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FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6 2019 Volume 30 - No. 9 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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

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DATELINE

USA

Back to martial law? Palace says no

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

Princeton student newspaper reports Imee Marcos didn’t graduate there ILOCOS Norte Gov. Imee Marcos “falsely” claims that she graduated from Princeton University, the school’s independent student newspaper reported, adding the daughter of late strongman Ferdinand Marcos “was not an average student” during her time at the Ivy League university.

Marcos — a Senate candidate — has been in hot water amid questions about her educational credentials. In her official biography on her Facebook account and defunct website, Marcos claims that she “is one of the first female graduates from an Ivy League School—Princeton University, graduating with honors.”

Despite evidence, Imee Marcos insists she graduated from Princeton.

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Arlene and Jalson Rubang Laguta and their two sons, Jalson (bottom left) and Jarl Joseph (right) were killed on Saturday night, February 16 in Delano, California, when their SUV swerved off the road, hit a tree, and caught on fire. A fifth victim in the car was identified as family friend Danilo Aquino Sanidad (not pictured).

Photo courtesy of GoFundMe

MANILA — Malacañang disputed claims the country is returning to martial law and maintained there is no crackdown on critics of the administration.

“Definitely we’re not going back there (martial law),” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a chance interview.

He stressed the filing of cases against some critics of President

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo

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PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, February 24, said that now is the most dangerous time to be involved in illegal drugs.

People who profit off of narcotics should find another income source or they will lose their lives quickly, the president added.

“Don’t ever enter into that. Those who haven’t tried it yet, don’t... You’ll earn money there quickly, but you’ll lose your life just as quick,” he said during the distribution of grants to cash transfer beneficiaries in Cebu.

Duterte, who vowed to launch a harsher and bloodier war against illegal drugs last week, reiterated that the illegal drugs menace is destroying the country and making families dysfunctional.

“I’ll make it simple. I will finish you off because my nation is going insane. You know, you create so many social dysfunctions. When you enter into drugs, the head of the family becomes inutile,” he said.

“If you remain like that, I still have three years. I told you I will really finish the war against drugs in three years’ time,” he added.

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LAUNCH OF METRO MANILA SUBWAY PROJECT. Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea (4th from left), Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade (3rd from left), Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar (5th from right), Japan Ambassador Koji Haneda (6th from right), and other government officials lead the groundbreaking ceremony of Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) Phase 1 held at Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela City on Wednesday, February 27. The underground railway system is expected to serve up to 370,000 passengers daily, with a capacity of up to 1.5 million passengers per day once it starts its full operations in 2025.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon)

Trillanes charged with inciting sedition

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Surigao del Sur authorities recovered on Sunday, February 24, 34 bricks of suspected cocaine with the same packaging and markings as the ones found on the shore of Dinagat Island in the Caraga region last week. Police personnel from Surigao del Sur led by Senior Superintendent Francisco Dungo recovered the 34 cocaine bricks from two fishermen who found the contraband off Tandag City.

Philstar.com photo

A COPY of a resolution suggesting Senator Antonio Trillanes IV be charged for inciting to sedition was made public on Tuesday, February 26.

The resolution, dated Jan. 29, 2019, was released by Assistant City Prosecutor Reynaldo Ticyado.

Labor Undersecretary Jing Paras and Presidential Anti-Corruption Commissioner Manuelito Luna filed sedition raps against Trillanes for his “incendiary and hateful speeches against President

ROBLES

AS the entire nation commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the 1986 People Power Revolution on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) on Monday, February 25, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte urged the public to uphold democracy in

high regard.

“Let us never forget the sacrifice of those who came before us so that we may always be motivated to preserve and protect the democratic way of life that we enjoy today,” Duterte said as reported by Rappler.

In his speech during the Partido Demokratikong Pilipino-Lakas

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Duterte after issuance of Proclamation 572 that voided the amnesty granted to him during the previous administration.”

Under Article 142 of the Revised Penal Code, inciting to sedition can be done through speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, cartoons, banners or other representations “which tend to disturb or obstruct any lawful officer in executing the functions of his office, or which tend to instigate others to cabal and meet together for unlawful purposes, or which suggest or incite rebellious conspiracies or riots, or which lead or tend to stir

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Senator Antonio Trillanes IV Inquirer.net photo

Lawyers’ group files motion to quash cyber libel case against Rappler chief

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

Political analyst say nothing much has changed, FVR skips leap AJPress

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by AJPRESS

EDSA 33 years later: On preserving democracy and learning its lessons

by NATHALIE

26, Vice President Leni Robredo said a dictatorship is indeed gripping the country.

She raised the observation in reply to a question if she thought dictatorship had made a comeback.

“Bumalik na (It has returned),” Robredo said. “It seems we have entered a time warp. We’re again at the time of dictatorship.”

De Lima, a staunch critic of Duterte, was arrested and jailed in

‘This is the most dangerous time for anybody to be playing with drugs’

5 Fil-Ams killed in Delano, CA car crash A FILIPINO-AMERICAN family of four and their friend were killed on Saturday night, February 16, in a deadly vehicle crash in Delano, California.

The victims were 7-month-old infant Jarl Joseph Laguta; 5-year-old Jalson Laguta; Arlene Osarin Laguta, 30; Jalson Rubang Laguta, 46; and their family friend Danilo Aquino Sanidad, 60. All were residents of Delano and were pronounced dead at the scene.

According to California Highway Patrol, Jalson Rubang Laguta was driving a 2004

Duterte like Sens. Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV was not to persecute them but to make them answerable to possible violation of the law.

“All the things they raised do not have basis. They are only citing the case of De Lima and Trillanes but these are violations of law,” he added.

Interviewed after speaking at the Ka Pepe Diokno Human Rights Awards 2019 at the De La Salle University on Tuesday, February

33RD EDSA PEOPLE POWER COMMEMORATION. Red, white and blue confetti abound during the commemoration of the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution with “EDSA 2019: Pagkakaisa tungo sa Pambansang Kapayapaan” as the theme held at the EDSA People Power Monument at the corner of EDSA corner White Plains Avenue in Quezon City Monday, February 25. The National Historical Commission of the Philippines, in coordination with the EDSA People Power Commission, Spirit of EDSA Foundation and other national and local government agencies representatives, led the commemoration rites.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

A HUMAN rights lawyers group urged the Manila Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Tuesday, February 26, to dismiss the cyber libel complaint against Rappler CEO Maria Ressa and co-accused, former Rappler researcher Reynaldo Santos.

The Free Legal Assistance Group (FLAG), along with former Supreme Court (SC) spokesperson Theodore Te, filed a motion to quash the cyber libel case before the Manila RTC Branch 146, noting that the offense did not exist when the supposed crime was committed.

The alleged libelous article, entitled “CJ using SUVs of ‘controversial’ businessmen,” posted seven years ago linked businessman and complainant Wilfredo Keng to criminal activities such as human trafficking and illegal drugs.

The said article written by Santos was posted in May 2012, four months before the cybercrime law was implemented in September 2012. However, the article was corrected on February 19, 2014, for a typographical error — misspelling evasion as “evation”.

The Department of Justice (DOJ) argued that the correction is “republication” covered by Republic

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february 28-march 6, 2019 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

From The FronT Page

Back to martial law? Palace...

PAGE A1

2017 over drug-related charges.

Trillanes, meanwhile, is facing coup d’etat and rebellion charges after the Duterte administration voided the amnesty given to him by former president Benigno Aquino III in 2011. The senator had been involved in two uprisings against former president Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo in 2003 and 2007.

Panelo also stressed that the government is not stifling freedom of the press as claimed by Rappler chief executive officer Maria Ressa, who has been charged with cyber libel. “Rappler is a matter of violating a law. That’s why she (Ressa) was prosecuted for that and the courts found probable cause. Let’s not forget that,� the spokesman said.

Panelo was reacting to pronouncements by Robredo, Aquino and other opposition figures that the country appeared to be making a U-turn to martial law.

The country celebrated the 33rd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Monday.

Duterte skipped the rites.

On Saturday, , February 23, Aquino said the Philippines appeared to be making a U-turn to martial law.

He said some of the Duterte administration’s recent proposals remind him of the Marcos regime, including the creation of the Department of Human Settlements as well as suggestion to rename the Philippines.

Aquino said a Department of Human Settlements would be a resurrected Ministry of Human Settlements headed by then first lady Imelda Marcos.

But Panelo argued it was the opposition that was wishing for a return to dictatorship of the late

president Corazon Aquino. “Cory was installed as a dictator... You did not know that? It was a revolutionary government, one woman rule at that time,� he said.

Aquino declared a revolutionary government after the 1986 People Power Revolution, which ended the 20-year rule of Ferdinand Marcos. “Maybe the previous administration wanted to do a la-Cory at that time but failed to do so,� he said. ‘Power movements’ As Filipinos commemorated the 33rd anniversary of the people power on Monday, February 25, President Duterte warned soldiers and policemen against joining “power movements� controlled by “elitist� groups. “I told the military and the police, the rich has power movement.

Look at their spokesmen. Where do they live? In Forbes Park. That’s the crowd of (former interior secretary Mar) Roxas,� Duterte said during an assembly of village leaders in Pasay on Monday. “Sila, mga elitista, tapos yan sila mag-power power movement. Tapos kayo naman, military pati pulis, sumasali kayo, tapos sabihin nyo, ‘o dito kami sa kampong ito’ (The elitists have power movement. The military and police join them and say, ‘We belong to this camp’). And you have done that several times,� the President said. “Oh my God, so that ibigay mo doon, kanino mo doon i-turn over ang gobyerno? Doon sa kalaban nya sa pulitika (To whom will you turn over the government? To the political rivals). Better stop it,� he added.

The president did not mention the EDSA Revolution in his speech, but supporters of the Marcoses have been claiming that the historic

event was an elitist uprising.

Duterte said government forces should not interfere with political rivalries and should not give power to the corrupt. “Kunin mo sa isang kurakot, ibigay mo dun sa kung hindi kurakot ang unggoy na yan... Kung magkudeta kayo, mag-mutiny kayo, wag mong isauli sa pulitiko, isauli mo sa Pilipino (If you get it from the corrupt, give it to those who are not corrupt. If you launch a coup, do not return the power to politicians. Return it to the Filipinos),� he said.

Duterte said soldiers and policemen should find “bright� people from the military or the “brightest� young people from Makati and allow them to assume power. “Tell them we will guarantee your term for seven years, do everything for the country. You politicians, take a break. That solves it.

We will rise,� he added.

At DLSU, Robredo said the issues now are the same as many years ago. “We thought this kind of culture will no longer return in our country,� she said. “Let’s look at the news now, the issues are about the harassment of the media, threats to remove scholarships of students, killings,� the Vice President noted. “Today, the world’s eyes are upon us once more, as our nation comes to grips with potent foreshadowings that our past trauma has returned: the growing culture of division and polarization among us Filipinos, the dark side of the war on drugs that trample human rights, and threats to press freedom that weaken the Fourth Estate, a critical element in our democracy,� Robredo said in her speech. n

Trillanes charged with inciting...

PAGE A1 up the people against the lawful authorities or to disturb the peace of the community, the safety and order of the Government, or who shall knowingly conceal such evil practices.�

Trillanes is being sued over a media interview he did on Sept. 4, 2018 for allegedly saying: “Itong amnesty is an act of Congress. Hindi siya masusupersede ng isang executive order (This amnesty is an act of Congress. It won’t be superseded by an executive order),� and “Di ko maisip na they would go to great lengths, even make themselves look stupid para lang to get rid of me. Isa lang hamon ko eh. Pumirma sya ng waiver.

Magkaalaman. Magreresign ako.

Sabi ko papasok ako sa kulungan.

Di mo kailangan gumawa ng ganitong kalokohan. (I didn’t think they would go to great lengths, even make themselves look stupid just to get rid of me. I only have one challenge. Sign the waiver. Let’s see. I will resign. I said I’ll go to jail. You don’t need to do this kind of stupidity).�

According to Ticyado, Trillanes’ words were intended to instill in

the minds of the people a feeling of hatred and distrust towards the president of the Philippines, the government and its duly constituted authorities.

In Trillanes’ counter-affidavit, he said he was interviewed by media in his capacity as a lawmaker.

However, the prosecutor said that the opposition senator’s defense of parliamentary immunity is not applicable as the statements “relate to the presidential proclamation revoking the previous grant of amnesty to him and therefore not made while the Senate was in session and in connection with the discharge of his official duties as a senator.�

Ticyado also issued one-page information or charge sheet on the indictment that was filed on February 11 before the Pasay Metropolitan Court. It was made public on Tuesday as well.

This is not the first inciting to sedition charge against Trillanes.

The senator was first charged for inciting sedition by Pasay City Senior Assistant City Prosecutor Joahna Gabatino-Lim in March 2018 over a separate complaint on his pronouncements on Duterte’s

alleged hidden wealth.

The case was given to the Pasay Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 45.

Trillanes is also facing a libel charge filed before a Davao court by former Davao City Vice Mayor Paolo Duterte and Manases Carpio, the president’s son and son-in-law, respectively.

In addition, he has been ordered by the Court of Appeals (CA) to answer the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) petition which seeks his arrest and trial for coup d’etat over the 2003 Oakwood mutiny.

The DOJ appealed the Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) Branch 148’s decision last October not to revive Trillanes’ criminal case despite Proclamation No. 572 issued by President Rodrigo Duterte in August that nullified the 2010 amnesty given to rebel soldiers, mainly Trillanes.

The CA’s Seventh Division, composed of Associate Justices Sesinando Villon, Edwin Sorongon and Germano Legaspi, gave Trillanes 10 days to answer DOJ’s petition to overturn the decision of Makati RTC Branch 148 Judge Andres Soriano. n

HONORING FILIPINO MMA WORLD CHAMPS. (From left) Mixed Martial Arts Filipino superstars Eduard “Landslide� Folayang, Kevin “The Silencer�

Belingon, Brandon “The Truth� Vera, Joshua “The Passion� Pacio, and Geje “Gravity� Eustaquio, receive special citations during the SMC-PSA 2019 Annual Awards Night held at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday, February 26. Folayang reclaimed his ONE Lightweight World Title when he defeated Singapore’s Amir Khan via unanimous decision last November at ONE: Conquest of Champions, the same night Vera defended his ONE Heavyweight World Title against Mauro “The Hammer� Cerilli of Italy. Belingon finally got his hands on the ONE Bantamweight World Champion belt when he defeated Bibiano Fernandes via split decision in a highly-anticipated rematch at ONE: Heart of the Lion last November.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

EDSA 33 years later: On preserving...

PAGE A1 ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) campaign rally in Cebu, the chief executive said that the “freedom and liberty� won in the bloodless revolt must be valued and cared for by the younger generation. “I am hopeful that this occasion will inspire all of us, especially the younger generation, to deeply value the freedom and liberty that we won in EDSA. May we all have a profound sense of appreciation and understanding of what we lost and what we reclaimed,� he said. “As the entire nation prepares for the upcoming midterm elections this May, let us always remember how this historic revolution restored our power to collectively chart our future through the ballot,� the president added as reported by The Philippine Star.

As observed in the previous years, Duterte once again skipped the commemoration rites in EDSA. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo denied that it was because of the leader’s close relationship with the Marcoses whose patriarch was ousted in power 33 years ago. “The president has been working tirelessly, including on weekends. (Duterte would be) in union with the celebrators as well as in recognition and reminder to all that our government is a fruit of democracy,� the spokesperson said.

