible,” he added. “i know acting is not forever. With basketball, (you can only play in your) mid-thirties or forties... i want to have a diploma.” Prioritizing his education will give him a solid fallback when projects are few and far between.

With that, 2018 is indeed an exciting year for andre.

Bruno Mars scores big at...

PAGE B1 formed alongside hip-hop sweetheart Cardi B for the remix of the swing beat single “Finesse.”

Mars’ wins mark the first time a Filipino-american has won multiple accolades in the major categories at the grammy awards. Most recently, Mars — along with renowned producer Mark Ronson — nabbed Record of the Year in 2016 for the catchy

“Uptown Funk.”

The grammy awards were criticized for not awarding enough female artists for the major awards, given the current social climate regarding gender disparity in the entertainment world.

However on Sunday, Mars — who is arguably the most internationally popular Filipino of the generation — hit important

milestones in regards to ethnic representation; he was the first artist of color in a decade to win album of the Year.

Though Mars gained international fame as a soloist less than a decade ago in 2010 with his debut studio album “Doo-Wops & Hooligans,” Mars has received a total 11 grammy awards so far, the most of any artist of asian descent.

as specified in endorsement contracts

by Clarizel

abanilla Inquirer.net

QUEEn of all Media kris aquino is undeniably among the top endorsers in the country. Thanks to her incredible consumer impact, she has nailed numerous endorsement deals left and right.

Unfortunately, even with her enormous wealth, she still can’t have everything. at the very least, she can’t have a politician boyfriend as simply stated in her contracts.

Queen of all Media kris aquino is undeniably among the top endorsers in the country. Thanks to her incredible consumer impact, she has nailed numerous endorsement deals left and right.

Unfortunately, even with her enormous wealth, she still can’t have everything. at the very least, she can’t have a politician boyfriend as simply stated in her contracts. “if i can be honest, several contracts have provision na if you end up with an elected official, may penalty, from the multinationals — because of the money trail,” she said Saturday, Jan. 27, at the

press conference for Ever Bilena, the latest product she is endorsing. “it will appear that they are paying somebody in elective office.” it was not too long ago when news of her romantic relationship with Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista hit the headlines. in one of her online episodes, she was quoted to have said: “My favorite ex is the one who gives all the permits in Quezon City.”

She noted her situation was different when her brother, former President Benigno “noynoy” aquino, was still in office.

“Magkapatid kami pero we shared nothing,” she said. “Pero ito if we [referring to Bautista] end up together, or even if i announce, let’s say if, managarap na tayo, engaged, sauli, at hindi lang sauli, sauli ng pera ko na binayad sa akin, sauli ng production cost, and may penalty clause pa dun sa mawawala sa kanila.” “it’s very expensive na maging kami,” she declared.

But should she ever consider to sacrifice money over love, she already made calculations of what would be the total cost of following her heart.

Kris Aquino

Photo from Instagram/@krisaquino

“Right now, ang dami na who are working for me,” she said.

“Paano na pong magyayari sa ’min? Jobless na po kaming lahat? and then kinalculate ko kung magkano ang kailangang bayaran. Yes, may computation ako. Production cost eh, ako, tapos lost airtime because they buy it for the year. Pati yun, so oh my god, ilang Chowking ang ibebenta ko para mabayaran ‘yung penalty. Kaya that’s why let’s just be friends.”

Mark Anthony back from nightmare by riCky lo Philstar.com

“nigHTMaRE!” That one word sums up Mark anthony Fernandez’s one year and three months first at the Police Station 6 in angeles City before he was transferred to the Pampanga Provincial Jail (PPJ) where he initially shared one cell with more than 100 inmates. The nightmare started in October last year when Mark was arrested at a police checkpoint on his way to angeles City allegedly for possession of one kilo of marijuana in his car.

“We were treated well,” said Mark, “but siempre you can’t help feeling like a cage bird.”

Two months later, Mark would spend Christmas “inside” but he said it hardly felt like Christmas even if his family led by his mom, alma Moreno, was with him. Ever the doting mom, alma had to rent an apartment near the PPJ so she could visit Mark every day (except Mondays and Tuesdays when no visitors were allowed), bringing him food and his other needs. His second wife (the first had died) would also visit him when she’s free from work, but not Mark’s children. “i didn’t want my children to feel sorry for me,” shared Mark who has six children by five different women, two with his late wife, three with other women and one with his current wife.

The eldest is 17 years old and the youngest is one-and-a-half years old. The eldest boy, grey, is a Star Magic talent who was in the cast of the just-concluded aBS-CBn soap “ikaw Lang ang iibigin” and regularly seen on the Sunday show “aSaP”.

During last year’s Christmas family gathering (in jail), alma wistfully told Mark, “Pray that you won’t spend another Christmas here. i’d been praying really hard, at ganoon din si Mark, and i even offered prayers for Mark at the Our Lady of Manaoag Shrine (in Dagupan City). i also prayed with the Pink Sisters in Baguio.”

Mark Anthony Fernandez

GMA photo

Prayers answered.

On Dec. 22 last year, Mark was released on bail due to some technicalities in the case.

When he met with Funfare the other day at the Viva office a few hours before he signed a contract with the Viva Management agency, Mark related that before he left his “home” of more than one year, he cried and thanked god. “Then i hugged my lawyer, Sylvia Flores, and again said ‘So sorry’ to my mom. actually, i’d been saying ‘so sorry’ to her for all the troubles i’d been giving her.” in a double-breasted suit with neatly-combed hair, Mark smiled when Jojo gabinete (the only other interviewer) and i commented that he cut a godfather-like figure, especially with a few extra poundage he probably gained with the food, glorious food, that his mom fed him in jail. “i weigh about 170 lbs.,” said Mark who stands 5’9”, “and i have to shed at least 20 lbs. to get back to my ideal weight.”

He has to before he starts shooting for his first project for Viva for which he has actually done two movies,Biyahing Langit and Dos Ekis. “it was Miss Clau who introduced me to Ma’am Veronique del Rosario-Corpus, head of the Viva Management agency,” revealed

Mark. “Miss Clau” is Claudine Barretto, Mark’s ex-girlfriend.

Why was he referring to her as “Miss Clau?” Well, said Mark, “para formal.” as steadies, they called each other Babe. if ever Mark did a movie with Claudine, he preferred a love story…why not a remake of Somewhere, one of Mark’s late dad Rudy Fernandez’s starrers? asked how long his Viva contract is, Mark smiled again.

“When i met with Boss Vic (del Rosario, Jr., head of the Viva group of Companies), he told me, ‘O, Mark, for life na ito ha. Ang kontrata daw namin ay hanggang sa pagtanda na namin.” inside PPJ, Mark learned to pray hard, say The Rosary (“Every day,” said alma), read the Bible and value his family even more. “it was the lowest point of my life,” according to Mark. “But it didn’t break me. instead, it made me stronger and i have god to thank for that. and the support of my family.”

