030218 - Newyork & New Jersey

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

Volume 11 – Issue 21 • 16 Pages

MA R C H 2 - 8 , 2 0 1 8

133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

PH tells UN Human Rights Council: Drug war aims to save lives

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano speaks before the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in Geneva on Tuesday, February 27.

DFA photo

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Supreme Court rejects review of federal judge’s order on DACA

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte’s drug war is meant to “save lives.”

This is what the Philippines’ top diplomat told the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Tuesday, February 27 as he defended the anti-illegal drugs campaign, which was heavily criticized by human rights groups due to the mounting death toll of suspected drug personalities.

During the High Level Segment of the 37th Session of the UNHRC in Geneva, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano underscored that the Philippine govern-

u PAGE A2

INAUGURATION. President Rodrigo Duterte breaks protocol just so he could interact with the residents of Brgy. Maria Cristina in Balo-i, Lanao del Norte on the sidelines of his attendance to the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of Christine Villas on Wednesday, February 28.

Duterte warns: Foreign activity Filipinos trust US the most, in PH Rise could trigger war neutral on China, says poll

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

Ruling allows current DACA recipients to renew applications until further notice ADVOCATES for undocumented youth have just scored themselves another win this week in the months-long battle with the federal government.

In a further breakthrough in favor of recipients of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), the United States Supreme Court on Monday, February 26 said it wouldn’t be hearing the Trump administration challenge to a federal judge’s ruling that allowed DACA to keep running.

That means that the March 5 deadline that the administration put into place no longer applies. Moreover, the more than 700,000 undocumented youth who are enrolled in DACA may still apply to renew their status.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was largely ex-

u PAGE A3

Trump admires PH drug policy, says report UNITED States President Donald Trump often muses about killing drug dealers as a way to address the narcotics problem in the country, American news website Axios reported Sunday, February 25.

Among Trump’s inspirations is apparently the current situation in the Philippines, where the government is waging a bloody war that has led to the deaths of thousands of suspected drug personalities.

Unnamed sources, who supposedly have spoken to Trump about the subject, revealed that the U.S. leader admires the drug policies of countries like the Philippines and China.

“He (Trump) often jokes about killing drug dealers. He’ll say, ‘You know the Chinese and Filipinos don’t have drug problem.

They just kill them,’” a senior administration official told Axios.

u PAGE A4

Malacañang photo by Karl Norman

Manila asserted its sovereign rights over Philippine Rise (formerly Benham Rise) on June 12, 2017 by planting the national flag there as the nation marked the 119th anniversary of its independence. Divers from the Philippine Navy’s newest ship, the BRP Davao del Sur, set the flag on a concrete base 57 meters below the water surface.

Inquirer.net photo

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, February 28, warned countries of risking a war with the Philippines should they conduct unwarranted fishing and exploration activities in the Philippine Rise, also referred to as Benham Rise.

In a speech before soldiers in Marawi City, Duterte asserted anew the Philippines’ exclusive rights to explore and exploit resources in the resource-rich waters.

“Yung Philippine Rise, atin ta-

u PAGE A2

by AJPRESS MOST Filipinos hold “much trust” in the United States and maintain a neutral stance on China, a recent Social Weather Station (SWS) survey showed.

Poll results released Wednesday, February 28, revealed that Filipinos have the highest trust in U.S. among 14 countries included in the survey.

U.S. got a “very good” net trust rating of +68 (75 percent much trust, 7 percent little trust).

SWS said the public trust survey results on the U.S. have been positive since the country was

first included in the polls in December 1994.

Apart from the U.S., Canada and Japan also recorded “very good” trust ratings at +55 (65 percent much trust, 10 percent little trust) and +54 (65 percent much trust, 11 percent little trust) respectively.

Six other countries, meanwhile, got “moderate” trust ratings among Filipinos: Singapore at +29 (47 percent much trust, 17 percent little trust), Malaysia at +20 (40 percent much trust, 20 percent little trust), and Thailand at +19 (39 percent much trust, 19

u PAGE A2

Sereno expects to win in Senate impeachment trial

by CHRISTINE

O. AVENDAÑO, JHESSET O. ENANO, MARLON RAMOS

she will be able to defend herself and win in the Senate trial.

Sereno on Wednesday, February 28, said she Inquirer.net would be preparing for her defense in the trial as she THE camp of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, embarked on an indefinite leave starting Thursday, accepting the inevitability of her impeachment in the March 1.

House of Representatives, has expressed confidence “I want to give you the assurance that while I will

be taking a leave of absence, the ship of state of the judiciary remains on course,” Sereno told the 25th national convention of the Regional Trial Court Clerks of Court Association of the Philippines held at the Manila Hotel.

By all indications, the impeachment of the Chief

u PAGE A2

PH steps up efforts to promote healthcare info management industry in the US

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

APPRECIATION DAY. Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer, represented by Aries de la Cruz (right), honored outgoing Philippine Consul General Theresa Dizon-De Vega with a proclamation declaring February 28, 2018 as “Ma. Theresa B. Dizon-de Vega Day” in the Borough of Manhattan.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

“OUR economic growth is not a fluke,” said Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado at a business forum held Monday. Feb. 26 at the Philippine Center, citing the country’s solid macroeconomic fundamentals, as the Philippines remains to be a bright spot in Asia.

In her presentation, Usec Terrado showed the consistent Trade Undersecretary Nora K. Terrado delivers growth of the Philippine econo- her keynote explaining why the Philippines

u PAGE A3

has one of the most vibrant economies in Asia.

AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya

A march 2-8, 2018 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSIaN JOUrNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

From the Front Page

PH tells UN Human Rights...

PAGE A1 t ment launched the drug war “to save lives, to preserve families, to protect communities and stop the country from sliding into a narco state.”

“As a sovereign nation, we deserve respect and even support for our right to life and liberty, our sovereign right to self-determination, to make our people safe and secure from all threats, terrorism, corruption and criminality,” Cayetano added.

The top diplomat also urged the 47-member body to “engage and act and not merely name and shame.”

While re-affirming the government’s readiness and cooperation in submitting itself to in-

vestigations, Cayetano called on the UNHRC to not “weaponize” and “politicize” the human rights situation in the Philippines.

“When does the quest for human rights become a human wrong? It is when human rights is politicized and weaponized,” Cayetano said.

Earlier, Icelandic Foreign Affairs Minister Gudlaugur Thór Thórdarson urged the Philippine government to “accept without preconditions or limitations” a visit from UN Special Rapporteur Callamard.

He also asked the Philippine government to “cooperate with the Office of the High Commissioner to receive a mission by independent experts to conduct an assessment of the situation in the

country without delay.”

But Cayetano, in response, asked the UN to not send Callamard or any other official who has “already prejudged” the Duterte administration.

“When a UN Special Rapporteur cries out, like the Queen in Alice in Wonderland, ‘First the judgment, then the trial,’ when she culls evidence only for what might support her prejudgment, he or she loses the moral high ground and is stripped of any credibility,” Cayetano stressed.

The top diplomat went on to say, “There are 7.5 billion people in the world; send anyone except one who has already prejudged us, and who, by any measure, cannot be considered independent and, more so, objective.” n

Duterte warns: Foreign activity...

PAGE A1 t laga ‘yan (The Philippine Rise is ours),” the president stressed.

He noted that any foreign entities who wanted to conduct scientific research in the area should first secure permission from the Philippine government, backed by a recommendation from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP).

“Sinabi ko talaga, ‘walang mage-experiments na diyan hangga’t wala silang permiso galing sa akin (said that nobody would experiment there without my permission) but the Armed

Forces will have to recommend it,” the president said.

“Otherwise, no. I will not allow fishing. Magka-giyera tayo (There will be war),” he warned, adding that the Philippine government has already deployed a Marine battalion to guard the waters.

In a separate statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) announced that the government will oppose China’s naming of five undersea features in the Philippine Rise.

“The Philippine government is planning to contest the Chinanamed features in the Philippine

Rise,” Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Ernesto Abella told reporters in a briefing.

Last February 13, Maritime law expert Jay Batongbacal revealed that China successfully named five undersea features in the Philippines Rise last year after getting approval from the International Hydrographic Organization (IHO) approved the names in 2017.

Malacañang, however, declared that it will not recognize the Chinese names.

During a Senate hearing on Monday, February 26, National Security Adviser Hermogenes

RECKONING. Former President Benigno Aquino III (left) and top aide former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad (right) swear to tell the truth during a House inquiry into the scuttled mass anti-dengue vaccination program. Between them is former Health Secretary Janette Garin, who pushed for the procurement of the anti-dengue shots during the last few months of Aquino’s term.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Esperon reported that China illegally surveyed the Philippine Rise in 2004, which led to the naming of the undersea features.

“We have raised the issue of unauthorized researches conducted by the Institute of Oceanology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences during our bilateral consultation mechanism in Manila last February 13,” Abella added.

According to him, said both countries “agreed that all marine science research henceforth must have the consent of the Philippines.” n

Filipinos trust US the most...

PAGE A1 t percent little trust).

Completing the list were Indonesia at +18 (38 percent much trust, 20 percent little trust), Brunei at +16 (37 percent much trust, 21 percent little trust), and Vietnam at +13 (34 percent much trust, 21 percent little trust).

As for China, the SWS survey showed that its trust ratings among Filipinos went up by a grade from “poor” to “neutral.”

Its -13 net trust rating in the previous September 2017 poll went up to +7 (38 percent much trust, 31 percent little trust).

Other countries that had “neu-

tral” trust ratings include Myanmar at +8 (31 percent much trust, 24 percent little trust), Cambodia at +7 (31 percent much trust, 24 percent little trust), and Laos at +3 (27 percent much trust, 24 percent little trust).

Only North Korea received a “poor” net trust rating among Filipinos at -19 (24 percent much trust, 43 percent little trust).

The survey was conducted from December 8-16, 2017 using face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults nationwide, with sampling error margins of ±3% for national percentages, and ±6% each for Metro Manila, Balance Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao. n

HEARING ON IMPEACHMENT COMPLAINT. Rep. Reynaldo Umali (center), head of the House committee on justice, presides over the impeachment proceedings against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno.

Inquirer.net photo by Edwin Bacasmas

Sereno expects to win...

PAGE A1 t

)ROORZ XV RQ

Justice is imminent in the House of Representatives, a spokesperson for Sereno, Josa Deinla, told the Inquirer.

“After all, the congressmen and Speaker [Pantaleon] Alvarez had been saying that the proceedings at the committee on justice are nothing but a formality,” Deinla said.

Fair trial She expressed confidence that the Senate would treat Sereno fairly. “Being given a fair shake,” Deinla said, “will be key to proving her innocence.”

Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III assured Sereno on Wednesday that she would have a fair trial.

“If there is no evidence, then acquit,” Pimentel said of the senators’ attitude. “But if there is evidence, we also have to consider convicting.”

That is why, the Senate President said, it is the “burden” of the House to prove its case against Sereno.

A two-thirds vote (16 of the 23 senators) is needed to convict Sereno.

Charges The impeachment complaint accuses Sereno, among other alleged offenses, of not filing mandatory statements of assets, liabilities and net worth (SALNs) dating back a decade before she became the Chief Justice in 2012, buying a luxury vehicle with public funds and making certain decisions without consulting her fellow magistrates.

The legal team of Sereno challenged reports that she was pressured by the other justices into taking an indefinite leave or face a vote by the full court declaring her post vacant, saying her leave was a personal decision.

“We are saddened by the fact that the confidentiality of the en banc sessions has been breached,” Deinla said.

The high court was reportedly on edge after it was revealed during a Feb. 12 hearing by the House justice committee that Sereno was unable to submit her required SALNs when she applied for Chief Justice in 2012.

This led to the question of whether Sereno’s appointment was valid to begin with.

Not an option Despite the “coordinated efforts” to make Sereno leave her post, Deinla said resignation was not an option.

“Even if she goes on leave, she

plans to visit the courts and assure the staff, the employees and the judges of the judiciary that she is all right,” Deinla said. “She does not intend to resign and she is in here for the long haul.”

At least five senators said no one could force the Chief Justice to step down.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon said Sereno and other Supreme Court justices could be removed only through impeachment.

Declaring the Chief Justice position vacant to remove Sereno, he said, is “unconstitutional.”

IBP reaction Like the senators, the Integrated Bar of the Philippines (IBP) said Supreme Court magistrates had no power to force Sereno out of office but could try to convince her to resign.

IBP national president Abdiel Dan Fajardo said “an SC justice may only be removed by impeachment in order to ensure independence of members of the high court.”