Robredo: EDSA is not about the ‘dilawans’ Vice President Leni Robredo appealed to the people to refrain from associating the EDSA Revolution to her “yellow-tagged� opposition group — Liberal Party and remember the momentous event as a celebration of unity among Filipinos. “Sana ma-break lang iyong misconception na iyong EDSA ay mga ‘dilawan.’ Hindi ito defined

LEGAL NOTICE CITY OF HENDERSON 2019 MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTION NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City of Henderson Primary Election will be held on Tuesday, April 2, IRU WKH IROORZLQJ RIÂżFHV City Council Ward I Eddie “Fighterâ€? Hamilton Michelle Romero Danny A. Vella Nathan Conrad Rocky Ortega City Council Ward II Dan K Shaw Ernest R. Caalim City Council Ward IV Dan H. Stewart Curt “Bigâ€? Easley Municipal Court Judge, Department I Mark Stevens Regina “Ginaâ€? McConnell FURTHER, ELECTION DAY VOTE CENTERS are being utilized countywide for the 2019 Henderson Municipal Election. If you are registered to vote within the city boundaries of Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, or North Las Vegas, you may vote at any Election Day Vote Center of your choice. You no longer have to go to a Vote Center within your own city. Instead, you may choose the most convenient Vote Center IRU \RX 7R ÂżQG QHDUE\ VLWHV RQ (OHFWLRQ 'D\ JR WR ZZZ 9RWH+HQGHUVRQ19 FRP ON ELECTION DAY – APRIL 2 – VOTE CENTERS WILL BE OPEN FROM 7AM-7PM. VOTE CENTERS LOCATED IN HENDERSON INCLUDE: Black Mountain Recreation Center 599 Greenway Road Henderson, NV 89015 Galleria at Sunset Lower Level, Kohl’s Court 1300 West Sunset Road Henderson, NV 89014 Green Valley Library 2797 North Green Valley Parkway Henderson, NV 89014 Henderson City Hall 2IÂżFH RI WKH &LW\ &OHUN VW )ORRU 240 South Water Street Henderson, NV 89015 Henderson Multigenerational Center 250 South Green Valley Parkway Henderson, NV 89012 Heritage Park Senior Facility 300 South Racetrack Road Henderson, NV 89015 Robert and Sandy Ellis Elementary School 3200 Artella Avenue Henderson, NV 89044 Sun City Anthem Center 2450 Hampton Road Henderson, NV 89052 Sun City MacDonald Ranch 2020 West Horizon Ridge Parkway Henderson, NV 89012 MAIL PRECINCTS Mail precincts have been eliminated for the 2019 Municipal Election. All Henderson registered voters have the opportunity to vote at any Vote Center, Early Voting site or by requesting a mail ballot.

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by isang kulay, hindi siya defined by any group, hindi siya defined by pulitika (I hope we break the misconception that EDSA is just all about the dilawans. It’s not defined by one color, it’s not defined by any group, it’s not defined by politics),� Robredo said. “Kapag ganito iyong pagtingin natin, insulto ito sa napakaraming mga Pilipino na wala namang political affiliations noong 1986 (If we view the EDSA Revolution that way, it would be an insult to so many Filipinos who didn’t have any political affiliations in 1986),� she added.

As she led the EDSA rites in Naga City, Robredo said that the Filipino people should be inspired by the power of unity. She also emphasized the sacrifices made by those who endured the atrocities of Martial law declared by late dictator Ferdinand Marcos. “Kahit gaano ka-imposible iyong tinitingnan na task, iyong pinaka-lesson sa atin ng EDSA, basta magkaisa iyong mga Pilipino, iyong imposible puwedeng puwedeng maging posible (No matter how impossible the task is, the main lesson from EDSA is that if Filipinos unite, the impossible can certainly become possible),� Robredo stated.

Ito, talagang pag-alala sa lahat nang Pilipinong nagsakripisyo.

Kasi nangyari lang naman ang EDSA dahil nagkaisa iyong mga Pilipino (This is really a commemoration of all Filipinos who made sacrifices. The EDSA Revolution only happened because Filipinos became united),� the vice president added.

Noynoy, other officials and sectors on EDSA’s 33rd Former president Benigno “Noynoy� Aquino III said that people must remember the lesson of EDSA Revolution that elected her mother the late Cora-

zon Aquino as the Philippines’ first female president. “Kung hindi na relevant, malimutan niyo ang aral ng nakalipas, garantisadong uulitin niyo ang pagkakamali (If it’s no longer relevant and you’ve forgotten the lessons of the past, guaranteed, you will repeat the mistakes),�

Noynoy said.

The young Aquino noted that forgetting the dark days of Martial law would subject the people to yet another tyrannical rule.

However, he said that it is up to the electorate to decide who to place in the political seats this upcoming midterm election.

Nasa inyo ’yun, demokrasya.

Nasa inyo kung gusto niyong ulitin ang madilim na bahagi ng kasaysayan. (It’s on you, the democracy. It’s on you if you want to experience again the dark chapter of our history),� he added.

Department of Justice (DOJ) Secretary Menardo Guevarra emphasized that the current administration is still upholding to the democratic government acquired from the victory of the People Power Revolution. “We Filipinos continue to enjoy the liberties that we regained after the People Power revolution in 1986. Our government institutions function with vibrancy under a democratic regime,� Guevarra said.

EDSA People Power Commission chairman Pastor Saycon said in English and Filipino said that the two million “countrymen, nameless, faceless and colorless. No yellow, red, left or right� Filipinos who marched in 1986 should be deemed as “the real heroes.�

Analyst: Nothing much changed since; Ramos skips leap University of the Philippines PAGE A4

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‘This is the most dangerous time for anybody...

PAGE A1

The president also issued a warning to human rights advocates who are planning on interfering with his anti-drug crackdown. He claimed he was not afraid to be assassinated.

“Don’t mess around with me.

You do not scare me a bit. You scare people by killing people, that you will kill the president.

Son of a b****, do you want us all to fire at each other at the same time?” he said.

“It will make me very happy for things to reach an end. Don’t try to scare me about assassination.

I will walk when I want to walk.

When the time comes that I will no longer be able to walk on my own, I will tell God, ‘I am useless here. Kill me,” he added.

Duterte also threatened to kill Peter Lim, a businessman accused of drug trafficking and money laundering.

“I warned you on TV. I already

warned you. That’s true. I will kill you. Do not show yourself to me.

Find a hell where you can hide.

Do not ever show yourself in the Philippines. I will finish you off,” he said.

Lim, who has denied his involvement in illegal drugs, has not been seen since last year.

Last week, Duterte told him to commit suicide or he would imprison him for 200 years.

ICC withdrawal Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Monday said the drug trade profiting from the International Criminal Court (ICC)’s “self-seeking” publicity led to the Philippines’ withdrawal from the international tribunal.

The ICC is a court of last resort for the prosecution of serious international crimes, including genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. In July 1998, the Rome Statute, its treaty, was adopted.

“What triggered my unilateral withdrawal was embarrassment by threats from Manila to withdraw and the reasons for it. I don’t do empty threats nor abide stupid reasons. So I withdrew with only valid one: the drug trade was profiting from the ICC’s self-seeking publicity. Sad,” Locsin posted on Twitter.

“It will change when the drug trade lets up its pressure on the Philippine government to give up its war on drugs and against terrorism, both of which we aim to destroy and never to accommodate in our society. A little patience,” he added.

The Philippines withdrawal from ICC was in response to the ICC’s move to launch a preliminary examination of Duterte’s “drug war” killings to determine whether to open a full-blown investigation back in February 2018. ■

Lawyers’ group files motion to quash...

PAGE A1

Act (RA) 10175 or the Cybercrime Prevention Act. However, RA 10175 was put on hold by an SC Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) on October 09, 2012 until April 22, 2014.

“The alleged republication was done on February 19, 2014, when the TRO was still in effect. During the duration of the TRO, there was effectively no RA 10175 by judicial fiat,” the motion stated.

It added, “That is the legal, practical, and actual effect of the Supreme Court’s TRO. The alleged republication was done when the TRO was still in effect. This court

Rappler CEO Maria Ressa

has to obey the Constitution, the law, and the decisions of the Supreme Court.”

The written petition argued that the typographical corrections should not be identified as republication, based on several decisions from the United States. One ruling suggested that “to treat the changes as republications would be inappropriate and defeat the beneficial purposes of the single publication rule.”

Te, who now represents Ressa, Santos and the Rappler Inc., also criticized the ruling that the DOJ based its complaint on. According to the former SC spokesman,

A3

the 1988 case referred to the print media in “multiple republications” which does not apply to Rappler’s online platform.

“It is a Third Division decision that binds only the parties thereto.

It is canonical that only decisions of the Supreme Court En Banc are vested with authoritativeness or precedential character,” the motion read.

“In the absence of any law or Supreme Court decision that adopts ‘multiple republications’ as a principle applicable specifically to online media, there is no basis for the prosecution’s reliance on [the 1988 case],” it added.

In line with the said case and the Justice Department’s comprehension of the cybercrime law, the statute of limitations for a published story now adds up to 12 years, meaning online publications can be charged with libel within 12 years from the story’s publication.

The ordinary libel charge under the Revised Penal Code originally states that it is only within a year and not 12. However, the SC argued in its decision noting that “cyber libel is not a new crime.”

“Indeed, cyber libel is actually not a new crime since Article 353, in relation to Article 355 of the penal code, already punishes it.

In effect, Section 4 (c) (4) above merely affirms that online defamation constitutes ‘similar means’ for ‘committing libel,’” the motion Philstar.com photo stated. ■

MISS UNIVERSE 2018 VISITS SENATE. Senate President Vicente Sotto III (left), together with Senators Nancy Binay and Gregorio Honasan II, present a copy of Senate Resolution 140 to Catriona Gray on Tuesday, February 26, congratulating and commending her for winning the Miss Universe 2018 title in Bangkok, Thailand.

Senate photo by Alex Nueva España

Philippine Embassy decries Washington Post feature on drug war victim

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

THE Philippine Embassy in the United States has cried foul over an article of The Washington Post telling the story of one of the victims of the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

In its article titled “This is Manila,” The Post narrated the story of Ferdinand Santos, whose body was found floating under a bridge off Pasig River last month.

The victim’s legs and arms were tied with a rope while his head wrapped in packing tape when his corpse was discovered on January 14.

“Whether the deaths are mostly related to Duterte’s war on drugs is unclear. But what connects them all is a kind of numbed silence,” the article read.

In a statement released Tuesday, February 26 (Manila time), the Philippine Embassy insisted that The Post article does not paint a picture of Manila, contrary to its title, “but of a hasty generalization that has no foundation in reality.”

“It is disappointing how this article hides behind the guise of

journalism to advance an agenda that seeks to discredit the Philippines in the eyes of the international community,” the embassy said.

Citing previous surveys of the Social Weather Stations and Pulse Asia, the Philippine Embassy stressed that majority of Filipinos continue to support the government’s crackdown against illegal drugs.

The embassy also pointed out that total crime volume decreased by 30 percent, based on Philippine National Police data.

“The PNP believes that there is a strong correlation between illegal drug use and focus crimes,” the statement read.

The embassy also stressed that erring police officers from January 2016 to December 2018 have faced disciplinary actions such as dismissal from service, demotion, suspension, forfeiture of salary, reprimand, restriction and withholding of privileges.

The Philippine embassy reiterated that the country upholds the rule of law and human rights in all of its endeavors.

“We will continue to engage in sincere, constructive and evidence-based dialogue with our international partners in the

pursuit of common goals and mutual interests,” it said.

The Post article noted that there have been at least 20,000 killings and drug-related deaths since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office in 2016. This number is based on estimates of rights groups.

Aside from Santos, the main character in the “This is Manila” story, two bodies were also found under the same bridge on the same day the victim was discovered.

New York-based watchdog Human Rights Watch earlier warned that the human rights crisis in the Philippines has “deepened” during Duterte’s second year in office.

In its annual report released last month, the human rights watchdog noted that Duterte’s drug war has expanded outside Metro Manila.

“President Duterte has used the killing of thousands of largely poor drug suspects as a tool to bolster his popularity. He’s also targeting anyone who might undermine that popularity, from outspoken senators to journalists documenting his abuses,” HRW Asia director Brad Adams said. ■

A

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AARP: Older Fil-Ams vulnerable to immigration fraud

by AJPress

MANY Filipino immigrants have fallen victim to immigration scams, a new digital campaign from AARP has revealed.

Seven percent of Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders have been exposed to immigration scams, according to AARP’s “Facing Fraud: A Survey of AAPIs Age 50-plus on Fraud and Scams.”

Navigating the immigration process in the United States may be a daunting task — whether it’s becoming a citizen or filling out the right paper work — and immigrants looking for any option may fall prey to certain fraud schemes.

Targets of immigration scams are either unaware of the fraud or mistake, or they go along because they feel they have no other route to obtain their much-needed legal status or work authorization. The fraudsters promise cheap, fasttracked, or easy paths to work permits and green cards.

When an immigrant is scammed and does not get their needed approvals, they can be removed from the United States and get separated from their families.

In response to this alarming situation, AARP presents “Immigration Fraud Prevention,” a nationwide public service announcement and storytelling initiative in collaboration with NextDayBetter, the Asian American Bar Association of New York, the Filipino American Lawyers Association of New York, and the National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA). This series features immigration attorneys providing insights and tips on how Filipino individuals and families can protect themselves against immigration fraud.

Attorney Amanda Bernardo, di-

rector at the Filipino American Bar Association of New York and cochair of the Immigration Committee at the Asian American Bar Association of New York, said “that the immigration process can be confusing and intimidating, especially for Filipinos and Asian immigrants who face language barriers.

You need to carefully vet the right immigration attorney, who can lend the right immigration services based on their client’s complex immigration needs.”

Unfortunately, many unqualified individuals and institutions take advantage of the trust of Filipino immigrants, providing ineffective or even harmful representation.

Scammers file the wrong paperwork, use fraudulent measures, or misrepresent facts, which jeopardizes their client’s immigration case. Older AAPIs are particularly vulnerable as targets of certain fraud.

“Con artists often target immigrant communities because they are particularly vulnerable, but knowing how they work can help you spot and avoid scams,” said Daphne Kwok, AARP Vice President of Multicultural Leadership, Asian American and Pacific Islander Audience Strategy. “The focus of our fraud initiative is to provide the community the tools they need to outsmart con artists before they strike.”

Some tips on how to protect yourself from immigration fraud

include: • Work only with people who are authorized by the government to help you.

• Real government website URLs should have .gov domains.

• Always verify the person’s credentials. You should call the appropriate government agency and confirm that whoever has contacted you is a legitimate representative.

• Don’t let anyone keep your original documents, like your birth certificate or passport.

• Never pay for blank government forms or sign a form that either isn’t filled out yet or that you don’t understand.

• Keep a copy of every form you submit and every letter from the government for your own records.

• Avoid notary publics for legal advice. They are not licensed lawyers and cannot talk to government agencies on your behalf.

“By rallying community organizations across the country, we can better educate and empower Filipino immigrants to legally navigate our immigration system with the right resources and support,” NextDayBetter CEO Ryan Letada said.

For more information, please contact the AARP hotline at 1-877908-3360, or visit the AARP Fraud Watch Network at aarp.org/fraudwatchnetwork and the Federal Trade Commission at http://ftc. gov/immigration. n

The ISDApp, developed by a group of Filipino IT experts to help provide weather alerts for fishermen through SMS, won an award in the NASA Space Apps Challenge for offering a ‘solution with the most potential to improve life on Earth or in the universe.’ Photo from U.S. Embassy

Filipino-made ‘NASA’ app brings space data to fishermen

by Janice

Mateo Philstar.com

A FILIPINO-made mobile application was recently recognized by the United States’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for its vision of providing fishermen with scientific data that could help in their everyday lives.

