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w w w. a s i a n Volume 25 - No. 12 • 2 Sections - 16 Pages

.com T h e F i l i p i n o –A m e r i c A n c o m m u n i T y n e w s pA p e r

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aPril 6-12, 2018

Duterte: If my plane explodes, ask CIA DATELINE USA from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte on thursday, April 5, dropped fresh hints that the Central intelligence Agency (CiA) is out to eliminate him, as he continued blasting the United states for being critical of

his anti-illegal drugs campaign. speaking before a group of farmers and fishermen at malacañang, Duterte said people should look into the CiA should anything bad happens to him.

“At least kung pumutok ‘yang eroplano ko o pumutok ‘yang roadside

bomb (if my airplane explodes or a roadside bomb goes off), maybe you can ask the CiA,” Duterte said. this was not the first time Duterte accused the U.s. agency of plotting against him. in september 2016, the president disclosed that he has received reports

of CiA’s alleged plans to “kill” him. in october last year, he also pointed to CiA as the one to blame for his possible untimely death, saying: “if i die, it’s America (that’s behind it). it’s the CiA.” the CiA has denied that it was

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Duterte orders 6-month closure of Boracay Pres. Donald Trump

Photo from Twitter/@WhiteHouse

‘DACA is dead,’ says Trump ahead of policy change announcement the program that protects the roughly 700,000 young immigrants brought to the United states illegally as children was declared “dead” by President Donald trump on monday, April 2. his comment was among a series of tweets that raised new questions on what would become of the said undocumented young immigrants known as “Dreamers.”

“DACA is dead because the Democrats did not care or act, and now everyone wants to get onto the DACA bandwagon,” tweeted trump on monday, blaming Democrats for the situation. “no longer works. must build Wall and secure

by AJPress PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte has ordered the closure of Boracay island for six months, starting April 26.

According to Palace spokesperson harry roque Jr., the president gave his approval on the recommendation to close the top tourist destination during his meeting with his Cabinet officials on Wednesday, April 4.

“Boracay [is] closed for six months effective 26 April,” Presidential spokesperson harry roque Jr. said in message to reporters. the six-month closure of the island was jointly recommended by the Department of environment and natural resources (DoJ), Department of tourism (Dot), and Department of the interior and local Government (DilG).

Also confirming the closure, senior Deputy executive secretary menardo said: “Denr/Dot/ DilG proposal approved after an exhaustive dis- NEW JUSTICE SECRETARY,. President Rodrigo Duterte signs the appointment of Ad Interim Secretary of Justice Menardo Guevarra at the cussion.”

Malacañang Palace on Thursday, April 5. Witnessing the signing are Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence Go, the newly-

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appointed Ad Interim Secretary of Justice and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

California cities sound off on sanctuary policies

Marcos on poll recount: Some ballots pre-shaded for Robredo

Orange County cities divided on SB 54 amid the growing anti-sanctuary movement in the county

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

this week, several southern California cities announced their stances on the recently-passed statewide measure that distances the state from federal immigration policies and practices. sB 54, the California Values Act, is the famed sanctuary state bill that passed last year and was put into effect on Jan. 1, 2018. sB 54, in general, prohibits the state from aiding federal immigration agents in the capture and detention of undocumented immigrants.

A contentious bill that has divided cities and jurisdictions, a group called the fight sanctuary state announced on Wednesday, April 4, a new

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Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

Philstar.com photo

the camp of Vice President maria leonor “leni” robredo scoffed at the reported discovery of “pre-shaded” ballots amid an ongoing poll recount, calling it “ridiculous” and a possible attempt to “confuse” the public. revisors of the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet) have reportedly found several unused or excess ballots with pre-shaded votes for robredo during the third day of the recount of votes in the 2016 vice presidential race. the manual recount and revi-

sion of ballots started last monday, April 2. this was in connection with the poll protest filed by former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. against robredo. he lost to her by only 263,473 votes.

According to marcos’ camp, the pre-shaded ballots were from the municipality of Baao in Camarines sur—which is among the three pilot provinces marcos tagged in his poll protest. the other two were iloilo and negros oriental.

“Pre-shaded ito at ibinilang kay mrs. robredo (it was preshaded and counted as vote for

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Pacquiao, Matthysse set for Duterte accepts Aguirre’s resignation July showdown in Malaysia

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

mAnnY Pacquiao’s much-awaited fight against World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion lucas matthysse is officially set. in a twitter post, promoter oscar De la hoya confirmed that the filipino boxer will challenge matthysse on July 14, in Kuala lumpur, malaysia.

“Proud to officially announce that WBA welterweight world champion @matthysselucas will put his title on the line against @mannypacquiao in Kuala lumpur, malaysia on saturday night July 14,” wrote De la hoya on tuesday, April 3.

Pacquiao, also in a social media post, said he “can’t wait” for another title shot. “it’s on! Can’t wait to challenge lucas

matthysse for another world title on July 15 in Kuala lumpur, malaysia - July 14 U.s. time,” Pacquiao said. the upcoming match against matthysse (39-4, 36 Kos) comes a year after Pacquiao (59-7-2, 38 Kos) lost his WBo title to Jeff horn last July in Brisbane, Australia.

As for who will handle the filipino boxer’s training, Pacquiao’s adviser michael Koncz told esPn that it would not be freddie roach.

According to Koncz, Pacquiao has replaced roach, who’s been his trainer since 2001, with Buboy fernandez, his lifelong friend and the career-long assistant trainer. “that’s manny’s decision. manny has told me Buboy will be handling the training on this fight,” Koncz told esPn. “What’s important to manny is that

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PhiliPPine President rodrigo Duterte on thursday, April 5, announced that he has accepted the resignation of Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre ii. “i accepted the resignation of Vit Aguirre, my fraternity brother, as secretary of Justice. i am now in the hustings looking for a replacement,” the president said in a speech, without expanding details.

