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Volume 29 - No. 12 • 2 Sections – 16 pages

Ma r c h 2 9 - a p r i l 4 , 2 0 1 8

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Palace reiterates: Duterte not eyeing term extension

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte has no plans to extend his term beyond 2022, malacañang reiterated on tuesday, march 27. in a statement, Palace spokesperson harry roque Jr. stressed that Duterte will still observe the term limits under the current 1987 Constitution, as well as the ban on re-election, should the push for a federal form of government succeeded. rather than extending his term, roque claimed anew that

DATELINE

Duterte prefers to step down ahead of the expiration of his tenure. “the president has expressed that he has no intention of staying a minute longer than what the term of the president provides under our Constitution,” roque said in a statement. “the president has even stated that he would step down from the presidency earlier should the Philippines shift to a federal system of government as early as 2020,” he added. the Palace official issued the statement a day after Consultative committee head reynato Puno said that Duterte cannot

run again for presidency even if a new federal charter will allow a president to serve for two terms.

During a news briefing on monday, march 26, Puno explained that Duterte was elected under 1987 Constitution, making him bound by its provisions.

“As of now, the prohibitions and term limits under the 1987 Constitution would still be binding,” he said.

Puno also pointed out that no need for Duterte to extend his term as the “transition period will not go beyond 2022.” “there will be no holdover provision. By the time we have

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ARMS SURRENDER. President Rodrigo R. Duterte leads the inspection of the firearms handed over by surrenderees from the Abu Sayyaf Group at the Capitol Site in Patikul, Sulu on Monday, March 26. Joining the president are Armed Forces of the Philippines Chief of Staff Rey Guerrero, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go and Department of the Interior and Local Government Officer-inCharge Eduardo Año.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

PET prepares for VP ballot recount

USA

by AJPress

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Asian Americans and other minority groups risk misrepresentation in 2020 Census the 2020 Census is underway with only two years left to go, and for Asian Americans and other minority groups, the upcoming census is being seen as either an opportunity for being accurately counted, or a chance at being misrepresented. on monday, march 26, the U.s. Department of Commerce announced that the upcoming 2020 census to take place on April 1, 2020, will include a question on citizenship. this, after the Department of Justice in December requested that the census include the question to help administer the Voting rights Act (VrA).

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The winning domestic employee with Attorneys Evangelista and Sayas of the Law Offices of Joe Sayas.

Supreme Court (SC) Security Division chief Joery Gayanan conducts an ocular inspection of the ballot boxes for the recount of the recent vice-presidential votes set on April 2, 2018 at the sidelines of a press briefing at the SC Gymnasium in Manila on Tuesday, March 27. The SC will sit as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) during the recount filed by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. against Maria Leonor Robredo.

PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet) is ready for next week’s revision of votes on former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr.’s electoral protest against Vice President maria leonor “leni” robredo. the supreme Court (sC), sitting as Pet, is set to start its manual recount on around 1,400 ballot boxes from Camarines sur—one of the three pilot provinces cited by marcos in his protest—on monday, April 2.

An ocular inspection was conducted on tuesday, march 27, at the sC-Court of Appeals gymnasium, where the revision of ballots will be held.

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

the Philippines has voted in favor of a China-led resolution upholding multilateralism and working together to “promote mutually beneficial cooperation in the field of human rights.”

With a vote of 28 in favor, one against, and 17 abstentions, the United nations (Un) human rights Council adopted the resolution, titled “Promoting mutually Beneficial Cooperation in the field of human rights,” on friday, march 23. in introducing the resolution, China stressed that all countries need to firmly establish the concept of win-win cooperation in order to achieve the goal of universal human rights.

“All peoples lived on the same earth and faced common challenges. China had cosponsored this resolution for mutually beneficial cooperation in promoting and protecting human rights,” China said.

China also expressed strong belief that the human rights Council “should be guided by the principles of universality, impartiality, objectivity and non-selectivity for greater cooperation, capacity building and technical assistance, in order to build a new type of international relations, which Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Inquirer.net photos reflected the times.”

Apart from the Philippines, other countries who voted in favor of the resolution were Angola, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, China, Côte d’ivoire, Cuba, Democratic republic of

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SioSon AJPress

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As the predominantly Catholic Philippines starts to observe the holy Week, President rodrigo Duterte called on filipinos to use the lenten season to harness their faith and renew their relationship with God. in a message on Palm sunday, march 25, Duterte said, “this is a time to revitalize our faith and renew our relationship with God and our fellowmen.”

“As we put our hands to-

gether in prayer, may we use this as an opportune time to rekindle our religious fervor and cherish our time-honored traditions as a pious people,” he added.

Palm sunday marks the beginning of holy Week, when Catholics commemorate Jesus’ entry in Jerusalem. the Bible states that a large crowd welcomed Jesus as their king by spreading out their cloaks and tree branches on the ground.

Duterte wished for people to have a “deeply meaningful” and solemn holy Week,

HrW hits Cayetano, roque: We’re not being used by drug lords

by AJPress

“the statements by Philippines foreign secretary Alan neW York-based human Peter Cayetano and President rights Watch (hrW) slammed Duterte’s spokesman harry two of Philippine President ro- roque that drug lords may be drigo Duterte’s senior officials using human rights groups to as called for solidarity re- for their recent remarks about criticize and undermine the gardless of religious denom- rights groups being allegedly government are shockingly danused by drug lords to attack the gerous and shameful,” Adams ination. said. he also urged filipinos government. he continued, “Are they tryin a statement on monday, to embody compassion, as Christ has personified, and march 26, hrW Asia Director ing to have death squads target help and “uplift the down- Brad Adams warned that Presi- human rights activists? Caydential spokesperson harry etano and roque provide no trodden.”

“As we reflect on the Cath- roque and foreign Affairs sec- evidence. they should withdraw olic values and embody self- retary Alan Peter Cayetano’s re- their comments immediately.” last week, Cayetano claimed lessness, compassion and marks could imperil the lives of that some non-government orlove instilled in us through human rights advocates.

Adams called on Cayetano and ganizations (nGos) were bethe years, let us remember to always help and uplift roque to retract their “shock- ing “unwittingly” used by drug the downtrodden because ingly dangerous and shameful” lords to discredit the Duterte it is only through charitable comments immediately, adding administration’s efforts to curb that they had “no evidence” to narcotics in the country. u PAGE A2 support their claims. u PAGE A3

Duterte’s Holy Week messAge:

by Dana

A liVe-in filipina domestic employee has won a wage claim of $827,506 against her former employers who had her care for two of their disabled children in addition to doing housework, errands, and cooking, for what amounted to way less than minimum wage. the judgment announced last february appears to be among the highest verdicts to a domestic worker on a pure wage claim.

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PH votes in favor of China-led human rights resolution

Filipina nanny wins ‘renew relationship with god, help the oppressed’ $827,506 in wage trial Judgment one of highest verdicts to a domestic worker on pure wage claim

According to lawyer Jose lemuel Arenas, member of the tribunal’s Adhoc committee, the Pet is currently housing ballot boxes from Camarines sur, while the remaining ballot boxes from iloilo and negros oriental—the two other pilot provinces—are currently with the Commission on elections (Comelec). the next week’s recount is set to start from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. with 15-minute breaks and an hour lunch break—from monday to friday. there would be a total of 50 revision committees to work on the initial recount. each revision committee is assigned one ballot

A

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March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

From The FronT Page

Palace reiterates: Duterte not...

PAGE A1 already shifted to a federal form, a new president will be voted,” he added.

He went on to say, “If you look at the transitory provisions of our different constitutions, it did not

take an indefinite length of time to be able to go to the regular government.”

The revision of the 1987 Constitution and the shift from a unitary to a federal form of government were among the top pri-

orities of the Duterte administration.

House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez previously floated the idea of a possible extension of Duterte’s term if the country becomes a federal state. n

PET prepares for VP ballot recount

PAGE A1 box.

“There’s a revision report per box, the objections and claims are on a per form per box basis so it’s easier to track,” Arenas said.

Each revision committee is composed of the PET-hired head revisor, and one revisor each from the camps of Marcos and Robredo.

They will record objections, claims, and other notes which will be transmitted to the PET. The PET will review a total of

5,418 ballot boxes. The revision will be off-limits to media.

In his poll protest, Marcos accused Robredo of benefiting from “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” during the vice presidential election in 2016.

Marcos filed three causes of action in his protest. In his first cause of action, which was already junked, the former senator asked to declare all the certificates of canvass used to proclaim Robredo’s victory as “authentic.”

In his second cause of action,

the former senator asked for the manual recount of votes in 22 provinces and five cities. PET, however, decided to hold an initial recount of three pilot provinces first before deciding whether the revision on other provinces should be pursued or not.

Marcos, in his third cause of action, sought the nullification of vice presidential votes in Lanao del Sur, Basilan, and Maguindanao due to alleged occurrence of “traditional” modes of cheating. n

‘Renew relationship with God, help...

PAGE A1 actions that we can make God’s presence visible among us,” Duterte said.

“Let us take a moment to pause in the spirit of contemplation and work and unite as one people to build a truly equitable and inclusive nation where everyone can enjoy a decent and comfortable

life,” he added.

“In our world today, we have many kings full of arrogance, lacking in humility. In our time, many of us follow kings who use violence, arms, threats…clearly showing lack of understanding and solidarity with the weak,” Tagle said.

Arrogant ‘kings’ The Duterte administration

does not feel alluded to Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle’s warning about boastful and violent “kings,” Malacañang said.

Chief Presidential Legal Salvador Panelo on Monday, March 26 told reporters that Tagle is likely “referring to world leaders not from this country” in his remark.

In his homily for Palm Sunday at Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle warned about arrogant “kings” who uses violence to assert their authority.

“In our world today, we have many kings full of arrogance, lacking in humility. In our time, many of us follow kings who use violence, arms, threats… clearly showing lack of understanding and solidarity with the weak,” Tagle said.

Panelo, however, maintained that the Duterte administration has “not initiated violence against innocent people.”

He also took note of Duterte’s vow to “not tolerate any police abuse.”

“He (Duterte) keeps on saying that there will be hell to pay if any violation of human rights is done by any police officer. So, I think Cardinal Tagle is referring to world leaders who are violent and cocky,” Panelo added. n

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ACT OF PENANCE. Dressed as Roman soldiers, men scour the town plaza in Pinamalayan, Oriental Mindoro as part of its Centurion (Moriones) festival, which started on Palm Sunday and ends on Easter Sunday with the “beheading” of Longinus, the one-eyed Roman soldier who regained his eyesight after stabbing Jesus while nailed at the cross. The activity is patterned after the Moriones festival of Marinduque province, where many residents of Pinamalayan trace their roots.

Photo courtesy of Pinamalayan Tourism Office

PH votes in favor of China-led human...

PAGE A1

the Congo, Ecuador, Egypt, and Ethiopia.

Iraq, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Panama, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, South Africa, Togo, United Arab Emirates, and Venezuela also supported the resolution.

Only the United States voted

against it.

In a comment, U.S. claimed it was “clear that China was attempting through this resolution to weaken the United Nations human rights system and the norms underpinning it.”

“The ‘feel good’ language about ‘mutually beneficial cooperation’ was intended to benefit autocratic States at the expense

of people whose human rights and fundamental freedoms all were obligated, as States, to respect,” the U.S. added.

Meanwhile, Afghanistan, Australia, Belgium, Croatia, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Japan, Peru, Republic of Korea, Rwanda, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United Kingdom abstained. n

Filipina nanny wins $827,506 in...

PAGE A1 “The court’s judgment is a victory for Ms. Alzate, especially in the face of a vigorous opposition that did not concede any dime of wages that was owed to her,” said a release from the law firm that represented the Filipina. “It was a testament to the courage of this Filipina to have pursued her claims all the way up to trial.”

Fil-Am employment lawyer Attorney Joe Sayas represented Linda Alzate (not her real name) and argued that she should be paid for the entire time she was on-call to care for the disabled children at which the court agreed.

Just as in previous cases he’s handled for employees in similar situations, Alzate was paid a flat monthly rate regardless of how long she was made available to work which went from 18 to 24 hours per day.

Under the Domestic Workers Bill of Rights made effective in 2014, domestic workers with hours similar to Alzate who are caring for children or seniors are entitled to overtime pay being their regular hourly rate multiplied by one and a half, or “time and a half.”

24/7 care, two children with

disabilities Alzate began working in the home of Drs. Peter Sim and Lorraine Diego — located in the Hancock Park neighborhood of Los Angeles — in 2002 where she initially received a flat monthly salary of only $1,000 to care for the couple’s three to four-month child despite being on call for 24 hours, seven days a week. That computes to less than approximately $2.00 an hour.

At 18 months, the child was diagnosed with severe autism, adding to the workload and responsibilities. In 2005, another child was born with autism yet the couple still failed to give Alzate her proper wages.

In addition to caring for the children, Alzate was made responsible for other tasks including laundry, running errands, house cleaning, and cooking for the family.

Alzate’s last salary in 2014 was $3,000 per month, despite a correctly calculated salary for her 24/7 live-in wage computing upwards of $6,000. Her claims cover the period worked from April 2011 to April 2014 with a significant part of the wage based on regular hourly rates.

Alzate said her daily schedule

would consist of waking up at 6 a.m. at the latest to cook for the family and prepare the kids for school. The rest of the day, she would spend cleaning the house, running errands, and cooking for the whole family.

Evenings consisted of assisting the children’s much-needed therapy sessions, cooking dinner, and preparing the children for sleep during which she would continue to be on-call.

The older child with severe autism often would wake up every two or three hours, said Alzate.

The children’s parents offered no help.

U.S. law defines a night’s rest as a minimum of five hours for employees on duty for 24 hours or more which Alzate rarely got.

“Live-in employees should still be paid for each and every hour worked,” said Sayas in an email to the Asian Journal. “This means that even if the employee is not engaged in productive work, but is required by the employer to stay in the workplace (due perhaps to an all-day or all night 24/7 supervision of an elderly or child they are taking care of), they should still be paid as the law sees that as work performed.”

Alzate was also discouraged from taking days off. She said that getting even just one day off required her to get permission three to four months in advance.

In one instance she did manage to get four days off for her birthday which falls on Thanksgiving, Alzate said Sim got angry.

“I just want to put out there, if anyone is in my situation, they can always ask for help,” said Alzate, thanking Sayas and his firm.

After having some suspicions of her salary, Alzate’s aunt advised her to contact Sayas’ firm to inquire if she was entitled to back wages after noticing her payments and hours were not what they should be.

