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FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 4, 2020

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

Volume 31 - No. 9 • 16 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 201 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

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

Fil-Am voters participate in Nevada caucuses for the first time Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders clinches win by wide margin

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

LAS VEGAS — When Filipino American Roberto Lugar arrived at Desert Oasis High School on Saturday morning, February 22 to participate in the Nevada Democratic caucuses for the first time, he was deciding between the two leading female candidates, Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)

Jab Buhay, a local photographer, was a Lugar, a retiree and six-year caucus precinct captain for former South resident of the city, said that he 24-year-old Kelsea Suarez, an incoming Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg at Desert was looking for someone who law student, caucused for the first time for Oasis High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, could defeat President Donald Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders on Saturday, February 22.

February 22.

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AJPress photos by Christina M. Oriel

US coalition holds protest in support of ABS-CBN franchise renewal

USA

DATELINE Filipina model, accusers hail Weinstein convictions FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

HARVEY Weinstein was convicted in New York on Monday, February 24 of sexual assault and rape, more than two years after allegations of the disgraced movie mogul’s sexual misconduct sparked the global #MeToo movement.

The 67-year-old was acquitted of the most serious charge of predatory sexual assault but faces a lengthy jail term.

The guilty verdicts were hailed as a landmark moment for the #MeToo movement, with accusers, activists and attorneys lining up to congratulate prosecutors.

Here is the best of the reactions: ‘Jumping for joy’ Ambra Battilana Gutierrez, a Filipina-Italian model who reported Harvey Weinstein to the New York Police Department in 2015 for allegedly groping her during a meeting at his

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DEFEND PRESS FREEDOM. Dozens of Filipino American community members flocked to the Philippine Center Building in downtown San Francisco on Tuesday, February 25 to protest the Duterte administration’s actions against broadcast giant ABS-CBN and its impending franchise expiration. Similar events were held in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York and coincided with the 34th commemoration of the People Power Revolution.

AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta

by JOSEPH

L. PERALTA

AJPress

This February 24, 2020 photo shows executives of ABS-CBN Corp. attending the Senate hearing on the broadcasting giant’s franchise.

Philstar.com photo by Geremy Pintolo

Poe: ABS-CBN hearing fair and objective

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

DESPITE her family connections to ABS-CBN, Philippine Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, February 26, said the network giant’s franchise hearing is fair and objective.

Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services which led the hearing, said the issue is within the committee’s jurisdiction as it handles “all matters affecting public services and utilities; communications; land, air, river and sea transportation including rail-

SAN FRANCISCO — A United States-based coalition, We Stand With ABS-CBN Coalition, held a protest rally on Tuesday, February 25 in front of the Philippine Center Building in downtown, which houses the Philippine Consulate General, in support of the franchise renewal efforts of Philippine network giant ABS-CBN Broadcasting Corporation.

The protest rally coincided with the 34th commemoration of the People Power Revolution, which brought down the Ferdinand Marcos regime and ended more than a decade of martial law in the Philippines.

The midday protest, attended by about 75 Filipino Americans, featured chants and a few speakers, with protesters holding placards and banners espousing press freedom and the hashtag #WeStandWith-

Trump administration’s expanded ‘public charge’ Democratic presidential candidate rule for immigrants Pete Buttigieg releases AAPI plan that takes effect u PAGE 5

AFTER several legal battles, the Trump administration’s changes to the public charge rule that could deny legal permanent residency status to certain immigrants if they are likely to require government assistance in the future took effect on Monday, February 24.

The public charge rule, originally published by the Department of Homeland Security in August 2019, expands the test immigration officials use on immigrants to determine whether or not government programs will become their sole source of financial, nutritional and shelter support.

Ken Cuccinelli, acting deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, hailed the expansion as President Donald Trump delivering on his “promise to the American people to enforce our nation’s immigration laws.”

“This rule enforces longstanding law requiring aliens to be self-sufficient, reaffirming the American ideals of hard work, perseverance and determination. It also offers

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ABSCBN, all under the watchful eyes of members of the San Francisco Police Department.

In a joint statement a coalition of community organizations — which includes the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), Asian Community of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (ACCNMI), U.S. Pinoys for Good Governments (USPGG), DAMAYAN Migrant Workers Association, Filipino American Human Rights Alliance (FAHRA) and Fil-Am Journalists and Communication Professionals of The Fil-Am Press Club of New York (FAPCNY) — denounced the Philippine government’s actions aimed “at shutting down the Philippines’ largest media conglomerate, ABS-CBN, and its U.S. subsidiary, The Filipino Channel (TFC).”

The coalition’s statement likened Duterte’s actions to those of Marcos. It added that the

broadcast giant “has been a champion of Philippine democracy and in upholding and promoting the democratic rights of the Filipino people, both in the Philippines and in the Filipino diaspora.” TFC, it said, has been crucial in delivering news to Fil-Ams and “in championing the rights of Filipino World War II veterans, and in the political empowerment of the community.”

“We deplore Duterte’s move by a farcical quo warranto action in the Philippine Supreme Court to shut down ABS-CBN and cause the unemployment of its 11,000 workers. This move will drive a stake through the heart of Philippine democracy,” the statement said, adding a call for Filipino communities across the U.S. and globally to protest the Duterte administration’s actions against

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would disaggregate data, restore Filipino WWII Veterans Parole Program

by CHRISTINA

M. ORIEL

AJPress

Democratic presidential candidate and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg (center) met with AAPI labor leaders in Las Vegas during a town hall on Friday, December 20, 2019.

AJPress file photo by Robert Macabagdal

DEMOCRATIC presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg released an extensive plan on Wednesday, February 26 addressing issues facing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) populations, from disaggregating data to restoring the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program.

The plan, “Belonging, Opportunity, Empowerment: An Agenda for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders,” covers the education, economic, health and immigration concerns of AAPIs, considered the fastest-growing

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Senator Leila De Lima

Philstar.com photo

List of De Lima’s ‘persecutors’ sent to US

The senator sent the United States embassy a list of Philippine government officials in question, SEVERAL Philippine govern- her chief media officer Ferdie ment officials have been recom- Maglalang confirmed Tuesday, mended to be banned from the February 25.

Earlier this year, De Lima said United States for reportedly being involved in Senator Leila de she was in the process of comLima’s detention, according to pleting the list of her so-called the senator’s office. u PAGE 5

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

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

february 27-march 4, 2020 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

From The FronT Page

Trump administration’s expanded ‘public charge’...

PAGE 1

clarity and expectations to aliens considering a life in the United States and will help protect our public benefit programs,” Cuccinelli said in a statement.

The implementation comes a month after the conservativeleaning Supreme Court ruled in favor of the administration’s request to lift a lower court injunction that blocked the policy

change from proceeding last October.

The new regulation does not affect those who already have green cards. However, if a legal immigrant uses one or more designated benefits for more than 12 months of a 36-month period, he or she may be deemed a “public charge,” which could threaten chances at getting a green card or lawful permanent resident

status.

Under the test, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) officers will consider an applicant’s age, income, health and education, among other factors.

The changes now look at whether a person has used or is likely to use programs like most forms of Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Section 8 housing vouchers and assistance.

The previous criteria only counted cash assistance, such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Social Security Income (SSI), or institutional care paid for by Medicaid, as grounds for public charge.

The Department of Homeland Security won’t consider certain benefits, such as the national school lunch programs, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, subsidies for foster care and adoption, and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.

Some Medicaid benefits will be excluded, including those received by individuals under 21 years of age and pregnant women, those in connection with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and treatment of an “emergency medical condition.”

With around 544,000 individuals who apply for green cards each year, 382,000 of them are in categories that would fall under the expanded test, the Associated Press said in a report.

More than 260,000 public comments were filed in response to the proposed rule, a majority of which were in opposition. Advocacy groups have sounded the alarm on the new regulation, arguing that it is another attempt by the current administration to limit legal immigration.

“We condemn these racist policies, which seek to dramatically undermine the family-based immigration system that has been the backbone of our country and instead prioritizes wealthy and white immigrants,” Asian Americans Advancing Justice, an affiliation of five civil rights organizations, said in a statement on Monday. “The public charge rule change continues the administration’s inhumane assault on immigrant families by PAGE A5

Caucusgoers check in at Desert Oasis High School in Las Vegas on Saturday, February 22 before they participated in the process.

Fil-Am voters participate in...

PAGE 1

Trump in the general election.

Holding a green t-shirt that said “Klobuchar can beat Donald Trump,” which he got from a campaign volunteer stationed at the school, Lugar reasoned that he would align with the Minnesota senator because she’s an “underdog” and continues to fight in the race.

“I liked Warren at first but I’ve been thinking about how she would get money to pay for her plans like Medicare [For All],” he told the Asian Journal. “So I want someone more realistic.

But at the end of the day, we have to get Trump out.”

Also waiting in line was Annie Juico, a first-time caucusgoer and retiree who was motivated after experiencing the policies of the current administration, especially in terms of immigration and health care.

“I hope other Filipinos came out to save this country. It’s not just the Philippines we need to save. We have to save the United States as well since we live here now,” Juico said, though not revealing her preferred Democratic candidate.

About 105,000 Nevada voters participated in the state’s caucuses, nearly 75,000 of whom turned out for in-person early voting period. The four day voting period, which allowed caucusgoers to rank their top three and up to five preferred presidential candidates, recorded a historic turn out for the state as voting locations were placed in convenient locations, such as casinos, community centers and libraries.

From those voter numbers, about 49.8% of Asian Americans turned out for Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders — who declared the winner of the cau-

Campaign signs for Sen. Bernie Sanders and former VP Joe Biden were translated in Tagalog, while the Warren campaign handed out AAPI for Warren pins and signs.

AJPress photos by Chritina M. Oriel

cuses with a wide 46.8% of the vote — according to analysis of Asian American voters from 23 Clark County precincts by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center and Latino Policy and Politics Institute.

One of the Filipina Americans who cast her vote for the Vermont senator was 24-year-old Kelsea Suarez, an incoming law school student.

“Out of all the candidates, I think he’s the most progressive plus his track record is really strong and his values align with mine,” Suarez told the Asian Journal.

With a Democratic primary debate held in the city a few days

before, she had hoped more of the candidates recognized the growing Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the state, given that Filipinos are the largest AAPI ethnic group at 168,200 residents.

“I wish they talked more about issues that we care about — that definitely could have been a really good strategy for them, especially because Filipino Americans tend to be more apolitical in a sense” Suarez added. “Also they could have talked about the education system here in Nevada, which has consistently ranked low nationally.”

The UCLA analysis also found PAGE 5

Filipina model, accusers hail Weinstein...

PAGE 1 Tribeca office, reacts outside of court to the news that Weinstein was found guilty of a criminal sexual act and third degree rape on February 24.

In an interview with Court TV, Gutierrez said that she feels “happiness, pure happiness” for the verdict.

“Just jumping for joy! This was the verdict that I was really wishing for not just for myself but for a positive outcome and experience to everything, so we can move forward the conversation, so that things like this should not get to this point,” she said in the video interview posted on her Twitter page.

Ambra was a Miss Italy finalist.

She also competed at the Century Tuna Superbods competition in Manila in 2016 and won as a runner-up.

‘Collective healing’ Actress Ashley Judd, one of the first Weinstein accusers to go public with her allegations, thanked the six women who told the high-profile trial that the exHollywood titan had sexually assaulted them.

“For the women who testified in this case, and walked through traumatic hell, you did a public service to girls and women everywhere, thank you. #ConvictWeinstein #Guilty,” she wrote on Twitter.

Actress Ellen Barkin simply named them.

“Right now Harvey Weinstein is on his way to prison. These are the women who put him away...

Mimi Haleyi, Jessica Mann, Annabella Sciorra, Dawn Dunning, Lauren Young, Tarale Wulff,” she tweeted.

High-profile accuser Rose McGowan tweeted: “Today is a powerful day & a huge step forward in our collective healing.”

Italian actress and director Asia Argento, who told the New Yorker magazine that Weinstein raped

Filipina-Italian model Ambra Battilana

her in 1997, posted a photo of herself and another woman on Instagram.

“Harvey Weinstein is now a convicted rapist. Two survivors cry and celebrate. Thank you God,” she wrote alongside it.

Actress Rosanna Arquette paid tribute on Twitter to “the brave women who’ve testified and to the jury for seeing through the dirty tactics of the defense.”

Tarana Burke, founder of the #MeToo movement, said in a statement: “The implications reverberate far beyond Hollywood and into the daily lives of all of us in the rest of the world.”

Sciorra lament Gloria Allred, attorney for Sciorra and Haleyi, told reporters outside court that, “It’s no longer business as usual in the United States.”

“This is the age of empowerment of women, and you cannot intimidate them anymore, because women will not be silenced,” she said.

“They will speak up, they will have their voice, they will stand up and be subjected to your small army of defense attorneys crossexamining them, attempting to

Photo from Instagram/@ambrabgutierrez

discredit them,” Allred added.

Some took to social media to express regret that the jury failed to convict Weinstein of predatory sexual assault based on the testimony of “The Sopranos” actress Annabella Sciorra.

She testified that Weinstein raped her almost 30 years ago as the prosecution sought to portray him as a career sexual predator.

“HARVEY WEINSTEIN HAS BEEN HANDCUFFED & TAKEN TO JAIL!” tweeted actress Rosie Perez, who testified on Sciorra’s behalf during the trial.

“GUTTED FOR MY DEAR FRIEND #ANNABELLASCIORRA WHO TOLD THE TRUTH! YET I CONGRATULATE HER & ALL WHO CAME FORWARD FOR THEIR BRAVERY. THIS IS NOT ENOUGH BUT SURVIVORS TAKE COURAGE! THIS IS STILL A GREAT WIN!” she wrote. “#IBelieveAnnabellaSciorra,” actress Alyssa Milano wrote on Twitter.

Journalist and former Miss America Gretchen Carlson simply tweeted: “I hope the handcuffs are tight...” (Deni Rose M. Afinidad-Bernardo/Philstar.com with reports from AFP)

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Democratic presidential candidate Pete...

