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Volume 25 - No. 6 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

february 23-march 1, 2018 Also published in LOS ANGELES, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY

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Palace on US intel report: Duterte is no autocrat

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhILIPPIne President Rodrigo Duterte “has no autocratic tendencies” and “adheres to the rule of law,” Malacañang affirmed as it slammed a United States intelligence report tagging the Filipino leader as a threat to democracy and human rights in Southeast Asia.

In a statement on Wednesday, February 21, Palace Spokesperson harry Roque dismissed the U.S. intelligence community’s 2018 Worldwide Threat Assessment as “myopic and speculative at best.”

“For one, President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is no autocrat nor

DATELINE

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque

Philstar.com photo

has autocratic tendencies. he as they would like everyone to adheres to the rule of law and believe,” Roque said. remains loyal to the Constitution.

The U.S. intelligence comAn autocracy is not prevalent, u PAGE A2

USA

FRoM The AJPReSS NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Fil-Am Cook County Circuit Court judge convicted of mortgage fraud Guilty verdict likely to end Circuit Court Judge Jessica Arong O’Brien’s career in law, hearing set for July 6

noT long after she broke barriers as the first Filipina-American judge in the Cook County Circuit Court, Jessica Arong o’Brien has been convicted in a $1.4 million mortgage fraud scheme. o’Brien, 50, sat stoically in the courtroom on Thursday, February 15, as the jury found her guilty of bank fraud and mail fraud which resulted in her pocketing $325,000 after she lied to lenders.

She reportedly lied about her income when applying for loans, one time failing to disclose $260,000 mortgage from her primary residence.

u PAGE A2

Quiboloy aide charged with cash smuggling An aide of Kingdom of Jesus Christ founder Apollo Quiboloy was charged before a United States District Court in hawaii for allegedly trying to smuggle to the Philippines more than $300,000 in cash.

A U.S. District Court accused Felina Salinas, a U.S. citizen, of attempted bulk cash smuggling after inspectors found $335,000 in her carry-on bag during a flight en route to the Philippines on February 13.

According to the complaint, Salinas only declared carrying $40,000 and P1,000. But when inspectors opened her carry-on bag, they reportedly found $335,000 and AUD $9,000 in cash hidden in socks inside a black bag. “none of that money was reported by Ms. Salinas to the CBPo (Customs and Border Protection office),” the complaint read. U.S. law requires individuals to declare the cash they’re taking out of the country if it’s over $10,000.

Salinas was released on a $25,000 bond. The preliminary hearing on her case is set on February 27.

According to media reports, Quiboloy, who

u PAGE A4

PAYING HIS RESPECTS. President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, February 22, personally condoled with the family of Joanna Demafelis, the overseas Filipino worker (OFW) who was killed in Kuwait. Duterte visited the wake of Demafelis in Barangay Feraris here where he extended financial and burial assistance to the family of the slain OFW. Demafelis died in Kuwait after suffering from extreme physical abuse allegedly committed by her employers.

Her corpse was found kept inside a freezer, an act the President has strongly condemned and deplored. With regard to the call for justice by the Demafelis family, the President said he would leave the matter to the Kuwaiti authorities for now. He, however, stressed that the ban on the deployment of OFWs to Kuwait will remain until the killers of Demafelis are arrested.

Malacañang photo by Richard Madelo

OFW deployment ban Duterte justifies ban from Palace complex may expand coverage Says media outlet ‘illegitimate’ agency

by Dana

SioSon

AJPress

PhILIPPIne President Rodrigo Duterte has raised the possibility of expanding the deployment ban on Filipino workers to other countries, saying he would not allow the abuse and maltreatment of them.

The president made the statement on Monday, February 19, as

he maintained that the Philippine government will not lift the deployment ban on Filipino workers in Kuwait.

“The ban will continue and it will extend to other countries. Mahirapan sila, well, humihingi na ako ng tawad sa inyo... Wala akong kaplano na ipadala kayo doon tapos babuyin kayo. hindi ko style ‘yan

u PAGE A2

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhILIPPIne President Rodrigo Duterte has defended his order to ban Rappler reporters from entering Malacañang, saying he was just “invoking executive action” based on a Securities and exchange Commission (SeC) ruling.

In an interview with reporters on Thursday, February 22, Duterte noted the SeC has ruled that the media outfit was “not a legitimate agency.”

The president said he will only lift the ban on Rappler if SeC decision to re-

voke its registration is overturned.

“Because it is not a legitimate agency according to SeC, so I am now invoking executive action based on the SeC ruling, na kung sabihin na sila, legitimate sila, pasok kayo uli, walang problema sa akin ‘yan (if they say they are now legitimate, they can come again, no problem with me),” he explained. he added, “But unless hindi ka legitimate, hindi naman Pilipino pala ang may-ari. eh bawal ‘yan eh (But unless they are not legitimate, since it is not Pilipino-owned, that is illegal).”

u PAGE A2

‘Senate won’t approve divorce bill’

by JefferSon

antiporDa ManilaTimes.net

The Senate is not likely to back a bill allowing divorce, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III said on Thursday, February 22, a day after a house committee cleared the measure for floor debates.

The chances of its passage are slim, Sotto said, noting that no one had even bothered to file a counterpart measure in the Senate.

“An amendment to the grounds for annulment (of an existing marriage) might stand a better chance of passage,” Sotto Senator Joel Villanueva (3rd from left), chair of the Senate Committee on Labor, Employment and said.

Human Resources Development, expresses his frustration over the deaths of 185 overseas Filipino Sen. Francis escudero echoed Sotto’s Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III workers (OFWs) in Kuwait during a Senate inquiry on Wednesday, February 21.

Senate photo by Albert Calvelo

u PAGE A4

Inquirer.net photo

Metro Manila traffic costs P3.5-B daily

by AJPress The worsening traffic in Metro Manila results to a daily loss of P3.5 billion, according to estimates by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

JICA on Thursday, February 22, reported that the daily traffic cost in Metro Manila has worsened from the previous P2.4 billion in 2012, and is likely to surge at P5.4 billion in 2035.

“Metro Manila’s population in 2015 is almost 13 million people; Bulacan, Rizal, Laguna and Cavite [combined], almost 11 million. So Mega Manila [in 2015], 24 million people,” JICA chief representative to the Philippines Susumi Ito explained. he went on to say, “But in 2025, Metro Manila’s [population would be]

16 million, and Mega manila including Bulacan, Laguna, Rizal and Cavite [would be] 38 million. So Mega Manila will be larger. It will be one of the largest cities in the world.”

Ito, however, remarked that the figures on the daily cost of traffic congestion will be “drastically reduced” with the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) infrastructure program.

Under the program, the Philippine government is rolling out P8 trillionworth of road networks and other infrastructures to enhance the mobility in different parts of the country.

“As you can see, the traffic cost is EDSA, a main thoroughfare that spans across cities in Metro Manila, as seen at night. The Duterte P3.5 billion a day in Metro Manila. If administration has set an P8.44-trillion infrastructure spending plan until 2022 to spur gross domestic we do nothing, it will become P5.4 bil- product growth to 7-8 percent starting this year from a targeted 6.5-7.5 percent in 2017.

u PAGE A2

Philstar.com photo

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Duterte justifies ban from...

PAGE A1 Last month, the SEC revoked Rappler’s license to operate over the alleged violation of Constitutional restrictions on foreign ownership.

Rappler, however, maintained that it is 100 percent Filipino owned.

Duterte also claimed anew that Rappler has ties with the United States’ Central Intelligence

Agency (CIA), an allegation that the media outfit had rejected.

“That is the history of America, CIA, and ‘yung political dissenters, inaalagaan nila at eventually mamili ‘yan sila ng kandidato na mautusan nila kagaya nito ngayon (and the political dissenters, they are taking care of them and eventually pick a candidate they can order around just like what’s happening now),” the president

From the Front Page added.

He further alleged that Rappler “takes every chance to undermine” his administration.

Last Tuesday, February 20, Rappler reporter Pia Ranada was briefly denied entry at Malacañang but was later informed that she would only be allowed at the New Executive Building (NEB), Malacañang where the Press Working Area is located.

Rappler described the move as “another instance of power attempting to intimidate independent journalists.”

The following Wednesday, February 21, the ban on Rappler reporters was expanded to the entire complex.

In a statement, Reporters Without Borders (Reporters Sans Frontieres, RSF) condemned the order to prohibit Rappler from covering events at Malacañang.

RSF tagged the move as an “act of harassment” and a “serious violation of media freedom.”

“It is completely unacceptable for President Duterte to deny accredited journalists access to press conferences and events at the Malacañang palace,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.

He continued, “This decision, coming soon after the withdrawal of Rappler’s license, not only speaks to a desire to control journalists’ work but also confirms that the Philippine authorities want to crush an independent media outlet known for the quality of its investigative reporting.”

In RSF’s 2017 World Press Freedom Index, the Philippines ranked 127th most dangerous country for the media out of the 180 countries surveyed. n

DENGVAXIA HEARING. Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito talks to Public Attorneys Office (PAO) chief Persida Acosta after the Senate hearing on the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia held at the Senate Building in Pasay City on Wednesday, February 21. Behind them are parents of the alleged 22 victims of Dengvaxia, who carried pictures of their children. The children allegedly died after being immunized with the vaccine.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Palace on US intel report...

PAGE A1

munity recently released a report listing Duterte as among the Southeast Asian leaders who pose a threat to democracy and human rights, along with ruling Thai officials and Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Sen. “In the Philippines, President Duterte will continue to wage his signature campaign against drugs, corruption, and crime.

Duterte has suggested he could suspend the Constitution, declare a ‘revolutionary government,’ and impose nationwide martial law,” the report read.

It also cited a Freedom House report that tagged the Philippines as among countries “whose governments used social media to

spread government views, to drive agendas, and to counter criticism of the government online.”

But Roque maintained that autocracy does not exist under the Duterte administration, saying that the “media are still able to broadcast and print what they want – ’fake news’ included.”

“Our judiciary and the courts are functioning as usual. Our legislature remains independent and basic services are still being delivered,” he added.

The Palace official also insisted that “there is no revolutionary government or nationwide martial law, which U.S. intelligence officials are saying that the president might declare or impose.”

Defending the administration’s

OFW deployment ban may expand...

PAGE A1 (They will have a hard time. I am asking for your forgiveness. I will not allow… I have no plan to send you there where you will be maltreated. That’s not my style),” Duterte said.

The president, however, did not name any country where he is planning to impose the deployment ban.

Earlier this month, the Philippine government has enforced a complete ban on the deployment of Filipino workers to Kuwait

over reported abuses. The order came following the death of Filipina Joanna Demafelis was found inside a freezer while working in the country.

In his speech, Duterte stressed that “the Filipino is a slave of nobody.”

“The Filipino seeks to work abroad to earn a living so that he can help his family because the economy here, local, cannot absorb the entire workforce who would want to,” he added.

The president appealed to other nations to treat Filipino workers with dignity and respect.

“The only thing… that we ask is that you give us the dignity of a human being, you treat us humanely, be tolerant of our cultural differences and do not abuse our women because it will inflict a long and lasting wound. Maybe this generation cannot and will not forget it,” Duterte said.

He continued, “That is why, I’m addressing myself, not only to Kuwait but to the entire nations in the world to say that Filipinos are everywhere seeking livelihood, can I please plead to you? Please do not degrade them like animals, do not treat them as

use of social media, Roque pointed out that it is “foolhardy not to tap social media as a tool when the technology exists for free.”

“While it is true that the administration uses and maximizes social media to promote government messages and accomplishments, members of the political opposition and other cause-oriented groups use the same media platform to advance their agenda,” Roque said.

He continued, “I don’t know of any government in the free world which does not use the internet and social media to promote its agenda. This is very true especially in the case of the U.S. This latest intelligence assessment is a classic case in point.” n

a slave.”

Acknowledging that the ban would hurt OFWs, Duterte said he was prepared to accept the consequences, including backlash.

“Will it involve hardships?

Yes. Will it involve sacrifice? Yes. Would it mean anger? Yes. To me, yes. Tanggapin ko lahat,” he said. “I’m ready to admit everything but the ban stands. Umuwi lang kayo dito maski na papaano matulungan ko kayo maski sa pagkain (You should go home.

At least I can help you even with food).” n

Metro Manila traffic costs...

PAGE A1 lion a day in 2035. But with BBB, it will be reduced to P3 billion a day, with additional projects, it will be reduced to P2.4 billion a day,” Ito said.

In this regard, Ito said that the Japanese government is “fully supportive” of the Philippine government’s “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program.

This March, the Philippine and Japanese governments are set to sign a loan agreement for the Mega Manila Subway Project (MMSP) — the Philippines’ first subway and the soon-to-be longest mass railway transit.

The subway will run from Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City to FTI complex in Taguig City. With the new transportation, the trip from Quezon City to Taguig can be reduced to half an hour from two hours. It will also have an additional line extending towards Infographic by Philstar.com the Ninoy Aquino International “The conclusion that we have right direction. It’s a must do,” Airport (NAIA) terminals in Pais that ‘Build, Build, Build’ is a Ito said. n say City.

Fil-Am Cook County Circuit Court judge...

PAGE A1 After selling the properties to a co-worker named Maria Bartko by way of a straw buyer, O’Brien reportedly made two undisclosed payments to Bartko — the other defendant in this case — that totaled $73,000, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew Madden.