Sayas said that wage theft and unpaid overtime wages are not unusual because some employers take advantage of immigrant workers who are often intimidated into working long hours without proper pay. Some employers are also do not know about laws regarding proper salaries.

“Going through this process is not easy, but if you know that if you have someone behind you, you will go for it,” said Alzate.

Appeals proceedings Although the court went in favor of Alzate, the couple has decided to go forth on appeal proceedings, which Alzate and Sayas’ firm are ready to fight against.

The couple has since reportedly hired three people to take shifts, doing what Alzate did herself. The workers are also reportedly being paid minimum wage, together amounting to what should’ve been paid to Alzate while she was working.

“The trial court’s judgment in favor of our nanny client is based on good facts and good law.

Make no mistake about it,” said Sayas. “We will vigorously fight for the worker on appeal.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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HRW hits Cayetano, Roque: We’re not...

PAGE A1 Duterte’s so-called drug war was highly criticized by human rights groups, including HRW, over its death toll that allegedly reaches over 12,000.

Cayetano, however, insisted that such findings were not a result of a “legitimate and scientific investigation.”

Echoing the DFA chief’s comment, Roque also expressed belief that rights groups were

being used as “tools” by drug lords to malign the Philippine government.

“The attacks against the president’s war on drugs have been vicious and non-stop,” Roque pointed out. “We therefore do not discount the possibility that some human rights groups have become unwitting tools of drug lords to hinder the strides made by the administration.”

Responding to HRW’s call,

Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 29-ApRIL 4, 2018

HOLY WEEK RUSH. The volume of passengers at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City continues to increase as they rush to t h e i r p rov i n ces fo r the Holy Week on Tuesday, March 27. The Land Transportation Fra n c h i s i n g a n d Regulatory Board ( LT F R B ) r e c e n t l y approved the special permit applications of an additional 990 bus units as an outflow of passengers was also expected for the vacation season.

PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo said there is no need for Cayetano and Roque to withdraw their comments as those were “not even disparaging” statements.

“I think the comments are misplaced,” Panelo added. “I read the comments of both Secretary Alan and Secretary Harry and they said they may be unwilling or rather unwitting victims of drug lords using them.” n

Asian Americans and other minority groups...

PAGE A1 “Having citizenship data at the census block level will permit more effective enforcement of the VRA [Voting Rights Act], and Secretary [Wilbur] Ross determined that obtaining complete and accurate information to meet this legitimate government purpose outweighed the limited potential adverse impacts,” read a statement by the Commerce Department.

But many are worried the question will prompt people to opt out of participating, thus rendering an incomplete picture of their communities in the U.S. Central to worries are the current political and racial climates that have many immigrants wary of disclosing any personal information.

The decennial census looks to find population changes and other information of who makes up the United States — citizens and non-citizens alike. More importantly, it uses the derived data to address the nation’s needs, like determining representation of each area in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Questions regarding citizenship on the decennial census have not been asked in the past 70 years and those against the question say that no reason for it to be added now has been provided.

“Immigrants and citizens who have immigrants in their household will be reluctant to participate in a census that asks about citizenship,” said legal and civil rights organization, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Los Angeles (AAJC) in a statement.

It added, “The administration is trying to sabotage the 2020 Census with the addition of a citizenship question that it knows will chill participation by communities that the administration seeks to marginalize.”

Democratic National Commit-

tee spokesperson Vedant Patel described the announcement in a statement as an attempt by U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration to “silence the voices of millions immigrants, including Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — who are the fastest-growing immigrant group in the United States.”

AAPIs are currently the fastest-growing community in the nation, growing 72 percent between the years 2000 and 2015 — from 11.9 million to 20.4 million, according to fact tank Pew Research Center.

Approximately seven percent of the U.S. population belong to the AAPI community. In California, the percentage goes a little over 15 percent. By 2055, the AAPI community is projected to surpass Hispanics, thus becoming the largest immigrant group in the country.

The U.S. AAPI population is also very diverse, as the 20 million Asian Americans find their roots coming from over 20 countries throughout East and Southeast Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

Despite having been conducted since 1790, the upcoming will also be the first to have an “Asian” category alongside categories for white and black as reported on The Conversation by Jennifer Lee, a sociology professor at Columbia University.

The census would further allow Asians to check off their country of origin such as Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, Filipino, and so on.

Those encouraging disaggregated data while opposing the questioning of citizenship say that failing to get an accurate count of these communities means taking a risk in making sure specific communities are served accordingly whether in health, education, or other programs.

From the last 2010 Census, data found that Filipino-Americans became the largest Asian American group in California, while Chinese Americans remained the largest in the U.S. Data went deeper in finding that in the county of Los Angeles, Filipinos and Koreans were the two largest, with growth being seen with Thai Americans as well.

“If you don’t have an accurate census, you won’t know any of this,” Stewart Kwoh said late last year in a panel for the upcoming census. Kwoh is the founding president and executive director of AAJC. “If you lump all Asians together, then you really don’t know us at all,” he added.

In regards to social and economic indicators, only three in 50 Filipino-Americans in the U.S. live below the poverty line for example, compared to approximately one in four Hmong Americans.

In health where only 14 percent of those in AAPI communities lack healthcare, disaggregated data shows disparities between Japanese-Americans and KoreanAmericans — the former having eight percent without healthcare, and the later at 27 percent without.

“Advancing Justice calls upon the Department of Commerce and the Census Bureau to reverse their decision and remove the citizenship question immediately before more confusion is caused within our communities. We also call upon Congress to act if the Census Bureau will not reverse its decision,” said AAJC in its statement.

“Advancing Justice will fight the addition of this citizenship question, consider our legal options, and support lawsuits against the Department that protect our communities,” it added.

(Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

A

China hits United States provocation

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Chinese government has criticized the United States after one of its warships sailed in the disputed waters of the South China Sea near Panganiban (Mischief) Reef in the Spratly Islands.

Ren Guoqiang, spokesman of the Chinese Ministry of Defense, said the entry of U.S. Navy destroyer USS Mustin in what he described as waters around China’s islands and reefs “is serious political and military provocation.”

“We ask the U.S. to respect the sovereignty and security of China, respect the will of countries in the region who want peace, stability and tranquility, and not to make trouble out of nothing,” Ren was quoted as saying in a report by state-owned news wire Xinhua.

He said China firmly safeguards the freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea in accordance with international law but “resolutely opposes any illegal provocation in the name of freedom of navigation.”

The USS Mustin – a guided missile destroyer – reportedly traveled close to the disputed reef and carried out maneuvering operations.

Ren alleged that the US warship arbitrarily entered waters before two Chinese vessels identified it and warned it off.

He accused the U.S. of severely damaging the sovereignty and security of China by repeatedly sending ships in what it claims as its sovereign waters.

The Philippines, as well as other countries in the region, also claims ownership of the islands in the South China Sea.

The Department of Foreign Affairs has yet to comment on the entry of the U.S. warship in the disputed territories.

The incident happened even as China confirmed the conduct of combat drills in the region.

A statement released in the Ministry of Defense’s website said the drills are part of the implementation of the training mobilization order of recently reelected President Xi Jinping.

“It is a routine arrangement within the People’s Liberation Army-Navy’s annual plan and it aims to test and improve the troops’ training level and comprehensively enhance the capability to win,” read a statement quoting an unnamed Navy staff.

The same staff supposedly added that the drills are not aimed at any specific country or target. n

PH gov’t welcomes US duty-free entry scheme re-authorization THE Philippine government, through the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC, welcomed the reauthorization of the United States Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) of the scheme that allows duty-free entry of more than 5,000 products to America.

Philippine Ambasador to the U.S. Jose Manuel Romualdez said the Philippines has enjoyed preferential duty-free entry to the U.S. through the GSP program.

GSP exports account for 18 percent of Philippine exports to the U.S., valued at an estimated USD1.59 billion.

In his report to Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano, Romualdez said he emphasized

the importance of this program to Philippine exporters and micro, small and medium enterprises.

“It has been and will remain an important component of the development cooperation framework of the Philippines and the United States,” he said in a statement issued on Tuesday, March 27.

“We thank the U.S. Congress and the Trump Administration for the renewal of this triple-win program for developing countries, U.S. businesses and American consumers,” he added.

“We also thank other GSP beneficiaries, industry associations and U.S. importers who joined us in advocating for the renewal of GSP.”

The scheme, instituted in 1974 and renewed periodically, provides duty-free access to thousands of eligible products for beneficiary developing countries, such as the Philippines.

It expired in December 2017 and was reauthorized March this year after it was included in the Omnibus Spending Bill signed into law last March 23 by President Trump.

The renewal authorizes the GSP until Dec. 31, 2020 and covers a total 5,057 products or tariff lines or roughly 47.7 percent of the 10,600 total U.S. tariff lines.

Effective July 1 last year, a total of 23 travel goods articles were added to the program. (Joyce Ann L. Rocamora/PNA)

A

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March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

Marian Pilgrimage to France, Spain and Portugal

St. Francis the Great Church, Madrid, Spain

Our Lady of Fatima at Fatima, Portugal

1st Marian Apparitions

Notre Dame De Lays, Southern France

St. Joseph Shrine Gap Southern France, October 2017

Basilica our Lady of Rosary Fatima

FOOT STEPS OF JESUS + Madaba,Mt Nebo,Petra,Aqaba,Jordan

(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea, Allenby Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan) OCTOBER 18 to Nov 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct 18, 2018 (Thur) Day 1 – MNL HKG, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel.

(Meals served in-flight) Oct 18,2018( Fri ) Day 2 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/Tiberias Arrival from Manila still oct 18,2018 late in the evening. After we clear Immigration and Customs, will be met by our driver for transfer to tiberias. Enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean. We will spend our first night in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D).Gai Beach Hotel (Oct 19,2018) Holy Eucharist Oct 20 2018 (Sat) Day 3 - Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana /Mt Tabor We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon. In the New Testament book of Revelation, it is referred as the sites of the “final battle”. From there, we will continue our drive into Nazareth, where we will have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation ,the Cave of the Annunciation and and visit Joseph’s Workshop and Then we will move on to Cana of Galilee, where Our Lord performed His first miracle: changing water into wine at the wedding feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows, Continue to Mount Tabor ,site of Jesus Transfiguration Afterward, we will head to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D).Gai Beach Hotel.

Oct 21,2018 (Sun) Day 4 - Tiberias/ Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/ Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Early AM departures to Mt Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people., Eucharistic Celebration. Enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Then to the Church Primacy of St Peters. Overnight Magdala ( BB, D) Oct 22,2018 (Mon) Day 5 Magdala Full day retreat , Focus will Include programs based on the historical and Religious value of the Magdala sites.

More info coming up as we get closer to the dates MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one discovered in the Galilee.

Oct 23 2018 (Tues) DAY 6- Jordan Valley/Jericho/Bethany/Jerusalem Mass at the Church of St. Lazarus After breakfast, we head to Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world.

View the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus spent 40 days fasting in the desert. We will visit the ancient ruins of the wall. We will continue to Bethany and will have mass to celebrate Holy Eucharist at the Church of St. Lazarus. Then we will visit the Baptismal site in River Jordan. Upon arrival in Mount Scopus meaning Mount of the Watchmen/Sentinels, is a mountain in northeast Jerusalem.

Enjoy the first view of Jerusalem.

After the day’s tour, we will check in at our hotel in Jerusalem (B/D) Notre Dame Vatican hotel Oct 24,2018 (Wed) Day 7- Jerusalem (Old City)/Via Dolorosa/Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:17) We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord. After mass, we return to the hotel for breakfast.

After breakfast, we will enter the Old City, sing a hymn in the Church of St.

Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda.

Then we will visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostratos (where the soldiers played the Game of Kings) and the Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Dinner/ Overnight Notre Dame Vatican hotel Oct 25, 2018 (Thurs) Day 8- Jerusalem Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:14) We will walk to view the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and visit the Western Wall,( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. Then, we will drive to Mt. Zion, to visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Supper, then survey the Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu. The site where Peter denied Jesus three times. After the day’s tour, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Notre Dame Vatican Hotel Oct 26,2018 (Fri) Day 9 - Mount of Olives/ Gethsemane/ Bethlehem/ Jerusalem (New City)/ Ein Karem Mass at the Church of Nativity “O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child.” (Protoevangelium of James 22:3) We will arrive at the Mount of Olives, to enjoy another view of Jerusalem, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus Flevit (“God wept”) sanctuary. Next, we’ll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane, and visit the Rock of Agony and the Church of all Nations. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name is recognized around the world. After celebrating Mass at the Church of Nativity, we will see the Manger; visit the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Jerome and the Shepherds’

Fields. Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of Jerusalem. Up next is a trip to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat”. We will end our day by returning to our Hotel. (B/D).

Oct 27,2018 (Sat) Day 10 - Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations After breakfast, we will celebrate mass at the Church of all Nations and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman.

Return to Jerusalem for dinner and Overnight (B, D) Oct 28,2018 (Sun) Day 11 - Jerusalem/Allenby Bridge/Madaba/Jordan/Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba Mass at Mount Nebo On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We will go to the Baptismal Site at Bethany, which Pope John Paul II visited in 2000.

Then, it’s on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land.

Our next stop will be the Church of St. George in Madaba, which hosts the famous mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Then we will drive down to Aqaba.

Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence.

Oct 29,2018 (Mon) Day 12 - Aqaba/ Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba After breakfast, we will journey through the Siq, until we get our first glimpse of the Khazneh (Treasury).

Then will we walk down to visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and dinner (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence Oct 30,2018 (Tues) Day 13 - Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/Overnight Oct 31 2018 (Wed) Day 14 - Jerusalem / Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX After breakfast, we will visit the Yad Vashem Museum,is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding such events in the future. After the Western Wall, Yad Vashem is the second-most-visited Israeli tourist site. Return to the hotel for lunch and relaxation in preparation for our return flight back to the USA after early dinner will be transferred to the airport for Flight.

Oct 31,2018 8:45 PM departure from TLV

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D ateline PhiliPPines Palace reminds Aquino: De Lima Business tycoon Lucio Tan offers to in jail for drugs, not political beliefs build drainage system in Boracay

by Dana

by catherine

Valente ManilaTimes

SioSon

AJPress

MALACAñANG on Monday, March 26, reminded former Philippine President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III that Senator Leila de Lima is in detention due to drug-related charges and not because of her principles.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after Aquino lauded de Lima’s leadership and urged the public to continue supporting her.

“With all due respect to the former president, Senator Leila de Lima is not fighting for her principle and was not detained because of her political beliefs,” Roque said.