PAGE 1

racial group in the country.

“For far too long, the challenges facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been sidestepped by Washington,” the former South Bend, Indiana mayor said in a statement.

Acknowledging current data collection practices that clump groups together and fail to get the nuances and challenges each one faces, the plan calls on federal agencies to separate data for specific AAPI and Native Hawaiian populations.

“As president, I’ll take my lead from community leaders and center their voices in the critical work of empowering AAPI families,” Buttigieg added.

Dispelling the “model minority” myth, Buttigieg’s plan would disaggregate data to look at the barriers to learning — from early childhood to higher education — across AAPI groups. With 15% of Asian American children considered dual language learners, the presidential hopeful would increase the number of programs and instructors for “culturally responsive education.” The data will also look at incidences of AAPI students being bullied and access to counseling.

“His administration will mandate data disaggregation for AAPI students and include data on topics like access to counseling, experiences with school discipline, and instances of bullying,” the agenda said.

Unlike fellow presidential candidate Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders whose central campaign promise Medicare for All calls for a single-payer, national health insurance program, Buttigieg’s

answer is “Medicare for All Who Want It,” which gives individuals the choice to opt into an affordable public alternative to health care and incentivizes private insurers to bring down costs.

“The public plan will provide self-employed AAPIs, such as small business owners, with a new affordable insurance option and push private insurers to compete on price and quality.

Americans on private insurance, including 72% of Chinese Americans and 78% of Filipino Americans, will be able to keep their plan if it works well for them,” according to the plan.

Buttigieg’s agenda also mentions research investments into the health issues that affect the various AAPI groups, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes in the Fil-Am population, access to screenings to reduce the number of preventable deaths, and reducing the costs of prescription drugs, especially insulin.

The former mayor has been endorsed by a handful of AAPI elected officials, including Filipino Americans Christopher Cabaldon, mayor of West Sacramento, California, and El Cerrito Councilmember Gabriel Quinto.

“Whether our families arrived here two weeks or two centuries ago, as AAPIs we’re either invisible or scapegoats in American politics. That’s why Pete’s plan is the bold action we need to reverse the systemic effects of colonization, exclusion, internment, confiscation, and hate violence at the core of enduring discrimination and inequality faced by AAPIs,” Cabaldon wrote in an email to the Asian Journal.

A volunteer for Buttigieg’s presidential campaign holds up an “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders for Pete” sign at a get out the caucus rally in Las Vegas on Friday, January 21.

AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

Dateline USa

The agenda released on Wednesday broadly notes the contributions AAPI immigrants have made on American society, including a mention of Filipino labor leader Philip Vera Cruz, who helped to found the United Farm Workers. The immigration plan promises a reversal of current Trump administration policies, making naturalization more affordable for the over 1.5 million AAPIs eligible for U.S. citizenship, and increasing prosecution efforts to break up human and drug trafficking networks, as trafficking victims in the U.S. are largely Filipino.

Addressing the Trump administration’s termination of the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole Program, Buttigieg said he would restore it to allow family members to be reunited and provide care for the surviving veterans in the U.S. (The Trump administration announced in August 2019 that it would end the program following an executive order on border security and immigration enforcement that called for determining parole on a “case-by-case basis.”)

“I think it highlights general democratic values, reverses some current administration policies and addresses what’s important for communities of color,” Melissa Ramoso, state chair of the California Democratic Party’s Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, told the Asian Journal after reading Buttigieg’s plan.

However, she had questions about how the former mayor would go about simplifying the process for the lawful permanent residents seeking citizenship and visa backlogs as many Filipino families are still waiting to come to the U.S. nearly three decades later.

“Albeit a bit late, I’m happy Mayor Buttigieg put something in writing. All candidates should have a plan for the AAPI community and recognize we matter as much as any other community,” Ramoso added.

Buttigieg’s plan comes six days before the March 3 Super Tuesday primaries, when 14 states will be casting their ballots. One of them will be California, where AAPIs make up 20% of the electorate, according to a fact sheet from APIA Vote and AAPI Data also released on Wednesday.

“As I talk with fellow Filipino Americans—and Americans of Chinese, Indian, Korean, Japa-

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27-mARch 4, 2020

Protesters hold up signs standing in solidarity with thousands of ABS-CBN workers globally who will be affected if the franchise is not renewed.

AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta

US coalition holds protest in support...

PAGE 1

press freedom.

Coalition spokesperson Atty.

Rodel Rodis and other community members told the Asian Journal that there is a lot at stake with this issue.

“This will send a devastating message to people that you cannot oppose Duterte because look what Duterte will do to you, like what he’s doing to ABS-CBN. It’s one thing to shut down Rappler, which is a small press entity. It’s another thing to shut down ABS-CBN,” Rodis said. “So he already has the Congress, the House, the Senate. He can do whatever he wants right now. And if we allow it to continue further, whatever few liberties we have, then we’re going to lose it all. So we’re determined to stop it.”

Emil de Guzman, who attended the event to emphasize the plight of murdered journalists and what he feels is an attack on press freedom, said, “If we don’t do anything to stand our ground now, to ensure that they will stop this, the next one will be somebody else… it’s like a domino effect. They think they will have that sense of authority and power.” De Guzman added that feels that the majority of Filipinos are being held hostage by a small clique in government.

Fr. Mark Reburiano of St. Gregory Church in San Mateo, PAGE 5 who read a passage from the Let-

ter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, told the Asian Journal that having differing opinions on issues should be welcomed. According to Fr. Reburiano, St. Paul is the patron saint of mass media.

“It’s always good to be able to have some disagreements or some arguments in order for us to search for the truth. And if we just shut down one company because they are not aligned with our ideas, or they disagree with us, that’s unjust… Freedom of speech would mean also we fight for the truth. And we try to get the truth and we unravel the truth,” Reburiano said, while adding that many of the network’s subscribers, who are also his parishioners, have told him that they believe that ABS-CBN is balanced when it comes to its presentation of news and stories.

Dorie Paniza, who is a member of a few organizations and is an Arts and Culture Commissioner in Daly City, is hopeful that, in the end, ABS-CBN will get its franchise renewed by the Philippine Congress as the company sponsors many activities, including humanitarian in nature, and is a community stalwart.

“I really support ABS-CBN/ TFC because they are really a big help to us, especially to the seniors. And not only to the seniors, but also to the community of Filipinos. Especially when we have disasters, they are there to

support without asking for money, with their manpower and by [providing] advertisements.

That’s a really big help to the Filipino community, especially in the Philippines,” Paniza said, citing the recent involvement of Bantay Bata Foundation in coordinating donations to the recent Taal Volcano victims and ABS-CBN’s efforts in connecting the fruits of their fundraising efforts to institutions back in the Philippines.

Paniza supports a franchise renewal since she sees how ABS-CBN programs, via TFC, keep seniors abreast of the goings-on in the Philippines and give them motivation.

“When I ask seniors, they say it’s their therapy watching the ABS-CBN programs,” Paniza as she was slightly overcome with emotion. “Every time I meet with them at 1 p.m., they tell me about the story of a movie or a teleserye. They say, ‘Oh what happened to Coco Martin?’ or what happened to this or that actor or actress. It’s like their own therapy… it is just like they are not missing the Philippines.”

The Asian Journal reached out to the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco for a statement regarding the issue and the protest rally. Consul Vanessa Bago-Llona replied via email that the Consulate has no comment on this matter.

february 27-march 4, 2020 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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Dateline USa

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Film on Filipino nurses debuts to celebrate launch of Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies

by AJPress A SHORT film highlighting Filipino nurses and their contributions to the labor movement was screened over the weekend to celebrate the launch of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies at UC Davis in Sacramento, California.

Co-hosted by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses United (CNA/NNU) on Saturday, Feb. 22, “The Strength of Many” by Emmy-winning director Marissa Aroy chronicles the Filipino nurse experience as seen through the eyes of nurse labor activists.

The screening was held at UC Davis’ Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing and featured remarks from Aroy; Robyn Rodriguez, chair of the university’s Asian American Studies and director of the Bulosan Center; Zenei Cortez, president of California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United; and Bonnie Castillo, executive director of NNU and CNA/NNOC. Aroy previously produced and directed “The Delano Manongs” about Filipino farm labor activist Larry Itliong and other Filipino activists who took part in the Delano Grape Strike of 1965.

Introducing the 13-minute film was Cortez — a registered nurse for over 40 years advocating for workplace democracy and patient advocacy — who said that the Bulosan Center was a fitting place to screen it given that 20% of California’s registered nurses workforce is of Filipino descent.

It is named after Carlos Bulosan, a poet, writer, and labor activist known for his book, “American Is in the Heart.”

“Carlos Bulosan was a labor leader who met a lot of opposition and discrimination during his lifetime, much like the stories of nurses who were interviewed in the film,” Cortez told the Asian Journal.

Registered nurses featured in Marissa Aroy’s “The Strength of Many” — Gina Macalino, Jane Sandoval, Dahlia Tayag, and California Nurses Association/National Nurses United President Zenei Cortez — speak about their experiences in fighting for nurses’ rights ahead of the film’s debut at the UC Davis Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing on Saturday, February 22. Robyn Rodriguez, professor and chair of the Department of Asian American Studies at UC Davis and director of the Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies is also pictured (far right).

Photo courtesy of National Nurses United

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27-mARch 4, 2020

Fil-Am voters participate in...

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that former Vice President Biden came in second with Asian American voters at 22.5%, followed by former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg at 12% and Warren at 10.6%.

Overall, Biden came in second place with 20.2%, with Buttigieg trailing at 14.3%, Warren at 9.7%, businessman Tom Steyer at 4.7% and Klobuchar at 4.2%, based on the Nevada Democratic Party’s reporting of 100% of the precincts. Nevada has a total of 36 delegates for grabs.

For Jab Buhay, a photographer by profession, he showed up as a precinct captain at the high school for Buttigieg because he believes the former mayor represents the older millennial generation.

“He sees the world the way I see it, where he’s thinking of 2054 and how the world would be and how he can be a part of that change,” Buhay said of Buttigieg, praising the candidate’s call for unity. “The way he tries to unite people more than denigrate other candidates, other people or even Trump supporters is a breath of fresh air.”

An 18-year-old Filipina American high school student, who asked not to be identified, also

archive and oral history projects, and start an annual national conference on Filipino studies.

Among the center’s programs is the Welga! Filipino American Digital Archive, an online archive that serves as the center’s informational repository, and is free for researchers. The archive was established in 2014 and currently has collections primarily on Filipino American labor history, but will expand to include research material on other aspects of the PAGE 3 Fil-Am experience such as immigration, culture, neighborhoods nese, Vietnamese, Southeast and historic buildings, the work- Asian, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian ancestry—we see force, and veterans.

Other planned projects men- in Pete Buttigieg a president tioned at the center’s opening who will turn the page on invislast year included an oral history ibility and usher in a new era of project called “Preserving Cali- belonging,” Cabaldon added. fornia’s Historic Filipino Ameri- “As more than a third of Amercan Sites,” which will conduct ica’s AAPI voters go to the polls interviews to record and preserve on Super Tuesday, Pete’s plan the movements, successes, and is a must-read for how the next experiences of those who have president can help uplift our worked to preserve and promote communities.”

In the 2018 Asian American their Fil-Am communities.

UC Davis has about 1,800 Fil- Voter Survey, 50% of Asian Americans reported that they reAm students. ceived no contact or were unsure if they received contact about the election from the Democratic party.

But in the past year ahead of “I am not interested to know mer Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre, Davao del Norte Rep. who are in her list... I trust that major nominating contests, inPantaleon Alvarez, public attor- the U.S State Department will ex- cluding the Nevada caucuses on ney’s office chief Persida Acosta, ercise its own independent eval- February 22, Democratic hopeand former Lower House legisla- uation and exercise prudence fuls have courted AAPI voters tors Reynaldo Umali and Rudy and circumspection,” he said in — who as a whole have not rallied behind one particular candiFarinas, according to the Philip- a statement.

In December, U.S. President date — through meet and greet pine Star.

Cortez is the first Filipina president of CNA, which has 100,000 members, and is the only Filipina president of a national labor union in the United States.

She added, “As our stories are told, I am hoping that we, too, can inspire the younger generation, so that they strive to always do better, continue to make a name for the Filipino Americans, and keep the ‘bayanihan’ spirit alive.”

The Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies, which received $1 million in California state funding last fall, was launched in October 2018 with the goal of continuing Bulosan’s legacy through education, advancing research, and promoting advocacy for both contemporary and historical issues faced by Filipinos both in the U.S. and abroad.

With the funding, the center plans to hire staff, support graduate students, launch a major national survey on Filipino American health and well-being, continue research on Filipino migrant workers, expand the digital

De Lima said that her list is only a recommendation, adding that the U.S. State Department still has the final decision to implement the ban.

“With or without my list, they (U.S.) are mandated to come up with a list,” the detained senator said.

Philippine Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra responded that he trusts the call of the U.S. government.

Donald Trump signed the 2020 U.S. federal budget, which included a provision prohibiting the entry of foreign government officials involved in the “wrongful imprisonment” of De Lima.

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, has been detained since 2017 for her alleged involvement in the proliferation of illegal drugs in the New Bilibid Prisons during her stint as justice secretary.

Poe: ABS-CBN hearing fair and...

PAGE 1 roads, inter-island navigation, and lighthouses; and the grant or amendment of legislative franchises.”

She also said that she remained objective throughout the hearing, giving all parties the chance to speak.

“Number 1: I am the chairman of the Committee on Public Services. Number 2: It’s no secret the business relationship of my family with ABS-CBN. Number 3: I am only one of 24 senators.

Whatever I say, even if I am for it or against it, if the majority will not side with my opinion, it will not prevail,” Poe said during an interview with ANC’s “Headstart.”