Her conviction effectively removes her from the bench, according to state law. She also may see serious prison time. A sentencing hearing has been set for July 6.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, during her time as a lawyer for the Illinois Department of Revenue, O’Brien lied about loan and refinancing applications for two investment properties that were purchased in 2004 and 2007, before she was elected to the Circuit Court.

Her attorney Ricardo Meza disregarded the claims, labeling them as “mistakes,” telling jurors, “Whatever Jessica did, it was always done in good faith.”

Before the jurors began their deliberations last week, Meza suggested the allegations were a conspiracy lodged by the government, adding that the claims were a “cockamamie concoction.” After the conviction, he, however, declined to comment.

After a federal grand jury indicted O’Brien in April 2017, O’Brien was removed from hearing cases and had been “reassigned to administrative duties” to another presiding judge’s office, which “is the strongest action” the court’s executive committee can take, according to Cook County Chief Judge Timothy C. Evans.

Further action would be handled by the Judicial Inquiry Board and the Illinois Courts Commission.

In a previous Asian Journal profile, O’Brien was born in Cebu, Philippines in 1968 and moved to the United States as a teenager.

She began studying law at John Marshall Law School in Chicago, graduating with a J.D./L.M.M. degree in 1998.

After she passed the bar exam, she served as a special assistant attorney general at the Illinois Department of Revenue, litigating cases involving corporate, partnership and individual income and sales taxation. It was then that the alleged fraud occurred.

After an unsuccessful campaign in 2010 to take over a vacancy in the Cook County Circuit Court, O’Brien again ran in 2012 and won, becoming the first Filipina-American judge to sit on the bench. She is married to Cook County Judge Brendan O’Brien.

She was also the first Asian woman elected president of the Women’s Bar Association of Illinois and co-founded a foundation that rewards diversity scholarships to law students.

O’Brien’s American Dream success story has earned her celebrity status within the legal and Filipino-American communities. As a Filipina immigrant, she has made efforts to give back to the FilipinoAmerican community and uplift the best and the brightest from diverse backgrounds.

“I am a big advocate for diversity. I think it’s important, but at the same time, I also believe that it has been based on qualifications.

I don’t believe in that,” O’Brien shared with the Asian Journal in 2016. “We as a group need to prepare the next generation. If it’s true that Asian Americans are going to bypass all other ethnic groups [by 2040], then what are we doing as a group to hold the power, to be influential? And we’ve got to be cohesive, and we’re just not.”

In addition to the racial and gender barriers she’s surpassed as a Filipina-American, O’Brien has garnered countless accolades including a “Call to Service” award from former President Barack Obama for more than 4,000 hours of volunteer service over 10 years.

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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UNICEF: Babies born in poorest US carrier resumes SCS operations countries still face ‘alarming’ risks by

from rural Malawi.

When her labor started, she and her sister made the long trek to a health center on foot.

When her baby was delivered, he was small and terribly weak.

She said that an overstretched staff did its best, but by night the child was gone.

“I felt like my heart was breaking,” James told UNICEF staff.

“I had a name for the child but he never opened his eyes.”

Since improvements to health care can be expensive, “it is crucial to invest the money in a smart way,” UNICEF’s global maternity and newborn program chief Willibald Zeck told AFP. That can mean something as simple as ensuring that a pregnant woman who has walked three days to a health care facility is received with “dignity,” so she remains long enough to receive proper postnatal care.

But the dearth of expensive equipment matters. Zeck, who worked as an obstetrician/gynecologist in Tanzania, said women were often unsure how pregnant they were, and he would have to use his hands to estimate whether a fetus was premature or seriously underweight.

Still, among countries that have made dramatic improvements is low-income Rwanda, which more than halved its rate from 1990 to 2016, illustrating that “political will to invest in strong health systems… is critical,” the report said.

Education matters, too. Babies born to mothers with no education face nearly twice the risk of early death as babies whose mothers have at least a secondary education.

The United States – generally affluent, but with considerable income inequality and wide variations in access to health care – was only the 41st safest country for newborns.

The countries with the lowest newborn mortality rates after Japan are mostly well-off countries with strong education and health care systems: Iceland (a one in 1,000 chance of death), Singapore (one in 909), Finland (one in 833), Estonia and Slovenia (both one in 769), Cyprus (one in 714) and Belarus, Luxembourg, and Norway and South Korea (all with risks of one in 667). (Inquirer.net with According to UNICEF, babies born in the world’s poorest countries face alarming risk of death that can be 50 times as high as those in the richest countries.

Inquirer.net photo reports from AFP) BABIES born in the world’s poorest countries, most of them in Africa, still face “alarming” risks of death that can be 50 times as high as those in the richest countries, according to a UNICEF report released on Tuesday, February 20.

While the last quarter-century has seen broad improvements in older children’s health, “we have not made similar progress in ending deaths among children less than one month old,” said UNICEF executive director Henrietta Fore.

“Given that the majority of these deaths are preventable, clearly we are failing the world’s poorest babies,” she added.

The differences are stark, according to the report, which noted that a baby born in Pakistan – the country with the worst newborn mortality rate – faced a one in 22 chance of death, while a newborn in Japan had only a one in 1,111 risk of dying.

Of the 10 highest-risk countries, eight are in sub-Saharan Africa – countries where “pregnant women are much less likely to receive assistance” due to poverty, conflict or weak institutions, the report said.

Those eight countries are the Central African Republic (a one in 24 chance of death); Somalia, Lesotho, Guinea-Bissau and South Sudan (all with a one in 26 chance); Cote d’Ivoire (one in 27); and Mali and Chad (both with a one in 28 chance).

Each year, some 2.6 million

babies do not survive through their first month.

Preventable deaths The report was released in conjunction with the launch of a global campaign called “Every Child Alive” aimed at ensuring “affordable, quality health care solutions for every mother and newborn.”

More than 80 percent of newborn deaths can be prevented, the report said, “with access to well-trained midwives, along with proven solutions like clean water, disinfectants, breastfeeding within the first hour, skin-to-skin contact and good nutrition.”

But shortages of properly trained health workers and midwives are a major problem in poorer nations, it pointed out.

The report said that while a rich country like Norway has 18 doctors, nurses and midwives for every 10,000 people, impoverished Somalia has only one.

The UNICEF said that every year, one million babies die the day they are born.

“We know we can save the vast majority of these babies with affordable, quality health care solutions,” Fore said.

Rwandan success story In general, babies born in richer countries fare far better, but there are differences within countries. Babies born to the poorest families are 40 percent more likely to die than those born to the least poor.

Sadly typical was the story of Mary James, an 18-year-old

JaiMe LauDe Philstar.com

A U.S. Navy carrier strike group led by USS Carl Vinson left Manila Bay on Monday, February 19, to resume freedom of navigation operations in the South China Sea. From Manila Bay, the Nimitzclass aircraft carrier would make a port call at former U.S. base Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam.

A former U.S. foe, Vietnam is openly contesting China’s rapid militarization of the region.

Beijing’s military buildup in the South China Sea has prompted other maritime states in the region to expand their presence in areas they claim as their own.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), of which many of the claimant countries are members, has not been united enough to stop Beijing’s expansionism.

More than four decades after

the Vietnam War, USS Carl Vinson is slated to drop anchor at Hanoi’s southern seaport of Cam Ranh either late this month or early next month, according to Reuters.

More than 5,500 sailors from Carl Vinson and guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy arrived on Friday to visit local attractions and participate in community service projects.

Crewmembers assisted residents of Quezon City by helping clear debris at a site for low-income housing.

“Community service projects like these help build relationships,” said Cmdr. Jamie Stall-Ryan, Carl Vinson’s lead chaplain.

“It shows that sailors are not just in town to have fun. We’re here to partner with the Philippine people and support them,” he said.

Sailors also helped pack 3,300 boxes of relief supplies that will help feed 16,000 residents from

Albay province displaced by the recent eruption of Mount Mayon.

“I feel like I’m involved in making the world a better place,” said Seaman Shemroy Kellman from Carl Vinson’s Deck department.

The strike group will continue operating in the Indo-Pacific region as part of a regularly scheduled deployment focused on working with partners and allies, promoting freedom of the seas and enhancing regional security, the US embassy said.

The strike group also includes Carrier Air Wing 2, USS Wayne E. Meyer and guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain.

The Carl Vinson is operating in the Indo-Pacific region conducting maritime operations, promoting freedom of navigation and working with partners and allies to enhance regional security and stability. It is based in San Diego, California. n

Filipino family in Colorado to get $330K in forced labor lawsuit DENVER, Colorado — A Filipino family in Southern Colorado should get $330,000 because a businessman and his wife forced the family to work for little or no pay for three years, a jury ruled on Wednesday, February 14.

The family had accused William and Leonida Sackett, operators of Sackett Farm Market, a farm and rental properties in Rocky Ford, of forcing them to work by holding them in debt bondage.

The jurors determined the Sacketts owe the Filipino family $330,000 for unpaid wages and damages.

Esmeraldo Echon Jr., his wife, Maribel, and their son, Justin, alleged in a 2014 lawsuit that the Sacketts threatened to have them deported if they didn’t

work, reported the Pueblo Chieftain. Esmeraldo Echon Jr. is the brother of Leonida Sackett.

The trial began Monday in U.S. District Court in Denver, apparently the first trial in Colorado of a civil case of human trafficking, under the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Attorneys of the nonprofit Migrant Farm Worker Division of Colorado Legal Services represented the Echons. The Sacketts acted as their own attorneys.

The Echons came to United States in 2011 after Leonida Sackett sponsored them for resident status.

Soon after her brother arrived Leonida allegedly told her him that “he owed her a large amount of money for the support she had given him in the Philip-

pines” and for (immigration) expenses,” court documents stated. Leonida allegedly told him to work off their debt with free labor.

The Sacketts denied the accusations, saying they supported the Echons with a five-bedroom house, “all utilities paid,” sent two Echon children to school and supported the parentsLe. They denied not providing the Echons food, saying that Maribel Echon gained 40 pounds since arriving in the U.S. The lawsuit stated the Echons sought legal help in 2014, stopped working for the Sacketts and were relocated by social service providers “so that they could safely escape from (the Sackett’s) control.” (Inquirer. net)

Arum explains why Pacquiao vs Matthysse fight won’t happen soon

by Dino

Maragay Philstar.com

TOP Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum recently took to social discussion website Reddit to interact with some boxing fans.

The veteran promoter was asked why Manny Pacquiao won’t be fighting WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse in his planned ring return this April.

The reason, Arum said, was simply the lack of communication between him and the Argentine fighter’s camp.

“Well, because nobody’s ever talked to Matthysse, about wheth-

er he’s ready,” said Arum.

Arum wants to keep everything in-house, instead preferring to pit Pacquiao against longtime contender Mike Alvarado, also a Top Rank-promoted fighter.

Matthysse, in contrast, fights under Golden Boy Promotions, Top Rank’s chief rival.

This comes even as Pacquiao has voiced out his preference to fight Matthysse, who knocked out Tewa Kiram last January to annex the vacant title.

“I think some writer asked if he’d [Pacquiao] want to fight [Matthysse], and he said yes,” continued Arum, who instead

plans to stage Pacquiao-Alvarado in the same card as the fight between Terence Crawford and recent Pacquiao conqueror Jeff Horn.

Matthysse, meanwhile, has repeatedly called out Pacquiao since defeating Kiram.

Arum, for his part, said Pacquiao and Matthysse could still cross paths sometime later.

“Would he [Pacquiao] fight Matthysse down the road? Why not?” added the promoter.

“But we were up against a deadline in April, so at that point not having talked to the opponent, it was a non-starter.” n

‘Senate won’t approve divorce...

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.

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

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

PAGE A1 sentiments, saying he was in favor of making the process of annulment under the Civil Code and the Family Code more affordable and accessible, instead of expanding the grounds for it through a new law that grants divorce.

The House Committee on Population and Family Relations on Wednesday approved the proposed “Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage Act,” paving the way for plenary debates.

The bill provides an extensive list of grounds for divorce, including marital infidelity.

Sen. Joel Villanueva is also in favor of simplifying annulment procedures to make it accessible to the poor.

“I am strongly against divorce,” said Villanueva, son of evangelical preacher Eduardo Villanueva.

Sen. Sherwin “Win” Gatchalian said he was open to the idea

of allowing divorce but said the law should not allow “express divorce,” wherein the marriage bond is broken for flimsy reasons such as a person’s appearance.

“What we need is a clear and reasonable process for the people to follow. I do believe that abuse and violence against a partner should be a ground for divorce,” he added.

Sen. Panfilo Lacson had said he was willing to see the salient features of the House bill. “My primary concern is the sanctity of marriage. Needless to say, I don’t want marriage and separation to be a ‘dime a dozen’ affair,” he added.

‘Lagman twisting the truth on divorce’ An official of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) took exception to a statement by one of the bill’s authors, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman, that the Catholic Church

could eventually support the bill because it contains provisions on the dissolution of marriage.

Canon Law, or the law of the Church, allows the dissolution of marriage through marriage tribunals, on limited grounds.

Divorce is different from dissolution of marriage, said Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP Permanent Committee on Public Affairs.

“The former is a declaration that marriage is null and void from the very start while the latter invalidates what is otherwise a valid marriage,” Secillano said.

“Lagman is twisting the truth on divorce.”

“Instead of formulating law that will strengthen it (marriage), uphold its beauty and sanctity, they’ve bastardized and destroyed it by introducing measures, such as divorce that hastens the disintegration of couples,” he added. n

Quiboloy aide charged with...

PAGE A1 was on board the private plane with Salinas, was detained briefly at the Honolulu airport over the incident but later took a commercial flight to the Philippines. The private plane was sequestered in Honolulu.