“The lady senator was arrested and incarcerated because of serious drug charges where she was accused of allowing the illegal drug trade to proliferate inside the National Bilibid Prison when she was the DOJ (Department of Justice) Secretary,” he added.

De Lima, a staunch critic of President Rodrigo Duterte, was arrested in February last year and has since been detained at the Philippine National Police (PNP) Custodial Center in Camp Crame.

She was accused of receiving bribes from drug lords in ex-

Sen. Leila de Lima

change of their protection when she was the justice secretary during Aquino’s term. She was also accused of using the money from drug trade to fund her 2016 senatorial campaign.

De Lima, for her part, has repeatedly denied the allegation. She accused the Duterte administration of persecuting her for opposing the president’s policies, calling herself a political prisoner.

‘You’re not alone’ In his message to de Lima in her first electronic book, entitled, “Dispatches from Crame I,” Aquino lauded the senator for being a woman of principle.

Philstar.con photo

The former president also assured the senator that she’s not alone in her battle, as he urged public to support her causes.

“Makikita naman natin: Si Leila, klarong-klarong may prinsipyo. Sa pinagdadaanan niya, malinaw na tayo ang kaniyang ipinaglalaban (We can clearly see that Leila has principle. With all what she’s going through, it is clear that she is ghting for us),” Aquino said.

“Mainam namang maipadama natin kay Leila na sa labang ito, hindi siya nag-iisa (We should make her feel that she is not alone in this fight),” the former president added. n

Bill allows Filipinos married to foreign divorcees to remarry

by Delon

Porcalla Philstar.com

MANILA — Voting 202-3, the House of Representatives has approved on third and final reading a bill that recognizes, and enforces as well, a foreign decree granting divorce to a foreigner – eventually allowing a Filipino spouse to remarry.

House Bill 7185, which seeks to amend Executive Order 209 (Family Code of the Philippines), also seeks to recognize the foreign decree of termination of marriage and allows its subsequent registration with the Philippine Civil Registry.

The proposed amendment of EO 209 states that, “The Filipino spouse need not seek recognition or enforcement of the foreign decree of termination of marriage.”

“The registration of the duly authenticated foreign decree of termination in the Philippine Civil Registry shall be sufficient proof of capacity to remarry,” a portion of the divorce bill reads.

It further states that, “where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is celebrated and a decree of termination of marriage is thereafter obtained abroad by either spouse and subsequently registered in the Philippine Civil Registry as provided in Article 13 hereof, the

Filipino spouse shall likewise have capacity to remarry under the Philippine Law.” The amendment also states that Article 412 of the Civil Code shall not apply in recognizing the termination of marriages in the bill.

Any agreement on the liquidation, partition and distribution of properties of the spouses, the custody and support of common children, the delivery of their presumptive legitimes included in the degree of termination of marriage shall be recognized, according to the bill.

Other provisions can be availed of by a Filipino who is married to a foreigner whose marriage has been terminated abroad by either spouse, including a Filipino whose marriage has been terminated abroad prior to the effectivity of the proposed law; who has been divorced from a spouse who had subsequently acquired foreign citizenship; or who has subsequently acquired foreign citizenship and who has divorced from the Filipino spouse abroad.

Authors include House Deputy Speakers Pia Cayetano and Gwendolyn Garcia, Reps. Edcel Lagman (Albay), Sol Aragones (Laguna), Emmi de Jesus (Gabriela), Evelina Escudero (Sorsogon), Bernadette Dy (Bagong Henerasyon), Cristina Puno (Antipolo).

No less than the seat of Catholicism — Spain, which propagated the faith in the Philippines and Italy, where the Vatican is located — have their own divorce laws that “do not make them any less Catholic,” one of the main authors of the divorce bill said.

“These countries have similar provisions in their respective constitutions, which mandate the state to protect marriage and family life,” Lagman, co-author of House Bill 7303 (Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of Marriage in the Philippines), said.

He pointed out that “Catholic Latin American countries, including socialist Cuba, and Catholic countries of Europe, including fiercely Catholic Ireland, Italy and Spain have their own divorce laws, which do not make them any less Catholic.”

Lagman argued that nothing is cast in stone even if a provision of the 1987 Constitution provides for the “inviolability” of marriage as an institution, but which he insisted does not necessarily prohibit absolute divorce.

“Inviolability prescribes a norm or standard for marriages but does not forbid the dissolution of a marriage,” he clarified. “It does not cast a marital union in an immovable stone because the Constitution itself does not prohibit absolute divorce.” n

Duterte nixes separate security forces for Bangsamoro region by roel

Pareño Philstar.com

SULU — President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, March 26, said that he will not give the proposed Bangsamoro region its own regional armed forces and police, neither of which are included in the draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. “It stays to the commander-inchief,” Duterte said on Monday, March 26 at the provincial gymnasium in Jolo, the capital town of Sulu province.

Duterte issued the pronouncement as he urged Sulu residents, who are predominantly Tausug, to resolve ethnic rivalries that may affect implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law measures, which Congress is holding hearings on.

Duterte had aired concerns on whether leadership in the new region should be by region or by ethnic group.

He said that Suluanos (Tausug people who are residents of Sulu), Sama and Yakans in Basilan may not get along with ethnic groups in Central Mindanao like the Maguindanaons, Iranon, Maranao and other indigenous people’s groups.

“Meaning to say if you Tausug want the Maranao will lead like the present ARMM (Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao),” Duterte said.

ARMM Regional Gov. Mujiv Hataman is actually a Yakan from Basilan province. He succeeded Ansaruddin-Abdulmalik Adiong, a Maranao, and Zaldy Ampatuan, a Maguindanaon. Ampatuan, whom Adiong replaced in 2009 in the aftermath of the Ampatuan massacre, succeeded Parouk Hussin, a Tausug.

The position of regional governor is elective.

“I do not mean that I do not trust you, but I also mean what I say.

Whether you like it or not there’s one thing I cannot give in, the regional armed forces and regional

police. It stays to the commanderin-chief,” Duterte said.

BBL does not propose own police, military The draft Bangsamoro Basic Law, which is posted on the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process, holds that “the defense of the Bangsamoro shall be the responsibility of the Central Government.”

The draft BBL only tasks the central government to create a Bangsamoro Military Command, which will be part of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and which “shall be organized, maintained, and utilized in accordance with national laws.”

The BBL also creates a Bangsamoro Police to maintain peace and order in the region. The draft clearly states that “it shall be part of the Philippine National Police.”

The Bangsamoro Police, however, will be governed by a Bangsamoro Police Board, “which shall perform the functions of the National Police Commission in the Bangsamoro Government.” That board will be part of the National Police Commission.

The Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process clarified that it is a misconception that the new region will have its own separate security forces and that while the military and police organizations will have different names, they will function like a regional police office or military command.

“The police and military in the meantime should belong to only one (government). I suggest you elect a president that is not stupid.

One that will not wrest the government and use the military to rebel against his own government,” Duterte added.

The proposed Bangsamoro region will have a parliamentary form of government. The Bangsamoro Parliament will elect its chief minister.

The president also reminded Sulu residents and officials that

the new region will need support from the central government in its early years.

“When you start a new system, it’s wobbly like a baby learning to walk, which needs assistance,” Duterte said.

Government, MILF affirm commitment on 4th anniversary of peace deal The government and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front on Tuesday affirmed their commitment to peace as they marked the fourth year since the signing of the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro, the peace deal reached after 17 years of negotiations.

“The Bangsamoro Basic Law is not just a part of the implementation of the CAB but is meant to address the commitment of the government with the MILF and the Bangsamoro people. The milestones of the peace process are a reminder of how far we’ve come after the signing of CAB in 2014,” Undersecretary Nabil Tan, deputy presidential peace adviser, said in a release from the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process.

The BBL is meant to implement the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro.

The CAB has been instrumental in milestones in the peace process, OPAPP said.

“In a landmark event in the Bangsamoro Peace Process, 75 high-powered and crew-served weapons from 145 MILF combatants were ceremoniously turned over to the Independent Decommissioning Body on June 16, 2015,” it said.

The agreement also paved the way for cooperation in creating a “Peace Corridor” during the 2017 Marawi siege. The corridor, which was secured by the military and by the MILF facilitated the entry of humanitarian aid to displaced civilians and the rescue of 255 Marawi residents trapped PAGE A7

recommendation, (Boracay will be closed during) lean season,” BUSINESS tycoon Lucio Tan the Palace official said.

“They want to close it so they has offered to build a second drainage system in Boracay Is- can do all the required capital investments for the drainage and land, a Palace official said.

In a radio interview on Monday, sewage treatment unimpeded by March 26, Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said Tan sent a letter to the concerned agencies regarding his offer.

“There’s a letter from Lucio Tan, because he owns the Boracay Tubi there, he supplies water but he has no sewerage system. He said he wants to build a drainage,” Roque said in an interview with dzMM radio.

Aside from the Boracay Island Water Company, Inc., Tan also supplies water to the island through Boracay Tubi.

Roque said Tan’s proposed drainage system would connect to a wastewater treatment facility, ensuring that the water that comes out to the sea is clean.

“And the drainage will connect to a waste water treatment. So it means the rainwater, the water used by other people will be treated,” he said.

Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said his office has asked Tan to provide more details about his proposal.

Tan’s plan comes as a government panel composed of the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Interior and Local Government, and Tourism recommended the closure of Boracay for six months beginning April 26.

The recommendation is subject to President Rodrigo Duterte’s approval.

Duterte likened the world-famous tourist destination to a “cesspool,” prompting the creation of an inter-agency task force for the rehabilitation of the island.

On March 20, the President expressed support for the recommended temporary closure of Boracay.

Last week, Roque said Duterte might consider implementing the recommendation during the “lean season” to allow the nonstop construction of drainage and sewage systems in the entire island.

“We’re looking at possibly, if the president finally accepts the

tourists and other individuals. So if they decide to actually construct waste water facilities and waste drainage system, they would have to destroy all roads, to expand all roads, put treatments under the roads,” he added. n

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March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

OpiniOn

10th most improved

Features

For several years, the Ninoy Aquino International Airport was a national embarrassment, with travel websites rating it as the worst or among the worst gateways in the world. Congestion and flight delays, collapsing ceilings, lousy toilets and long lines at immigration, later aggravated by a bullet-planting scandal, contributed to the bad reviews of the NAIA. A renovation of the old NAIA terminal and the full operation of Terminal 3 eased the congestion.

Among the first acts of President Duterte when he assumed power was to put a stop to the bullet planting or laglagbala. The transfer of some flights to the international airport in Clark, Pampanga also eased runway traffic.

The improvements have paid off. London-based research firm Skytrax has ranked the NAIA as the 10th most improved airport in the world in 2017.

About 13.73 million travelers representing 100 nationalities participated in the Skytrax survey conducted in 550 airports around the world from August 2017 to February this year.

Airports were rated in terms of the quality of check-in services, security and immigration, departure at the gate, arrivals, transfers and shopping. Among the most improved, Rome’s Fiumicino Airport topped the list, followed by the gateways in Perth, Australia; Calgary in Canada; Taoyuan

in Taiwan; Athens, Greece; Nadi in Fiji; Montreal, Canada; Moscow Sheremetyevo in Russia and Houston Intercontinental in the United States.

NAIA officials welcomed the Skytrax ranking and acknowledged the need to sustain the improvements, saying, “We are only as good as our last accomplishment.” Runway congestion and long immigration lines persist, and facilities overall can still use a lot of improvement.

Even better than sustaining the gains is aiming to be among the best. The NAIA suffers in comparison especially because several of the world’s best airports are located in this region. This year, Singapore’s Changi again topped the Skytrax ranking, followed by South Korea’s Incheon International, Haneda in Tokyo and the Hong Kong airport. In 2017, the Airports Council International, the global trade representative of airport authorities worldwide, ranked Incheon as the best airport for the Airports in China, Thailand and Malaysia are 12th consecutive year. moving to catch up. The Philippines cannot afford

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective Gel SantoS-ReloS POPE FRANCIS is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why many Catholics have found renewed faith in the Church. This simple, humble, loving and inclusive spiritual leader has not only been preaching the Gospel of Jesus through his life and example, he also connects God’s teachings to the challenges we face in our everyday life.

This Lenten season, Pope Francis wrote his message based on the verse from the book of Matthew: “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt 24: 12) Let me share with you the Pope’s message and together let us discern the lure of selfishness, greed, violence, the false prophets and “manipulative snake charmers” who have been threatening the love and peace in our midst, and what we can do to find the way, the truth, and the light.

HAPPY EASTER! Dear Brothers and Sisters, Once again, the Pasch of the Lord draws near! In our preparation for Easter, God in His providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a “sacramental sign of our conversion”. Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect of our life.

With this message, I would like again this year to help the entire Church experience this time of grace anew, with joy and in truth.

I will take my cue from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (24:12).

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, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Chairman Emeritus, Universal Peace Federation (UPF); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Coopera-

Philstar.com photo

to be left behind. The Skytrax survey should serve as an encouragement to do better. (Philstar.com)

Pope Francis’ Lenten message to Christians on manipulative ‘snake charmers,’ false prophets, selfishness, greed & violence of our time These words appear in Christ’s preaching about the end of time.

They were spoken in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, where the Lord’s passion would begin. In reply to a question of the disciples, Jesus foretells a great tribulation and describes a situation in which the community of believers might well find itself: amid great trials, false prophets would lead people astray and the love that is the core of the Gospel would grow cold in the hearts of many.

False prophets Let us listen to the Gospel passage and try to understand the guise such false prophets can assume.

They can appear as “snake charmers”, who manipulate human emotions in order to enslave others and lead them where they would have them go. How many of God’s children are mesmerized by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness! How many men and women live entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves, and end up entrapped by loneliness!

False prophets can also be “charlatans”, who offer easy and immediate solutions to suffering that soon prove utterly useless.

How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! How many more are ensnared in a thoroughly “virtual” existence, in which relationships appear quick and straightforward, only to prove meaningless! These swindlers, in peddling things that have no real value, rob people of all that is most precious:

dignity, freedom and the ability to love. They appeal to our vanity, our trust in appearances, but in the end they only make fools of us. Nor should we be surprised. In order to confound the human heart, the devil, who is “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), has always presented evil as good, falsehood as truth.

That is why each of us is called to peer into our heart to see if we are falling prey to the lies of these false prophets. We must learn to look closely, beneath the surface, and to recognize what leaves a good and lasting mark on our hearts, because it comes from God and is truly for our benefit.

A cold heart In his description of hell, Dante Alighieri pictures the devil seated on a throne of ice, in frozen and loveless isolation.