“Kinatok siya ng Diyos,” said alma. “Malakas na katok. Cleanliving na siya ngayon.” a huge eye-opener that Mark will never, never forget all his life. “i should be more careful now,” promised Mark who celebrated his 39th birthday on Jan. 18 (but he claimed that he’s only 33).

Before we parted, mother and son cleared two things. alma: “Hindi siya nag-shabu.

He was taking only marijuana for his ailment, bulimia. Lahat ng kinakain niya noon ay isinusuka niya. Marijuana cured his bulimia.

He was taking it for a medical reason. Wala nang trace ng marijuana sa katawan niya ngayon.”

Mark on the rumor that he got two policewomen pregnant: “it was fake news. My photos with the two policewomen were taken when i entered Presinto 6. Somebody uploaded them, on social media at ginawan ng estorya. i felt sorry for the two women na nadamay pa. They are innocent, and so am i.”

Palawan band wins Muziklaban 2018, Ely Buendia sings Eraserheads songs an alternative-reggae band from Puerto Princesa, Palawan has been hailed as the grand champion of the 19th edition of Red Horse Beer’s Pambansang Muziklaban held at the Metrowalk’s Open Parking grounds in Ortigas, Pasig City.

South Luzon’s pride Woopis, whose members include vocalist and guitarist Soy Lanzanas, guitarist Jacob Carlos, bassist Jiboy Betita and drummer Toting Penaflor, amazed the crowd and the judges with their original songs. as the champion, the band will receive a cash prize of P500,000 tax free, a band start-up support worth P300,000, a music video album production, an endorsement contract with guaranteed gigs

worth P200,000, P25,000 worth of cash, apparel and accessories, and performance at the Rakrakan Festival next month. influenced by Eraserheads, Yano, Sugarfree, Urbandub, Coldplay and Mayonaise, Woopis is a group that was constituted in 2008 and from then on created a number of original songs, which the band performs in different big events in Palawan and Puerto Princesa City.

Like in previous years, the road to rock stardom became more special for the aspiring “rakistas” as their idol bands Slapshock, Razorback, Wilabaliw, greyhoundz, kjwan, Valley of Chrome, Typecast, Mayonaise and Ely Buendia also performed that night.

Ely and his full band once again

make the audience’s heart skip a beat with their new rendition of Eraserheads’ classic songs “Magasin,” “alapaap,” “Pare ko,” “Spolarium,” and “Ligaya,” among others.

Mayonnaise, winner of the 2004 Muziklaban, reminisced the time when they were still a contestant at the competition and now, they are among the top bands in the country. They serenaded the crowd with their songs “Bakit Part 2,” and “Jopay,” but they made the audience run wild with their rendition of Teeth’s classic “Laklak.”

Other finalists in the competition includes Visayas’ Sinaphatra, Mindanao’s Redeemed by the Blood, north Luzon’s Talim and Metro Manila’s Luminus. (Philstar. com)

Philstar.com photos

EntErtainmEnt

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 1-7, 2018

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Daniel Padilla can’t wait to become The Lewis Legacy continues as ‘Pioneers: a vampire in ‘La Luna Sangre’ Reginald F. Lewis and the Making of a Billion Dollar Empire’ airs this February on PBS

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

“Malapit-lapit na ang katapusan ng ‘La Luna Sangre’,” “Teen king” Daniel Padilla declared in a recent interview with the press. “ang tagal narin kasi eh. Magwa-one year na,” Daniel said.

For him, it is all right to put an end on his prime time series with love team partner kathryn Bernardo, even if it still tops the charts. “okay na siguro kasi nastrech na rin ‘yung storya,” he enthused.

He admitted that he cannot anymore wait to show people what will happen to Tristan, his character, in the story.

So, during the interview for his new sunglasses collection for

Daniel Padilla

Philstar.om photo

local brand i2i, Daniel revealed that he will become a vampire in the series.

“Kahit ako ito hinihintay ko na maging bampira na ko eh.

Medyo ang tagal ko nang nag-

ing tao,” he said with a laugh.

In “La Luna Sangre,” Daniel can be seen wearing shades a lot, so he is ecstatic to be wearing pieces from DJP, a collection he personally co-designed with i2i New York owners, husband and wife tandem of ricco and Tina ocampo.

“High school pa lang ako, mahilig na ko magsuot ng salamin,” shared Daniel, whose set of hip and on-trend yet inexpensive sunglasses was inspired by his music influences and Hollywood idols like Johnny Depp, robert Downey Jr., and John Lennon.

If he were to become a real vampire, who would he like to bite first?

During a “La Luna Sangre” press conference, he said without thinking twice: “Si kath, siyempre!”

From tech entrepreneur to travel journalist...

PAGE B1 belongings for $45,000, which funded six months of travel to places like Thailand, Australia, Tahiti and Hawaii. The money — an undisclosed amount — Gee made from the Snapchat purchase hasn’t been used for any of their trips and remains in a savings account.

“Living as a travel journalist has enabled me to all day, every day be together with them,” he said.

In their travels, the family of four focuses on three aspects: adventure, culture, and service.

At the end of 2015, they were able to cover LASIk surgery for five individuals and helped build a school in Nepal in 2016.

Another one of their missions is to debunk the idea that travel has to be expensive or that you need to pack a lot of possessions when going abroad.

“Along the way we figured out there are tons of things you can do to save money and be more frugal as you travel. And you don’t need that much stuff, so we tried packing in a more minimalistic way to the point where now as an entire family, we just have the two bags that we travel with, which is more than enough,” Gee said.

He added that vacations don’t necessarily mean eating out every night, going to theme parks or on pricey tour groups. “our favorite way to travel is to experience something local and a lot of that means going to the smaller cafes or the farmer’s market, just going to the park and doing the things that local people do like going to the beach. Most of the things are free so when you do it that way, traveling is very affordable,” he said.

Now with a sizable online following — the Instagram account reached 1 million followers in late January this year — the family partners with brands to get trips sponsored, which Gee said was one of their goals once the $45,000 ran out. Last summer, the family won Disney’s 30 Stays in 30 Days contest which granted them a month at Disney world, staying at a different hotel each night and exploring the four theme parks and two water parks.

In raising two young children in a hyper-connected world, the Gees hold standards about privacy, what they share, and not using technology excessively while on their travels. Instead of doing daily videos, they publish longer weekly videos, which lets them “be a regular family” and balance between documenting and savoring the present moment.

“Then we combine those [videos and photos] into one weekly video. So, you know, we don’t have our cameras out too much more than the average family and then we have that kind of relief in our minds to live regular lives and keep our lives more private,” Gee said.

As for safety, they are cautious about not posting in real-time.

“If we’re posting on social

media that we’re at a current location, we always post delayed,” he explained. “Nobody could ever find us or track us based on our location that we’re posting online.