She added, “The chairman of a hearing will allow everyone to speak. We were the ones, I in particular, made sure that the [Federation of International Cable TV Associations of the Philippines], the ones against the renewal of the ABS-CBN franchise [were] invited.”

Poe’s mother, Susan Roces, is an actress who appears in “FPJ’s Ang Probinsyano,” while her father, the late Fernando Poe Jr., was the “FPJ” in the series’ title.

He also starred in the movie “Ang probinsyano.”

ABS-CBN cleared of allegations At the hearing on Monday,

February 24, the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) said ABS-CBN fully complied with the tax requirements of the government.

According to Simplicio Cabantac Jr, BIR Large Taxpayers Service head, the network has been regularly filing and paying taxes for the past number of years.

He also said that ABS-CBN paid at least P14.398 billion in income tax payments from 2009 to 2018.

Meanwhile, former ABS-CBN corporate services head Mark Nepomuceno revealed that network was cleared by the Department of Labor and Employment for its compliance with general labor standards, occupational safety and health, and security of tenure.

He told the Senate that ABSCBN has a total of 11,071 workers — all of whom get “above the mandated benefits of the government.”

Telecommunications Commissioner Gamaliel Cordoba, for his part, said ABS-CBN has no standing penalties with the National Telecommunications Communications (NTC), quoting Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra who said franchise laws cover “commercial purposes,” such as the offering of a pay-perview service. “[It is] hereby granted a franchise to construct, operate, and maintain, for commercial pur-

came out for Buttigieg after attending his rally the night before at Faiss Middle School.

“I didn’t know much about his campaign but after listening to him, I liked his views and where he was coming from,” she said.

“What struck me the most how he talked about climate change because I feel like a lot of politicians are not paying enough attention to this issue.”

Though Warren came in fourth, she had staunch supporters in the local Fil-Am community, one of whom is Ninna Diaz, who also volunteered with the campaign outside of work.

Ahead of the caucus, Diaz told the Asian Journal she would caucus for the Massachusetts senator because “she’s the best person to get the job done.”

“She genuinely listens to minorities and doesn’t use or see us as props. The AAPI community is one that’s often overlooked and ignored,” Diaz said. “[She] uses her platform to empower members of the AAPI community by letting us speak, ensuring that there’s space for us, and making plans to improve our lives.”

Fil-Am Gloria Caoile, a longtime labor leader and civic engagement activist who endorsed Warren, added “it matters who

poses,” read Section 1 of Republic Act 7908, which allows ABSCBN Convergence’s broadcast operations.

Apology accepted During the Monday hearing, ABS-CBN Corp President and CEO Carlo Katigbak apologized to President Rodrigo Duterte for airing former Senator Antonio Trillanes IV’s political ad that featured clips of Duterte using foul language and making offensive gestures.

Duterte said he has accepted the apology.

“I accept the apology, of course,” the president said Wednesday.

He also vowed that he will not interfere in the network’s franchise renewal.

“But fundamentally, really, ang (the) decision nasa (is with the) House ngayon (now), not so much of the Senate because the Constitution says all of these things must originate from the Lower House. Forget about all these hullabaloo,” he said.

“The critical move is in the House and I tell you I am not going to interfere. Wala talaga ako (I really won’t),” he added.

Duterte also told ABS-CBN to donate the remaining P2.6 million to charity that the network owes him for the ads it failed to air during the 2016 national elections.

events, tours of small businesses and in-language outreach materials. Buttigieg held events with AAPIs in Las Vegas, including a dinner with the AAPI Democratic Caucus and a town hall with local community organizations.

Sanders launched the national AAPIs for Bernie organizing program last fall, while the campaigns of Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and former Vice President Joe Biden have also released formal agendas on AAPI issues earlier this month.

Author and journalist Jeff Yang acknowledged that having major presidential candidates release plans to uplift AAPI communities is a huge step, but highlighted the contrasts between Buttigieg and Warren’s plans.

“But the differences between Elizabeth Warren’s plan and Pete Buttigieg’s speak directly to the differences between the candidates themselves,” Yang, who co-organized a list of over 150 AAPIs backing Warren, told the

increasing denials of green card applicants.”

About 17.8% of Asians and Pacific Islanders were said to have used government assistance programs in an average month, according to U.S. Census Bureau data released in 2015.

Geraldine Alcid, executive director of Filipino Advocates for Justice in Oakland, California, said that while the public charge expansion is “heartbreaking,” the organization will continue to

fight for immigrant rights.

“While the public charge ruling is heartbreaking with lasting impact to our community, our spirits are not broken. In fact, we’re emboldened to continue to fight as we hold our vision for justice and equity and make our voices heard this November,” Alcid told the Asian Journal.

Non-cash benefits, such as Medicaid, SNAP, HUD public housing, and Section 8 housing, received before February 24, 2020 will not be considered in

the public charge determination.

Exemptions to the public charge grounds of inadmissibility include refugees, asylees, certain T and U nonimmigrant visa applicants, and certain self-petitioners under the Violence Against Women Act, the USCIS said.

Immigrants applying for citizenship or naturalized citizens are not impacted by the changes as well. (Christina M. Oriel/AJPress)

Asian Journal. He argued that Warren’s plan, which also calls for data disaggregation, was framed more as a “civil rights issue” and that the data would help determine better, individualized solutions for the various communities.

“Buttigieg’s plan elevates corporate CEOs like Indra Nooyi and Andrea Jung, and emphasizes education and economic empowerment as a one-sizefits-all answer for AAPIs,” Yang said. “While our communities welcome this kind of investment like all Americans do, this approach just doesn’t show the depth of engagement and understanding of our breadth of needs and aspirations that Warren’s does. We’re here. We’re the fastest-growing population in America. We deserve better than slogans and promises: We need candidates who immerse themselves in our communities, and genuinely care about our diversity.”

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Trump administration’s expanded ‘public charge’...

PAGE 1

our Democratic presidential nominee is. Selecting that nominee with our friends, neighbors, and communities is what makes the caucuses special. I want a nominee who believes immigrants make our country stronger, that access to affordable health care is a must, and no matter who we love, how we worship, or how we look, we have an equal opportunity to reach the American dream.

Leading up to Saturday’s caucuses, the various Democratic presidential campaigns have courted AAPI voters — who make up 11% of the electorate, according to APIA Vote and AAPI Data — through culturally relevant events and in-language caucus training sessions. This year’s caucus also included materials in Tagalog.

Though the dozens of Fil-Ams the Asian Journal spoke did not overwhelmingly rally behind one candidate, participating in the process was their way of getting one step closer to the common goal of changing leadership in the White House.

“Even with the rain, it’s great to see people coming out because we know that we’re all on the same side,” Buhay said. “It’s just we’re reading different stories right now.”

Democratic presidential candidate Pete...

List of De Lima’s ‘persecutors’ sent...

PAGE 1 persecutors “complete with a summary and citation of references justifying their inclusion.”

The detained senator submitted her list to the U.S. government around the second week of January. Though she refused to disclose the names and how many they are, De Lima said she “justified each and every name on why they are part of my persecution, as reported by Rappler.

Previous reports stated that President Rodrigo Duterte and his spokesperson, Salvador Panelo, topped the initial list of those who should be banned from the U.S. The senator also included Solicitor General Jose Calida, for-

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6

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

FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 4, 2020 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Still a work in progress

FEATURES

THE nation commemorates the 1986 people power revolution today with the country’s largest broadcast network facing possible closure chiefly because it has incurred the ire of the top official of the land.

ABS-CBN’s president and CEO publicly apologized on Monday, February 24 after it was revealed at a Senate inquiry that the chief executive resented the broadcast network’s “unfair reporting” and airing of an anti-Duterte political ad during the 2016 presidential campaign, and then failing to air his own ad to rebut the attack.

At the same inquiry, the National Telecommunications Commission explained that ownership issues raised against ABS-CBN are gray areas that have yet to be settled amid a rapidly evolving media and telecommunications landscape.

The NTC explanation provides fodder to those who see the travails of ABS-CBN — which was seized by the Marcos dictatorship during martial law — as a serious threat to press freedom. It fuels concerns that 34 years after the people power revolt, the country is in danger of sliding back to authoritarian rule.

The administration has dismissed such fears as baseless fake news bordering on paranoia. President Duterte has often vowed that he does not intend to spend a moment longer in power than

what is allowed by law, and that in fact he is prepared to leave office any time, even ahead of schedule.

There are Filipinos who have been disillusioned by people power, mainly because the revolt failed to bring about the expected dramatic reforms.

Corruption has become endemic; human rights are violated with impunity; cronyism is galloping back. Democratic institutions remain fragile and the country remains controlled by a miniscule elite. The frustration with democracy has made Filipinos accept short cuts to law enforcement and embrace populism.

But the revolt is a work in progress, and building a strong democracy does not happen overnight. The significance of the seemingly impossible feat that was accomplished in those four days in February 1986 cannot be diminished by the disappointments. Thirty-four years after Filipinos restored democracy in a peaceful uprising, the saying holds true: the price of freedom is eternal vigilance. And building a strong, dynamic and free republic requires a lot of hard work. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS PERJURY is the intentional act of swearing a false oath or falsifying an affirmation to tell the truth, whether spoken or in writing, concerning matters material to an official proceeding.

It is considered a serious offense, as it can be used to usurp the power of the courts, resulting in the miscarriages of justice.

On Monday, February 24, ABS-CBN was finally given the chance to address allegations of franchise violations, among others, circulated by no less than the supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte before the franchise of the broadcasting network is set to expire on March 30.

Despite more than 11 bills waiting to be heard in the House of Representatives, and despite the public threats by the president himself to shut down the broadcasting company echoed by his minions of adoring fans and ever-loyal followers, House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano determined the issue of the renewal of the franchise of ABSCBN as not an urgent matter.

This is unlike a charter change, as his statements suggested to be of paramount importance that the lawmakers should be prioritizing.

The Senate asserted its oversight function and held this hearing, notwithstanding the gag order filed by Solicitor

Philstar.com photo

ABS-CBN’s case: Believe facts delivered under oath and not lies and fabrications peddled on social media General Jose Calida to silence ABS-CBN and its people — and arguably, even the Senate itself — over alleged franchise violations of the broadcasting network.

As reported by ABS-CBN News, “Senate Minority leader Franklin Drilon cited a 25-year old Supreme Court ruling that said the Senate could tackle bills simultaneously with the House of Representatives.”

This is a principle being challenged by Cayetano.

“The Supreme Court squarely ruled that there is nothing in the Constitution that prohibits the filing of counterpart bills in the Senate as long as the filing of a committee report in the body is withheld,” Drilon said. Senate Chairwoman of the Committee on Public Information and Mass Media Sen. Grace Poe said simultaneous hearings would make the process even faster.

ABS-CBN News reported that in his opening statement, ABSCBN President and Chief Executive Officer Carlo L. Katigbak maintained under oath that “it did not violate any of the provisions of its franchise, and emphasized that it operated based on its mission to be in the service of the Filipino people.”

This assertion had been corroborated by government officials and regulatory bodies called in the hearing to testify under oath.

After the hearing the network issued on the statement on the

Senate Hearing on the ABSCBN franchise issue: “We are very grateful for the opportunity given to us by the Senate to air our side and clarify issues about our franchise.

As we have heard today, ABS-CBN has not been cited for any violations with regard to tax payments, election laws, or compliance with the National Telecommunications Commission, and the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Like many other companies that have been operating or providing services for a long time, we have pending issues associated with labor as well as other matters related to the regular course of doing business. We believe in due process and will comply, as we always have, with any decisions made by the proper authorities.

We continue to trust in the legal processes and the fairness in the hearings for our franchise renewal.

Thank you to everyone who showed support for us today.

We hope for your continued support and prayers as we pursue the chance to continue providing meaningful and important service to the Filipino people. This is what we, and all employees of ABS-CBN, believe in.”

In contrast, the critics, bloggers, some news personalities and supporters loyal to the president would freely castigate and declare the shutdown of ABS-CBN, but no one among

WALK OF FAITH. Supporters, media workers, artists and ABSCBN employees wear white shirts, light up candles and occupy Sgt. Esguerra Avenue in Quezon City to protest and demanded to junk quo warranto case versus the network and allow renewing franchise. Cars and passing vehicles were requested to honk their horns by the protesters in support of their cause on Monday, February 24.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ace Castillo

them had testified under oath in a formal hearing to swear by the veracity of their allegations. Some have even spread malicious lies and fabrications against ABS-CBN, its management, owners, personalities and supporters.

So what could be the cause

of the threat of Duterte to shutdown ABS-CBN? “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth?”

Abangan ang susunod na kabanata... *** Gel Santos Relos has been in news, talk, public service and educational broadcasting

since 1989 with ABS-CBN and is now serving the Filipino audience using different platforms, including digital broadcasting, and print, and is working on a new public service program for the community. You may contact her through email at gelrelos@ icloud.com, or send her a message via Facebook at Facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos.

The raging coronavirus epidemic and China’s decisive response; an assembly of youth and women political leaders in Ulaanbaatar (CPC) sits in the 37-member Standing Committee of the PeaceICAPP, which, we are always Maker delighted to note, represents some 350 ruling, opposition and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia, FORMER SPEAKER including the political parties of JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. the Philippines.

In our letter, we told President IN the midst of the novel coro- Xi that we are confident that Chinavirus (COVID-19) epidemic na would definitely surmount this facing China, and indeed, the crisis, for as history would show, world, we, in our humble capac- the Chinese people had faced ity as Founding Chairman and gigantic crises and sufferings Chairman of Standing Committee in the past, but they had always of the International Conference of overcome them and emerged Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), triumphant. wrote President Xi Jinping to exTruly, China hadalways risen tend our sympathies and prayers up to the multiple challenges that to the Chinese government and confronted them in the past and the Chinese people has today emerged as a global The Communist Party of China economic power, with a strong

security force. An unshakeable proof of the strength of character and indomitability of spirit of the Chinese people, no doubt.