We might well ask ourselves how it happens that charity can turn cold within us. What are the signs that indicate that our love is beginning to cool?

More than anything else, what destroys charity is greed for money, “the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). The rejection of God and his peace soon follows; we prefer our own desolation rather than the comfort found in his word and the sacraments.

All this leads to violence against anyone we think is a threat to our own “certainties”: the unborn child, the elderly and infirm, the migrant, the alien among us, or our neighbour who does not live up to our expectations.

Creation itself becomes a silent witness to this cooling of charity. The earth is poisoned by refuse, discarded out of carelessness or for self-interest. The seas, themselves polluted, engulf the remains of countless shipwrecked victims of forced

In pursuit of lasting peace tion (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the UPF International Leadership Conference 2018 “Building a World of Lasting Peace: Interdependence, Mutual Prosperity and Universal Values” Seoul, Republic of Korea; February 18-22, 2018.)

The challenges and opportunities of the future In a speech at the former East German city of Dresden on 2014, the former South Korean President Park Geun-hye said: “Just as the German people secured freedom, prosperity and peace by tearing down the Berlin Wall, we too must tear down barriers in our march towards a new fu-

ture on the Korean Peninsula.”

Dear friends: We agree that for our peoples, the age of ideological conflict is over. All our countries now need to move beyond containment and confrontation toward cooperation and collective prosperity. Indeed, there is no other option.

Institutionalizing the Interfaith Dialogue Excellencies, friends: We in the UPF campaigned in 2004 in the U.N. General Assembly, in the U.N. Security Council, in other halls of the U.N. in Europe for an inter-faith, inter-cultural, and inter-civilizational dialogue

migration. The heavens, which in God’s plan, were created to sing His praises, are rent by engines raining down implements of death.

Love can also grow cold in our own communities. In the Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, I sought to describe the most evident signs of this lack of love: selfishness and spiritual sloth, sterile pessimism, the temptation to self-absorption, constant warring among ourselves, and the worldly mentality that makes us concerned only for appearances, and thus lessens our missionary zeal.

What are we to do?

Perhaps we see, deep within ourselves and all about us, the signs I have just described. But the Church, our Mother and Teacher, along with the often bitter medicine of the truth, offers us in the Lenten season the soothing remedy of prayer, almsgiving and fasting.

By devoting more time to prayer, we enable our hearts to root out our secret lies and forms of self-deception, and then to find the consolation God offers. He is our Father and he wants us to live life well.

Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbour as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone. How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us! How I would like us, as Christians, to follow the example of the Apostles and see in the sharing of our possessions a tangible witness of the communion that is ours in the Church! For this reason, I echo Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Corinthians to take up a collection for the community of Jerusalem as something from which they themselves would

benefit (cf. 2 Cor 8:10). This is all the more fitting during the Lenten season, when many groups take up collections to assist Churches and peoples in need. Yet I would also hope that, even in our daily encounters with those who beg for our assistance, we would see such requests as coming from God Himself. When we give alms, we share in God’s providential care for each of His children. If through me God helps someone today, will He not tomorrow provide for my own needs? For no one is more generous than God. Fasting weakens our tendency to violence; it disarms us and becomes an important opportunity for growth. On the one hand, it allows us to experience what the destitute and the starving have to endure. On the other hand, it expresses our own spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God. Fasting wakes us up. It makes us more attentive to God and our neighbour. It revives our desire to obey God, who alone is capable of satisfying our hunger.

I would also like my invitation to extend beyond the bounds of the Catholic Church, and to reach all of you, men and women of good will, who are open to hearing God’s voice. Perhaps, like ourselves, you are disturbed by the spread of iniquity in the world, you are concerned about the chill that paralyzes hearts and actions, and you see a weakening in our sense of being members of the one human family. Join us, then, in raising our plea to God, in fasting, and in offering whatever you can to our brothers and sisters in need!

The fire of Easter Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthu-

Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

with our proposal to create an Interfaith Council in the U.N. or at least a focal point in the Office of the U.N. Secretary General, at a time when discussion of religion was somewhat taboo within the U.N. system.

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

Since then, not only the United Nations and individual governments, but also civil society

groupings, have been holding these important dialogues at local, national, regional, and international levels.

Excellencies, friends: From these Interfaith Dialogues, we should expect no miracles—except those epiphanies that result from open hearts, the willingness to see the other side’s viewpoint, and a multitude of patience.

Sunni-Shiite Dialogue 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 emer-

gence today of the radical, violent Islamic extremists, ISIS-ISIL. As we 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 imPAGE A7

siasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew.

One such moment of grace will be, again this year, the “24 Hours for the Lord” initiative, which invites the entire Church community to celebrate the sacrament of Reconciliation in the context of Eucharistic adoration.

In 2018, inspired by the words of Psalm 130:4, “With you is forgiveness”, this will take place from Friday, 9 March to Saturday, 10 March. In each diocese, at least one church will remain open for twenty-four consecutive hours, offering an opportunity for both Eucharistic adoration and sacramental confession.

During the Easter Vigil, we will celebrate once more the moving rite of the lighting of the Easter candle. Drawn from the “new fire”, this light will slowly overcome the darkness and illuminate the liturgical assembly.

“May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds”, and enable all of us to relive the experience of the disciples on the way to Emmaus. By listening to God’s word and drawing nourishment from the table of the Eucharist, may our hearts be ever more ardent in faith, hope and love.

With affection and the promise of my prayers for all of you, I send you my blessing. Please do not forget to pray for me. ***

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 29-ApRIL 4, 2018

A

Court approves month-long US trip for Jinggoy

by ElizabEth

MarcElo Philstar.com

The Consultative Committee (Con-Com), tasked to review the 1987 Constitution, was given six months to come up with its recommendations to Congress before it convenes as a Constituent Assembly to amend the charter.

Malacañang photo

ConCom agrees ‘in principle’ to put right to ‘healthy environment’ in draft Constitution THE Constitutional Commission (ConCom) tasked to review the 1987 Charter has agreed, in principle, to put a provision in the draft Constitution promoting the right of the people to a “healthy environment.”

Retired chief justice Reynato Puno, ConCom chairman, said that by doing so “we are putting at par this right to a healthy environment with civil and political rights of the people.”

“Meaning to say, this right to a healthy environment will equally be demandable from the State and its agencies,” he said on Monday, March 26.

Puno said that environmental rights were not enshrined in the 1935, 1972 and even 1987 Constitutions.

“We begin with our 1935 Constitution, you’ll see that there is absolutely no provision regarding the protection and enhancement of the environmental rights of the people,” Puno said.

“We go to the 1973 Constitution. Again, you will see that that Constitution is also silent on this right of our people against environmental degradation,” he said.

He added: “In 1987 we adopted a new Constitution and you find the provision on environmental

rights in Article 2, Section 16 of the declaration of principles and that Section 16 consists of only of one sentence.

It said: “The State shall protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with of the rhythm and harmony of nature.”

“And so you will immediately discern like the prohibition on political dynasties that Section 16 is not a self-executing provision.

And that is the reason why Congress passes a lot of legislation in order to protect our environment,” Puno said.

“That is also the reason why Supreme Court has to promulgate this Writ of Kalikasan in 2010 in the exercise of its right to promulgate rules in order to protect the constitutional rights of the people and among them is the right to healthy environment,” he said.

Puno added, “So, this time around when we re-draft and revise the Constitution, we like to think it’s about time that we constitutionalize this provision.

And we tend to do this by putting in all these self-executing provisions in the bill of rights.”

“This is also aligned with the trend going on. The new Constitution of various countries

Duterte nixes separate security...

PAGE A5 in the city.

“The CAB, BBL, and the comprehensive peace process is not for the benefit of the MILF but about addressing the historical injustices suffered by the Bangsamoro communities,” MILF Implementing Panel Chairman Mohagher Iqbal said.

“The peace process hopes to achieve the contribution to the prosperity and resilience in Mindanao such as job opportunities for the youth, education for our children, infrastructures, incomes for home-grown businesses, and delivery of primary services especially to conflict-affected areas,” he also said. n

In pursuit of lasting peace

PAGE A6 possible.

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 Island.

In pursuit of lasting peace 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.

Understanding among the great civilizations 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-

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.

We in the UPF 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.

Excellencies, friends: Perhaps the time has now come for the President of South Korea to cross the 38th Parallel and journey to Pyongyang. Similarly, the leader of North Korea should take a glorious visit to Seoul. Something that the leaders of the two Koreas have not done before.

Today here in Seoul, 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

have already constitutionalized this right to good environment,” he said.

“This is also aligned with many agreements and treaties coming from the United Nations protecting the environment of the people. So in essence that is what we shall be putting in our draft Constitution in order to strengthen the right of our people to a healthy environment,” he said. (Bernadette Tamayo/ManilaTimes.net)

MANILA — Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada has been allowed to leave the country for one month despite a pending plunder case in connection with the multibillionpeso pork barrel fund scam.

In a hearing on Monday, March 26, the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division granted in open court Estrada’s motion to travel to the United States from April 30 to May 30 despite the vehement objection of the Office of the Ombudsman’s prosecution team.

In his motion filed on March 16, Estrada said he was invited by the group US Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG) to be a guest speaker in its annual general membership meeting to be held in Sterling Heights, Michigan on May 20, 2018.

Estrada attached in his motion an invitation letter signed

by USP4GG president William Dechavez.

“Our members would like to know the latest development in the Philippines, particularly those pertaining to the issues over extrajudicial killings, Dengvaxia mess and federalism plan,” the letter read.

“We know that you are in the thick of all these developments, and we are certain you can discuss the said issues thoroughly and accurately,” it added.

USP4GG is an organization of Filipinos based in the U.S. The group said the event will be attended by at least 80 of is members.

Medical consultation for shoulder pains Estrada said he will also have

Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada is facing a plunder case and 11 counts of graft before the Sandiganbayan’s Fifth Division.

Philstar.com photo by Elizabeth Marcelo

a medical consultation with an orthopedic surgeon at Stanford Hospital in connection with his recurring shoulder pains.

He said he will be accompanied by his wife Precy and their children Janella, Jolo, Julian and Jill during the trip.

Estrada said he had long promised his family, especially his son Julian, a vacation in the U.S. after the boy graduated from high school in March 2015. Estrada was at that time still in detention over his plunder case.

The Fifth Division granted Estrada’s motion despite the prosecution’s objection pointing out that because the former senator failed to submit a detailed itinerary for entire the trip, thus, it would be difficult for authorities to locate his whereabouts.

Estrada is facing a plunder case and 11 counts of graft before the Fifth Division in connection with the alleged misuse of millions

of pesos of his Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel during his term as a senator.

He is accused of receiving P183-million worth of kickbacks from the alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles in exchange for allocating portions of his PDAF from 2004 to 2012 to the latter’s bogus foundations for the supposed implementation of his livelihood projects.

The ombudsman, which filed the cases in June 2014, said Estrada’s projects turned out to be “ghost” or fictitious.

Estrada was detained at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center in Camp Crame, Quezon City since June 2014. But, on September 15, 2017 the Fifth Division allowed him to post bail on the ground of the supposed lack of evidence from the prosecution showing that he is the “main plunderer” in the case. n

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March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 29-ApRIL 4, 2018

VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal Carrying on Holy Week traditions

by AJPress

HOLy Week (Mahal na Araw) — March 25 to April 1 — has commenced on Palm Sunday and will culminate with Easter, which commemorates Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

For Filipinos who identify with the Christian faith, this final week of the Lenten season is a period for reflection. To do so, many participate in liturgies and devotions throughout the week.

Parishes and devout groups gather to host nightly evenings of recollection after Mass, retreats, or bible studies. In the Philippines, Pabása ng Pasyón is considered one of the oldest traditions, wherein people recite or chant the story of the Passion. It is typically prayed over a 24-hour period during the first few days of the week before an altar with an image of Jesus, flowers, and candles.

Palm Sunday This day marks Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Churchgoers take woven palm fronds (palaspás) to

Photo courtesy of the National Confectioners Association

Did you know? Fascinating facts about Easter A “Carozza” passes in front of the ancient stone church of Bantayan town, Bantayan Island, Cebu.

Inquirer.net photo by Trizer D. Mansueto

church for a priest’s blessing; this represents the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus.

“Filipinos take them home after Mass and attach them to the back of the main door of the house, or hang them in a corner, out of the

One of Batayan town’s processional tableaux showing Jesus being whipped by Roman soldiers.

Inquirer.net photo by Trizer D. Mansueto

by AJPress For Filipinos who identify with the Christian faith, this final week of the Lenten season is a period for reflection.

Photos from Pexels.com

belief that the palms will protect the household from danger,” writes catholicsandcultures.org.

Holy Thursday Also known as Maundy Thursday, it commemorates the Maundy (washing of the feet) and Last Supper Jesus had with the Apostles. According to scripture, Jesus washed the feet of the 12 apostles as a sign of humility and being of service to others. Many parishes in the U.S. and around the world reenact this ritual then continue with Mass.

Good Friday Mass is not celebrated during this day, as crosses, candles, and altar which remains bare. In the Philippines, particularly in the province of Pampanga, it has become a Good Friday tradition to act out the crucifixion and death of Jesus with men enduring the same suffering by self-flagellation or having nails hammered into their palms and feet. They believe that by doing this, their sins will be washed away.

Though these practices have been carried out for years, the Catholic Church does not condone them.

The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord takes place in the afternoon, around 3 p.m.

“We experience Our Lord’s Passion by hearing the Word of

God in the Liturgy of the Word, the Adoration of Jesus Crucified in the adoration of the Cross, and Jesus applies what he did on the Cross to each of us personally when we receive him in Holy Communion,” suggests the Station of the Cross Catholic Radio Network.

Other observations during this day include abstaining from eating meat, reflecting on the Seven Last Words of Jesus, and doing the Stations of the Cross, which means stopping at each station to say selected prayers and reflections.

Black Saturday The celebration of Easter Sunday events begin on Black Saturday and is when the Blessed Sacrament is returned to the tabernacle. The Easter Vigil, a liturgical practice, is an hours-long celebration of the resurrection of Christ. It is a special day during Holy Week, as it is when new Catholics are baptized. The priest celebrating the mass wears white for this occasion, as Jesus’ victory over death is a joyous time.

Practices like Visita Iglesia and Stations of the Cross and confession are part of the day for Filipinos who haven’t done them previously.

Easter Sunday Holy Week ends with Easter PAGE B3

ON Sunday, April 1, 2018, those of the Christian faith will mark the end of the 40-day Lenten season with Easter, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While the day is widely symbolized by the Easter bunny, dyed eggs, and chocolate, there is more to the holiday and the traditions associated with it.