The ISDApp, developed by a group of Filipino creative and information technology experts, won the “Galactic Impact” award in the NASA Space Apps Challenge for offering a “solution with the most potential to improve life on Earth or in the universe.”

U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim on Thursday, February 21, met with members of team iNON, which beat 1,395 teams from around the world to win in the said category.

“I am deeply impressed by PAGE A2 the country’s political system “is restored nu’ng ibinalik natin ang team iNON’s fantastic achievepolitical science professor Clarita still broken” due to the fact that demokrasya at sa EDSA mapaya- ment in defeating teams from Carlos explained in a panel dis- the EDSA rally did not impact a pang itinakwil ang diktadurya, around the world to win first cussion aired by TMT TV that the structural change. walang karahasan at naging revolt had impacted a very little “First, we are still under a modelo sa buong mundo (when change in the political landscape presidential system, where every we restored democracy and we of the Philippines 2,000 days you change the face rejected dictatorship without vio“There hasn’t been much of the president; and every 1,000 lence and has become a model PAGE A1 change after 33 years. We days you change the face of Con- globally),” Alvarez said.

Interaksyon previously reached should not call it a revolution gress,” Carlos explained.

Former president Fidel Ramos out to Princeton University, which because there was just a circuProminent people who partici- skipped the anniversary rites this confirmed that although she atlation of elites. Pinalitan mo si pated in the revolt agreed with year as he was in much pain due tended the school, she did not Marcos et al, ng Aquino, Roxas such a sentiment. Theater artist to his gout. The 90-year-old lead- graduate.

(You just changed Marcos et al, Cecile Alvarez said that despite er annually reenacts the famous In a February 26 report, Daily with Aquino, Roxas),” Carlos such, the fruits of EDSA revolt leap he did when he was misin- Princetonian, quoting a universaid as reported by The Manila must not be dismissed, including formed that the Marcos family sity spokesperson, said no record Times. fled the country in the height of shows that Marcos was awarded the freedom of the press.

The analyst emphasized that “The freedom of the press was the revolution. n a degree.

“In an email to The Daily Princetonian, Deputy University Spokesperson Michael Hotchkiss wrote that Marcos attended from fall 1973 to spring 1976 and returned again for fall 1977 to spring 1979.

She had an independent concentration in Religion and Politics,” the report read in part.

Despite previous denials from university officials, Marcos has repeatedly insisted that she finished C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; a degree at Princeton. pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi She also claimed that she gradglijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f% uated from the University of

the Philippines College of Law, which has been disproven by the school’s officials as well.

EDSA 33 years later: On preserving...

place in the Galactic Impact category of the NASA Space Apps Challenge,” said Kim. “They can inspire other Filipino youth to develop innovative solutions to problems in their own communities.”

According to the U.S. embassy, ISDApp was conceived during the embassy-sponsored event in October last year, which was attended by Team iNON members Revbrain Martin, Marie Jeddah Legaspi, Julius Czar Torreda, Matthew Concubierta and Leandro de Guzman.

ISDApp aims to communicate crucial information about real-time weather and sea conditions to fisherfolk, including those who do not have smartphones.

Information useful for fishing and safety will be relayed via SMS (short messaging service) to fishermen using analog phones through an app installed from a town official’s smartphone. These include weather and cloud coverage, sunrise

and sunset schedule and wind speed.

The application also features emergency alerts, including storm alerts and an SOS signal that a fisherman may trigger through a text message.

“ISDApp is a simple technology with the most potential to solve a galactic problem by empowering millions of less privileged fishermen with information they need to have a better life,” the team said. “May the fish be with us.”

The group said they intend to incorporate more NASA data to provide more information such as tide and water temperature.

They also aim to partner with a telecommunications provider and other groups to provide more benefits to users.

Space Apps is an international hackathon organized by NASA to tap coders, scientists, designers, storytellers, makers, builders, technologists and other stakeholders to come together to address challenges. n

Princeton student newspaper reports...

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In 2015, Marcos’ brother, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., stirred up controversy after reports show he did not complete the degrees and may have received mere diplomas instead from Oxford University in England and Wharton School of Business in Pennsylvania.

‘Different accommodations’ In the same report, Daily Princetonian also recalled Marcos’ years in the university, saying the daughter of late strongman was not an ordinary student.

“In a letter from Philippine Consul General Ernesto C. Pineda to Dean of Student Affairs Adele S. Simmons dated July 30, 1973, Pineda described different accommodations that would be arranged for Marcos,” the student newspaper report said.

“She would live off campus, be escorted by Philippine security personnel, and be driven to and from campus by a Filipino chauffeur,” it added.

“According to an article in the ‘Prince’ on September 11, 1973,

the Asian-American Students Association protested the University’s acceptance of Marcos and held negotiations with Simmons regarding her matriculation. The AASA worried that the presence of Marcos and her security personnel would be threatening to students who were critical of her father’s government,” it continued.

The Marcos patriarch, whose presidency was tainted by human rights abuses and massive corruption, was ousted in the 1986 “People Power” revolution.

Despite the death of the strongman while in exile in Hawaii in 1989, his family has been making a steady political comeback, with his only son and namesake eyeing a return to Malacañang as Philippine president.

In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte, an ally of the Marcoses, granted the political clan’s longstanding wish to bury the late dictator’s remains at the Heroes’ Cemetery. (Ian Nicolas Cagaral/ Philstar.com)

5 Fil-Ams killed in Delano, CA...

PAGE A1 t Mitsubishi SUV northbound in the third lane on Highway 99 at approximately 70 mph. The SUV then swerved off the road for an unknown reason, hit a tree, and caught on fire.

Local KGET News of Kern County reported that the victims—members of the Jehovah’s Witness faith—were returning home to Delano from church.

“We tragically lost the Laguta family in a terrible car accident.

Jalson, Arlene, Caleb, and Joseph were a beautiful family who loved Jehovah and served him faithfully until their last day,” reads a GoFundMe page set up to raise money for the funerals of all the victims. “They were loved by their family and congregation and were considered very close friends to all.”

“Though it hurts us all now, it is comforting to know that they died faithful to Jehovah God and they are now safe in His memory,” the GoFundMe page continued. “We long for the day when we will be reunited with our dear friends the Lagutas when they return to life in the beautiful paradise Jehovah has promised.”

As of press time, over $2,550 has been raised of the $30,000 goal.

Bill proposes no speed limit on Highway 99 California state Senator John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) recently introduced a bill that would make the state’s Highway 99 and I-5 among the world’s few highways without a speed limit.

Senate Bill 319 would add two lanes each to both the northand south-bound lanes of the CA I-5 and Highway 99. The bill reasons that “traffic congestion increases the emissions of greenhouse gases as it causes automobiles to idle longer while

California Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash on Highway 99 that led to the deaths of a Filipino-American family of four and their family friend as they made their way home from church on Saturday night, February 16 in Delano, California.

Photo courtesy of the California Highway Patrol

on roadways.”

Funding would come from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, a funding source for state programs designed to decrease greenhouse gas emissions.

But critics say that the opposite would happen—that emissions would actually increase.

“Emission goes up at high speeds; this would encourage people to drive cars really fast on our highway, and that would increase emissions coming from transportation… the only sector where emissions are increasing in California,” Bill Magavern, a spokesperson for the Coalition for Clean Air, told SFGate.

More concern for the introduced bill comes from a safety perspective. Many argue that having no speed limit would mean more accidents on the already accident-prone Highway 99.

A recent study by information pulling source Value Penguin found Highway 99 to be the most dangerous highway in the whole United States. The study found that despite it being a relatively

shorter highway compared to the others that topped the list, it had the most fatal accidents per 100 miles.

“The state route which cuts up the center of California had a total of 264 fatal accidents between the years 2011 and 2015,” said the study.

But Moorlach believes that the fast lanes would make the highways safer, and would provide a shorter alternative to riding a train in getting to San Francisco.

Referring to Germany’s famous speed-limit-free Autobahn, Moorlach told local news station CBS13, “If you look at what’s happening Germany, the freeway accidents on the Autobahn are a lot less than what’s happening on our roads!”

“You’re burning the fuel efficiently, as opposed to just sitting in slow traffic waiting for one truck to pass another truck for 20 minutes,” he added.

Anyone with information on this accident is asked to contact the California Highway Patrol in Bakersfield at (661) 396-6600.

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARy 28-MARch 6, 2019

(702) 792-6678 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

China warns of tit for tat if illegal workers deported from PH

by Julie

M. Aurelio Inquirer.net

BEIJING has cautioned Manila against deporting Chinese illegal workers, saying it will do the same to Filipinos working in China, according to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo.

Panelo told reporters on Tuesday, February 26, that Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jianhua had told him that China would â&#x20AC;&#x153;do the sameâ&#x20AC;? if the Philippines would hastily deport Chinese illegals. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is what the Chinese ambassador told me during dinner, that if this government will just deport Chinese not in accordance with law, then we will also do the same. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tit for tat,â&#x20AC;? Panelo said.

Panelo did not say when the dinner took place.

ATHLETES OF THE YEAR. The Philippines Sportswriters Association (PSA) bestows the Athletes of the Year award to Yuka Saso (left), who won two golds No rash move in womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s golf competition; and Skateboarder Margielyn Didal, also gold medalist in the 2018 Asian Games, during the SMC-PSA 2019 Annual Awards He said Zhao expressed confiNight, one of the most prestigious sport-related awards, held at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday, February 26. The PSA Athlete of the Year is given to outstanding Filipino athletes annually.

PNA photo by Jess M. Ecaros Jr. dence that the Philippine government would not make a rash move against Chinese illegal workers.

Then he proceeded to say that he and the Chinese diplomat were not specifically talking about the â&#x20AC;&#x153;If not, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll shut down their and we will man it,â&#x20AC;? he said at Philippines and China but were by ritchel MendiolA AJPress business. Yes, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true. I the sidelines of a Manila Electric just discussing how countries would react to certain moves by donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t want to brag, but they owe Co. (Meralco) briefing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will forget what the agree- other nations.

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte [the] government P8 billion. No â&#x20AC;&#x153;He was not actually referhas threatened to shut down president has ever asked for pay- ment said so we will increase the number of lines to accommodate ring to the Philippines. We were PLDT Inc. if it does not expand ment,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The president did not divulge the calls and we will man it ourthe citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; complaint hotline by selves,â&#x20AC;? he added. at least one more trunk line for what the P8 billion was for.

Pangilinan also said he was Duterte signed Executive frontline government services.

Speaking at a PDP-Laban Order 6, which institutionalized grateful for Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s call out and campaign rally in Cebu City on the 8888 Citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Hotline and apologized for the issue.

by PAtriciA lourdes VirAy â&#x20AC;&#x153;We apologize for that â&#x20AC;Ś Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a Sunday, February 24, Duterte Complaint Center, on Oct. 14, Philstar.com bit more complicated than what urged everyone to report any act 2016.

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Four institutions The hotline and complaint it appears,â&#x20AC;? he said. of corruption seen committed by from the Philippines appeared â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Slap himâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; any government official to the center will serve as a â&#x20AC;&#x153;mechaDuterte on Sunday also threat- in the latest global ranking of nism where citizens may report complaint hotline.

He went on to issue PLDT an their complaints and grievances ened to slap any government universities based on academic order to add another trunkline on acts of red tape as defined official who extorted money from discipline insights released on Wednesday, February 27. for the purpose after he recalled under RA No. 9485 and other citizens.

The 2019 Quacquarelli SyHe urged everyone to report if that the hotline number is always relevant laws, and/or corruption of any national government any official tried to extort money monds (QS) world university busy. rankings by subject included the â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you see corruption, tell me. agency, government-owned or from them. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Call 8888 about corruption. University of the Philippines (UP), Call 8888. Bong, add another -controlled corporation, governtrunk line. The present setup ment financial institution, and And if they refuse to air it on the De La Salle University (DLSU), canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t accommodate all the calls. other instrumentalities of the radio, tell the announcer that Ateneo de Manila University I will summon him to Manila. (ADMU) and University of Santo Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always busy. Tell PLDT,â&#x20AC;? government.â&#x20AC;?

PLDT Chairman Manuel Pan- If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s corruption. Director, all Tomas (UST).

Duterte said, giving the order The Philippines ranked 13th in to his former special assistant gilinan pledged to address the of them who extort,â&#x20AC;? Duterte Asia Pacific and 47th in the world said.

Christopher Lawrence â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bongâ&#x20AC;? presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s complaint. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re asked for a permit, on the number of universities â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to put more lines Go, now one of the senatorial candidates of the PDP-Laban in than the 20 mandated in the tell him youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the one paying his included in the latest rankings contract with the government salary...slap him,â&#x20AC;? he added. n per subject. the midterm elections.

Duterte to PLDT: Expand hotline or face shutdown

discussing certain movements of governments with respect to the nationals of other governments,â&#x20AC;?

Panelo said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And I agree with him that governments will be employing the same policy employed by another government relative to their nationals,â&#x20AC;? he added. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Let them work hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Panelo said on Monday, February 25, that President Rodrigo Duterte would enforce Philippine immigration laws after lawmakers, trade unionists and even a Department of Labor and Employment (Dole) official rejected a suggestion by the President that Chinese illegals be allowed to stay and keep their jobs to avoid a diplomatic controversy that could lead to the expulsion of thousands of Filipinos in China.

The president mentioned the Chinese illegal workers in a speech at a PDP-Laban campaign rally in BiĂąan City, Laguna province, on Sunday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Chinese here, just let them work here. Just let them. Why? We have 300,000 Filipinos in China,â&#x20AC;? he said.

In a speech in Cebu City later Sunday, he raised the number to 400,000, and said he could not just order the deportation of the Chinese illegals because China might respond in kind.

His remarks came a week after the Senate labor committee resumed its inquiry into the influx of undocumented Chinese workers into the country.

The committee learned that the Chinese were coming in as tourists then getting jobs at Chinese-owned offshore gaming and business process outsourcing companies that were supposed to be available to Filipinos only.

Priority to Filipinos Vice President Leni Robredo added her voice to the uproar on Tuesday, saying allowing illegal Chinese workers to stay in the country was â&#x20AC;&#x153;patently wrong,â&#x20AC;? as it defeated the governmental goal of bringing home migrant Filipinos by giving them jobs here.

Philippine laws, Robredo stressed, give priority to Filipinos in job provision and allow jobs to foreigners only if there are no Filipinos available for those jobs.

Asked what she thought of MalacaĂąangâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s turnaround, Robredo said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s see what they will do.â&#x20AC;?

From her cell in Camp Crame, Quezon City, Sen. Leila de Lima issued a statement slamming President Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s soft stance on Chinese illegals as â&#x20AC;&#x153;cowardiceâ&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;subservienceâ&#x20AC;? to China.

De Lima said the Presidentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s PAGE A7

4 Philippine universities in QS world rankings by subject

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Social sciences and management turned out as the broad subject area with greatest university representation in the Philippines with three universities in the list â&#x20AC;&#x201D; UP, DLSU and ADMU. On specific subjects, Philippine universities have been recognized in English language and literature, sociology, business management studies and medicine.

UP, the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s national university, appeared in the world rankings by subject the most with 15 of 48 specific subject areas covered in the 2019 rankings, QS said in a media release.