He said justices of the high court could only exercise disciplinary authority over the justices and judges of lower courts, not against a fellow magistrate.

Vice President Leni Robredo has expressed serious concern on the “infighting” in the Supreme Court.

Robredo, a lawyer, said the wrangling in the high tribunal “will not only destroy the image of the Supreme Court but also the people’s trust in our justice system.”

Trial rules finalized Pimentel said that Senate lawyers were now finalizing the rules that would govern the trial of Sereno. The rules will be submitted for approval of senators by next week.

Pimentel said Sen. Leila de Lima, who is detained on drug trafficking charges, may end up being physically present to cast her vote. De Lima has denied the charges.

At a meeting of the majority bloc, it was proposed that the impeachment trial be conducted from Wednesday to Friday starting at 2 p.m., according to Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III. Sotto said Monday and Tuesday would see the chamber devoting its time to legislation.

While he earlier projected that the trial might be held after Congress returns on July 23, he said the trial could be held even before that date. n

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 2-8, 2018

South China Sea conflict among biggest threats to world economy — report by audrey

Morallo Philstar.com

According to the The Economist Intelligence Unit, an outbreak of hostilities in the West AN outbreak of hostilities in Philippine Sea, or South China the West Philippine Sea and a Sea, is third in terms of probmilitary confrontation over North ability and impact on the world’s Korea’s nuclear and missile economy.

The top two risks, according to program are two of the biggest threats to the global economy, the EIU report, are a prolonged fall in major stock markets that according to a new report.

A

could destabilize the global economy and a trade war that would be provoked by American protectionism.

A major cyber-attack crippling corporate and government activities is fourth on the list of threats to the global economy, EIU said.

“Other key risks identified include a disorderly and prolonged Chinese slowdown, a major military confrontation on the Korean peninsula, and outright conflict in the Middle East between Iran and Saudi Arabia,” EIU said.

The Philippines, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei claim either almost all or a part of the disputed waters through which $5 trillion worth of trade passes yearly.

OUTSTANDING ATHLETES. Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Athletes of the Year 2017 shows IBF super flyweight titlist Jerwin In 2016, a United Nations- Ancajas; 53rd QubicaAMF World Cup Champion 2017 Krizziah Tabora; and World 9-Ball Champion Carlo Biado during the PSA award night

u PAGE A4

2017 held at the Manila Hotel on Tuesday, February 27.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

Palace open to int’l probe into drug war

by Catherine

Valente ManilaTimes.net

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, February 27, said the Philippines was open to an investigation by The conflict in the West Philippine Sea is among the biggest threats to the world economy, the United Nations (UN) into the alleged drug-related killings in according to The Economist Intelligence Unit report. the country, but said special rapporteur Agnes Callamard should not lead the inquiry because of her supposed bias against the Duterte government.

PAGE A1 t cates for undocumented youth — In a news briefing, Palace pected because the justices rarely commonly referred to as DREAM- spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said hear appeals that ask to bypass ers — have been scrambling that the government wanted finding a solution for them. lower court rulings. someone “credible” and “objec“The Supreme Court’s action The lower court’s ruling that remains in effect is that of the shows that rescinding DACA was U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th not only legally questionable but Circuit in San Francisco which on also unjust and cruel. But only Jan. 9 ordered the federal govern- Congress can provide the perment to continue running DACA, manent solution our [DREAMers] as previously reported by the need and deserve,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.)

Asian Journal.

As extensively reported on by said on Twitter on Monday, Febthe Asian Journal, DACA was put ruary 26.

Congress has tried and failed to into effect by former President Barack Obama in 2012 by way of come up with a solution for sevexecutive order. Since then, hun- eral months, but Monday’s ruling dreds of thousands of undocu- also gives it more time to come mented youth who were brought up with a legislative compromise to the U.S. illegally as young chil- for DREAMers.

After the Supreme Court’s dren have been granted work authorization, reprieve from depor- decision on Monday, the White House said, “The DACA protation and other benefits.

The program gives eligible gram — which provides work undocumented youth a two-year permits and myriad government permit with the option to renew benefits to illegal immigrants en masse — is clearly unlawful. after it expires.

Economy experts have ex- The district judge’s decision to pressed that DACA has allowed unilaterally re-impose a program undocumented youth who were that Congress had explicitly and previously prohibited from work- repeatedly rejected is a usurpaing to contribute to the American tion of legislative authority... We look forward to having this case economy.

The left-leaning Center for expeditiously heard by the apAmerican Progress (CAP) con- peals court and, if necessary, the ducted a study in 2017 that ana- Supreme Court, where we fully lyzed the educational and profes- expect to prevail.”

Though the White House has sional experiences of more than 3,000 DACA recipients. The study maintained that the original pasfound that 91 percent of those un- sage of DACA by Obama in 2012 der DACA are employed and 69 was illegal, federal judges have percent found higher paying jobs deemed those claims baseless.

On Tuesday, February 13, that better fit their career aspiraJudge Nicholas G. Garaufis of tions.

Notably, if the benefits of DACA the U.S. District Court for the remain in place (whether that be Eastern District of New York was through DACA or a permanent the second judge to block the solution), they are projected to administration’s termination of contribute $460.3 billion to the DACA. Garaufis called the claim U.S. gross domestic product over that DACA was illegally passed a “plainly incorrect factual premthe next ten years.

Since President Donald Trump ise” and called the ending of announced he was terminating DACA “arbitrary and capricious.”

DACA in September 2017, advo- (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Supreme Court rejects review...

PH steps up efforts to promote...

PAGE A1 t my through the years and how it is one of Asia’s fastest-growing economies.

The forum is part of the 2018 HIMS (Healthcare Information Management Services) Roadshow with the theme “Unlocking Opportunities. Embracing Innovation” a collaborative project of the Department of Trade and Industry, Board of Investment, Economic Management Bureau, and the Healthcare Information Management Association of the Philippines (HIMAP).

Terrado, along with representatives of about a dozen companies from the Philippines, are in the United States for a roadshow to promote the country as a top tier destination for IT-BPM services, among others. This is a part of DTI’s efforts to promote the Philippines as an investment destination for healthcare information technology and business process management in key US markets.

DTI is helping to promote the Philippine HIM-BPM industry’s competitive advantages, strengths, and capabilities to leading HIMS-BPM investors, decision makers, delegates, and visitors that will participate in the upcoming HIMMS Exhibition, conferences and business meetings.

In welcoming resource speakers and guests at the forum, Consul General Theresa DizonDe Vega reiterated the Philippine Government’s commitment to support efforts to promote the Philippine IT-BPM industry.

“The Philippines offers high-value services, a young, innovative,

and well-educated workforce, and a business-friendly environment for all potential investors and clients”, she emphasized in her remarks.

Other key presentations were made by HIMAP President Cristina Coronel who spoke on developments and innovations in the Philippine HIMS Sector while case study illustrations and testimonials were discussed by other HIMAP member companies.

The HIMS sector, as one of the leading industries in the country, has significantly provided employment opportunities to thousands of local nurses and to the growing BPM sector. In 2014, it had 86,000 full-time employees.

Coronel shared that in 2017, the healthcare and information management industry posted 2.7 billion in revenues and employed around 136,000 people.

Almost 75% of the US healthcare companies outsource their requirements to Asian countries.

The Philippines, as one of the leading countries in Business Process Management (BPM) industry, aims to further strengthen its presence abroad and exploit the growing demand by attracting future investors and companies to invest in the Philippines.

An open forum moderated by Special Trade Representative Nicanor Bautista followed the presentations while a Networking Session capped the day’s activity.

The HIMS Roadshow includes promotion legs in Houston, Texas and ending up in Las Vegas, Nevada where the HIMSS 2018 global conference is set to happen from March 5 to 9. n

tive” to lead the probe.

“Again, if they’re going to send a special rapporteur to the Philippines, it must be someone credible, someone who is an authority in the field that they seek to investigate in, and must be objective and unbiased,” he told reporters.

Roque, who also serves as presidential adviser on human rights, said he would recommend a UN special rapporteur to investigate Duterte’s drug war.

He, however, said he could not divulge the identity “for now.” “(It’s) definitely not Agnes

(Callamard). As I have said before, it’s her fault that the home state does not want her in,” Roque said.

“Part of a qualification of a special rapporteur is to be trustworthy enough so that the member-nation of the UN will allow a special rapporteur to investigate,” he added.

Roque’s statement came a day after Callamard, in a Twitter post, said Iceland urged the Philippines to approve her investigation into President Rodrigo Duterte’s war against illegal drugs.

In the opening ceremonies of the UN Human Rights Council’s 37th Session in Geneva, Switzerland, Iceland Minister of Foreign Affairs Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson reiterated his country’s “concern over measures used in the Philippines to combat illicit drugs and called on that State to uphold the rule of law.”

He also urged the Philippines to allow independent experts to assess the situation without delay.

Roque, however, said the Philippines won’t heed Ireland’s call. n

A march 2-8, 2018 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSIaN JOUrNaL

Nietes validates his place amongst great flyweights

by Dr.

Dateline USa

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

ED DEla VEga

True to his word, Donnie “Ahas” Nietes showed how the snake strikes. And strike he did!

On Saturday, February 24 at the cavernous Forum in Inglewood, California, Nietes displayed his brilliant technical skills and artistry in boxing that has made him the longest and continuous boxing world champion from the Philippines.

Nietes defended his IBF Flyweight title against Argentina’s Juan Carlos reveco, who is no pushover. He is a former world champion with a highly respectable record. The smooth and extremely technical manner Nietes disposed of him is a glaring tribute to the world-class talent of the native of Murcia, Negros Occidental.

This is what purists in the sweet science meant when they said “this is boxing at it’s best.” The fight may have been devoid of blood and gore, but it was a display of artistry in motion — from the offense to the defense.

Nietes’ victory also sent a gigantic message to everyone on the 112-lb. division and perhaps even those at 115 lbs. It was as though Nietes said, “Watch out fellows, the snake is on the prowl and he is hunting you guys down.”

Admittedly, the fight was not

SAP BICAM ON ANTI-HAZING ACT OF 2018. Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, presides over the Bicameral Conference Committee on the disagreeing provisions of Senate Bill 1662 and House Bill 6573, or the Anti-Hazing Act of 2018 on Wednesday, February 28. Also in photo are (from left), Senator Migz Zubiri, Gringo Honasan, and Sherwin Gatchalian.

In his HBO boxing debut on Saturday, February 24 at Superfly 2 in Los Angeles, reigning IBF Flyweight World Champion Donnie “Ahas” Nietes pulled off a victory against Argentine challenger Juan Carlos Reveco in seven rounds.

Photo by Jhay Otamias

that easy. reveco had his moments, albeit far and in between. It was his very aggressive style that played perfectly to the awesome counter-punching prowess of Nietes. every time the Argentine used his left hand, Nietes would hit like the deadly cobra, throwing a counter that eventually spelled doom for reveco. The Filipino boxing icon almost always had a reply for everything fired by reveco and piled up points forcing his opponent to change tactics to catch up to no avail.

In the 6th round, Nietes landed a cool shot that buckled the legs of reveco at the corner and it felt that at that time, the time was up for the Argetinian. The doc-

South China Sea conflict...

PAGE A3 t backed tribunal invalidated China’s expansive claims to the region, which Beijing said were based on its so-called historical rights. China has refused to acknowledge the ruling and did not participate in the arbitration case initiated by the Philippines in 2013.

Despite this, China has transformed several features in the West Philippine Sea into islands capable of hosting naval and air bases.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana recently admitted before the Senate that Chinese planes from these man-made islands could reach and bomb the

tors went up the ring to evaluate his condition but they ultimately decided that he can continue.

Seeing this, the Villamor brothers who train Nietes instructed him to pour it on and finish the job.

When the 7th round bell rang, Nietes followed instructions and went for the kill, much like a snake that had his foe against a rock.

Nietes did not waste time and landed several hard shots that finally dropped reveco. reveco got up but didn’t have the strength to even follow the referee’s instruction for him to show that he is okay. Seeing that, reveco’s corner signaled that he had enough and referee waived off the fight. n

Philippine mainland in 15 minutes.

North Korea meanwhile has continued to develop its missile and nuclear program despite blistering international sanctions and criticism.