As the holiday approaches this week, here are some fun facts that you can share around the dinner table.

• The date of Easter varies each year. It usually falls between March 22nd and April 25th. It is supposed to fall on the first Sunday after the full moon following March 21st.

• Good Friday is an official holiday in 12 U.S. states.

• The idea of the Easter Bunny with baskets of eggs started in Europe as the Easter Hare. The hare was originally a symbol of Easter for the Germans who came to America in the 18th century.

• Pretzels were once associated with the holiday because the twists of the pretzel were thought to resemble arms crossing in prayer.

• Easter is the second top-selling confectionery holiday after Halloween. Ninety percent of Americans plan to share treats during the holiday, the National Confectioners Association found in its recent survey.

• Peeps (marshmallow candies in the form of chicks and bunnies) are considered the top-selling non-chocolate Easter candy. Americans buy over 700 million of them.

• Decorating Easter eggs — traditionally called pysanka — represents the empty tomb. Christians believe that Easter eggs symbolize new life and resurrection.

• According to the Guinness Book of World Records the largest chocolate Easter egg ever made debuted in 2011. It was just over 34-ft high and weighed nearly 16,000 pounds. The largest chocolate bunny ever made weighed in at 6,635 pounds and was 12 feet tall; it took a team of four people in South Africa three days to sculpt it.

• The largest Easter egg hunt, was held in 2007 at Cypress Gardens Adventure Park in Winter Haven, Florida. It contained 501,000 eggs that were searched for by 9,753 children and their parents.

• The White House hosts an annual Easter Egg Roll on the front lawn. This tradition was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878.

B March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

Features

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‘MEN IN UNIFORM’ Kiana Valenciano speaks up on being barred from LA Fashion Week A movie to highlight the PNP’s good deeds

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

RecoRding star Kiana Valenciano, daughter of singer-actor gary Valenciano and talent manager Angeli Valenciano, told Philstar. com about what really happened during the recent Los Angeles Fashion Week, where she and six other Filipinos were denied from modeling the works of designers Resty Lagare, Rocky gathercole and elie Madi.

“You know a lot of people are expecting that na-stress ako, na na-sad ako. (that I am was stressed and saddened [by the incidednt]),” Kiana said. on the contrary, she faced the issue with optimism. “i think that all things happened for a reason,” she enthused during a recent launch by feminine pad brand.

While talking to reporters beside nadine Lustre, Kiana narrated her experience: “What happened was we were on our way and we were told that the show was cancelled,

nag-pull out ‘yung mga designers kasi ‘yung producer ayaw na magpalakad ng Filipina models (the designers pulled out [from the show] because the producers did not allow Filipina models to walk on the runway).” it can be recalled that Kiana, alongside former Miss earth Jamie Herell and other Filipinas, were invited to fly all the way from Manila to Los Angeles to participate in LA Fashion Week. But they were denied access to the show.

At first, netizens and fans of Kiana alleged that what happened was racial discrimination against the Filipina models. Later on, erik Rosete, a fashion designer and LA Fashion Week executive producer, clarified in a statement that the ban had nothing to do with discrimination. it is rather due to a financial squabble with Jacob Meir, the one who reportedly invited the Filipina models.

Kiana admitted that she also has not yet fully understood what happened. “You know what, we still try to figure that out. i think that in the

by aRlo

CustoDio ManilaTimes.net

Kiana Valenciano Photo from Instagram/@kianavee

next few days, everyone will know what really happened.” despite being unable to walk the runway, Kiana assured that she still had “a great trip” to LA. “i was able to meet the great fashion designers and we were able to shoot their roll, so masaya pa din (it was still fun!)”

Is reconciliation possible for Marian Rivera and Heart Evangelista?

THe rivalry between top Kapuso actresses Marian Rivera and Heart evangelista is said to date back in 2011, at the set of their movie “Temptation island.”

When Heart reportedly expressed excitement for the possibility of having a project with Marian’s then boyfriend (now husband) dingdong dantes, Marian allegedly threatened to have Heart trolled by fan clubs. on their way back to Manila from the shoot, the two have allegedly sorted things out. But when they got to the airport, Heart’s mom reportedly came with security personnel to her daughter’s rescue, and then demanded Marian to stay away from Heart.

Through the years, the stars have had cat fights fueled by their fans’ comparisons — ranging from their magazine covers, to their sexy calendars, to their similar-looking dolce & gabbana shirts that made fans argue “Who wore it better?”

Fast-forward to 2018, the rivalry between the two has been refreshed following dingdong’s possible participation in the 2019 elections. “if dingdong wins as congressman or senator, what will Marian and Heart do if they bump into each other at the State of the nation Address (SonA) red car-

Heart Evangelista and Marian Rivera Photos from Instagram/@iamhearte and Instagram/@marianrivera

pet?” some reports ask. during the recent opening of Longchamp’s new boutique in Rustan’s Makati, Philstar.com asked Heart on what she feels about Marian now and this is what she said. “i don’t have anything to do with that,” Heart first said.

What if she and Marian see each other at the senate, in which Heart’s husband Sen. Francis escudero is a member? “i have no comment. But for me, i’m pretty traumatized with what she did to me before, so i’d rather not have anything to do with them,” Heart explained.

A few days after the interview with Heart, Marian was asked

by Philstar.com on what she thinks about Heart and Karylle, dindong’s ex. This is how the actress responded in an interview following her launch as Mega Prime ambassador.

“Wala naman kaming problemang dalawa and we are okay.

Kasi hindi naman kami magplaplastikan kung magkita kami,” Marian said of Karylle. “Past is past, my god, it’s been 11 years!”

When asked about Heart, Marian said: “Since day 1 din, wala akong problema sa kanya, to be honest. At wala kayong narining sa’kin anything about her. Hindi ko lang alam sa kanya ha.” (Philstar. com)

PoLiceMen in recent years have often been portrayed by Filipino movies in a negative light. Such depictions may be hurtful to honest members of the uniformed force but hardly anyone is to blame what with characterizations generally based on everyday realities. in fact, the suspicion that generals are themselves criminals had been brought into the open by no less than President Rodrigo duterte, who says that a number of them are protectors of drug lords or drug lords themselves, heads of syndicates, or abettors of smuggling and human trafficking.

But the President is always quick to add that there are more good men than the crooks among the police force, regardless of their rank and medals. Taking on this positive side of those in active duty, an upstart movie company has come up with a project extolling the deeds of five members of the police force.

Simply titled “Men in Uniform,” the movie tells the story of five police officers essayed by Rayver cruz, Alfred Vargas, Rommel Padilla, Jeric Raval and empress Schuck. “it took us several casting combinations before we finally started the shoot,” producer Jose olinares of Active Media events Production told The Manila Times after the Memorandum of Understanding between his company and the directorate for Police community Relations group (PcRg) was signed at camp crame in Quezon city. olinares, who is also known as Jay-R Rosales in showbiz as a singer, said that after getting burned in his first movie production venture in 2014, he has chosen to focus on advocacy projects.

“My aim is not only to have a captive audience with advocacy movies such as this, which we can show across police headquarters in the country, but it also feels good to know that we’re doing what hasn’t been done before,” he elaborated. linares’ partner in bankrolling the production is executive producer Leonora Sy. She is married to a police officer from Region 1 and an adopted member of the Bagsay Lahi 2006 class.

A University of the PhilippinesBaguio BS communications grad-

(From left, seated) Jay-R Rosales, PCRG director PCSupt. Rhodel Sermonia, PCSupt. Elpidio Gabriel Jr. and Leonora Sy (standing from left) Bagsay Lahi Class 2006 president PCI Zyrus Michael Serrano, PSSupt. Remigio Sedanto, Karen Sy, director Neal Tan, PSSupt Bartolome Bustamante, PCI Christian Joy Alquiza, PSSupt. Marvin Joe Saro and PCI Grace De Castro

uate, the businesswoman said it was natural for her to invest in a project that would show police officers in a positive light after so many scandals that have rocked the institution.

PcRg director Police chief Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia meanwhile said during the short program that the police have a very challenging job within the community.

“We are seen in the streets but we are not felt in the community,” he stated, adding that besides maintaining peace and order, the police are also tasked to assist citizens in activities for the benefit of the neighborhood.

The movie, slated to show around police headquarters throughout the country in April, is comprised of true-to-life stories of police officers who embody the Philippine national Police (PnP) motto, “To serve and to protect.” chief inspector Rolando Ramos (played by Alfred Vargas) is being honored posthumously in the film for his bravery in leading a series of buy-bust operatives in different localities, in line with the PnP’s anti-illegal drugs campaign. He led his team in the successful arrest and neutralization of eight high value targets. He died in an armed encounter with the suspects.

Action star Jeric Raval (who made waves as the paramoursecurity aide of eula Valdez and father of nash Aguas in ABScBn’s primetime teleserye, “The good Son”) plays SPo2 conrado Baldemor. Baldemor is known for his extraordinary bravery and dedication to duty when he served as negotiator during a hostage-taking incident inside a public transport bus, and saved the lives of a twoyear-old child and two adult female

captives.

Rayver cruz is Po2 Jumeil Javier of the Police Security and Protection group, honored for stopping a robbery aboard a moving public bus that resulted to the neutralization of a trio of criminals, thereby saving the lives of all the passengers.

Rommel Padilla breathes life to the character of PSSupt. david Aragon who heads the Police district intelligence and operations Unit.

Aragon is behind the neutralization of some of Metro Manila’s most notorious car thieves, bank robbers and riding-in-tandem crooks.

The only woman whose valor is tackled in the movie is that of PSinsp. Melinda Mallari of WcPd Police, San Fernando, La Union.

Played by empress Schuck, the female police is hailed as one of the Ten outstanding Policewomen of the Philippines for bringing to court hundreds of cases involving abuses committed against women and children. directed by neal Tan (“Ataul For Rent,” “Tarima” and “Bigkis”), the project came into fruition from the combined ideas of the producers with Tan himself writing the script. “our policemen are still heroes in the eyes of few people. i am a living witness how there are police officers out there who go above and beyond the call of duty and have devoted their lives to the communities they serve,” the executive producer shared.

Sy ensures accuracy in the movie having closely worked with the PnP in Region 1’s criminal investigation and detection group (cidg), crime Laboratory and Regional internal Affairs. She is also a member of the PnP Regional Advisory council.

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Paulo Avelino on toughest scenes in ‘Goyo’

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

ExpEct more from paulo Avelino in the coming months with a slew of projects the ABScBN actor has been working on.

Most anticipated among them, of course, is the biopic “Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral” where he portrays the revered national hero Gregorio del pilar.

While excited for the public to see this historical epic, Avelino admits he feels tremendous pressure given the surprise success of its prequel, “Heneral Luna,” which box office garnered p250 million in 2015.

“Of course there is pressure from Heneral Luna so we know there are many people waiting to see Goyo. But our main goal here really is just to make a quality film,” Avelino shared with members of media during his launch as endorser of Berroca effervescent drink.

According to the 29-year-old actor, they are finished shooting the period movie which took them seven months.

“Matagal-tagal din namin ginawa ang ‘Goyo.’ We’ve 60 shooting days to be exact. this is aside from the days we needed to rehearse with the horses on how to jump and all that,” he added.

In February, the film’s producer tBA Studios (tuko Film productions, Buchi Boy Entertainment, and Artikulo Uno productions) gave a sneak peek into Goyo—a two-minuter showing Avelino in an underwater scene. the actor confirmed it was the hardest to shoot in the entire movie.

“Mahirap gawin dahil kailangan mong lumubog sa ilalim ng tubig at mag-panic. But I love being in the water; without moving I can hold my breath like a minute and 30 seconds to two minutes.

Paulo Avelino tells the story of revered Philippine national hero Gregorio del Pilar.

Photo courtesy of Buchi Boy Entertainment

“But when you have to act that you’re panicking it’s different—it’s harder but that’s what was required for the scene so you have to do it,” he explained.

“Another challenge for us was shooting in different locations.

We basically all shoot around Luzon—Ilocos, tarlac, Zambales, Batangas, Bulacan. Sometimes we had to go up in the mountains, which was tricky because only 4×4 off road cars can make the trip. And then there were times it rained when we got there, so mahirap at magulo.”

Avelino further shared how he had to do a lot of reading and research to give justice to his role, under the guidance of Jerrold tarog, the same director behind Heneral Luna.

“I had a lot of questions, so Direk Jerrold gave me a lot of reading materials—entire books photocopied for me!”

Asked how soon the public can meet Goyo, Avelino replied, “For now wala pang sinasabi kung kailan ipapalabas but I think it’s coming out by the end of this year.”

Besides Goyo, Avelino is also

busy with the teleserye “Asintado,” as well as shooting the movie “Kasal” with Bea Alonzo and Derek Ramsay.

“We’re about to finish the film.

I think it’s coming out either late this quarter or early next quarter. the film shows a very modern relationship, laging with complications pero ito medyo iniba lang nila ng konti. Linagyan nila ng konting twists para mag-adapt sa time natin ngayon and also para maiba,” Avelino imparted.

With so much on his plate right now, Avelino considers staying healthy his top priority in order to fulfill all his commitments in his truly thriving career.

“Like many of us today, I have a very active lifestyle. For me, every day is a big day, with varied commitments aside from very demanding production schedules for tV shows and movies that I treat as a blessing. Despite being busy, I keep healthy by continuing my passion for riding motorbikes; I also work out every week. For sure I have enough energy to keep a healthy balance of work and “me” time,” Avelino ended.

All is well between Loisa & Joshua

by Bot

glorIoso Philstar.com

LOISA Andalio couldn’t be any happier for being part of the ABScBN primetime drama the Good Son. You see, among the three young female leads including Elisse Joson and Alexa Ilacad, Loisa gets the most number of acting scenes with male leads Jerome ponce, Joshua Garcia and Jeric Raval whose respective characters are closely connected to her character Hazel which, Loisa revealed, was not originally intended for her. “the role wasn’t initially meant for me, but I am happy that Dreamscape entrusted it to me. For me, there is no big or small role.

What matters is you can do the job. playing Hazel gives me the opportunity to display my talent not just in acting but in singing as well,” said Loisa during a set visit at the clubhouse of tivoli Royale.

“It is seldom for an actor to get a project where singing is also a requirement, isn’t it? that’s why, I’m grateful for this.”

But this is not to say that Loisa feels at ease all the time. Her face turns red every time her character has to sing “because all eyes are on you lalo na ‘yung camera men, hahaha.” Add to that was the awkward feeling when she began working with Joshua during the earlier part of the soap.

