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Volume 17 - No. 13 • 3 Sections – 20 Pages

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PH votes in favor of China-led human rights resolution

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 co-sponsored 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 reflected the times.”

Apart from the Philippines, other countries

USA

DATELINE Asian Americans and other minority groups risk misrepresentation in 2020 Census FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

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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MA R C H 3 0 - A P R I L 5 , 2 0 1 8

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-in-Charge Eduardo Año.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

DUTERTE’S HOLY WEEK MESSAGE:

‘Renew relationship with God, help the oppressed’

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

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 together 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, as called for solidarity regardless of religious denomination.

He also urged Filipinos to embody compassion, as Christ

has personified, and help and “uplift the downtrodden.”

“As we reflect on the Catholic values and embody selflessness, compassion and love instilled in us through the years, let us remember to always help and uplift the downtrodden because it is only through charitable 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,

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Palace reminds Aquino: De Lima in jail for drugs, not political beliefs

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

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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.

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

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque issued the statement after

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Sen. Leila de Lima

Philstar.con photo

PET prepares for Palace reiterates Duterte VP ballot recount not eyeing term extension PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

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

Filipina nanny wins $827,506 in wage trial

Judgment one of highest verdicts to a domestic worker on pure wage claim

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.

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“The president has expressed that he has no intention of staying a minute longer than what PHILIPPINE President Ro- the term of the president prodrigo Duterte has no plans to vides under our Constitution,” extend his term beyond 2022, u PAGE A2 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 Duterte prefers to step down ahead of the expiration of his tenure.

by DANA

SIOSON AJPress

by AJPRESS 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.

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

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Palace spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. Inquirer.net photo

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march 30-april 5, 2018 • NOrcal aSiaN JOUrNal

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From the Front Page

PH votes in favor of China-led...

PAGE A1 t

who voted in favor of the resolution were Angola, Brazil, Burundi, Chile, China, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Democratic Republic of 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

‘Renew relationship with God...

PAGE A1 t

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

PET prepares for VP...

cause of action, which was already junked, the former senator asked to declare all the certificates of composed of the PET-hired head canvass used to proclaim RobrePAGE A1 t the Commission on Elections revisor, and one revisor each from do’s victory as “authentic.”

(Comelec). the camps of Marcos and RobreIn his second cause of action, The next week’s recount is set do. the former senator asked for the to start from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 They will record objections, manual recount of votes in 22 p.m. with 15-minute breaks and claims, and other notes which will provinces and five cities. PET, an hour lunch break—from Mon- be transmitted to the PET. however, decided to hold an initial day to Friday.

The PET will review a total of recount of three pilot provinces There would be a total of 50 re- 5,418 ballot boxes. The revision first before deciding whether the vision committees to work on the will be off-limits to media. revision on other provinces should initial recount. Each revision comIn his poll protest, Marcos ac- be pursued or not. mittee is assigned one ballot box. cused Robredo of benefiting from Marcos, in his third cause of ac“There’s a revision report per “massive electoral fraud, anoma- tion, sought the nullification of vice box, the objections and claims are lies and irregularities” during the presidential votes in Lanao del Sur, on a per form per box basis so it’s vice presidential election in 2016. Basilan, and Maguindanao due to easier to track,” Arenas said.

Marcos filed three causes of alleged occurrence of “traditional” Each revision committee is action in his protest. In his first modes of cheating. n

Palace reiterates Duterte...

PAGE A1 t

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 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 priorities 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

Dateline USa

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PCGSF launches 12th Ambassador’s Tour Deadline to register is April 2, 2018

THE Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco recently held its launch of the 12th Ambassador’s Tour which will take place on July 9-15, 2018.

To be led by Consul General Henry Bensurto and his fellow consul generals and ambassadors, the 12th Ambassador’s Tour will take participants to Manila, Cebu and Bohol, and offers diverse activities to pique the interest of every traveler.

The only tour sanctioned by the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT), the Ambassador’s Tour, according to ConGen Bensurto, offers a unique opportunity for participants to discover Philippine culture and heritage and allow kababayans and nonFilipinos to connect with the country and its people.

“There is nothing better than to step on Philippine soil and experience the country for yourself,” ConGen Bensurto told the audience during his remarks.

“And there is nothing better than a curated itinerary tailored by experts to provide a real feel of the Philippines.”

The tour offers two different options for participants, with both options starting with activities in Manila including wreathlaying ceremonies at Rizal Park and a visit to notable museums such as University of Santo Tomas and Metropolitan Museums.

As the tour shifts to the Visayan region, participants will have a choice of either a Suroy-Suroy sa Sugbu, a cultural tour of Cebu’s southern towns of Carcar, Argao and Sibonga; or the the Oslob Whaleshark Encounter, where adventure seekers can have the opportunity to swim with whale sharks.

The last leg of the tour will take participants to Bohol for a countryside tour, and afterwards embark on the Balicasag Island tour and view colorful corals and

HOLY WEEK RUSH. The volume of passengers at the Araneta Center Bus Terminal in Cubao, Quezon City continues to increase as they rush to their provinces for the Holy Week on Tuesday, March 27. The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) recently 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.

Palace reminds Aquino...

PAGE A1 t Cosul General Henry Bensurto makes his remarks during the launch of the 12th Ambassador’s Tour at the Kalayaan Hall in the Philippine Center Building in San Francisco.

diverse marine life. This last leg includes an afternoon for pampering and leisure for those who want to avail of such activities.

While on the Tour, participants will meet local officials and public personalities.

According to Lyn Abad of Pacific Air Leisure, prices for the 12th Ambassador’s Tour start at $2,560 for single occupancy, $2,050 for double occupancy and $1,955 for triple occupancy (for return trips dated July 15-18/ August 20 and onwards); $2,710 for single occupancy, $2,200 for double occupancy and $2,105 for triple occupancy (for return trips scheduled July 19-August 19). The prices include roundtrip airfare and land arrangement based on itinerary provided, and is inclusive of U.S. taxes/fuel surcharge. There are only 50 seats available for the lowest-priced tiers for the Ambassador’s Tour; the next 50 seats for both seg-

Asian Americans and other...

PAGE A1 t

“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 Committee 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,

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Filipina nanny wins $827,506...

PAGE A1 t The judgment announced last February appears to be among the highest verdicts to a domestic worker on a pure wage claim.

“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 fourmonth 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

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ments are priced about $100 higher.

Those interested in joining 12th Ambassador’s Tour must fill out a registration form. The deadline to register is on April 2, 2018.

More detailed information is available at www.ambassadorstour2018.com.

The Ambassador’s Tour is a joint project of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Foreign Service Posts in the United States and the Department of Tourism. n

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 exchange 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.

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

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Dateline USa

march 30-april 5, 2018 • NOrcal aSiaN JOUrNal

Asian Americans and other...