Aguirre, for his part, has not made any personal statement about his resignation yet. hours before Duterte’s announcement, Palace spokesperson harry roque Jr. said that “there was no indication” about Aguirre leaving his position during the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, April 4.

Weeks before the president’s announcement, there were already talks about Aguirre’s impending departure. this was after the Department of Justice (DoJ) panel of prosecutors dismissed the

Resigned Justice Secretary Viataliano Aguirre II

drug charges against self-confessed drug dealer rolando “Kerwin” espinosa Jr., alleged drug lord Peter lim, and several others in mid-march.

Duterte, who’s waging a crackdown on narcotics, expressed displeasure over the dismissal of charges, and even “joked”

Philstar.com photo

about putting Aguirre behind bars.

Aguirre was also linked in other controversies, such as when he recently put alleged pork barrel scam mastermind Janet lim-napoles under provisional state protection.

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april 6-12, 2018 • OC/iE aSiaN JOUrNal

From the Front Page

‘DACA is dead,’ says Trump ahead of...

PAGE A1 our borders with proper Border legislation. Democrats want No Border, hence drugs and crime!” the president added.

At the annual White House Easter Egg Roll later that Monday, the president continued to point his finger saying “they had this great opportunity, and Democrats have really let them down.”

“It’s a shame,” he added. “Now people are taking advantage of DACA. It should have never happened.”

Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) responded on Twitter and said that it was Trump who was at fault.

The Trump administration ended the Obama-era Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program last September, giving

Congress a now passed March 5 deadline to find a solution for the Dreamers. Court rulings have allowed the program to temporarily remain, but no new applications have been or can be accepted.

Durbin said, “The President is blaming everyone under the sun, but he only has to look in the mirror to find the person who turned down six different bipartisan DACA deals from Congress - a few that included funding for his useless wall.”

Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) echoed Durbin and wrote on Twitter, “He walked away - not Democrats.”

On Twitter last month on the March 5 deadline, Trump called Democrats out saying, “the Democrats are nowhere to be found on DACA. Gave them 6 months, they just don’t care.”

The tweet continued, “Where are they? We are ready to make a deal!”

The Trump administration said last month that it would extend DACA for two-and-a-half-years in exchange for $25 billion border wall funding which Democrats did not agree to.

Democrats gave a counteroffer of funding for the wall in exchange for giving the approximately 1.8 million Dreamers a path to citizenship, which Trump’s administration refused.

Policy plans to address backlogs, quotas White House officials added to the anti-immigration theme and said Monday that the Trump administration has begun a new legislative push on immigration.

“DHS is working on another legislative package, obviously we’ve been talking about this for many months now, including when we sent the immigration priorities over to Congress back in October that would basically close these loopholes so we can have a lawful immigration system and save a lot of lives on both sides of the border,” said one official.

The proposals include changing laws to make applying or being granted asylum more difficult, allowing longer detainment of families waiting for their immigration decisions through a change in “catch and release” policies, and removing protections for unaccompanied minors arriving illegally in the U.S. so they can be PAGE A4

DOST S&T NOOK TURNOVER. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Fortunato de la Peña turns over DOST’s science and technology (S&T) nook to Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Secretary Ramon Lopez during the “Innovation Partners: DTI and DOST” event held at the 3M Philippines Office in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig on Thursday, April 5. The S&T kiosk contains promotional materials on DOST knowledge products and services, which will help synchronize DOST and DTI efforts in promoting and marketing S&T products in the market. Also in photo are DOST Undersecretary Brenda Nazareth-Manzano (2nd from left), DTI Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya (3rd from right), DOST Region 2 Director Sancho Mabborang (2nd from right), and 3M Philippines president and managing director Ariel Lacsamana (right).

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Duterte: If my plane explodes...

PAGE A1 planning to eliminate the Philippine president.

During his Thursday speech, Duterte also berated the U.S. for blocking the sale of firearms to Philippines because of alleged human rights violations related to his drug war.

He said the Americans “really do not honor their word.”

Duterte recalled how he asked China and Russia for help in acquiring rifles amid the fivemonth long Marawi siege last year, when the Philippine forces clashed with Islamic State-in-

spired terrorists.

“To this day, Russia and China have yet to ask even a piece of paper or pencil. There was no military alliance. I am not prepared for that. I’d just like to go neutral,” he added.

Duterte further warned “loudmouth” Americans that they would someday realize that the drug problem in U.S. is “one hundred times more serious” than in the Philippines.

He took note how U.S. President Donald Trump, who assumed office last year, is now praising the drug war in the Phil-

ippines, in contrast to the critical stance of his predecessor, former U.S. President Barack Obama.

“One day, to your horror, your problem is one hundred times more serious than what we have.

It came to pass. Si Obama yun (That’s Obama). Ngayon pagsabi kay Trump ngayon (But now Trump), he’s declaring a national emergency,” Duterte said.

He continued: “So Americans, what values are you trying to impose on us? The values of Obama, the values of Trump, or your own national stupidity?” n

Marcos on poll recount: Some ballots...

PAGE A1 Robredo),” Marcos’ lawyer, Vic Rodriguez, claimed.

The number of shaded unused and excess ballots, however, remains unclear.

Robredo’s camp, meanwhile, tagged the reported discovery as “ridiculous.”

“We find the report ridiculous, since at that time, only one ballot box was opened and this report surfaced immediately,” said Maria Bernadette Sardillo, Robredo’s lawyer.

“How can this be reported that quick if no telephones or any mode of outside communication is allowed inside the revision area?” she added.

Sardillo also suggested that the supposed pre-shaded ballots

could have been “rejected ballots” that were wrongly stored.

“These could be rejected ballots that were mistakenly placed inside the envelope for unused ballots. Based on experience, due to the conditions inside the precincts where our BEIs (Board of Election Inspectors) are awake as early as 4 a.m., mistakes happen,” she remarked.

She went to say: “This should be another attempt of the camp of losing candidate Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to throw shade in the recount process and further confuse the public.”