Loisa shared, “Actually, it was tough, especially ‘pag may mga yakapan but as days went by, we somehow became comfortable with each other. there’s no awkward-

Joshua Garcia and Loisa Andalio are reunited in The Good Son where they both display impressive acting in spite of having moments of awkwardness during the first few days of taping.

Philstar.com photo by Bot Glorioso

ness anymore and it feels good to work without you avoiding someone.” It helped that the production team called their attention after their uneasiness became too visible onscreen. perhaps, curious minds are eager to know the reason behind it. Well, Loisa and Joshua were initially introduced as a loveteam right after their stint in pinoy Big Brother: All In four years ago. But, later on, they were paired up with other young stars. Joshua is now the other half of JoshLia loveteam with Julia Barretto, while Loisa was once partnered with Jerome and at present, she is “lovey-dovey” with Ronnie Alonte.

According to Loisa, they both put priority on their work and so they could no longer keep in touch with

each other. “Siguro, dati tampotampo lang pero wala naman galit, di maiiwasan ‘yung tampuhan. It was me who was first paired with another actor and that time we were still okay. It just so happened that we both became too busy.”

It’s only in “the Good Son” that Loisa and Joshua have been able to work together again after quite some time. At present, Loisa said that everything is well between her and Joshua.

Apparently, observers were impressed with the two stars’ professionalism as they appear naturally sweet onscreen. In a separate interview, Joshua said he doesn’t see any problem working with Loisa, except of course, at the start of their taping where they both felt uncomfortable.

Carrying on BCHS 1977-78 REUNION. ‘Magkita-kita po Holy Week... tayo Batch 77-78 - Binangonan Catholic PAGE B1 Sunday, which begins with the pre-dawn rite called salubong (welcoming), marking christ reuniting with the Virgin Mary after his resurrection. Salubong starts with two separate processions from opposite ends of the community with a statue of Mary at one end and one of Jesus at the other. they eventually meet at a midpoint, during which an angel (usually portrayed by a young girl) lifts the black veil of sadness called lambong from Mary. this symbolizes the end of her mourning as Jesus christ will have risen.

“Men typically accompany the statue of christ, and women, still in mourning until they meet christ, accompany the statue of Mary. the meeting is an occasion for joy and celebration,” according to catholicsandcultures.org.

After this, many families proceed to participate in more festive, non-religious customs that symbolize Easter, such as egg hunting, the Easter bunny, parades, and a feast.

Although the Filipino Holy Week has more recently been associated with activities other than those related to religious ones, many devout catholics still use the holy days (and, for those in the philippines, the time off) to do what is meant to be done in that time: reflect, pray and remember the life and suffering of christ.

High School sa darating na April 7, 2018!’

The 2018 batch of Binibinis is said to be the brainiest by far, from left: Samantha Bernrdo, 2nd Runner-up; Michele Gumabao, 25, 5’9”, Bb. Pilipinas Globe, from Quezon City; Eva Patalinjug, 25, 5’7”, Bb. Pilipinas Grand International, Cebu City; Catriona Gray, 25, 5’10”, Miss Universe Philippines, Albay; Ma. Ahtisa Manalo, 20, 5’8”, Bb. Pilipinas International, Quezon Province; Jehza Huelar, 23, 5’8”, Bb. Pilipinas Supranational, Davao City; Karen Gallman, 25, 5’5”, Bb. Pilipinas Intercontinental, Bohol; and Vickie Rushton, 1st Runner-up.

Photo courtesy of BPCI

Getting to know this year’s winner of Bb. Pilipinas news to rebuilding Marawi. they proved that beauty is more than Philstar.com skin deep.

On stage, the girls showed tHE opening question was: Do grace under pressure. Let’s see you have a boyfriend? the girls gave honest an- how they fare in this conversation off stage, conducted at the swers: • Michele (volleyball player, 24th-floor lounge of Novotel (at daughter of actor/Ex-Q.c. Rep. Araneta center in Quezon city) Dennis Roldan, sister of actor on tuesday, March 20, two days Marco Gumabao): Yes. His name after the pageant.

If you ventured into showbiz, is Aldo panlilio (assistant coach of phoenix), boyfriend of two what role would you like to do and who would you pick as years.

• Eva (niece of director-pro- leading man?

• Michele: Actually, I’ve been ducer carlo J. caparas and his late wife Donna Villa whose real hosting for the past year and name was Marian patalinjug): I’ve tried acting. I’d love to do Yes, he’s Francis Lim, also from a kontrabida role with xian Lim cebu. We’ve been dating for a who is tall. Most of my showbiz long time. Late last year, he pro- friends are shorter than me.

• Eva: My Uncle carlo always posed and I said, “Yes!” But with my Bb. title, he has to wait until included me in his movies. If ever, I’d choose coco Martin as my one-year reign is over.

• Ahtisa (an accountant): my leading man. He’s a good None. No boyfriend since birth actor.

• Ma. Ahtisa: A spy role, some(NBSB).

• catriona (fashion and com- thing like charlie’s Angels, I mercial model, singer-song- want to be a police officer so writer, spent years in Australia maybe I can incorporate that where her father hails from): Yes. into the role. My leading man?

He’s clint Bondad (a century Jericho Rosales.

• catriona: A badass role, a Superbod runner-up and a Viva girl who comes out of nowhere contract artist).

• Jehza (B.S. Finance gradu- and who kicks ass. I have a Black ate): Yes. He’s pJ (peter June) Belt in taekwondo and I could make use of it. I would have to Simon, a pBA player.

• Karen (also spent time in agree with Michele…yes, with Australia): Yes. His name is Ian xian Lim. Height is a big factor because I’m 5’10”.

Garton, from Australia.

• J e h z a : S o m e Staged at the Big Dome Sunday (March 18) last week, the thing na chill lang, like the roles 2018 Bb. pilipinas pageant start- played by cara Delevingne…with ed with 40 hopefuls, with the Ian Veneracion, I’m super in number winnowed down to 25 love with him, hahaha!!! Hinand then to the top 15 finalists di nakakasawang tingnan ang who beautifully (read: sensi- kaguwapuhan niya.

• Karen: I love action movbly and substantially) acquitted themselves in the Q&A that cov- ies, like tomb Raider; and ered issues ranging from fake also, drama, like thalia in Maby rIcky lo

rimar and Rosalinda which I watched when I was growing up in Bohol. Leading man?

Dingdong Dantes!!! (Karen did an indie called Bad Romance. As a kid, she joined “Eat, Bulaga!”

Little Miss philippines search.)

Sexual harassment is very much in the news. What would you advise women so that they could avoid or stop being victimized?

• Michele: It’s important that they are aware of the people around them and what their boundaries are. they just have to be strong and know where they stand. Don’t be scared to voice out how you feel because there are always people who will help you. I have attended self-defense classes but I don’t think it would be of much help when you are in that situation, so…you just have to run fast!

• Eva: My advocacy has something to do with anti-harassment and sexual exploitation. A lot of children are victimized right at their homes. So everybody…not only women and children but also men…has to be vigilant because it can happen to you anytime. Education is really very important and, like what Michele said, awareness.

• Ma. Ahtisa: I don’t think it’s the women’s fault that they are being harassed. We should teach boys and men that we should have respect for everyone, especially women. It’s sad that women, and even boys, are victims of harassment.

• catriona: I think we should divert the conversation to what women can do to avoid being in such a situation, to stop people from committing the actual PAGE B6

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B March 29-april 4, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

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Miss Universe-Philippines 2018 Catriona Filipino balladeer Bert Nievera dies at 81 in Las Vegas Gray: First the world, now the universe

by Pocholo

concePcion Inquirer.net

By Monet

Lu

JUST when you thought you have seen it all, a new queen makes history by winning Miss World Philippines and Miss Universe-Philippines, making her the first Filipino beauty queen to have conquered ‘both worlds’ It was back in October 2016 when Catriona Gray won Miss World Philippines. She won many of the special awards that night and impressed the judges with her answer during the Q&A round. She went to represent the Philippines in the Miss World pageant held in December of the same year. She performed well during the talent competition and won 3rd runner-up. She also received special awards such as the Multimedia Award, 2nd place in Talent, and Top 5 finalist for Beauty with a Purpose project.

For most beauty titleholders, winning once is enough, but not with Gray. Last January 18, she walked into the Binibining Pilipinas, Charities Incorporated (BPCI) office to submit her application for the Binibining Pilipinas 2018 pageant. Without a doubt, she made it to the official line up of candidates.

Two months later, Gray was crownedMiss Universe-Philippines 2018 during the coronation night held at Araneta Coliseum, Cubao, Quezon City on Sunday, March 18.

Gray was a favorite by the audience that night and I don’t blame them. It was obvious from the numerous awards she won that she has the looks and the stance to represent the Philippines — for the second time. Gray was named as the first winner of the first-ever Pitoy Moreno National Costume Award and won Best in National Costume in a Mindanao-inspired Jason Demavivas ensemble. She went on to win five of the 11 minor and major special awards, including Jag Denim Queen, Miss Ever Bilena, Best in Swimsuit, and Best in Long Gown.

In the much-awaited Question and Answer portion, Gray was the last of the contestants called via

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Miss Universe-Philippines 2017 passed on the crown to Catriona Gray on Sunday, March 18 at the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Photo courtesy of BPCI

draw lots. One of the judges, U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Yong Kim, asked her: “After the devastating war, Marawi is now on its way to recovery. What is your message to the young women of Marawi?”

“Thank you for that question.

My answer and my message to the women is to be strong. As women, we’re the head of the household and we have amazing influence not only in our families, as mothers, sisters and friends, but also in our community. If we could get the women to stay strong and be that image of strength for the children and the people around them, then once the rebuilding is complete and is underway, the morale of the community will stay strong and high. Thank you,” Gray confidently answered.

And that, my friends, is the reason she was crowned Miss Universe-Philippines 2018.

Other winners of the night were: Maria Ahtisa Manalo (Bb. Pilipinas-International 2018); Jehza Mae Huelar (Bb. PilipinasSupranational 2018; Eva Psychee Patalinjug (Bb. Pilipinas-Grand International 2018); Karen Juanita Gallman (Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2018); Michele Theresa Gumabao (Bb. Pilipinas-Globe 2018); Vickie Marie Rushton (Bb. Pilipinas 2018 1st Runner-up) and Samantha Mae Bernardo (Bb. Pilipinas 2018 2nd Runner-up).

It is quite ironic that Gray would represent the Philippines again, let alone join a pageant twice. In her interview in 2016, she said she was surprised to have joined the Miss World competition.

“I don’t know. I was even kind of surprised myself. I didn’t

expect it because I kind of look at the whole pageantry thing in a certain light before. And all of a sudden, parang overnight, I saw it in a different perspective and I looked at it as the heart of it is the advocacy. So that’s what made me fall in love with it. So that’s why I’m joining Miss World,” she said.

Born in Queensland, Australia, Catriona has an Australian father, Ian Gray, while her mom, Normita Ragas Magnayon, is from Albay, which is why she represented Albay in Binibining Pilipinas.

A Taekwondo black belter, Catriona earned a Masters Certificate in Music Theory from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. She also has a Certificate in Outdoor Recreation. Apart from being the lead singer of her school’s jazz band, she starred in local “Miss Saigon” productions.

After taking up high school in Australia, she moved to Manila, where she became a top model at the age of 18.

Congratulations to Catriona Gray. You have my support and remember, “Victory (like love) is lovelier the second time around.” ***

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

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BERT Nievera, one of the country’s most popular balladeers in the 1960s, died on Monday, March 26, (Tuesday, Philippine Time) in Las Vegas, at age 81, his son Martin Nievera confirmed in a post on his Instagram page.

Born Roberto Jose “Bert” dela Cruz Nievera in Baguio, the aspiring singer joined amateur contests in his hometown as well as in Manila, where he won in the search for the Johnny Mathis of the Philippines on the TV show “Student Canteen.”

His professional singing career flourished in the local club scene, until he accepted an offer to go to the United States, where he spent many years performing. He went on to become a member of the Hawaii-based vocal group Society of Seven.

Bert Nievera performs with son Martin Nievera.

In recent years, he has been living in Las Vegas in the past decade and suffered from poor health in the last few years until his confinement in the hospital

Contributed photo by Bert Eljera

last week for severe infection.

At his bedside when he died were Martin, Vicky and Rachel – his children with Inquirer Lifestyle columnist Conchita Razon.

Iya Villania is doing it again

by Jerry

Donato Philstar.com

Philippines.” She is still at it and brings her bubbly personality that ALTHOUGH viewers do not is “easy on the eyes.” Iya and host expect her to impersonate Britney Michael V. help Kapuso enjoy their Spears by singing “Oops I Did It weekend dose of musical-reality Again,” Iya Villania is doing it again competition through celebrity-bat— as color commentator — in the tlers’ outrageous, amusing performances. third season of GMA 7’s “Lip “I will be just as colorful,” said Sync Battle Iya on her hosting stint in the Sunday show, which premieres on April 1, during a media call.

“A lot of it also depends on what I see. I feed off what I’m watching and what I’m seeing.”

A loving wife to husband Drew Arellano and a doting mom to Primo, Iya added that “Lip Sync Battle Phl” is “easy to enjoy. It is really so much fun. Kuya Bitoy and I get shocked (every episode) because we don’t watch (the battlers’) rehearsals. Nagugulat na lang kami na parang. ‘Oh my god, nakita mo yun? Grabe yung flip niya.’”

Her work as color commentator sees Iya Iya and host Michael V. provide Kapuso their weekend dose of to be objective, musical-reality competition. especially with

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her opinions, which should not sound “aral” or scripted. After all, Iya is not privy to what celebritybattlers will do on the show.

“They keep it (the production number) in secret,” she said. “Ayaw nga nilang lumabas baka maiba pa ang gimik nila.”

With that game plan of the battlers, Iya has the front row experience of witnessing something new and exciting. “We get surprised every time, every week,” she said.

What also amazes Iya is the hard work and dedication that battlers put into their performances.

“There’s no prize at stake. It’s really just the bragging rights,” she said. “Kaya nakakatuwa despite na walang premyo, walang cash prize whatsoever, although they can take home the belt, kinakareer pa rin nila ang production numbers nila.”

The engagement of the viewers with the battlers is anticipated to be higher as the new season is touted as grander.

“We have three-way battles and four-way battles,” Iya said. “That only means it’s not just twice the fun, it’s not just twice the kwela or lokohan o kalokohan. It’s three times or four times depending on episodes. (The show is) also unpredictable. You don’t know what week or when we’re going to have a three-way battle or a four-way battle. There’s a variety.”