PAGE A3 t 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)

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Thousands mistakenly enrolled during state’s Medicaid expansion, Feds find

California signed up an estimated 450,000 people under Medicaid expansion who may not have been eligible for coverage, according to a report by the U.S. Health and Human Services’ chief watchdog. in a feb. 21 report, the HHS’ inspector general estimated that California spent $738.2 million on 366,078 expansion beneficiaries who were ineligible. it spent an additional $416.5 million for 79,055 expansion enrollees who were “potentially” ineligible, auditors found. auditors said nearly 90 percent of the $1.15 billion in questionable payments involved federal money, while the rest came from the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medi-Cal. They examined a six-month period from oct. 1, 2014, to March 31, 2015, when Medicaid payments of $6.2 billion were made related to 1.9 million newly eligible enrollees.

There were limitations to the California review, however. The audit extrapolated from a sample of 150 beneficiaries. The authors reported a 90 percent confidence level in their results — whereas 95 percent would be more common. That meant that the number of those ineligible could have been as low as 260,000 or as high as 630,000. “if HHS has a strong reason to believe that California is systematically making enrollment errors, it would be helpful to show that in a more robust analysis,” said Ben ippolito, a health care economist at the american Enterprise institute, a conservative think tank. “The federal government should ensure that states are being good stewards of federal money.” nonetheless, the audit highlighted weaknesses in California’s Medicaid program, the largest in the nation with 13.4 million enrollees and an annual budget topping $100 billion, counting federal and state money. Medicaid covers 1 in 3 Californians.

The inspector general found deficiencies in the state’s computer system for verifying eligibility and discovered errors by caseworkers. The Medicaid payments cited in the report covered people in the state’s fee-for-service system, managed-care plans, drug treatment programs and those receiving mental health services.

California’s Department of Health Care Services, which runs Medi-Cal, said in a statement that it agreed with nearly all of the auditors’ recommendations and that the agency “has taken steps to address all of the findings.” in a written response to the inspector general, California officials said several computer upgrades were made after the audit period and before publication of the report that should

Infographic by Katie Edwards/Ikon Images

improve the accuracy of eligibility decisions. among the 150 expansion enrollees analyzed in detail, 75 percent, or 112, were deemed eligible for the Medicaid program in California. auditors discovered a variety of problems with the other 38 enrollees.

During the audit period, 12 enrollees in the sample group had incomes above 138 percent of the federal poverty line, making them ineligible financially for public assistance, according to the report. in other instances, beneficiaries were already enrolled in Medicare, the federal health insurance for people 65 and older or who have severe disabilities, and did not qualify for MediCal. one woman indicated she didn’t want Medi-Cal but was enrolled anyway. in 2014, the state struggled to clear a massive backlog of Medi-Cal applications, which reached about 900,000 at one point. Many people complained about being mistakenly rejected for coverage, or their applications were lost in the state or county computer systems.

California was one of 31 states to expand Medicaid under the 2010 affordable Care act. The health law established a higher federal reimbursement for these newly eligible patients, primarily low-income adults without children. after expansion started in 2014, the HHS inspector general’s office began reviewing whether states were determining eligibility correctly and spending taxpayer dollars appropriately. in a similar audit released in January, the inspector general estimated that new York spent $26.2 million in federal Medicaid money on 47,271 expansion enrollees who were ineligible for coverage. (The sample size there was 130 enrollees.) over-

Filipina nanny wins $827,506...

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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,

all, new York had far fewer expansion enrollees and related spending compared to California. audits of other states’ records are planned. “it is inevitable that in a big rollout of new eligibility for any public program there are going to be glitches in implementation,” said Kathy Hempstead, a health-policy expert and senior adviser at the robert Wood Johnson foundation. “The inspector general wants to make sure that states are being sufficiently careful.” nationwide, Medicaid, the state-federal health insurance program designed for the poor, is the country’s largest health insurance program, covering 74 million americans. in the past year, republican efforts to reduce Medicaid funding and enrollment have sparked intense political debates and loud protests over the size and scope of the public program.

The federal government footed the entire cost of Medicaid expansion during the first three years, instead of taking the usual approach of splitting the costs with states. now, states are picking up more of the bill.

Their share of the costs grows to 10 percent by 2020.

The California audit didn’t request a specific repayment from the state, but the findings were sent to the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services for review. CMS officials didn’t return a request for comment.

Donald White, a spokesman for the inspector general’s office, said the agency stood by the report’s findings and declined to comment further.

This story was produced

by Kaiser Health news, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser family foundation.

(Chad Terhune/Kaiser Health News) 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)

BEAT THE HEAT. To beat the pre-summer heat, some children and their puppy play in the waters of Manila Bay at Roxas Boulevard in Manila on Tuesday, March 27. The area is often frequented by children, who swim and play in its shallow waters.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

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DATELINE PHILIPPINES

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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.” ■

Duterte nixes separate security forces for Bangsamoro region

by ROEL

PAREÑO Philstar.com

to resolve ethnic rivalries that may affect implementation of the Bangsamoro Basic Law measures, SULU — President Rodrigo which Congress is holding hearDuterte on Monday, March 26 ings on.

Duterte had aired concerns on said that he will not give the proposed Bangsamoro region its own whether leadership in the new regional armed forces and police, region should be by region or by neither of which are included in the ethnic group.

He said that Suluanos (Tausug draft Bangsamoro Basic Law. “It stays to the commander-in- people who are residents of Sulu), chief,” Duterte said on Monday, Sama and Yakans in Basilan may March 26 at the provincial gym- not get along with ethnic groups nasium in Jolo, the capital town of in Central Mindanao like the Maguindanaons, Iranon, Maranao and Sulu province.

Duterte issued the pronounce- other indigenous people’s groups.

“Meaning to say if you Tausug ment as he urged Sulu residents, who are predominantly 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.

PAGE A7

PH DELEGATION AT IPU. Senator Loren Legarda heads the Philippine delegation to the 138th Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) in Geneva, Switzerland. At the panel discussion on the underrepresentation of women in politics, Legarda stressed that while women representation in the political sphere is important to pursue gender-responsive legislation, the more important thing is to ensure that women who are in politics are able to craft quality measures that are greatly and urgently needed to protect women and children.

Senate photo

Business tycoon Lucio Tan offers to build drainage system in Boracay

by CATHERIN

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

BUSINESS tycoon Lucio Tan has offered to build a second drainage system in Boracay Island, a Palace official said.

In a radio interview on Monday, 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 worldfamous 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 recommendation, (Boracay will be closed during) lean season,” the Palace official said.

“They want to close it so they can do all the required capital investments for the drainage and sewage treatment unimpeded by 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. ■

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MARCH 30-APRIL 5, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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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).

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:

PeaceMaker

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

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

In pursuit of lasting peace

(PART 3 OF 3) (Remarks of Hon. Jose De Venecia, Former Speaker, Philippine FORMER SPEAKER House of Representatives; FoundJOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. ing Chairman, International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP); Co-Chairman, International Association of Parliamentarians for Peace (IAPP); Chairman Emeritus, Universal Peace Federation (UPF); Special Envoy of the President to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and for Intercultural Dialogue at the UPF 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

future 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 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. Secre-

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-

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. *** 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

tary 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 emergence 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 PAGE A7

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

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Dateline PhiliPPines

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • mARCh 30-APRIL 5, 2018

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Duterte nixes separate security... Court approves month-long US trip for Jinggoy PAGE A5 t 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.”

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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 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.