It has recently showed capability of launching a missile capable of reaching mainland united States, a big leap in its effort to develop nuclear bomb-tipped

Senate photo by Romeo Bugante

Airline accidents down in 2017 – IATA

by rEicElEnE Joy ignacio

globally and in most regions. And we are determined to make this ABOuT 4.1-billion travelers very safe industry even safer,” flew safely on 41.8 million flights IATA Director General and Chief in 2017, putting the global all ac- executive Officer Alexandre de cident rate per one million flights Juniac said in a statement.

“In 2017 there were incidents at 1.08, a significant improvement from the 1.68 figure in and accidents that we learned 2016, according to the Interna- from through the investigation tional Air Transport Association. process, just as we will learn “2017 was a very good year for from the recent tragedies in aviation safety. We saw improve- russia and Iran. Complementments in nearly all key metrics, ing that knowledge are insights ManilaTimes.net

Trump admires PH drug policy...

we can gain from the millions of flights that operate safety. Data from these operations are powering the development of predictive analytics that will eventually enable us to eliminate the conditions that can lead to accidents,” De Juniac said.

The IATA reported that none of its member airlines experienced fatal accidents or hull losses in 2017 with jet or turboprop equipment. n

Trump also reportedly wants similar laws that would execute all drug dealers in the u.S., even commending Singapore’s mandatory death penalty for drug traffickers.

“He (Trump) says, ‘When I ask the prime minister of Singapore do they have a drug problem [the prime minister replies,] ‘No. Death penalty,’” a source told Axios.

During Trump’s visit to Manila in November last year, Malaca-

ñang said the u.S. president appeared “sympathetic” when Philippine President rodrigo talked about the drug problem in the Philippines.

Trump had earlier congratulated Duterte for the latter administration’s “unbelievable job” in addressing the drug menace.

“Many countries have the problem, we have a problem, but what a great job you are doing and I just wanted to call and tell you that,” Trump told Duterte.

Human rights groups have claimed that over 12,000 lives have been lost in Duterte’s drug war and have condemned the Philippine government for allegedly giving police and vigilantes a “license to kill” drug suspects nationwide.

But the Philippine government disputed the figure, clarifying that only around 4,000 drug personalities were killed for violently resisting arrest during police operations. The Duterte administration also repeatedly denied that it promotes sanctioned killings. (AJPress)

weapons that could target many American cities.

Although the world economy has experienced periods of high risk before, what is unique during this period is the risks associated with the uS questioning its role in the world while China is becoming more assertive, eIu said.

“Global risk is not just about the two biggest economies; risks

also transcend boundaries on the political, military and financial spheres,” eIu said.

There has never been a period of such robust economic growth, low inflation and high employment that has been coupled with a sense of unease over global conditions, according to Philip Walker, risk practice director for the eIu. He said that policymakers,

companies and populations are facing a wide range of major threats that could upset the traditional global order in the coming years.

“It is important to assess and prepare for a likely tumultuous global environment in order not just to mitigate damage, but also take advantage of opportunities that will undoubtedly arise along the way,” he said. n

PAGE A1 t

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 2-8, 2018

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

PCOO lauded for holding first nat’l info confab

BACK IN CONGRESS. Former senator Juan Ponce Enrile and Ilocos Norte Gov. Imee Marcos attend the hearing on the utilization of the tobacco excise tax at the House of Representatives.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez

Zubiri urges passage as BBL reaches Senate plenary

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

As the plenary deliberations on the proposed Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) opened on Wednesday, senator Juan Miguel Zubiri appealed to his colleagues at the senate to pass the measure.

In his sponsorship speech, Zubiri said that the BBL—or the senate Bill No. 1717 under Committee Report No. 255—will give the “greatest latitude if not full autonomy” to the Bangsamoro government that will be established.

The proposed measure will also give the Moro people the capability “to assert their political and economic self-determination and pursue development programs for their people according to their peculiar historical, cultural, religious and national identities.”

As he introduced the bill before the plenary, Zubiri, who is also the chairman of the senate subcommittee on BBL, urged the members of the senate to “seize the opportunity” to correct the “historical injustice” to the Moro people.

“I do not want to sound like a warmonger, but if we do not heed this clamor for change in the Bangsamoro, God forbid, restlessness among the armed groups in Mindanao could spiral out of control,” said Zubiri.

“The possibility of another Marawi siege would not be far from the horizon. The country can no longer afford more bloodshed. Our generation has

Sen. Miguel Zubiri urged his colleagues to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL).

Senate photo

suffered long enough from the clutches of poverty, from the evils of war. Let not our children and their future suffer some more,” he added.

Among the highlights of the BBL is a provision which states that “reserved powers are matters over which authority and jurisdiction are retained by the Central Government.”

“The list of reserved powers would pertain to powers that are the attribute of a sovereign country and are important in maintaining its independence and ability to relate to other countries such as foreign policy, defense, citizenship and others,” Zubiri said.

The BBL also also includes an anti-dynasty provision, according to the senator.

Zubiri, however, noted that the anti-dynasty provision only covers the Bangsamoro government and would exclude mayors and governors because they are “still awaiting a national anti-dynasty law.”

In a press briefing, Zubiri said what they passed as a committee report is “not 100-percent BTC (Bangsamoro Transition Commission) version” of the BBL. BTC include representatives from the MILF and the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF).

“It’s 96-percent BTC,” the senator said. “All the important provisions are there. If we added [other provisions], it was just to strengthen.”

Zubiri expects the senate to pass the proposed BBL by March 21. n

Palace: Rappler not off the hook even with Omidyar’s donation of investment ONLINE news site Rappler is not yet off the hook even after foreign investor Omidyar Network donated its $1.5-million investment to the media company’s 14 Filipino managers.

“Omidyar Network’s reported donation of its Philippine Depositary Receipts (PDRs) to its Filipino managers does not remove the fact that Rappler breached the Constitution,” Palace spokesman Harry Roque said in a statement.

“This latest act is nothing but a circumvention of the law, which restricts ownership of media entities in the country to 100 percent Filipino-owned,” he said.

Roque maintained that the decision of the securities and Exchange Commission (sEC) to revoke Rappler’s license to operate was not an attack on press freedom.

“Rappler’s defense of infringement of press freedom is merely a ploy to distract from the real issue, as resolved by the securi-

ties and Exchange Commission (sEC) that the former is a foreign entity,” he said.

“Let us therefore wait for the sEC, having jurisdiction, to address this development,” the Palace official added.

The sEC issued the ruling because of a provision in the PDR agreement between Rappler and Omidyar, ceding control to a foreign company.

A PDR is a financial instrument companies resort to in order to secure foreign investments.

In a statement on Wednesday, stephen King, Omidyar’s head of Global Governance and Citizen Engagement, announced that it was donating its investment to Rappler’s Filipino managers, in a move to resolve foreign ownership issues.

“This completely eliminates the basis of the unwarranted sEC (securities and Exchange Commission) ruling,” King said.

“We…strongly believe that the company should be allowed to

continue operating unhindered in the Philippines,” he added.

Omidyar Network, owned by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar, however clarified it was not “cutting ties” with Rappler.

The move, it said, would remove the “barriers put in place” by the government when the sEC revoked the licenses of Rappler Inc. and Rappler Holdings Corporation in January for violating foreign ownership restrictions.

On January 29, Rappler filed a petition before the Court of Appeals, questioning the revocation of its certificates of incorporation.

It said contrary to the decision of the sEC, the agreement between Rappler and Omidyar did not constitute “control.”

Rappler had decried the decision as “pure and simple harassment,” and an attack on press freedom. It said the ruling was “first of its kind in history — both for the Commission and for Philippine media.” (ManilaTimes. net)

Pimentel: Senate seeking ‘solutions’ in marriage bill instead of outright divorce sENATOR Aquilino Pimentel 3rd said on Wednesday that unlike their counterparts at the House of Representatives, the senate preferred to look at proposed “solutions” in its version of the marriage bill rather than an outright divorce as the answer to a troubled union.

“Kapag divorce kasi, ang iniisip natin eh yung American style na if ayaw na ninyo, just file something and then you’ll get your divorce decree. Malabo yan dito. However, if there is a ground, let’s talk about the solution of marriage rather than divorce,” said Pimentel in an ambush interview.

(When we talk of divorce, what we think of is the American style wherein we can always file something and get a divorce when we want out.)

Pimentel said what the senate was pushing for was a “solution,” citing a “technical difference” that would need further study.

When asked how long the discussions would be in the senate, Pimentel said the senators would not rush it because the issue was “potentially controversial.”

The House Committee on Population and Family Relations approved the divorce bill authored by lawmakers of various political stripes, including speaker Pantaleon Alvarez of Davao del Norte, Rep. Edcel Lagman of Albay, Rep. Pia Cayetano of Taguig City, Rep. Rodel Batocabe of Ako Bicol and Rep. Emmi de Jesus of Gabriela party-list.

The approval of the proposed “Absolute Divorce and Dissolution

of Marriage Act” in the committee level has paved the way for floor debates.

The measure details an extensive list of grounds for absolute divorce, including marital infidelity which is committed by having a child with another person other than one’s spouse during the marriage, except when a child is born through in vitro fertilization or similar procedure, or when the wife bears a child after being a victim of rape.

The divorce bill was passed amid objections from the influential Catholic Church, which warned against the destruction of the family in the Philippines where 80 percent of its population are Catholics. (Mia Macatiag and Alec Naldo/ManilaTimes.net)

DAVAO CITY — Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) has earned commendations for the successful staging of the first National Information Convention (NIC), calling it a “timely and enriching” endeavor.

“The good thing about this convention is it is enriching, enhancing and encouraging,” said Catherine somera, information officer of Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)-Region 1, in an interview with Philippine News Agency (PNA) after the NIC 2018 held at the sMX Convention Center in sM Lanang, Davao City on Feb. 19-21. somera said the NIC, organized

by PCOO through Philippine Information Agency, has enhanced their knowledge and capabilities to become effective communicators at the grassroots level.

“It is important for me not only to be equipped with knowledge but attitude in doing our work so that we can really work in promoting government programs,” she said.

For his part, Ronaldo Cabanhaw said the NIC has enhanced his capabilities as designated public information officer (PIO) of the Parole Provision Administration in Region 6.

“It’s a big help for us in imparting information especially to the grassroots. We are happy to be part of this convention,” Cabanhaw said.

Norma Pereyras, a volunteer for 39 years of different non-government organizations from Tagum City, said she attended the NIC even without an invitation.

Through the convention, she said she was able to appreciate more the Duterte administration which has been doing an “amazing” job in empowering the public communicators to engage the citizenry in nation-building.

Pereyras said she congratulated PCOO secretary Martin Andanar for the successful hosting of the NIC, requesting him to hold more similar events.

“I told secretary Andanar not to stop here. Go and reach more,” she said, hoping the next convention will include officials of the country’s more than 42,000 barangays.

Throughout the three-day event, powerhouse speakers discussed topics on government programs and policies, media environment, raising the bar of governance, re-

sponsible communication, engaging citizenry in nation-building and communication strategy.

After the convention, Andanar and 17 representatives from different regions led the audience in reading of the Declaration of Commitment to Responsible Communication.

Andanar said the declaration of commitment will be submitted to

President Rodrigo Duterte, hoping it will be transformed into manifesto of support for stronger and empowered government information officers.

He promised to use all resources of government media to produce truthful and factual news and information down to the remotest barangays of the country. (Jelly Musico/PNA)

:8IG< ;@<D 8KK<EK@FE @DD@>I8K@FE C8NP<IJ C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi glijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f%

JK8E; FLK =IFD K?< G8:B% 8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ ilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip =i`[Xp f] E\n Pfib& E\n A\ij\p <[`k`fe%

8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp%

:8CC PFLI 8::FLEK D8E8><I )() -,,$,+)8jb XYflk fli GIFDFK@FE8C @EKIF;L:KFIP G8:B8>< GI@:@E> n_`Z_ ilej pfli X[ n\\bcp ]fi dXo`dld \ogfjli\ Xk kilcp X]]fi[XYc\ iXk\j%

Fli gi`ek \[`k`fej ile `e kXe[\d n`k_ 8AËj Gi`ek <[`k`fe Fec`e\% Fec`e\1 _kkg1&&`jjll%Zfd&Xj`XeaflieXc[`^`kXc\[`k`fe

A6 MARCH 2-8, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

FEATURES

OPINION

A continuing revolution THREE decades ago, millions of Filipinos took to the streets to seek the seemingly impossible: the ouster of a corrupt conjugal dictatorship.

Since then, efforts to nurture the fragile, hard-won democracy have been marred by a long string of corruption scandals and continuing gross human rights violations.