Indeed, nobody knows how long and widespread the Corona Virus epidemic will rage and gauge its effects on public health security as well as socio-economic development not just in the countries hit by the outbreak but in the international community.

A few days ago, the foreign ministers of China and the ASEAN countries (Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam) met in Vientiane, Laos and discussed possible ways and means of cooperation in battling the Corona Virus.

They agreed, among others, to “share information and best practices in a timely manner, including exchanging available epidemiological information, technical guidelines and solutions for epidemic prevention and control, diagnosis, treatment and surveillance.”

ASEAN and China are closely linked as they are each other’s biggest trading partners and tourist destinations.

Today the crisis rages. We hope that in a few months, God willing, the spreading virus will sputter out and the plague will come to an end.

In the meantime, government and our citizenry, families, friends, townmates and neighbors must and should help each other in every possible way.

*** This coming April, youth and women leaders from all over Asia will troop to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia for the Youth Wing and Women’s Wing conference of our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP).

The assembly will be hosted by the ruling Mongolian People’s Party (MPP), led by its Chairman, incumbent Prime Minister Uhknaagiin Khurelsukh. The MPP sits in the Standing Committee of the ICAPP. In the course of our speaking engagement in Ulaanbaatar, we will also meet with Prime Minister Uhknaagiin, Speaker of Parliament (State Great Khural) Gombojavyn Zandanshatar, and other political leaders of Mon-

golia.

We and wife Gina last visited Ulaanbaatar in 2008, when we addressed an international conference participated in by leaders of parliament, political parties and civil society organizations, organized by the New York- and Seoul-based Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

UPF is managed today by civil society leaders led by New YorkerDr. Thomas Walsh and Seoul philanthropist, Madame Hak Ja Han Moon, widow of the celebrated UPF Founder Rev. Sun Myung Moon, who built a hotel and automobile assembly plant in Pyongyang, then donated both to the North Korean government and people. Their charities worldwide are non-stop and plentiful. ■

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.

ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

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Dateline POFW hiliPPines deployment suffers drop – DOLE

by Mayen JayMalin Philstar.com

MAnilA — The Department of labor and Employment (DolE) reported on Tuesday, February 25, a slowdown in the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (oFWs) amid the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 or CoViD-19 in China and other countries. labor secretary silvestre Bello iii said Filipino workers appeared to be no longer in a rush to leave the country even after the lifting of the travel ban in Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.

“They are probably taking precautions if there are CoViD cases Members of the repatriation teams from DOH and DFA are facilitating the screening and safe return of Filipinos from the M/V Diamond Princess in the countries where they are Cruise Ship.

Photo courtesy of DOH going. since they have received financial assistance, they would rather wait until the situation improves,” Bello said.

He said there were oFWs who symptoms.

Those who maniin addition to two members of

by Ritchel Mendiola the DFA team and five members fested signs of respiratory illness opted to delay their departure AJPress from the DoH team, landed on were reportedly isolated in one for Hong Kong even if they have Filipinos repatriated from Wednesday, February 26 for a area in the aircraft and will be plane tickets.

“They decided not to leave taken to a government-identified the coronavirus-hit Diamond total of 445 evacuees. immediately since their employ“After landing, all repatriates, hospital for treatment. princess cruise ship in Japan Meanwhile, the rest of the ers have extended their vacation have arrived back in the philip- as well as the DFA and DoH pines, the Department of Foreign repatriation team members, and evacuees will all be placed under leave,” he said.

Bello also said it is up to the inAffairs said on Tuesday, Febru- pAl flight crew were brought to a 14-day quarantine at the new the Athletes’ Village in new Clark Clark City in Capas, Tarlac, as ter-agency Task Force on Emergary 25. ing infectious Diseases headed by The first batch — which car- City, Tarlac for the 14-day quar- part of government policy.

The Diamond princess ship Health secretary Francisco Duque ried 309 Diamond princess crew antine program of the DoH,” the was quarantined on February 5 iii to recommend the imposition members, two members of the DFA said in a statement.

The repatriation did not include after a passenger tested positive of a travel ban in south Korea DFA repatriation team, and four members of the Department of the 70 Filipinos who tested posi- for the potentially deadly disease. where cases of CoViD-19 are Health response team — arrived tive for the coronavirus disease, Four deaths have been recorded as of press time among the pasformally known as CoViD-19. on Tuesday.

Before landing at Clark, evacu- sengers who fell sick with the Meanwhile, the second batch, which carried 136 passengers ees were again tested for flu-like disease. n

Filipinos from virus-hit cruise ship back in PH

increasing.

The philippine overseas labor office in south Korea has not recommended a travel ban, Bello said.

He added the DolE is not inclined to recommend the lifting of the travel ban in China. one of three Filipino workers in United Arab Emirates who tested positive for CoViD-19 has recovered from the disease, according to Bello.

“The two others remain confined in a hospital in UAE,” he said.

Sick leave credits Government officials and employees who will undergo selfquarantine for 14 days after they have traveled to China and other CoViD-infected countries should charge their absences to sick leave credits.

The Civil service Commission (CsC) reiterated its call for government agencies to take precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease in the workplace.

The CsC released guidelines on the use of leave credits due to quarantine and treatment relative to CoViD-19. state workers who have history of travel to China as well as Macau and Hong Kong are required to undergo self-quarantine at home or any health facility for 14 days

upon arrival in the philippines.

“They should not report back to work unless the self-quarantine period has elapsed or they are cleared to go back to work by proper health authorities,” the CsC said.

Their absences related to the prescribed 14-day self-quarantine will not be deducted from their leave credits.

The CsC explained that if the employees are diagnosed with CoViD-19 during the 14-day quarantine period, the absences shall be charged to their sick leave credits.

For public officials and employees who have to take care of family members positive with CoViD-19, absence from work shall also be charged against their sick leave credits. sen. Richard Gordon pointed out the need to provide face masks and other protective gear to frontliners who respond to the threat of CoViD-19.

Gordon, who chairs the philippine Red Cross (pRC), donated 25,000 face masks to employees of the Bureau of Customs.

He said Customs personnel assigned at the airports are directly in contact with possible carriers of the coronavirus.

Customs Commissioner leonardo Guerrero thanked the pRC for the donation. n

Senate approves ‘monster’ anti-terror bill

by Gaea

KatReena Philstar.com

cabico

MAnilA — Voting 19-2, the senate approved on third and final reading on Wednesday, February 26 a proposal that seeks to give more teeth to the country’s “weak” anti-terror law. only opposition lawmakers Francis pangilinan and Risa Hontiveros voted against senate Bill 1093, which seeks to amend certain provisions of the Human security Act of 2007.

Under a proposed Anti-Terror Act of 2020, a suspected terrorist can be detained without warrant of arrest for 14 days, which can be extended by 10 days. it introduced provisions penalizing individuals who will propose, incite, conspire and participate in the planning, training and facilitation of a terrorist act. Those who will provide material support to terrorists and recruit members in a terrorist organization would be also penalized.

The proposed legislation also seeks to cover Filipino nationals who commit terrorist offenses The existing Human security

Act has done “virtually nothing” to prevent participation in the plotting of terrorist acts, sen. panfilo lacson, who sponsored the bill, earlier said.

The counterpart measure at the House remains pending with the committee on public order and safety.

‘Pre-text’ for de facto martial law Human rights group Karapatan said the “monster” legislation will provide a pretext for de facto martial law in the country.

“The bill, laden with the same vague definitions of the crime terrorism as well as draconian provisions that will certainly violate the people’s constitutional rights and civil liberties, will not solve the root cause of terrorism,” Cristina palabay, the group’s secretary general, said. she added: “it will only redound to graver human rights violations against communities, groups and individuals that may lead to crimes against humanity.” pangilinan said the proposed amendments to the anti-terror law can be likened to the Cold War-era anti subversion law, which can

be used to silence democratic dissents.

“The key facts during the martial law era reinforce the wellrounded fear of opposition leaders today of being persecuted under the Human security Act, especially the current authoritarian climate and the likelihood that it will be repeated,” the opposition senator said.

He added: “With an administration that has jailed an incumbent senator on a case whose key witnesses are convicted drug lords, that has expressly admired the late dictator, that has repeatedly warned about imposing martial law all over the country, that has in fact imposed martial law in Mindanao under questionable constitutional grounds and not ‘in case of invasion or rebellion, when the public safety requires it,’ these instances are more than simply déjà vu, they are more like foreboding.” lacson earlier assured there are enough safeguards against possible abuses by arresting officers and the amendments were crafted to ensure the rights of accused individuals are protected. n

PH facing int’l scrutiny over rising attacks on lawyers by tetch

toRRes-tupas Inquirer.net

MAnilA — on Feb. 19, Atty.

Fredric Anthony santos, the lawyer that got tangled in the Good Conduct Time Allowance (GCTA) controversy and revealed massive corruption inside the new Bilibid prison (nBp), was killed in broad daylight in front of his daughter’s school.

“The BuCor strongly condemns this kind of senseless violence and utter disregard for human life. As a continuing precaution, all BuCor personnel is directed anew to be more vigilant and heighten their security awareness at all times,” BuCor Director General Gerald Bantag said in a statement. Bilibid or nBp is one of the seven penal institutions operated by BuCor. “let us not allow this incident to diminish our individual and collective resolve to perform our mandate with commitment and integrity. An unblemished and excellent service reputation is a heritage we can offer to ourselves, our family and to our country,” Bantag added. several lawyers groups, as well as human rights organizations, have expressed concern over the spate of attacks against members of the legal profession in the country. Based on a report published on December 2014

by The Foundation of the Day of the Endangered lawyer, the Association of European Democratic lawyers (AED-EDl), the European Association of lawyers for Democracy (ElDH) and the philippine Association national Union of peoples’ lawyers (nUpl), 41 lawyers have been killed in the philippines since 2001.

The number is low compared to the 47 lawyers killed since 2016 only. santos is the 47th lawyer killed. The list includes seven prosecutors, one retired prosecutor, five judges, and one former judge. santos also is the fourth Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) personnel killed since 2018. next month, the United nations Human Rights Committee will review the country’s compliance with its international human rights obligation particularly the implementation of the international Covenant on Civil and political Rights. international organization lawyers for lawyers has given the Un Human Rights Committee a submission about the situation in the philippines. The data they had gathered was collected through interviews and engagement with and reports from Filipino lawyers and other local and international stakeholders.

The submission focuses on four main issues: interference with the independence of the legal profession, the practice of labeling of lawyers and lawyers’ organizations, surveillance of lawyers and lawyers’ groups and culture of impunity.

“The situation of lawyers in the philippines is highly alarming and threatening. lawyers for lawyers is deeply concerned over the increasing attacks against lawyers in the philippines and the oppressive working environment,” the organization said in a statement posted on its website. in its submissions, it urged the country to provide information on the following: How did the 2012 Administrative order 35 that created the inter-Agency Committee on Extra-legal killings led to the prevention of attacks against lawyers?

What other measures were taken to ensure that members of the legal profession can carry out their professional functions safely?

How did the government respond to persistent reports of harassment, red-tagging in politically sensitive cases? progress on the investigation into the deaths, attacks against lawyers including perpetrators, outcome, the status of cases. n

800 hectares of Benguet forests ravaged by fires lA TRiniDAD, Benguet — More than 800 hectares of forests in several towns of the province were ravaged by fires over the past several weeks.

Firefighters had difficulty in putting out the forest fires because of the absence of access roads leading to affected areas.

A report from the Bureau of Fire protection-Cordillera Administrative Region said the town of Kabayan suffered the biggest damage with over 600 hectares of its forests razed, followed by Tublay town with

nearly 10 hectares of its forests gone.

Arson investigators said they fear that fires might also eat up other areas because of reported ongoing forest fires in the towns of sablan, Kibungan and Bakun that have not been declared under control.

According to them, prevailing strong winds will help spread the fires, making it harder for firefighters to put out the fires. local officials expressed concern that the forest fires might affect the growth of newly planted

trees in the affected areas, setting back the government’s effort to reforest existing watersheds.

The arson investigators said lighted cigarette butts unscrupulously thrown in areas where there were dried leaves and rampant kaingin (slash-and-burn farming) could have caused the forest fires.

Raging the longest was the fire in Kabayan town that was reported to have started last February 11 and only put out last last February 23. (Dexter See/ManilaTimes.net)

DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE. Japan Ambassador to the Philippines Koji Haneda (center) shakes hands with United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) country representative Lori Kato (left) after the signing ceremony and exchange of notes on the $1.35 million Japanese official development assistance (ODA) for the reintegration of former women combatants in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM), at the Japanese embassy in Manila on Monday, February 24. The project, which will be implemented by the UNFPA, will assist former female members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front-Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) by transforming them into the community-level service providers as para-social workers to provide psychosocial support to the survivors of gender-based violence.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

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feBruary 27-March 4, 2020 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ fEBRUARy 27-MARch 4, 2020

Green groups criticize â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;half-bakedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; single-use plastic ban in govâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t offices

by Gaea

Katreena Philstar.com

CabiCo

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The resolution imposing a ban on â&#x20AC;&#x153;unnecessaryâ&#x20AC;? single-use plastics in all government offices is inadequate and may lead to more frequent use of plastic items, environmental groups said on Tuesday, February 25.

The National Solid Waste Management Commission approved a resolution directing the Department of Environment and Natural Resources to come up with guidelines for national agencies, local government units and other government-controlled offices to prohibit certain single-use plastic itemsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a major source of pollutionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in their workplaces.

These include plastic cups less than 0.2 millimeter in thickness, drinking straws, coffee stirrers, spoons, forks, knives as well as thin and translucent plastic bags, and thin-filmed sando bags lower than 15 microns.

Environment groups, however, criticized the resolution saying the approach to prevent singleuse and throw-away packaging is missing.

Aileen Lucero, national coordinator of EcoWaste Coalition, said the ban did not cover single-use

plastic bottles, polystyrene food and beverage containers and sachet-packed products, which are among the top polluting items regularly found in cleanups and waste audits. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The policy is inadequate, full of loopholes and could probably result in the use of more crappy plastic packaging nationwide,â&#x20AC;?