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. n

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

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

We must create space for alternative faiths A great Western president once said memorably that the 21st Century will be defined by a sim-

MarcElo Philstar.com

MANILA — Former Senator Jinggoy Estrada has been allowed to leave the country for one month despite a pending plunder case in connection with the multibillion-peso 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.

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 ple choice that the nations must members.

Estrada said he will also have 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

In pursuit of lasting...

Medina and bring about the beginnings of reconciliation and the end of violence in the lands of Islam, and head off decisively the expansion and internationalization of the extremist groups, ISIS-ISIL. We believe the initiative is most difficult but not impossible.

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

by ElizabEth

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 P183million 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 30-aPrIL 5, 2018 • NOrcaL aSIaN JOUrNaL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2018

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BUSINESSJ& COMMUNITY OURNAL

Your Immigration Solution ERIC R. WELSH AND 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 fearmongers profess. The real danger, however, is that America’s immigration 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

The myth of “chain migration” and the reality of family unity 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. Immediate 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 firms in the United States with offices in Pasadena, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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.

(Advertising Supplement)

Department of Trade and Industry allays investors’ fears on lost

perks under TRAIN 2

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez said there are aspects of TRAIN Package 2 that would benefit both new and existing investors.

Philstar file photo

by RICHMOND

MERCURIO Philstar.com

THE Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has allayed fears in the foreign business community that the government’s second tax reform package would harm the country’s investment climate, assuring them its implementation would entice even more investors.

Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, together with officials of the Department of Finance (DOF), in a recent dialogue addressed the issues and clarified the concerns raised by Japanese investors on the Tax Reform Acceleration and

Inclusion (TRAIN) Package 2 which seeks to rationalize fiscal incentives and reduce corporate income tax rates.

Lopez said there are aspects of TRAIN Package 2 that would benefit both new and existing investors.

“While Japan is our number one source of investments, there are still a large number of Japanese investors who have not located in the Philippines. The TRAIN Package 2 provides us with the mechanisms both to encourage existing investors to further expand their business, and to attract new investors into the country,” he said.

According to the DTI, Japanese investors have expressed their concerns on the new tax incentives for new and existing investors as well as the preferential corporate income tax.

Lopez, however, pointed out that the proposed legislation is not meant to remove incentives, but instead recognizes the important role of incentives and the need to make them more responsive, relevant, and effective which is why they should conform to the principles of being performance-based, time-bound, focused and transparent.

Board of Investments manag-

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Peso weakness to make infrastucture projects more costly — Pernia remain weak or weaken further, yes, it would raise the costs of BBB projects,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary ErWITH the persistent weakness nesto Pernia. of the peso, projects under the “However, we expect the pegovernment’s Build Build Build so’s fickleness to diminish and (BBB) program may become the peso to bounce back,” he more expensive as the country added. imports most building materials The government expects the like steel and heavy equipment. local currency to touch a low “If the peso does continue to u PAGE CJ3

by CZERIZA

VALENCIA Philstar.com

“If the peso does continue to remain weak or weaken further, yes, it would raise the costs of BBB projects,” said Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

Philstar file photo

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MARCH 30 - ApRil 5, 2018 • NORCAl ASiAN JOURNAl

Community Journal

Love as the center of gravity 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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya his Judaic core belief system.

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

“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, Hol-

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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 handson 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?

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“Stop the heart?”

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

Department of Trade...

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ing head and Trade Undersecretary Ceferino Rodolfo, for his part, said the second tax reform package would provide better incentives.

“First, investors will no longer be limited to just the income tax holiday and the five percent tax on gross income earned (GIE) – but will now be able to choose other incentives that may be more relevant, including long enough net operating loss carryover, accelerated depreciation, and double-deduction of certain expenses critical to upgrading competitiveness such as research and development, training, and others,” Rodolfo said.

Rodolfo added that equally important is that the TRAIN Package 2 will remove the nationality bias as well as the export bias of incentives.

‘This means that as long as an activity is listed under the Strategic Investments Priorities Plan, this will be eligible for incentives regardless of citizenship

of owners or the markets they will serve. For Japanese companies, they can receive incentives even if they will sell to the domestic market,” Rodolfo said.

Meanwhile, DOF director Juvy Danofrata addressed the concerns of investors on the sunset provisions for existing tax incentives.

“While transition mechanisms will be provided including replacing the five percent GIE with a reduced 15 percent corporate net income tax, we are open to suggestions on how we can design better transitions, as long as these will comply with the basic principles of being time-bound, performance-based, focused, and transparent,” Danofrata said.

According to the DTI, the discussion on TRAIN Package 2 with the Japanese investors was part of the agenda of the 10th Philippine-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement sub-committee on the improvement of business environment meeting last March 22 co-chaired by Lopez and Japanese Ambassador Koji Haneda. n

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COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Can my relative petition me for an employment-based green card?

DEAR Attorney Gurfinkel: My aunt owns a care home, and wants to petition me as a caregiver. However, I was told that employers cannot petition relatives for green cards through labor certification or PERM. Is that true? Or is it possible for relatives to petition other relatives for employment-based green card?

Very truly yours, MJ Dear MJ: There is nothing wrong or illegal about relatives petitioning other relatives through an employer-sponsored green card, as long as the job is real and all the other requirements are met.

The websites of both the Department of Labor (DOL) and USCIS confirm that relatives can legally petition family members for employment-based green cards.

In fact, on my TFC show, “Citizen Pinoy”, I featured a case where a sister petitioned her younger brother as her office manager. Not only was the green card approved, but he is now a U.S. citizen!

According to DOL, family relationship includes, “any relationship established by blood, marriage, or adoption, even if distant. For example, cousins of all degrees, aunts, uncles, grandparents and grandchildren are included. It also includes relationships established through marriage, such as in-laws and step-families...” Therefore, on the forms where it asks “Is there a familial relationship between the foreign worker and the owners...” you would merely check the “yes” box.

Also, the employer “must be able to demonstrate the existence of a bona fide job opportunity, i.e. the job is available to

can afford to pay the wage.

• The job does not need to be Immigration college level. Even a caregiver or housekeeper can qualify for a Corner green card through an employer’s petition. And the waiting time (or priority date) is the same whether the job is unskilled, ATTY. MICHAEL skilled, or college level.

GURFINKEL, ESQ If a Filipino has a business in U.S. workers.” However, this is the U.S. with a legitimate job a requirement in any PERM case, opening, and a relative with eduwhether the employer and em- cation or experience for that job, ployee are related or not. DOL they may want to consider sponfurther confirms, “A familial re- soring that relative to fill the job lationship between the alien and position, whether the relative is the employer does not establish in the U.S. or back home in the the lack of a bona fide job op- Philippines. But you should conportunity per se,” meaning a sult with an attorney, who can family relationship does not au- evaluate the case, to determine tomatically disqualify the case. if the requirements are met, and It’s just DOL wants to make sure the relative has a chance, it is a legitimate, bona fide job *** opportunity at which the alien Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney will eventually work, rather than for over 35 years and is licensed, and it being a “job of convenience”. an active member of the State Bar of The USCIS also confirms the California and New York. All immigration legitimacy and legality of rela- services are provided by, or under tives petitioning family mem- the supervision of, an active member bers through labor certification, of the State Bar of California. Each based on affidavit of support case is different. The information requirements. Ordinarily, only contained herein including testimonials, family-based petitions require an “Success Stories,” endorsements and affidavit of support. No affidavit re-enactments) is of a general nature, of support is usually required and is not intended to apply to any for employment-based petitions. particular case, and does not constitute However, in an employment set- a prediction, warranty, guarantee or ting, if a relative owns at least 5 legal advice regarding the outcome of percent of the company, an affi- your legal matter. No attorney-client davit of support is required. So, if relationship is, or shall be, established it were “illegal,” why would US- with any reader.