Revisors quit A day after the start of VP poll recount, four head revisors resigned. The news was confirmed by both Rodriguez and

Sardillo on Tuesday, April 3.

A head revisor is in charge of recounting the contested ballots and recording objections, claims, and other notes by either Marcos or Robredo’s representatives.

In a statement, Marcos expressed hope that the resignation of four head revisors “will not result in another round of delays especially now that we have started to uncover clear signs of fraud.”

“They are no ordinary revisors, having undergone rigid psychological test and meticulous screening by the PET. They must have a compelling reason for backing out and I am one with the Filipino people in asking why,” he added. n

Duterte orders 6-month closure...

PAGE A1 Guevarra said calamity funds would be used to assist residents in Boracay whose livelihood will be affected by the closure.

The move to shut down the world-famous island comes amid efforts to fix the area’s environmental issues. Duterte, in a previous speech, even likened Boracay to a “cesspool” due to the island’s dysfunctional sewerage system.

According to the DOT, the island of Boracay generates around P50 billion in annual receipts.

Malay Municipal Tourism office records also showed that more than two million tourists visited the island last year. n

Inquirer.net photo

California cities sound off on sanctuary...

PAGE A1 ballot measure initiative designed to eliminate certain policies outlined in SB 54, including its main purpose to prohibit law enforcement from collaborating with the federal government.

The coalition has come out in support for a previous U.S. Dept. of Justice (DOJ) lawsuit against the state for its sanctuary policies, which U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions deemed “unconstitutional.”

Members of the group are also targeting a separate law that puts penalties on employers who give federal immigration agents access to employee documents and state buildings without a warrant.

The initiative would likely not appear on any ballot until 2020.

The proposals listed in the initiative would not only remove certain sanctuary policies, but it would require law enforcement to notify federal immigration when they have an undocumented immigrant in custody.

Even further, the measure would also penalize government officials who hinder federal agents, prohibit the DMV from issuing licenses for undocumented immigrants (which interferes with DACA which, in California, grants licenses to undocumented youth) and require proof of citizenship at voting booths.

In a late-night vote on Mon-

day, April 2, the city council of Huntington Beach voted 6-1 to file a suit against the law, joining neighboring city Los Alamitos and south Orange County city San Juan Capistrano in the fight against statewide sanctuary policy.

“We’re tired of Sacramento telling us what to do,” said Councilor Patrick Brenden at Monday night’s meeting. “There’s rhetoric on both sides. If that’s ugly and uncomfortable then so be it.”

Fountain Valley’s city council also voted in favor of filing an amicus (“friend of the court”) brief in support of the DOJ lawsuit.

Republican U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher, whose district comprises Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, spoke at the council meeting in support of the lawsuit and even expressed he’d be willing to personally fund the effort.

“I will personally either raise the money or take it out of my campaign treasury. Side with Americans and not with [undocumented immigrants],” Rohrabacher said.

The city of Santa Ana, however, deviated from its neighboring cities and came out in support for SB 54. The council voted against filing an amicus brief that would have supported the lawsuit, citing that sanctuary rules would make communities safe.

Moreover, cities are already

required to report data on those in custody to federal officials if they ask, and Santa Ana does that, according to Councilor San Tinajero.

“We are following federal law, we are just not going out of our way to use our tax dollars to help the federal government do the job they’re supposed to do,” Tinajero said.

Other Orange County cities that are slated to raise the issue in future council meetings include Fullerton, Costa Mesa and Buena Park.

The San Gabriel Valley comes out in support for sanctuary policy At late city council meetings on Tuesday, April 3, the city councils of West Covina and San Gabriel each voted in favor of upholding sanctuary policies.

Despite West Covina Mayor Mike Spence’s proposal to oppose SB 54, the city council decided to take no action on the Huntington Beach lawsuit.

“It is clear that Donald Trump’s clarion call to pit neighbor against neighbor dividing our communities are being answered,” Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles), who authored SB 54, said at the raucous West Covina meeting.

“They won’t be successful in California. As the most diverse state in the world, Californians know better.”

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Dateline USa

OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 6-12, 2018

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Google honors Balagtas with ‘doodle’ of epic poem

by Catherine

Modesto ManilaTimes.net

INTERNET giant Google on Monday, April 2, celebrated the 230th birthday of Francisco “Balagtas” Baltazar with a doodle of his literary masterpiece “Florante at Laura.”

An epic poem that symbolizes Baltazar’s own life journey, “Florante at Laura” was written in dodecasyllabic quatrains, which means it has 12 syllables per line, four lines per stanza, according to Google.

The choice of language for “Florante at Laura” was “a bold and unusual choice, since at the time most writings were in Spanish,” it said.

In honor of Baltazar, Google altered its logo to show his famous epic poem, which he wrote while in prison for supposedly ordering a servant girl’s head to be shaved.

Aside from “Florante at Laura,” Baltazar also wrote three-to-fourpart comedies such as “Orosmán at Zafira,” “Don Nuño at Selinda,” “Clara Belmorem,” and a one-part short play entitled “La India Elegante y

Artwork on search engine Google depicts scenes from Francisco Baltazar’s epic poem ‘Florante at Laura.’

el Negrito Amante.”

Baltazar learned to write poetry from José de la Cruz (Huseng Sisiw), one of the famous poets of Tondo.

In 1835, Baltazar met María Asunción Rivera, who eventually became the muse or inspiration of his future works.

Twelve years later, Baltazar married Juana Tiambeng, with whom he had 11 children. Only four of them survived to adulthood.

Baltazar was the son of a blacksmith. He studied Canon Law, Philosophy, Latin and the classics at the Colegio de San Juan de Letran and Colegio de San Jose.

Baltazar was born on April 2,

1788 in barrio Panginay, in the town of Bigaa, (now Balagtas in his honor) Bulacan. He died on February 20, 1862 at the age of 74.

Baltazar’s gift of gab and poetry gave birth to “Balagtasan,” a form of debate in extemporaneous verse.