Von Hernandez, Break Free From Plastic global coordinator, said.

Plastic pollution is a problem in the Philippines. The countryâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;along with China, Vietnam and Indonesiaâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;is frequently listed among the top contributors to marine plastic pollution.

Rethink limited scope Benny Antiporda, DENR undersecretary for solid waste management, defended the waste agency for including only eight single-use plastic items in the ban. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was the decision of NSWMC to come up with a balanced judgment on the use of single-use plastics by taking into consideration that we can only ban those that have available alternatives,â&#x20AC;?

Antiporda said.

But Hernandez stressed that there are practical and cheaper alternatives for most single-use plastics being prohibited in other countries.

Sonia Mendoza, Mother Earth Foundation chairman, urged the government to rethink the policyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limited scope. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Considering the inadequacy of the NSWMC resolution, we urge the government to come up with a truly meaningful, comprehensive national policy on SUPs, which also covers the single-use, throwaway packaging questionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and not cosmetic, half-baked proposals which do nothing significant to address the scale of the problem,â&#x20AC;? she said.

A Social Weather Stations survey released in January showed that seven out of 10 Filipinos want single-use plastics banned at all times, with sando bags topping the list of materials that should be regulated.

The survey also showed that four out of 10 Filipinos believe companies should use or find alternative materials to plastic.

In November 2019, President Rodrigo Duterte floated that idea of banning the use of plastics.

Prohibiting or regulating the use of plastics, however, would require legislative action.

In the absence of a legislation that regulates plastic waste, more than 300 LGUs crafted ordinances banning or regulating single-use plastics. n

Protect OFW remittances â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pacquiao

by Javier ismael ManilaTimes.net

SEN. Emmanuel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mannyâ&#x20AC;? Pacquiao has filed Senate Bill (SB) 1365, which aims to protect the remittances of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) by regulating the fees imposed by financial institutions.

Under the bill, financial intermediaries and non-bank financial intermediaries may impose fees for services rendered in sending money of OFWs to their immediate family members.

However, the discounts granted to OFWs by financial or nonbank financial intermediaries shall be treated as an ordinary and necessary expense deductible from the gross income of the seller falling under the category of itemized deductions.

Pacquiao said OFW remittances are transmitted from the OFWs to the intermediaries, such as financial and non-bank financial

Street sweepers clean the People Power Monument along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on Sunday, February 23. The monument stands as a reminder of a massive but â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;friendly revolutionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; on Feb. 22 to 25, 1986 that overthrew the Martial Law dictatorship.

ManilaTimes.net photo by John Orven Verdote

Duterte on EDSA anniversary: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rise above petty political differencesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte called on the public to rise above â&#x20AC;&#x153;petty political differencesâ&#x20AC;? as he joined the country in commemorating the 34th anniversary of the People Power Revolution on Tuesday, February 25.

In his message during the commemoration of the 1986 revolt that toppled the 21-year- rule of president Ferdinand Marcos, Duterte recalled how Filipinos turned the tide through a bloodless revolution. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For its important role as a catalyst for the restoration of our democratic institutions more than three decades ago, the People Power Revolution remains as,

beyond doubt, one of the most remarkable events in our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The president expressed hope that the peace revolution would remain a symbol of â&#x20AC;&#x153;courage, strength and determinationâ&#x20AC;? for the succeeding generations of Filipinos to fight for what was right. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I therefore join the valiant heroes of EDSA and the countless others whose lives were touched by this bloodless uprising in commemorating its 34th Anniversary with renewed hope that the succeeding generations of Filipinos will also have the courage, strength and determination to protect, defend, and preserve the liberties

that we have won during that historic revolution,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Inspired by the freedoms that we secured in February 1986, let us all rise above our petty political differences so that we may, together, ensure that the legacy of EDSA will remain relevant in the years ahead,â&#x20AC;? Duterte added.

MalacaĂąang earlier said that Duterte would again skip this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s EDSA celebration in Manila.

Based on his official schedule, the President is expected to attend the change of command ceremony of the Presidential Security Group in Malacaùang on Tuesday. (Catherine S. Valente/ManilaTimes.net)

Duterte condoles with Robredo on motherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s passing

Senator Emmanuel â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mannyâ&#x20AC;? Pacquiao

ManilaTimes.net photo

institutions, before they reach beneficiaries; and in the course of the transfer of the funds, the amount remitted is subjected to several fees and high remittance charges, which reduce the amount supposed to be received by the beneficiaries.

Data from the Bangko Sentral

ng Pilipinas showed that remittances from overseas Filipinos totalled $22 billion for the first eight months of 2019, an increase of 3.6 percent from the previous yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s $21.2 billion, making the Philippines the fourth largest remittance destination in the world. n

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 16 conveyed his condolences to Vice President Maria Leonor â&#x20AC;&#x153;Leniâ&#x20AC;? Robredo, whose mother, Salvacion Santo Tomas Gerona, recently passed away.

Speaking to reporters, Duterte said he would like to visit the wake of Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother but has a lot of work to do. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If I ever have time, I just came in from Davao. But I sent my (spokesperson)â&#x20AC;Ś I conveyed my condolences andâ&#x20AC;Ś flowers. Sali man sa kultura natin. We do it with flowers,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said during a media interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like to say now that Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m

sad and I share her grief. I also lost a father once upon a time,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Earlier in the day, Palace spokesperson Salvador Panelo said that he would be representing Duterte. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We reiterate our condolences to the family of VP Leni on the demise of the mother. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going there to express our condolences today (Wednesday),â&#x20AC;? Panelo said during a Palace press briefing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;He (Duterte) wants to go pero ang daming trabaho kasi (but he has a lot of work). Ako nalang siguro muna (Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll go in his place instead). Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be representing him,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Panelo, who also hails from

Naga City, Camarines Sur, previously claimed that he and the Vice President were friends.

He had described Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s late mother as â&#x20AC;&#x153;selfless and dedicated teacher who molded countless of young minds across generations.â&#x20AC;?

Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother died on Saturday at 7:27 p.m. She was 83.

Fondly called â&#x20AC;&#x153;Sally,â&#x20AC;? Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s mother was an English teacher who served at the Universidad de Sta. Isabel in Naga, one of the oldest schools in the Philippines.

Her wake began on Sunday at the Eternal Chapels and Mortuary, Eternal Gardens, Balatas Road in Naga City. (Catherine Valente/ManilaTimes.net)

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VEGAS&STYLE

Journal PH tourism notches wins in 2019, sustainability remains as target

By MoMar

G. Visaya

AJPress

MORE people around the world travelled in 2019 with overseas trips hitting 1.5 billion, up four percent from 2018, according to the latest statistics from the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

France remained the mostvisited country with more than 90 million visitors, followed by Spain’s 83.8 million.

Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 setting 2020 off to a rocky start, countries like the Philippines are optimistic that this hiccup does not affect the numbers for this year.

To mitigate the impact on inbound tourism, DOT and the tourism sector are rolling out a tactical program that will offer more value-added tour packages, discounted accommodation rates and marked-down prices for domestic flights.

The guidelines in handling guests in tourism enterprises during this global emergency are being implemented in hotels

and resorts around the country and facilities are equipped with infrared thermometers and more hand sanitizers. Preventive and precautionary measures have been put in place by the national government to contain the spread of the COVID-19.

Philippine tourism grew in 2019 as international visitors reached 8.26 million, exceeding the 8.2 million annual target set in the National Tourism Development Plan (NTDP) for 20162022.

The country’s tourism prospects are buoyed by glowing reviews from international media and savvy travelers on social media, including the continued recognition of the country’s islands as among the world’s best.

“This heralds a new milestone in the country’s tourism history, breaching the eight millionth mark,” said Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. “Without doubt, our convergence programs with other government agencies, particularly in improving access as well as product development and

marketing initiatives with local government and private sector have greatly paid off. These gains we hope to sustain even as we face global challenges.”

The DOT year-end visitor arrival report cited a 15.24 percent growth over 2018’s year-end figure of 7.16 million. Almost all months, except January, registered double-digit growth rates, the largest of which was August at 27.54 percent while December recorded the highest volume at 776,798.

This growth was enough for the Philippines to make it in eighth place among the countries that saw the highest jump in visitor numbers year-on-year increase in visitors. Myanmar with 40.2% topped the list of the countries, followed by Puerto Rico (31.2%) and Iran (27.9%).

This year, the DOT is targeting to attract 9.2 million international visitor arrivals.

VIP Tour Among the programs that the DOT is continuing is the VIP (Very Important Pinoy) Tour, which was FULL FORCE. Tourism officers and industry stalwarts joined the New York Times Travel Show at the Javits Convention Center to promote launched at the Kalayaan Hall of various Philippine destinations. From left: Tourism Officer Luz Alquisola, Orientours’ Joebert Opulencia, Consul General Claro S. Cristobal, Tourism Attache Francisco Lardizabal, Rajah Tours’ Alejandra Clemente, Caterina Collodel and Guenevere Domdom of Shangri-la Hotels and DOT-NY’s Joey Chanco.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Tour operators and guests joined the officers of the Department of Tourism, Rajah Tours Philippines and Philippine Airlines at the launching of the 2020 VIP Tour.

the Philippine Consulate General in New York a few weeks ago. The tour is now on its 14th year.

Formerly called the Ambassadors’ Tour, the VIP Tour is a collaboration between the Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of Tourism and Rajah Tours Philippines. This year, the tour from July 19 to 26 will bring the guests to Manila, Iloilo and Boracay.

Francisco Lardizabal, the new Tourism Attaché, also promoted the project at the New York Times Travel Show and the General Assembly of Filipino community organizations.

“We encourage you to visit the Philippines this year and see what we have been doing in order to promote more sustainable tourism,” Lardizabal said. He also showed a video on the success-

ful reopening of Boracay after being off limits for six months to undergo a massive and extensive cleanup and rehabilitation.

Sustainable Tourism The DOT launched its refreshed branding campaign last year, continuing the “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” slogan but repurposing it to advocate for sustainable tourism. The local launch was held in the National Museum of Natural History while the international event was in Berlin during the Internationale Tourismus-Börse (ITB).

To complement the new direction towards sustainable tourism, the DOT launched a movement called “Save Our Spots” to call for each individual to be a responsible tourist and encouraging the same behavior towards others to preserve the country’s natural

and man-made wonders.

Aside from Boracay, Lardizabal also mentioned government efforts to clean up Manila Bay and plans to do the same in Baguio and Palawan.

The Philippine tourism industry also received a number of international awards and recognitions in 2019 such as the World’s Leading Dive Destination at the 2019 World Travel Awards, Asia’s Leading Tourism Board at the 2019 World Travel Awards and Excellent Partner Award (for Sustainable Efforts in Boracay, among others.

“This is a high point for Philippine tourism as it depicts our solidarity and commitment to make tourism work and prove its full potential as a sustainable and inclusive economic activity. The PAGE 13

Emerging Filipino designer More details from the bodyguard Jhay Layson to showcase at at Sarah-Matteo secret wedding Asia Pacific Fashion Week in LA by iza iGlesias ManilaTimes.net

by AJPress CONSIDERED as one of the Philippines’ emerging fashion designers, Jhay Layson has made a name for himself in the industry with his brand of sartorial elegance that has been worn by various models and celebrities.

He began his career in fashion designing when he joined the second season of “MEGA Fashion Crew: Gen M,” a search for the quintessential fashion crew spearheaded by the country’s pioneer fashion magazine, Mega Magazine. From then on, he’s proved to be a designer to watch out for, with his designs gradually appearing on various editorials, TV shows, advertising campaigns, and pageants.

His remarkable success has been the dream of other fashion designers, but Layson continues to make headway in the Philippines and abroad. He’s launched

new collections for the Manhattan Fashion Week 2020 this past February, and will be debuting at the Asia Pacific Fashion Week in Los Angeles in April and the “Best of the Islands (Luxe Tour)” series in San Diego, Seattle and Montreal, Canada in May. In a recent inter view with the Asian Journal, Layson talks about his journey as a fashion designer.

Asian Journal (AJ): What made you take fashion seriously enough to make a career out of it?

Jhay Layson (JL): I have loved fashion since I was in elementary school. I love that it gives me the opportunity to transform elegance into something people can wear, and this opportunity is why I am here today.

AJ: Are you self-taught or did you study fashion design?

JL: I’m self-taught. Most of the things I learned about fashion designing, I learned through my

experiences and also working with some other top fashion designers like Renee Salud.

AJ: What is your favorite part about being a designer?

JL: My favorite part is that I get to showcase my collections on different runways. I also like that I could provide entertainment and glamour from fashion styles — it makes me proud.

AJ: How do you want people to feel when they wear your designs?

JL: I want them to feel comfortable in the sense that they like my style. In the sense that they like my designs.

A J: How h as you r work evolved from when you started to now?

JL: I think I improved a lot. I started as a fashion stylist, and when I decided to become a fashion designer, I traveled to different countries like the United States and Europe to expand PAGE 14

FOR the first time since Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo’s secret civil wedding on Thursday, February 20, the singer-actress’ close-in security detail Jerry Tamara has given his first public interview with even more detail on the events that led to his alleged altercation with the groom.

In a radio interview with News5’s Raffy Tulfo on Monday, February 24, Tamara said he did not know there was indeed a wedding that was taking place on February 20. His recollection is as follows: “Pagkatapos po namin ng ta­ ping sa ‘The Voice,’ pumunta po kami sa Shangri-La Edsa para bumili ng sapatos ni Ma’am Sarah.

Pagkatapos po namin bumili, pu­ munta po kami ng Victory Church sa BGC. Pagkarating po namin doon, maya­maya dumating po si Sir Matteo [around] 10 to 15 minutes [after us].

“Nagtaka po ako bakit nila nilock down yung… ‘di ko po alam kung first floor or second floor yung area na ni-lock down nila.