CIS allow such a petition, but just WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com require an affidavit of support? Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw And people have a lot of mis- and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw understandings about employ- Call Toll free to schedule a consultation ment-based petitions: for anywhere in the US: • The employer does not need (866)—GURFINKEL to be a Fortune 500 company. Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · Even small businesses can pe- SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES tition workers if they have the (Advertising Supplement) “ability to pay,” meaning they

NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2018

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Business News

Embassy lauds PH Fulbright Program’s 70th anniversary WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Embassy, led by Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez, organized a reception to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Fulbright Program at the Philippine Chancery Annex in the evening of March 22.

The Philippine Fulbright Program is the longest running Fulbright Program in the world and the longest education exchange in the Philippines.

Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alan Peter S. Cayetano delivered a congratulatory video greeting that was played at the start the program.

“The Fulbright Program has been an important vehicle that ensures the enduring friendship between our two peoples,” said Secretary Cayetano.

In his welcome remarks, Romualdez underscored the longstanding friendship between the Philippines and the United States that stems from their peoples, highlighting the importance of Fulbright Program.

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U.S.-Philippines Society President John Maisto, Deputy Assistant Secretary Jennifer Galt, and Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez engage in a conversation at the reception held to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Fulbright Program.

Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez delivers the opening remarks at a reception hosted by the Philippine Embassy in celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Philippine Fulbright Program on 22 March 2018.

Filipino Fulbright scholars - Filipino Fulbright scholars with Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez (4th from right); Ambassador Jennifer Galt (5th from right); Ambassador John Maisto (4th from left); and Embassy Economic Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga (2nd from right).

Calendar of Events across

America

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FACCGLA hosts networking mixer in Culver City, CA Join the networking mixer of the Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 4 and meet high caliber individuals and company attendees that include professionals, executives, business owners, investors, lenders, entrepreneurs and startups from a diverse range of industries. Appetizers included.

Venue is 5446 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City, CA 90230. Free parking at 2nd level. For more info, please visit www.faccgla.org.

A P R I L 1 1 -1 3 A ROLLERCOASTER RIDE THAT INCLUDED RETROGRESSION OF PRIORITY DATES, AGING OUT, AND THE FATHER SUCCUMBING TO CANCER JUST BEFORE VISA ISSUANCE ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY”! In July 2007, Raffy’s mother adjusted status in the U.S., hoping to immediately bring her husband and son, Raffy (left) to the U.S. from the Philippines. However, her priority date retrogressed (moved backwards) and the wait stretched for years.

Several setbacks occurred, including further retrogression of the priority dates, Raffy aging out, and Raffy’s father being diagnosed with cancer. Unfortunately he passed away in the Philippines without seeing his American dream come true.

Raffy’s mother then retained the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case from two previous attorneys, who were not taking active steps to move the case forward. Watch how leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to convince the Embassy to reconsider Raffy’s denial, showing he qualified under the Child Status Protection Act, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

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Love as the center of...

lyweird, 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 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 not only this Lenten season but

Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC 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

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

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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

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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MARCH 30 - APRIL 5, 2018 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

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People & Events Wieckowski honors Alameda, Santa Clara counties’ Alameda Alliance for Health commits $102,000 to help prevent and reduce Influenza in the community California Poetry Out Loud champions

Castro Valley High, Live Oak Academy students recognized for their poetry recitations Shoo the Flu program serves thousands of students and teachers in the Oakland area OAKLAND, CA – Alameda Alliance for Health (Alliance) made a $102,000 contribution to the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Shoo the Flu program, which will allow them to continue to offer free flu vaccinations at local schools.

The Shoo the Flu program reduces influenza in the community by providing free flu vaccinations, regardless of insurance to students and teachers, at elementary schools throughout the Oakland area.

Flu infections cause thousands of hospitalizations and deaths annually in the United States. As of late February, Alameda County has reported seven deaths in individuals under the age of 65, and hundreds of hospitalizations. Flu activity indicators are at the highest they have been this flu season in several years. During last year’s 2016-17 flu season, there were 52 confirmed influenza ICU admissions in Alameda County, and this season’s trends indicate there will likely be more.

“Providing flu vaccinations at schools is one of the best ways to protect families from the flu. The Alliance is proud to make this contribution that will help to keep Alameda County children and families healthy and reduce the risk of spreading the flu,” said Alliance Chief Executive Officer Scott Coffin.

“As we continue to strive to improve the quality of life for our members, I was happy to learn that over 11,100 Alliance members have benefited from Shoo the Flu since the inception of the program.”

Over the last four years, Shoo the Flu has provided 37,465 vaccinations at Oakland area schools.

This year, nearly 100 schools hosted Flu Vaccine Days and provided 8,815 vaccinations to students, teachers, and school staff, making Shoo the Flu one of the largest community-based flu vaccination programs. Additionally, about 40% of students who received vaccinations were uninsured or low-income.

The Shoo the Flu program is currently transitioning into a sustainable reimbursement model it was conceived for in the early the Ambassador further noted.

PAGE CJ3 t One of the guest speakers, by partnering with major health insurers and or“We are, therefore, honored to years of the diplomatic relations celebrate with all of you tonight between our two countries. It is U.S. Department of State’s Bu- ganizations under the leadership of the Alameda the longest continuously oper- a vehicle for mutual understand- reau of Educational and Cultural County Public Health Department. The Alliance ating Fulbright program in the ing. It provides students and Affairs Principal Deputy Assis- has stepped in to support Shoo the Flu with a conworld. Established in 1948, the scholars from both the Philip- tant Secretary, Ambassador Jen- tribution of $102,000, which is about one-third of first batch of Filipino Fulbright pines and the United States the nifer Zimdahl Galt, emphasized the program’s budget. This significant financial scholars left for the United States opportunity to study, teach, and in her remarks the dynamic role support, along with other funding sources, will conduct research in academic of education exchange in U.S.- help provide thousands of vaccinations to students a year later,” said Romualdez.

“Seventy years hence, the environments that strengthen Philippines relations through the and teachers for the upcoming flu season.

“This contribution from the Alliance speaks program continues to be what the ties between our peoples,” years.■ SACRAMENTO – State Senator Bob Wieckowski (D-Fremont) honored Stephanie Bucuroaia of Castro Valley High School and Luke Cho of Live Oak Academy in the state Capitol recently as the California Poetry Out Loud champions for Alameda and Santa Clara counties.

“Stephanie and Luke understand the power and magic of words and their ability to inspire, move and educate us,” said Wieckowski, whose district includes parts of both counties. “They are two outstanding students who have excelled in this competition.”