But Quiboloy’s spokesman, lawyer Israelito Torreon, clarified that the religious leader was not “detained” in Hawaii.

“I have to clarify everything.

Detention implies that he committed a crime and that he violated US law. He was not detained, he did not violate any U.S. law and as a matter of fact, he is back in the Philippines,” Torreon said.

Torreon also said that Quiboloy arrived in Manila at 6:30 p.m on February 15. This was confirmed by the Bureau of Immigration (BI).

BI spokesperson Ma. Antonette Mangrobang said Quiboloy arrived on board a Philippine Airlines flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. She, however, denied that BI person-

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy

nel “escorted” him out of the airport.

“Quiboloy underwent immigration arrival formalities. In light of the expected deluge of media upon his arrival, BI deemed it

Philstar.com photo

best to process his arrival in our office to avoid any commotion in the immigration area and affect other arriving passengers,” Mangrobang said. (Dana Sioson/AJPress)

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A

DOH to exhaust all legal remedies vs Sanofi

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA — The Department of Health on Thursday, February 22, vowed that it will exhaust all legal means against pharmaceutical firm Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of the controversial Dengvaxia.

In a statement, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said that he had ordered the agency’s legal department to ready a civil suit against Sanofi after declining to refund the used doses of Dengvaxia amounting to 1.6 billion and compensate the famiAERIAL DISPLAY. A fireworks show from the Philippine Platinum Team illuminates Manila Bay during the start of the International Pyromusical lies of the children who were afCompetition 2018 at the SM Mall of Asia on Saturday, February 17.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Robredo camp: PET resolution shows VP has no pending motion by audrey

Morallo

Philstar.com

MANILA — The camp of Vice President Leni Robredo on Thursday, February 22, said that a resolution from the Presidential Electoral Tribunal had proven that it did not have any pending motion before the body.

In a statement, Bernadette Sardillo, one of Robredo’s lawyers, said the PET resolution also demonstrated that the camp of former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos had in fact not filed a motion to withdraw all his pending pleadings before the tribunal.

“A reading of the Resolution shows that the PET has noted our filing of the motion to withdraw and the tribunal further noted that we do not have any pending motion before the court,” Sardillo said in a statement.

The camp of the son Bongbong Marcos earlier claimed that the vice president was delaying the resolution of his electoral case, in which the former senator accused

Robredo of fraud after she beat him by more than 260,000 votes.

Marcos dared the vice president to “withdraw all and any pending motions” before the PET, so the recount in three pilot provinces he identified could commence.

However, a two-page resolution from the PET said, “Based on the records of this case, the Tribunal finds that there are no such pending motions from protestee (Robredo).” \The resolution also urged the parties to observe the sub judice rule, which would essentially restrict comments and disclosures on ongoing legal proceedings.

“As we have always done, we will fully abide by the Presidential Electoral Tribunal’s latest order,” Sardillo said.

The PET also asked the son of the late strongman to inform the tribunal if he intended to file a motion to withdraw all pending motions to hasten the case, essentially showing that Marcos was yet to withdraw his court filings.

Following his challenge to the vice president, Marcos signed a motion which would purportedly withdraw his pending motions before the PET. However, Romulo Macalintal, another election lawyer of Robredo, said that the documents signed by Marcos were just a mere manifestation and not a motion to withdraw, the document that the vice president signed.

“On the other hand, the PET has also noted that Mr. Marcos did not file a similar motion and has in fact asked him to inform the tribunal if he intends to file a similar motion to withdraw all pending motions,” Sardillo said.

Should Marcos succeed in snatching the vice presidency from Robredo, this marks a big step in his family’s efforts to rehabilitate its name and reclaim the presidential palace 32 years after his father was ousted from power. In recent years, he, his sister Imee and mother Imelda have occupied local and national posts. n

After Boracay, Panglao may also face shutdown by dana

SioSon AJPress

AFTER Boracay, another tourist island in the Visayas is likely to face shutdown over environmental issues.

According to Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, President Rodrigo Duterte is mulling to close erring establishments in Panglao Island if the reported problems on waste management in the area were not properly addressed.

Pernia told Inquirer that Panglao island, located in the Bohol province, was suffering from environmental problems due to the unregulated development and lax enforcement of laws amid the continued surge in tourist arrivals.

“It could be next if violators would not correct their mistakes by complying with environmental laws and regulations,” Pernia said, as quoted by Inquirer in a report dated Tuesday, February 20.

“It’s a warning to save the country’s prime tourist destinations from further environmental destruction,” he added.

There are reportedly only 33 out of around 200 commercial establishments operating in Panglao that have permits from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB).

According to Panglao Councilor Rogelyn Clemeña-Degoma, most establishments in the island had no wastewater treatment facility.

“By this time, we will strictly implement the requirement for the discharge permit of busi-

Like Boracay, Panglao Island, Bohol’s tourism jewel, is suffering from environmental problems because of unregulated development, lax enforcement of laws, and a continued surge in tourist arrivals.

Inquirer.net photo by Leo Udtohan

nesses and the implementation of building structures within the 20-meter salvage [or easement] zone,” Degoma said, as she remarked that the issue in Boracay serves as an eye-opener for all officials in Bohol.

Duterte earlier gave the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) six months to fix the waste management issues in the island of Boracay, which he likened to a “cesspool.”

The president threatened to close the world-famous tourist destination if the island’s sewage and garbage problems were not addressed.

In a briefing on Monday, February 19, Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu said the agency has already deployed a “mission team” in Boracay composing of about 50 DENR personnel to rehabilitate the area.

“We will be using all our government and the DENR assets and

personnel to do this job. Those who will be deployed will be on a rotation basis,” Cimatu said.

Another group, composed of more than 100 DENR personnel, will also go to the island on Thursday, February 22, to “conduct a thorough sweep of establishments in Boracay.”

“There will be about 12 teams totalling over 100 people which will be going there to uncover the violators. We expect the number of cases that will be brought before the Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) to increase. The PAB will decide the closure and imposition of penalties on these errant establishments,” Cimatu added.

According to the DENR, there are 2,600 establishments in Boracay, of which at least 51 were issued notices after being found of violating the water, waste management and land use regulations. n

Palace says ICC can’t demand drug war data from PH gov’t

by AJPress THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has no authority to compel the Philippine government to provide documents on its campaign against illegal drugs, according to Malacañang on Sunday, February 18.

In a radio interview, Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque noted that there is no formal case against President Rodrigo Duterte as the ICC is only conducting a preliminary examination on his administration’s controversial drug war.

“First, the (ICC) prosecutor has no power yet to ask us to provide any document because there is no investigation yet. It is just a preliminary examination. There is no case yet,” Roque told dzMM. He added, “It only means that the prosecutor is studying whether to conduct a preliminary investigation. And based on the experience of other countries,

Colombia, it took 13 years before the preliminary examination is completed.”

Earlier this month, the ICC’s Office of the Prosecutor (OTP) announced that it will look into the alleged thousands of human rights abuses and killings under Duterte’s anti-drug drive to determine if there is a basis to conduct a formal investigation against the president.

But an unfazed Duterte expressed his administration’s readiness to face the ICC as he refuted the allegations of extrajudicial killings in the country. He also said he’s ready to face execution should the international court find him guilty of committing crimes against humanity.

Despite the ICC’s move, Duterte maintained that the drug war will continue until the end of his term in 2022.

“Drugs — I like to address myself to the International Court of Justice and to the prosecutors

coming here to investigate. The war or the drive against drugs will not stop,” he said last week.

“And it will last until the day I step out.”

According to the Philippine Drug Agency (PDEA), 4,021 drug personalities have died during anti-drug operations conducted by the agency and other law enforcement groups from July 1, 2016 — when Duterte assumed the presidency — to February 8 of this year.

In a recent statement, the PDEA said it is willing to cooperate with the ICC on its preliminary examination and provide relevant documents.

“This is precisely why we came up with Real Numbers so we can be transparent in the conduct of the anti-drug campaign. Now if the data will be summoned in relation to such hearing, PDEA will support in terms of the data,” PDEA Spokesperson Derrick Arnold Carreon said last week. n

fected by the vaccine’s botched implementation.

“The DOH assures the general public that it will exhaust all legal remedies against Sanofi Pasteur and will bring its misrepresentations to justice,” Duque said.

He maintained that the DOH made it categorically clear that it intends to use the dengue vaccine in a school-based immunization program for students regardless of whether they had prior dengue infection or not.

“Sanofi Pasteur’s labelling did not qualify the recommended use or risk on the serostatus at

baseline of the intended recipient of the vaccine,” the health chief said.

Sanofi on November 29 announced that Dengvaxia poses threat to individuals who had not been infected with dengue prior to vaccination.

“It is regrettable that this crucial information was only made public by Sanofi Pasteur after the DOH has implemented the vaccine program to about 837,000 children,” Duque said.

The Dengvaxia fiasco has sparked public panic, with many parents refusing their children to get immunized. n

Janet Napoles insists on Supreme Court bail grant by elizabeth

MarCelo Philstar.com

MANILA — Incarcerated businesswoman Janet Lim-Napoles, the alleged mastermind of the multibillion-peso pork barrel scam, maintained that she should be granted bail over plunder charges.

In her 20-page supplemental petition to the Supreme Court, Napoles through her lawyers said the “weak” evidence and defective information of the Office of the Ombudsman justifies a bail grant.

In asking the SC, Napoles argued that the the Sandiganbayan First Division erred in its December 2014 ruling denying her petition for bail.

Napoles is facing plunder before the First Division as co-accused former Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Napoles cited the high court’s July 2016 decision on the plunder case of former president and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in connection with the alleged misuse of the P366-million intelligence fund of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office.

In its July 2016 ruling, the SC reversed the Sandiganbayan First Division’s decision and granted Arroyo’s demurrer to evidence which prayed for dismissal of the case on the ground of the prosecution’s failure to identify the main plunderer.

Napoles said that just like in the Arroyo case, the ombudsman’s

Janet Lim-Napoles

Philstar.com photo

prosecution team failed to identify who among her, Revilla and his aide Richard Cambe is the “main plunderer.”

Napoles maintained that under Republic Act 7080, a private individual cannot be charged with plunder unless there is an allegation that he or she conspired with a public official who must be the main plunderer in the case.

“The evidence so far adduced by the Respondent Office of the Ombudsman failed to show accused officers Revilla and Cambe as the main plunderer...Otherwise stated, it must be shown that the public officer was principally and ultimately benefitted or enriched, not a private person, like petitioner Napoles,” her petition read.

Napoles also cited the resolution of the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division, which granted bail to former senator Jinggoy Estrada

who is also facing plunder in connection with the pork barrel scam.

In its Sept. 15, 2017 resolution, the anti-graft court’s Fifth Division said the prosecution’s failure to present evidence showing that Estrada is the “main plunderer” in the case.

This ruling was grounded on the SC’s decision on the Arroyo case.

Napoles similarly insisted that Benhur Luy, the primary state witnesses in the pork barrel scam, “has the natural propensity to make untruthful statements” as proven by the Court of Appeal’s recent dismissal of the illegal detention case, which the former filed against her.

She also blamed Luy for allegedly having “concocted the whole PDAF Scheme.”

Napoles pointed out that the First Division had earlier stated that her name never appeared in any documents presented by the prosecution as evidence in her plunder case.

“Clearly, the only link connecting the Petitioner to the whole PDAF controversy and this case is the testimony of Benhur Luy, which was declared not credible by the Court of Appeals in the illegal detention case,” Napoles said.

Napoles’ camp has repeatedly argued that Luy and the other whistleblowers were the ones who benefited from the scam as they are the officials of the nongovernment organizations taxpayers’ money was directed to. n

A

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february 23-march 1, 2018 • Oc/Ie aSIaN JOurNaL

OpiniOn

New destinations

Features

BORACAY, according to officials, is starting to feel the impact of President Duterte’s condemnation as the island prepares for the peak travel season this summer. With the President of the Republic himself describing the island as a “cesspool,” however, Boracay officials, residents and investors have no choice but to show that there is an earnest effort to clean up the top tourist destination.

Overdevelopment in Boracay may no longer be reversed. While the island cleanup is being undertaken, the nation should start developing alternatives to Boracay, whose beaches with unique powdery white sand drew about two million tourists last year. This new effort can start near Boracay, according to an urban planner, who cited the tourism potentials of northern Aklan and Carabao Island.

There are undoubtedly more islands with potential for world-class tourism in this archipelago of over 7,100 islands. Camiguin is attracting international attention. So is Guimaras, home of arguably the world’s sweetest carabao mango. Under competent supervision, the travel industry is one sector that can generate meaningful employment and livelihood opportunities – the type that can blunt the desire of local residents to seek greener pastures either overseas or in crowded mega cities like Metro Manila.

Tourism has powered economic growth in many countries. Aside from creating jobs on site, the current trend in the industry promotes environmental protection. President Duterte, who initially showed

antagonism toward the mining industry because of its impact on the environment, should want to boost tourism development. If the country is to catch up with its neighbors, however, the tourism effort needs a competent coordinator who commands respect in a highly competitive industry.

The Philippines received a record high 6.6 million visitors in 2017, but the figure pales in comparison with arrivals in the four other original founding members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

Last year, Thailand received an enviable 35 million visitors, followed by Malaysia with 32 million. Citystate Singapore had 17.4 million while Indonesia drew a record high 14.04 million visitors. Among the newer ASEAN members, Vietnam saw 13 million arrivals, and Cambodia is closing in on the Philippines.