The restoration of democracy did not put an end to torture, enforced disappearances and summary executions, including those targeting left-leaning and environmental activists, journalists and legal professionals. Dictator Ferdinand Marcos now rests in peace, as he wished, in a cemetery for heroes.

His clan and that of his widow Imelda Romualdez Marcos are back in power.

As the nation marks 32 years since the dictatorship collapsed from the miracle of people power, the nation has slipped further in the global Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International. The International Criminal Court has launched a preliminary examination of the human rights situation in the Philippines under President Duterte.

From 95th out of 168 countries included in the Corruption Perceptions Index in 2015, the Philippines slipped to 101st out of 176 in 2016, and fell to 111th among 180 countries last year.

Transparency International did note that a ma-

jority of countries were moving too slowly in fighting corruption.

Instead of comparing the Philippines with those moving slowly, however, the country should aspire to catch up with the better performers in the CPI. There has to be a connection between national prosperity and the absence of corruption. Countries that have consistently ranked high in the CPI are also among the world’s most advanced economies. They also place high in the happiness index, which measures quality of life indicators. Studies have shown the steep economic cost of corruption, with public funds going to the pockets of only a handful of individuals instead of being used for development and poverty alleviation programs.

A desire to end the kleptocracy of the Marcos dictatorship as well as the systematic violations of human rights fueled the 1986 people power revolution. Today there are Filipinos who take for granted the hard-won freedoms that they

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

have enjoyed for 32 years now. But democracy, even in advanced economies, is always a work in progress. With recent developments, the nation cannot be reminded often enough that vigilance

is the price of freedom. And the nation cannot afford to forget the lessons of the dictatorship, and the peaceful revolt that put an end to it.

(Philstar.com)

An overwhelming majority of Americans want stricter gun laws and a ban on assault rifles ENOUGH! This is the battle cry of Americans The Fil-Am following the massacre of 14 students and Perspective three staff members in Parkland, Florida — one of the worst in U.S. history — and just GEL SANTOS-RELOS another in the series of many mass shootings that have killed students and civilians in just a few years.

President Donald Trump and Congress said they wanted to solve this worsening gun violence in the country. However, the tough rhetoric and “thoughts and prayers” have not translated to sensible gun control laws and regulations — thanks but no thanks to the lobbying of the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) and its hefty campaign contributions to Trump and the Republicans in

Congress.

Trump even repealed an Obama-era regulation that would have prevented people with mental illness from buying guns, an initiative the former president did in response to the non-action of Congress to legislate stricter gun laws after the Sandy Hook mass shooting.

Trump proposed to strengthen implementation of background checks, and to arm teachers with guns. He initially pushed for increasing the minimum age to buy guns from 18 to 21, but has been deemed to be noncommittal about this since Friday, February 23, and after the open opposition of the NRA to this plan.

Trump also vowed to write a law ban-

ning bump stocks if Congress does not do its job — these are accessories that convert semi-automatic weapons to rapid firing machine guns.

Great, but why stop there, Mr. President? An AR-15 assault rifle was used by the shooter in the Parkland massacre. Assault rifles have been used by civilians in other mass shootings.

Assault rifles were invented to kill people in the war zones, and were not intended to be used by civilians for sports or hunting hobbies. Even the Republican conservative icon and former President Ronald Reagan, with his strong ideological conviction to uphold the Second Amendment, did not agree that these deadly war weapons should be used by civilians.

What hold does the NRA have on Trump and the Republican lawmakers?

Have these elected public officials been

listening to the American people — a big majority of whom- Democrats, Republican, Independents and even responsible gun owners — are demanding for stricter gun laws to solve this fatal epidemic?

Poll results Let me share with you the results of two polls that support this call.

CNN poll: • 70 percent of Americans now favor stricter gun laws.

• A majority of people (57 percent) who live in gun-owning households favor some new restrictions, and 49 percent of Republicans are onboard.

• Some specific measures that are broadly popular: 87 percent favor banning felons and those with mental health problems from getting guns; 71 percent favor banning anyone under 21 from buying a firearm; and 63 percent favor a ban on high-capacity magazines.

• The poll also showed that President Trump is at his lowest approval rating — 35 percent — since taking office.

USA Today/Suffolk poll: • 61 percent say “tightening gun- control laws and background checks would prevent more mass shootings in the United States.”

• 63 percent say semiautomatic weapons should be banned. And 76 percent say people who have been treated for mental illness should be banned from owning guns.

• That poll had Trump at 38 percent approval and 60 percent disapproval. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this columnÐare solely those of the authorÐand not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Different nations, a shared destiny Impressions of a balikbayan

PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. (Part 3 of 3) *Remarks of Hon. Jose de Venecia - Former Speaker, Philippine House of Representatives; Founding Chairman and Chairman of Standing Committee, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Founder, Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA); Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the ICAPP Special Conference on the Silk Road last February 1-4, 2018; Tehran, Iran.

Averting the ‘clash of civilizations’ As other pundits have spoken of the dangers of the “clash of civilizations” in our modern period, Iran’s then President Mohammad Khatami and other scholars introduced the more strategic, more pragmatic idea of a “dialogue among civilizations.”

One of the great fruits of dialogue was the nuclear accord of 2015 which provided Iran relief from the U.S., U.N., and multilateral sanctions on energy, financial, shipping and other sectors, for indeed no less than the International Atomic Energy Agency certified that Iran had complied with the Agreement.

While sanctions hurt Iran’s economy with the fall of crude oil exports from 2.5-million barrels per day to 1.1-million barrels by mid-2013, further compounded by the drastic fall in oil prices since early 2014, today Iran’s oil

exports have returned to nearly pre-sanctions levels, and economic growth has grown to 7 percent in 2016, even spreading to the non-oil sectors, while Iran had regained access to some $115-billion in new hard currency. Major international aircraft manufacturers have sold new passenger aircraft to Iran’s commercial airlines.

We in ICAPP note that as Iran plays a critical role in the One Belt One Road (OBOR) Initiative, the theme of the Conference, even with the 2010-2016 sanctions, major Asian countries continued working with the Iran economy, and growth has began to broaden even to the non-oil sector.

Moreover, foreign direct investments in Iran under Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Rouhani have soared, growing five-fold to $12.2-billion in 2016.

And major foreign investments of some $12.6-billion in petrochemicals, methanol and LNG plants, are today programmed in Iran’s PARS Region for 20182020.

Sunni-Shiite Dialogue Excellencies, friends: On the raging Sunni-Shiite issues and the extremist violence in the Arab world, and the emergence of ISIS-ISIL in the battlegrounds of Syria and Iraq and even Libya, one cannot discount the magnitude of the barriers that intense doctrinal separation has raised between the two great schools of Islam and the emergence today of the radical, violent Islamic extremists, ISIS-ISIL. As we in ICAPP earlier advocated before in our letters to Saudi Arabia’s then King Abdullah and Iran’s spiritual leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, it would be of great relief to our region

and indeed the world, if the two leaders of Islam, Saudi Arabia, representing the Sunnis, and Iran, representing the Shiites, respectively, could perhaps meet in Mecca and Medina and bring about the beginnings of reconciliation and the end of violence in the lands of Islam, and head off decisively the expansion and internationalization of the extremist groups, ISIS-ISIL. We believe the initiative is most difficult but not impossible.

The bloody Catholic-Protestant conflicts in Europe that ran for centuries have long since ended, the latest achievement being the relatively recent “Good Friday” peace agreement that ended the brutal politico-religious Catholic-Protestant wars in Northern Ireland.

Revival of 6-Party Talks and Korean Unification Today in Asia, we believe that the lingering conflict and potentially dangerous flashpoint in the Korean Peninsula with North Korea, now nuclear-armed and continuously testing improved nuclear weaponry, and perhaps possibly even missiles launched from submarines, could be resolved peacefully through diplomacy, cooperation and sustained bilateral and/or multilateral dialogue.

We urge the revival of the long-postponed Six-Party talks among the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea which would contribute to enhancing political stability and security not only in the Korean Peninsula but in the Asia Pacific region, and most importantly, hopefully lead to unite the two Koreas, forswear war, and together build a strong, united prosperous nation for the Korean peoples in the first decades of

the 21st Century. Most difficult indeed but not impossible.

It had been done before in the case of the two Germanys and the two Vietnams. At some point, with God’s blessing, with strong, enlightened mutual will in sustained, sincere and patient even long-drawn-out negotiations, the inter-Korean family might perhaps emerge someday united in a unique, Federation under common inclusive leadership, and which could lead to a modern prosperous country in Northeast Asia.

In pursuit of lasting peace Excellencies, friends: Today, we sadly note the most discouraging ongoing multiple crises in our region: the extremist violence and the wars in Iraq, Syria, although we have seen recent improvement, and new hostilities in Libya, the continuing violence in Afghanistan, the unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the unending Azerbaijan and Armenia conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh, the continuing dangers and fear of explosion in the Korean Peninsula, the Buddhist and Muslim Rohingya difficulties in Myanmar, similar problems in Southern Thailand, the maritime tensions in the South China Sea and East China Sea, the Muslim and Communist insurgencies in the Philippines, and the other conflict areas in our region.

While we are deeply aware of the historical and cultural roots of many of those conflicts—and the enmity and bitter divisions that have grown between rivals—we cannot turn away from the pursuit of peace because the alternative, which is conflict and war, would be immeasurably costly and make all of us losers.

u PAGE A7

Commentary

VICTOR SY,

CPA, MBA

I LEFT the Philippines for the U.S. 50 years ago and had my last vacation five years ago.

Things have changed for the better — especially in the area of discipline — shades of the first few years of the Marcos regime.

Here are my impressions from the outside looking in at people’s behaviors under President Duterte’s Administration: 1. People are more disciplined, respectful, and polite - from top government officials to food servers and the common “tao.”

Government officials that we met were humble and grounded. Magalang.

2. Our trip started on a positive note as we breezed through customs in a new separate line for “Nothing to Declare.” Goodness gracious! We merely walked through Customs. No hustle, no lagay.

3. Senior discounts! U.S. should follow our lead.

4. I stayed for a month and did not observe anybody litter in the sidewalks.

5. No public spitting either.

6. No stinking garbage in the streets. I think that households are not allowed to bring trash out until just before pickup. Nice.

7. No kids or beggars knocking at car windows asking for “palimos.”

8. No street vendors hawking “yosi” or chewing gum.

9. No homeless people sleeping on public sidewalks.

10. Guns, guns, guns, and more guns.

11. Passengers waiting for taxi, bus and jeepneys line up and queue — you heard that right — commuters actually line up! What a sight to behold. I remember the old days of chaos, of “agawan” when people pushed and shoved each other to board jeepneys and bus.

12. I brought anti-mosquito lotions with deet and citronella. I had two encounters with mosquitos in four weeks of stay. Two. 13. I used lavatories with little water problems.

14. There are no paper tissues inside many CR or “comfort rooms.”

15. Table napkins are so thin and flimsy that they break and fall apart upon use. You end up using more.

16. Skyways in Metro Manila relieve traffic anxiety among tourists and reminds you of driving along freeways in the U.S. 17. Oh yes, driving is chaos.

It’s a free for all affair. Crazy.

Drivers don’t stop at stop signs.

They don’t follow lanes: yet, we witnessed only one accident. Himala.

18. Kalesas are gone.

19. Jeepneys are almost gone.

I feel sad to lose these Sarao and Francisco Motors decorative vehicles from surplus origins that graced travel magazines and once symbolized our country.

20. Palays are no longer spread for drying on main highways. I saw some but on the side of the roads.

21. But a traffic menace lingers: Tricycles! These slow moving transports rule roads going to the provinces. And there are plenty of them. They clog

u PAGE A7

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

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 Burlingame CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 616-4150 • Fax: (650) 239-9253

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th Street, Cor. 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York and New Jersey: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89102 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief New York/New Jersey Asian Journal

Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publication by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applicable law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an a greement to continue publication.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, causes of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publication of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being cancellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republication of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publications, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern California Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern California, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please call the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

(212) 655-5426 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mARch 2-8, 2018

A

PH flag color motif of 32nd People Power anniversary

PEOPLE POWER REVOLUTION ANNIVERSARY. Confetti falls down during the 32nd anniversary celebration of the EDSA People Power Revolt on Sunday, February 25 at the People Power monument in Quezon City. This year’s commemoration has the theme “EDSA 2018: Effecting Change Towards Strengthened Democracy.”

Inquirer.net photo by Nino Jesus Orbeta

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

COLORS blue, red, and white dominated the People Power monument in Quezon City on Sunday, February 25, where top government officials and Filipinos from all walks of life gathered to commemorate the 32nd anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution.