Both students were in Sacramento competing in the state finals of the Cali(L-R): Larry Baza, Stephanie Bucuroaia, Sen. Bob Wieckowski, Luke Cho and Nashormeh N.R. Lindo. Bucuroaia fornia Poetry Out Loud Rec- and Cho were honored by Sen. Wieckowski. Baza and Lindoare with the California Arts Council. itation Contest. An initiative Bucuroaia recited El Ovido by Mezzo Cammin by Henry Wadof the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Founda- Judith Ortiz Cofer, Let Us Con- sworth Longfellow.

By actively vocalizing the work, tion, the contest gives teens the sider by Russell Edson, and The confidence to make themselves World Is Too Much With Us by students build a relationship with words and add their own personheard using art. California’s is the William Wordsworth.

Cho’s three poems were Lay- al techniques with pace, volume largest Poetry Out Loud competition with 46 counties and nearly about by John Brehm, Dream and pitch, according to the Cali73,000 students participating. Song 14 by John Berryman, and fornia Arts Council.■

Embassy lauds PH Fulbright...

Peso weakness to make...

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of P52: $1 within the year until 2022 primarily because the normalization of monetary policy in the U.S. prompted investors to bring back cash to the world’s largest economy as it recovers from a recession.

In the process, this places exchange rate pressures on emerging markets like the Philippines

EMPLOYMENT

where foreign funds stayed for a while.

The shift to protectionist trade and investment policies in the U.S. also weigh heavily on foreign exchange, remittances, and the strength of the dollar-earning business process outsourcing industry in the Philippines.

Under the government’s Build Build Build program, the Philip-

pines is raising infrastructure spending from nearly four percent of GDP in 2017 to around seven percent by 2022, or an investment of roughly P8 trillion over six years.

Funding would be sourced from a mix of government appropriations, official development assistance, and public-private partnership. ■

EMPLOYMENT

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Photo courtesy of www.acphd.org

volumes to their commitment to the health and well-being of its members and the whole of the Alameda County community. Their generous support will facilitate protection from influenza for thousands of students and school staff, and supports an important service that many families may not otherwise be able to obtain in such a timely and convenient way,” said Dr. Erica Pan, Alameda County Deputy Health Officer. “We are delighted that the Alliance has recognized the value of bringing flu vaccines directly to schools and we look forward to all of the disease prevention and possibilities that come with this partnership.”

This year is among the worst flu seasons that Alameda County has seen over the last few years, making this program that much more essential.

Programs such as Shoo the Flu have proven to help improve the quality of life for families by reducing missed school and work days for children and parents, and creating a healthier community.

The Alliance’s contribution will help the Alameda County Public Health Department stay prepared and ready to serve children and families during the upcoming flu season.

To learn more about the Shoo the Flu program, please visit www.shootheflu.org. To learn more about the Alliance, please visit us at www.alamedaalliance.org.■

Love as the center of...

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 selfseeking, 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,

FOR RENT

PSYCHIC

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

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NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL • MARCH 30 - ApRIL 5, 2018

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MARCH 30 - ApRil 5, 2018 • NORCAl ASiAN JOURNAl

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Friday, March 30, 2018

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cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 30, 2018

76th ANNIVERSARY OF THE BATAAN DEATH MARCH

CoMMEMorATING ThE hEroES who dIEd For our FrEEdoM Bataan Legacy Historical Society to also award bronze replica of Congressional Gold Medal THE Bataan Legacy Historical Society in collaboration with its partners, the Presidio Trust, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs National Cemetery Administration and the Filipino Veterans Recognition and Education Project, invite the public to commemorate the 76th anniversary of the Bataan Death March on Saturday, April 7, at 9 a.m. at the San Francisco National Cemetery at the Presidio (1 Lincoln Drive, San Francisco, CA). The event is free and open to the public.

Seventy-six years ago, approximately 75,000 Filipino and American troops of the U.S. Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) were forced to surrender to the Imperial Japanese Army after fighting in the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines for 99 days with

no air support nor reinforcement. Most of the men suffered from disease and starvation and were forced to march to their prison camp which was located over 60 miles away under extreme tropical conditions with no provisions for food, water, shelter or medicine. Those who could no longer go on were beaten, bayoneted, shot and some were even beheaded. Thousands died during this march which became infamously known as the Bataan Death March.

Bataan Legacy Historical Society worked successfully with the California Department of Education to include WWII in the Philippines in the Grade 11 U.S. history curriculum framework. It commissioned several Bay Area high school history teachers to cre-

ate sample lesson plans that are consistent with California Common Core Standards and which are now available for free through its website.

It has presented the lesson plans in conferences starting last year and this year, these will be presented during the Association of Asian American Studies Conference in San Francisco on March 31 and the Organization of American Historians Conference in Sacramento on April 12.

The outdoor program will start at 9 a.m. with a procession by JROTC Cadets from San Francisco High Schools led by the Filipino American Law Enforcement Officers Association Color Guards followed by the 191st U.S. Army Band and the Pacific Division/84th Training Com-

mand Rifle Detail. A wreath laying ceremony will take place simultaneously with a 21-gun rifle salute by the

Photos by Tom Graves and AP

Gen Battery Salute by Pacific Command/75th Division taken during last year’s 75th anniversary.

Valor run caps color guard

Pacific Division/84th Training Command Rifle Detail.

At 10:30 a.m., an indoor program will take place at the Golden Gate Club at the Presidio (135 Fisher Loop, San Francisco, CA) to award bronze replicas of the Congressional Gold Medal to the remaining Filipino WWII veterans and to the families of deceased veterans.

In view of the space limitations, this event is by invitation only. The medals will be awarded by serving and retired

U.S. Army Generals led by Maj. General (Ret.) Eldon Regua a member of the California Governor’s Military Council, Maj. General Garrett Yee (Keynote Speaker), Director of Networks, Services, and Strategy, Office of the Army Chief Information Officer and Brig. General Windsor Buzza, Deputy Commanding General of the 84th Training Command.

For more information about Bataan Legacy Historical Society, visit: www.bataanlegacy.org. (AJPress)

JaDine raised to a ‘dangerous’ level Getting to know this year’s

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

IF it were a photograph, Star Cinema director Cathy GarciaMolina would be dismissed as…a photo bomber? But then, she’s making an out-of-the-script “special participation” in the frenzied promo for “Never Not Love You,” the new JaDine starrer co-produced by Viva Films and Project 8 corner San Joaquin In their new movie, James and Nadine said that they’re doing something daring and dangerous.

Projects directed by Antoinette Photo courtesy of Star Cinema Jadaone, so can she be considNadine: Both of us. ing” and “dangerous” James ered a welcome sawsawera?

• Who are the big influences and Nadine are in what they After making a grand anin your life (and career)? described as an “experimental” nuncement that she’s retiring to James: My family. I literally devote time to her children…but screen caper. wouldn’t even be in the PhilipThe story (by Antoinette only after she’s done with four pines if not for my family. They who also directed JaDine in more Star Cinema movies are really just the most important the Kapamilya TV series “On The excluding the latest, “My Perfect people in my life.