Last year, UP was included in the top 500 schools in 10 out of 48 subject areas. â&#x20AC;&#x153;University of the Philippines, De La Salle University, and Ateneo

de Manila University are the universities that appear most frequently in the subject lists,â&#x20AC;?

QS said.

Harvard University remains the top university in the world ranking first as the best institution in 12 subjects, followed by Massachussetts Institute of Technology being the world leader in 11 subjects.

The latest world rankings by subject accounted the insights of over 83,000 academics, 42,000 employers and 150 million citations from 22 million academic papers.

Over 1,200 universities across 78 countries were evaluated based on four key indicators â&#x20AC;&#x201D; academic reputation, employer reputation, citations per paper and H-index. n

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY PUBLIC NOTICE EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 19, 2019 THROUGH JULY 8, 2019 The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) provides subsidized housing for low-income persons who meet both the Department of Housing and Urban Developmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (HUD) and SNRHAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s admission criteria.

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A6

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FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2019 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Universal health care

FEATURES

IT’S a dream measure for the millions of Filipinos for whom decent health care is a luxury beyond their reach. President Rodrigo Duterte has signed the Universal Health Care Law, which expands the services covered by state health insurance and intends to include all Filipino citizens in the program.

AS in many other laws in this country, of course, the devil will be in the implementation. The government has tried to temper high public expectations, pointing out that the wider benefits and coverage will not happen overnight.

While public impatience could set in, the measured rollout should help ensure the efficient implementation of the new law. The implementing rules and regulations are still being drawn up, with proponents acknowledging that with limited resources, the new law could fail to live up to expectations.

As things stand, the country’s health care facilities, whether state-run or in the private sector, cannot meet the demand. Government hospitals in Metro Manila are overwhelmed, with patients spilling outside the emergency sections and new mothers sharing beds.

How to finance the expanded services promised under the new law is a big question. Apart from higher sin taxes, Republic Act 11223 intends to increase PhilHealth premiums. How much will still have to be worked out in the IRR, but certain workers’ groups are already protesting against any hefty increase.

The extent of free or subsidized treatment also

still has to be specified, especially for those involving costly medication or services such as sustained treatment for cancer and AIDS. Will mental health care and drug rehabilitation be covered?

There are also concerns about the capability of PhilHealth to process claims quickly and efficiently.

PhilHealth officials have reassured the public that they are up to the job.

The private sector will also need a capacity boost to deliver on the promise of the new law. Quality health care facilities and equipment, however, require substantial investments that only a few hospital operators can afford.

There’s also the question of human resources. Will there be enough medical professionals to handle universal health care coverage? The law aims to encourage students to take up health-related courses, with government scholars required to render three years of paid service in the country once they become professionally eligible.

Proponents acknowledge the challenges facing the implementation of the new law. Every effort is needed to ensure that this law delivers on its promise. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS

Philstar.com photo

Mounting opposition against Trump’s national emergency declaration to use funds to build border wall publicans chose to side with Trump.

As the Washington Post reported, Democrats contend that Trump’s claim of an emergency crisis at the border was baseless, and that “he was embarking on the road to dictatorship by unilaterally declaring an emergency to try to get money from U.S. taxpayers to fulfill an unpopular campaign promise” to build a wall in the U.S.-Mexico border, which he said Mexico would pay for during the campaign season.

The Post further reported that the Tuesday vote by the House was the first time since the passage of the Emergencies Act of 1976 “that the Congress has invited provisions allowing for passage of a disapproval resolution to nullify a presidential emergency declaration.”

Trump accused Democrats of not wanting to protect the borders by denying his demand for $5.57-billion downpayment for his wall. Congress has previous-

ly approved $1.6 billion toward strengthening border security through smart and modern technology and adding manpower in legal points of entry and parts of the border, as well as improving barriers already in place in critical areas of the border.

But Congress is not alone in this opposition to Trump’s declaration of a national emergency. On February 18, a coalition of 16 states, including California and New York, challenged the constitutionality of Trump’s declaration in a lawsuit filed in Federal District Court in San Francisco. According to the New York Times report, “the suit argues that the president does not have the power to divert funds for constructing a wall along the Mexican border because it is Congress that controls spending.”

On February 25, 48 former national security advisers and officials who served in both Democratic and Republican administrations — including

former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and former Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel — sent a letter to President Trump, sending the message they are not aware of any emergency that “remotely justifies” redirecting funds to begin construction of a barrier along the southern border.

These officials pointed out that Trump had no basis for such declaration, arguing that illegal border crossings are at near-40 year lows, that there is no documented terror threat as Trump has been claiming without evidence, that immigrants are in fact not found to commit violent crimes as much as Trump paints. U.S.-born Americans have a higher rate of violent crimes committed per government data. Human and drug trafficking will not be affected by the construction of a massive wall as most of these crimes happen at legal points of entry and through tunnels built under whatever existing walls.

PRESIDENT Donald Trump, as of press time, is in Hanoi, Vietnam for his second rendezvous with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to talk about denuclearization.

This comes despite no concrete verifiable evidence that North Korea has started to comply with the United States’ denuclearization requirement of the United States during their first summit in Singapore.

“We fell in love,” Trump said, touting the “love letters” he received from the dictator and the “love” felt during the summit.

Meanwhile, at the same time in Congress, Trump’s former long-time personal lawyer/fixer Michael Cohen has started giving his testimonies to reveal what he said everything the public needs to know about Trump’s evil deeds in violation of the laws of the land, offering to turn in more evidence to substantiate his allegations.

These are all happening as

more people and institutions continue to challenge President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency just so he could get $8 billion from funds already appropriated by Congress for military projects and disaster relief programs — a blatant attempt to circumvent the power of the purse accorded by the Constitution to Congress.

They all argue that there is is NO national emergency and that Trump is abusing his executive power, which could pose a threat to the country’s national security.

On Tuesday, February 26, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to overturn Trump’s declaration of a national emergency on the southern border.

With a 245-182 vote, the resolution was passed mostly along party lines, with 13 Republicans voting with the Democrats.

This vote, however, fell short of the two-thirds majority required to overcome Trump’s veto threat because more Re-

PeaceMaker

Rebuilding new roads to peace, security and human development

FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. Part 3 of 3

(Remarks of former Philippine speaker Jose de Venecia - founding chairman, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); co-chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); chairman emeritus, Universal Peace Federation (UPF); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the UPF World Summit 2019 “Peace, Security and Human Development” Seoul, Republic of Korea; February 7-11, 2019) The challenge to Asian countries Excellencies, friends: Our task is to ask ourselves why this is happening and how we can keep peace within our region despite the stiff economic competition our countries face.

We must be aware of all the pitfalls and failings of democracy and free market competition.

What ethical standards can we bring in so that we can bring all our entrepreneurial skills but operate fairly and with civility?

Perhaps, the answer is in our distant past when the maritime highways linked our nations to one another and participated in a trade where one country supplied what was needed in another, for which they bartered for what they needed.

My own country the Philippines, located as it is on the margins of islands in Southeast Asia, developed virtually on its own, though it did take part in a long-distance trading system, that encompassed both the Indian Ocean and the China Sea and reached past Madagascar in East Africa to Nagasaki, Japan.

Most practical solution in China Sea crises Excellencies, friends: As we pointed out much earlier, the raging conflict in the South China Sea, West Philippine Sea to the Filipinos, and East Sea to the Vietnamese, with conflicting sovereignty claims, may be settled by temporarily shelving the issue of sovereignty, as earlier proposed

by Deng Xiaoping, the paramount leader of China’s peaceful rise: revive the Seismic Survey Agreement signed by China, the Philippines, and Vietnam, which we had the priviledge to inititate in 2004; undertake joint oil/gas exploration and joint develop-

ment with an equitable sharing of production and profits; designate “fishing corridors”; demilitarize the disputed islets through the phased withdrawal of armed garrisons; and convert the zone of conflict into a Zone of Peace, Friendship, Cooperation and Development.

This is perhaps the most realistic, most common-sensical solution to the problem of the Spratlys and Paracels, and which could subsequently be joined by Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan, and could also be the solution to the problem between China and Japan in the Senkaku Straits or Diaoyu in the East China Sea. Easier said than done but this is now the time to consider the practical, principled, commonsensical win-win compromises necessary for the geo-political settlements in the China Sea. Our own road to the future Excellencies, friends: We must make our own road to the future.

And in this task we should take hope from the writer Lu Hsun, a hero of China’s revolutionary period.

“Hope [says Lu Hsun] cannot be said to exist. Nor can it be said not to exist. It is just like roads across the earth. For actually the earth had no roads

to begin with; but when many people pass one way a road is made.”

Here in our meeting in Seoul, we know the journey will be difficult. The journey will be long.

But the rewards at the journey’s end will be more than justify every tear, every hurt, every fall.

It is in this spirit that we in the Universal Peace Federation (UPF), the International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP), and the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) join hands with all of you, distinguished delegates from around the world, all advocates of reconciliation and peace – peace in our time, hopefully sooner than later in this century – peace in the Korean Peninsula, peace throughout in our planet Earth.

For we share rebuilding new roads to the future for mankind, for all our peoples.

Two Koreas should adapt to global changes Excellencies, friends: We must point out that despite the occasional harsh rhetoric on both sides of the 38th Parallel, we believe governments, parliaments, political parties, civil society organizations, and religious groups must encourage and support

direct talks between Seoul and Pyongyang.

Indeed, direct talks between North and South will complement these high-level explorations. Perhaps they could even catalyze the long-suspended SixParty Talks to prevent nuclear proliferation in the Korean Peninsula. Perhaps direct bilateral or multilateral talks could even lead to agreement on a road map to eventual unification. But these talks have not been reopened for a long time now.

We in Asia and the global community most acknowledge and applaud the forthright efforts of U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong-Un, consistently supported by the South Korean President Moon Jae-In, which have the potential for a breakthrough, hopefully sooner than later, towards a final peace in the Korean Peninsula.

Today the basic fact is that the distribution of power in the world is fast-changing–particularly in East Asia–and the Korean Peninsula must adapt to these epochal transformations.

Vietnam itself emerged from three difficult successive wars, winning against great powers, and its socialist government

Also on Tuesday, February 26, PBS reported that top U.S. military officials told senators in a committee hearing that there is no military threat on the southern border. But Air Force Get. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, commander of the U.S. Northern Command and North American Aerospace Defense Command said, “Russia’s advancements in training and capabilities, and its intent to hold the US at risk, present an urgent threat to America,” in addition to “real threats” from China.

Trump’s judgment call is indeed questionable. Why is he cozying up with these dictators while alienating our allies, undermining the democratic institutions and the rule of law of the United States of America? *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://

adopting a market economy, lifted its people from poverty to become today a rising peaceful economic power. North Korea can be like Vietnam, which is already emerging as a significant state in Southeast Asia.

The great example of course is how the two Germanys finally emerged from Cold War confrontation and totally united under then Chancellor Helmut Kohl, to become today the predominant economic power in Europe.

And China, under the unforgettable leader Deng Xiaoping, opened China to the world, lifted more than 500 million people from poverty and introduced appreciable elements of free enterprise capitalism to China’s socialist economy, which has propelled China to the second largest in the global economy with the potential to become No. 1 within 10-15 years.

In my view, the immediate task of the parliaments and mainstream political parties of the Republic of Korea and the Communist Korean Workers’ Party (KWP) of the North, aided by the parliaments, political parties, civil society, and business leaders of the global community, is to draw up a clear, distinct and workable road map toward unification. ■

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

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARy 28-MARch 6, 2019

A

PhilHealth needs P22 billion in 1st year of universal health care

by Sheila

CriSoStomo Philstar.com

CAMPAIGN RALLY IN CEBU. President Rodrigo Duterte raises the hands of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) senatorial bets during the partyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign rally at the Plaza Independencia in Cebu City on Sunday, February 24.

MalacaĂąang photo by King Rodriguez

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The government needs some P22 billion to implement the Universal Health Care (UHC) law in its initial year, the Philippine Health Insurance Corp.

(PhilHealth) said.

PhilHealth president and chief executive officer Roy Ferrer said they stand to get P18 billion through the General Appropriations Act and P217 billion from premium collections.

Ferrer noted that aside from this, PhilHealth will also receive funds from the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. This means that there is a shortage of P22 billion to

implement the UHC law, which mandates the automatic enrollment of all Filipinos in PhilHealth, among others.

Ferrer, however, said they are looking forward to their share from the revenues that will be generated by the sin taxes from tobacco and alcohol to address the funding gap.

Under the UHC law, PhilHealth will also have to expand its benefit packages for treatment and diagnostics.

Ferrer added that to strengthen PhilHealthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fund life, they are â&#x20AC;&#x153;aggressiveâ&#x20AC;? in collecting premiums and, at the same time, â&#x20AC;&#x153;prudentâ&#x20AC;? in their spending.

Ferrer, however, assured the public they â&#x20AC;&#x153;do not compromise the services that we are giving to

our members.â&#x20AC;?

PhilHealth vice president for actuarial Nerissa Santiago admitted that the benefits the agency could offer and expand over the next years will depend on the funding they would receive.

Santiago cited for instance that they could increase the benefits â&#x20AC;&#x153;in terms of supportâ&#x20AC;? value and control â&#x20AC;&#x153;out of pocketâ&#x20AC;? payments by members if the funds will be released early. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are positive that we can have (sufficient) revenues (from tax increase) and it can also help in leveling down the number of smoker and drinkers,â&#x20AC;? she added.

If this will still not be enough, PhilHealtth will ask Congress for more funds. n

an accused.

The court, however, denied the motion to quash the subpoena as it adopted the â&#x20AC;&#x153;consolidation for trial.â&#x20AC;?

Former leaders at the House of Representatives filed a case against then senator de Lima on December 2016 for allegedly advising Dayan not to go to the House

inquiry on her alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

De Lima also appeared in court although her counsel said the proceedings did not have any effect on her case.

The prosecution is set to present Dayanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Hanna Mae, in the next court hearing in May. (ManilaTimes.net)

Filipinos have better work-life balance than Singaporeans, Malaysians â&#x20AC;&#x201D; study De Limaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ex-driver appears in court but cited in contempt for refusing to answer questions MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Filipino working professionals have better work-life balance experiences compared to their counterparts in Singapore and Malaysia, according to a study by a Singaporebased website.

Recruitment portal Monster. com reported that 65 percent of working professionals in the Philippines are satisfied with their work-life balance.

Meanwhile, 28 percent said they would like to have more time to spend with friends and family.

The also found that 41 percent of Filipino professionals feel content with the balance of their personal and professional lives.

This is higher than the ratings in Singapore and Malaysia with 24 percent and 32 percent, respectively.

For 59 percent of Filipino professionals, having flexible working hours is a key aspect of work-life balance.

According to the study, 51 percent of Filipinos want to be able to leave work on time while 47 percent just want to balance work and life.

The survey also found that Filipino employers are more accepting of work-life balance as 32 percent of them offer flexi-work policies, which is double the figures reported in Singapore and Malaysia. â&#x20AC;&#x153;An impressive 44 percent of Filipino respondents said their managers are supportive of them

THE former driver and self-confessed lover of detained senator Leila de Lima took the witness stand on Wednesday, February 27, on a disobedience to summons case, which the former lawmaker filed against him but invoked his right against self-incrimination.

Presiding Judge Ma. Ludmila de Pio Lim of Branch 34 of the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court, however, held Ronnie Dayan in indirect contempt and ordered him to pay a P200 fine when he refused to answer even the questions that she directed at him.