But then that’s our privacy, something you kind of give and take or you forfeit when you put your lives out there so much on social media. I think for us it’s been finding that balance and drawing that line about how much we want to post on social media.”

Discovering roots In 2017, Gee starred in a web series called “Discovering routes,” developed by ABS-CBN Global Studios, Myx TV and Go Button Media, in which he and his older sister Miristi (a yoga and dance instructor) journeyed across the Philippines to learn more about their Filipino heritage.

The idea came after ABS-CBN profiled Gee, and then reached out again and proposed doing a follow-up, documentary-style story. “everyone in the world has plugged into the Bucket List Family YouTube channel, and is familiar with Garrett the dad, Garrett the traveler, and Garrett the tech entrepreneur. Seeing him with his sister and interacting with his mom — just seeing him in that space really reminds me that people are so multifaceted and that who Garrett has become today as a very special business person and travel adventurer is very largely rooted in how he was raised in his family and they’re very, very wonderful people,” keesa ocampo, executive producer of “Discovering routes,” told the asian Journal.

The 20-webisode season, which was shot over 17 days and made its debut last September, featured stops in Coron, Palawan to visit the Tagbanua tribe and kayangan Lake, harvesting rice at the Chocolate Hills in Bohol, and dancing to Bruno Mars’ “Uptown Funk” alongside inmates at a maximum-security prison in Cebu. In the final episode aired in November, the siblings were joined by their mom, Mel Gee Henderson, in Iloilo to participate in the Pintados de Passi festival.

“Growing up really close to my Filipino grandma, I instantly felt a sense that I belonged in the Philippines. The more people I met and the more halo-halo I ate, I became convinced that the best things about me are from this culture,” Miristi said.

In addition to it being his first

Airs Friday, February 16 at 8pm on WLIW21 Sunday, February 18 at 7:30pm on THIRTEEN Saturday, February 24 at 7pm on NJTV New York, New York – This February (Black History Month), PBS will be airing “Pioneers: reginald F. Lewis and the Making of a Billion Dollar empire,” which chronicles the life and legacy of business pioneer, philanthropist and titan reginald F. Lewis, who was a Harvard Law School graduate, venture capitalist, and leader of the global food company TLC Beatrice International.

Lewis was the first American ever to close an overseas billion dollar leveraged buyout deal.

He acquired an unprecedented global conglomerate of 64 companies in 31 countries, and paved the way for future entrepreneurs and black leaders through his life’s work until his untimely

death at age 50.

Lewis is also known as the late husband of Loida Nicolas Lewis, a Filipino American immigration lawyer, businesswoman and civic leader. “reginald Lewis was a pioneer because he executed the $1 billion buyout of Beatrice International Foods. No one had done anything of that magnitude before. He was the first American to successfully negotiate a billion dollar overseas leverage buyout,” says Mrs. Lewis.

Additional high praise from kenneth Chenault, Chairman and Ceo of American express notes, “There is no doubt that reginald Lewis’ success paved the way for me, and many others, and I think that really is the test and demon-

immersive trip to the Philippines and feeling like he fit in spiritually and physically, Gee said the “one- Reginald and Loida Lewis with daaughters Leslie and Christina in Paris on-one time” with his sister was “rare and unique” and strengthened their relationship. ocampo added, “The way that Garrett and Miristi are portrayed is exactly how they are. They’re funny, they’re compassionate, they are emotional and revealing, but at the same time, very adventurous and mischievous like that’s exactly who they are. And on the part of the network, it’s such an honor to be able to develop a very trusting relationship with them to create something that’s entertainment but also very real.”

As for a Philippines trip for the Bucket List Family, Gee said it’s bound to happen, but it wouldn’t be treated like any other trip.

“A lot of people ask us, we’ve Reginald F Lewis and Loida Nicolas Lewis celebrate RFL’s mom’s Carolyn Fuggett’s birthday been to 45 countries so far away, why haven’t we been to the Philippines? The honest truth is because the Philippines is such a special place to me. I didn’t want to make it just like one of the many countries we’ve visited. I wanted to give it special attention and special planning and special preparation. we’re just waiting for that special time when we as a family can go and spend a really long time there,” he said.

2018’s bucket list The family announced that it is expecting a third child, another boy, this year and intends to find a house for the brief period Jessica can’t travel.

But Gee remarked that he doesn’t anticipate their jaunts to wind down. “we know that we’re going to continue to travel because it’s just become a part of who we are especially as a family,” he said.

The family recently revealed that the baby will be named Calihan (“Cali” for short), and he already has an Instagram account with over 57,000 followers, as of this writing.

This past January, the family uploaded a close to 30-minute video answering commonly asked questions from followers, including what their 2018 will look like (Central America trips and trapeze lessons are among the plans) and how they’ll educate their kids as they approach school age (leaning toward traditional schooling).

However, the parents agree that nothing beats what the children are learning through world experience.

“I wish every parent could be able to let their kids experience travel because during these developmental years, they’re coming into a space emotionally and mentally, and it’s just so cool that they’re growing up not really understanding the differences of countries and nationalities. To them, it’s just one big open world.

I think it’s been really special for them,” Gee said.

At not even 30 years old — having achieved success in the tech industry and traveled to 45 countries — what else remains on Gee’s “bucket list”?

“Now I think the next chapter needs to be me using those opportunities and gifting them to others, sharing them with others and hopefully enabling other people to do the same and make the most of their life,” he said. “Just trying to serve others, you know, speaking out, humanitarian opportunities and charity opportunities. And then also hopefully inspiring others and empowering them to Photos courtesy of Garrett Gee/the Bucket List Family and Discovering Routes follow in our footsteps.”

Reginald F. Lewis

stration of real leadership.” reginald F. Lewis rose to prominence as a lawyer, human rights activist, venture capitalist, and then as the first African American to build a billion-dollar business empire. Discover his legacy by watching Pioneers: reginald F. Lewis and the Making of a Billion Dollar empire on these PBS affiliates: • Friday, February 16, 8:00pm wLIw21 • Sunday, February 18, 7:30pm THIrTeeN • Saturday, February 24, 7:00pm NJTV • Available for streaming Nationally at thirteen.org after Feb 18th Reginald F. Lewis • First to seriously consider the purchase of Paramount Pictures • First American billion-dollar dealmaker • Founded the first African American Law Firm on wall Street • First to be accepted at Harvard University Law School without applying • Among the first 5 African Americans to have museums named after them • At $985 MM, the deal was the largest offshore leveraged buyout ever by an American company

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Fall in love with these makeup trends LBC ties up with PAL for Balikbayan Promo 2018 Balikbayans get a chance to fly for free through LBC-PAL promo

By Monet

TWO of the country’s biggest names in business are working together to bring joy to their loyal customers.

LBC, the leader in “Padala” and Philippine Airlines, Asia’s first airline, have launched the “LBC Moves with PAL Balikbayan Promo” that gives their loyal customers the chance to fly for free.