The National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) has veered away from the usual yellow motif for the commemoration of the bloodless revolution that toppled the dictatorship of late President Ferdinand Marcos and restored the country’s democracy in 1986.

NHCP chairman and People Power Commission head Rene Escalante explained that color yellow—which symbolizes the EDSA revolution and democracy in the Philippines—was avoided to promote non-partisan celebration and to highlight the unity among Filipinos.

Yellow is also associated with the Liberal Party (LP), which is currently at odds with the camp of President Rodrigo Duterte.

“If you recall, in EDSA, it was about unity. So we really avoided color coding and used the colors of the flag this time,” said Escalante.

The NHCP also urged Filipinos to be vigilant against disinformation.

“We should be more discerning in what we see and hear.

There are a lot of documentation on EDSA to avoid highly partisan accounts of Edsa and for us to see its true meaning, which is unity,” EDSA added.

The government has allotted a P2.5 million budget for this year’s commemoration.

Among the top officials who attended the event were former PAGE A6 t President Fidel Ramos, Chief highways. Despite a column of Justice Ma. Lourdes Sereno, Na- vehicles jammed behind them, tional Security Adviser Hermo- they stubbornly refuse to yield genes Esperon, Jr., Interior and and move to right lanes for slow Local Government Undersecre- traffic. Pasaway. Shades of old tary Martin Diño, and Labor Un- Philippines. dersecretary Jacinto Paras.

22. Subways are the final soluDuterte, on the other hand, tion to our traffic woes; all others was at his hometown in Davao are temporary bandaid fixes.

City.

23. There are three major ‘Not fake news’ sports seasons in the U.S.: basMalacañang on Monday, Feb- ketball, football, and baseball. ruary 26 stressed that the 1986 Here we also have three: basEDSA revolution was not a prod- ketball, basketball, and basketuct of fake news. ball. Yes, we are fond of Curry, “According to the law, it is not LeBron, KD, Jordan, and Kobe fake news. According to the law, but corporate sponsors need we honor the EDSA revolution to reallocate their support to having declared it as a public sports where height is not a holiday,” Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque said, as he noted that the government has been allocating funds for its commemoration, Roque He further emphasized, “We still recognize and we will always recognize EDSA not only as an important historical event, but it was the first bloodless people power revolution in the

Impressions of a...

Different nations...

PAGE A6 t

A dialogue for peace In the pursuit of the campaign for peace is the latest heartwarming proposal of Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif for a dialogue for peace in the Middle East, by itself a facet of Iran’s great proposal in the recent past for a “Dialogue among Civilizations.”

Earlier, we spoke of a distant hope that someday, somehow in God’s own chosen time, the most difficult but not impossible Shiite-Sunni dialogue, with God’s benediction, may yet come to pass in our time.

There was also an episode in recent years when our and ICAPP’s esteemed friend, the late President Rafsanjani visited Saudi Arabia in 2010 and enjoyed positive relations with then Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz.

The late President Rafsanjani had expressed hopes that Iran and Saudi Arabia would have a close political and religious relationship. He said that “if the two countries are harmonized on regional issues and the Islamic world, seditionists will not be able to induce differences between Muslims.”

We are reminded of these moments in recent history as Iran’s Foreign Minister Zarif invokes the possibility of a revival of a dialogue for peace in the lands of Islam.

Understanding among the great civilizations Excellencies, friends: On our part, we must say that we must strive relentlessly then to achieve the multicultural understanding which is the only basis for the long-term security of our Asian region and the global community.

For understanding among the great civilizations is the only basis for global peace that will endure.

Indeed, to this purpose we must mobilize mosques, church-

whole entire planet Earth, and it remains significant.”

Roque made the statement following an online poll conducted

by Communications Assistant Secretary Mocha Uson asking the public whether the 1986 People Power Revolution was a product of fake news.

Uson, a Duterte supporter, posted In her Facebook page a poll, asking: “Naniniwala ba kayo na ang 1986 EDSA PEOPLE POWER ay isang produkto ng FAKE NEWS(Do you think the 1986 EDSA People Power is a product of fake news)?”

Around 84 percent of the nearly 61,800 votes were “yes” while the remaining 16 percent were “no.”

The poll garnered some 61,800 votes. Around 84 percent or LAST VISIT. National Artist Napoleon Abueva is honored one last time during necrological rites held at the CCP Main Theater in Pasay City 51,912 voted “yes.” Only 16 per- on Saturday. Abueva, the father of Philippine Sculpture, died on February 16 at the age of 88.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma cent or 9,888 said “no.” n

es, temples, synagogues—Buddhists, Hindus, Confucians, and Jews, no less than Christians and Muslims—as well as political parties and the whole of global civil society.

And if there are historical grudges that remain, let us bring them out into the open, indeed, into the blazing searchlight of public scrutiny, if you will—so that they may be threshed out by dialogue, reason and compromise.

We must create space for alternative faiths A great Western president once said memorably that the 21st Century will be defined by a simple choice that the nations must make—whether to emphasize their ethnic, ideological, and religious differences or their common humanity.

But nations can never make the right choice, for as long as their peoples insist that “our faith must reign supreme”—since this claim can be affirmed only by the negation of all other faiths.

So we, the political parties in Asia, whether those of the left, the center, or the right must reinterpret our traditions to embrace pluralism in culture and in society.

We in ICAPP and in the international organizations represented in our conference must learn to create space for other systems and alternative faiths.

After all, every great religion arose from the same wellspring of faith—accepting, for its central belief, God’s direct and decisive intervention in human history—by revealing Himself to humankind.

Lastly, we must all accept that peace is much more than the absence of conflict.

And, Excellencies, friends, today here in Tehran, we must take to heart the simple truth that peace indeed is a community of sharing; that we all belong to “one great human family under God.” n

FLOWER DANCE. Students from various universities in Baguio City participate in the grand street dancing competition, one of the activities to mark the Panagbenga Festival. On Sunday, February 25, 23 colorful floats joined the flower float parade, the highlight of the annual festival.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Thom Picaña

major factor.

24. Bicycling, weight lifting, Tennis, anyone? Perhaps Olympic medalist Hidilyn Diaz can get funding to promote weightlifting.

Golf champion Jason Day needs another Fil-Am to bolster our stock at the golf course. Asian ladies dominate the international scene. I remember watching a colorful (literally) golfer Jennifer Rosales share a lead at the U.S. Open many moons ago.

25. We salute boxing promoters like ALA, Manny Pacquiao, Salud, Yap, Elorde, Pinol, and Penalosa for supporting local boxers. Our boxers need more lucrative fights in America. They need more world class sparring

partners at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, or Kronk Gym in Detroit.

To compete with elite boxers worldwide, our trainers need to shift strategy from head hunting to body punching. It’s harder to win WBA or WBO titles without great body work. (BTW: I offered Rodel Mayol and Romero Duno a choice to shop or watch an NBA game. As expected, they chose to see a Los Angeles Lakers exclusive practice at Staples Center in LA Live).

26. Culinary presentation has improved but bulalo and bagoong rule! Despite health risks, we get stuck in the dark ages.

We feast on sodium and fats that lead to high blood pressure, stroke, gout, and diabetes. The

Department of Health needs to step up public awareness to improve our eating habits. It’s hard to find restaurants offering vegetables. But Bagoong is all over.

Until then, long live Bagoong!

Salamat po. *** Victor Santos Sy graduated Cum Laude from UE with a BBA and from Indiana State University with an MBA. Vic worked with SyCip, Gorres, Velayo (SGV - Andersen Consulting) and Ernst & Young before establishing Sy Accountancy Corporation in Pasadena, California.

*** He has 50 years of experience in defending taxpayers audited by the IRS, FTB, EDD, BOE and other governmental agencies. He is publishing a book on his expertise - “HOW TO AVOID OR SURVIVE IRS AUDITS.” Our readers may inquire about the book or email tax questions at vicsy@live.com.

A march 2-8, 2018 • NEW YOrK aND NEW JErSEY aSIaN JOUrNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

MARCH 2-8, 2018

people events arts culture entertainment

Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Ã&#x2013;Ã¥Â&#x2019;¿¯Â&#x201C;Â&#x2020;â¯Ã&#x160;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x153;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Â&#x201C;Ã&#x160;Ã&#x201E;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿

XXX BTJBOKPVSOBM DPN -PT "OHFMFT Ç&#x2021; -BT 7FHBT Ç&#x2021; 0SBOHF $PVOUZ *OMBOE &NQJSF Ç&#x2021; /PSUIFSO $BMJGPSOJB Ç&#x2021; /FX :PSL /FX +FSTFZ

2

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 2 , 20 1 8

From tech entrepreneur to travel journalist:

Garrett Gee and his ‘bucket list’ by

Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

I

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

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

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

“We were on the plane so we weren’t connected to the Internet and didn’t hear anything about the unrest in the air. By the time we landed in Turkey, the U.S. government had put an alert, like evacuation warnings for Americans to get out of Turkey as soon as possible,” he told the Asian Journal in an interview. “There was no flight to get us out so we were stuck in Turkey for 24 hours during the evacuation. We were terrified and we didn’t sleep that night.

Just going through something that scary and emotional really made us closer.”

However, the family ended up staying in Turkey for five days, during which they realized that the country “wasn’t a scary place” that the media had been portraying it as.

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

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

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

As a freshman at BYU, Gee founded Scan, a QR code-

scanning mobile app. Four years later, the app was acquired by Snapchat in 2014 for $54 million.

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

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

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

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

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

In their travels, the family of four focuses on three aspects: adventure, culture, and service. At the end of 2015, they were able to cover LASIK surgery for five individuals and helped build a school in Nepal in 2016.

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

“Along the way we figured out there are tons of things you can

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

He added that vacations don’t necessarily mean eating out every night, going to theme parks or on pricey tour groups.

“Our favorite way to travel is to experience something local and a lot of that means going to the smaller cafes or the farmer’s market, just going to the park and doing the things that local people do like going to the beach. Most of the things are free so when you do it that way, traveling is very affordable,” he said.

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

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

“Then we combine those [videos and photos] into one weekly video. So, you know, we don’t have our cameras out too much more than the average

family and then we have that kind of relief in our minds to live regular lives and keep our lives more private,” Gee said.

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

“If we’re posting on social media that we’re at a current location, we always post delayed,” he explained. “Nobody could ever find us or track us based on our location that we’re posting online. But then that’s our privacy, something you kind of give and take or you forfeit when you put your lives out there so much on social media. I think for us it’s been finding that balance and drawing that line about how much we want to post on social media.”

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

The idea came after ABS-CBN profiled Gee, and then reached out again and proposed doing a follow-up, documentary-style story.

“Everyone in the world has plugged into the Bucket List Family YouTube channel, and is familiar with Garrett the dad, Garrett the traveler, and Garrett the tech entrepreneur. Seeing him with his sister and interacting with his mom — just seeing him in that space really reminds me that people are so multifaceted and that who Garrett has become today as a very special business person and travel adventurer is very largely rooted in how he was raised in his family and they’re very, very wonderful people,” Keesa Ocampo, executive

Photos courtesy of Garrett Gee/the Bucket List Family and Discovering Routes

Isabelle Daza on her pregnancy: Struggling but still excited

by COdy Cepeda Inquirer.net

NOBODY said carrying an actual living human being inside you was easy. Most pregnant women gain around 25 to 40 pounds throughout their three-trimester journey and go through a major hormonal overhaul.

There’s all the food cravings, the morning sickness, the stretching of skin, painful cramps and disrupted sleeping and eating patterns.

One day you’re happy, then tomorrow you’re suddenly in tears for no apparent reason. It’s difficult to keep up with such overwhelming change and sometimes we wonder how such a thing is possible in the first place.

Just ask heavily-pregnant It Girl Isabelle Daza who attests to the struggle that it takes to be a mother. Daza took to her Instagram page and shared clips of her documenting her pregnancy journey. In one of the clips, Daza can be seen working out and lifting dumbbells in the gym. Daza shared that she already weighs

194 pounds.

“Trying to stay positive but sometimes it’s just hard!!! Feeling so down today cause I’m 194 pounds,” wrote Daza. “I’ve been gaining so much weight. And I’ve been really sad about it. But I know I have to just focus on staying active. Maybe I’m just putting so much pressure on myself. This transition is not easy and sometimes I feel left behind.”

In another clip, Daza is inside a room with stacks of boxes around, presumably things and equipment she has yet to fix before the baby arrives.