President Rodrigo Duterte declared April 2 as a special nonworking day in the province of Bulacan.

Baltazar’s birthday serves as the opening of the month of April as Buwan ng Panitikang Filipino or Philippine Literature Month, under the auspices of the Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino or the Filipino Language Commission. n

California cities sound off on sanctuary...

PAGE A2 Mirroring West Covina’s upholding of SB 54, San Gabriel voted in favor of a “safe cities” resolution that affirmed its commitment to its growing immigrant community.

San Gabriel’s resolution comes nearly two months after the council agreed to rescind the secret agreement between the San Gabriel Police Department and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

“Frankly, none of this would probably have come up if that issue hadn’t needed to be addressed,” said San Gabriel Councilor Jason Pu, referencing that now-defunct agreement.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, a third of the San Gabriel Valley are foreign-born: it is home to nearly a million Latinos (56.4 percent) and more than 500,000 Asian Americans (25.7 percent), according to a recent report from Asian Americans Ad-

vancing Justice - Los Angeles.

“This is about valuing families and keeping them together,” Beatriz Sandoval, leader of LA Voice, said in a statement following West Covina’s decision to support SB 54. “Our kids attend the same schools; we are a part of one community. Last night, we showed that the San Gabriel Valley is a place that values families and community trust, not racism and othering.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Pacquiao, Matthysse set for July showdown...

PAGE A1 he has one voice to listen to in the corner that he trusts, and I guess that’s Buboy for this fight,” he added.

Asked why Pacquiao made such decision, Koncz replied: “There was some concerns Manny had in the last fight and some statements Freddie made to the media that Manny wasn’t very pleased about.”

In a separate statement, Koncz told the Los Angeles Times that Pacquiao’s MP Promotions will be the Malaysia bout’s lead pro- Manny Pacquiao’s much-awaited fight against World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight moter. n champion Lucas Matthysse is officially set on July 14 in Malaysia.

Philstar.com photos

FOOTSTEPS 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, Allen by Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)

OCTOBER 18 to NOVEMBER 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct. 18, 2018( Thursday) Day 1 – MNL HKG, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Oct. 25, 2018 (Thursday) Day 8 - Jerusalem Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:14) Israel. (Meals served in-flight) We will walk to view the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and visit the Oct. 18, 2018 (Friday) Day 1 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Western Wall, ( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still Tiberias standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. Then, we will Arrival from Manila still Oct. 18,2018 late in the evening. After we clear drive to Mt. Zion, to visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Immigration and Customs, will be met by our driver for transfer to tiberias . Supper, then survey the Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St. Peter in enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean. We will spend our first night Gallicantu, the site where Peter denied Jesus three times. After the day’s in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Gai Beach Hotel (Oct. 19, 2018) Holy tour, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Eucharist Notre Dame Vatican Hotel Oct. 20, 2018 (Saturday) Day 3 - Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana / Oct. 26, 2018 (Friday) Day 9 - Mount of Olives/Gethsemane/Bethlehem/ Mt Tabor Jerusalem (New City)/Ein Karem We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Mass at the Church of Nativity Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon. In the New “O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child.” (Protoevangelium Testament book of Revelation, it is referred as the sites of the “final battle”. of James 22:3) From there, we will continue our drive into Nazareth, where we will have Mass We will arrive at the Mount of Olives, to enjoy another view of Jerusalem, in the Church of the Annunciation, the Cave of the Annunciation and visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus visit Joseph’s Workshop and Then we will move on to Cana of Galilee, where Flevit (“God wept”) sanctuary. Next, we’ll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Our Lord performed His first miracle: changing water into wine at the wedding Garden of Gethsemane, and visit the Rock of Agony and the Church of feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows, Continue to Mount all Nations. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name is Tabor, site of Jesus Transfiguration Afterward, we will head to Tiberias. Dinner recognized around the world. After celebrating Mass at the Church of Nativity, and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D).Gai Beach Hotel. we will see the Manger; visit the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Oct. 21, 2018 (Sunday) 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)

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. 23, 2018 (Tuesday) DAY 6 - Jordan Valley/Jericho/Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church of St. Lazarus 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.

famous mosaic map of the Holy Land. Then we will drive down to Aqaba.

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

Oct. 27, 2018 (Saturday) 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 Oct. 22, 2018 (Monday) Day 5 - Magdala Full day retreat , Focus will Include programs based on the historical 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 and Religious value of the Magdala sites Jerusalem for dinner and Overnight (B, D) More info coming up as we get closer to the dates MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are Oct. 28, 2018 (Sunday) Day11 - Jerusalem/Allenby Bridge/Madaba/ creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is Jordan/Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She Mass at Mount Nebo lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We will go to that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue the Baptismal Site at Bethany, which Pope John Paul II visited in 2000. dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one Then, it’s on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Our discovered in the Galilee. next stop will be the Church of St. George in Madaba, which hosts the

Oct. 24, 2018 ( Wednesday) 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 29, 2018 (Monday) 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 (Tuesday) Day 13 - Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/Overnight Oct. 31, 2018 (Wednesday) 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 End of Our Memorable Pilgrimage to Jesus Home Land!!!

PHILIPPINE BRAND. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Assistant Secretary Ramon Cualoping II (with microphone) introduces the “Philippine Branding” during the First Technical Working Group (TWG) Meeting held at the Kalayaan Hall in Malacañang, Manila on Thursday, April 5. Cualoping said the national brand will be “all-encompassing”, promoting the Philippines as an education, culture and investment hub, and as a tourist destination.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

‘DACA is dead,’ says Trump ahead of...

PAGE A2 deported or be turned back at the border more quickly.

“If you oppose those fixes, as Democrats do, you’re basically saying you want endless numbers of new waves of illegal immigrants,” said the official.

Hours after the White House statement, Trump tweeted Monday, “As ridiculous as it sounds, the laws of our country do not easily allow us to send those crossing our Southern Border back where they come from.