This country has so much to offer travelers especially in terms of natural attractions. Boracay is providing lessons in poorly regulated tourism development. Those mistakes can be avoided in developing new destinations. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS AMERICA celebrated Presidents’ Day last Monday, February 19, but there was something, someone missing — a real president with moral leadership in the White House.

The events leading up to Presidents’ Day just exposed more of the character, or the lack thereof, of the 45th president of the United States.

Fourteen young high school students and three school staff members of Parkland, Florida died when a 19-year-old former student fired shots using an AR15 war weapon in classrooms and hallways on February 14.

As the nation grieved with the families of the victims and the students who survived the horrific tragedy lead demonstrations, protests and challenges to President Donald Trump and the Republicans in Congress to finally do

Philstar.com photo

Political experts: Donald Trump is the worst president in US history something about gun violence, Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team announced on February 15 the indictment of 13 Russian nationals and three Russian companies and individuals for meddling in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

The indictment stated that “some defendants, posing as U.S. persons without revealing their Russian association, communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump Campaign.”

Trump took to Twitter to twist the indictment and spread the lies that this proves there was no collusion between his campaign and Russia (a claim not stated in the indictment, as investigation is still ongoing and more charges, guilty plea are expected to be announced).

Trump then started blaming the FBI for missing a lead about the gunman because he said the agency was too preoccupied with the Russia probe, which he called a “hoax.” (The FBI has different departments and the Rus-

sia probe does not use the same team that takes care of domestic issues like that of Florida).

The president also pointed fingers at former President Barack Obama, the Democrats, the school, and even the victims themselves.

“So many signs that the Florida shooter was mentally disturbed, even expelled from school for bad and erratic behavior. Neighbors and classmates knew he was a big problem. Must always report such instances to authorities, again and again!” Trump tweeted.

The surviving students lashed out at the president for his response, criticizing him for his obsession about exonerating himself from the Russia probe instead of hearing them out and responding to their call for the government to act on the gun violence in America that has already claimed the lives of many students and civilians because of mass shootings using war weapons.

Trump even had the audacity to claim that he was “stronger”

with Russia compared to Obama, whom he blamed for doing nothing about the Russian interference. Fact checkers immediately called out Trump’s lies, reminding him that Obama confronted Putin about Russia’s interference and even imposed sanctions against the country for trying to meddle in the U.S. democratic processes.

Trump, on the other hand, never once called out Putin and Russia for assaulting our democracy, not when the U.S. intelligence community said so, and not when Mueller’s team had unveiled the indictment of Russians for their interference in the election.

Trump even sang high praises for Putin for being a “strong leader” and when he “confronted” Putin about Russia meddling in US elections who denied the interference, Trump believed him more than the U.S. intelligence reports.

The U.S. intelligence reports also revealed that Russia is still interfering with the American democratic institutions with its

cyber information warfare, and will meddle in the 2018 midterm elections.

What has Trump done about it? His job is to protect America and our democratic institutions and processes, but why has he not implemented the stronger sanctions against Russia signed in a resolution by both Democrats and Republicans? Why has he not ordered anything to stop Russia from influencing the 2018 elections?

In Filipino parlance, “Bakit bahag ang buntot ni Trump pag dating kay Putin?”

Special Counsel Robert Mueller could be asking the same questions and has been gathering all the information that may or (may not) prove that the Trump campaign is in fact in cahoots with Russia.

Worst president Nearly 200 of the top political scientists in America have voted Donald Trump the worst president in U.S. history.

This is according to the 2018 Presidents & Executive Politics

Presidential Greatness Survey, conducted every four years. It surveys social science researchers from the American Political Science Association’s section on presidents and executive politics.

The study asks the experts to rank each president’s greatness on a scale of 0 to 100, with 100 being great, 50 being average, and 0 being a total failure.

Mr. Trump averaged a score of 12.34, which the Independent reported as bumping James Buchanan – the president who saw the U.S. descend into the Civil War – out of the bottom spot.

This survey result just reflects the polls that came just months after Trump finished his first year in office as the most unpopular president in modern history.. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Different nations, a shared destiny Was Rappler putting out fake news on Go? PeaceMaker FoRmeR SpeakeR JoSe C. de VeneCia, JR. (PART 2 OF 3) *Remarks of Hon. Jose de Venecia - Former Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman and Chairman of Standing Committee, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Founder, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA); Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the ICAPP Special Conference on the Silk Road last February 1-4, 2018; Tehran, Iran.

Institutionalizing the Interfaith Dialogue Excellencies, friends: We in ICAPP campaigned in 2004 in the U.N. General Assembly, in the U.N. Security Council, in other halls of the U.N. in Europe for an inter-faith, inter-cultural, and inter-civilizational dialogue with our proposal to create an Interfaith Council in the U.N. or at least a focal point in the Office of the U.N. Secretary General, at a time when discussion of religion was somewhat taboo within the U.N. system.

If creating a new council is overly difficult—as some legalists have warned—then, perhaps, we could write an interfaith mandate in the mission order of the Trusteeship Council of the U.N. which had anyway ran out of trust territories to supervise. We had partially succeeded: today there is an Interfaith unit operating in the office of the U.N. Secretary General.

In the United Nations, Iran and the Philippines were the closest allies in promoting the concept and practice of Interfaith Dialogue.

In partnership, the Philippines and Iran successfully sponsored a Resolution in the General Assembly in November 2004, binding the U.N. 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.

As Speaker of the House at the time, we had the privilege to present these initiatives of Iran and the Philippines to the U.N. General Assembly and to the Security Council.

Since then, not only the United Nations and individual governments, but also civil society groupings, have been holding these important dialogues at local, national, regional, and international levels.

Excellencies, friends: From these Interfaith Dialogues, we should expect no miracles—ex-

cept those epiphanies that result from open hearts, the willingness to see the other side’s viewpoint, and a multitude of patience.

The vision of a “common destiny” It does not escape our minds what Chinese President Xi Jinping announced as early as October 2013 in Indonesia, the largest emerging economy of Southeast Asia.

In a speech before the Indonesian Parliament, President Xi unveiled the beginnings of this initiative.

China, he said, “wishes to work” with countries in the ASEAN to ensure that they become “good neighbors, good friends, and good partners” and as such they would “share prosperity and security and stick together through thick and thin.”

He spoke of a larger view and welcomed the idea of a “common destiny,” which a closely-knit China and ASEAN community could build together. This “community of shared destiny” is closely linked with the East Asia community, he said, and the “two sides need to bring out their respective strengths to realize diversity, harmony, inclusiveness and common progress.”

The value of China’s rebuilding of the Silk Road all the way to Iran, to Europe, and across the Red Sea, to Africa, in both its historic overland and 21stCentury maritime linkages—is obvious.

PAGE A7

Opinion

RiCaRdo Saludo IF Rappler’s line of coverage in the P15.6-billion frigate contract were applied to all instrumentalities of government, every letter referred for an agency’s comment and discussed with its officials would be suspect, if not incriminating.

Receiving correspondence from the public, including bidders in procurement contracts, happens all the time in all state offices, most especially in the Palace, as this writer knew firsthand in eight years as Secretary of the Cabinet, then another two years as Civil Service Commission chairman and presidential spokesman in the Arroyo administration.

Yet for Secretary Bong Go, Special Assistant to President Rodrigo Duterte, a simple referral spurred insinuations of illicit dealings.

When headlines accuse “Bong Go says his office ‘endorsed’ frigate supplier’s complaint to DND,” blared one Rappler headline, which many readers may mistake as saying that SAP Go favorably endorsed the complaint.

In fact, it was a neutral endorsement or a simple referral, as countless officials have to do

within 15 days of receiving correspondence on pain of administrative charges for neglect of duty.

“DOCUMENTS: How Bong Go is linked thrice to frigates deal,” was another Rappler article. But again, there are links and there are links. The headline may make many readers think that Go’s connection to the frigates deal was a strong one, maybe even an illicit one.

But what exactly were those documents? They were, as Rappler reported: “A Post-it note on a white paper endorsing a supplier of the Combat Management System (CMS) that was to be installed in the ships”; “a letter inviting the Navy officer in charge of the project to a meeting in Malacañang about the CMS selection”; and “a report submitted by the same Navy officer addressed to President Rodrigo Duterte and Go himself.”

Just to be clear, in the first document, it was the white paper that endorsed the supplier, not the Post-It note.

Again, based on many years of Palace work, referral notes, meeting invitation notices, and reports on issues raised by Malacañang are boringly numerous and frequent. If they were incriminating, this former Cabinet official would have faced charges in his first month in Malacañang.

No smoke, no fire That is not to say that referrals,

meetings and reports cannot be corrupted. But before a responsible, non-partisan news organization raises graft concerns, there should be far more evidence than the three documents Rappler cited. At least, that’s how this writer’s employer of 17 years as editor-writer in Hong Kong, Time Magazine-owned Asiaweek, would handle investigative coverage.

For instance, were there officials or even unnamed sources who accused Secretary Go of interference? None. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Navy chief Commodore Robert Empedrad, and his ousted predecessor, Vice Admiral Ronald Joseph Mercado, all cleared Go. Did Go meet with Hanwa Systems, the Korean supplier of the CMS, which was reportedly a joint venture between frigate builder Hyundai Heavy Industries and rival CMS supplier Thales of the Netherlands?

No such meetings are reported, not even in Rappler, unlike, say, the two meetings then-President Benigno Aquino 3rd and thenHealth Secretary Janette Garin had with Sanofi-Pasteur top executives, leading to the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia vaccine purchase.

Did Malacañang rush the frigates deal, hustling up funds even if there was none appropriated?

That’s what the Aquino regime did with the P3.5-billion Dengvaxia deal, which was also exempted PAGE A7

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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Different nations, a shared...

PAGE A6 Consider how 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 cargoes between Asia and Europe, back and forth.

And consider how 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, yes, freight to 28 European cities, moving them by sea, and by air.

Global potential of expanded route Excellencies, friends: In order to expand, deepen and strengthen the economic, trade, political, cultural and people-to-people linkages of the historic Silk Road, might we in the Philippines propose consideration of the development of a “third route,” to complement and extend China’s great “Belt and Road” Initiative.

For from Hainan island off Guangdong province in southern China, the route could also pass through the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia and the small island nation of Timor Leste onwards.

Already in Northwestern Philippines, as part of an extended Belt and Maritime Road plan, on the banks of the South China Sea, an agri-tourism belt and large petrochemical and industrial complex, being planned by China’s Xianglu Dragon Group in Xiamen, Fujian Province, indeed much needed in the region, is being planned for implementation by pioneering Chinese and Philippine groups.

And from Timor Leste to Australia’s Gold Coast to Sydney, and New Zealand, the extended route could move across the south Pacific, and enter Latin America: Chile, Argentina, Brazil, and the tourism-rich Caribbean islands, then Mexico, all the way to the U.S. as in the old days of the Galleon Trade from Manila to Acapulco, Mexico, which sailed for 250 years.

It is not far-fetched: for there are already multiple large overseas Chinese investments in South America. And at some point, we invite the Latinos should also bring their investments and trade to the south Pacific and into Asia.

Yes, our 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.

The tough task of peacemaking With this dramatic role, China’s noble vision 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.

On its northern flank is the rising danger of explosion in the Korean Peninsula, and on its southern flank the disturbing conflict over sovereignty in the disputed islands in the South China Sea. We believe that the venture to find common ground has no enemy, and involves not just China alone but us, her neighbors, nurtured by the Chinese saying that, “the interests to be considered should be the interests of all.”

This is a framework that begets a new attitude towards old questions—and the approach that appears likelier now than ever before is “win-win cooperation.”

Most practical solution in China Sea crises The disagreement in the South China Sea with conflicting sovereignty claims, may be settled, we believe, by temporarily shelving the issue of sovereignty, much earlier advised by the great leader, Deng Hsiao Peng, architect of China’s economic modernization, undertake joint exploration and joint development, which we had the privilege to propose in 2004-2005, and revive the resulting 3-nation Seismic Agreement officially signed and undertaken

by Manila, Beijing, and Hanoi in 2005-2006, and hopefully, eventually convert the zone of conflict into a Zone of Peace, Friendship, Cooperation and Development.

Its aim was to assess the potential in the disputed areas for hydrocarbons exploration and development.

Scientists of the three nations pronounced the prospects “promising”, and it is obvious as members of the ASEAN family that today, with China, we must find ways and means to jointly develop the area’s hydrocarbons potential to help lessen our common dependence on distant petroleum sources in the Middle East.

Imagine the potential for peace in the heartland of the South China Sea if we undertake a joint development of its resources.

On May 15, 2017, in Beijing’s historic “High-level Dialogue on the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation,” we said that from an area of conflict, it could be transformed into a landscape and seascape of small seaports, airports and oil pipelines. Fishing villages and small tourism townships could rapidly rise in the areas contested principally by the Philippines, China, and Vietnam, once converted into a Zone of Friendship, Commerce, Navigation and Development, and become the passage way, untrammeled, for global shipping, carrying more than 50 percent of the sea freight of the world.

This is perhaps the most realistic, most common-sensical solution to the problem of the Spratlys and Paracels, and which could be subsequently joined by Malaysia, and Brunei and Taiwan, and could also be the solution to the dangerous problem between China and Japan in the tiny isles in Senkaku Straits or Diaoyu in the East China Sea. Resource-sharing by other countries; Solution is actually possible Excellencies, friends: As a re-

Was Rappler putting out...