“Fix the nursery,” Daza noted as her to-do this week. Daza is almost nine months into her pregnancy and the baby is set to arrive sooner than soon, prompting her to get the nursery ready just in time for the coming of her baby.

Daza has definitely been in and out of the gym throughout her pregnancy, making sure Continued on Page 4

Garrett Gee (center right) with his daughter Dorothy, wife Jessica, and son Manilla

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

producer of “Discovering Routes,” told the Asian Journal.

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

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

In addition to it being his first immersive trip to the Philippines and feeling like he fit in spiritually and physically, Gee said the “one-on-one time” with his sister was “rare and unique” and strengthened their relationship.

Ocampo added, “The way that Garrett and Miristi are portrayed is exactly how they are. They’re funny, they’re compassionate, they are emotional and revealing, but at the same time, very adventurous and mischievous like that’s exactly who they are.

And on the part of the network, it’s such an honor to be able to develop a very trusting relationship with them to create something that’s entertainment but also very real.”

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

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

2018’s bucket list The family recently welcomed a third child, another boy in February. Despite plans to find a house for the brief period that Jessica can’t travel, Gee remarked that he doesn’t anticipate their jaunts to wind down.

“We know that we’re going to continue to travel because it’s just become a part of who we are especially as a family,” he said.

The newest addition to the “Bucket List” family was named Calihan (“Cali” for short), and already has an Instagram account with over 158,000 followers, as of this writing.

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

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

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

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

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

“Now I think the next chapter needs to be me using those opportunities and gifting them to others, sharing them with others and hopefully enabling other people to do the same and make the most of their life,” he said.

“Just trying to serve others, you know speaking out humanitarian opportunities and charity opportunities. And then also hopefully inspiring others and empowering them to follow in our footsteps.”

Dingdong Dantes on pursuing politics: It’s not just my decision to make by riCky lO Philstar.com

BECAUSE he is taking up a course in Public Administration at the UP Open University, the same course taken by Batangas Rep. Vilma Santos and Ormoc City Mayor Richard Gomez before they ventured into politics, Dingdong Dantes is all the more “suspected” of seriously planning to run in next year’s mid-term election. For congressman or for senator?

Is he or isn’t he?

Let’s hear it straight from Dingdong himself: “I will not deny that there are certain groups talking to me. Maybe the question should be…

Photo from Instagram/@isabelledaza kailangan ba? I mean, I love my

Dingdong Dantes: If and when, will he run under the Yellow (Dilaw) Banner?

Photo from Instagram/@dongdantes

family, I love my work as an actor, and I also value my community work. Therefore, it is something Continued on Page 4

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ Pres. Trump is fiercely opposed to family “chain migration” and wants to limit family petitions to spouses and minor children of green card holders or U.s. citizens.

He wants to eliminate petitions for parents (Ir), married (F-3) and adult single children (F-1), and siblings (F-4) of U.s. citizens, and adult unmarried children of green card holders (F-2B).

But wait a second! Melania’s parents, Viktor and Amalija Knavs, are confirmed to be lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and reportedly waiting for their oath taking schedule to become U.s. citizens. so the question is: HOW did they get their green cards?

While the White House will not give information on how Melania’s parents obtained their green cards, a petition by her appears to be the most likely way. However, this is precisely the type of petition Pres.

Trump now wants to eliminate. He is opposed to citizens petitioning their parents. so, what should he

Should Pres. Trump deport his in-laws? do with his in-laws? send them back to slovenia? (In fact, they list their address at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago golf course in Florida.) realistically, there are two ways to get a green card -- through a family based petition, or an employer. Melania’s father is now 73 years old and worked as a chauffeur and car salesman in slovenia. Her mother, now 71, was a pattern maker at a textile factory. It would be extremely uphill to obtain a green card as a chauffeur or pattern maker in the U.s. The applicant would be required to show there are no qualified U.s. workers for that job.

Moreover, Melania’s parents would have been in their late 60’s at the time of the employment based visa processing, likely past their retirement age. It also appears unlikely that they obtained legal status through asylum or refugee status.

Therefore, Melania’s parents most likely immigrated to the U.s. through “chain migration”. Pres.

Trump is thrilled to have his in-laws in the U.s. so given the fact that he personally benefited from

and experienced chain migration within his own family, it would be hypocritical to be so fiercely against it for other families.

In the meantime, anyone who is thinking of petitioning their parents, siblings, etc. should do so as soon as possible, just in case Trump goes ahead and eliminates these family based petitions. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and re-enactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Conquering the fear of uncertainty and six I.C.E. agents knocking at their door on this Sunday’s CITIZEN PINOY! After they were offered jobs as caregivers, Danilo (left) and Millet (center) took a big gamble when they decided to stay in the U.S. to pursue their American dream. It was not easy, especially after their hard-earned money was lost to a lawyer who hardly did anything to move their case forward. They eventually went out of status, and even had I.C.E. agents come knocking on their door.

The couple then consulted with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and helped them acquire their green cards. Leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael Gurfinkel (right) was also able to help their two daughters avail of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and getting approval on their green cards the same day President Trump cancelled DACA. Watch this all-new episode of CITIZEN PINOY — on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

An Asian Journal Magazine

3

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 2 , 20 1 8

Lombard by The Bay: Where your new home also opens opportunities

FOR Susan Gross-Niedermeyer, a realtor in Phoenix, Arizona since 1989, there is no better place to be a resident, tourist, pilgrim, visitor, or investor than at Lombard By The Bay. “Lombard By The Bay is in Montemaria where natural beauty is beyond compare,” she answered when asked why she bought a penthouse unit with the property development. “It’s the perfect place to connect with God through prayers. It’s a holy ground where the mother of love peace and joy appeared to Emma De Guzman, a Filipina visionary and mystic every year on September 8 and December 8!”

With this statement, GrossNiedermeyer excitedly shared that people should see the miraculous photo taken by a pilgrim in 2016, as well as an image of the dancing sun taken in 2017.

Gross-Niedermeyer also added that, “There are countless of benefits of owning a unit at Lombard By The Bay. Aside from its perfect location, Lombard By The Bay is gated and secure. It is also going to have its own state-of-theart clubhouse that includes a fitness center, spa, swimming pool, restaurants, and gift shop.”

With its many amenities,

Arizona-based realtor Susan Gross-Niedermeyer

Lombard By The Bay aims to provide the most fulfilling experience for its residents and guests. It is a two-hour drive from Manila situated on a plateau overlooking the Verde Island Passage, which is considered the center of marine biodiversity of the world. It is also in close proximity to the tallest statue of Virgin Mary, Mother of All Asia, towering at 317 ft.

“I would recommend Lombard By The Bay for many reasons. Whether you’re a pilgrim, resident, tourist, or investor, you simply cannot go wrong [with this investment],” Gross-Niedermeyer said. “Lombard By The Bay is a sure winner; most units have the view of the Batangas bay, and cost between $50,000 to $80,000 which can be rented out for $50 to $70 a night.”

She continued that Montemaria was also just added to the list of ‘Must See’ in the Philippine Department of Tourism project called Love of Country. The project will have its much-anticipated road tour in the U.S. starting in April to promote the project. “On June

3, 2018, there will be a float with a 6-foot replica of Mother of All Asia Monte Maria in New York City during the annual Philippine Independence Day parade sponsored by 200 organizations belonging to the Phil.

Independence Day council,” she said.

The 2.1-hectare development is a joint venture between Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development, Inc. and Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center, Inc. Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development believes in the economic development of the Philippines and caters to the needs of developers and buyers looking to expand their property and investment portfolio. Premier Asia Pacific’s mission is to reconnect overseas Filipinos back their roots by offering a complete package of real estate investment services in the Motherland.

To get more information about the project, you may call Susan Gross-Niedermeyer at (480) 227-7782 or email at susan@susangrossrealtor. com.

(Advertising Supplement)

4

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 2 , 20 1 8

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

Ramona S. Gapasin: Enjoyably Isabelle Daza on her pregnancy... living a septuagenarian life From Page 2

she gets enough exercise to keep healthy. She also often does yoga and goes on strolls when she can’t go to the gym. In her other clip, Daza shared about finishing her morning walk by doing 6,847 steps.

She also posted a picture of her with her loving husband Adrien

BoBBy T. yalong How does a woman feel when she turns 70? Does she feel fulfilled, empty, or missing something?

Is she flooded by a voluminous reflection of her past? Knowing the “end” is eminent, will she feel remorseful and start to repent and save her soul? Does aging give her downheartedness and depression? one of the well-loved figures in the Filipino-American community in the tristate area is Ramona Sansait Gapasin, an efficiently assiduous Laboratory Scientist (formerly termed Medical Technologist), who pompously celebrated her 70th year with a bang.

Married to Rogelio Gapasin for 45 years, Ramona is like a human engine consistently on-the-go after having worked at the Jersey City Medical Center for 26 years, at the UMDNJ for 13 years, at the Hoboken University Medical Center for 38 years, and currently at the Claramas Medical Center in Belleville, New Jersey.

A dutiful wife, hardworking and devout mother, a dependable ally, and a reliable confidant, Ramona’s persona is unmistakably deceiving at times. She may be a plain Jane after stepping out of the corridors of the hospital where she works…but instantaneously transforms with regal bearing once made-over under the magical touch of Danica and Irene, (most sought-after beauty experts in downtown Jersey City), just like stylish figures that step out of the glossy pages of fashion magazines.

Perhaps, Perhaps dancers

Ramona with Hermie Garcia and Marieta Lamar in a Roaring 20s number.

The Gapasin Family

Ramona turns 70

Enjoying her semi-retirement status, after retiring from one of her fulltime jobs, one sees her attending every single organization event and social functions merely trying to catch up for the lost times. She openly admits that she’s a despairing late bloomer juggling between jobs and home. “I never found time to

Semblat days ago, while on their early morning walk.

“Just an ordinary weekday early morning walk with the baby daddy,” she wrote. Despite the struggles, exciting times are definitely ahead for the couple, and for Daza as a mom, as they await the arrival of their baby.

Photo from Instagram/@dongdantes

Dingdong Dantes on pursuing...

Ramona with her sisters, nieces, grandchildren, and her mom, (in wheel chair) Felisa Nillo Sansait.

socialize before…it was all work and work for me,” she mused.

Ramona’s secret in staying vibrant and hyper-active is simple: she believes that “Age is strictly a case of mind over matter… if you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter…!”

Inside Ramona’s heart is a fledgling soul that doesn’t wonder what the hell happens outside. For her, at 70, is a comfortable old age which is the reward of a well-spent youth. “Turning 70 is an intermittent privilege most people my age were deprived of. I’m more than grateful for being given this opportunity to live beyond the predicted life span of this generation,” Ramona earnestly uttered.

She would even say: “I am one person who is too busy to worry

about my age in the daytime… and too tired and sleepy to be concerned about it at night.”

Ramona experienced a dynamic existence, a successful professional career, and slickly journeyed far because of her supportive family.

Her mom, Feliza Nillo Sansait, (who is turning 101 years old on March 29), ably assisted by her sisters Crispina Mirasol and Estrella Camello, tried to make it (although a bit late) to her (Ramona’s) 70th birthday bash at the Ramada Hotel in Newark, New Jersey last Saturday, February 24, 2018.

It was Ramona’s fervent wish to have all her siblings united that significant milestone (the reason why she hosted that Continued on Page 6

From Page 2 that shouldn’t be answered only by me alone.”

Dingdong heads his own Yes Pinoy Foundation and was appointed by former Pres. Noynoy Aquino III as commissionerat-large for the National Youth Commission. If ever he decides to run, will Dingdong wave the Yellow (Dilaw) banner?

Dingdong’s wife Marian Rivera said that she would support Dingdong if and when he ventured into politics. Dingdong is no doubt winnable. If elected (senator?), Dingdong would place Marian at par with her arch rival Heart Evangelista whose claim to fame includes being a Senator’s Lady.

Heart is the wife of Sen. Chiz

Escudero.

Who earns more? on Facebook, actress Marian Rivera seems to be more popular with 18 million followers, as compared to her husband Dingdong Dantes, who has 1.5 million.

In real life, does Marian also earn more than her husband?

The celebrity couple provided an answer during a recent press conference for their launch as new endorsers of Cignal Prepaid.

“Siguro napaka-blessed lang namin na kami as a couple kami kinukuha (as endorsers),” Marian said.

“Regarding talent fee…parati naman kaming pantay, for sure!” the Kapuso star quipped.