The tweet continued, “A whole big wasted procedure must take place. Mexico & Canada have tough immigration laws, whereas ours are an Obama joke. ACT CONGRESS” According to the New York Times, a senior administration official said the asylum changes were meant in part to address a backlog of hundreds of thousands of immigration court cases, which often result in undocumented immigrants living in the U.S. while waiting for their case to process.

More than 617,500 cases were backlogged in 2017 which is almost double the amount from 2009. Average wait times often range from one to five years depending on the state, with immigrants many times having to represent themselves.

The Justice Department told immigration judges Monday that it would impose new quotas on how quickly cases are closed starting October 1. Judges will have to complete 700 cases per year — the average being only 678 in the last five years.

While immigration judges are

part of the Executive branch, they are supposed to have full independence.

Those critical of the proposed quota system say that creating numerical targets would create an even messier system.

Dana Leigh Marks, an immigration judge and union spokesman of the National Immigration Judges Association described the metric standards as “completely, utterly contrary to judicial independence.”

“We believe assessing quality is fine, not quantity,” said Marks.

Many times, undocumented immigrants come to the U.S. in seek of asylum or refugee status, and risk facing violence or murder upon returning to their home countries.

She once said in a PBS Newshour coverage of immigration courts that they were in essence, “processing death penalty cases in a traffic court setting.”

Judge A. Ashley Tabaddor, president of the National Association of Immigration Judges said that it would make an “appealable” issue and legal challenges a possibility, reported The Washington Post.

She said,” “It could call into question the integrity and impartiality of the court if a judge’s decision is influenced by factors outside the facts of the case, or if motions are denied out of a judge’s concern about keeping his or her job.”

“We don’t know of any other court whose judges are subject to individual quotas and deadlines as part of performance reviews and evaluations,” she added.

Easter Sunday immigration tweets The Monday remarks came after Trump took to Twitter early Easter Sunday expressing his stance on immigration and DACA. “Border Patrol Agents are not allowed to properly do their job at the Border because of ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws like Catch & Release. Getting more dangerous. ‘Caravans’ coming.

Republicans must go to Nuclear Option to pass tough laws NOW. NO MORE DACA DEAL!,” read one tweet that raised awareness on his latest stance on DACA..

“Caravans” refer to a group of around 1,500 people — primarily from Honduras — reportedly heading towards the border together as a way to ensure better protection from the often dangerous route.

The caravan is organized by the U.S.-based immigration advocacy group called Pueblo Sin Fronteras, or People Without Borders in English. How many actually plan to reach the U.S. or seek asylum is unclear.

Trump suggested on Twitter that the caravan travelers would attempt to benefit from DACA. He said, “These big flows of people are all trying to take advantage of DACA. They want in on the act!”

But aside from the fact that DACA is not taking applications, the program required applicants prove they had been living in the U.S. since 2007.

Expressing frustration with what he called “ridiculous liberal (Democrat) laws”, Trump put blame on a “catch and rePAGE A4

Marian Pilgrimage France, Spain & Portugal September 8 to September 21, 2018 Spiritual Director: rev. John Duy nguyen Still one of the great pilgrimages shrines in the world, visited by thousands of pilgrim’s. Arrive in Lourdes in the late afternoon, orientation to the shrines and spends some time in the sanctuary.

Dinner & overnight.

Sept. 9, 2018 - (Sunday) Day 2 - Paris (CDG) Arrived Paris CDG, Then after we clear immigration and collect our (BB, D) Luggage,. you will proceed to your hotel and have mass and dinner.

Sept. 15, 2018 - (Saturday) Day 8 - Lourdes Overnight in Paris. (D) You will have early morning bath at the healing water of Lourdes.