Wings Of Love”) is about how You,” which is showing nationNadine: My family. I get my young, carefree and reckless love wide starring Gerald Anderson strength and inspiration from ends when the lovers’ dreams and Pia Wurtzbach…Cathy take different paths “and their life them. They’ve always been there treaded “dangerous” territory for me every step of the way. I choices tear them apart,” only when she issued an uncalled-for don’t think I’d be able to make for them to cross paths five years comment on social media that it without their full support and later after so much has changed she would never direct James love of course. Even career-wise, Reid and Nadine Lustre in either a including the love they used to my dad is very hands-on. have for each other. James plays movie or a TV series because, as • Who would you be if you she quoted her friend direk Antoi- a graphic designer and Nadine were not actors? a management trainee in an ad nette, JaDine “was hard to work James and Nadine: No idea agency/direct-selling company. with.” what to answer.

At the presscon, James and As JaDine die-hards beWhat Nadine admitted that they felt gan to vehemently (violently?)

• What do you usually argue somewhat awkward pretending come to their idols’ defense, about or fight over? they were strangers since in real Cathy promptly issued an “I’m James: When Nadine wears life, well, everybody knows how sorry” to those offended, and to too sexy clothes. intimately they know each other.

Antoinette (and boyfriend Dan Nadine: (No answer) Villegas). Wasn’t it unfair for Cathy So they needed to act naturally • What comes to your mind as if they were falling in love for to be making “anti-JaDine” rewhen you face the mirror in the the first time. marks since the release (on Black morning?

The release of “Never Not Saturday, March 31) of “Never James: That I have a lot that I Love You” (which was partly Not Love You” overlaps with the still wanna do and accomplish in filmed in London) follows the extended run of her movie? my life and career. sweethearts’ recent sold-out Some people said that the Nadine: That I am very Valentine concert “JaDine JaDine producers should actublessed to have everything that Revolution” at the Big Dome, ally thank Cathy for “helping” I have in life right now and that I two years after their concert also promote the movie by adding should take good care of all of it. more noise to it. Earlier, I said that at the same venue where James • What’s the best thing that publicly told Nadine, ”I love Cathy was treading “dangerous” you have done to each other? ground because “Never Not Love you!” That augurs well for the James: Love and accept each movie’s box-office fate.

You” is touted to be far different other as much as we can.

Meanwhile, let’s watch from the previous JaDine movies.

Nadine: (No answer) This time, James and Nadine told JaDine play Funfare’s “WhoWhere What-Where-When-How” game. the movie press that they were • Where did you become Who doing “something daring, someclose to each other?

• Who is the more possesthing dangerous,” that’s why they James and Nadine: We just sive (seloso/selosa) between were kind of scared. Check out discover new things about each the series of pictures on this page the two of you?

James: Both of us.

Continued on Page SF3 and you will see just how “dar-

winner of Bb. Pilipinas

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

THE opening question was: Do you have a boyfriend?

The girls gave honest answers: • Michele (volleyball player, daughter of actor/Ex-Q.C. Rep. Dennis Roldan, sister of actor Marco Gumabao): Yes. His name is Aldo Panlilio (assistant coach of Phoenix), boyfriend of two years.

• Eva (niece of director-producer Carlo J. Caparas and his late wife Donna Villa whose real name was Marian Patalinjug): Yes, he’s Francis Lim, also from Cebu. We’ve been dating for a long time. Late last year, he proposed and I said, “Yes!” But with my Bb. title, he has to wait until my one-year reign is over.

• Ahtisa (an accountant): None. No boyfriend since birth (NBSB).

• Catriona (fashion and commercial model, singer-songwriter, spent years in Australia where her father hails from): Yes. He’s Clint Bondad (a Century Superbod runner-up and a Viva contract artist).

• Jehza (B.S. Finance graduate): Yes. He’s PJ (Peter June) Simon, a PBA player.

• Karen (also spent time in Australia): Yes. His name is Ian Garton, from Australia.

Staged at the Big Dome Sunday (March 18) last week, the 2018 Bb. Pilipinas pageant started with 40 hopefuls, with the number winnowed down to 25 and then to the Top 15 finalists who beautifully (read: sensibly and substantially) acquitted themselves in the Q&A that covered issues ranging from fake news to rebuilding Marawi.

They proved that beauty is more than skin deep.

On stage, the girls showed grace under pressure. Let’s see how they fare in this Conversation off stage, conducted at the 24th-floor lounge of Novotel (at Araneta Center in Quezon City) on Tuesday, two days after the pageant.

If you ventured into showbiz, what role would you like to do and who would you pick as leading man?

• Michele: Actually, I’ve

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

Philstar.com photo

been hosting for the past year and I’ve tried acting. I’d love to do a kontrabida role with Xian Lim who is tall. Most of my showbiz friends are shorter than me.

• Eva: My Uncle Carlo always included me in his movies. If ever, I’d choose Coco Martin as my leading man. He’s a good actor.

• Ma. Ahtisa: A spy role, something like Charlie’s Angels, I want to be a police officer so maybe I can incorporate that into the role. My leading man? Jericho Rosales.

• Catriona: A badass role, a girl who comes out of nowhere and who kicks ass. I have a Black Belt in Taekwondo and I could make use of it. I would have to agree with Michele… yes, with Xian Lim. Height is a big factor because I’m 5’10”.

• Jehza: Something na chill lang, like the roles played by Cara Delevingne… with Ian Veneracion, I’m super in love with him, hahaha!!! Hindi nakakasawang tingnan ang kaguwapuhan niya.

• Karen: I love action movies, like Tomb Raider; and also, drama, like Thalia in Marimar 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 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 tryContinued on Page SF4

Miss Universe-Philippines 2018 Catriona Gray: First the world, now the universe

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

features SF3 The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE – March 30, 2018

Parents: studies show nicotine can cause adolescent brain damage

You may already know that Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs on the planet, but that’s just the beginning of the story. For teens’ developing brains, nicotine poses far more dangers.

“At least it’s not heroin!” a teen vaper might say rolling their eyes. Yeah, about that—evidence suggests nicotine could put teens at risk for substance abuse problems and Miss Universe-Philippines 2017 passed on the crown to Catriona Gray on Sunday, March 18 at primes them for addiction as the Araneta Coliseum in Quezon City.

Photo courtesy of BPCI adults. And studies show teens “I don’t know. I was even last of the contestants called via can get addicted to nicotine draw lots. one of the judges, u.S. kind of surprised myself. I didn’t at lower doses, so even an expect it because I kind of look Ambassador to the Philippines occasional vape habit could Sung Yong Kim, asked her: “After at the whole pageantry thing in have lifelong consequences. a certain light before. And all of the devastating war, Marawi is Nicotine can also amplify teens’ now on its way to recovery. What a sudden, parang overnight, I inherent tendencies toward saw it in a different perspective is your message to the young novelty-seeking, impulsivity, and I looked at it as the heart women of Marawi?” and risk-taking. Cringe-worthy, “Thank you for that question. of it is the advocacy. So that’s to say the least. what made me fall in love with My answer and my message to It gets worse. No matter it.