BY MONET

LU

“AYOKO ng meron akong pinagbibigyan ng kalahati ng sarili ko.” (I don’t want to keep giving half of myself to another); “Sa umpisa lang yan mainit, tignan mo sa katagalan magkakalamigan din kayo. Parang kami.” (It’s just warm in the beginning. You’ll later see, it’s going to get ‘cold’ eventually.

Just like what happened to me and him) — These are just few of the on-point, deeply-rooted loaded remarks aka “hugot” lines that Angelica Panganiban has said on her comedy sitcom and her Instagram account. Fans and followers are entertained by the actress’s wit and no-holds-barredreactions (not to mention, very relatable) that they call her the “Hugot Queen.”

Being in the industry for more than 20 years and having won awards, I believe Angelica has proven her worth in show business. It is probably the reason she can get away with her straightforwardness and candid replies without people making a big deal out of it. In fact, it works to her advantage especially that women who were betrayed, brokenhearted or in pain can relate to her. She is, to them, the heroine of the “sawi”. Not to exaggerate but Angge (Angelica’s nickname) did go through a serious amount of heartbreaks in her past relationships.

Angelica’s relationships weren’t just the typical “puppy loves” or some “flavors of the month” that come and go. She was in relationships that lasted long and seemed serious at the time. I have to say that she really earned the right to that title based on the pain she endured being in relationships that could have ended up in the altar.

The first one on record was with Carlo Aquino who was Angelica’s best friend-turnedboyfriend of six years. It was even noted in one of Carlo’s recent interviews that if they’d been a few years older then, Angelica could have been “the one” for him. They separated and remained friends over the years. The next relationship, also a long-term one, was with Derek Ramsey. They even had a movie together. It was around 2006 when they met and officially became a couple the following year. They stayed together for six years. In an interview in the April 2013 issue of entertainment magazine Star Studio, Angelica revealed how Derek broke up with her in the midst of an argument they had on the phone. In the years leading up to their separation, the former

Health@Heart

Angelica Panganiban: The reasons she is the ‘Hugot Queen’ of showbiz

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R C H 2 , 20 1 8

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA

Angelica Panganiban

celebrity couple had to grapple with several problems that later proved difficult to handle. The following day, Angelica moved out her things from the house she had shared with Derek for five years.

Then came John Lloyd Cruz who has reportedly fathered the rumored child of sexy actress Ellen Adarna after the highly controversial and publicized bitter separation from Angelica. The excouple dated for four years before calling it quits May 2016. When Angelica publicly opened up about her split from John Lloyd, she couldn’t hold back her tears when she was interviewed by Vice Ganda on an episode of “Gandang Gabi Vice.” Angelica admitted that she was struggling in moving on from her relationship with John Lloyd. She revealed that she cried a lot due to heartaches.

Some people may view Angelica’s remarks as bitterness or inability to move on. But for me, it’s her way of coping. It’s her way of trying to reassure herself that she is still standing and the pain is just temporary. I’ve seen a lot of celebrity relationships fail but it’s not the same when it happens to a believer of longterm relationships. Angelica is obviously a believer of staying faithful. I’m sure she hoped that one of her past relationships could have been for keeps.

Angelica deserves to be with

ARE you one of those people who seem to be sucker punched by the overwhelming number of things that need to get done in a workdaday world? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to do list?

Don’t worry. You’re not alone.

There’s hope for us all when we remember this statement below: Eighty percent of things don’t matter; twenty percent do.

In the late nineteenth century, Vilfredo Pareto, an Italian sociologist introduced the concept of THE 80/20 RULE which states that in any given group, only 20 percent will constitute what is important and the remaining 80 percent will be trivial.

This rule is referred to as the “vital few” and the “trivial many”. While this concept was originally meant to be applied to the principles of economics and sociology, the 80/20 rule can be applied to just about anything that involves a list or a group of elements in daily life. Using the Pareto principle will clear your life the person who stands for the of overwhelming junk. same ideals as she does. One In a list of goals for instance, who would fight for her, support using the Pareto principle will her, love her unconditionally, force someone to prioritize laugh and cry and even exchange the top two or three goals that ‘hugot’ lines with her when they are significant to him. Use this recall their past relationships. And principle when dealing with a if there’s one thing that Angelica list of things to do for the day. has, aside from her witty and Recognizing the few important loaded lines, it is her strength. ones and doing them ahead of Not everybody can go through a the trivial ones will keep you from whole deal of pain and still pick being sidetracked. Our to-do lists herself up (and pick up some become shorter, more realistic and relatable lines in the process). She more manageable. may be the hugot queen we’ve A mountain of tasks can come to know, but for the right overwhelm. But those who reasons. She loved. Really loved. slice and dice can get things Then she lost. But in her loss, we done. Many try to get around by saw her strength and her ability nibbling at the small, easy things to turn the pain into a legitimate around the edges, putting off the entertainment that many can more important ones for later relate to. until time is up and the important To Angelica, I am looking ones are left undone. By making forward to the day when “the One” it a habit to spot the important for you will find you and turn you ones first and “slay these dragons” from a Hugot Queen to his Only ahead of anything else, there is Queen. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration. To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

Wisdom from a taxi driver

ng taong bumoboto ay torpe, at stupido, marami walang pinagaralan…mabayaran lang PHILIP S. CHUA, ng limang daan or isang libo, MD, FACS, FPCS iboboto nila kahit na si satanas.

Sa hueteng lang po, billion ang OUR team from Las Vegas and nanakaw ni Erap; dapat ho sa other states just completed our plunder, nakulong siya pang annual medical missions, first in habang buhay, at hindi naging Alaminos, Laguna (February 4-8), mayor (Because, sir, the majority followed by another in Kamay of people who are voting are dumb ni Hesus Pilgrimage Center in and stupid, most uneducated…

Lucban, Quezon, (February 8-12). paid 500 or 1000 pesos, they would The following morning after vote even for Satan. From the we returned to Manila on February illegal numbers game alone, sir, 12, my wife, Farida, and I, took a Erap has stolen billions; for plunder, cab to San Francisco del Monte, he should have been imprisoned for Quezon City, where I grew up, to life,” and did not become Mayor). visit with my sister and brother-inWhy couldn’t Congress get law who were from Raleigh, North rid of graft and corruption, I tried Carolina, on a separate medical to egg him on, because I was mission and to staying at our fascinated by the refreshing sense family home. this man was making, underneath On the way there, the taxi his uncombed hair, shabby driver pointed to a large yellow looking shirt, and ignorantand green G Liner bus and said appearing demeanor. Obviously, “Yang bus na yan kay Erap; yan beneath this rather unimpressive lang and pwedeng magpasada cover is a fascinating patriot, dito. (“That bus company is owned filled with great wisdom, sense of

by Erap – nickname of Manila justice, integrity, and honor.

Mayor Joseph Estrada, former “Kasi po, halos lahat ng mga president of the Philippines – and nasa congress, senado, ay corrupt that’s the only bus allowed to do din, magnanakaw, kaya hindi nila business in this part of the city”). mapipigil ang presidente at iban So, I inquired why the pang opisyales (Because almost all monopoly. “Walang utak at legislators are also corrupt and are integridad po yan at tuso pa, thieves themselves, the reason why oportunista, numero unong they could not stop the president kurakot, at maraming babae,” (He and other government officials).” does not have the brain nor integrity I asked how he would rate and is greedy, an opportunist, President Duterte, he said he number 1 corrupt, and has many was originally from Davao and mistresses), he responded. moved to Manila in 1999, and Since he was jailed for was a supporter the current corruption, plunder, before, I president when he was mayor of asked how did he win as mayor.

Davao, but was very disappointed He said, “Kasi ho karamihan now because almost all of those

thousands killed in “Tokhang” were addicts and not drug lords.

He added that Duterte has not gotten rid of corrupt legislators and all the thieves are still in Congress instead of in prison.

“Kung ang mga pinatay ay ang mga kurap na senador at congresista, at hindi young mga daan daang drug addicts, mas napabuti sana ang ating bansa (If those hundreds who were killed were the corrupt senators and congressmen, instead of the drug addicts, our nation would have been better off),” he said with great disdain.

Unlike most writers and commentators in the media, this driver did not mince words and did not care to be politically correct. He was fiercely angry and very vocal about the graft and corruption in the government, the injustice in our society, and doubted if the president was not himself corrupt.

“Yun imbestigasyon ng mga anomalya at plunder, kamukha noong kay Binay at pamilya nya, yung kay Gloria Macapagal, kay Duterte…nawala na, tahimik na…walang hustisya dito (The investigation of anomalies and plunder, like the ones against Binay and his family, against Gloria Macapagal, against Duterte…all have stopped and now silent… there is no justice here),” the driver lamented.

My wife, who is a pediatrician, asked him about the Dengvaxia controversy.

“Delikado ho yaan sa publiko; ngayon, matatakot na lahat ng magulang at hindi na aayun na Continued on Page 6

5

An Asian Journal Magazine

Pareto’s 80/20 rule or how to make a molehill out of a mountain “The art of being wise is knowing what to over look.” — William James a certain sense of calm that one acquires even if not everything in the list has been done.

The nature of modern life screams for many things to be done all at the same time. With time saving devices purportedly meant to squeeze as much as can be done in our waking hours, expectations can become unrealistic. The stress of trying to do too much too soon can make anyone ill.

Stressing and straining kill off our brain cells over time which then cause strokes and many debilitating illnesses to all our body parts, specially in our extremities, like the toes and our fingers and particularly affects our vision.

Using the Pareto principle cuts through the muck.

Weighing things according to importance may even be more valuable than learning how to multitask. This acquired skill of gauging the value of tasks can add so much to the quality of one’s life freeing up more time to simply enjoy life.

The wonderful thing about adopting a “Pareto frame of mind” is that you begin to develop the habit of clear thinking that not only gives you more time, it can also provide you with more space—clutter free. Woohoo!!!

If you want to simplify your life, you can look at your possessions and decide which things are important for you to keep and which ones should be sold or given away, thus reclaiming the space for you to enjoy.

You can also apply this to the clutter of too many unrelated hopes and dreams that are in that future state of being called the “Someday Isle (I’ll)”. You can narrow these down to only the

Calendar of Events across

important goals and be free of the downright preposterous.

The brain also benefits from using the 80/20 rule. In lengthy, circuitous discussions of problems and solutions, having a sharp, incisive mind helps one to get down to the root of the problem quickly, shorten the angst and pain of indecision and come up with the right solution in less time it normally takes to mull over a problem.

Einstein must have subscribed to this principle. In his admonition to find simplicity out of clutter, he advises to try not to remember anything that can be looked up in a book.

He who was noted for having a poor memory when he was young probably refused to burden his brain with the unimportant thus optimizing its functions and allowing him to plumb the depths of the secrets of the universe.

Reserving the full capacity of his towering genius for unraveling the mysteries of time and space and for writing down his profound thoughts about the universe and its Creator, life and living, he exemplifies a life that made a difference at the highest rungs.

So repeat this one liner below as your mantra as you do your spring cleaning for the year.

Remember it as you approach your sunset years and decide to be clutter free, downsizing and living on less but going full bore on creating amazing memories instead.

Eighty percent of things don’t matter; twenty percent do. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

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 3

Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles’s gala night “Together in Electric Dreams” is the 80s-themed gala night & induction of the 2018 Officers & Board Members of the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACC-GLA) where it will formally launch its “Fil-Am Entrepreneurship Movement.” Everyone is invited to celebrate and relive 80s fashion, and party from 6 p.m. up to midnight at the Olympic Collection at 11301 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064. Tickets available at www.faccgla.org.

MARCH 11

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

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

MARCH 14

Philippine American Bar Association’s 32nd installation & awards gala The Philippine American Bar Association (PABA) invites you to its 32nd Installation and Awards Gala on Wednesday, March 14 at the Omni Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles. This year’s Gala will feature keynote speaker California Supreme Court Justice Goodwin Liu, a menu of Filipino flavors, and special performances. PABA will be PABA will be honoring Distinguished Leader Ben Hofileña, Jr. (20th Century Fox Film Senior Counsel), Trailblazer Ruthe Ashley (California LAW Executive Director Emeritus), and Community Champion Minh T. Nguyen (The Law Office of Minh T. Nguyen, ALC). During the gala, PABA also will formally unveil its new logo and website, both of which were developed by a Fil-Am-owned start-up and involve colors and designs deeply rooted in the cultural history of the Philippines. A cocktail reception and auction will begin at 6 p.m., while the dinner and program will begin at 7 p.m. To purchase tickets or a sponsorship, please visit: https://www.z2systems.com/np/clients/paba/giftstore.jsp.