Tapos mga 30 minutes po, after namin matapos doon, dumiretso po kami ng Shangri-La BGC.” ‘Go ahead without me’ Inside the Taguig City hotel, everyone proceeded to F&B outlet Ministry of Crab, including Tamara, who maintained he still had no idea what was going to happen next.

“Syempre nandoon po ako sa labas. Namo-monitor ko po yung mga dumadating na bisita. Unang dumating po yung family ni Sir Matteo tapos dumating na din po yung Pastor. Hindi ko po alam kung saan po sila kinasal…” he trailed off.

“Tapos dumating po yung photographer. Hindi ko po alam kung ano yung nangyayari doon sa loob kasi private VIP room po yung lugar. Hindi ko po alam na may kasalang nangyayari kasi normal lang po yung suot ng Pastor.”

Tamara highlighted in his account that while Guidicelli’s family was all in attendance, there was no one from Geronimo’s side who arrived.

Around 10:30 p.m. Tamara went inside the restaurant to find out whether what he thought was just a dinner was wrapping up soon. He was told by the receptionist that his boss’ party had al-

Matteo Guidicelli with Sarah Geronimo

ready billed out so he went ahead to alert the driver to get ready in case Geronimo calls them to go.

Round about the same time he was making the arrangements, his boss messaged Tamara to say they should go ahead without her.

“Nagtext po sa akin si Ma’am Sarah na ‘Kuya mauna na kayo umuwi.’ Eh never pa naman po ni­ yang ginawa ‘yun na pinapauna na niya kami umuwi at magpapaiwan siya,” Tamara elaborated.

Confirming that it was indeed Geronimo’s mother Divine who hired him as security detail for the celebrity, Tamara then said he did what he would always do and report to the latter the singer-actress’ orders to leave without her.

“Tapos po pagka­text niya [Sarah] ni-report ko po kay Ma’am [Divine]. Sabi ko ‘Ma’am inform ko lang po, si Ma’am Sarah nagpapai­ wan po dito. Ano po ang gagawin namin?’ Tapos tumawag si Ma’am Divine sa akin, ang sabi sa akin, ‘Wag kayong aalis diyan malapit na kami sa area niyo, papunta na ako.’”

‘Divine intervention’ Tamara confirmed that it was upon the arrival of Mommy Divine

Photo from Instagram/@matteog

— the nickname of Geronimo’s mother in showbiz circles — that a commotion began.

“So ‘yun po pagkadating ni Ma’am Divine, sinundo ko po siya sa labas. Sinamahan ko po hanggang sa reception ng family dinner ni Sir Matteo. Pagbukas po ng pinto ni Ma’am Divine nakita po niya yung pamilya ni Sir Matteo. “’Anong pinag­gagagawa niyo?’ sabi po ni Ma’am Divine.

‘Tinraydor niyo ako!’ Medyo mataas po yung boses niya. Tapos lumapit si Ma’am Sarah sa kanya sabi niya, ‘Mommy stop, mommy stop.’ Nagkakomosyon tapos yung tatay ni Sir Matteo at si Ma’am Divine, nagkakairingan na sila.

Nagkakapalitan na ng mga salita.

Tapos nagharapan yung daddy ni Sir Matteo muntik pa masaktan si Ma’am Divine kasi gumigitna lang po ako eh… pilit niyang inaabot.

Makikita naman po, imposible pong walang CCTV doon,” Tamara continued.

“Tapos sinabi po ni Sir Matteo na, ‘Don’t hurt my wife.’ Doon po lalong sumabog si Ma’am.

Pinipigilan po kasi siya ni Ma’am Sarah. Ako po gumigitna lang po ako sa kanila. Maya­maya umupo PAGE 11

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Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA THINGS break. Once broken, a thing loses its value. If it is worth fixing, it can be fixed and in the hands of a whiz, can be as good as new.

In our throw-away consumerdriven, impatient society where quality has taken a back seat to quantity in the name of profit and the bottom line, we are encouraged to simply toss away the broken item in the trash heap and replace it with a new one.

For those of us who grew up and were trained by mothers, fathers, teachers and even great nuns (in my book) who taught us the meaning and value of preserving items, we tend to find the fix for the broken item.

We look at the rip in the hemline of a nice dress and figure out carefully how a stitch here and there can make it good as new.

That is probably why I can never get on with the supposedly “fashionable” items of ripped jeans. It is, to me, a nod toward rottenness and ugliness. Why pay good money for something so downright ugly? Oy Vey indeed!

We look at holes in the wall and buy spackle and paint to patch it up and smooth out the flaws. We crazy glue crockery to weld things back. We solder metals so that the thingamajig, whatever it is, functions once again. We replace batteries so watches and clocks go tick-tocking again.

We repair broken items. That is our default setting when we see things that are broken. But how about when the breakdown is with affairs of the human heart?

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS THE silent killer of the 1970s, high blood pressure, is now replaced by Metabolic Syndrome, a cluster of three or more risk factors like abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, high triglycerides, abnormal lipids, and insulin resistance (pre-diabetes T2), which is actually a “pandemic” today, robbing us of our health and potential longevity.

“The syndrome feeds into the spread of the diseases like type 2 diabetes, coronary diseases, stroke, and other disabilities. The total cost of the malady, including the cost of health care and loss of potential economic activity is in the trillions,” according to the U.S. National Institute of Health.

While there are around 80,000 cases of nCorona virus (COVID19) infections worldwide in 44 countries and with more than 2600 deaths (majority of which are in China), metabolic syndrome kills millions of people annually around the world by way of complications of diabetes T2, heart attack, stroke, and other metabolic illnesses. COVID-19 is a faster killer compared to metabolic syndrome, which kills slowly over time. Of course, they are two entirely different diseases.

The expanding waistlines of Americans (and Filipinos) the past several decades has been alarming, not only from the cosmetic/

Bucket list No.7 Fix the broken

“Broken hearts? Broken relationships?

The solution is always the same.

FORGIVE. Forgive as you have been forgiven.

And while you’re at it FORGET.” How do you fix a broken heart?

There are no easy answers.

In the physical realm, if something is broken, you can fix it. And if you can’t, you relegate it to the trash heap. But not so with the human heart …

Though broken to a thousand pieces, the heart can live through the dark days until time brings its healing effects. The pain becomes dull and as life goes on, the sunlight breaks through the darkness and the heart is made whole.

Resiliency of the human heart is based on the deep and enduring understanding in the wisdom of the words: “This too, shall pass.”

But when the pains and the hurt are forged into the deep recesses of the memory and the wounds are encouraged to fester, the brokenness can be as deep as the Grand Canyon. These are the very sad cases, when the heart never heals. It is true what they say about dying of a broken heart.

There is that thing called pride and in extreme cases, hubris, the kind that damned the fallen angels. This is the one that makes it hard to fix brokenness. We become so big for our britches that forgiveness is beyond us. We equate forgiveness with weakness and our supreme pride won’t let us do it.

Broken hearts? Broken relationships? The solution is always the same. FORGIVE. Forgive as you have been forgiven. And while you’re at it, FORGET. You do yourself no favors by letting the pains and hurts fester.

Not that it’s easy to forgive and forget. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy.

But that’s the whole story of our redemption. God forgives and forgets our iniquities. Who are we not to try and do likewise during our short time here on earth?

The full benefits of forgiveness accrue first to the aggrieved party, the one who forgives and forgets. Why? Because then the heart is allowed to mend and heal with time, it becomes whole once again.

There is a play on words about time and healing that one wit wrote. It is said that. “Time heals all wounds.” And if you believe in the laws of karma, “Time wounds all heels.” Let that sink in for a moment.

God makes the prayerful heart resilient. In time, the human heart can love again as though it was never broken. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Killing us ‘softly’ physical point of view but, more importantly, from their adverse impact on health, morbidity. and mortality.

The researchers from Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, in an article posted this year in the Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology ad Therapeutics, stated that “being overweight and obesity contribute to metabolic syndrome, which affects 1 in 3 adults and about 40 percent of adults aged 40 and older… that the risk factors are more than just the sum of their parts.” Obesity is indeed surpassing tobacco as the pre-eminent preventable cause of early morbidity and premature deaths in the United States and globally.

The rule of thumb is that optimizing health requires and includes a waistline of less than 40 in men and less than 35 in women, and a healthy lifestyle: diet (foremost!), then exercise, abstinence from tobacco, disciplined alcohol intake, and stress management.

The authors of the study explain “that the visceral fat component of abdominal obesity leads not only to insulin resistance but also to the release of non-esterified free fatty acids from adipose tissues or body fat… the lipids then accumulate in other sites such as the liver and muscles, further predisposing individuals to insulin resistance and dyslipidemia-abnormal amounts of lipids… and adipose tissue may produce various adipokines that may separately impact insulin resistance and cardiovascular

disease risk factors.”

Persons with metabolic syndrome are generally without symptoms and are severely underdiagnosed and untreated, but have a 10-year risk of a first heart attack, according to the Framingham Risk score of 16 to 18 percent, which puts them in a higher risk category, similar to those who already had a previous heart attack.

Various clinical studies have shown than even with a normal Body Mass Index (BMI), individuals with expanding waistlines from visceral fats could still have metabolic syndrome. Those who consume soft drinks of any kind – cola or uncola, diet or regular, caffeinated or not – have a higher risk for development of metabolic syndrome, especially children.

Indeed, soft drinks are toxic to our body, to our DNA. As I have highlighted in the book Let’s Stop “Killing” Our Children, healthy lifestyle and disease prevention, in order to be fully effective, must start in the womb, and dieting and discipline must begin in the crib to protect the children’s DNA. This pre-emptive and proactive strategy at the cellular/molecular level will exempt them from having the so-called “expected and normal diseases of aging,” like arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes T2, heart diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer. Indeed, these are preventable.

The pandemic of obesity, which begins in childhood, has inPAGE 12

More details from the bodyguard at...

PAGE 10 sila sa pero inaabot ng daddy ni Sir Matteo si Ma’am Divine. Parang sasaktan talaga kasi nanggigil na dahil nagulo yung party.

“Tapos pinaghiwalay ko po sila nang kwarto. Mga 20 minutes po sila nagkasagutan. Nilagay ko si Ma’am Divine sa kabila kasama si Ma’am Sarah, nagusap, tapos lumabas po ako. Tapos mga ilang minuto din dumating po si Boss Vic [del Rosario, founder of Viva Entertainment and Geronimo’s manager]. Sila naman po ang nagusap ni Ma’am Divine. Lumabas na po si Maam Sarah.”

Matteo’s denial With regard to the altercation between Tamara and Guidicelli, the body guard maintains the actor hurt him. This, even as Guidicelli denied in an earlier interview with ABS-CBN News’ Mario Dumaual he punched Tamara.

“Lumapit pa nga yung mga kamaganak ni Sir Matteo sa akin at humihingi ng pasensya. Sabi dahil lang daw sa init ng ulo kaya ako nasuntok,” Tamara recalled Now thrust into the middle of showbiz’ hottest controversy, Tamara gave the following messages to the newlyweds and his boss Mommy Divine: “Kay Sir Matteo, sana naman po sir aminin niyo yung ginawa niyo hindi yung naglilihim ka dahil sinapak mo naman talaga ako. Pinalabas ni Sir Matteo na ako ang sinunguling. Alam niyo po ang totoong nangyari.

“Kay Miss Sarah wala po akong

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 4, 2020

Island Pacific Supermarket launches community-driven initiatives with ‘Bangon Batangas’ campaign following Taal eruption FILIPINO American supermarket chain Island Pacific Supermarket, currently with 16 locations serving communities in California and Las Vegas, is shifting its organizational culture for 2020.

The purpose-driven focus of the Island Pacific company will specifically develop tangible and measurable community initiatives to create opportunities for partnerships that transform their store spaces as the hub for Filipino American diasporic society and life, and its ever-evolving culture.

Following the Taal Volcano eruption in the Philippines on January 13, 2020, which forced thousands in the Batangas province in the region of Luzon to evacuate, Island Pacific founder Nino “Jeff” Lim called upon all stores to participate in a “Bangon Batangas” campaign to give back to the community.

With donations from loyal customers over a period of a little over a week, Island Pacific was able to raise over $25,000 to donate to relief efforts to nonprofit organizations within the vicinity of the eruption.

Marketing Consultant Giselle Tongi-Walters, who personally delivered the monetary donations, also shared how the “Bangon Batangas” campaign was particularly meaningful because of her provincial Tagalog roots. “Island Pacific in 2020 has committed to community-driven initiatives to give back, and the company really exemplifies the ‘Bayanihan’ spirit abroad, which in Filipino means the act of lifting each other up in challenging times of crisis and peril,” said Tongi-Walters.

Top Island Pacific cashiers who participated in the Bangon Batangas campaign — Marilyn and Jenica from the Tropicana store in Las Vegas, together with Freda from the Elk Grove, California store — were internally recognized for raising the most monetary donations.

Representing Island Pacific, Tongi-Walters recently presented three ceremonial checks in the

Island Pacific Supermarket marketing consultant Giselle Tongi-Walters (right) presents a check for P1,000,000 ($20,000) on February 9 to Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas.

Island Pacific Supermarket presented Good Samaritan Foundationʼs Ramon Tulfo with a donation amounting to P200,000 ($4,000) on February 10.

A representative of the Pink Sisters of Tagaytay receives a donation of P100,000 ($2,000) from Tongi-Walters on behalf of Island Pacific Supermarket.

Philippines. To the most in need, Batangas Governor Hermilando Mandanas was presented the amount of P1,000,000 ($20,000) on February 9 in Batangas City.

Good Samaritan Foundation’s Ramon Tulfo was given the amount of P200,000 ($4,000) on February 10. Lastly, the Pink Sisters of Tagaytay were presented with P100,000 ($2,000).

Island Pacific has overhauled its mission statement for 2020 to

Calendar of Events across

unite communities by celebrating Filipino fiesta culture, creating pride amongst our people and bringing awareness of our diverse culinary traditions so that our culture is recognized and acknowledged as part of American life and society. To participate in Island Pacific’s community-driven initiatives, go to www.islandpacificmarket.com to inquire and find out more.