So that’s why I’m joining Miss the women is to be strong. As World,” she said. women, we’re the head of the how smart they may think they Born in Queensland, Aushousehold and we have amazing are, teens’ brains aren’t yet influence not only in our families, tralia, Catriona has an Australian fully-formed, which makes them father, Ian Gray, while her mom, as mothers, sisters and friends, especially vulnerable to nicotine Normita Ragas Magnayon, is but also in our community. If we use. It’s associated with develfrom Albay, which is why she could get the women to stay oping emotional and behavioral represented Albay in Binibining strong and be that image of problems such as major depresPilipinas. strength for the children and the A Taekwondo black belpeople around them, then once ter, Catriona earned a Masters the rebuilding is complete and is underway, the morale of the com- Certificate in Music Theory from the Berklee College of Music in munity will stay strong and high.

From Page SF2 Boston. She also has a Certificate Thank you,” Gray confidently other every day since we are in outdoor Recreation. Apart answered. from being the lead singer of her And that, my friends, is the always together. school’s jazz band, she starred in reason she was crowned Miss • Where do you go to get local “Miss Saigon” productions. universe-Philippines 2018. away from it all (together or After taking up high school in other winners of the night individually)?

Australia, she moved to Manila, were: Maria Ahtisa Manalo (Bb. James: We really love going where she became a top model Pilipinas-International 2018); to the beach! There’s a whole at the age of 18.

Jehza Mae Huelar (Bb. Pilipinasother life there that we just can’t Congratulations to Catriona Supranational 2018; Eva Psychee explain.

Gray. You have my support and Patalinjug (Bb. Pilipinas-Grand Nadine: We also love when International 2018); Karen Juanita remember, “Victory (like love) is lovelier the second time around.” we get to travel abroad and Gallman (Bb. Pilipinas-Intercontinental 2018); Michele Theresa *** explore new places.

Gumabao (Bb. Pilipinas-Globe Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning • Where do you feel most 2018); Vickie Marie Rushton (Bb. celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of comfortable and at peace?

Pilipinas 2018 1st Runner-up) and Monet Salon salons across Southern California James: Again, the beach!

Samantha Mae Bernardo (Bb. and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is Nadine: At home.

Pilipinas 2018 2nd Runner-up). known as an all-around artiste who produces When It is quite ironic that Gray sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as • When did you feel real would represent the Philippines unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is love? again, let alone join a pageant also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural James: I think falling in love twice. In her interview in 2016, beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution she said she was surprised to to discoloration . To contact Monet, please with Nadine and staying in love have joined the Miss World com- visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at with her has been the most real petition. monetsalon@aol.com thing I’ve ever experienced.

sive disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and antisocial personality disorder. And when you consider that teens who vape are also 3 three times more likely to smoke cigarettes one year later, you’ll see why e-cigarettes are not something teens should mess around with. Furthermore, e-cigarettes contain toxic chemicals that may lead to asthma, respiratory infection and other health problems.

When it comes to nicotine, adults aren’t in the clear, either.

(Anyone who says it’s “just like caffeine” is sadly deluded.)

But for teens, there’s so much at stake—and it makes it that much worse that the ecigarette industry hasn’t done much to keep their addictive products out of adolescent hands. outraged? Yeah, we are too. Learn more at stillblowingsmoke.org.

(Advertising Supplement)

JaDine raised to a ‘dangerous’...

Nadine: I don’t think I’ve known real love until I fell in love with James.

• When (if ever) did you experience being broken-hearted?

James: I don’t think I’ve ever really been broken-hearted.

Nadine: ‘Yung totoong broken-hearted? Parang wala pa.

• When is the right time for two people to live together?

James: When they’re ready to really commit to each other. When they’re ready to really know each other and accept whatever they’d eventually discover about each other.

Nadine: I think when they’re ready emotionally to share space and when they’re ready to give up part of their independence. It takes a lot of compromising kasi for it to work.

How • How do you know that you are truly in love?

James: When you think about them first. When you’re ready to eat your pride for them and when you’re ready to accept and understand their shortcomings.

Nadine: When you’re ready to do everything just to please them but also when you’re ready to sacrifice your own happiness to make them happy because their happiness is more important to you than your own happiness.

• How many times a day do you say “I love you” to each other?

James and Nadine: Every time we feel like saying it.

• How do you make up after a fight?

James and Nadine: We talk sincerely.

SF4

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 30, 2018

celebrity world

CA Governor Jerry Brown Jr. heads list of global personalities celebrating their birthdays in April

By Ferdie Villar EDMUND Gerald “Jerry” Brown Jr., born on April 7, 1938, heads the list of prominent celebrities who will be celebrating their birthdays in the month of April.

Brown, who is an American politician currently serving as the 39th governor of California, was previously governor of the Golden State from 1975 to 1983.

Prior to his first term as governor and in between his gubernatorial terms, Brown served in numerous state and party positions, including member of the Los Angeles Community College District Board of Trustees (1969-1971),

Secretary of State (1971-1975), chair of the California Democratic Party (1989-1991), Mayor of Oakland (1999-2007) and Attorney General (2007-2011).

Governor Brown will be celebrating his 80th birthday on April 7, 2018.

Others celebrating their birthdays in the month of April are: April 1: Former Box Office King of Philippine Movies Tirso Cruz III, Antioch beauty Abigail Larcy Perez; April 2: San Mateo chief inspector John F. Warren; April 4: Ilocano community

Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo celebrates her birthday on Monday, April 23.

Health Professionals, Inc. administrative assistant Lelith Adriano celebrates her birthday on Friday, April 13.

Oakland Hills antique collector and socialite Sylvia Ford celebrates her birthday on Friday, April 20.

San Mateo chief inspector John Warren celebrates his birthday on Monday, April; 2.

leader Mike Calilan of Vallejo, CA; April 7: Matinee versatile Richard Gomez, actress Cassandra (KC) Concepcion (daughter of Megastar Sharon Cuneta); April 10: GMA Channel 7 cohost of Eat Bulaga Ryan Agoncillo; April 12: ANK Home Care proprietor Allan Rocas; April 13: Health Professionals, Inc. office administrator Lelith Adriano, Statewide Realty president Rollie Lavarias; April 14: Former movie actress Rosemarie Sonora, former Miss

California Governor Jerry Brown celebrates his 80th birthday on Saturday, April 7. Photo above shows Gov. Brown with beauty impresario Ferdie Villar at a Filipino media event several years ago.

United Nations Queen Queen Salazar of San Jose, CA; April 15: Hayward community leader Marie Kimley; April 17: San Francisco hotel employee Mohammad Yusuf; April 19: Multi-awarded actor Albert Martinez, Star Cinema actress Kim Chiu, Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada; singer/ bandleader George Elizalde; April 20: Oakland Hills antique collector and socialite Sylvia Ford, San Juan Mayor Guia

Gomez Estrada, former Miss Philippines-USA Mary Grace Garcia (who is now a church chorus member); April 21: Television host Luis Manzano, Philippine Star entertainment editor and Startalk television program co-host Ricky Lo, Signature bandleader Cesar de la Cruz; April 22: Asia’s Songbird Regine Velasquez; April 23: Philippine Vice President Leni Robredo;

April 24: Eat Bulaga co-host and movie actor Anjo Yllana, former Barrio Fiesta owner Marjorie Ongpauco Barretto; April 25: Filipino American commercial and fashion model Dane Kitchen; April 28: Eat Bulaga co-host Vic Sotto (who is celebrating his 63rd birthday); April 30: Visayan movie actress Dolly Fuentes.