From February 1 to April 30, 2018, each full rate sea cargo transaction automatically generates one ticket entry. On the Grand Draw on May 5, 2018, one winner will be picked from each of these airports to fly for free to the Philippines: SFO Airport: North California, Washington, Oregon, Illinois. LAX Airport: Southern California, Nevada, Florida. HNL Airport: Hawaii; and, JFK Airport: New York, New Jersey, Virginia. * The names of all four winners will be posted on LBC’s website and Facebook page.

Meanwhile, LBC is also offer-

Lu

THIS week we tackle another one of my fortes—and a soughtafter subject for women—the latest makeup trends. I can describe this season’s makeup peg in two words: fresh and minimal. With that image in mind, I invite you to experience “Valentine’s trends” and fall in love with these makeup styles.

Go easy on the eyes Whoever said that sexy smoky eye is so 90 degrees ago must learn how to carry the classic eye-do with just a teeny bit of flaw. Allow me to elaborate before I give the impression that carelessly applied shadow is a thing – please…it has never been, never will be.

What I meant by a little flaw is how you would do your smoky eye look at home. You know, the kind that gives off an ultra diffused shadow that looks intense while feeling soft. Makeup artist Pat McGrath created this look at Diane von Furstenberg by using a black and brown liner. You can also use gray shadows with just a hint of sparkle to keep it soft enough for daytime.

A bronze shadow is another equally striking-yet-with-aneasy feel. You can maybe give your metallic shadows a break this season by using bronze shadows instead of the classic gold or silver. This type of hue warms up your face and gives you a good reason to put a natural-looking lip color.

Paint outside the lines It’s this time of the year when you feel a bit more adventurous. It shows on your outfit and your hair, and well, your eye makeup better match that mood. As they say, the eyes are the windows of the soul. And your carefree soul needs an audience! One article writes, “ Tweak the classic cat eye by opting for a more straight across swipe of black kohl like we saw at Oscar de la Renta. This is a more modern way to wear liner that elongates and lifts the eye and adds intrigue to the face.” Add more

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spice to your usual winged liner, by scribbling some double-winged lines. Seventeen. com suggests, “Use a soft kohl pencil to trace your lower waterline, then smudge it out with a makeup sponge for an extremely edgy and perfectly un-perfect vibe.”

Tip of the lashes Close your eyes and think: silver, water droplets, rhinestones. Now open your eyes and give your volumizing mascara, falsies and lash add-ons a much-needed upgrade. It’s time those lashes shine as bright as your eyes! Silver sparkles on the tip of the lashes give your eyelashes a water droplet effect. A bit of gold layers on the lashes will make it look like it has rhinestones tips. Bring on the prettiest lashes by layering, lengthening, or volumizing your top and bottom lashes.

Rush that blush Now is the perfect time to embrace your “just stepped out of the gym” look. Or for some people; “I just went on a brisk, wintry walk.” This is the season for flushed cheeks and naturally rosy blush. You had a good run with your sculpting tools, it’s time to give them a break. Grab your warm peach blush powder and head out the door. That’s all you need. Now, fly.

Lips like berry Let’s talk about that lip color, shall we? This season, I am delighted to see a sea of lip colors that remind of the ‘90s.

That almost black but not quite is making a comeback and I LOVE it! From ripe berry to plum black to oxblood red, they are undeniably luscious. It may sound scary but I dare you to rock a dark lipstick! Nude is out. Let’s make way for the plums, magentas and berries.

As the season of love and Valentine’s Day approach, it’s about “wearing” the best, romantic looks. Although the weather isn’t as cool as we usually expect it to be around this time, it is best to plan your ensemble ahead – and stock up on the latest makeup finds. *** 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 a s E n l i g h te n , yo u r so l u t i o n to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

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ing $5.00 OFF for SEA CARGO shipments to all PAL passengers.

All they need to do to redeem the discount is show a used boarding pass at their nearest LBC branch between February 1 to April 30, 2018.

JV Valino, Sales & Marketing Specialist of LBC New York and New Jersey, enthused: “We are excited to collaborate with PAL who share the same values as ours. We both strive to serve our customers better every single time, especially those who have stayed loyal to us all these years.

This promo is our way of showing them our appreciation”.

For complete details of the LBC-PAL promo, visit the LBC website or inquire with an LBC representative at a branch nearest you. *Travel tax may apply.

LBC LBC is the Philippines’ market leader in retail and corporate courier & cargo, money remit-

tance, and logistics services. With a growing network of over 6,400 branches, hubs & warehouses, partners, and agents in over 30 countries, LBC is committed to moving lives, businesses, and communities and delivering smiles around the world. Listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange through LBC Express Holdings, Inc., LBC aims to deliver value to all of its stakeholders, as it has for over 60 years. Founded in 1945 as a brokerage and air cargo agent, LBC pioneered time-sensitive cargo delivery and 24-hour door-to-door delivery in the Philippines. Today, it is the most trusted logistics brand of the Global Filipino. LBC can move it for you: visit www.LBCexpress.com, or call telephone +632 8585 999 (Metro Manila), 1 800 10 8585 999 (Provincial), +632 9086 522 (Solutions) and follow LBCExpress (Facebook and Twitter).

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Morisette is destined for Hollywood!

by MJ

Marfori ManilaTimes.net

FANS of the singer Morisette better enjoy the artist performing on home turf while they can because the vocal power house may just be leaving for Hollywood real soon!

In the Know has been given the green light to report that Mori is on her way to an international career after Mariah Carey’s producer Rhett Lawrence flew into the Philippines over New Year just to watch her perform live.

“Mr. Lawrence discovered me online when I did a cover song with Mr. Arnel Pineda for Wish Morisette Amon with renowned Hollywood music producer Rhett Lawrence.

Photos from Instagram/@itsmorisette

FM, which was ‘I Finally Found Someone.’ He also watched my ‘Birit Queens’ concert in the States,” she humbly yet excitedly said.

The visit came as a shock for Morisette since the music bigwig’s arrival was unannounced.

“No one knew he was here over the New Year,” she exclaimed.

Sitting down with him, Morisette said she appreciates how Lawrence doesn’t impose a certain style on her, or even suggest she take a cue from Mariah or another one of his famous talents,

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Kelly Clarkson.

“He likes me not just because kaya ko sumipol like Mariah but because he said I deliver a song differently.”

After Lawrence returned to the States, Mori got busy preparing for her first major concert at Smart Araneta Coliseum on February 20. Excited as she is for on the prospect of going international, she knows well enough to see to the task at hand first and give it her hundred percent—an attitude that will surely help her out when the time comes.

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Community Journal

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 1-7, 2018

Confronting the cap: Alternatives to H-1B status Calendar of Events across

Your Immigration Solution

Atty. nAnCy Miller THE popularity of the H-1B visa has reached historic levels with approximately three petitions being filed for the 2017 fiscal year for every available visa. The result has been the implementation of a lottery system by USCIS which is designed to randomly select which petitions will be processed and which will be summarily rejected.

