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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 2-8, 2018
Different nations, a shared... PAGE A6 t
costly and make all of us losers. 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, churches, 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
Impressions of a...
PAGE A6 t going to the provinces. And there are plenty of them. They clog highways. Despite a column of vehicles jammed behind them, they stubbornly refuse to yield and move to right lanes for slow traffic. Pasaway. Shades of old Philippines. 22. Subways are the final solution to our traffic woes; all others are temporary bandaid fixes. 23. There are three major sports seasons in the U.S.: basketball, football, and baseball. Here we also have three: basketball, basketball, and basketball. Yes, we are fond of Curry, LeBron, KD, Jordan, and Kobe but corporate sponsors need to reallocate their support to sports where height is not a 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
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 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.
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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 will join the flower float parade, the highlight of the annual festival. ManilaTimes.net photo by Thom Picaña
Con-Com votes for presidential-federal... would also have individual federal states with separate federal legisMarch 5. lature and local governments like Under the presidential-federal the United States. system, the national government Pimentel earlier proposed the would still be led by a president, inclusion of Sabah in the Philipvice president along with the ex- pine territory. The country would ecutive, legislative and judiciary be divided into 12 federal states branches. However, Philippines including: Northern Luzon, Cen-
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tral Luzon, Southern Luzon, Bicol, Eastern Visayas, Central Visayas, Western Visayas, Minparom, Northern Mindanao, Southern Mindanao, and Bangsamoro. He suggested that Metro Manila will be the “federal capital,” while Sabah could be the 13th federal state. (Rosette Adel/Philstar.com)