To all April birthday celebrants, Happy Birthday!

The Filipino Channel television host Luis Man zoo celebrates his birthday on Saturday, April 21.

Eat Bulaga co-host Vic Sotto celebrates his 63rd birthday on Saturday, April 28.

Philippine Star entertainment editor Ricky Lo celebrates his 72nd birthday on Saturday, April 21.

Filipino balladeer Bert Nievera dies at 81

by Pocholo

concePcIon Inquirer.net

BERT Nievera, one of the country’s most popular balladeers in the 1960s, died on Monday, March 26, 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.

Remembering ‘Miss Tapia’

by Iza IglesIas ManilaTimes.net

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 last

Contributed photo by Bert Eljera

week for severe infection.

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

Visit the Philippines, win prizes via BHAF program FOREIGN passport holders who visit the Philippines until midApril are eligible to win prizes that will be raffled off via the “Bring Home A Friend” (BHAF) program that the Philippine Department of Tourism (PDOT) launched late in 2017.

The BHAF is one of the most successful tourist attraction program that the PDOT has instituted in its pursuit to increase tourist arrivals to the country, and was first implemented under thenTourism Secretary Mina Gabor.

Current DOT Secretary Wanda Tulfo Teo, a travel agent by profession, and her department decided to bring an updated version of the BHAF, with bigger prizes, in order to enhance the Philippines as an amazing destination to foreigners looking for fun and adventure.

Whether it is the beaches of Boracay or Palawan, or the chocolate mountains of Bohol, or the colonial houses in Vigan, or the various resorts that dot the many regions in the Philippines, the country offers a variety of tourist attractions that represent the beauty of the archipelago.

If your kind of vacation is one where activities are of utmost importance, the Philippines offers many choices. There is surfing in Siargao Island, swimming (or just watching) whale sharks in Oslob (Cebu); kayaking/canoeing in Palawan where you can also go into underwater caves; scuba diving in Mindoro, Palawan, Siquijor or Dumaguete; mountain biking in places like Cebu, Baguio, Davao or Northern Mindanao; and for the avid golfer, a round or two in many of picturesque golf courses that abound the Philippine landscape.

For shopping and food aficionados, the Philippines is not short on malls or restaurants offering a variety of food representing different regions in the Philippines. And what’s more interesting is that the Philippines is home to many festivals taking place year-round – certainly an opportunity to learn

about the history of a specific place and sample the various delicacies served up during the merry-making.

And while you revel in the memories of a great time in the Philippines, both visitors and those who invited them to visit the Philippines under the BHAF program get a chance to win fabulous prizes.

To participate in the program, all the sponsor has to do is fill out the Sponsor Registration form online at the BHAF website via www.tourism.gov.ph, complete the verification process to confirm and complete the registration process (this is needed to qualify for the program), log on to the BHAF website and fill out the “Invite A Friend Now” tab and fill out the necessary information. The sponsor can add a personalized message to his/her invitee. Sponsors can also send as many invitations as they like via the website.

The invitee, meanwhile, will receive an email from the BHAF website asking for information, including details about their trip to the Philippines. Invitees must also upload a photo (in jpg format) of their airline ticket and boarding pass to complete the process.

Raffle entries are determined by the invitee’s point of origin – Asia, one entry; Australia/Oceania, Middle East – two entries; Africa, Europe, South America, North America – three entries.

Prizes for sponsors are the following: 1st prize – a luxurious

condominium unit worth Php7M located at Eastwood in Libis courtesy of Megaworld; 2nd prize – a 2017 Toyota Vios with automatic transmission; and 3rd prize – a Php200,000 shopping spree at Duty Free Philippines.

Invitees get a chance to win one of the three following prizes: 1st prize – two roundtrip international business class tickets, two roundtrip domestic tickets to Palawan, 6day/5night stay at El Nido Hotel & Resort; 2nd prize – two roundtrip international premium economy class tickets, two domestic tickets to Cebu, 5day/4night stay at JPark Island Resort & Waterpark; and 3rd prize – two roundtrip international economy class tickets, two roundtrip domestic tickets to Davao, 5day/4night stay at Pearl Farm Resort.

The grand draw for the raffle prizes will be held after the promo period ends. Winners can claim their prizes either at the new PDOT building in Metro Manila (for those who reside within Metro Manila) or via the DOT Regional Office, Foreign Office or Market Representative Office (for those residing outside Metro Manila).

So, “Invite, Accept, Travel and Register” to get a chance to win any of the mouth-watering prizes offered under the “Bring Home A Friend” program.

For a complete list of prizes, rules & regulations and other information, visit www.bringhomeafriendonline.com.

(Advertising Supplement)

VETERAN actress Mely Tagasa—best remembered for her 15-year-long role as the strict but endearing professor Liwayway Gawgaw Tapia or Miss Tapia in the hit sitcom “Iskul Bukol” of Tito, Vic and Joey — passed away early on Saturday, March 24.

She suffered a massive stroke and was comatose for a week before she was weaned off her respirator. The actress and screenwriter was 82.

News of Tagasa’s death was announced by her daughter Gina Marissa—a film and television script writer—on Facebook.

“At 12:26 AM, our dearly beloved Miss Tapia has joined our Creator. The gates of heaven open for her. We love you very much, Ma!” Gina last posted an update on her mother’s condition on March 22 from Cardinal Santos Medical Center.

“Mommy was weaned off her respirator yesterday afternoon. It was a tough and painful

Veteran actress Mely Tagasa is best remembered for her role as Miss Tapia in the hit TV show “Iskul Bukol.”

decision to make since she has been quite dependent on this machine. She is still in comatose stage but displays some pain and discomfort as she slightly jerks and squirms because of the intubation. (Ok, Doctors say it’s just her ‘reflexes’),” the post read.

“She now breathes with the help of an oxygen tank. (Sorry, I may not be able to explain the process the way these doctors do. Believe me, the medical jargon is beginning to confuse us already while hospital bills keep piling up every day). We continue to monitor her condition—her vital signs fluctuate every hour so I can’t say everything is OK.”

Gina also asked for prayers of healing for her mom whose 83rd birthday would have been on April 16.

“At this point, we leave everything to the good LORD. If He wills her to continue enjoying a quality life at 83, then a miracle is bound to happen.

If He decides to take Mommy home with Him, Eternal Life in Heaven awaits. We accept. Our Faith will see us through.”

Tagasa’s last screen appearance was in her iconic Miss Tapia role when “Iskul Bukol,” starring Tito Sotto, Vic Sotto, and Joey de Leon, released a reunion movie in 2008 reunion that re-visited the lives of Wanbol University graduates and staff.

Tagasa chose to continue her career as a screen writer when “Iskul Bukol” concluded in the early ‘90s, and even went on to produce a number movies.

Her last public appearance was on November 2017 when she was given her Walk of Fame star in Eastwood, Quezon City.

Getting to know this year’s...

From Page SF2 ing 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 self-defense 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-awareness 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.

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - March 30, 2018

SF5

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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