The past two seasons had only two-way battles, where participants, impersonating particular PAGE B6

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. Eric WElsh & NANcy MillEr When President Trump gave his State of the Union speech in January, he warned about the threat of “chain migration,” claiming (incorrectly) that “a single immigrant can bring in virtually unlimited number of distant relatives.” he proposed “fixing” this “problem” by limiting sponsorships to spouses and children. In effect, President Trump proposed eviscerating American family-based immigration in the supposed interest of preventing terrorists from immigrating to the U.S. In truth, the dangers of “chain migration” are more myth than reality. America’s family-based immigration process is inherently limited, with procedural hurdles that mitigate most of the dangers that anti-immigrant fear-mongers profess. The real danger, however, is that America’s im-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MoNEttE AdEvA MAglAyA ThIS Lenten season, it is a good idea to ponder the life of Saint Paul.

Paul, aka Saul of Tarsus, lived more than two thousand years ago. he had something to say about what does matter in life. he spoke about a special kind of love that in Greek is called Agape (ah-gah-pay).

Agape is unconditional love, a kind of love that has no agenda or motivations, a kind of love that is exemplified in God sending his only Son, a kind of love that if emulated by humans, sets us apart from all of God’s creatures, makes us a little closer to the angels and truly created in God’s own image and likeness.

But Paul didn’t start out as a defender of the Christian faith. he was, in fact, an avid persecutor feared by early Christians. As a Jew and a Pharisee who was also an educated man and a class above because he was a Roman citizen, he used everything in his power and position to quash the growth of the church persecuting the members of the then budding Christian church.

Saul was his Jewish name. Paul was his Roman name. Paul stood by watching the cloaks of the stone throwers, tacitly approving the stoning of Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr.

Paul was a young, rising brilliant star of his time eager to make his mark in the Judaic tradition. At first, Paul was hot and bothered by the intensity of the love and fervency of the Apostles and early believers.

This start-up movement was a threat to his career track and his Judaic core belief system.

Paul thought he was going to make it his life’s work to elimi-

Health@Heart PhiliP s. chuA, Md, FAcs, FPcs Why do cardiac surgeons stop the heart during surgery?

The conventional technique in coronary bypass surgery includes, among other elaborate procedures, arresting the heart in order for the surgeon to have a quiet (non-beating) and “bloodless” field to do the delicate stitching connection on the tiny (size of a round toothpick) arteries on the surface of the heart. The patient is protected with a heart-lung machine (Pump) that provides circulation and oxygenation while the heart is not beating.

After the completion of the coronary bypass, normal heart beat resumes. With additional hands-on specialized training, the cardiac surgeon is able to do coronary bypass on a beating heart, amazingly as it may sound. The procedure is called OPCAB (OffPump Coronary Artery Bypass), a minimally invasive technique that does not require the use of the Pump and the coronary bypass is performed on a beating heart. At the Cebu Cardiovascular Center of Cebu Doctors’ hospital, we have found this technique since 1998 to be most advantageous for appropriately selected heart patients, who recover faster and go home sooner.

What causes diarrhea in babies?

There are various possible causes of diarrhea in infants, but most common cause is viral intestinal infection due to enteroviruses. Other causes are bacteria (salmonella, shigella, e. coli, campylobacter), food or milk allergy, food poisoning (contaminated food, shellfish, mushrooms)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • MARch 29-ApRIL 4, 2018

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The myth of ‘chain migration’ and the reality of family unity migration laws are not sacred; they are subject to the whims and wills of politicians (and the people who elect them). If lawmakers (or their constituents) believe in the false dangers that anti-immigrant hardliners disseminate, or if Congress simply seeks a compromise to appease hardliners, Trump could get his way, and certain family-based categories could be lost.

Family unification is a fundamental right, and one of the bedrock principles of U.S. immigration law. America has historically defended the right of a citizen or a permanent resident to bring certain close family members to the U.S. The process requires filing a petition with the Department of homeland Security to classify a relative for immigration purposes. If the petition is approved, the relative needs to wait for a visa to become available.

Once available, the relative can apply for a green card.

The right to file a petition for a family member is not absolute.

Only certain persons can file

petitions for certain relatives. A U.S. citizen can file a petition for a spouse, parent, child, or sibling.

A permanent resident (green card holder) can file a petition for a spouse or an unmarried child. neither can file a petition for a grandparent, an aunt or uncle, a niece or nephew, or a cousin.

Derivatives of the beneficiary family member (spouses and children) can apply for visas when they are available, but if children age out (i.e., turn 21) before the visa is ready, they may not be able to join.

Once a petition is approved, the beneficiary family member needs to wait for a visa to become available. The wait time for visa availability can range from months to decades. For example, a petition filed today from a U.S. citizen on behalf of a brother in the Philippines would result in a visa available in about 25 years.

When the visa is available, the family member needs to apply for a visa, submit to rigorous background and security screening, and overcome any

grounds of inadmissibility (bars to immigrating). Simply filing a petition and getting that petition approved is not enough—it is only the beginning of a long road to immigrating.

So, with wait times in some categories exceeding 10-20 years, and with the procedural hurdles and other barriers in place, is filing a petition even worth it? There are at least three reasons to consider filing a petition now: First, you’ve got to start somewhere, and the earlier the better.

The sooner the petition is filed, the sooner the visa will be available. Years will pass, and for some, family sponsorship is the only means to immigrate. Additionally, not every family-based petition will take 25 years to ripen into a visa. Severe backlogs tend to occur in the categories for siblings and married sons and daughters, with backlogs tending to be worse in Mexico, India, the Philippines, and China. Immedi-

ate relatives (spouses, children, and parents of U.S. citizens) are not subject to backlogs, regardless of the country of origin.

Second, the petition could be the basis for some other benefit aside from the visa. For example, petitions filed before April 30, 2001 can, in some instances, “grandfather” an intending immigrant, allowing the immigrant to apply for a green card in the U.S. when she would not otherwise have been eligible. There may be something like “grandfathering” in the future that would benefit a person who has a petition filed now.

Finally, with so much talk about the “dangers” of “chain migration,” there is a real concern that Congress could pass a law that would abolish certain family-based categories, like siblings or married children. Anyone who can file a petition for a relative should file the petition, before they lose the right to do so.

If you are a U.S. citizen or a

permanent resident with foreign family members, consider talking to an immigration lawyer to learn more about the family-based immigration process. Family unity is a core national value, and families make communities stronger.

We are a nation of immigrants, strong because we are diverse.

We should not turn our backs on our history and our values. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

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Love as the center of gravity Calendar of Events across America “All you need is love.”

— Lennon-McCartney

nate Christ’s early followers and eradicate what Christ himself has started. If murder and mayhem were the tools to get it done, he was going to use them.

But God had other plans for Paul. On his way to Damascus on a mission to arrest and persecute Christians, a blinding light shone on him. he fell off his horse while Jesus’ voice is heard asking him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” This dramatic, miraculous conversion when he temporarily became blind was a critical juncture for the Christian church.

Inspired by the holy Spirit who suffused his entire being when the scales of his blindness fell off his eyes, Paul’s teachings and writings have an eternal shelf life - true today, as it was then, and will be for much of human history.

In the quiet of your soul during this holy season amid troubled times, read the gospels. Also, you just might discover the exquisite beauty, range and depth of human emotions made known to God, contained in the Psalms, all 150 of them. And then read Paul.

You’ll be surprised at the clarity and current relevance of many of his writings to today’s unfolding history. he has a wealth of wisdom to share with anyone seeking meaning in a confusing world seemingly hell bent on self-immolation.

In a swirling fast-paced technological world full of self–love, vanity, illusions and artifice that only tend to distort and act as centrifugal forces pushing God away as the center of our lives, Paul’s directives make absolute sense. his words have the power to keep us all centered, as they

were intended to be, not on ourselves, but on God. Ironically, it’s like being in the eye of the storm where there is peace while swirling forces rage about in the periphery.

This one below, if etched in many hearts and minds and lived out in our daily rounds through thoughts and more specifically in even the tiniest of actions, particularly in couples, already married or planning marriage in the foreseeable future, could remarkably bring down the alarming rate of break-ups and a whole universe of heartaches among couples.

This has the power to preserve FAMILIeS, the last best hope of humanity on steroids.

These days, the very structure and integrity of the family unit are heavily assaulted from many fronts with popular culture, hollyweird, media and the internet leading the charge at a time when the church has been rendered weak by internal abuses and scandals in the not so distant past.

Thankfully, the persecutions of Christians around the world which was at a terrifying, alarming rate and intensity in the past 8 years, is coming down and with prayer and fasting among millions on bended knees, will bring forth a strong and fervent resurgence of a stronger Christian faith in most parts of the world.

FeAR nOT. Let not our hearts be troubled. As history will bear and as written in the song, “Canticle of the Turning,” which is based on the Blessed Mother Mary’s “Magnificat,” it is when the church is at its most vulnerable, when the forces of heaven align to defend itself and go on PAGE B6

‘Stop the heart?’ parasites (ascaris, giardia), from side effect of antibiotics they are taking, and Rotavirus infection (the worst). There are no effective drugs for viral intestinal infection.

Over-the-counter drugs for diarrhea can be dangerous for infants and younger children. These medications usually worsen the intestinal injury by transferring valuable fluid and salt (sodium) out of the circulating blood stream into intestinal walls, leading to swelling of the intestines. This fluid “escape” (transfer) dehydrates the baby even when the diarrhea appears to have stopped.

Dehydration is very dangerous in infants and young children. Dehydration can kill within matter of hours. Oral fluid replacement for mild diarrhea, and intravenous fluid infusion for more severe ones are the treatment of choice, and each works wonders. When diarrhea occurs, seek medical consultation the same day. A delay may jeopardize the life of your child.

Why do lungs collapse?

Pneumothorax (medical term for collapsed lungs) literally means “air (pneumo) inside the chest cavity (thorax),” causing the lungs to collapse. normally, the spongy lungs inside the chest are like inflated balloons inside a sealed airtight cavity. There is no air inside the chest cavity; the air is inside the balloons (lungs) only, which our body uses for oxygenation and removal of carbon dioxide (air exchange during breathing). As a matter of fact, there is a vacuum (negative pressure) inside the chest, which is one factor that keeps the lungs inflated. The outer surfaces of the lungs all around are hugging the inside wall of the chest cavity, smack against the chest wall, with no space between them but a

vacuum. Any opening in the chest wall or laceration of the lungs (like stab wound or gunshot wound) will make the negative pressure inside the chest (vacuum) rapidly suck in air from the environment, which is positive (higher) pressure, into the chest cavity. Since the chest is a fixed, unyielding, cavity, surrounded by ribs all around, the air that is suck in accumulates and fills up the chest, putting pressure, squeezing and crowding out the soft and spongy lungs, causing them to collapse.

The treatment is inserting a chest tube to suck OUT the air inside the chest and allow the lungs to expand and function properly.

Do steroid inhalers help prevent asthmatic attacks?

In combination with steroid pills, yes, inhalers with steroids cut down asthmatic attacks by 50 percent, according to Brian h.

Rowe, M.D., lead researcher of the University of Alberta in edmonton in an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Those who presented to the emergency Rooms and sent home only on steroid pills had more relapses, compared to those discharged on steroid pills and nasal inhaler with steroids.

Do herbal medications increase the risk of surgery? herbal drugs like Gingko, ginseng, or garlic can cause increased risk of excessive bleeding and other complications among patients undergoing surgery, according to an article from the Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago published in the Journal of the American Medication Association. These medications, taken by about 12 percent of Americans, interact with drugs prescribed for surgery, increasing the potency of anesthetic agents, and preventing normal clotting of blood. St. PAGE B6

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 M A R c h 29

Immigration forum in Anaheim, CA There will be a FREE immigration forum on Thursday, March 29 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Brookhurst Community Center (2271 Crescent Ave., Anaheim, CA 92801). RSVP is a MUST to attend. No registration fee required. Please contact (714) 657-7460 or admin@globallawcenters. com. Attendees will be able to get information on the following topics: How to find H-1B/green card sponsoring companies, tips for a successful H-1B interview, job placement assistance for qualified applicants with start-ups in Orange County, and a list of top 100 H1-B employers in the OC. Global Law Centers strives to inform the immigrant community of its rights and make sure it is knowledgeable about what immigration processes might be available. The forum will also update everyone about new and recent changes which may affect immigrants and their families.

Refreshments will be provided to all attendees. For more information about Global Law Centers, please visit www.globallawcenters.com.

A p R I L 1 1 -1 3

Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC The Advancing Justice Conference is the signature event in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community focusing on civil rights and social justice happening on April 11-13, This three-day, bi-annual convening is hosted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice. It provides a unique forum to learn from issue area experts and community leaders, discuss common challenges and opportunities, share best practices, and find more effective ways to work collaboratively. This year, community leaders from across the U.S. will come together in Washington, D.C. at the Hyatt Regency Hotel. To register, please visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018advancing-justice-conference-april-11-13-registration-39652865789.

ApRIL 14

SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura in Queens, NY AFTA presents its latest fundraising event - “SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura” – a cultural dinner show featuring the internationally recognized dance troupe from the Philippines, the Leyte Dance Theater, which will kick off their USA TOUR 2018 in NYC. The event is on April 14, 2018, 3:00 pm at the Rock Church in Woodside, Queens. “Salida” aims to raise funds and awareness to support the flagship projects of the Association of Fil-am Teachers of America, Inc. (AFTA) with their partners: The Rock Churches Worldwide and the Leyte Biliran & Samar Federation.

Proceeds of this fundraiser will finance AFTA’s projects in the Philippines like Adopt a School (Marawi City, Biliran and Albay, Adopt a Scholar, and Balikturo). For Sponsorship opportunities, contact Roxanne at 347-932-6631 or Nitz at 862-368-1706 or any AFTA officer/board member.

Philippine Medical Association of Southern CA to hold inaugural ball in Anaheim, CA The Philippine Medical Association of Southern California (PMASC) and its auxiliary will be holding its biennial inaugural ball on Saturday, April 14 at the Anaheim Marriott (700 W Convention Way, Anaheim, CA). This grand occasion will be attended by several Filipino physicians and its guests to raise funds for humanitarian purposes, specifically its outreach programs including medical missions to the Philippines and Southern California. The association has been conducting such purposes for 46 years since its founding in 1971. For more information and tickets, please contact Dr. Emma Arella at (661) 794-3322, Dr. Ellen Abejuela at (909) 859-4865 or PMASC Executive Office at (562) 572-2481.