Then return to the hotel for breakfast. There after attend Holy Mass Sept. 10, 2018 - (Monday) Day 3 - Paris Paris is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world, also at the Grotto. continue the day with a walking tour of the shrines and known as the City of Light. Full day touring with local guide, including places associated with the life of St. Bernadette. Spend some time visit of the Eiffel tower, Notre Dame Cathedral, Basilica of Sacre meditating on the passion of our Lord through more than life size Coeur, The chapel of the Miraculous Medal in Rue de Bac is the site exotic way of the sacrament and prayers. Afternoon will be free time of Marian Apparitions and contain the reliquaries of St. Catherine for private devotion. Dinner/overnight (BB, D) Laboure and St. Louise De Marillac. The shrine of St. Vincent the Paul is within walking distance, a few blocks from Rue De Bac, visit Sept. 16, 2018 - (Sunday) Day 9 - Lourdes / Zaragoza the chapel which houses the relic of St. Vincent the Paul. Overnight After Breakfast, you’ll continue your drive towards Zaragoza, Spain. Visit the shrines of Our Lady of Pillar, the 2nd most popular in Paris (BB/D) pilgrimages sites in Spain. See the Magnificent altar in the Basilica, built on site where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to the apostles Sept. 11, 2018 - (Tuesday) Day 4 - Paris/Lisieux After breakfast, Full day in Lisieux, home of St Therese, who at age St. James, before her assumption into heaven. Dinner/overnight 15, entered the convent and became Carmelite nun, she took the Zaragoza (BB, D) religious name of St Therese of the child Jesus and the Holy face. The spirituality of her little ways was not about extraordinary things, but Sept. 17, 2018 - (Monday) Day 10 - Zaragoza / Salamanca rather about doing simple things of life well and with extraordinary After breakfast you will embark on a trip to Salamanca. You will have love. She believed and taught that “Everything is Grace”, God’s face a short stop and panoramic tour of Avila. Upon arrival in Salamanca, and presence could be experienced in every person and situation of you will visit the Old Cathedral and tour the city. Dinner /overnight our lives, if we just attend with love and expectancy. She died at the Salamanca (BB, D) age of 24 believing that her life was really the beginning for God, promising to spend her heaven doing good on earth, her promised” Sept. 18, 2019 - (Tuesday) Day 11 - Salamanca / Fatima shower of Roses” began and have become a torrent in the church After Breakfast, you will spend the first half of the day touring ever since. Return to Paris, Dinner in a restaurant near the hotel. Salamanca. You will visit the new cathedral with a short stop at Plaza Mayor for lunch. After lunch you will continue to Fatima, the Overnight in Lisieux (BB, D) famous Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Upon arrival you will have a Sept. 12, 2018 - (Wednesday) Day 5 - Lisieux / Nevers / Paray- short orientation tour of the Sanctuary. Attend the nightly Candlelight procession at the Shrine. Dinner and Overnight Fatima (BB, D) Le-Monial After Breakfast, Continue your drive to the picturesque Loire valley to Nevers, visit the convent of St. Gillard, where St. Bernadette’s Sept. 19, 2018 - (Wednesday) Day 12 - Fatima incorrupt body miraculously preserved since her death in 1879. Breakfast, then Visit the Museum dedicated to the Blessed Virgin At the conclusion of the eighteen apparitions of the Virgin Mary Mary followed by Mass at the Apparitions chapel, Full day Guided in Lourdes, St. Bernadette lived for 12 years as a member of the tours includes the Shrines ground, visit of the tombs of Francisco congregation of the sisters of charity of Nevers. St Gildard convent and Jacinta in the Basilica, In Aljustrel and Valinhos, you see the is her final resting place. After she was blessed with the apparitions two homes of the shepherds, site of Our Lady’s fourth apparitions. of the Virgin Mary in Lourdes, St. Bernadette retired in Nevers. She Stop at the Parish church where the seers were baptized, and the received her religious habit in 1866. Continue to Paray-Le-Monial for cemetery where Francisco and Jacinta were once buried. You will do the station of the Cross. We encourage everyone to spend some time Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) in the Blessed Sacrament, which is open every day. Dinner/overnight Fátima. (BB, D) Sept. 13, 2018 - (Thursday) Day 6 - Paray-Le-Monial After Breakfast, you will tour Paray-Le-Monial. Your first stop is the Basilica of the Sacred Heart and here you will celebrate Holy Sept. 20, 2018 - (Thursday) Day 13 - Fatima / Lisbon Eucharist. Then you will tour and admire the Romanesque basilica After breakfast ,you will proceed to Lisbon with stops at Santarem and see the Chapel of Apparitions. After the Basilica, you will proceed to visit the church of the Holy Miracle containing the Glorious to the Monastere e la Visitation. Visit the reliquary of Saint Margaret 13th century Eucharistic Miracle of Santarem .Then you will do a Mary of Alocoque at the Chapel of Visitation. Still to see and visit after panoramic city tour of Lisbon, with a visit to the Basilica of St Anthony lunch is the Park of the Chaplain and the Chapel of St. Colombiere. de Padua, St Jeronimo’s Monastery and the famous Belem Tower.

Dinner/Overnight Lisbon (BB, D) Dinner & Overnight (BB, D) Sept. 8, 2018 - (Saturday) Day 1 USA/PARIS Transatlantic flight from USA to Paris (CDG )Meals serve on board.

Sept. 14, 2018 - (Friday) Day 7 - Paray-Le-Monial / Lourdes Sept. 21, 2018 - (Friday) - Early AM transfer to Lisbon After breakfast you will continue your pilgrimage to Lourdes. Lourdes, Airport for flight home to USA celebrating 160 Years of apparitions of Blessed Virgin to Bernadette. Full of wonderful memories of Our Pilgrimage

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Dateline USa

april 6-12, 2018 • OC/iE aSiaN JOUrNal

http://www.asianjournal.com • (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797

US gov’t: Corruption in PH continues to hamper trade by dana

SioSon AJPress

The issue of corruption in the Philippines continues to obstruct the trade and investment relations between Manila and Washington, according to the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).

In its 2018 National Trade estimate Report of Foreign Trade Barriers, the USTR pointed out that corruption is a “pervasive” and “longstanding” problem in the Philippines.

“National and local government agencies, particularly Bureau of Customs (BOC), are beset with various corruption issues,” the USTR said.

Just like in its 2017 report, the USTR also mentioned anew that both foreign and domestic investors have expressed concern about the “propensity of Philippine courts and regulators to stray beyond matters of legal interpretation into policymaking, as well as the lack of transparency in judicial and regulatory processes.”

Investors, likewise, have raised

concerns about “courts being influenced by bribery and improperly issuing temporary restraining orders to impede legitimate commerce.”

Data from the USTR showed that U.S. goods exports to the Philippines in 2017 were $8.5 billion, making Manila Washington’s 31st largest goods export market in 2017; while imports from the Philippines were $11.6 billion.

On the other hand, U.S. exports of services to the Philippines were an estimated $2.6 billion in 2016, while imports were $6.1 billion.

The U.S. goods and services trade with the Philippines totaled an estimated $27.0 billion in 2016.

Other barriers Concerning technical barriers to trade, the U.S. continues to press the Philippines to remove “unjustified requirements” that treat frozen meat differently from fresh meat The report further said that U.S. continues to ensure that the Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA)’s requirements for importers “to obtain a sanitary and phytos-

Duterte accepts Aguirre’s...

PAGE A1

he was likewise tagged in a bribery scandal involving immigration officials Al Argosino and Michael Robles, who were charged for allegedly extorting money from Chinese businessman Jack Lam. Roque earlier said Aguirre continues to have the trust and confidence of Duterte amid controversial issues. But he also relayed that Duterte was unhappy with the performance of some of his officials, hinting possible changes in the Cabinet.

Welcoming Aguirre’s resignation, Senator Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV stressed that

what the Filipino people deserve is a “credible, capable, and respectable” justice secretary.

“Sa mata ng taumbayan, pawala na nang pawala ang kredibilidad ni dating Justice Secretary Aguirre sa bawat kapalpakan at palihis na kilos nito (Outgoing Justice Secretary Aguirre has lost credibility before the public with each blunder he committed),” Aquino pointed out.