PAGE A6

from clearance by the Department of Health panel reviewing all drugs DoH orders.

Nope. The P15.7-billion frigates contract was awarded two weeks before the past administration ended in June 2016, though Sec Lorenzana signed the contract in October.

Was there anything disadvantageous in the deal? Maybe, but nothing to do with Go, since he never participated in contract negotiations.

Col. Leonardo D. dela Paz, chief of the Defense Acquisition Office of the Department of National Defense, cited as disadvantageous a contract note allowing frigates builder Hyundai Heavy Industries to select the CMS supplier, and HHI chose Hanwa.

The Navy wanted the Tacticos system of Thales, but HHI would charge an additional $9 million per ship, or $18 million total, to install the Tacticos CMS. That’s P900 million additional. Plus: the Thales system cost $14 million more. So, the Navy went with Hanwa.

Grilling Go, not Aquino Now, is there anything in all that to warrant corruption news, not to mention a full-scale Senate investigation? Nothing much, prompting Sen. Loren Legarda, a longtime news anchor, to remark that the Senate inquiry was just wasting Go’s time.

Despite no smoke, however, Sen. Antonio Trillanes 4th and his colleague, Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, insist there is fire. With nothing on Go, they now claim that a hidden mastermind used him. Trillanes says he will name the culprit in due time. The gullible will wait with bated breath.

But for impartial, professional news media, the real anomalies lie elsewhere, like Dengvaxia, with top-level meetings between

the Aquino government and Sanofi, the rushed realignment of billions of pesos, and the vaccination of 830,000 children without blood tests to verify past dengue infection.

How has Rappler reported Dengvaxia? With two presidential meetings, the massive budget rejigging, exemption from DoH drug review, and dozens of dengue deaths among vaccinated children, you’d think Rappler would be far more incensed, with screaming headlines decrying the Aquino regime’s actions.

Well, here are some Rappler titles: “Noynoy Aquino defends rush in buying dengue vaccine.” “‘Confident’ Aquino faces Senate probe into dengue vaccine controversy.” “At Senate, Aquino faces Dengvaxia controversy head-on.”

“Aquino says no one advised him vs using Dengvaxia in PH.” And last week, “Aquino, Sanofi, DOH officials face graft complaint over Dengvaxia mess.”

But no headlines about Aquino meeting Sanofi, his government realigning P3.5 billion to fund Dengvaxia, or exempting the vaccine from DoH drug review. In fact, which titles are more suggestive of corruption, the above headlines on Dengvaxia, or those about Go’s “endorsement” of the white paper and “documents” that “thrice linked” him to the frigates deal?

Rappler did run an editorial titled “#AnimatED: Somebody has to answer for the dengue vaccine disaster.” It mentioned one Aquino meeting with Sanofi, but nothing about conjuring P3.5 billion for an unbudgeted vaccine program with no DoH drug review.

Maybe this explains why President Duterte doesn’t want Rappler covering Malacañang anymore. (ManilaTimes.net)

Dateline PhiliPPines

sult of intelligent and pragmatic diplomacy, in the Norwegian Ekofisk oil field in the North sea, which we visited when we were President of the Petroleum Association of the Philippines in the 1970s, the discovered oil in the sea goes all the way to Norway and Teeside, England and the natural gas is piped to Germany.

The oil in the Caspian Sea countries is shared by Iran, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Azerbaijan because among them there is demarcation and practical mutual understanding and goodwill.

Giant Australia and tiny East Timor share the hydrocarbons in the South Pacific in the waters just below Darwin and on the southeast side of Asia’s newest republic.

The 1989 Agreement between Malaysia and Thailand enable them to jointly develop their disputed waters.

We just came from Senegal two weeks ago during the launching in West Africa, of the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), ICAPP’s fraternal ally, and we reminded them that the GuineaBissau and Senegal Agreement of 1993 helped their countries develop their disputed areas.

Indeed the idea of “win-win cooperation”—of pragmatic and intelligent, unselfish sharing of areas and resources—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.

(To be continued next week)

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 23-mARCh 1, 2018

A

Go hits Rappler, Inquirer for ‘irresponsible reporting’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

SPECIAL Assistant to the President (SAP) Christopher “Bong” Go has blamed media outlets Rappler and the Philippine Daily Inquirer for causing the controversy surrounding a multimillion-dollar warship deal.

Speaking at a Senate hearing on the P15.7-billion Philippine Navy frigate project on Monday, February 19, Go accused the two media entities of publishing “fake news” after reporting that he allegedly interfered in the deal.

“Ang pinag uusapan ngayon ay naging isyu lamang nang maglabas ang Rappler at Inquirer ng fake news at sinabing ako daw ay nakialam (this became an issue only after Rappler and Inquirer come out with a fake news and claimed that I intervene),” Go told the Senate national defense and security committee.

He added, “Lahat ng ito ay nagsimula sa isang irresponsible reporting (All this started with irresponsible reporting).”

Go also asked the Senate to continue its hearing on fake news and had the two media outlets questioned.

The controversy erupted amid reports about a handwritten marginal note by Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, which cited Go’s preference for South Korean Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) as supplier of the critical Combat Management System (CMS) of the frigates.

Go confirmed that the paper came endorsing a supplier came

from his office in Malacañang but maintained that he did not intervene with the deal.

During the hearing, Go reiterated his innocence, saying the document he sent to Lorenzana was a “mere routinary endorsement, which is one of the thousands of complaints we endorsed.”

“Frankly speaking, it’s very difficult to answer allegations that I am not privy to. I did not intervene in the acquisition of the two frigates by DND (Department of National Defense) nor [did I] interfere in the selection of its Combat Management System,” Go said.

He added that such reports against him are part of efforts to bring down the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“Inosente at dinamay lang ako sa issue na ito upang siraan ang administrasyon ni Pangulong Duterte (I am innocent and I was only dragged into this issue to destroy the reputation of the Duterte administration),” Go claimed.

In separate statements, Rappler and Inquirer refuted Go’s allegations of “irresponsible reporting.”

“Go and his office were named in at least 3 documents exchanged between Malacañang, the Department of National Defense (DND), and the Philippine Navy while the selection of the Combat Management System (CMS) was being debated,” Rappler said.

Rappler noted that both Lorenzana and Undersecretary Lloyd Christopher Lao, who

Special Assistant to the President Bong Go Philstar.com photo

worked in Go’s office, “attested to the authenticity of the documents even as they both now say Go had nothing to do with their actions.”

“We sought out Go and Lorenzana and highlighted their denials in the report being questioned. We published these as part of our adherence to fairness and balance in our reporting,” it added.

Inquirer, for its part, also said that it “relied on the documents it secured from reliable sources which were authenticated by military officers who are knowledgeable with the transaction.”

Inquirer likewise said it “sought the sides of Go and Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and published their statements.”

“The Inquirer adheres to the principles of fairness and accuracy in its news reports,” it stressed. n

A

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Ana Julaton: Fighting standards in the ring and cage

by Rae ann VaRona / AJPress For many, combat sports may be described as being drenched machismo — blood, sweat, hard-hitting punches, and low-pitch announcer voices, are all part of the image. But that description probably won’t fly for Fil-Am professional fighter Ana Bonifacio Julaton who is holding it down in the male-dominated sports.

Among other world titles, Julaton was the first to win the Women’s World Boxing organization (WBo) Super Bantamweight where she insisted she gets the same winning red belt instead of the pink one meant for female boxers.

“The original belt for women was very gender profiled meaning the belt was much smaller and it was pink,” Julaton told the Asian Journal.

She called the pioneering win surreal, but quickly highlighted the fact that women’s boxing has been around for a very long time yet continues to fail in getting the same acknowledgment men’s boxing has.

“It’s been around for a very long time, but you’re telling me it’s not only until now that these organizations are starting to recognize women?” said Julaton.

In the United States, the first women to have had the first “official” female boxing

match were Nell Saunders and rose Harland at the New York Hills Theater in 1876 at which Saunders fought out Harland not for a trophy or belt, but for a silver butter dish.

Having hit the mainstream, both men’s and women’s boxing were introduced to the olympics in 1904, but only men’s boxing got accepted leaving female boxers behind struggling to get the same recognition.

It wasn’t until over a century later in 2009 did the International olympic Committee vote to lift the ban on women’s boxing, having the women’s event debut in 2012 for the first time since the games began.

For the three world titleholder who was an advocate for lifting the olympic ban, boxing wasn’t something she initially saw herself getting into. Having been a martial arts teacher, it was something she learned in order to teach.

“It’s been a journey. It’s something we didn’t anticipate but it’s something that kind of organically happened,” said the 37-year-old fighter.

At her first ever bout at the San Francisco Golden Gloves, where she competed after just a couple weeks of training, she took home the silver which encouraged her to see how far

NBA Champion Ronny Turiaf was also present as one of her MMA coaches.

she would go.

She went far, training under under big names like Freddie roach, Nonito Donaire Sr., roger Mayweather, and now Angelo reyes — all especially familiar to the Filipino boxing community.

But Julaton doesn’t only throw punches. She also elbows, knees, kicks, wrestles, grapples, and pins her opponents down as one of the few boxers to also take on mixed martial arts where she sees big opportunities for female fighters.

Double boxing and MMA pursuit It was a family thing, said Julaton, who has black belts in a number of martial art sports. one of her very first memories was learning basic martial arts moves from her dad. More formal training came as soon as her younger brother was potty trained.

“It kind of just took off from there. It was something that I loved right away,” she said as she recalled looking up to the few Asians in media like Bruce Lee and Dan Inosanto who worked with Lee and was also Filipino.

“Just being able to see figures like that growing up as a child — it helped shape and hone me to what I am today,” said Julaton.

While MMA as its known today is relatively new, women’s participation in MMA is even newer and Julaton sees the cage as untapped territory for female fighters and boxers such as herself.

Julaton made her successful MMA debut for the oNE Championship organization in 2014 where she beat out Aya-Saeid Saber via technical knockout in the third round. That same year, she defeated Egypt’s Walaa Abbas at the Mall of Asia Arena in the Philippines.

Now, she fights under American MMA organization Bellator which many see as being a rival to other American MMA organization Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).

While other organizations require fighters to stay exclusive with them, Bellator allows Julaton to box while still pursuing MMA. “As a fighter, it’s nice to actually have direction and have control of my career versus getting locked up and kind of feeling like I’m getting lost in the shuffle with other

Photos courtesy of Ana Julaton’s coach, Angelo Reyes

organizations. There’s a lot more opportunity with this,” she said.

The crossover between boxing and MMA is something that has been sprouting among mostly male fighters. Just last year, the big ticket fight between boxer Floyd Mayweather and MMA fighter Conor McGregor caused a frenzy as fans from both sports made bets on who would take the win. Mayweather just recently pulled out of negotiations for a rematch in the MMA cage.

To spectators, the event might have looked like a simple crossover of two athletes, but as actual boxer-turned-MMA fighters like Julaton would say, it doesn’t quite work that way.

“It’s almost like trying to play football and basketball at the same time,” Julaton said. “They’re two completely different sports.”

In boxing, you have the boxing shoes while in MMA, you fight barefoot. Getting accustomed to different glove weights is just another small difference fighters would have to master. Then there are the rules and tactics.

But even those challenges aren’t at the top for Julaton.

On added challenges on the most challenging experiences Julaton faced during her journey she said, “I would definitely say facing social issues” — referring to her experiences being not only a woman in the male-dominated sports, but a Filipina.

“You have to be fierce,” said Julaton. “A lot of people are always sizing you up, they look at you like you’re new meat. It’s like wolves upon wolves. You

have to have that dynamic within you in order for you to survive in training.”

Like in many areas, women and women of color have experienced having to push extra hard to get their deserved recognition.

This has true for Julaton who has often found her accomplishments overlooked.

“I mean right now, what I think is very interesting is that they’ll highlight my opponent a lot more than they’ll talk about me,” said Julaton.

Despite her world titles and having worked with some of the best names in the industry, Julaton has many times found herself cut short from being dubbed the “next big thing” while opponents with fewer accomplishments have.

Her nickname — “The Hurricane” — for example, didn’t stem up from her quickness as others would say, although it would make sense. Instead it was created to help announcers and reporters remember how to pronounce her last name correctly after a well-known announcer butchered it despite having been in the industry for a long time.

“I’ve been fighting for over 10 years and there’s a lot of these big media writers, especially in North America, and they’re being paid to be a reporter and they can’t get my name right?” said Julaton.

“That’s the only reason why,” she added. “Because people don’t want to spend that little effort, it becomes too much work so to speak, for them to try and say someone’s name when you want

to try to give them respect.”

But fighting is what Julaton does, and she gives partial credit to her Filipino blood.

“I’ll tell you what — I think fighting is all in our blood,” she said laughing. “It doesn’t necessarily have to come with lacing up some gloves — it’s through adversity. Time and time again, with all the stories, with all the struggles we have all experienced as people all throughout the world. You know, we work hard and we always fight through adversity.”

Julaton’s latest fight on Friday, February 16 MMA against American fighter Heather Hardy — who followed Julaton’s footsteps into the MMA cage from boxing — was nothing short of unsparing competitiveness. The months leading up to the fight were hyped as the two threw threats and expletives at each other, as fighters typically do.

NBA Champion ronny Turiaf was also present as one of her MMA coaches — he was also present at her debut fight in 2014.

Hardy ended up taking a win, not through knockouts, but via unanimous decision in a fight that left many MMA fans unsatisfied. The two will next face each other in the boxing ring as part of the two-sport deal.