ApRIL 30

East West Players’ 52nd Visionary Awards & Silent Auction in Los Angeles East West Players celebrates its 52nd Anniversary at the Annual Visionary Awards Dinner & Silent Auction. The Visionary Awards laud the achievements of individuals who have raised the visibility of the Asian Pacific American (APA) community through their craft. Proceeds from the gala will benefit East West Players’ educational and artistic programs. It will be held at the Hilton Universal City (555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City, CA 91608) on Monday, April 30. At 5:30 p.m., VIP Reception*, silent auction, and registration begin. Dinner and awards show begin at 7:00 p.m. For more information, please visit: http://www.eastwestplayers.org/news/east-west-players-52nd-anniversary-visionary-awards-dinner-and-silent-auction/.

M Ay 3 -1 2

34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival The 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 3 - May 12, 2018 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 4,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific American and international cinema. To learn about Visual Communications, visit www.vconline. org.

JUNE

Kalayaan Incorporated presents Philippine Independence gala in Los Angeles Kalayaan Incorporated, Southern California’s foremost celebrant of Philippine Independence will host the celebration of the 120th anniversary of the proclamation of Philippine Independence on June 9, at the Universal Hilton Hotel, Universal City, California. For more information, contact Erlinda Granada-Sabah at (562) 682-9576; or Malou Perez at mperez0813@ aol.com.

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

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The Asian American Group to celebrate first annual Asian Culture Day ON Friday, May 18, the Asian American Group (AAG) will celebrate the first annual Asian Culture Day. The event will be held at the Conference Center of Las Vegas (6590 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119), and will start at 6 p.m. There will be a variety of Asian dishes and cultural performances at the celebration.

The primary goal of the Asian Culture Day celebration is to invite and unite the Asian nations of the

world, and to educate and share their respective cultures in order to achieve greater understanding and fellowship between nations.

The annual Asian Culture Day was established by Senate Bill 175, which proclaims every 18th of May as Asian Culture Day in the state of Nevada. The bill was introduced and authored by State Senator Scott Hammond, and was signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval last year. The bill gives recognition to the Asians

and Asian-Americans who were instrumental in the settlement and early development of the State of Nevada; the culture and traditions shared by Asians and Asian-Americans; and the Asian and Asian-American communities that continue to make important contributions to the cultural, Care Mobile’s new look and state-of-the-art equipment takes dental care directly into the neighborhoods of children who need it most. religious, political, and business environment.

To purchase tickets visit https:// www.asianamericangroup.org/ saac-2/.

Getting to know this year’s winner of Bb. Pilipinas PAGE B3 crime. There are people who say that women shouldn’t go out at night or shouldn’t wear this kind of clothes, but it shouldn’t be us women trying to avoid it, it just shouldn’t happen. It’s the victim mindset and I don’t believe in that. Education should start early on, especially in schools. In Nigeria, they put up a “no means no” program where they teach selfdefense to girls and that can give you the confidence that you are strong enough. They also teach the girls how to tell boys how to respect relationships and to ask permission from the girls…that no means no and empowering the boys to make the right choice which is not to commit harassment.

• Jehza: The education should start at home. I grew up with solid family values. I have five brothers so, more or less, I know and I understand how men think.

Friends tell me that how you project yourself is how people see you. Dapat if you have respect in yourself, people will also respect you. It’s true not only among women but also men and transgender…everybody! We should focus not just on one gender but all genders.

• Karen: The girls have said it all. You have to be really aware; education is very important. You have to know how to stand up, it’s a courageous thing to do, and if you don’t, there could be consequences. You set a standard not only for yourself but also for everyone around you. Men should also realize that cases of harassment shouldn’t be tolerated.

In beauty contests, candidates always talk about gender equality. If you were a

man, what kind would you be and who would be your role model?

• Michele: I would be like my dad. He’s a good provider, a good person; he’s very good with people. He taught me how to fight in life, to always win and to always give my best.

My mom (former Pitoy Moreno model Lollie Imperial) is a great balance but my dad was my inspiration as I grew up. He treated the family very well; he love(s) my mom. I saw true love in them.

My parents brought us up the right way.

• Eva: My dad (businessman and Lapu-Lapu City Councilor Eduardo Patalinjug). He was my first love. I always go to him for advice.

• Ma. Ahtisa: I don’t have someone in mind but if I were a man, I would be caring, independent and true.

• Catriona: I am an only child and my dad (Ian Gray, an Australian) was the only man that I really got to know. I’ve learned from my dad so many things. If I were a man, I would be a provider who always looks after his family; I would be sensitive like my dad who is tough on the outside but with me and my mom, he’s like a Teddy Bear.

• Jehza: My dad is an OFW, a seaman, and I would be like him.

He has a compassionate heart.

He taught us how to have faith, and if you have faith you will be contented with what you have.

As a whole, you are happy with small things.

• Karen: I’m getting emotional. My dad (Gavin Gallman, an Australian) passed away two years ago. I love him to bits. He instilled in me the self-aware-

ness that nothing is ever handed to you for free, that you have to work hard for it. I also look up to scientist Elon Musk. And, yes, (Australian actor) Hugh Jackman.

He’s handsome, super talented and an amazing father.

You are all ambassadresses of beauty. Given a position in government, what would you choose and why?

• Michele: I would love to be the President of the Philippines.

I’ve always been competitive; I’m used to being a leader. In the family, I am the breadwinner. If I had to shoot for a position, it might as well be the highest position.

• Eva (a registered nurse and second year Law student): I would be a councilor of LapuLapu City like my dad, then Lapu-Lapu’s congresswoman.

From there, maybe I would be the President of the Philippines after that. (“After me,” joked Michele.)

• Ma. Ahtisa: I would be part of the Philippine National Police (PNP)…or the head of PNP, why not? Since I was a kid, my dream is to be a policewoman. In fact, I have applied for the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA).

• Catriona: Honestly, I don’t have any idea because I really don’t know enough about politics. I don’t think I would be fruitful in that position.

• Jehza: The Speaker of the House. And also, since I love to travel, I would love to work with the DOT (Department of Tourism).

• Karen: I would be with DepEd. My advocacy is to improve education, especially in the Philippines’ rural areas. I would be useful in that department.

Celebrate the new and improved Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Now serving more children in need of critical dental care

Las Vegas, Nev. — The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (RMCM) is providing full-service dental care to more low-income and uninsured children than ever before.

According to the 2016 Children’s Advocacy Alliance Report Card, Nevada earned a “D” in overall health, which included indicators such as access to healthcare and dental care. Untreated dental issues can lead to more serious medical conditions.

AND CARE MOBILE HAS A NEW LOOK! The RMCM is a joint partnership between the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Las Vegas and Nevada Health Centers (NVHC). The internal changes to the vehicle are of great benefit to the children Care Mobile serves. New treatment chairs provide a better work environment for the dentists and a more relaxed environment for the children to reduce anxiety

and fear.

Come see for yourself how this state of the art mobile dental facility is improving the lives of children in our community! Tours, interviews with families, and dental providers all available.

“New imaging, instruments, and upgraded equipment have improved our diagnostic process and efficiency, increasing capacity to treat more children,” said Dr. Bryce Putnam. “As soon as the dental team began using the new x-ray equipment, we immediately noticed improved treatment times.”

Children’s dental care is offered on the RMCM in rural Nevada communities and inner city Las Vegas. The staff focuses on treatment, education, prevention, and advocacy. The Care Mobile is fully staffed with a dentist, a dental hygienist, dental assistants and office assistants. Services

Iya Villania is doing it...

PAGE B4 personalities, faced off. Rhian Ramos and Heart Evangelista lipsynched “Lord Patawad” of Bassilyo and “Halik” (Aegis), respectively.

Tom Rodriguez played Scary Spice and sang “Wannabe,” while Dennis Trillo did Sia’s “Chandelier.” For sure, “Lip Sync Battle Phl Season 3” will have an interesting mix of battlers.

“They take it seriously,” said Iya on the competitive stance of the battlers. “When they lost or failed at first attempt, they would want to come back and take home the championship crown.”

Although the secret to a successful bid in the competition is for battlers to come up with unique creative outputs, Iya offered, one may consider, a realistic tip.

“When you lose, don’t take it seriously, wag mo na lang masyadong dibdibin. Kasi sobrang kinakareer nila, you’ll see it. They smile or try to shrug it off but the truth is, they are disappointed. Just have fun.”

Having starred in teleserye, Iya is essentially a host. One can see that enthusiasm and happiness in Iya in doing Lip Sync Battle Phl. Part of that happiness, too, is the fact that she is pregnant with her second child.

“I’m just enjoying it as much as I enjoyed my pregnancy with Primo,” she said. “Yung pinagkaiba lang dito, mas naging mapili lang ako sa pagkain. But other than that, yun lang.” Iya expressed that she loves “to do Lip Sync Battle” because “makakadagdag yan sa happiness ko. I think it’s

provided include: restorative and preventive care, exams, cleanings, sealants, fluoride treatments, fillings, extractions, x-rays, and oral health education.

“These children no longer have to deal with painful toothaches that prevent them from sleeping and eating well, and concentrating in class,” says Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Alyson McCarthy. “And Care Mobile is often that child’s only access to ongoing dental health care.”

NVHC’s mission is to provide access to quality healthcare services throughout Nevada. We accept most dental insurance plans, Medicaid, and Nevada Check-up.

A sliding fee scale is available for uninsured patients. Additionally, info may be found online at https://www.nevadahealthcenters. org/services/ronald- mcdonaldcare-mobile/. healthy for my pregnancy.”

“It might be lighter this time around (because) during my pregnancy with Primo, I had Because of You,” she added. “At that time, kaya pa kasi wala pang anak. This time, Primo is here and he needs my time kailangan ko ng oras para umuwi to be with him.”

This only speaks that Iya and Drew are hands-on parents.

“I love being hands-on,” she said. “I get familiar with Primo.

I can take his cues. I see what he is interested in. So that’s my opportunity to introduce him to more things that are in his interest. I’m aware of his development, what level he is at. I’m able to manage my expectations (like) I won’t be expecting him to be doing this.

I’m expecting that he is doing this, na alam ko pa lang na dito pa lang siya. I feel like we get to work together.”

Love as the center...

PAGE B5

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.

the offensive in subtle yet dramatic ways. The blood of early Christians spawned the rise of the early Church. Now as then, the pattern remains the same.

History does repeat itself.

Marriage as a bedrock institution between man and a woman is in serious danger, as manmade laws masquerading as civil liberties, are enacted to challenge it, all in the name of political correctness.

There is a growing pushback against political correctness and the often times wanton moral depravity the lies of political correctness seek to promote. With courageous, right leaning Christian leaders who will defend the Christian faith, me ore and more people are emboldened to call a spade, a spade and think and act accordingly. The courage to confront the evil in our time is getting stronger as people quietly humble themselves before God and ask for His grace and mercy

PAGE B5

not only this Lenten season but unceasingly.

Strong family units built on LOVE are so essential in creating strong societies from the ground up. Each generation builds upon and learns from the ones that came before it.

The passage below is a favorite among couples and wedding planners and for good reason.

These words are more than the pretty, superficial veneer of rituals in weddings.

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians 13, are words to live by telling us what really matters as he did then to members of the early church who were probably just as lost, confused and disconcerted as most of us probably are.

Set your hearts on the greater gifts. I will show you the way which surpasses all the others.

If I speak with human tongues and angelic as well, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong, a clanging cymbal. If I have the

gift of prophecy and, with full knowledge, comprehend all mysteries, if I have faith great enough to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give everything I have to feed the poor and hand over my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind.

Love is not jealous, it does not put on airs, it is not snobbish. Love is never rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not prone to anger; neither does it brood over injuries. Love does not rejoice in what is wrong but rejoices with the truth. There is no limit to love’s forbearance, to its trust, its hope, its power to endure.

Love never fails. … And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is LOVE. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

‘Stop the heart?’

John’s Wort increases metabolism, Ephedra causes irregular heartbeat, ginseng can aggravate low blood sugar level, kava and valerian exaggerates the effects of anesthetic agents, and Echinacea makes the patient prone to poor wound healing and infection. It is most important for patients to tell their surgeons what medications, herbal or proprietary, they are taking, because many of these may have to be stopped weeks before surgery to prevent complications.

To begin with, the fundamental question is: Are any of these herbal medications really as safe, beneficial and effective as they are claimed to be? The US-FDA, the Philippine BFAD, and the international medical community, are still waiting for scientific proofs on the efficacy, value and safety of these, and dozens of other, herbal medications on the market. The final verdict is not out yet.

What gadget can prevent sudden cardiac death?

A medical device that can prevent sudden death among heart patients is called AICD (automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator). It is a small titanium shelled unit (about 2 x 3 x 1 inches), larger than a heart pacemaker, which is

implanted under the skin in the left or right upper chest. This unit has a computerized component that senses the heart rhythm round the clock. When serious or fatal heart rhythm disturbance occurs, this AICD rapidly (within seconds) cardioverts (shocks) the heart back to normal sinus (normal) rhythm and thus prevent sudden cardiac arrest. AICD was the unit recently implanted in U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney, who did well and was discharged from the hospital the same day after the implant.

What causes milk intolerance?

Some people (many Asians) have intolerance to milk, to any food made with milk, and other dairy products. This is caused by lactase deficiency. Lactase is an enzyme normally present in our digestive system. People who, from infancy to adult life, have been drinking milk, or consuming dairy products regularly, produce adequate amount of lactase in their digestive system to help digest these foods. Those who did not develop the habit of drinking milk or eating dairy products from early on have diminished or insufficient lactase enzyme, and therefore, unable to digest lactose

(complex sugars in dairy foods).

When they start drinking milk or eating dairy products later in life, these individuals are unable to digest the lactose in their digestive tract, which results in abdominal discomfort, gas, cramps, sensation of bloating, and even diarrhea. Today, there are lactase pills (one of them called Lactaid, with 9000 FCC Lactase units) available in drug stores. These pills are heaven-sent for countless individuals, who would otherwise not enjoy milk, ice cream, milk shakes, pizzas, cakes and other desserts, creamy soups, sauces, and other dairy products. If you think you have lactose intolerance, consult your physician about lactase dietary supplement. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

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DATE OF COMPLETION Second Quarter of 2020 TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS PHASE 1 866 Units BUILDING 1 164 units

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN K. GROSS-NIEDERMEYER AT (480) 227-7782 SUSAN@SUSANGROSSREALTOR.COM I SUSAN.GROSS@PREMIERASIAPACIFIC.COM I LOMBARDBYTHEBAY.COM

B

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