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

6

An Asian Journal Magazine

Julie Anne stays true to her heart’s desire

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M A R c h 2 , 20 1 8

By IrIsh

‘Faith in Action Talk’

The new evangelization: Filipino popular devotions in the American setting

THE Church of Our Lady of Good Counsel - St. Thomas More cordially invites you to join the ‘”Faith in Action Talk, the new evangelization: Filipino popular devotions in the American setting” on Tuesday, March 20 at 7pm at the Rochester Room of St. Thomas More (located at 65 East 89th Street). For more information, please call (212) 876-7718.

The event will be headed by HE Archbishop Bernardito Auza, Apostolic Nuncio, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United States.

A native of Talibon, Bohol, in the Philippines, Archbishop Bernardito Auza is Apostolic Nuncio and Permanent Observer

of the Holy See to the United Nations in New York and to the Organization of American States in Washington, DC. He was ordained a priest in 1985 and, after studying at the

Wisdom from a taxi...

From Page 5 magpabakuna ang mga anak nila, kahit na anong bakuna. Sayang lang ang mga bakunang na imbento (That’s dangerous for the public, now the parents are scared and will not allow their children to be vaccinated, no matter what vaccine. It is a waste of “discovered” vaccines),” he said. Farida later told me she could not have said it any better.

We have talked to several taxi drivers in the past and we find most of them misinformed or uninformed, expressing their own “expert” opinions, but this driver appeared to be an exception.

Farida and I were very amused and impressed. We told him we wished he could be interviewed by the media to share his words of wisdom and to inspire others.

Why couldn’t our government officials, legislators; supposedly educated and cultured, have the wisdom and integrity of this man on the street? Why aren’t they able to effectively police themselves to end graft and corruption in our government and serve our people with dignity and

honor?

It is not that hard to determine who are corrupt. The government could hire renowned foreign actuarial firms, which could actually compute accurately the assets, liabilities, and net worth of a person from the day he was born, and find out how much unexplained wealth any person or government official has. This will easily expose the criminals in our government.

But the question is, would the president, chief justice, or Congress have the balls and the integrity to initiate such a move? Or would this be a selfincriminating and a suicidal act?

Who is innocent and beyond reproach to cast the first stone?

Perhaps I am too naïve to understand, and too dumb to accept; the ugly and sad reality that is holding our country and people hostage.

As the driver pointed out, the blame is on us. “We, the People,” voted these previously known corrupt officials and thieves into office, time after time, only for them to continue to ravage our country and walk in the halls

Vatican diplomatic school, the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy, he joined the diplomatic corps of the Holy See in 1990. He served in Madagascar, Mauritius, Bulgaria, Albania, the United Kingdom before being appointed as counsellor of the Second Section of the Vatican Secretariat of State from 1999 to 2006. Then he came to New York to serve at the Holy See’s mission to the U.N. from 2006 to 2008. In 2008 he was appointed Nuncio to Haiti, where he served after the devastating 2010 earthquake. On July 2 2014, Pope Francis appointed Archbishop Auza head of the Holy See’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations.

of Congress all the way to their banks, here and abroad.

The uneducated and poor people who sell their votes at least have an excuse — to help feed their family — but the educated rich and middle class, who are part of the majority who voted the crooked officials into office bear more of the blame and shame. Strictly speaking, allowing plunderers to hold office, enabling them to destroy our country, is tantamount to treason.

Indeed, we deserve the monster we have created and the devastation it is causing our nation and our people. *** 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.

For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

ChrIstIanne DIzon Philstar.com

STARDOM is a strange, capricious thing, especially in our neck of the woods where nonsingers sell out arenas, non-writers become bestselling authors, mediocre films become box-office hits, and love teams rule the game.

In the Philippines, meritocracy is the exception rather than the rule, and talent is not always what dictates the rise of an artist. Too often, the elusive and inexplicable “X factor” trumps skill (that and/or lucking out with a partner who can help you elicit rabid devotion from an audience with an insatiable need for vicarious kilig).

And living proof of that bleak fact is sitting right across us, looking like a ’90s pop star. Julie Anne San Jose is giving off early Britney Spears vibes with her baby blue lettuce hem top, flared jeans, and parted-downthe-middle tresses. This 24-year-old singer/songwriter/actress is talented AF — a fact that even her haters admit — yet she remains criminally underrated in these parts.

In 2015, it seemed like Julie Anne’s unnoticed days were coming to an end. She finally had the game-changing break her fans were waiting for. Or so it seemed.

American producer Sydney Brown, aka Ømen, who worked with Beyoncé, Drake, Usher and Ludacris, saw her videos, listened to her songs, and found the doe-eyed Pinay dope — dope enough for him to take a gamble on her and produce a threetrack EP and just-as-swaggy music videos. The new R&B sound was a 180 from her ballad beginnings.

Slick new sound, slick new look, and good buzz emanating from Manila’s fashion set: all signs pointed to Julie making tidal waves here and beyond.

So what happened?

The graduate Julie, like any artist worth her salt, was willing to “think out of the box” and “explore new things”; and grabbing the chance to work on her “Forever” EP was a way of getting unstuck and unlearning. “Hindi ka naman mag gu-grow di ba if you won’t venture out and explore and innovate yourself din,” she said. “So I think it’s also good na gumawa ka ng bago.” But in the midst of all the glittering possibilities, a realization crystallized within: she wasn’t feeling the American Dream.

“Half-hearted ako to do it (go international),” she explains, contemplating why that chapter of her career went down the way it went down. Julie knew the value

Julia Anne San Jose

of such an opportunity and how rarely it comes along, but she valued other sure things more: family, school, and the not-exactlyhousehold-but-reliable name she’s built for herself on our shores. Julie couldn’t stand the idea of being away from her mom Marivic, her dad Jonathan, and her sisters. Julie also took a gamble on Ømen. “It was a risk din for me… sabihin na natin maganda ’yung opportunity.

What if hindi siya mag-push through? What if hindi siya magwork out, di ba? So what will happen? Mawawala ako dito,” she expounds, hyper-aware of the industry’s out-of-sight, out-of-mind nature.

At that point, even as the idea of making it big on the international scene was starting to feel intoxicating, Julie never lost sight of her heart’s true desire. What she wanted was not something as surreal as a spot on the world stage, but something more down-home: a diploma in her hand. She was a graduating Communication Arts student at Angelicum College, and was too damn close to the finish line to trash four years of determination and sacrifice. “I was doing well in school. I didn’t want to take it for granted kasi pinaghirapan ko rin yun. Regular akong pumapasok.

Hindi ako natutulog (kasi) I was doing a soap at that time,” she says. And again displaying how cognizant she is of fame’s fickleness, she adds, “Mas importante kasi sa akin na may fall back ka rin.”

On May 31, 2016, what she sought became hers: a gilded off-white diploma that’s now safely tucked inside a cabinet somewhere

Photo from Instagram/@myjaps

in the San Jose home; a key to more possibilities should Julie decide to open other doors.

The singer The conversation is politely interrupted by Lendl Fabella, GMA 7’s tirelessly chipper PR girl.

Julie is needed back at the studio, where they’re taping an episode of “Sunday PinaSaya,” Channel 7’s weekly variety show, in advance.

Looking at her now, confident, professional as ever, and armed with an impressive skill set, you can’t help but wonder, “What if?”What if she had persevered in her American Dream? Would she be our source of Pinoy Pride in these volatile times?

Would she be going toe to toe with the best of them in La La Land? Was trading the possibility of making it in the States and elsewhere worth giving up for her spot in “Sunday PinaSaya?”

The only answer to those questions that matters is hers, and for Julie, she has zero regrets over her decision to stay. “I felt a deeper connection to my home country and I feel that this is where my music and artistry can make a difference,” she says. Homegirl chose home despite it being the land of that random hater who pulled her hair during a mall show, that sick person who vandalized her car over an imagined slight to his/her idol, and those haters who gleefully declare she will never happen (under anonymous profiles and fake names, of course. Typical.)

She’s developed thick skin and has smartly hired a team to deal with the internet vermin who swarm the comments section. Pest control, if you will.

Ramona S. Gapasin: Enjoyably...

From Page 4

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

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

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

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

ostentatiously profligate party) but for some inevitable and obligatory circumstances her brothers, Antonio and Artemio (who are both Toronto, Canada-based), failed to make it.

A connubial life won’t be blissful and complete without the fruits of their matrimonial partnership.

Completing the household were the branches (children) and twigs (grandchildren) that make up their family tree.

Their first born, Rebecca, married to Angel Pagan, together with their heirs Bryan and Jayden, were the first to greet Ramona, followed by Jeffrey, Ramona’s second born, with wife Sharon Lakatos and their children Milo and Elliot.

Patrick and spouse Annalysa, with their only daughter Kalia, warmly greeted the birthday celebrator after which Gregory, the youngest son, with partner Patricia and daughter Emma, offered the last greeting.

It was a splendid sight to behold seeing the whole Sansait-Gapasin family framed amid an ecstatic and jubilant ambience while being shared by their closest relatives and friends.

The ecstatic moment was permissibly capped by Ramona and Roger’s romantic waltz to the tune of “Ramona,” an old Tagalog ditty that perfectly fit the picture.

The most anticipated time of filling-up-the-guts to adequately sustain vigor was indubitably one feast hard to resist: buffet tables lavishly loaded with food on both ends of the hall, two mouthwateringly roasted pigs, and two delectably baked cakes. What more could one ask for? Truly, it was a magnificent buffet fit for a grand matriarch!

Entertaining numbers made the dinner more appetizing and savory. A specially choreographed terpsichorean exhibition by dance enthusiast Maria Pilar Monje and partner Dr. Hseung Jang Don (a revered Latin Ballroom Champion, Master’s Degree in Dance, and Ph. D. in Dance holder) graciously opened the roster of a lavishly prepared production.

Other performers were Becky Samanyaphon, Anita Borja, Carmen Conseur, Linda Contreras, Maria Pilar Monje, and Matty Bautista, collectively dubbed as The TriState Area Timeless Dancers, did a creative interpretation of “Mazurka Boholana,” a popular regional dance… while Marieta Lamar and Hermie Garcia, authentically garbed in their Roaring 20s best, performed “Puttin’ On The Ritz.”

More prepared entertaining numbers made the guests truly

Birthday celebrator Ramona with hubby Roger Gapasin

John Alberto partnered Ramona in a dance medley.

The Tri-state Dancers in their Mazurka Boholana costume

enjoy the occasion: Gilbert Viason’s choreography of “Perhaps, Perhaps” was easily a well-applauded number as performed by Edna Tiongson, Ruth Logdat, Nellie Bautista, Maria Pilar Monje, Hermie Garcia, and Vicky Hamilton.

Obviously, Ramona was the core figure and center performer of every production. “I always love to dance…this is my stress reliever! It could be strenuous but it gives me a different kind of high…!”

Ramona’s granddaughter, Kalia, did a Spanish-style dance with another equally fashionable grandma, Hermie Garcia… while dashing dance instructor John Alberto led Ramona in the evening’s main highlight: a medley of Tango, Cha-Cha, Boogie, and Swing number.

After everybody witnessed Ramona in the flesh, a video of her decades ago was shown on the wide screen to the delight of the guests. More “Oooohs” and “Aaaahs” pervaded the air when Ed O’Donnell, the DJ Magic, rolled the VTR (video tape recording) showcasing Ramona’s passionately fashionable side. A bevy of her designer wardrobe undeniably emitted unprecedented praises and admiration.

The septuagenarian honoree impressively maintained her regal bearing and remarkably sustained an implausible stamina all throughout the strenuous and tensioning situation. With neither a trace of fatigue nor complaint, Ramona maintained a plastered smile where the only breaks she had were during times when she had to run to the dressing room to change and for a quick retouch.

The four-hour revelry culminated with a traditional candle blowing and slicing of the birthday cake which was shared to every guest then non-stop dancing and socialization continued while others excitedly queued to the photobooth set outside the ballroom.

Turning 70 is a great phase in life as it marks the beginning of a whole new world for a senior…but for Ramona, who tries to catch up for her lost times, 70 is merely the new 50. She said, “I’ve never felt like an old soul. Every day offers a new beginning… a fresh start… and a challenge. I enjoy my life as it is. I feel great to turn 70! Who’s afraid to be a septuagenarian!”

For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@ ayahoo.com.

An Asian Journal Magazine

7

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY MARCH 2, 2018

An Asian Journal Magazine

8

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY MARCH 2, 2018