But as Julaton said prior to the fight, as challenging as fighting is, it’s also the most fun. It’s everything else that is complicated.

“This is something I want to explore, that I committed myself to — this is my career,” said Julaton.

Iñigo Pascual sad for Filipino kids After sliding down to No. 3, PH’s newest not using their native tongue pride is still first in Filipinos’ hearts

by Maridol

ranoa-BisMark Philstar.com

future.”

Iñigo is not alone. Joining him in the G Squad are Gretchen SINGEr Iñigo Pascual admits Ho, Elmo Magalona, Antoinette he spent half of his life in the U.S., Taus, Kristel Fulgar, Young JV, where he was born 21 years ago.

Boyband PH, and others. These But his heart is as Filipino as his parents’ (his dad, of course, is Piolo eco-warriors might as well have dyed their hearts green – for the Pascual). environment.

The composer behind the hit Elmo proves he is his late dad song “Dahil Sa `yo” joined former Francis Magalona’s son by saying, “I Environment Secretary Gina super love this country.”

Lopez’s “G Squad” to promote the His way of showing it is not country and its people via Season 2 of ABS-CBN’s “G Diaries,” which airs so much by coming up with nationalistic songs the way the every Sunday, 10:30 a.m., before late rapper did, but by helping G “ASAP.” Squad spread the word about the Iñigo speaks with the passion country’s natural beauty through of a patriot when he talks about “G Diaries” and his social media doing his share to uplift the accounts. country, which has embraced his Gretchen promised to use her upbeat kind of sound. He even celebrity by doing the same thing. speaks in fluent, unaccented of all these celebs, it is Tagalog to bring home the point.

Antoinette who has taken a more “Dapat mahalin ang sariling structured step in rescuing the atin. Ang mga bata, hindi marunog country from the environment mag-Tagalog,” he sighed. mire. She returned to the Iñigo thinks this is a problem Philippines from the U.S. years everyone should address before it back to pick up where she left gets out of hand. off, not only as an actress, but as “If we don’t love our own, how shall we grow as a nation? We a concerned citizen. She and her keep comparing ourselves to other friends put up CorA, an NGo countries. Mahalin natin ang ating (non-governmental organization) that “promotes sustainability” to sarili. It’s the only thing we have.” fight climate change, and provide His is not just empty words. nutritious meals, and others.

Iñigo plans to come up with “our country is so biodiverse. another oPM (original Pilipino We are the center of marine Music) song as follow-up to his biodiversity. Tayo ang Amazon hit composition. It is his way of of the seas. Considering our promoting Filipino culture, of resources, our country should be making sure local music has a better place in the charts alongside so rich,” she said.

Antoinette is all for having fun, foreign ones. but promoting local tourism and of course, Iñigo is counting supporting homegrown products on his fans to support his plan along the way. And while we are at “to build something great for our

by arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

EVEN as she placed sixth in the latest episode of China’s “Singer 2018” from her No. 1 debut as challenger, KZ Tandingan is still first in Filipinos’ hearts these days.

With all eyes on the singing spitfire, however, opinions, critiques and suggestions over her performances are unavoidable with her Mandarin medley on February 16 gaining mixed reactions.

There are those who believe that her choice to sing in Chinese, instead of acing another English ditty like Adele’s “rolling In The Deep,” was too risky. It turned out too risky in fact that she dropped five notches in the competition pitting professional singers from around the world, including British Iñigo Pascual superstar Jessie J this season.

Photo from Instagram/@inigopascual But of course, there are also it, Antoinette thinks we should also those who deemed her move take care of the environment. It to be right, arguing it will be can be something as simple as not riskier for Tandingan to attempt a using plastic products. performance in Mandarin toward That is why she and the rest the end of the contest. of her fellow G Squad members regardless, the Filipina singer are joining Lopez in her crusade still pulled many a heart strings to show the beauty of nature on among the Chinese audience for national TV. her emotional rendition, some Lopez has gone even further even caught on camera wiping by donating her own money away tears as they watched our KZ. to help develop communities Here at home, fans took to and nature sites. This way, more the internet to express their own tourists will come over. Farmers, emotions. fishermen and local artisans earn Netizen Sophie Villaruel Lepura more. The area will develop. More perhaps summed it up best when people will visit local tourist spots she posted, “I didn’t understand a instead of foreign destinations. thing pero bakit naiyak ako? Music The plan is ambitious, the and love truly make us human ans work Herculean. But “G Diaries” and KZ sang again with all her heart.” its G Squad are willing to give it As of this writing, Tandingan’s their all. latest performance has garnered

KZ Tandingan

2.2 million views, with the video shared more than 50,000 times.

As the artist said in her interview with China Hunan TV before she hit the stage on Friday, she chose to sing the Chinese medley titled, “The Pain Which You Never Knew”—learning it in just two weeks—was done “to show [her]respect [for]the Chinese audience, Chinese culture and Chinese music.”

She further explained, “What’s good about taking risks especially at this point of the competition [is that it]shows how serious you are with your craft.”

The seventh episode for airing tomorrow has already been taped.

And since Tandingan is going back to China by the end of February, it means she is very much among the top contenders of the show. A challenger must have an average ranking in the Top 4 to stay in the competition.

Doing the math, with Tandi-

Photo from Instagram/@kztandingan

ngan’s No. 1 ranking on her debut and her No. 6 placement, she is at No. 3 overall as of February 16.

She follows Chinese superstar Hua Chenyu and Jessie J who are in the first and second spot.

‘Pinoy’ power In a series of tweets, including replies to comments after the airing of last week’s episode, the newest pride of the Philippines conveyed amid all the excitement, “But more than just getting the votes, I want to make a real connection with the Chinese audience. I want them to see that music is not bound to one language, and that Filipinos are not afraid to take risks.”

She further asserted with there being no judges in the show, “Music isn’t also just about entertainment, it is an expression, a language, a connection, an art.”

Grateful for all the encouragement, she finally said, “So happy with all the positive Continued on Page 3

Paolo Ballesteros goes in a ‘straight direction’

by Christina

alpad ManilaTimes.net

AFTer reaping awards here and abroad for his critically acclaimed film “Die Beautiful” in 2016, Paolo Ballesteros’ career shifted to high gear. in fact, he went from being an “eat Bulaga” mainstay to lead actor in one movie after another. in 2017, he shared top billing in the comedy film “Trip to Ubusan” with Bulaga co-hosts Jose manalo and Wally Bayola, and simultaneously inherited the iconic Barbi franchise from veteran comedian Joey de Leon in “Barbi D’ Wonder Beki.” These two movies opened only a week apart just as Ballesteros turned 35 in November.

Shortly into the new year, he remains revved up as ever with his next big screen outing, “Amnesia Love,” from Viva Films.

“Mas natatakot akong mamatay sa pagod kesa sa over exposure,” Ballesteros said in jest when asked if he isn’t afraid of his fans getting weary of his constant projects. “But seriously, i really believe that all of the work i am getting are blessings, so when i get offered a project, dapat hindi tatanggihan.”

The plot “Amnesia Love” begins easily enough for Ballesteros. His character is gay and outgoing, a busy bee in the city who looks forward to a short getaway only to meet an accident.

The next time he opens his eyes, he’s been washed ashore on

Paolo Ballesteros

a beach where a compassionate couple takes him in, only to find out that unexpected guest cannot remember a single thing—not even his name.

The couple’s daughter, Doray, (Yam Concepcion) is skeptical about the stranger who claims he doesn’t know who he is but is left with no choice but to let him stay on her parents’ will.

The family gives their houseguest a name—macky— and in time, Doray gives him her heart, as he does his.

Now a couple, Doray can’t help but wonder why her boyfriend seems to be distracted by the sight of good-looking men. And when someone from macky’s past finally finds him and his amnesia starts to wear off, the movie’s conflict begins. Will macky embrace his new self and his love Doray or will he go back to being gay?

About face “As you can see, my role here is quite different from my last few movies because for the most part of Amnesia Love, i’m a straight man. i even got intimate with my leading lady here, which i haven’t done in long time!” he hooted at his revelation.

He went on to admit, “Honestly, mas comfortable ako sa gay role kasi yung creativity ko as an artist mas nalalaro ko kumpara sa straight men roles. So just to get over my love scenes with Yam, i had to channel my past self, yung dating ako!”

All the same, Ballesteros promised that just like Trisha in “Die Beautiful”—which earned him Best Actor awards from the Tokyo Film Festival, metro manila Film Festival, the entertainment editors’ Awards for movies and Gawad Urian—macky gives his audience a meaningful take away in the end.

“Si macky kasi, meron siyang pagpipiling gagawin. So he’s harboring this inner struggle throughout the movie dahil sa dalawang pagkatao niya. eventually he has to choose between the two and show that whatever decision we make in life, we need to own it and we need to be responsible for its consequences.”

Directed by Albert Lagnitan, “Amnesia Love” also stars Lander Vera Perez, maricel morales, Polo ravales, Vandolph Quizon, Geleen eugenio and Sinon Lloresca.

After sliding down to No. 3, PH’s newest...

From Page 2

feedback for my mandarin and my Chinese supporters [too]! Haha thank you, thank you, all worth it.

Thank you Lord!”

Priceless possibilities With no monetary prize in sight just yet, the Davao-born singer stated she is more eager for the non-material returns of competing in Singer 2018.

“For me to able to represent OPm [Original Pilipino music] in a country that’s not always penetrated by international artists is already a prize that money cannot buy,” she related. “it makes me proud to be

Pinoy. i’m just hoping that after this competition, many doors will open not just for me but also for Filipino performers now that foreigners recognize the artistry and excellence of Filipino performers. i’m just really thankful that we were given this opportunity.”

Chinese fans indeed, Tandingan is gaining a significant following outside the Philippines in just two performances. in fact, she has made fans out of the Chinese audience who mostly judge her mandarin medley as “flawless.” “i’m Chinese [and] to be

honest, you would not think there is a foreigner singing if you don’t look at her [performing]. [Besides her] very accurate pronunciation but also with very emotional expression. Her performance is better than many native singers.

She is a [true] talent,” posted one YouTube user.

Another notable comment comes from Paris Qian Sen, who said, “From a native Chinese perspective, KZ did a fantastic performance. Her voice is making the song even more touching than ever. is she an ethnic Chinese? Her pronunciation is even better than [contestant] Tien Chong.”

february 23-march 1, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

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Lombard by The Bay: Your best option for property investment

FIRST BUYER. Vince Samson, vice president of marketing; Geralou Sagun, chief admin officer; Rene Cinco, Premier Asia president and CEO; Victor Sy, CPA; Roger Oriel, Asian Journal Publications CEO in the Asian Journal headquarters for the contract signing of Lombard by The Bay on Wednesday, February 21.

P

remier Asia Pacific’s newest residential and commercial development, Lombard by The Bay, is garnering an influx of interested buyers looking to own one of the semi-modern condominium units.

Victor Sy, a CPA mBA Balikbayan from California, is Lombard by The Bay’s official first buyer. He admitted not having plans in buying a property when he was invited to go to montemaria. “But i was so moved by the scenery, the beauty, the bay, and most of all, the statue of mama mary,” he explained. “i was even more amazed by the size of it, dwarfing the famous Christ the redeemer in Brazil and the Statue of Liberty in the United States in height.”

Lombard by The Bay’s amenities and facilities make it an excellent choice as the future home for hundreds of locals and overseas Filipinos.

One can utilize the condominium’s gym, take a refreshing dip in the pool, and hang out in the clubhouse. The manicured gardens resembling the famous Lombard street in San Francisco, the 180 degree view of the Batangas bay, and the proximity to the tallest statue of the Virgin mary, make Lombard by The Bay perfect for a religious

tourism destination for pilgrims, devotees, and tourists alike. “i would recommend Lombard by The Bay [to others] for the same reason i bought [a property] for myself,” Sy said, reiterating the condominium’s various amenities that enticed him to buy a penthouse unit and a onebedroom unit in the first place. “it will definitely make me travel and visit the Philippines more often.”

The 2.1 hectares development is a joint venture between Premier Asia Pacific real estate and Development, inc. and Omnicor industrial estate & realty Center, inc Premier Asia Pacific real estate and Development is a real estate company that believes in the economic development of the Philippines and catering to the needs of developers and buyers looking to expand their property and investment portfolio. Premier Asia Pacific’s mission is to reconnect overseas Filipinos back to their Philippine roots by offering a complete package of real estate investment services in the motherland.