Dayan made an appearance A study from online recruitment portal Monster.com found that 65 percent of Filipino working after Lim denied his previous moprofessionals are satisfied with their current work-life balance.

Philstar.com photo tion to quash a subpoena for him to testify. higher productivity. finding balance â&#x20AC;&#x201D; once again Dayan, through his counsel, The survey was conducted trumping Singapore (23 percent) and Malaysia (31 percent),â&#x20AC;? Mon- among 1,000 respondents across filed the motion after a similar case Malaysia, the Philippines and Sin- originally assigned to Quezon City ster.com said.

Almost half of the respondents gapore as part of Monster.comâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MTC 35 was consolidated with the case at MTC 34 on January 30. He in Malaysia, the Philippines and #WorkLifeBalance campaign.

The campaign seeks to iden- claimed that this would make him Singapore described their worklife balance as â&#x20AC;&#x153;average, but could tify the sentiments of working professionals on work-life balhave more balance.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Philippines is consider- ance, as well as raise awareably ahead of its Southeast Asian ness among employers about peers in terms of fostering a its aspects that their employees PAGE A5 workforce that is satisfied with value the most. stance supported the â&#x20AC;&#x153;perception â&#x20AC;&#x153;The survey was conducted in that he is nothing more than a pupthe equilibrium between their professional and personal com- each market to understand what pet of China.â&#x20AC;? mitments,â&#x20AC;? Monster.com CEO working professionals defined as Labor agreement Abhijeet Mukherjee said in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;work-life balanceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, as well as the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Whatever China has on Duterte, various obstacles which lay in to be able to hold him firmly by the statement.

Mukherjee added that this has their way of achieving #ACom- neck while we are gradually turned a positive impact on business as pleteLife,â&#x20AC;? Monster.com said. into a Chinese vassal state, is defiit increases engagement, boosts (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar. nitely working to its advantage,â&#x20AC;? happiness levels and encourages com) De Lima said.

Opposition Senator Leila de Lima flashes her signature D5 handsign after attending a hearing of her alleged inducement to disobedience to summons case before the Quezon City Metropolitan Trial Court Branch 34 on Wednesday, Feb. 27. Next hearing is scheduled on May 15.

Senate photo

China warns of tit for tat if illegal...

LUNGSOD NG LAS VEGAS MUNISIPAL PANGUNAHING HALALAN ANG ABISO NA ITO AY NAGBIBIGAY NANG KAALAMAN NA Ang lungsod ng Las Vegas Munisipal na Pangunahing Halalan ay gaganapin sa Martes,Ika-2 ng Abril, 2019 sa mga sumusunod na tanggapan: KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD PUROK 1

KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD PUROK 3

KONSEHO NG LUNGSOD-PUROK 5

Robert Blakely Drew P. Dondero Amy Emanuel Jesse â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jakeâ&#x20AC;? Holder Brian Knudsen Dean Lauer Dave Marlon Robin Munier Sherman Ray Margarita Velazquez Rebollal

Aaron Bautista Melissa Clary Mingo Collaso Olivia Diaz Ruben Kihuen David A. Lopez Shawn Mooneyham

Cedric R. Crear Henry â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hen-Henâ&#x20AC;? Thorns Derek Washington

ALKALDE Tina RanĂŠ Alexander Phil Collins Carolyn G. Goodman Zachary Krueger Amy Luciano Mack Miller Vance â&#x20AC;&#x153;Stretchâ&#x20AC;? Sanders

KOREO/MANLILIBAN NA BALOTANG KAHILINGAN NA MGA TARHETA ay maaaring makuha sa Lalawigan ng Clark /Kagawaran ng Halalan, online sa sumusunod na website www.lasvegasnevada.gov/elections. Lahat ng mga kahilingan para sa koreo/manliliban na balota para sa Pangunahing Halalan ay dapat matanggap sa Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan, 965 Trade Drive, Ste. A, N. Las Vegas, Nevada 89303, sa 5:00 n.h. sa Martes, Ika-26 ng Marso, 2019.

SA KARAGDAGAN, ANG PANGUNAHING HALALAN na naka takda sa Martes, Ika- 2 ng Abril , 2019 ay gaganapin sa pamamaraan na ibinigay sa pamamagitan ng batas sa halalan ng Estado ng Nevada at ang Lungsod ng Las Vegas.

both sides.

He said a memorandum of understanding signed by the Philippines and China in Boao in April last year for the employment of Filipinos in Chinese industries would be â&#x20AC;&#x153;a good springboard.â&#x20AC;?

To stem the tide of illegal foreign workers, the Dole is looking at how it could become the sole issuer of work permits to foreigners. n

Karagdagang kaalaman sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan sa: www.clarkcountynv.gov/votetag NOTICE TO ELECTORS OF CLOSE OF REGISTRATION FOR THE MUNICIPAL PRIMARY ELECTIONS TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2019 IN BOULDER CITY, HENDERSON, LAS VEGAS, NORTH LAS VEGAS, CLOSE OF REGISTRATION PERIOD BEGINS TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2019 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the close of voter registration period for the Municipal Primary Elections to be held on April 2, 2019, will begin on Tuesday, March 5, 2019 and end March 12, 2019. The deadline for online registration is Thursday, March 14, 2019. $Q\ TXDOLÂżHG HOHFWRU ZKRVH QDPH GRHV QRW DSSHDU RQ WKH RIÂżFLDO UHJLVWU\ OLVW PD\ DSSO\ WR UHJLVWHU E\ DSSHDULQJ DW WKH Clark County Election Department, 500 South Grand Central Parkway, Las Vegas; Clark County Election Center, 965 7UDGH 'ULYH 6XLWH $ 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV WKH DSSURSULDWH &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH DQ\ EUDQFK RI WKH 'HSDUWPHQW RI 0RWRU 9HKLcles; or by appearing before a Field Registrar in the manner provided by law. The Clark County Election Department is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.

Voter registration applications will be accepted by mail or in person up until 28 days before the election. Thereafter until 21 GD\V EHIRUH WKH HOHFWLRQ YRWHU UHJLVWUDWLRQ DSSOLFDWLRQV PXVW EH ÂżOHG LQ SHUVRQ DW WKH DSSURSULDWH &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH RQO\ Online Registration $Q\ HOLJLEOH &ODUN &RXQW\ UHVLGHQW ZKR KDV D 1HYDGD GULYHUÂśV OLFHQVH RU DQ LGHQWLÂżFDWLRQ FDUG LVVXHG E\ WKH 1HYDGD Department of Motor Vehicles can now register or update his/her registration information online exclusively at only one website www.RegistertoVoteNV.gov, which is accessible through www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote in the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Online Registration Servicesâ&#x20AC;? box and click on the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Click Hereâ&#x20AC;? button. This service is available 24 hours a day.

To be eligible to vote in the April 2nd Primary Election, online registration must be completed on or before March 14, 2019 by 11:59 p.m.

0DLO LQ YRWHU UHJLVWUDWLRQ DSSOLFDWLRQV DUH DYDLODEOH DW YDULRXV SRVW RIÂżFHV OLEUDULHV DQG XWLOLW\ FRPSDQLHV WKURXJKRXW &ODUN County.

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Mga Sentro nang Botohan ay magbubukas sa 7 n.u. hanggang 7 n.g. sa mga sumusunod na lugar: Albertsons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1650 North Buffalo Drive Albertsons â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4850 West Craig Road Centennial Hills YMCA â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6601 North Buffalo Drive Las Vegas City Hall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 495 South Main Street Doolittle Community Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 1950 J Street East Las Vegas Community Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 250 North Eastern Avenue Kitty Ward Elementary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5555 Horse Drive Meadows Mall â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4300 Meadows Lane Mountain Crest Community Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4701 North Durango Drive Mountain Shadows Community Center â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9107 Del Webb Boulevard Rainbow Library â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 3150 North Buffalo Drive Sahara West Library â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 9600 West Sahara Avenue Skye Center at Skye Canyon â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 10111 W. Skye Canyon Park Drive Veterans Memorial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 101 North Pavilion Center Drive Bonanza High School â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6665 Del Rey Avenue William K. Moore Elementary â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 491 North Lamb Boulevard Kung ikaw ay nakarehistro upang bumoto sa loob ng hagganan ng lungsod ng Boulder City, Henderson, Las Vegas, o North Las Vegas, ikaw ay maaaring bumoto bago sa Araw ng Halalan sa kahit na saaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ng lugar ng maagang botohan na iyong napili. Hindi ka na kinakailangaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ng magpunta sa lugar na sinasakupan ng iyong lungsod. Sa halip, maaari ka nang pumili ng lugar na pinaka malapit sa iyo. Upang hanapin ang pinaka malapit na lugar para sa iyo sa araw ng maagang pagboto, maaaring pumunta sa www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/ vote/TAG para sa isang interaktibong pakikipagugnayan, na gumagana sa pamamagitan ng pag gamit ng mobile na kasangkapan upang makita ang mga mapa ng mga Sentro nang Botohan.

To ease the problem, 1-Ang Edukasyon Rep. Salvador Belaro Jr. proposed a labor agreement with China to ensure reciprocity in migrant relations between the two countries.

Belaro, an assistant minority leader in the House of Representatives, said a labor agreement, or treaty, would establish mechanism for the protection of migrants from

7:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:00 p.m.

7:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 6:00 p.m.

Closed 7:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:00 p.m.

&LW\ RI +HQGHUVRQ &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH 240 Water Street Henderson, Nevada Tuesday, March 5 Wednesday, March 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursday, March 7 Friday, March 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday, March 10 Monday, March 11 - Tuesday, March 12

7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

7:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Closed 7:30 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:00 p.m.

&LW\ RI /DV 9HJDV &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH 495 S. Main Street, 2nd Floor Las Vegas, Nevada Tuesday, March 5 Wednesday, March 6 - Thursday, March 7 Friday, March 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday, March 10 Monday, March 11 - Tuesday, March 12

7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

7:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Closed 7:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.

&LW\ RI 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂżFH 2250 Las Vegas Boulevard North Suite 800 North Las Vegas, Nevada Tuesday, March 5 Wednesday, March 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Thursday, March 7 Friday, March 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sunday, March 10 Monday, March 11 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tuesday, March 12

8:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:45 p.m.

8:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 5:45 p.m.

Closed 8:00 a.m. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 7:00 p.m.

For more information, call the Clark County Election Department at (702) 455-8683.

DATED: February 11, 2019 Joseph P. Gloria Registrar of Voters PUB: February 14, 21, 28 and March 7, 2019 Las Vegas Asian Journal

A

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2019

B1

VEGAS&STYLE JOURNAL

Vogue features Darren Criss in Francis Libiran barong Tagalog

by JAN

MILO SEVERO Philstar.com

INTERNATIONAL lifestyle magazine Vogue featured Filipino designer Francis Libiran’s barong Tagalog in an article about the wedding of Filipino-American actor Darren Criss and wife Mia Swier.

The magazine recently published the article on the wedding that was held in New Orleans. In the photo gallery, Vogue showed Darren wearing the Libirandesigned barong Tagalog as he danced with his Filipino mother.

“Darren honored his Filipino heritage by wearing a traditional barong Tagalog by designer Francis Libiran while dancing with his mother,” the caption said.

PAGE B3 Darren Criss with wife Mia Swier

Photo from Instagram/@francislibiran

Fil-Am designer Zaldy Goco wins at Costume Designers Guild

By RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPRESS

Zaldy Goco

FILIPINO-American designer Zaldy Goco received the realitycompetition award on Tuesday, February 19 at the 21st annual Costume Designers Guild Awards for his work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

“I won...It was so incredible to be in a room filled with people I love and respect! Thank you @ costumeawards for a wonderful evening,” the fashion designer shared on his Instagram following his honor for “Excellence in Variety, Reality-Competition, Live Television.”

Goco, who made a name for himself through working with various artists such as Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, is also a two-time Emmy Award winner for his costume work on “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

His working relationship with RuPaul started in 1993 when they

worked together on RuPaul’s Supermodel video. Since then, they have been inseparable. Vogue in June 2018 featured him as the “Designer RuPaul Wouldn’t Go Anywhere Without.”

“RuPaul’s Drag Race” is a reality show about 14 talented contestants competing for the coveted title of ‘America’s Next Drag Superstar.’

The Costume Designers Guild Awards, held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles, is an annual award show honoring the best in costume design. This year, it added a new category to its lineup — Excellence in Variety, Reality Competition and Live Television.

Here is the complete list of this year’s winners: Excellence in Contemporary Film A Star Is Born – Erin Benach Crazy Rich Asians – Mary E. Vogt (WINNER) Mamma Mia! Here We Go PAGE B3

MARTIN NIEVERA with Special Guest

MORISSETTE AMON

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$25

Visit ticketmaster.com to purchase tickets or call 800-745-3000

themresort.com

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From plate to print: How a Fil-Am couple created a home for cookbooks and food conversations

By Christina

M. Oriel

AJPress

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S hard to believe that before 2017, the city of Los Angeles had gone eight years without a dedicated cookbook store after Cookâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Library on Third Street closed in 2009. Sure, there are a handful of general bookstores with a shelf or more of cookbooks, or kitchenware stores that happen to carry such books.

But there had not been a retail space for books specifically catering to the food community (and home cooks too). That was until Now Serving opened at Chinatownâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Far East Plaza in September 2017.

Behind Now Serving are Ken Concepcion and Michelle Mung-

cal, a Filipino-American married couple who met at a Hollywood Bowl concert almost 10 years ago. â&#x20AC;&#x153;With all of the talk of how influential and vibrant the food scene is here in LA, it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem right that it didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have something like this dedicated to cookbooks, food writing and food magazines,â&#x20AC;? Concepcion said in a recent interview with their 11-month-old daughter Frankie in tow.

The couple landed upon the plaza back when Fil-Am chef Alvin Cailan had his culinary incubator Unit 120 and Filipino food window Amboy. The space has since been turned over, as you may know, for Chad and Chase Valenciaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s LASA.

Ken Concepcion and Michelle Mungcal run the cookbook store five days a week and suggest titles based on customersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; needs and skill sets.

A row of Filipino cookbooks can be found at Now Serving.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;We came down here and really connected with the food community,â&#x20AC;? Concepcion, former chef du cuisine at Wolfgang Puckâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s steakhouse CUT, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Chinatown still feels like a neighborhood.â&#x20AC;?

Concepcion, who has over 20 years of experience under his belt as a chef but was not formally trained, has a particular soft spot for books because he learned to cook from them, crediting titles like â&#x20AC;&#x153;Culinary Artistryâ&#x20AC;? by Andrew Dornenburg, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Becoming a Chefâ&#x20AC;? by Dornenburg and Karen Page,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;The French Laundry Cookbookâ&#x20AC;? by chefs Thomas Keller, Michael Ruhlman, and Susie Heller.

The latter â&#x20AC;&#x153;was the big American fine-dining book that also restarted the whole cookbook industry in a sense because it showed that cookbooks werenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just meant to be in the kitchen, but they could be in the living room and they were beautiful enough to stand on their own,â&#x20AC;? he narrated.

When one walks into Now Servingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 450-square-foot space, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll notice three groupings â&#x20AC;&#x201D; books divided by general cooking, region/country, fermentation, and food writing in one area; food magazines and zines to the right; and single-subject books straight ahead. The table in the middle of the shop features a rotation of new releases.