While Aguirre’s departure from office a “clear victory against injustice and impunity,” Senator Risa hontiveros, meanwhile, said that his resignation was a “hollow gesture” considering the sup-

anitary permit prior to shipment of any agricultural product and to transmit the permit to the exporter” will not hamper trade.

In terms of intellectual property rights protection, the report stated that U.S. rights holders have expressed concerns about the “continued availability of pirated and counterfeit goods in the Philippines, slow investigation of IPR related cases by the Department of Justice, and judicial inexperience in handling IPR enforcement cases, both civil and criminal.”

The USTR also discussed barriers to digital trade, particularly internet services.

“The Philippines requires government agencies to procure cloud computing services from the Government Cloud (GovCloud), a cloud infrastructure set up by the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT),” the report read.

Such restrictions, according to USTR, “could prevent Philippine government agencies from accessing best-in-class cloud services.” n

posed “damage” he has done to the DOJ. “The damage is done. By being allowed to stay in his post for the longest time, Mr Aguirre turned the justice department into a leading purveyor of fake news, a manufacturer of fake legal cases to harass the opposition, and a refuge for drug lords, plunderers, and other high-profile criminals,” hontiveros said.

She continued: “Our justice system is now in shambles, with more and more people trusting it less and less. Mr Aguirre’s resignation is a hollow gesture. Sorry, but ‘too late the hero for ‘justice zero.’” n

‘DACA is dead,’ says Trump ahead of...

PAGE A3

lease” policy which refers to the approach of allowing migrants remain free until an immigration judge hears their asylum requests.

In another Tweet that criticized Mexico for not blocking people coming in through their southern border, Trump also mentioned the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) which he called a “cash cow” for Mexico.

“Mexico is doing very little, if

not NOThING, at stopping people from flowing into Mexico through their Southern Border, and then into the U.S. They laugh at our dumb immigration laws. They must stop the big drug and people flows, or I will stop their cash cow, NAFTA. NeeD WALL!” NAFTA is the world’s largest free trade agreement and is a treaty between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. Trump has before called NAFTA the “worst trade deal in history”, and has blamed

it for the Rust Belt’s loss of jobs in manufacturing.

Luis Videgaray Caso, foreign secretary of Mexico, responded to Trump’s tweets and said: “every day Mexico and the U.S. work together on migration throughout the region. Facts clearly reflect this. An inaccurate news reports should not serve to question this strong cooperation. Upholding human dignity and rights is not at odds with the rule of law. happy easter.” n

ROAD REBLOCKING. The Department of Public Works and Highways – National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) resumed its road reblocking activities on 11 roads in the cities during the Lenten Season break with scheduled road repairs along G. Tuazon corner Cristobal, Sampaloc, Manila. Motorists are advised that road repairs will continue every weekend until November. PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

EPA threatens California’s right to set its own fuel economy standards Trump admin to revoke Obama-era vehicle pollution standards, sparks outrage from CA leaders

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

The environmental Protection Agency (ePA) confirmed plans on Monday, April 2 to loosen the nation’s current standards for fuel economy which they consider “too high.”

If allowed to take effect, the Obama administration regulations would have required car manufacturers to double the average fuel economy of new cars and trucks to a minimum of 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, a goal which ePA Administrator Scott Pruitt said doesn’t “comport with reality.”

Part of the administration’s efforts to weakening the nation’s fuel economy regulations includes a push for automakers to manufacture more cars and SUVs which that relies on clean energy over fossil fuels.

“The Obama Administration’s determination was wrong,” said Pruitt in a statement released on Monday.

Generally, fuel economy standards are meant to ascertain the air quality to signal policymakers to establish climate initiatives to mitigate any signs of pollution.

The ePA specifically took aim at the state of California and called to revoke the state’s ability to implement stricter standards for fuel emissions than the rest of the country, a provision allowed under the federal Clean Air Act. “Cooperative federalism doesn’t mean that one state can dictate standards for the rest of the country,” Pruitt said.

This could prove to be an uphill battle for California, a state known for its commuter lifestyle and concerns over the environmental repercussions of its swelling fuel emissions.

Gov. Jerry Brown, who has not been shy in his disfavor for the Trump administration and its policies, condemned the ePA’s decision.

“Watch out for this belated April Fools’ Day trick. This cynical and meretricious abuse of power will

poison our air and jeopardize the health of all Americans,” Brown said in a statement released Monday.

Last year when the ePA announced that it would take a oneyear review at the current standards for gas emissions, Brown penned a letter to Pruitt in which he warned not to “put the interests of big oil ahead of clean air and politics ahead of science.”

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group that tracks the effects lobbying in public policy, Pruitt’s top political donors include Devon energy, Koch Industries, Alliance Coal and exxon Mobil, all top players in the oil industry who have fought against climate change initiatives.

Impact in LA Los Angeles, a commuter city best known for its unyielding traffic and pollution problems, would be affected greatly. Because of the state’s own CAFe regulations, local and state lawmakers were able to gauge overall fuel emissions, which allowed them to create laws and programs to stymie the effects of vehicle emissions on the air quality.

“In a city where the car is king, nobody knows better than Angelenos the importance of more efficient vehicles to keep our air clean,” LA Mayor eric Garcetti said in a statement released on Monday. “Thanks to the federal auto standards established by President Obama, we have seen tremendous progress in reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Los Angeles. Today’s decision by the Trump administration takes our city and country backward in the movement away from fossil fuels.”

Garcetti also announced on Monday that he is leading an alliance of U.S. mayors in denouncing the ePA’s plan. As a co-founder of Climate Mayors — a coalition of more than 400 U.S. mayors committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to support climate change policy — Garcetti has ac-

tively made motor sustainability a major citywide initiative.

To adhere to state standards to reduce fuel emissions, the city of LA has established strict electric vehicle procurement policies, requiring that at every year at least half of all new municipal vehicles must be electric.