(Advertising Supplement)

School shootings: Why are they happening Fans to go on trip down memory in our ‘civilized’ country more often lane in Jose Mari Chan concert The Metamorphosis february 23-march 1, 2018

www.asianjournal.com

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Everybody is your neighbor! i am sure that you will never ever do something real bad like killing other students in school. Do you which addresses issues of Filipino fans are expected understand what i am trying to tell poverty, housing, education and to go on a nostalgic trip down you, olive?” livelihood for the poor in the memory lane when legendary She responded, “i understand, philippines; GiFT international singer-songwriter Jose Mari Chan ErniE D. DElfin lolo. i will never hurt anyone. i am Foundation, a 10-year organization sings her romantic love songs scared of guns!” registered in Washington that during his three-city concert AS a father who has successfully Even at that tender age of provides healthcare services to series, “Timeless Tales of love,” in raised two children, and as a 7, i have no doubt that olivia the elderly, college scholarships los Angeles and Seattle on March grandfather, i am dumbfounded understands what’s right and what to eligible youth, and learning 23-25. and saddened by another mass is wrong! The perennial question materials to preschool children Hearing his many beautiful school shooting in America on appears every time a tragedy like in the philippines; and The ballads, such as “Afterglow,” Valentine’s Day. For a part-time this occurs: WHY is it happening Forex Foundation, registered “Beautiful Girl,” and “Can We Just “nanny” responsible for picking up more and more often? What can in California, which provides Stop and Talk Awhile,” Jose Mari a granddaughter from school every we as a nation do to stop them humanitarian, social and financial Chan’s thousands of fans from afternoon, the murder 17 students or at least minimize their deadly assistance to deserving sectors in across generations will surely in a Florida high school was just too occurrence? let me expound the U.S. and the philippines. relate with this love songs as they shocking and incomprehensible some thoughts that are lingering The “Timeless Tales of love” remember the time when they Jose Mari Chan to understand. Watching the my mind for days now. concert features the immortal gave or received flowers and of saying thank you for the tens of profound grief of the family and politicians, our so-called pubic music of Jose Mari Chan, who chocolates from their boyfriend friends of those innocent students thousands of Filipinos who have officials, have been debating began his career in 1965 when or girlfriend, celebrated wedding murdered for no reason at all by been entrusting their balikbayan endlessly for decades to carve laws he hosted a daily TV show in the anniversaries, or simply hang out a deranged young man broke my boxes to the company for 35 to prevent children from being philippines. After five decades of with their loved ones. heart and yes, even as a man, i cried killed, as both Democrats and composing and singing, Jose Mari years.

The concert, his first in many while watching my two precocious Republicans cannot agree because “it is fitting that we bring in a Chan continues to mesmerize fans years in the United States, will be grandchildren Sofie, 5, and olivia, 7, of their narrow-mindedness and highly regarded balladeer to sing with his greatest hits including his held on March 23 at the Arcadia at home. personal vested interests. They first single, “Afterglow”, followed by timeless tales of love because it Center for the performing Arts in olivia, an intelligent observant goes right into the core of our should and must agree on onE his debut lp, “Deep in My Heart”, the city of Arcadia, on March 24 little girl, asked me last week, “Why business — bringing gifts of love thing: our children’s well being and “Beautiful Girl”, “please Be Careful at Envision Center in Van nuys, are you crying, lolo? Why are those safety! Banning automatic guns With My Heart”, and “Can’t We Start to family and friends. Because that and on March 25 at the pantages school children killed?” what these balikbayan boxes are or assault rifles, granting to arm over Again”, from the “Constant Theater in Seattle, Washington.

That made me pause and — gifts of love,” said Jaime p. Carino schools, or maintaining the status Change” album.

Joining Jose Mari Chan as his breathe deeply as i tried to think of Jr., Forex Chairman and Chief quo will noT solve these problems.

The Concert pays tribute special guests are Julia Clarette, appropriate words that will make operating officer. it is just a part of the complex to his “gift of music” which the actress, singer and former host sense to her young mind. What Forex Cargo U.S., a global solution. songwriter acknowledges as a of the longest running noontime i came out was something like logistics and freight forwarding Contributory factors, like drug constant blessing.

TV show in the philippines, “Eat this: “Those kids were innocent company, was established in 1982 use and untreated mental health Be serenaded by the Bulaga”, and Jules Aurora, the victims as they did not do anything problems, easy-to-buy guns or in San Francisco and is currently foremost singer-songwriter in the talented Fil-Am finalist of “X Factor bad, nothing at all, just going to assault weapons without strict philippines in March. Join Jose Mari based in los Angeles. Through the USA: Season 3” competition. past 35 years, the company has set school to learn new things like background checks and prolonged Chan as he belts out his timeless The world-class performances you and your sister Sofie. By sheer up and maintained branches in 20 waiting period must be addressed tales of love. Tickets are available of the three artists will showcase coincidence, they were at that states in the US, as well as global seriously. We as voting citizens in Forex offices all over Southern the best in Filipino talent and room when this crazy young boy branches in Toronto, Edmonton, must demand from our elected California and in the state of entertainment. expressed his anger in his former Winnipeg in Canada, Malaysia, officials from the president in the Washington and in selected ticket “Timeless Tales of love,” part of school without any thought that it Brunei, Japan, Hongkong and White House to the mayor of your outlets.

Jose Mari Chan’s celebration of his is bad and a “mortal sin” to kill those city, with urgency!

The concert series is sponsored soon-to-open branches in South 50th year as a singer-songwriter, young students with an automatic Korea and Taiwan. The company other equally important by pacific Barristers Group and is being produced by Forex Cargo assault weapon that are normally has produced concerts in the U.S. factors must come from all of us Atty.

Gwendolyn Malaya-Santos, U.S. to commemorate its own 35th used by soldiers in war. Most likely, as members of American society. and Asia since 1997. partner; and philippine Airlines as anniversary as one of the biggest The company’s top officers are: that young man who massacred Families should go back to the old Filipino cargo forwarders in the U.S. platinum Sponsors. those 17 students and hurt a dozen fashioned ways by looking at each Jaime p. Carino Jr., Chairman and Forex Cargo is bringing Jose What makes this concert more never was taught in his home other’s welfare. Time and time Chief operating officer, and Mike Mari Chan and his timeless tales series unique is that it is a major or in his church (if he ever attended again, these disturbed kids show Claudio, president and CEo. of love to fans all over Southern fundraiser for three non-profit many outward signs before they California and Seattle as its way organizations: AnCop USA,

(Advertising Supplement) church like you) that it is MoRTAl Sin to kill as it is against the TEn commit those horrific acts. Family Commandments of God, ‘Thou shall members, primarily the parents, not kill!’ must know these symptoms. if “He probably did it to make observed that any kid is exhibiting other people miserable like him, abnormal behaviors, it behooves because most likely he did noT feel one who sees something (out of love at home, as his parents were no the ordinary) to do something. longer with him. He did not have a Reporting it to authorities — like ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! real family like you and your sister the FBi — MUST do what they PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT Sofie, as he was just living with are supposed to do in a TiMElY some distant relatives or friends. manner to prevent more tragedies.

GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. You and Sofie have your dad, your Furthermore, i believe that CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 mom, your grandpa and grandma, the continuing deterioration of uncles and aunts and cousins. moral or spiritual values affect DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES Catechism teaches you to love GoD significantly the behavior of FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS above all things and to love our people in our society now. There neighbors like yourselves always. is a direct correlation between the

Calendar of Events across

America

F E B R UA RY 24

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. 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.

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.

Free workout with Assemblymember Philip Chen in Walnut, CA California state Assemblymember Philip Chen will host a free workout event in Walnut, CA on Saturday, February 24 to promote wellness and fitness. The event will be held at Walnut Crossfit Insurgent located at 351 Paseo Sonrisa, Walnut, CA from 10 to 11:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable workout clothing and shoes. Light refreshments will be provided.

F E B R UA RY 27

Workshop on how to brand your small business online in Los Angeles Tara na! Kita tayo sa SIPA! Come and join Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) in Historic Filipinotown on Tuesday, February 27 and start branding your small business effectively! Branding is not just for big corporations. A small business would benefit greatly from effective branding. This will make people want to do business with you. Establish your own business identity and learn how to convey your brand to your customers. It’s a FREE event! It will be held at Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (3200 W Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 6 to 8 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided. There is free parking at 2 SIPA parking lots located on the corner of Temple and Robinson St. and the corner of Temple and Dillon St. Don’t forget to bring business cards for networking! Registration is REQUIRED at https:// www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-brand-your-small-business-online-tickets-42550341216 or you may contact Fidji Victoriano for any questions at fvictoriano@esipa.org or (424) 235-5011.

MARch 11

Fil-Am Association of SCV’s fundraising event and inaugural ball in Valencia, CA The Fil-Am Association of Santa Clarita Valley (SCV), Inc. invites the community to a fundraising event and inaugural ball of the board of officers and trustees on Sunday, March 11 at 5 p.m. It will be held at the Hyatt Regency Valencia — 24500 Town Center Dr., Valencia, CA 91355. The Fil-Am Association of SCV, Inc. is a non-profit that engages in cultural, social, outreach and community service to approximately 8,000 Fil-Ams living in Santa Clarita Valley.

This 2018 marks the associations 35th year in serving the community through its outreach and Fil-Am academic and cultural enhancement programs which include scholarship achievement awards, programs for the seniors, youth and single programs, as well as cultural events. For tickets, please contact Josie Maglalang at (661) 607-5665, Zeny Justiniano at (661) 645-0948, Emie Carrillo at (661) 877-2699, and Zony Gordon (661) 312-3422.

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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MonEttE ADEvA MAglAyA HAVE you ever gone through seasons of darkness? i have. i bet there are those who will admit quietly to having been through the trenches themselves. no matter the season, the soul may go through a “winter of discontent” — a restless time when we wonder quietly if we could trade our life for someone else’s. if you are wondering why you feel as though you missed out on winning the cosmic lottery jackpot of a charmed life, don’t flog yourself silly.

You don’t even have to admit it to anyone else but yourself. it’s nothing more than a normal rite of passage that allows us to imagine what it would be like if we had someone else’s luck, genetic makeup, breaks, talent, connections, relations, education, intelligence, looks, skin color, pedigree and other x factors that are supposed to tip the scale in our favor and make us happy and fulfilled. in short, they refer to those things that we think will allow us to live “a charmed life” and drive our fellow men mad with envy.

The discontent hits you when you’re feeling most vulnerable: when there’s not enough cash to tide you over until the next pay period; your job stinks; you’re going through an extended rough patch with your wife or husband or lover; your car needs an overhaul; your kid hit a schoolmate and you need to see the principal; your sister in the home country, needs you to remit moolah fast, and lots of it, because your younger brother got into trouble and needs bail money. Everything sucks.

Well, you get the picture of a gothic novel nobody wants to read. You want to scuttle

lack of religious education and discipline at home and the rise of school shootings. The father figure who used to exact discipline to their children is sorely missing in so many families now. That is also aggravated by a minority of atheists who opposed prayer or religious teachings in schools by separating prayer and teachings from the BiBlE (Basic instructions Before leaving Earth) from schools.

Even moral foundations, like the Ten Commandments or spiritual reminders of our moral and ethical obligations have been removed from public places.

American history tells us that the moral principles and the pursuit of happiness and love of freedom were the very foundation of the United States. From the very beginning, the framers of the American Constitution have consciously included the acceptance of a Higher power that is made quite obvious in opening prayers in many private or public events or major holidays. Even our coins of over 200 years declare “in GoD WE TRUST.” What is happening, it seems to me, are continuing trials and tests from God to see what we are really made of as a people. What we do now will be the beginning of what we do next, and cumulatively will bring us back hopefully to the grandeur of America that attracted millions of people to come here. on the other hand, it is very encouraging to witness the idealism and hear the passionate and justified anger of young students of that Florida high school where the massacre happened, declaring that “EnoUGH iS EnoUGH” that they will bring these critical issues of gun violence to their state capital and to Washington D.C. to demand effective solutions. They vowed to work incessantly to make things change for the better, for their generation as the present leaders are failing them.

As adults, before leaving earth, we must do our best to help these young people carve their future, a better society than what they found it. As a grandfather, i commit to do something concrete (like writing this column) to assist them to achieve their dreams and ideals. May the prince of peace, the Supreme Being bless their quest for a more peaceful planet.

That is my prayers and challenge to all who is reading this. *** Email: ernie.delfin@gmail.com Website: www.gkerc.org

www.gk1world.com

Of charmed lives “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York.”

— “Richard III” by William Shakespeare everything and trade up to a charmed life. But would you, if you knew the real score behind those deceptively airbrushed images of the charmed lives we see on TV and the rags we read?

We are sitting ducks open to negative suggestions we receive non-stop. We end up unhappy and dissatisfied with who we are, what we have and our place in the universe. We’re too fat, too short, too poor, too old. We don’t make enough. We drive clunkers. our clothes are passé. our nose bridge needs a lift; the chest is too flat; hair is too thin; skin is too sallow; our eyes need to be lasered; our teeth need whitening; our ears stick out; our behinds, too saggy. picture the word REJECT stamped on our pathetic, little foreheads if we were in a conveyor belt in an assembly line, as we head directly to the recycling bin unless we undergo a drastic makeover that will cost us plenty.

We look and read about the airbrushed lives of celebrities on the red carpet. We see them parading and preening in their pradas, Jimmy Choos, or Blahnik shoes, sheathed in thousand dollar Versace and Vera Wang gowns with décolletage showcasing ample natural or shored up cleavages, their gravity-defying faces tight with botox or nipped and tucked by a surgeon’s scalpel and dripping in Harry Winston gems, escorted by equally gorgeous hunks dressed to the nines in their Armanis, as media people buzz around them like flies around honey. And we’re hoodwinked to the vision of charmed lives.

Thankfully these days, our

eyes are being opened. TRUTH, like sunlight, is proving to be the greatest disinfectant. it turns out that many in Hollywood and other high profile figures are simply blown-up images of their own press releases as stories reveal them, even with their padded bank accounts and mega-sized homes, to be no better than the average Joe. in some instances, some are the scum of the earth. Some of the big names have been living seriously perverted lives while victimizing many in their industry for decades. imagine that God sees how unhappy you are, takes pity on you and he gives you access to His Celestial powerBook, with a database cataloging the lives of the past, present and future of the seven billion or so people that inhabit the world.

He permits you to type in the name of the person you would like to exchange your life with.

But lo and behold. You discover surprising twists and turns of character and fate. You discover dirt that has been airbrushed or little dark secrets edited out or given a new spin. You discover untold pain and suffering, the great equalizers, etched in every life.