One shelf houses some Filipino cookbooks, such as â&#x20AC;&#x153;I Am a Filipino: And This Is How We Cookâ&#x20AC;? by Nicole Ponseca and

Miguel Trinidad and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Milkier Pigs & Violet Gold: Philippine Food Storiesâ&#x20AC;? by Bryan Koh. The couple noted that their travels and seeing other citiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; cookbook shops, namely Kitchen Arts & Letters in New York and Omnivore Books in San Francisco, were influential to them in opening up and designing Now Serving. The name itself is a reference to the restaurant and service culture and menu signs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The book and retail industries are new to us. This is obviously not what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been doing for a long time so both of us feel like weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re still learning,â&#x20AC;? Mungcal, a professional makeup artist who grew up in Glendora, said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been around for a year and a half but we still feel brand new. There are so many cookbooks out there.â&#x20AC;?

A distinct narrative, curated recipes and beautiful visuals are among the fundamental ingredients behind a great cookbook, the couple shared. At any given time, the shop holds around 1,500 titles, which are carefully selected to sit on the oversized shelves that were intentionally built not to maximize the space. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The oversized shelves give more of a feeling that youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not in a â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;bookstore,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? Concepcion added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This could be in someoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home. It has a different feeling than traditional retail.â&#x20AC;?

You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find diet or trenddriven books, either because Concepcion hopes that if you purchase something from Now Serving, â&#x20AC;&#x153;it hopefully will still

Ken Concepcion and Michelle Mungcal with their daughter Frankie inside their store Now Serving at Far East Plaza in LAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chinatown.

Now Serving carries an array of cooking and food writing books, magazines, select ceramics and utensils, and aprons.

AJPress photos by Noel Ty

apply and be relevant 10 years from now.â&#x20AC;?

Since the time theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been open, the couple sees a mixture of individuals from the culinary industry, home cooks and books, cookbook collectors and even those who stumble in because they ate at one of the establishments in the plaza. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We hope nobody feels in-

One shelf carries single-subject books and woven baskets. The righthand wall, featuring a collage of restaurant menus, separates the bookstore with another space that is slated to be a luncheonette.

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timidated to ask us questions,â&#x20AC;?

Mungcal said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I never want people to feel like, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;they told me to buy this but it was crap.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;?

Concepcion and Mungcal â&#x20AC;&#x201D; who are the only ones manning the store aside from the latterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sister occasionally â&#x20AC;&#x201D; try to tailor everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s experience to address their needs and ask questions to gauge their skill level, and what they want to cook and eat. Perhaps a food magazine might be better suited versus an actual book. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s like saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I want to learn how to play music.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; You have to know what you want first,â&#x20AC;? Concepcion said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you look at somebodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s books they have at home on food and cooking, I can look right away and know how to help them.â&#x20AC;?

The store also has a few ceramics, utensils, cooking devices, textiles and aprons for sale to â&#x20AC;&#x153;warm up the store,â&#x20AC;? Mungcal said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important that when someone comes in from the [food] industry...theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d look at the collection and not feel like PAGE B4

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ FEbRUARy 28-mARch 6, 2019

B

Jinkee Pacquiao to sell her designer stuff for charity

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

Christopher de Leon, Sandy Andolong renew vows overlooking Halong Bay

by Cody

Cepeda Inquirer.net

CHRISTOPHER de Leon and Sandy Andolong renewed their vows in the scenic Halong Bay in Vietnam to mark their 39 years together.

Andolong shared the special moment via Instagram on Feb. 25, which showed her and De Leon looking all loved up during their bridal shoot and the intimate wedding-vow renewal itself. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Bridal shoot at Halong Bay,â&#x20AC;? said Andolong.

In her pictures, she and De Leon can be seen posing while on a cruise, with Halong Bay as their backdrop.

Andolong further shared that the bridal shoot is for The Wedding Libraryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bridal fair slated for May at the Megatrade Hall in SM Megamall.

In her other post, the couple can be seen renewing their vows in the presence of their loved ones. Andolong sported a sophisticated and elegant white gown by fashion designer Mikee Andrei, while De Leon wore a crisp black suit for the occasion. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To make our trip more memorable @theweddinglibraryph held an intimate renewal of vows to celebrate our 39th year,â&#x20AC;? said Andolong.

Clebrities and fans alike took to Andolongâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s post, in which they congratulated the couple, such as actress Janine Gutierrez, actor-singer Ogie Alcasid, beauty queen Lara Quigaman and, of course, De Leonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s adop-

JINKEE Pacquiao announced that she is selling her pre-loved designer goods, including bags, clothes and shoes.

In her Instagram account, the wife of senator Manny Pacquiao posted a glimpse of what her followers can buy from the upcoming garage sale.

All proceeds, according to Jinkee, will be going to the Jinkee and Manny Heart Foundation, which gives free heart care for children in the country. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Garage sale soon! Proceeds will be going to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Jinkee and Manny Heart Foundationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; #shoes #bags #clothes #allsize6,â&#x20AC;? Jinkee wrote.

In another post, Jinkee posted a photo of her wearing a pair of Christian Louboutin shoes, which she said will be included in the garage sale. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Saturday MOOD. Itong shoes na suot ko kasama sa garage sale! #size6 #christianlouboutin.â&#x20AC;?

Jinkeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s shoe size is six.

The wife of the boxing champ has yet to reveal the date and venue of the sale.

Known for her fondness for designer items, Jinkee created a buzz during Pacquiaoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s last fight in Las Vegas after she was seen wearing an ivory Valentino dress.

According to the brandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, the dress costs $5,170 or approximately P270,000.

Jinkee allegedly also has the big- Jinkee Pacquiao is selling her pre-loved designer goods, including bags, clothes and shoes to gest Chanel collection in Asia, but benefit the Jinkee and Manny Heart Foundation, which gives free heart care for children in the country.

Photos from Instagram/@jinkeepacquiao this has not been confirmed.

Claudine Barretto hospitalized, cared for by Gretchen While Claudine Barretto was feeling ill, her sister Gretchen made sure she was being cared for.

The actress looked happy, despite her undisclosed condition, while she was staying at the St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Center at the Bonifacio Global City in Taguig. This was seen on Barrettoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Instagram post on Saturday, Feb. 23.

Claudine, who was scheduled to undergo a Magnetic Christopher de Leon and Sandy Andolong renewed their vows in the scenic Halong Bay in Vietnam Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan that day, said Gretchen to mark their 39 years together.

Photos from Instagram/@sandy_andolong_de_leon gave her a big squirrel-looking pillow since she was not tive daughter with Nora Aunor, February 2018. by her side.

The two eventually met when Lotlot de Leon. â&#x20AC;&#x153;[S]o when its time for her to go home i can hug this â&#x20AC;&#x153;So beautiful, nanay!!!!â&#x20AC;? Guti- they got to work together for a so i wont miss her too much & [wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t] be scared,â&#x20AC;? she errez quipped. Gutierrez is Lotlot documentary on the late Presisaid about Gretchenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s gift. de Leonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter with ex-hus- dent Ferdinand Marcos and his Gretchen also spoiled her little sister by sending food, band actor Ramon Christopher. wife, Imelda. They then began such as pancit and chicken. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Happy 39th!!â&#x20AC;? said Alcasid. dating a couple of months later.

Showing further that they are indeed already in good Andolong and De Leon tied â&#x20AC;&#x153;God bless you both.â&#x20AC;? terms, Gretchen sent her love to her baby sister, to which Lotlot, meanwhile, greeted the knot in a civil union in 1981 Claudine replied back, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I [love you] more.â&#x20AC;?

De Leon and Andolong a happy and reaffirmed their marriage The two were spotted having dinner last Saturday, anniversary, calling them â&#x20AC;&#x153;nanay in a Catholic ceremony in 2001. Claudine Barretto was confined at the St. Lukeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Medical Center Feb. 9, at the Solaire Resort in Casino in ParaĂąaque City.

Together, they have five kids: ac- on Saturday, February 23 over an undisclosed condition. and daddy.â&#x20AC;?

The meeting led fans to speculate that they have ended Photo from Instagram/@claubarretto their feud which started in 2013. (Inquirer.net) De Leon has shared in the tress-singer-beauty queen Mariel past that he first knew of Sandy de Leon, Rafael Sandino, Juan through a feature story about her Carlos Miguel, Augusto Gabriel and Maria Mikaela. in a magazine.

Happy anniversary, Sandy and â&#x20AC;&#x153;I said, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;This is the girl I will marry!â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? De Leon said back in Christopher!

Fil-Am designer Zaldy Goco wins at...

PAGE B1

Again â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Michele Clapton Oceanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 8 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sarah Edwards Widows â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jenny Eagan Excellence in Period Film BlacKkKlansman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Marci Rodgers Bohemian Rhapsody â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Julian Day The Favourite â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sandy Powell (WINNER) Mary Poppins Returns â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sandy Powell Mary Queen of Scots â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alexandra Byrne Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film A Wrinkle in Time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paco Delgado Aquaman â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Kym Barrett The Avengers: Infinity War â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Judianna Makovsky Black Panther â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ruth E. Carter (WINNER) The Nutcracker and the Four Realms â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jenny Beavan Excellence in Contemporary Television The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lou Eyrich & Allison Leach (WINNER) Grace and Frankie â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Allyson B. Fanger The Romanoffs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Janie Bryant & Wendy Chuck Sharp Objects â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Alix Friedberg This Is Us â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hala Bahmet Excellence in Period Television The Alienist â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Michael Kaplan GLOW â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Beth Morgan The Man in the High Castle â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Catherine Adair The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Donna Zakowska (WINNER) Outlander â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Nina Ayres & Terry Dresbach Excellence in Sci-Fi/Fantasy Television American Horror Story: Apocalypse â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paula Bradley & Lou Eyrich The Handmaidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tale â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ane Crabtree Lemony Snicketâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s A Series of Unfortunate Events â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cynthia Summers Star Trek: Discovery â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Gersha Phillips

Westworld â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Sharen Davis (WINNER) Excellence in Short Form Design Adidas: â&#x20AC;&#x153;See My Creativity,â&#x20AC;? commercial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Bonnie Stauch Childish Gambino: â&#x20AC;&#x153;This Is America,â&#x20AC;? music video â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Natasha Newman-Thomas (WINNER) Elton John: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Farewell Yellow Brick Road: The Legacy,â&#x20AC;? short film â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Charlie Altuna Justin Timberlake: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Supplies,â&#x20AC;?

Directed by Dave Myers, music video â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Ami Goodheart Nespresso: â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Quest,â&#x20AC;? commercial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Jenny Eagan Excellence in Variety, Reality Competition and Live Television Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Paul Tazewell The Late Late Show with James Corden â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Lauren Shapiro RuPaulâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Drag Race â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Zaldy Goco (WINNER) Saturday Night Live â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Tom Broecker & Eric Justian So You Think You Can Dance â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Marina Toybina

Vogue features Darren Criss in...

PAGE B1 â&#x20AC;&#x153;This custom-designed piece was hand-loomed from pure pineapple fabric, and the intricately embroidered design was inspired by the famous tattoo patterns of the indigenous people of Cebu,â&#x20AC;?

Vogue added.

The Filipino designer shared the news on his Instagram page, together with photos from the wedding. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a great Pinoy Pride moment!! It feels wonderful to be featured on Vogue Magazine as the fashion designer of multi-awarded Hollywood star Darren Criss (@ darrencriss), who honored his Filipino heritage by proudly wearing the traditional barong Tagalog I designed for him on his extravagant wedding. Mabuhay!!!â&#x20AC;?

Francis proudly shared.

A GMA News report narrated that Francis and Darren met at the Golden Globe Awards last January 6 in Hollywood. A few days later, Darrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fashion stylist Ashley Weston got in touch with Libiranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s business partner, Arsi Baltazar, to inquire if Libiran can create a modern barong Tagalog for the Hollywood star.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Seeing Darren Criss wear my design makes me extremely happy and proud to be Filipino.

What better way to promote the Philippines but through the Barong Tagalog, and worn by a multi-awarded Hollywood star, who happens to be half Pinoy!

How awesome is that!â&#x20AC;? Francis said.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The entire process was smooth and I am so honored to have the privilege to be part of his very special day. What makes it even more special is that he chose to pay homage to his Filipino roots by wearing our national dress on his wedding day. This, for me is what makes Filipinos so amazing!!!â&#x20AC;? Libiran enthused.

#ALL \ 4EXT %MAIL GINALANDERO YAHOO COM 7EBSITE LANDEROLEARNINGCENTER COM

B February 28-march 6, 2019 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

EntErtainmEnt

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

Maymay Entrata as beauty queen? Ariella Arida agrees From plate to print: How a Fil-Am couple...

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida posted a picture with fellow beauty queens and Kapamilya star Maymay Entrata on February 25 and captioned it: “2010-2011-2013-2014 and 2022? Pwede di ba?”

Ariella referred to the years she and fellow beauty queens in the picture represented the Philippines in Miss Universe. These include Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj, Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup-Lee and Miss Universe 2014 top 10 finalist Mary Jean Lastimosa.

In the caption, Ariella insinuated that Maymay could be the country’s Miss Universe representative in 2022.

“Pwedeng pwede po!” many of Maymay’s fans commented on the post.

“Pwede po! Pero po pwede magtanong – pwede kaya kay Edward ‘yun?” a netizen said, asking if Maymay’s MayWard love team partner, Edward Barber, would like to see Maymay as a future pageant titleholder.

“Ano kayang sasabihin ni Edward ‘pag nakitang naka-bikini si Maymay?” mused another netizen, who speculated if Edward would praise or tease Maymay, as he usually does.

Ariella’s post came after the video of Maymay’s fashion show with Binibining Pilipinas queens during Miss Universe 2018 Catriona Gray’s homecoming show

PAGE B2

Singer-actress Maymay Entrata (center) flunked by (from left) Miss Universe 2014 top 10 finalist Mary Jean Lastimosa, Miss Universe 2010 fourth runner-up Venus Raj, Miss Universe Philippines 2011 Shamcey Supsup-Lee and Miss Universe 2013 third runner-up Ariella Arida.

Photo from Instagram/@araarida

last weekend went viral.

In the show, Maymay wore another version of Catriona’s winning lava gown, also designed by Gray’s designer, Mak Tumang.

“Hanggang ngayon nag uumapaw ang aking kasiyahan! Di makapaniwala na maging parte

ng fashion show with our beloved beauty queens!” Maymay told her Instagram followers after the show.

In November last year, Maymay became the first Filipina to walk on the runway of Arab Fashion Week in Dubai.

Rochelle Pangilinan gives birth to baby girl

this isn’t anything they would cook out of...or inspire them,” she said. “I always love when people come in and say ‘I have that, I have that.’ I also believe that if you’re going to buy something… really trend-driven…you’re going to go online to buy that. There’s nothing wrong with that. But if you’re going to come into this store, I want to show you some stuff you may not know about or... that’s unique. There’s a sense of discovery that maybe you don’t get online.”

While a recipe for a certain dish can easily be found via an internet search nowadays, there’s still a craving for hard-copy cookbooks. The first half of 2018 saw a 21 percent increase in cookbook sales compared to the same period the year prior, according to data from the NPD Group.

The number of cookbook sales has been driven by a host of reasons including the preference of dining at home, learning about regional cuisines, or to keep the book on a coffee table or kitchen shelf for display and aspirational purposes.

“What’s also interesting — and no one really talks about — is that a lot of these food bloggers who have let’s say, a recipe on salad, that original recipe comes from a cookbook and it just keeps getting adapted, doctored up and mutated,” Concepcion said.

“That’s my opinion on most of the food bloggers out there who post their own recipes. They’re actually just adaptations of recipes

that have existed already. A [cookbook] is a way to get to the original voice.”