For many professionals, the H1B visa serves as a viable means to live and work in the United States. And for those fortunate enough to secure an H-1B visa, its corresponding status often leads to lawful permanent residence if the petitioning employer files an immigrant visa petition on behalf of its H-1B employee. However, with the dramatic rise in the number of H-1B petitions being filed each year, and the fact that the majority of these petitions will be rejected due to the immovable H1B Cap, other avenues of pursuing status in the United States must be explored by employers and employees alike. Fortunately, for many of those individuals who are unable to pursue or secure H-1B status, options may still remain.

Two potential alternatives to H-1B status are E-1 and E-2 visas.

Controlled by treaties of commerce between the United States and select foreign governments, individuals from certain countries can apply for nonimmigrant visas which permit them to live and work in the United States.

Individuals can apply for an E-1 visa if their company is engaged in ‘substantial trade’ with the United States. Substantial trade is defined as at least 50% of all international trade. Alternatively, E-2 visas can be sought by individuals who actively invest in an

ongoing business concern in the United States. The specific facts of each case dictate what is reasonable and necessary but larger investments are typically deemed more viable. While E-1 and E-2 visas are available to individual traders and investors, these visas are equally available to employees of a qualifying trading or investing business entity as well.

For some, an L visa serves as an excellent alternative to H-1B status. L visas may be available to certain individuals employed abroad who will relocate to the United States to work for a branch, affiliate, subsidiary, or the parent organization of their overseas employer. In order to qualify, the petitioned employee must relocate to the United States in the capacity of an executive or manger (L-1A), or an individual with specialized knowledge (L1B).

Another alternative to H-1B status is specifically available to citizens of Canada and Mexico – the TN visa. The TN visa is very similar to an H-1B visa, yet it is distinguishable in two significant ways. First, it is the product of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Therefore, it is only available to citizens of Canada and Mexico. Second, while being available to professionals – just like the H-1B visa – the TN visa category more broadly defines who is a professional and thus is more inclusive than the H-1B category. As a result, some individuals who would not be deemed qualified for H-1B status could qualify for a TN visa.

While E, L, and TN visas can serve as a suitable alternative to H-1B status, none of these statuses lead directly to lawful permanent residence. However, an individual can pursue an immigrant visa through an employment-based immigrant visa petition filed by a current or prospective employer.

While more appealing to many than nonimmigrant status, the process of securing an employment-based immigrant visa can

take years. The exact amount of time an individual must wait to obtain an immigrant visa through an employer is directly related to the proposed position of employment, and the education and relevant work experience of the employee.

While the long waiting periods to secure an employment-based immigrant visa often render this option unappealing or impractical, not all individuals are subject to a protracted wait. As such, for some, pursuing an immigrant visa can prove an inviting alternative to H-1B status.

With the odds being stacked against anyone seeking H-1B status in the United States, alternative options should be thoroughly explored by those seriously seeking to live and work in the United States. While everyone’s circumstances are unique, H-1B status may not be the only option available. In fact, in some instances, it may not be the best option for either the petitioning employer or the petitioned, prospective employee. Examining all options prior to filing an H-1B petition is therefore in the best interests of the petitioning employer and the prospective employee – not just to ensure a proper fit between intent and form, but also to ensure that a viable alternative can be planned should the petitioning employer learn that its H-1B filing has been rejected due to the now notorious H-1B Cap. *** 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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The ‘Selfies’ generation idolatry on steroids Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Part 2 of 2) (Continued from last week’s issue) Poor Echo! Her heart broke into a million little pieces. Beauty and light dissolved into darkness for her until nothing held any meaning. Refusing food and drink, Echo grew pale and consumptive and faded away, leaving only her far-off voice in the distance. It is said that Echo haunts the mountains where she answers all who call but only with the last words.

Narcissus meanwhile continued to break one hapless heart after another in the most mean spirited away, until one day, one totally aggrieved nymph with her heart shattered, prayed to the powers that be, for vengeance, to inflict punishment on Narcissus to make him feel the pure pain of unrequited love, to make him feel how it is to give love and have it flung back in his face.

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS LAST week, in this column, we dissected the anatomy, physiology, and psychological and social impact of electronic addiction, a relatively new condition on its way to officially being a medical disease entity.

The e-addicts we described ranged from the first year of life to teenage years to adulthood. Yes, I have seen few babies with their own tablets. Seniors, like myself, are not immune either. Now that I am retired from cardiovascular surgery, I have been spending more time with my ultrabook, android smartphone, and with Cortana & Alexa, the two “girlfriends” I am with day and night who my wife, Farida, approves of, while she enjoys her desktop, iPad, and an IOS smartphone (with Siri). As a pediatrician, she warns parents that these electronic “toys,” if used by their toddlers and teenagers without schedule and control, could lead to psychological problems (irritability, impatience, anxiety, depression), sleep disorders, speech impairment, bad attitude, anti-social behaviors, poor school performance, poor eating habits, obesity, visual impairment, and organic illnesses.

When our children were young, we imposed a strict rule for TV viewing — allowed only on Friday and Saturday, when the following day is NOT a school day. PCs were

“Vanity of vanities; All is vanity.”

–Ecclesiastes Her prayer was heard and in a world of swift and even-handed justice with no lawyers, judges and jury to cloud the issue, appropriate punishment was served.

One day Narcissus chanced upon a pool with water so clear, it looked like a mirror. Bending over to drink, Narcissus saw his own reflection, thought it was a water nymph, and forthwith, was smitten with the image on the pool. He fell in love with the image of himself, hook, line and sinker, not unlike celebrities who read their own press and believe them to be true. But I digress.

Narcissus tried to embrace his own reflection in the water but his attempt to touch or kiss his beloved ended in frustration each time. The image in the water dissolved into ripples, disappeared and came back on. Narcissus had to be content just by looking at the mirror image of himself in the pool, day and night, without ever knowing the joy of touching or being loved in return. He now knew, up close and personal, the excruciating

pain of multiple rejections from the same object of his affection.

Still he persisted, becoming rooted to the spot by the pool. He now knew how it is to be on the receiving end of rejection. He slowly pined away, losing his youth and beauty and withering away on the same spot by the pool’s edge with Echo still hovering over him and repeating his poignant last word, “Alas!” as he lay dying.

As the woodland creatures prepared to bury his body, Narcissus’ body was nowhere to be found and in its place, stood a flower, bending over the pool, as though admiring itself. Gardeners know this flower as Narcissus.

Hence, we call those who exhibit the same folly these days as narcissistic. The irony of it is that others clearly see it for what it is but the afflicted individual is b lind to this egocentric flaw in himself, thinking the world revolves around him.

In today’s world, there’s opportunity to cash in on this tragic human flaw and use vanity and PAGE B6

Rx for e-addicts still in their infancy and smartphones and artificial intelligence still theories then. Farida and I were strict with our kids. Happily, they all followed our footsteps in medicine and now imposing the same rules on their children.