(Advertising Supplement)

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS F E B R UA RY 29

23rd annual Susan G. Komen ‘More than Pink Walk’ in Los Angeles Susan G. Komen Los Angeles County will hold its 23rd annual event at Dodger Stadium on Saturday, February 29, the ‘MORE THAN PINK Walk™.’ Known for raising significant monies to help those with breast health issues in Los Angeles County, the affiliate does so with many activities, the Expo, Hope Village, for survivors and those living with breast cancer, Reflection Tent, and Team Zone in addition to the fun MORE THAN PINK Walk™ itself. There’s something everyone will enjoy. Sponsored by AutoNation, Spiritual Gangster, The Citadel and CBS-2/KCAL-9, 2020’s event is expected to significantly surpass 2019’s attendance of 6,000, nearly 400 survivors in attendance, and over 900 members on the largest corporate team.Through events like the Los Angeles County MORE THAN PINK Walk™, Komen Los Angeles County invests 75% of the funds raised to support vital local breast health services and dedicates the remaining 25% to national research to find the cures. Registration opens at 7:30 a.m., with opening ceremonies at 8:30 a.m. To participate, call 310.575.3011 or visit komenlacounty.org/walk.

Free oil filter & motor oil recycling event in South LA ATTENTION ALL FLORENCE-FIRESTONE RESIDENTS: Free Oil Filter & Motor Oil Recycling Event on Saturday, February 29! It will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at AutoZone (5858 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90001). Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new Oil Filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean. So don’t miss out – it’ll be easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.

Technology 101 Workshop in Los Angeles Please join the Pilipino Workers Center and UCLA Interns for the highly anticipated Technology 101 Workshop on Saturday, February 29. The instructors will on improving participants’ skills and knowledge of cellular phones and personal computers. Food will be provided! It will be held at Pilipino Workers Center at 153 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90026 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please bring your laptops and phones if possible. To RSVP, please call (213) 2504353.

MARCH 7 The newlyweds spent their Sunday night with the Agoncillos. This is the first photo of them that became public since the wedding.

Photo from Instagram/@banxlorufino

masasabi dahil napakabait po niya sa amin. Lahat po ng naging bodyguard niyo wala kayong pinakitang pangit at napakabait niyo sa amin.

“Kay Ma’am Divine sana maayos po ang problema ng pamilya niyo.”

First photo Despite the drama that surrounded their wedding, the public rejoiced over the first photograph shared online of Guidicelli and Geronimo after their wedding. On Instagram, the newlyweds were caught all smiles with their hands intertwined and surrounded by friends at a dinner table.

Apparently it was on Sunday

night when Mr. and Mrs. Guidicelli, visited the house of fellow celebrity couple Judy Ann Santos and Ryan Agoncillo where a birthday party was being held for Santos’ mom, Carol.

In the caption, Rufino wrote, “Celebrating life. Thank you for the yummy backyard bbq feast @ officialjuday @ryan_agoncillo & cutie Agoncillo babies. Congratulations again @justsarahgph @ matteog ! Nothing but love. #ashmatt strong.”

The post have gone viral with countless comments of best wishes and congratulations for one of Philippine showbiz’ most wellloved couples today.

11

‘The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook’ family cooking demo and book signing in Long Beach, CA Flipp Family and Romeo Chocolates Present “The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook” demo and book signing on Saturday, March 7 from 1-4 p.m. This is a two-part event: 1-2 p.m. (Paid ticket required): Cooking demo will be an interactive experience where everyone, including the kids will be able to learn one of the recipes from the cookbook. Romeo, owner of Romeo Chocolates, will also do a special champorado recipe that can easily be made in the Instant Pot as well! This portion requires a paid ticket. Kids are free with adult ticket purchase. 2-4 p.m. is free, but RSVP ticket required: After the cooking demo, you will be able to purchase the cookbook or bring your copy to get signed. Hangout with the authors in an intimate casual setting. “The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook” features over 75 traditional Filipino recipes, including desserts adapted for the Instant Pot. It is the brainchild of six Filipino American home cooks “who set out to explore their Filipino heritage and intimate family histories, one dish at a time.” The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook has been so well received that it is now a bestseller on Amazon. Flipp Family is building community by cultivating the Filipino culture through various events that are highlighted through food, music, dance etc. Flipp Family is about bringing families together and learn more about their culture as a whole family. The event will be held at Romeo Chocolates at 460 Pine Ave, Long Beach, CA 90802.

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

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february 27-March 4, 2020 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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

Alex to star in int’l movie with ‘Avatar’ actor Sam Worthington

Francisco Martin

ALEX Diaz has been tapped for an international feature alongside Australian actor Sam Worthington, known for starring in James Cameron’s “Avatar” film series.

The action thriller, titled “CounterPlay”, will see Diaz playing a man wrongly accused of drug trafficking.

Worthington will play a retired hostage negotiator recruited to help Diaz escape to Australia, as per The Hollywood Reporter on Friday, Feb. 21.

The former VJ could not hide his being starstruck at his Hollywood costar. “Geekin’ pretty hard [right now] guys, [I’m] in the same paragraph as Sam Worthington,” he said on Twitter Photo screengrabbed from Youtube/American Idol on Monday, February 24 as he posted an article about the project.

Pedring Lopez will direct. He helmed last year’s “Maria” starring Cristine Reyes as an assassin. Filming will take place in Manila this August.

“CounterPlay” is being produced

by MAM Media in association with indie production company BlackOps Studios Asia, of which Lopez is a founding partner. (Niña Guno/Inquirer.net) Alex Diaz Bryan compared Martin’s like a friend.” It caught Martin pulse to his own heart rate off guard and he began laughwhen doing cardio. “When I’m ing, promising that the girl was cycling, I’m 148,” Bryan com- just a friend. that there was an increase in the “I’m so happy to see you, PAGE 11 mented.

Martin said he was excited to sweat, hypertension and ev- creased in the past century. The rate among adults in their 40s be in the audition then thanked erything. I don’t know what current generation of children and and early 50s, but not as bad. the judges for calming him you got,” Richie declared after adolescents (who eat more calo- This report revealed an alarming ries and unhealthy foods and who retrogression in our battle against Martin’s audition pieces. down.

The judges also convinced exercise less) will reach middle colorectal cancers: “that young After introducing himself, Martin began playing his guitar Martin that he had a real shot age with higher morbidity and adults’ colorectal cancer risk is while belting a portion of Mag- at pursuing a career in music. mortality rates from metabolic, now similar to that of adults born gie Rogers’ song. Katy Perry Bryan asked: “Are you in col- cardiovascular diseases, stroke, around 1890.”

The investigators pointed out and cancer, which may even be immediately raised her thumb lege?”

When Martin confirmed that worse than their parents, in spite that high obesity rates the past up when she heard Martin’s voice. Bryan gestured that he he was, Bryan advised, “Drop of the great advances in medical several decades “may play a role in this generation. Obesity science and technology. was getting “chills” from the out.”

While colon cancer rates have increases the risk for all types Perry told Martin that he performance.

After his song, the judges im- could make it to the Top 10 of been going down among the of cancers and cardiovascular mediately teased Martin for his the competition, while Richie elderly (55 and older) since the diseases, like high blood pres“sneaky” nervous “act” as they and Bryan were more optimis- 1980s, they are increasing among sure, heart attack, stroke, and were blown away by his voice. tic, stating that he had a shot at those in their 20s and 30s. This diabetes. Diet and calories are “I just checked the pulse of the Top 5. Bryan also showed a was the recent alarming finding major culprits.”

Our lifestyle, which includes a future superstar,” Bryan an- paper where he wrote the word of a US cancer registry, which reviewed nearly half a million what and how much food we eat, “WINNER”. nounced.

When the judges were decid- colorectal cancers diagnosed be- whether we exercise or not, and Richie said, “I love the way you set us up. I’m a little afraid, ing whether they should vote tween 1974 and 2013, published all our self-indulgences/abuses, I’m a little timid. I’m not quite on passing Martin through the in the Journal of the National contribute a lot to our state of next round, Perry declared, Cancer Institute and in the March health. Metabolic syndrome, essure [then] — POW!” Meanwhile, Perry compli- “No vote.” They unanimously 1, 2017 issue of the New England pecially obesity, and red meat and processed meat consumption, all mented Martin for his “incred- shouted, “You’re going to Hol- Journal of Medicine.

The research shows that for increase the risk for cancer. Neible voice” and then requested lywood!”

They handed Martin the colon cancers, a rate increase of glecting regular medical/ dental if he could sing an original golden ticket and wished him 2.4 percent annually was noted for check-up and recommended tests composition.

The Filipino musician played luck. The female popstar then those in their 20s and 1.0 percent also increase our health risk.

The national Institutes of Health a song that he said was inspired advised Martin to work on among those in their 30s. For by an Australian friend. While calming his nerves for what is rectal cancers, the yearly increase reports “approximately two-thirds performing his second song, about to happen in the competi- was even higher, 3.2 percent. of adults between 20 and older In general, the study also found are overweight or obese with Perry joked, “She doesn’t sound tion.

Fil-Am student Francisco Martin wows ‘American Idol’ judges despite nerves, makes it to Hollywood

By Cha Lino Inquirer.net

AFTER proving that he is a real contender in the popular singing contest “American Idol”, an aspiring Filipino musician is going to Hollywood for the next level of the competition.

The 18-year-old Francisco Martin overcame his nerves to serenade the show’s high-caliber judges Lionel Richie, Katy Perry and Luke Bryan with a cover of Maggie Rogers’s track “Alaska”.

The college student from San Francisco, California, shared that he has a problem with self-confidence during his personal interview for the show, uploaded on American Idol’s official YouTube channel last Sunday, Feb. 16.

The young musician was accompanied by his parents, Fatima and Jon. During his audition, Martin initially appeared to be drenched in sweat and was struggling to talk to the judges.

To calm his nerves, Richie came to Martin’s side to give him a hug. Bryan also stood beside the contestant to check his pulse.

“148 is his heartrate,” Bryan announced after counting his heartbeat.

EMPLOYMENT

Photo from Instagram/@alexandermcdizz

Killing us ‘softly’

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

BMI greater than 25, and nearly one-third have BMIs greater than 30…less than 1/3 of them are at a healthy weight with BMI of 18.5 to 24.9.”

Shedding off at least 5 pounds of our excess weight through disciplined calorie counting and walking (exercise) for about 20 minutes a day will reduce our risk for metabolic syndrome and cancer by more than 33 percent. This is a practical and wise strategy we can painlessly do for free!

Glaringly obvious are the evidence-based roles and impact of diet (we are what we eat), exercise, tobacco, and alcohol on our individual health and longevity. To a great extent, our health and our life are in our hands and what to do with them is our choice. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

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

EntErtainmEnt

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27-MARch 4, 2020

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Pia ‘kilig’ over travel vlogger Jeremy Jauncy PH tourism notches wins in 2019...

by MJ

Marfori

ManilaTimes.net

“GRABE ka!” a giddy Pia Wurtzbach laughed as The Times asked her straight up if she, indeed, has a new flame in famous travel vlogger and influencer Jeremy Jauncy of Beautiful Destinations.

Pia was fresh from a trip to the U.S., where she guested at the NBA All Star Weekend in United Center, Chicago. And, though this catch up was supposed to be for her newest endorsement for Jollibee’s spicy and regular Tuna Pie, the beauty queen had no choice but to address the fact that her social media posts from New York City were from the exact same spots as Jeremy’s.

So, are they, or aren’t they?

Without denying anything, Pia replied, “I’m not ready to answer these questions. There’s a proper time for that, I promise you.”

Pia and the Beautiful Destinations founder were first seen together in Hong Kong, during November last year when a fan spotted them and asked for a photo. They were also rumoured to have welcomed 2020 together at a luxury island in Indonesia when, for the first time, fans noticed similarities between on their Instagram stories and the timing of their posts.

Besides the Jeremy question, Pia is said to have also caught the eye of an NBA player who, according to a source close to the actress, wanted to ask her out on a date. Pia didn’t entertain the baller though since she was focused on making a good impression as a

The former Miss Universe title holder says she is not yet ready to answer questions about her rumored new flame.

Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach

Travel vlogger and influencer Jeremy Jauncy Photo from Instagram/@jeremyjauncey

professional on the job at the starstudded event.

When asked about the NBA player, Pia was quick to say, “Maganda naman talaga ang mga Pilipina. Haha! I don’t know what to say about that, but I was just trying to do my job and getting the interviews done and representing us well. I was learning a lot as I was going along kasi hindi naman ako expert sa basketball, but I understand the game, and I also learned about the players before I went there.”

Five years after winning Miss Universe, Pia feels that it’s only now that she’s taking major steps

toward her original plan of being a global entertainment fixture.

“Before I kept saying I’ll do this and that abroad but, of course, my commitments in the Philippines happened one after another, and I had to prioritize them. But now, I can say I’m at a point in my career where I’m confident enough to know where I’m going and that I’m definitely ready to go outside the Philippines.”

Pia finally added, “I have a lot of dream events that I have yet to go to as well dream destinations.”

The question left now is who does she dream of going with to these dream destinations?

Julia can now take roles fearlessly

by Bot

Glorioso Philstar.com

JULIA Barretto is portraying two different characters in I Am U, the latest iWant original series produced by Dreamscape Entertainment and The IdeaFirst Company that will start streaming on the Kapamilya digital platform on Feb. 26.

The mystery psycho thriller requires Julia to display the fierceness of Elise and the boldness of Rose, and portraying them, the 22-year-old actress said, is a complete departure from the usual saccharine kind of acting she’s done in past projects.

“I’m grateful that I’ve been trusted with projects that are not the usual and I’m glad na nakapaglalaro na ako; that I’m free to do some scenes and some roles and take more risks. That I can now take roles fearlessly, and that I can be the actress that I’ve always wanted to be,” said Julia on taking a “new” level of acting.