Beyond printed books, Now Serving gathers a community for conversations around different cuisines and the art of cooking. Ticketed events, featuring talks and signings from some of the best culinary authors and personalities around the world, are held nearly every week and sell-out.

One of the first gatherings they ever held was a screening of the 2017 documentary “Wasted!

The Story Of Food Waste” and a dinner by 10 chefs who used food waste and scraps.

In the past year, Now Serving has had talks from René Redzepi of Copenhagen’s two-Michelinstar restaurant Noma, and former Los Angeles Times food editor Russ Parsons in conversation with Dorie Greenspan and her book “Everyday Dorie: The Way I Cook,” to name a few. Ponseca and Trinidad had a signing for “I Am Filipino” back in November, which Mungcal said is “a great book if you want to learn how to cook Filipino food.”

Now Serving has six events lined up this March, such as Elisa Callow discussing her book “Urban Forager,” and a signing and talk about “Vietnamese Food Any Day” by Andrea Nguyen moderated by Evan Kleinman, host of KCRW’s “Good Food.”

A priority for 2019 is to get an online store up and running, which will help the couple further engage their digital community

ACTRESS Rochelle Pangilinan has given birth to her first baby girl via Caesarean section at the Medical City in Ortigas, Pasig City on February 24.

Rochelle was reportedly with her husband Arthur Solinap during the entire process. The baby reportedly weighed seven pounds. Reports added that the new parents still has no name for their daughter.

The couple announced last August 2018 that Rochelle was pregnant. In November, they revealed the baby’s gender.

In an interview with Philstar.com before giving birth, the former Sexbomb dancer revealed she had no diet restrictions during her pregnancy.

“Lahat kinakain ko. Kung ano ‘yung naisip ko, kinakain ko. Wala na kong morning sickness, noong first trimester meron. Nilabanan ko with happy hormones and ginger tea,” said the star of drama series “Onanay.”

Meanwhile, Arthur gave tips on how to start a family: “Yung ginawa namin, hiningi muna namin kay God ‘yung perfect timing. Pag nabigay na niya, make sure to enjoy every step tapos ibigay ‘yung best kasi minsan lang ‘yan e.”

Arthur said Rochelle is fine and is now recovering.

Rochelle Pangilinan “Okay naman siya now. Recovering na lang,” he told Pep. Photo from Instagram/@rochellepangilinan ph in an interview. (Philstar.com) The center table of the store houses the new and notable releases.

EMPLOYMENT

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

SERVICES

(over 10,300 followers on Instagram as of this writing).

“That’s the beauty of social media — you can connect with anybody, anywhere. We’ve done a ton of events with authors and chefs where we’ve basically reached out to them on Instagram and shot them a [direct message] and they replied just as quickly,” Concepcion shared, adding that people will also message them with cookbook suggestions that they may not have heard of.

The couple also owns the space next door, which is currently separated from the main bookstore by a temporary wall of collaged restaurant menus.

They have plans to convert it into a luncheonette that “would mimic the same hours so the spaces would be open to one another so people dining can come and shop, while people shopping can go dine and eat,” Mungcal said. At night, they could fit more attendees for their usual events and have pop-up dinners.

Though the couple says that they are still learning the business side, being in LA’s creative and food-curious environment has brought in a lot of customers and attention their way (like features in Bon Appetit and the LA Times). “Maybe it’s not a ‘restaurant’ city but it’s definitely a food city,” Mungcal noted.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to have some big names in the food world come in,” Concepcion said. “If we’re regarded as a part of the food community here, then we’re very happy.”

AJPress photo by Noel Ty

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

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

Becoming a US citizen despite prior mistakes Your Immigration Solution ATTY. DEVIN CONNOLLY MANY people dream of becoming a U.S citizen so that they may vote in elections, help their parents immigrate to the U.S., be issued a U.S. passport, etc. Despite the many advantages of U.S. citizenship, it should also come as no surprise that people sometimes do things that make their path to U.S. citizenship more challenging. These mistakes are a part of life. Do these mistakes prevent a person from being granted U.S. citizenship? Thankfully, they frequently do not.

One of the most common ways a person acquires U.S. citizenship is through the process known as naturalization. There are several requirements a person must satisfy for their application to be approved. They include permanent resident status for a prescribed period of time, physical presence in the U.S., and good moral character. Many applications are denied because the applicant lacks the requisite good moral character.

The concept of requiring an applicant to possess good moral character for a prescribed period of time prior to submitting their application is one of the more complex requirements of naturalization. Many acts that one might not think of as evidencing bad moral character may nevertheless be considered in making a good moral character determination. The Immigration and Nationality Act lists several specific acts that preclude an applicant from establishing good moral character. These include lying to obtain an immigration benefit, committing certain criminal offenses, the willful failure to pay support for dependents, and engaging in an extramarital affair which tended to destroy an existing marriage. However, the list

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA (Ninth of a series) I AM suspending my idea series for a Bucket To-Do List for the time being to share a story told to me by Sister Anna.

A little back story…

Anna Cinco was a classmate in high school who graduated way up the rungs and copped a college degree majoring in Mathematics.

She taught at the International School in Manila for a while and decided to join the religious life thereafter.

She lived in Rome for more than a decade working on the canonization of Mother Candida Maria de Jesus, foundress of her religious order, Hijas de Jesus.

Mother Candida is now a saint with documented miracles ascribed to her intercession. Sister Anna speaks Spanish and Italian fluently.

Her story is not cut and dried as all that. There are twists and turns in every life story and hers is no different. She told me the Cliff Notes version of her conversion from someone who repudiated and did not need God at one point. But that riveting story when she became, as she describes how her young, irrepressible students at the International School saw her at the time of her epiphany, “positively radiant,” is for yet another day.

I reconnected with her on a

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS A 10-year study showed more than 57,000 pedestrians were hit by vehicles in Metro Manila — including those who lost their lives simply crossing the streets.

Notwithstanding the designated crossing “zebra” lanes which are supposed to be the safe haven for crossing pedestrians, drivers and car owners do not seem to care to slow down and stop properly. They all break the traffic laws with impunity, putting the lives of people in jeopardy.

Reason: Our lack of discipline as a people, which is also why our laws are not enforced. Discipline must start from the top executive of the city.

I put the blame squarely on the city Mayors for defaulting on their sworn obligation as heads of their respective cities to uphold and enforce all laws to protect the public.

Their negligence has led to the current rampant life-threatening

of prohibited acts is not absolute.

Thus, the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service may deny an application on good moral character grounds even though their act was not specifically prohibited.

Furthermore, acts outside of the required good moral character period can also be considered in determining an applicant’s good moral character. However, as the saying goes – good moral character does not mean perfect moral character. Proof of why those acts do not define the person can help overcome a prior misstep.

Regarding prior criminal acts, a disqualifying criminal conviction in the prescribed period of required good moral character will automatically render an individual ineligible for naturalization. However, a disqualifying criminal offense outside of the prescribed period can also cause an application for naturalization to be denied. The government is afforded broad discretion to examine otherwise non-disqualifying criminal convictions outside the prescribed period to determine if the underlying facts warrant a favorable finding of good moral character. Therefore, an analysis of good moral character extends far beyond the prescribed period. These issues may not result in an automatic denial but they must be adequately explained.

When applying for naturalization with a criminal history, it is important to determine whether the conviction could not only cause the non-citizen’s application for naturalization to be denied, but also whether it will cause the Department of Homeland Security to attempt take away their permanent resident status (Green card) and deport them to their native country.

The answer to this question depends on various things, including whether the underlying crime is considered a ‘Crime Involving Moral Turpitude’ or an ‘Aggravated Felony,’ the date of the crime and the date on which the person was issue their green card, etc. This should be careful-

ly analyzed before submitting an application for naturalization.

Another issue that is not uncommon is an applicant failing to register with the Selective Service.

If you are a male living in the U.S. and between the age of 18 and 25, you are likely required to register with the Selective Service. Failing to register before you turn 26-years-old is often grounds for a denial of an application for naturalization. The applicant must then wait until they turn 31-years-old before they may be granted U.S. citizenship.

A final issue worth mentioning is the submission of incorrect or fraudulent tax returns. Claiming ineligible dependents, not reporting all income, or filing under the wrong category could potentially cause an application to be denied.

The process of acquiring U.S. citizenship is often far more complex than one might anticipate. It is important to remember, though, that past mistakes are not fatal and that even potential set-backs may ultimately result in U.S. citizenship. As with all requests for immigration-related benefits, one should know the positive and negative ramifications of the request before filing the application. Therefore, when contemplating the possibility of obtaining U.S. citizenship, the application should consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney to determine if it is advisable and how best to succeed. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

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The bucket list God has a list too

”Sister, do you speak Italian?

Can I talk to you?

I am very angry with God.” I turned my head and it was a beautiful lady, elegantly dressed.

I thought, “She has tortured eyes.” trip to Europe in 2011 with my husband spending a wonderful spring day in Rome: dusting off the cobwebs of the past, cracking jokes (yes, religious people have a squeaky clean sense of humor that will have you ROTFLOLing, that is, rolling on the floor laughing out loud), scarfing down pizza margherita at one of those small joints by the Vatican and walking aimlessly about, shopping for Italian-made sandals on the sidewalks while slurping on scoops of gelato, all three of us looking positively ghetto. HAH! A perfect day in my book …

I emailed her just recently hoping to see her in Rome again this summer, mentioning in passing that I am putting together a Bucket List series of sorts.

Her story stuns me. It never occurred to me that while we are busy making plans, the Big Man upstairs also has plans. And whether we like it or not, we are part of His plan. It is up to each one of us to find out our part in God’s grand plan and decide to get in with the program or not.

Yes, God loves us so much, He

gave us free will.

So enjoy this story. The actions happened in airports just before boarding. Time was on her side.

She checked in way early and didn’t miss her flight. We might be able to widen our perspective just a tad and realize in time that we are each a piece of colorful mosaic in God’s Grand Mural for HIS story about us.]

HE HAS PLANS, TOO.

By Sister Anna Cinco, Hijas de Jesus In 2015 I had to make a 12-day trip to Spain and then a 9-day trip to Rome. Usually, for these short trips, I plan and make to-do lists way ahead, because I cannot afford to miss anything.

One day, as I was coming to the end of my stay in Salamanca, I was praying in the chapel before the Blessed Sacrament. I took out my to-do list for Spain, checked it carefully, and saw that I had pretty much achieved what I had come for. I was very satisfied with myself, when the thought came to me, “I have a list, too.” Startled, I looked at the tabernacle.

PAGE B6

Run for your life behavior of drivers in our cities.

While the drivers may be the actual law-breakers, who should be penalized, their employers, who should know better, are unapologetic consenting co-conspirators, who ought to be penalized several times more. If there is no existing “command responsibility law” applicable to this particular situation, its about time our legislators enacted one to prevent more deaths and injuries.

Why should crossing the street on the designated lanes be risky at all? Weren’t they so designed to protect the pedestrians? Why should the citizens be in constant fear and have to run for their life every time they cross the streets?

In more disciplined countries, where laws are strictly enforced and respected, like Singapore, Japan, the United States, here in Dubai, and others, vehicles start to slow down (with no Police Officer around) when they are about 50 feet from the crossing lane and then fully stop about 10 feet from the lane when drivers see a person wanting (not even starting yet) to

cross, and do not try to outrun the pedestrians as they do in MetroManila. As long as there is even a single pedestrian on that safety lane, no car would be passing in front or at the back of that person.

The pedestrian has the right to change his/her mind and suddenly turn around and go back without being hit by a car behind her. Only when the entire crossing lane was totally empty would any car move.

Pedestrians in those countries are respected and protected and not terrorized like pedestrians here.

As late as last week, near Greenhills Shopping Center, an elderly couple, the wife walking with a cane, was in the middle (yes, halfway) of the crossing lane on Annapolis Street, when a van zoomed through in front of them, barely missing them, and another behind them. And this is not an isolated case.

On some occasions, I have seen police officers modulating the traffic to allow pedestrians to cross on the designated lanes. That is good public service. But why do we even need an officer (or the mother of PAGE B6

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 6, 2019

Calendar of Events across

B5

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 MARCH 9

LolaLand: The Grandmother of All Shows in Los Angeles Rejoicers Events brings to Los Angeles, “LolaLand: The Grandmother of All Shows,” the show that sold out in Manila, and soon restaged in New York and the Bay Area. It will be held on Saturday, March 9 at the Aratani Theatre (244 San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 7 p.m. Headlined by comedienne Fe delos Reyes, award-winning songwriters Cecile Azarcon and Odette Quesada are joined by singers Jam Morales and Chiqui Pineda, who popularized numerous OPM Songs. Part of the proceeds of this much-anticipated concert benefit Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, a non-profit organization that helps bring Filipino Artists to U.S. stages.

MARCH 30

Philippine Medical Society of Northern California installation of officers in Foster City, CA The Philippine Medical Society of Northern California will hold its 47th anniversary and installation of officers for 2019-2021 at the Crowne Plaza in Foster City, CA on Saturday, March 30. For sponsorship information, please contact Dr. Clementina Manio at drtina0427@gmail. com or visit https://www.pmsnc.org/.

United Bicolandia Los Angeles induction in Montebello, CA United Bicolandia Los Angeles will hold its 45th Anniversary and Induction Ceremony at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, CA on Saturday, March 30. For tickets and sponsorship information, please contact Lanie Berrei at lanieberrei@hotmail.com or (818) 281-3169.

APRIL 7

Ryan, Ryan! The Maestro and the Ryan Cayabyab Singers in Glendale, CA Recently proclaimed National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab’s works will be showcased on Sunday, April 7 at the John Wayne Performing Arts Center (1440 E Broadway, Glendale, CA 91205) at 6 p.m. by his multi-talented singing group, the Ryan Cayabyab Singers joined by some local artists like Mon David, Annie Nepomuceno, Louie Reyes and many more. Come and hear how his work that spans five decades has made an indelible impact on Filipino culture. Copresented by Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, a 501 (c) 3 organization that brings exemplary Filipino Artists to U.S. stages. For ticket information ($35-$125) visit www.philpatrons.org and to learn about other tour stops in Las Vegas (April 7), San Diego (April 12) and Seattle (April 14).

APRIL 13

2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit in LA The 2nd annual Filipino mental health well-being summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 13 at The Center of Cathedral Plaza (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). In partnership with the LA County of Department of Mental Health, registration begins on March 11. This is a FREE event for all. Breakfast and lunch included with registration. Please email FilipinoWellBeing@Gmail.com or visit https://www.facebook.com/FilipinoWellBeing for more updates.

A P R I L 25 -28

Philippine Nurses Association of America - North Central Regional Conference in Columbus, Ohio The Philippine Nurses Association - Central Ohio will hold a regional conference from April 25 to 28 at the Embassy Suites (2886 Airport Drive, Columbus, Ohio). For more information, please visit http://www.mypnaa.org/.

M AY 1 7-1 9

Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii The Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii from May 17-19, 2019. The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17 at 5 p.m. at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18 at 5 p.m. at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19 starting at 10 a.m. The ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and t-shirts will also be on sale for $20. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370, Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 789-8324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii. Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

JUNE 1

7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival in LA The 7th Historic Filipinotown Kalayaan Parade and Festival Committee (7KPFC) announced that it will holding the 7th Kalayaan Parade in Los Angeles on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in commemoration of the 121st PH Independence Day on June 12, 1898. This will be the 7th Kalayaan Parade and Festival in Historic Filipinotown, as the first was held in 2013 in cooperation with the PH Consulate General in Los Angeles. This is the only Independence Day parade and Festival in Los Angeles and is held every year in Historic Filipinotown. For more information, please call Freddie at (818) 220-2075 or email at jfavusa8@gmail.com.