That gorgeous, woman hiding behind a ready smile has a young daughter with cystic fibrosis and is going through a bitter divorce with a philandering husband. The goodlooking guy you thought was to die for is a closet pedophile cum sado-masochist. The distinguished couple you met who lacks for nothing, has a son languishing in Continued on Page 5

Liza Soberano hits back at netizens saying she’s not Pinoy enough Health@Heart

by Jan

Milo Severo

Philstar.com

february 23-march 1, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

Self-induced cancer

radiation from sunlight or tanning beds was associated KAPAMILYA actress Liza with 96 percent of skin cancers Soberano responded to netizens PhiliP S. Chua, in men and 94 percent in who were alleging that the chosen MD, FaCS, FPCS women,” according to the new cast of the upcoming ABS-CBn In the book on disease study. teleserye “Bagani” is not Filipino prevention at the cellular (DnA) Scary data on smoking enough. level, entitled, Let’s Stop “Killing” There are 4,000 chemicals In a recent tweet by Liza, our Children, I have highlighted (600 of them poisons, 69 she defended her co-stars in the tobacco and alcohol as the two cancer-causing) in every stick teleserye. major causes of most maladies of cigarette, toxic chemicals like “And who says we’re not Pinoy? known to man, including cancer. those found in paint stripper, My father is full Filipino. I was raised Besides those two risk toilet cleaner, rocket fuel, by two Filipinos since the age of 4. factors, I pointed out that lighter fuel, chemicals in moth I loooove sinigang I think that’s as Liza Soberano Photo from Instagram/@lizasoberano other unhealthy lifestyle balls, the poison used in the gas pinoy as pinoy can get,”“Bagani’s” behaviors and habits immensely chamber, and other toxins.

Ganda wrote in a post on her not look like pre-colonial Pinoys. contribute to the development Smoking causes almost Twitter account.

Liza’s mother is American while of many illnesses. The main 1/3 of all cancer deaths in the The post has been deleted as of Enrique Gil, her LizQuen love team ones among those are diet (too world. press time. partner and love interest in the much food intake) and (too little Smokeless tobacco Since ABS-CBn released the teleserye, hails from German and or no) exercise.

— 50 times worse than regular trailer of “Bagani,” netizens have Spanish ancestry. Matteo Guidicelli A report in new York cigarettes. mixed reactions on the teleserye. is also in the show and his father is published a new study of cancer Passive smoking is Some were excited because the Italian. in the United States, which responsible for about 6,000 trailer was action-packed and with The teleserye drew flak showed that “nearly half (50 lung cancers among nona good story line dating back to the coincidentally at around the same percent) of cancer deaths were smokers and 35,000 deaths from country’s pre-colonial period. Some, time as the trending of Marvel’s secondhand smoke-related however, were not satisfied because “Black Panther,” which pays homage caused by smoking, poor diet and other unhealthy behaviors.” diseases per year. the main characters allegedly do to African culture.

That’s even less than what has More than half a million are been reported more than three killed each year in the U.S. alone decades ago. Smoking had by smoking-related illnesses; 10 slowed down in the U.S. while times more than car accidents; From Page 4 to give it a fighting chance to obesity has dramatically gone 12 times more than AIDS. survive and thrive in the spring and up. jail. That tall, reed-thin Victoria’s And a lot more than all the summer. We ought do the same Secret lingerie model suffers from “Forty five percent of cancer military casualties in all wars in thing and winterize the garden bulimia. That hottie celebrity is deaths and 42 percent of this century put together. of our soul to keep it young and a wife beater and is in rehab for diagnosed cancer cases could One person in the U.S. dies hopeful. serious addictions. be attributed to modifiable risks of a heart attack every minute I wish I could say it’s easy. But You go through the entire factors,” according to this study. (mostly smokers). One dies of like anything that is worthwhile, universal data base frustrated and This means the risk factors other smoking-related illness somewhat relieved to find out that it takes time, patience, work, were not inherited or genetic, every 3 minutes! persistence and gumption. But we your own life with all its warts, is basically the result of unhealthy Smoking has orphaned just as bad or just as good as those could start with something basic. behavior and habits, like billions of children around the Upon waking up each day, of others and there’s no one you’d sedentary life, lack of exercise, globe, greater than all the wars we can psyche ourselves up with like to trade your life with, thank eating a lot of red meat, not combined has caused. an unfailing weapon of choice — you very much. eating enough vegetables Smokers die 13-14 years PRAYER. Personalized and heartfelt, and fruits, eating processed In most cases, the life we have earlier than non-smokers. it is our instant connection with the meats, alcohol abuse, sun is the life we would choose all The risk of dying from God of our being. These can merely exposure, and worst, smoking. over again. We just need to realize lung cancer among smokers be secular, positive affirmations that there’s always more to a story Regrettably, most of these compared to non-smokers: 22 of our own worth and place in and an image than meets the eye. deaths were preventable! times greater in men and 12 this life or it can be the simple Packaging can be mere illusion.

In 1981, a British research times greater among women. act of prayerful acceptance and What you see is not necessarily revealed that more than 2/3 Since 1950, lung cancer what you get, ergo, the need to dig thanksgiving for all that was, is and (or more than 66 percent) of deaths among women have deep. We are all programmed to go yet to come. cancer deaths were due to increased 600 percent.

Chances are, you’re already through great lengths to put up a those factors. Smoking was Smokers have three times living one heck of a charmed life deceptive front to hide the truth the number 1 risk, causing 29 risk of dying from heart attack. and you don’t even know it.

— either goaded by ego or the percent of deaths, followed by Tobacco use is the leading *** instinct for self-preservation. excess weight at 6.5 percent as a cause of preventable deaths.

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP cause of death, and alcohol use A self-respecting gardener Smoking kills 250 daily. of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send winterizes FC_JMC_35_AJPrintAd11p5x10p5in.pdf the grass and preps it at 4 percent.

At least 250 Filipinos die 2/22/18 12:46 AM comments,2 e-mail monette.maglaya@ for the cold, dark days of winter “Exposure to ultraviolet asianjournalinc.com each day — yes, each day

Of charmed lives

5

— or about 90,000 a year, from smoking-related illnesses, cardiovascular, pulmonary, metabolic diseases, and cancers, especially lung cancers. In Malaysia about 10,000, and Vietnam at least 40,000, die annually from tobacco-related conditions. Indonesia’s death toll is the worst: 400,000 a year.

The sad fact is that official global tobacco youth survey has revealed that the “smoking prevalence among Filipino youth had jumped and extrapolated to go even higher.”

Obviously, for political correctness and expediency, majority of our legislators in Congress prefer to protect the tobacco industry and allow tobacco to continue to kill our people. What money from the tobacco lobby can do!

Smoking kills. It is that plain and simple. There is no more doubt today that tobacco (cigarette smoking) is the predominant cause of lung cancer, besides other malignancies and cardiovascular diseases that maim, kill men and women and hurt our society, especially our children. In the United States alone, almost half a million die each year from smoking-related illnesses. These are preventable deaths! Demographic studies have shown that smokers are about 10 times more prone to die premature deaths than non-smokers. This unnecessary loss of lives is at an immense direct cost for non-smokers in terms of increased health risks from passive smoking, in higher health insurance premiums and taxes, not to mention personal and family tragedies in all shapes and forms.

As we have alluded to in a previous column, secondhand smoke is even more dangerous.

Innocent bystanders are forced to inhale cigarette smoke at their workplaces or in public places, thus increasing their health risk. The Environmental Protection Agency engineers have shown that even the best available ventilation and air-

moving equipment were unable to reduce carcinogenic (cancercausing) air contamination to a safe level for a non-smoker sharing work space with a habitual smoker.

Why governments around the world allow and protect an industry that victimizes and hooks their young, poisons and kills their people, is incomprehensible, however you look at it.

If you think about it, our government and those of other nations are peddling drugs (albeit addictive tobacco is a milder killer substance) in the name of profit, wantonly sacrificing their citizens’ health and future, shortening people’s lives, causing trillions of dollars or more of expenditures for research as to how to fight the habit, how to cure the tobaccoinduced illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, and cancer, etc.

This is plain stupidity.

The solution is obvious: Eliminate the cause, the poison!

Then, we don’t have to do expensive researches looking for the “antidote” or finding the cure, etc. Eliminating the cause would even reward us these added bonuses: a smokeless society, a healthier citizenry, a nobler nation, and a less polluted environment, ecologically friendlier to Mother Earth!

Unfortunately, the senseless global smoke-filled “killing field,” protected by governments, like in the Philippines, will continue. We, The People, should be fuming mad! *** 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

february 23-march 1, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

6

The Army ROTC program provides ambitious students with lasting personal and career benefits Fil-Am UCLA students describe a supportive community and constant inspiration as cadets in the ROTC program

by Klarize

Medenilla

Romeo Miguel, Recruiting Operations Officer at UCLA’s Army ROTC program

ROTC scholarship which she applied to her education at UCLA and expressed gratitude for the supportive community of the program.

“I think our programs’ bonding is very strong,” Guilyard shared with the Asian Journal at Army ROTC Night at UCLA on Friday, February 2. “Every person here knows each other, top to bottom and bottom to top. We are a really close family. I don’t think I could’ve gone through college and have the same meaningful experience without this program.”

An added benefit to being around such a supportive group of peers is the endless inspiration and motivation from other cadets and mentors, she noted. You’re never alone and will always have someone to rely on in ROTC. “You’re surrounded by people who are driven, and they say you are who your friends are. I think here at UCLA, everyone in our program is really close and it’s good to be around people who inspire you. We have a lot of positive influences and I really appreciate that.”

Filipino-American cadet Norman dela Fuente, a senior geography student with career aspirations in geographic information systems, mirrored Guilyard’s sentiments regarding the bonding that happens in ROTC. The 22-year-old dela Fuente — who hails from Quezon City, Philippines and moved to California in 2010 — joined the ROTC program at UCLA during his second year of college. He shared that the possibility of free tuition was a big incentive.

ROTC offers a wide range of scholarships and forms of financial assistance only offered to ROTC cadets, including But despite being initially attracted to the financial benefits, dela Fuente ended up staying

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

AJ Press

GOING to college is an exciting part of every young person’s life.

It’s a rite of passage for all young adults that signals the entrance into adulthood and teaches you responsibility.

For many students, it can be a struggle trying to balance all the aspects of school life, but various organizations on campus make it easier to acclimate oneself into the complex, often lonely life of a firsttime college student.

Students looking to develop and grow as an individual should consider the honorable Army Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), a program for undergraduate and graduate students that provides leadership and community-building training.

ROTC is designed for all

students regardless of their career aspirations. The rigorous, but fulfilling program teaches the necessary leadership skills that all hiring directors look for in prospective employees.

In addition to laying the brickwork for a successful postcollege career, ROTC provides a host of other benefits and encourages all its cadets to be the best they can be in all areas of their lives.

Filipina-American cadet Annie Guilyard was inspired by her father, an Army veteran, and her sister, an Army captain, to join ROTC. Following in her sister’s footsteps, Guilyard — a senior studying political science — enlisted in the Army and completed basic training between her junior and senior years.

She was awarded an Army

SERVICES

UCLA hosted its Army ROTC night at the Women’s Basketball Game on Friday, February 2 to honor the school’s ROTC program and commend those that choose a life in service. Before the game, ROTC cadets gathered at a special celebration at the Pauley Pavilion.

AJPress file photos

in ROTC for the friendships he’s cultivated and the supportive, communal environment.

“We’re all in this together and sometimes we complain about having to wake up at 5 in the morning to work out, but you look forward to seeing your friends, you know?” Dela Fuente said.

“Ultimately, you just feel happy to be there with all these people; it becomes like a family.”

In addition to building a support system of like-minded individuals, ROTC teaches young students the importance of time management and responsibility.

“When I came in as a freshman, I didn’t expect to be waking up at 5 a.m., but I had to change my schedule because of ROTC,” said Alexandra Laforteza, a sophomore Fil-Am cadet studying human biology and society. “Time management was one of the most challenging things I had to adapt to, but it’s definitely a huge benefit because it means I’ve adapted to the real world, which, of course, involves following a schedule and just being responsible with my time.”

Laforteza was inspired by her father, an Army officer, to become an Army officer herself. Once she got to UCLA, her dream school, she knew ROTC was going to have a positive impact in her personal life as well as her career aspirations.

“I’ve never been so mature as a college student, and I think ROTC is making me a lot more mature, especially in regards to time management; and, also the

Fil-Am cadets of UCLA’s Army ROTC program, (L-R) Norman dela Fuente, Annie Guilyard and Alexandra Laforteza

fact that I have a job coming out of college is pretty great. Because ROTC makes you plan out your future, I feel pretty set and it feels good to have a plan. ROTC definitely played a big role in that.”

In addition to UCLA, the Army ROTC program is open to students of Cal State Northridge, Cal State LA, Loyola Marymount University, Pepperdine University and Cal Lutheran. The program is open to students currently attending these universities as well as those planning to transfer from local community colleges.

SERVICES

After ROTC, cadets have a couple options: a full-time military career in active duty or join the reserves. Regardless of career path, ROTC has something to offer every student who is looking to go above and beyond during and after college.

For more information about the ROTC program, including eligibility and obligations, visit www.goarmy.com/rotc. For more information about the ROTC program at UCLA, visit www. milsci.ucla.edu/academics/ prospective-students.

february 23-march 1, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

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february 23-march 1, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

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