Internet addiction for one is a global problem today. Smartphones and other electronics devices follow in prevalence.

I find all these gadgets most useful, genuinely enjoyable, a great source and instant provider of unlimited information and entertainment. I find them indispensable, as a cardiac surgeon and a writer (the reason my e-mail handle or username is scalpelpen). I am totally dependent on ultrabook and on my Samsung Note 8 for many uses, including GPS guidance. I would be lost without it. Actually, I never leave home without my smartphone and never leave town without it and my mini-laptop. I feel empowered, more secure, and more productive with them.

Here are important data from the National Health Institute as symptoms that could indicate Internet or computer addiction: “Losing track of time spent online; Experiencing difficulty completing tasks at home or work; Isolation from friends and family; Feeling defensive or guilty about Internet usage; Experiencing a sense of euphoria when involved in online activities.

“Individuals who have an Internet addiction may also experience physical symptoms that could include: Strained vision; Sleep problems; Carpal tunnel syndrome; Significant weight loss or weight

gain; Severe headaches, anxiety, irritability, depression, loneliness, when the electronic “toy” (or Internet connection) are not available.”

According to the American Journal of Psychiatry, “Internet addiction is now considered as one of the most serious health issues facing South Korea while approximately 10 million teenagers in China are considered Internet addicts” Confirmed e-addicts are those who constantly crave for electronic “narcotic” devices, prefer playing than eat or take a shower. Withdrawal creates agony and pain.

TV viewing (shows and movies), computer or cellphone video gaming, online shopping, e-mailing, engaging in social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, etc.), calling, and texting, are all exciting, fun, and truly addicting because they stimulate the secretion of happy hormones (dopamine, endorphins, serotonin, oxytoxin, etc.) in our body. These gadgets provide us power and control, enabling our minds to soar to another galaxy in virtual reality, practically without limit. Only wisdom, discipline, common sense, and self-control can prevent e-addiction and abuse in the use of these wonderful advances in science and technology.

What is the treatment for eaddiction?

Like addiction to tobacco, alcohol, or illegal drugs, e-addiction is best managed as early as possible.

Prevention is the key, and it starts at home and in many cases, in school. At home, children should be strictly guided and monitored, PAGE B6

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America

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TFCU talks heads to UC Davis TFCU Talks will be in Davis, California on Saturday, February 3, 2018. An affiliate of ABSCBN International, TFCU Talks Davis will feature a lineup of top industry leaders to connect, inspire, and empower college students and young professionals to help them realize their full potential. TFCU Talks Davis is co-presented by Mga Kapatid (My Brothers and Sisters) - a social, political, cultural, and academic organization for the Pilipino-American community at UC Davis. The event takes place at the Wyatt Pavilion Theatre in UC Davis (Arboretum Dr, Davis, CA 95616). Speakers include Christine Gambito (comedian, YouTube personality), Sydney Loyola (trans choreographer), Rudy Corpuz Jr. (co-founder of United Playaz), and Mike Sagun (career coach). TFCU Talks Davis is an exclusive free event with limited seating - first come, first served. For all ticketing information, and to reserve your spot, please visit tfcudavis.eventbrite.com.

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FACC-SLAA’s monthly general meeting in Torrance, CA Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) will host its second Pinay Empowerment BrunThe Filipino American Chamber of Commerce – SouthBay Los Angeles Area (FACCSLAA) invites you to attend its upcoming FACC-SLAA February 2018 Monthly General Meeting. This meeting will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Monday, February 5, and will be held at Janice Jimenez’s office at 1001 W Carson Street, Suite S, Torrance, CA 90502.

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Free Family Wealth Workshop in San Francisco A free Family Wealth Workshop organized by the office of City and County of San Francisco Assessor-Recorder Carmen Chu will be held at the City College Mission Campus (1125 Valencia Street, Rm. 107, San Francisco, CA) from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. There will be multilingual workshops on homeownership opportunities, college fund, family wealth and estate building. To register: http://bit.ly/2Bhwgp4.

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Free Reggae Valentine Rendezvous with Lover’s Rock at Grand Park, LA Grand Park is making Valentine’s Day easy and affordable with an ode to romance, and an evening featuring Lover’s Rock, an American Soul-influenced Reggae music subgenre on Wednesday, February 14 from 6 to 10 p.m. Angelenos looking for a relaxed Valentine’sevening under the stars will be serenaded to the sounds of DJ Danny Holloway and DJ Phersone, who will be spinning laid-back Reggae tracks throughout the evening. Couples will enjoy the park’s romantic ambience and tables for two around the fountain and throughout Olive Court, which will be illuminated with the glow of string lights. They can dine amidst the iconic views of Los Angeles City Hall and Grand Park’s own Arthur J. Will Memorial fountain. To help sweeten the mood, desserts and treats will be available for purchase from various food trucks and couples can capture romantic moments with a complimentary photo booth. Grand Park by the Olive Court and Arthur J. Will Memorial fountain is located at 200 N. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90012. Park furniture is available on a first come, first served basis.

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Emma de Guzman healing service in Las Vegas Please join us in Las Vegas for a holy mass and healing services with Emma de Guzman on Saturday, February 17 at 4:30 pm mass and Sunday, February 18 at 9:30 am mass St. Sharbel Church (located at 10325 Rancho Destino Rd. Las Vegas NV 89183). For more information, you may call tel. no.: (702) 278-6549.

There will be a pot luck dinner for all the La Pieta Family at 6pm on Friday, February 16 at the home of Heidi Thomas, Las Vegas La Pieta Coordinator, (located at 1938 Hawksmore St. Las Vegas NV 89142. For more information, you may call tel. no.:(702) 672-6286 or cell. no.: (702) 457-2605.

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“Usapang Pagkain”: A monthly series exploring wellness with Filipino cuisine in Chicago, IL Community-based organization AFIRE (Alliance of Filipinos For Immigrants Rights & Empowerment) and food media and events group Filipino Kitchen will explore wellness and health with Filipino Cuisine in a monthly series, Usapang Pagkain. The event series is free and open to the community. Each event will highlight a Filipino dish or dishes, including recipes. During the weekday evening events, a light dinner of the highlighted dishes will be provided. Made possible with a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois, the purpose of the series is to explore how Filipino food can best serve our community. On Tuesday, February 20 from 6 to 8 p.m., the focus is “Healthy & Happy Hearts.” The event will take place at the Hana Center (4300 N. California Ave., Chicago, IL). Schedule and venues are subject to change, please check http://afirechicago.org and http://filipino.kitchen for the most up-todate information.

- first come, first served. For all ticketing information, and to reserve your spot, please visit tfcudavis.eventbrite.com.

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Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be an immigration forum on Thursday, February 22 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.