Showbiz watchers know that her onscreen pairing with Joshua Garcia had resulted to a brighter acting career yet Julia maintained that she is already past the loveteam stage, saying, “Siguro graduate na ako kung saan ako dati.

Graduate na ko sa loveteam. I’ve been blessed to have experienced that, don’t get me wrong. But I still enjoy doing rom-coms and hopefully, I can still do romdrama na parang classic love story na may drama and, perhaps, more edgier roles.”

IdeaFirst top honcho Perci Intalan, on the other hand, expressed delight at having Julia as the female lead. “When we met with Sir Deo (Endrinal, Dreamscape head), the prospect of working with Julia came out. Sobra kaming naexcite na sige willing to wait kahit ilang taon kami abutin because honestly, Julia is at the stage in her career na ang ganda kasi makikita mo ‘yung dynamics; nalalaro n’ya ‘yung nuances.”

He was thrilled when he saw the first rushes that director

Julia Barretto

Dwein Baltazar presented to them.

“I was not disappointed. Kitangkita ko talaga ang magnetic ng persona ni Julia both as Elise and as Rose…sobrang na-deliver ni Julia.”

Julia described her characters as edgy with “nasa loob ang kulo” attitude, finding them both challenging yet fulfilling to do as an actress. No, she’s not at all bothered about handling expectations of people.

“Right now, I am more focused on (work). I just wanna do my best and also I wanna push myself in delivering siguro tumanda na rin ako na unlike when I was younger I was kinda pressured because I had expectations to live up to. But now, I only have one goal, and that is to be able to give what I’m asked to perform.

“I’m very happy to be in the phase of my career na mas mature na ‘yung mga nagagawa ko, mas marami na kong nakakatrabaho…I can now explore, as an actress, different genres, and be able to work with different leading men and different kinds of material.”

Speaking of new leading man, Tony Labrusca is working for the first time with Julia, who never denied that what initially came to her mind upon learning that they would be working together were the passionate kissing scenes Tony did with Angel Aquino in Glorious.

“When it was pitched to me na Tony Labrusca, I said, ‘Oh, daming laplapan?’ I heard of Tony first in Glorious, so even before I met him, I already thought that his image was like that — sexy, hot, steamy (laughs),” she shared and added that she felt excited working with him whom she described as a “universal leading man.”

Completing the cast of I Am U are Ina Raymundo, Richard Quan, Cedric Juan, Kokoy de Santos, Adrianna So, Claire Ruiz, Lander Vera-Perez, Yayo Aguila and Jenny Miller.

Photo from Instagram/@juliabarretto

PAGE 10 record-breaking numbers solidify the effectiveness of the Tourism Act of 2009, which celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2019.”

Secretary Puyat remarked.

Travel Statistics According to UNWTO data, the Middle East was the fastest-growing region, followed by Asia and the Pacific, up by 8% and 5%, respectively.

Myanmar topped the list of the countries that saw the highest jump in visitor numbers yearon-year. The Philippines is in eighth place, trailing Uzbekistan, Montenegro, Egypt and Vietnam.

Maldives and Bahamas round up the Top 10.

Among the other trends: Central Asia increasing in popularity, with Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan all in the top 20 fastest growing destinations; Caribbean destinations like Anguilla, St Maarten, Dominica and the US Virgin Islands making a comeback, recovering from the devastating effects of Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Middle East destinations like Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia all gaining tourist arrivals.

On the other end of the spectrum, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka and the United States all saw a dip in their tourist arrivals due to political turmoil, terrorism, protests and social unrest.

In the Philippines, Korea maintains its position as the top source market for ten years now with a total of 1.98 million arrivals in 2019, for a 22.48 percent increase. China follows closely on

Tourism Attache Francisco Lardizabal (extreme right) explains how the Philippines is focusing on sustainable tourism, beginning with the massive cleanup of Boracay last year. Lardizabal spoke at a panel that featured travel to Asia at the annual New York Times Travel Show held in New York City a few weeks ago.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Mr. Lardizabal is flanked by Charisse Arboleda of Philippine Airlines (left) and Rajah Tours Philippines founder Alejandra Clemente at the launching of the 2020 Very Important Pinoy Tour held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Consulate General in New York.

second with 1.74 million, boasting of a 38.58 percent growth.

The United States of America is third, bringing 1.06 million visitors for a 2.90 percent increase.

Japan is fourth at 682,788 arrivals, with an 8.07 percent growth followed by Taiwan reporting an equally impressive double-digit increase of 35.01 percent for its 327,273 arrivals.

Rounding up the top 12 visi-

tor markets with their volumes and respective growth rates are: Australia with 286,170 (2.27 percent), Canada with 238,850 ((5.48 percent), the United Kingdom with 209,206 (4.06 percent), Singapore with 158,595 arrivals (-7.68 percent), Malaysia with 139,882 (-3.69 percent), India with 134,963 (11.43 percent) and Germany with 103,756 (12.66 percent).

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EntErtainmEnt

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Aubrey and Troy power modern family values By nika

Roque ManilaTimes.net

Communications Bureau honorees

LVMPD K9 Section and Communications Bureau honored at Annual Hidden Heroes Black & White Gala

LAS VEgAS, NV – On Friday, February 21, the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department (LVMPD) Foundation held its third annual Hidden Heroes Black & White gala at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.

The event honored 16 LVMPD officers, 3 sergeants and 34 patrol dogs from the Department’s K9 Section, who are leaders in our city. “For the K9 Section, it means a lot to receive this honor tonight,” shared K9 Section Lieutenant Jeff Clark. “We cover the Valley 24/7/365 and last year responded to around 8000 calls for service.

To be recognized for the work that my folks put in on a daily basis is very special, and we are all excited to be here.”

The event also recognized members of LVMPD Communications Bureau. While maintaining the highest standards of quality service, for our community and their colleagues, the Communications Bureau processes all requests for service quickly and efficiently, keeping public safety their goal. “This honor tonight is such an amazing opportunity to get recognized as a team,” said Communications Bureau Manager Christie Cullum. “A lot of times the things that we do go unnoticed or sight unseen, so this is very exciting for us.”

The special evening was enjoyed by more than 300 attendees, including governor Steve Sisolak who shared his gratitude to those honored, their families and community supporters.

“The Hidden Heroes Black & White gala is an outstanding platform to recognize law enforcement who we often don’t hear about, but

Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak with First Lady Kathy Sisolak interact with a K9 officer.

A K9 patrol dog

who nonetheless play an integral role in the organization day-in and day-out,” said Tom Kovach, executive director of LVMPD Foundation. “Their commitment to the Las Vegas community and LVMPD is remarkable, and their efforts deserve to be recognized.”

The Hidden Heroes Black & White gala was created by Nami Oneda, founder of The gratitude Project, after she was inspired by the heroic actions of LVMPD on 1 October. Oneda created an opportunity for lesser known members of LVMPD to be recognized. Now in partnership with LVMPD Foun-

dation, this event creates space for our heroes, who are not as visible to our community, as an opportunity for public gratitude.

Funds raised from the Hidden Heroes Black & White gala directly support community safety programs, fundraising for the construction of the Reality Based Training Center in Southern Nevada and other LVMPD Foundation initiatives.

To stay up-to-date with LVMPD Foundation’s events and initiatives, visit lvmpdfoundation.org or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

LOCAL showbiz has its own list of power couples, and it is not hard to put Aubrey Miles and Troy Montero in the list. Together for almost 17 years, their modern family is built on the kind of foundation that only the bold and the strong can pursue.

They are very open about their family life, particularly about sustaining their relationship and raising three kids. Miles has a college level son Maurie Obligacion from a previous relationship, and with Montero, they have 11-year-old Hunter and their only daughter, one-year-old Rocket.

But being in the public eye, things can undoubtedly get very difficult. In an interview for Cadbury Promise Park launch, The Manila Times asked about the lessons they have learned to keep their relationship healthy in these modern times.

“From our relationship, respect talaga [is the biggest value. We don’t embarrass each other. If we fight, you will never know,” Miles answered on the sidelines of the Cadbury Promise Pack launch.

“If you know and you see your future with this person, why embarrass them? Even with other people, parang nakakahiya naman sa kanila pag nakita nila. We’re not perfect. Sometimes may mga moments talaga pero you gotta step back and think ‘okay, I cannot do that,’” she continued.

Montero agreed, “I think respect goes so far especially when you’ve been together that long.

This is one of the things that kind of [make a couple]. You get used to each other so much and all of a sudden, you forget kind of why you started in the first place.

“You don’t want to rest on your time together and say, ‘oh my gosh, we’ve been together this long.’ It shouldn’t be an excuse.

Always keep it fresh and keep it like you’re still in the first two years or whatever.”

As such, they still have their personal boundaries despite being comfortable with each other, similar to a couple that has just started dating especially when it comes to having some privacy.

In addition, they still make it a point to dress up for each other and go on dates to keep the spark going. The key, they said, would be having relaxed experiences as well as those that are more exciting.

Classic principles With their kids in mind, they want to instill the same values of respect even while being public figures.

“Kahit makakita ka ng taong

Troy and Aubrey are happy parents of three kids – Maurie, Hunter and Rocket.

Photo from Instagram/@troymontero

nasa labas o yung makita nilang madumi o ganito, I still want them to see na everyone’s equal. Walang mataas or walang iba. I want them to know na ‘wag mamili,” explained Miles.

As old fashioned as it may seem, they do emphasize respect for the elderly through their words and actions, like the mano and beso. For their two boys, they are taught to be gentlemen not just for their family but even in school and other places.

A proud feat for the couple is how Maurie is enjoying life as a college freshman since they did not have the opportunity to finish school, and how he is making a name for himself as an influencer.

For their only girl Rocket, it has been a huge adjustment. The couple have made an effort to be more particular with the clothes that she wears as well as going to places that would also be a good environment for the oneyear-old.

The family has been very open with Maurie’s relationship with stepdad Montero. Since they met when the former was only a year-old, their bond goes beyond being related by blood and has been praised by the media and their fans.

“We all have a healthy relationship which is really amazing. May dinner from time to time with his dad,” shared Montero.

“Maurie knows naman na dad is there, real dad is there. Parang okay lang, they’re friends naman,” reiterated Miles.

Communication style Another perk of their long-term relationship is understanding one

another’s communication style which complements the way they build their family.

“We have to be on the same page. Otherwise they’ll end up saying ‘let’s ask daddy instead of mommy because daddy will always say yes,’” said Montero.

“We’ve gotten better and we both have to say that ‘no’ means ‘no’ for both of us. That way, they respect both of our rules and decisions.”

Finally, though their relationship has endured so much even without tying the knot, do they plan of doing it any time soon?

“We can get married anytime.

Marami kaming usap na ‘time na?

Now na?’ Alam mo [it’s] weird, di rin namin alam bakit we don’t plan it. Pero we can see it now that it’s probably happening soon.

Wala naman kaming problem to get married, di lang namin napaplan,” Miles said.

She further explained that they do also treat their relationship as though they were already married, adding that they would work through disagreements instead of just brushing it under the rug.

“This has been working for us for so long. We’re not saying we won’t get married. We talk about it, parang we’re saving something like one big adventure to Africa or something like that. We’re not just making it stronger because I know we’re already strong, but maybe just for something else to look forward to,” added Montero.

“Kids will really make things tight. Every kid, parang naglelevel up yung relationship namin.

Three kids are like three marriages!” Miles happily said.

Emerging Filipino designer Jhay Layson...

PAGE 10 my knowledge and further my potential.

AJ: Is there a difference to your approach in menswear and womenswear?

JL: For menswear, my designs are all classic. For women, it’s all luxury and glamour because women like crystals, they like stones, they like pearls. The only thing that my designs have in common is that they’re all comfortable to wear.

AJ: How do you find influences/inspirations for your designs?

JL: Alexander McQueen, gucci and Dolce & gabbana are some of my fashion inspirations to name a few. I like seeing their designs because they inspire me to design in my own way.

AJ: What do you think is the role of social media in fashion?

JL: Social media helps me a lot since it connects me all over the world. I can express my designs on social media. People can give both critique and compliments through it. I can also get clients through social media as well as build connections and gain friends on it.

AJ: You are part of the Asia Pacific Fashion Week. What made you decide to join this show?

JL: I’m very excited to join the APFW because I wvant to showcase the fabric from Asia, especially the fabric from the Philippines. I want to make everyone see the beauty and potential of Filipino fashion designers.

AJ: Any advice for young fashion designers out there?

JL: Express yourself and express your creativity. Don’t compare your work to others and

Designer Jhay Layson

always move forward.

Asia Pacific Fashion Week will be held from April 25-May 3 in Los Angeles, California. For more information on events, sponsorships and other opportunities, please visit https://asiapacificfashionweek.com/.

JC, fiancée stun in prenup shoot on Jones Bridge

by Ryan aRcadio Inquirer.net

JC de Vera and his fiancée, Rikkah Cruz, chose the newly renovated Jones Bridge in Binondo, Manila, for their pre-wedding photo shoot.

The couple looked chic as they posed along the brightly lit bridge at night, as seen on De Vera’s Facebook page on, February 24.

The actor was dashing in a double-breasted gray suit by Edwin Tan, while Cruz stunned in a sheer, white gown by Francis Libiran. The bride-to-be completed her look with a matching white hat that featured a small veil, along with dangling pearl earrings.

Nice Print Photography, the team behind the pictorial, described it as a “beautiful [prewedding] session at the heart of Old Manila.”

“Something old in the new Manila [heart emoji],” the photo company added.

The soon-to-be-married couple plans to have a “traditional church wedding” later this year, De Vera said on “Tonight with Boy Abunda” last December.

De Vera proposed to Cruz during a trip to Siargao in 2018. They welcomed their daughter Lana in May of the same year.

JC de Vera and Rikkah Cruz

Photos courtesy of JC de Vera

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • fEbRUARy 27-MARch 4, 2020

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