Kalayaan Incorporated’s annual Philippine Independence Day gala in LA Kalayaan Incorporated invites the community to its celebration of the 121st Anniversary of the Proclamation of Philippine Independence on Saturday, June 1, 2019, at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel (5855 W. Century Blvd. Los Angeles, CA). Kalayaan is extremely proud to have Honorable Risa Hontiveros, an incumbent senator who assumed office on June 30, 2016, as the grand gala’s guest of honor and speaker. For tickets to the Gala Night, please contact Annie Cuevas-Lim, Kalayaan President at (213) 447-7078. For more information, contact KI PROs Violet Mislang at vmislang@gmail.com or Lady Hope Robillos at lhopepr@yahoo.com.

J U LY 2 0

The Ibaan Association USA-Canada gala dinner in LA The Ibaan Association USA-Canada will hold its 32nd Annual Gala Dinner & Dance July 20, 2019 from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Hilton Los Angeles / Universal City - Ballroom A at 555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, California 91608. For reservations call Monica Benitez at (323) 697-3731 / email: monica_benitez03@yahoo.com or Irene May Villafranca at (323) 423-2299 / email: imay02@ yahoo.com. Tickets are $85 for Adults and $40 for Children (3 to 10 years old). Please make checks payable to: Ibaan Association USA-Canada and mail to: Merly Pagunsan at 5025 Heintz St. Baldwin Park, CA 91706. For sponsorship information on our 2019 Souvenir Program please contact President Noli Reyes at homesbynoli@gmail.com or call (818) 458-7888. Please RSVP by April 12, 2019.

J U LY 24 -28

40th annual Philippine Nurses Association of America National Convention in Atlanta, GA

The Philippine Nurses Association of America (PNAA) will have its 40th annual national convention from July 24 to 28 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis in Atlanta, GA, hosted by the PNA-GA chapter. More information and details TBA. To learn about the PNA-GA, please visit: https://pnaga.wildapricot.org/.

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University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.”

On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.

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Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.

B February 28-march 6, 2019 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

PeoPle and events

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Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion on May 17-19 THE Santa Maria Ilocos Sur Global Association (SMISGA) and the Santa Marians of Hawaii are sponsoring the Santa Maria Ilocos Sur 12th Global Reunion in Honolulu, Hawaii on May 1719, 2019.

The festivities will start with a meet and greet on May 17, 2019, 5 pm at the Ala Moana Hotel Hibiscus Ballroom to be followed by a gala night on May 18, 2019, 5 pm at the Dole Cannery Pomaikai

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Ballroom. A picnic is also scheduled at Ala Moana Beach Park’s Magic Island on Sunday, May 19, 2019 starting at 10 a.m.

Ticket to attend all the events is $130.00 per person. Due to limited space, reservations must be made not later than March 31, 2019. Hats and t-shirts will also be on sale for twenty dollars. For further information, call Nena Empleo at (808) 384-0394, Carlito Soria at (808) 487-3370,

Alex Pena at (702) 373-9522 or Orlino Baldonado at (865) 7898324. Leave a message if there’s no answer. Additional information is also on SMISGA.com and Facebook @ SMISGA19FB. Proceeds from the events will be for various projects in Santa Maria Ilocos Sur and in Hawaii.

Donations are tax deductible since SMISGA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization approved by the Internal Revenue Service.

Run for your life

the driver) to stand by the corners to exact discipline? It is the carowner/employer’s responsibility to discipline his/her driver to protect the public and allow the officer to do his more needed job of arresting criminals instead. This would save the city some money.

Assigning an officer at each of the thousands of crossing lanes in the entire MetroManila would be cost prohibitive, besides making policing even less efficient and the city less safe.

These same drivers, who blatantly violated the laws in the city with brazen decorum, somehow became transformed into model law-abiding drivers when they entered the formerly Americanowned Clark Field Subic Airbase.

Why? Because they knew that traffic rules there were strictly enforced and violators severely penalized. But the moment they got out of the compound, they resumed their usual recklessness with impunity…because they knew they would get away with it.

It is therefore clear that the behavior of drivers in MetroManila could be modified, IF (and only IF) our City Mayors, Chiefs of Police, MMDA, and other related agencies are themselves disciplined and patriotic enough to enforce the laws. Just one well-publicized story (highlighted in all news and social media around the country) about a drastic penalty levied against a violator driver and heavier yet against the employee/owner of the car (under a new law) for not stopping properly at crossing lanes would surely be noticed nationwide and serve as a good warning and deterrent to future violators. Behavioral modification through legal enforcement and application of heavy penalties on the offenders have been proven to be effective. Obviously, the initiative

must start from the top, with the Mayor, where the bucks stop!

Part of Article 3 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the right to personal security. The Presidential decree of 1959 (1984), an amendment of the Land Transportation Traffic Code of 1964, obliges motorists to give way to pedestrians in pedestrians lanes or “Zebra Lanes.”

Why mayors of Metro Manila do not ensure the city laws and ordinances are enforced is beyond me. They cannot claim ignorance because ignorance of the law excuses no one. They are the head of the city and must know all ongoing problems of the city, including law infringement that could hurt, maim or kill their constituents.

If the Mayor says he has already ordered the enforcement of all laws and ordinances from day one, then he is an impotent, ineffective, and useless Mayor, whose subordinates who do not respect, follow, or fear him.

If law enforcement is not executed properly, it is the Mayor’s fault (doctrine of command responsibility). He swore before God to make sure the laws and ordinances of the city are strictly enforced and lawbreakers (like drivers together with their employers) are punished accordingly.

Anything less on the mayor’s part is a dereliction of a sworn duty and is legally liable under the laws of the Philippines. And the culpability is self-evident. The thousands of dangerous ongoing breaches of the laws and ordinances are evidences in themselves which the mayors cannot refute.

I challenge the people of Metro Manila to be proactive and preemptive and not wait for another 57,000 individuals to be killed by reckless drivers (and their more guilty employers) before confronting mayors and demanding

that laws (traffic and otherwise) are strictly enforced, putting the onus not only on the driver but the employer-owner of the car, who, as earlier suggested, deserves a harsher punishment.

Every citizen, especially the youth, should organize themselves just like the vigilant electronic socio-civic watchdog, e-Guardian Angels, and take videos on their cellphones as proofs of this dangerous governmental neglect, any uncorrected infra-structure hazards, and other misdeeds or abuses by government officials.

If needed, rally a protest demonstration to garner people power.

Use the social media, including television, to call attention to these and to all ineptitudes, graft, and corruption perpetrated by these civil servants, from the Mayors down. And this netizen watchdog movement could be duplicated in all cities in the country to serve and protect our national dignity and our people’s rights..

It is our obligation to ourselves, to our family, and fellow citizens to help protect and look out for each other. The politicians won’t.

Unless, We, the People, fight for our rights, we deserve every rotten situation we get, and we can blame no one else but ourselves.

Now, shall we still wait for a member of our own family to be killed first before we act in solidarity? *** 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

Carolyn Salvador (violin), Shyler Macaggi (viola), Young Choe (cello) and Chloe Kim (viola) acknowledged on Reynolds Hall Stage and each presented with a $750 scholarship toward their music education.

Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cox Communications awards honorees of the 2018-19 Young Artists’ Concerto Competition LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Philharmonic and Cox Las Vegas congratulated the four honorees of the 2018-19 season Cox Communications Young Artists’ Concerto Competition on Saturday, February 9, 2019 at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts.

The presentation took place prior to the orchestra’s An Evening With Brahms concert. The students, Carolyn Salvador (violin), Shyler Macaggi (viola), Young Choe (cello) and Chloe Kim (viola) were acknowledged on Reynolds Hall stage and were each presented with $750 scholarships toward their music education by Keith Wingate with Cox Communications and by Lacey Huszcza, Las Vegas Philharmonic executive director. All four students had the opportunity to perform for nearly 2,000 guests at the Philharmonic’s concert that evening. Over the last year, each honoree received mentoring by the Las Vegas Philharmonic Music Director, Donato Cabrera, musicians and staff, designed to provide them with opportunities to continue developing their performance skills while gaining invaluable experience and exposure.

The competition was held on May 12, 2018 at the College of Southern Nevada, Cheyenne Campus. Carolyn Salvador (13) attends West Career & Technical Academy and performed Mozart’s Violin Concerto No. 3 in G Major (I. Allegro). Shyler Macaggi (14), studies at Green Valley High School and performed Stamitz’s Viola Concerto in D Major (3rd movement). Young Choe (14) attends Hyde Park Middle School and performed Bach’s Viola Concert in C Minor (1st movement).

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Honorees performed in the lobby for patrons prior to the Philharmonic’s concert

Chloe Kim (14), studies at Clark High School and performed SaintSaens’s Cello Concerto (1st movement).

“Creative expression through the arts is an essential component of humankind,” said Michael Bolognini, vice president and market leader of Cox Las Vegas. “But we need to ensure that young artists in particular are exposed to artistic education in all its forms to help promote creative expression and artistic understanding. And that’s why Cox Communications is committed to supporting music education as exclusive sponsor of the Young Artists’ Concerto Competition.”

The Young Artists’ Concerto Competition sponsored by Cox Communications has been a key component of the orchestra’s youth education and community outreach since 1999 and affords young artists opportunities to connect with students attending the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s free annual Youth Concert Series, which has reached 250,000 school children to date. The 2019-20 Cox Communications Young Art-

ists’ Concerto Competition will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2019 and applications are now being accepted at https://www.lvphil. org/education/competition/.

“The Concerto Competition has been a longstanding part of the Las Vegas Philharmonic’s education programs and mission.

We are deeply appreciative of Cox Communications for supporting this program,” said LV Phil Executive Director Lacey Huszcza.

“Congratulations to our four young finalists! We look forward to seeing you flourish in your own music careers. And who knows – maybe in a few years, you will be performing on stage with our Las Vegas Philharmonic!”

Cox Communications’ partnership with the Las Vegas Philharmonic represents year four of a five-year, $65,000 pledge by Cox Las Vegas to strengthen music education and outreach. Cox’s support of The Las Vegas Philharmonic is part of the Company’s longstanding support of the arts – in particular, youth art education – and is part of the Cox Hearts for Arts program.

The bucket list

“I have a list, too.”

“You have a list, Lord?”, I asked.

“Yes, I have a list.”

I pondered that for a few moments. Of course, He has a list.

So I prayed, “Make me open to Your plans, Lord. Give me a docile heart, a docile spirit.”

The day after, I left for Madrid for a 2-day stay. I had a few things more to do there. When the day of my departure for Rome came, since I was going to the airport alone, I decided to go early and leave a wide margin for the unforeseen. When I reached Barajas, I had almost the whole morning to wait. So I sat by my boarding gate and buried my head in a book about causes for canonization.

Suddenly I heard someone say, “Anna Cinco!” Surprised, I looked up - it was a young woman in jeans but wearing a silver cross like mine. She smiled and came over and introduced herself. She was a young sister of ours from the Dominican Republic who had been in one of our houses in Brazil, and said that she had met me in one of my trips there. (We have a cause for canonization which had been initiated in Brazil.) So I asked why she was in the airport, and she said she had just come from Rome where she had participated in the preparatory course for final profession, and that she was on her way to her boarding gate for her flight to the Dominican Republic. Since she was young and was not familiar with Madrid airport, and I knew her boarding gate was half an hour’s walk away, I insisted on going with her. We laughed and chatted along the way, and I was sorry to leave her at her boarding gate. I still had plenty of time before my scheduled flight, so without any hurry, I began walking back to my own boarding gate.

Then I heard a voice say in Spanish, “Sister, Sister!” And as I stopped and looked back, I saw a dark young man running towards me. And he said, “Sister, do you speak Spanish? Can I talk to you, please?” I wondered what for, but stopped. And he began to walk with me, and tell me about his problems. It was hard to talk while walking, and I was afraid we were getting too far from his boarding gate, so I invited him to

sit down with me. He was a migrant worker from Mexico who had marital problems and did not know what to do. I listened to him in sympathy, and pretty soon he was in tears. I looked around with some embarrassment. People were beginning to look at us. I prayed for wisdom. After some time, he stopped and asked me, “Sister, is there still hope for us? for me?”

I directed that question to the Lord, and found myself saying, “Of course, there is hope for you.

Look, I shouldn’t even be here.

My boarding gate is half an hour away, on the other side of the airport. But the Lord brought me here because He wanted to reach you! So yes, there is hope for you.” I myself was surprised at my answer... His face began to clear, and then light up, and by the time we parted, he was smiling. He still emails me once in a while.

So I continued with my trip to Rome, still pondering what had happened. Toward the end of my stay in Rome, I did the same thing – tick off items on my list. Then, on the day of my departure, the Superior, who was bringing me to the airport, asked if I would mind leaving early for the airport, since she had to get back to the house for an appointment. I said, why, no, I would not mind at all. I always bring material to read.

So we reached the airport early, and I found that my boarding gate had not even appeared on the screen. I took one of the seats nearby. You know, those airport seats where people sit back to back. I had just opened my book, when I heard a voice behind me say in Italian, “Sister, do you speak Italian? Can I talk to you? I am very angry with God.” I turned my head and it was a beautiful lady, elegantly dressed. I thought, “She has tortured eyes.”

Saying, “May I sit beside you, then?”, I went over to do so.

Then I saw that she was reading a Spanish book, so I asked, “Do you speak Spanish?” And she said she was from Argentina.

“Fine,” I said, “I speak Spanish better than Italian. Let’s talk in Spanish.” And she began talking. I listened to her (prayerfully) for about an hour - it was a list of problems, sick family members, one trial after another, anger with

God, etc. And I thought, looking at her, “Without those problems, she would be very self-satisfied, with no thought of God whatever, angry or not.”

So when she had come to the end of her list and was looking at me expectantly, I said, “So now you wanted to tell God how angry you are with Him?” And she nodded her head vigorously and asked, “Is that wrong, Sister?” I answered slowly, “I guess, when things were going right, you never talked to Him. Now you are angry with Him, but at least you are talking with Him, right?”

Her eyes flew open in surprise, then she began to nod slowly, and as she saw me smile, she began to laugh. We laughed together for a while. And I said, “Don’t you think God prefers this, than have you go back to ignoring Him?” Her face changed completely. And we continued talking happily, and she laughed heartily when I told her that story of St. Teresa of Avila, that in one of her travels, “... her saddle slipped, and she found herself head down under the belly of a donkey as she crossed a stream. Complaining to the Lord of her treatment, she heard him reply, “Teresa, whom the Lord loves, he chastises. This is how I treat all my friends.”

She replied tartly, “No wonder you have so few!” (http://www. paceminterris.org/experiencepacem/the-hermitages/st-teresaof-avila/) Time passed quickly, and I had to catch my flight. The lady had already told me her name (she was from Argentina but she was married to an Italian), and said she was so happy to have met me and talked with me. She invited me for coffee, but I had to go.

And as I walked to my boarding gate, I remembered that thought, “I have a list, too.” And I realized that had I fallen short of my to-do lists for Salamanca and Rome, the entire trip would still have been worthwhile if only for these two of His children...

Next week: Back to yet another idea to consider for The Bucket List … *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • FEbRUARy 28-mARch 6, 2019

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B February 28-march 6, 2019 • LaS VeGaS aSIaN JOurNaL

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