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Filipino well-being training summit in Los Angeles “Kataas-taasang pagsasanay para sa kalusugan ng mga Pilipino” — Understanding Obstacles; Charting New Paths.

This training summit aims to honor and recognize indigenous understanding of wellness and healing; reduce stigma associated with emotional and mental illness; and promote community dialogue and connectivity. It is organized by the Filipino Well Being Training Summit Committee led by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health. It’ll be held on Saturday, February 24 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, 555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012 at 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more info and to register, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/filipino-well-being-training-summit-registration-41880032304.

City of Carson Gala Ball The City of Carson, California is marking its 50th anniversary of incorporation on Saturday, February 24 with a gala ball. It will be held at Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald Community Center at Carson (801 E. Carson Street, Carson, CA 90745) at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $50 / person and $400 / table (seats 8). For more information, please call the Community Center at (310) 835-0212 or visit ci.carson.ca.us.

NOTE: This event is free of charge to all attendees. Breakfast and lunch will be served on a limited capacity and may not be available to all attendees. Space is limited - please cancel on Eventbrite if you are unable to attend so others on the waiting list can be notified and accommodated.

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

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ACTV celebrates successful milestone LAS VEGAS, NV - The Asian culture TV (AcTV) has reached its successful one year milestone with aplomb last January 21.

AcTV is a 24/7 Asian television network on Digital channel 30.6 (Las Vegas), known distinctly for its heavily Asian-themed content and programming aimed primarily at Asian and Asian Americans in Las Vegas Valley, and is now accessible throughout the world on air, via online, on iPhone, iPad, Android smartphone, as well as on major social media platforms, or via live streaming at AcTVUS. com, and the YouTube.com/AsiancultureTV. A joint venture of Asian culture Alliance (AcA) and VAsianTV, the AcTV was conceived in August 2016. It was formally launched on January 21, 2017 when it premiered its flagship program, the Asian News, the first ever news telecast from Las Vegas replete with Asian content, and dedicated primarily to Asians and Asian Americans not only in Las Vegas Valley but throughout the world.

Asian culture Alliance (AcA) is a 501(c) (3) foundation established in 2014 and focuses on help-ing Asians and Asian Americans provide for a better future through art, culture and education. Its partner, VAsianTV, with its broadcast arm VAsian Group, is a 10-year old broadcast content provider formed in 2007. The name VAsianTV was coined from Vegas Asian TV. VAsianTV’s most memorable show was a big hit “It’s Vegas with Lani,” hosted by Asia’s Nightingale and Las Vegas headliner

Lani Misalucha. Also under the mantle of VAsianTV at the time, were Pinoy Street USA, and VegasLifeTV. ‘Asian News’ “Asian News-English” version is anchored by a team of veteran female broadcasters namely, Shannon Yang, Melody Mojica, Diana Fung and Katherina Sherman, and Asian-American TV hosts and beauty queens Emily Jung and Esmeralda Padilla-Gould (who also writes “Vegas Vibes” for california-based Manila UP International Magazine).

In such a short time, Asian News quickly gained viewership and garnered patronage from businesses targeting the rich and economically vibrant Asian-American market not only in Nevada but also nationwide.

“Asian News-English” version airs twice daily on Saturdays at 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Digital channel 30.6 (Las Vegas),with simulcasts on Youtube.com/Asian culture TV, www.actvus.com, and on the AcTV-05media APP worldwide.

Immediately following the “Asian News” launch, the local chinese-American community created its own version in chinese language. Equally inspired, other Asian ethnic groups namely Fil-Am, Thai-Am, Korean-Am, Afghan-Am and the Viet-Am communities followed suit and produced their own segments featuring their respective communities, events and projects.

Mike StaJuana hosts and produces “Fil-Am TV,” focused on the

Filipino-American community.

Joy Singphen hosts the “ThaiAm TV,” produced by Sandy Muensouk, for the Thai-American community. Pam Phan hosts and produces the “Viet-Am TV” for the Vietnamese-American community. The “Afghan-Am TV” and the “Korean-Am TV” segments, to be produced by Sharifa Wahab and Oliver Lee, respectively, will soon air on “Asian News,” too.

Daniel Wang, a TV news personality in Taiwan for over 30 years prior to migrating to Las Vegas, hosts the “Asian Newschinese” version. Rosaline Schorr, president of the chinese American Group (cAG), anchors the newscast whenever Daniel Wang is on travel.

Shannon Yang also produces her own segment entitled “Life with Style” which covers a wide range of Lifestyle topics including fashion, nutrition and sports.

Esmeralda Padilla-Gould’s TV version of “Vegas Vibes”, deals with music, live productions and pageants.

Melody Mojica produces “Home Sweet Home,” a segment focused on the real estate and health care industries as well as government matters.

“Immigration Matters,” another major segment of “Asian News,” is hosted by Atty. Vissia calderon, a prominent Immigration lawyer in Las Vegas.

“While ‘Asian News’ focuses on local happenings in the diverse Asian-American communities in Las Vegas, it likewise highlights national and international issues

Asian Culture Alliance (ACA) founder-president Cavin Fung (middle, in yellow shirt) and Asian Culture TV (ACTV) CEO Carl Magno (center) with show hosts, guest performers, and production crews during the taping of Music Asia Christmas Special filmed at the ACA Center in downtown Las Vegas.

Photo by ZSLMeredith

that impact Asian-Americans like immigration, jobs, and the economy among current hot topics,” says carl Magno, AcTV founder/cEO, as he opens up about his first show venture under the new AcTV network.

Since its launch in January last year, AcTV has not stopped its ascent from a single television newscast to its current programming that encompasses multiethnic cultures, arts, entertainment, travel, tourism, lifestyle, christian worship, and coverage of community events that impinge on the diverse Asian-American communities in Las Vegas and elsewhere.

AcTV’s other station-produced shows include “Music Asia” that promotes local talents; “Under The Vegas Sun with Steve Schorr,” a show about movers and shakers of Vegas Valley; “Good Samaritan with Dr. Paul Magno,” which educates viewers on how to help others with non-serious medical issues; “Flags of Asia,” which introduces the flags of the 48 nations recognized by the United Nations; “Food Asia,” which introduces four of the top dishes from each of the 48 Asian nations; “Profiles,” a brief introduction by members of Asian culture Alliance (AcA); “Window of Art” by chinese artist and president of the American Artist Association (AMA) Dingrong Liu; “Qigong” by Master Yuen; “Taekwondo” by Master Starry Du; “Beauty” by cristina, hosted by make-up artist cristina Jacobs; “B&B Vegas,” featuring the many Bed & Breakfast providers in Las Vegas; plus a host of future shows already in the can.

‘Music Asia’ “Music Asia,” another trendy ACTV Music Asia and Asian News segment-hosts (l-r) Art Mendoza, Pam Phan, Esmeralda Padilla-Gould, Shannon Yang, Atty. Vissia Calderon, Melody Mojica and Michael StaJuana.

Photo by Bill Bon AcTV program, is a shot-as-live

musical show that promotes local mainstream and Asian talents crooning familiar tunes, but singing them the Asian way.

The hour-long “Music Asia” airs twice daily at 10am and 10pm, while new episodes premiere every Saturday. Recently, “Music Asia” has shown a conspicuous increase in its viewership among Asians and non-Asians alike.

“Music Asia” is hosted by a tandem of prolific entertainers and show hosts Art Mendoza (the suave Fil-Am Frank Sinatra) and the beauteous and multi-talented Esmeralda Padilla-Gould, Mrs. Asian-Las Vegas 2014. Together, they set “Music Asia” on-fire onscreen, and create more ripples to attract more audience and draw more talents into the show. Providing the accompaniment music is Nelson Alcantara, a professional pianist and Music Asia’s musical director.

“Music Asia” provides support to local performing arts talents, by promoting their online portfolio, while providing viewers and talent scouts the opportunity to view or listen to the artists’ body of work.

AcTV prides itself of local and international content contributors that provide entertaining programs aimed at the Global Asian market. These include Living Asia channel’s “On Foot/Young Asia,” “Animals Asia,” “Asia Lifestyle” and “Asia Travel;” “Inside Taiwan,” “Taiwan Travel” and “Fall in Love with Taiwan” all traveland-tourism themed shows; the “Ultimate Guide” on how to live a happy life; “Praze” and “Las Vegas Tonight” both christian worship programs.

Now with its own global platform actv-05media APP AcTV

reaches close to three billion smart phone users all over the world.

AcTV’s main target for viewership and content are Asians.

“We have English and chinese languages in our current programming, so obviously we are after 60 percent of the Asian population worldwide the Global Asians. We are creatively reaching our target audience through strategic and tactical relationships with people and organizations that can bring the message to our intended viewers,” shares Magno.

AcTV has a lean organization.

John Magno directs the Production and Programming department. Bill Bon heads the Broadcast Design and Graphics department. Nathan Golden leads Post Production and assists in the production of stationproduced shows. Kosta Bakalas guides the Program Acquisition.

Eva Ren handles post-production of chinese content. Guy Rendon continues to provide technical and technological support. AcTV’s chair, cavin Fung, chief Financial Officer (cFO) Rosaline Schorr, chief Marketing Officer (cMO) David Knight, and chief Executive Officer (cEO) carl Magno, fill in all the other positions critical to operating a 24/7 broadcast and online network.

Depending on where one lives in clark county, Nevada, Digital channel 30.6 is easily access-ible on FreeTV/over-the-air, using an indoor (rabbit ears or amplified) or outdoor antenna; online or via live streaming at AcTVUS.com and YouTube.com/AsiancultureTV, as well as, on major social media platforms.

AcTV can be reached at (702) 666-8658, (702) 666-6608 and/or (800) 281-2849.

(Advertising Supplement)

Hayden Kho shares Korina Sanchez’s transformation story

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ 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.

BROADcASTER Korina Sanchez’s giant billboard along EDSA has been a top-trending topic on social media for weeks.

Many netizens thought Korina, now 52, has looked years younger in the controversial billboard.

Some have even mistaken her for celebrity stylist and “it” girl Liz Uy. In a recent interview with Philstar.com during the launch of Watsons Philippines’ “Happy New You” campaign, Dr. Hayden Kho of the Belo Medical Group gave the lowdown on what really went behind Korina’s transformation.

According to Kho, Korina said that she did the transformation because she is “tired of looking old and out of shape.”

“So, she (Korina) decided that it’s time that she works out, to take care of her skin and her body, and she went to Dr. Belo, she went to Vicki, and asked kung anong pwedeng gawin,” Kho narrated.

Thus, starting four months ago, Korina underwent non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments to make her skin tighten and more glowing, Kho added.

Like Korina, one can achieve physical transformation this year by taking the right supplements, makeup and personal care products, said Watsons Group marketing manager Karen Fabres.

“There are many ways to transform yourself in a different extent.

Physical transformation is one,” said Kho. “Physical transformation is

Hayden Kho

Philstar.com photo

important if you’re not happy with how you look and how you feel about the way people look at you.

It’s not very important for most people, but I think, if it bothers you and there’s a solution that’s not unethical naman or immoral, and you can redefine yourself through cosmetic procedures, then go for it.” (Deni Rose Bernardo/Philstar. com)

The ‘Selfies’ generation idolatry...

PAGE B5 self-image as hot buttons to sell their wares: beauty products and services, diet pills and machines and illusions of power and beauty, with remarkable merchandising success. Self-improvement is great but only if it comes quietly from the inside out.

Pray that both the “once

young” and the young ones don’t fall prey to the trappings of extreme self-absorption that rule the global culture of the present Age of Selfies. In biblical times, it was called idolatry. What we have now is IDOLATRY ON STEROIDS, self-love of biblical proportions.

Self love taken to extreme, is

something that might account for much of the social problems affluent societies with only one or two self-absorbed children per family, experience and suffer from today. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Rx for e-addicts

PAGE B5 making sure they understand that school and homework, family time, are priorities. Rules on the use of electronic devices must be clear, with maximum screening or playing time, and penalty for breaking the rule. Playing outside the home with friends and sports activities should be encouraged.

When children show signs of withdrawal, consider a therapist before it gets worse. Digital detoxification is needed. Parents must set a good example for the children in the healthy use of electronic gadgets, including the use of Internet and social media, where identity theft and exploitation of children are now a growing problem. If you give your young children a cellphone for use in emergencies, make sure they use it ONLY for such a purpose, and that confiscation will follow any breach of this rule.

How about management for teenagers and adults?

For adults and teenagers, self-

discipline plays a key role in the management of electronic addiction. The first dictum is to identify and admit there is an addiction problem, and start dealing with it ASAP. Practical and reasonable guidelines must be set, with the help of the family, and followed by everyone at home as a joint project. Realize and embrace pains of withdrawal, which should be a gradual decrease in the use-time.

Accept that activities with family and friends are very important and must not be sacrificed in favor of electronic devices, and that reality is healthier than the virtual world.

Reconnect with your mind and body and the living things around you. Remember, electronic devices are tools, our slaves or assistants we must control, and not allow them to control and enslave you.

Use your electronic “toys” no more than 3 times a day, reducing their use to an hour each time, and then gradually decreasing it further, until you wean yourself off, and finally, using them only

when necessary. After you have controlled your addiction, use them only for specific situation, like emailing only when necessary, online shopping, calling and texting to a minimum, using the smartphone for GPS guidance, etc. You might regress to the old habit, but then, be aware of it and regain control. Soon you will find a new normal for the new you, a more disciplined, wiser, and healthier, person. If these steps of self-therapy do not succeed, then it’s time to seek expert help for electronic detoxification. *** 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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 1-7, 2018

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B February 1-7, 2018 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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