LA is also the founding signatory to the C40 Clean Bus Declaration and the Fossil Fuel Free Street Declaration which promises to procure emission-free buses by 2025 with the plan to have “a 100 percent zero emissions bus fleet by 2030,” according to a statement.

Since Trump was elected, his administration has been criticized for its efforts to roll back climate change initiatives established by the Obama administration. Last year, he received pushback for withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, a United Nation framework in which all agreeing countries plans and regularly reports its own contributions to mitigate global warming.

Pruitt under fire for use of taxpayer dollars however, the new standards may take some time to come into effect as Pruitt’s post is in jeopardy amid several corruption scandals over finances. Among the ballooning scandals, Pruitt reportedly rented a luxury townhouse co-owned by the wife of a top gas industry lobbyist, a major ethical concern given his position at the ePA, according to a recent ABC News report.

“I don’t know how you survive this one, and if he has to go, it’s because he never should have been there in the first place,” former Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie said on ABC on Sunday.

Pruitt — who was previously the attorney general of Oklahoma — is also under scrutiny for reportedly using taxpayer dollars for $2,000 first-class flights to his home state and often stays at luxury hotels, according to a report from The Washington Post. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

FBI investigating Apollo Quiboloy’s Hawaii church for ‘aggressive fundraising’, human trafficking Quiboloy’s lawyer denies the allegations of human trafficking

by Klarize

Medenillia AJPress

The FBI is conducting an investigation into the hawaii chapter of Filipino televangelist Apollo Quiboloy’s church on accusations of “aggressive fundraising” and possible human trafficking.

As first reported by hawaii News Now, the investigation is centered around Felina Salinas, the business manager of the Waipahu chapter of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ (KJC) of which Quiboloy is head.

On February 13, Salinas was arrested by federal authorities after U.S. Customs and Border enforcement found $350,000 in cash and military-grade rifles on a private plane at the honolulu airport that was to leave for the Philippines.

According to a complaint filed by a special agent of the United States Dept. of homeland Security, Salinas lacked to declare that they were transporting thousands of “neatly bundled” $100 bills in black socks.

Quiboloy, along with six other people including Salinas, was temporarily detained while Salinas was charged with attempted smuggling. According to legal experts, the allegations have opened up discussion on whether human trafficking was involved.

According to an official report, complainant Kristina Angeles said she came to hawaii from the Philippines on a religious visa when Salinas made her raise funds and sell “manapua and Krispy Kreme” donuts for hours

“rain or shine.”

“We’ve been slapped or yelled at,” Angeles wrote in a police statement. “The last time, I received punches over my arms and legs.”

Salinas was previously arrested in 2015 for an alleged assault on a fellow church member who said she was forced to raise funds for the church, hawaii News Now said. hawaii attorney Clare hanusz told hawaii News Now that that church member’s allegations indicated “some of the classic signs of human trafficking and people who come under religious worker visas before have sometimes been connected with human trafficking.”

Angeles also wrote that while at a church compound in the Philippines, the church forced her to shave her head and wear an “orange t-shirt.”

Children’s Joy, the church’s foundation, was also accused of “aggressive fundraising” as well as misrepresentation. Many of the church’s younger members were often forced to sell baked goods at a local Costco to raise funds for the church.

On Tuesday, Quiboloy’s lawyer Israelito Torreon denied that the church was involved in human trafficking and that the pastor’s legal team had not received notification of the FBI investigation. he also proposed that an outside party pushed that claim to take down the church.

“That is shocking,” Torreon told ABS-CBN on Tuesday, April 3. “Somebody must be orches-

Pastor Apollo Quiboloy

Inquirer.net photo

trating all of these. I hope that person will be enlightened by the Lord Almighty to stop this because that’s really not true. The congregation of Pastor Apollo Quiboloy is a religious congregation. It is not engaged in human trafficking.”

Quiboloy — who has called himself the Appointed Son of God and has said his self-proclaimed immaculately conceived birth resembled that of Jesus Christ — began his religious leadership in Davao City in 1985. In the last 33 years, he has garnered a cult-like following and now claims that he has 6 million “followers” around the world.

Quiboloy has remained a close friend of President Rodrigo Duterte since the latter was the mayor of Davao. Duterte said that Quiboloy has gifted Duterte expensive gifts throughout their friendship, including three properties in and around Davao City. n

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OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 6-12, 2018

D ateline PhiliPPines Sereno to face colleagues in ouster oral arguments

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by Edu

Punay Philstar.com

MANILA — Embattled Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno will face her colleagues in the Supreme Court (SC) who compelled her to temporarily leave office while facing impeachment proceedings in Congress.

Sereno has decided to abide by the order issued by her fellow justices for her to “attend personally and answer questions from the Court.”

“The Chief Justice will attend the oral arguments to answer questions from justices,” Sereno’s spokesman lawyer Jojo Lacanilao said on Wednesday, April 4.

The appearance of Sereno was set by the Court as a condition in granting her plea for oral arguments.

But Lacanilao stressed that while the chief magistrate will appear at the hearing set for April 12 in Baguio City, it does not necessarily mean that they have conceded to the propriety of the quo warranto proceedings against her.

“Her appearance is without prejudice to our jurisdiction challenge,” the lawyer clarified.

It was also learned that Sereno’s camp will seek the inhibition of Associate Justice Teresita Leonardode Castro and other justices in the case. Her lawyers will file motions before the SC within the week for this purpose.

De Castro was among the justices who testified against Sereno

Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno has decided to abide by the order issued by her fellow justices for her to “attend personally and answer questions from the Court.”

Philstar.com photo

in the earlier impeachment hearings before the House justice committee.

It will be the first time a sitting chief justice will face fellow justices in an oral argument – not as head of the high court but rather on the other side as a respondent in the case.

Meanwhile, Sens. Leila de Lima and Antonio Trillanes IV rallied behind Sereno in seeking the dismissal of the quo warranto petition through a petition for intervention before the SC. “Any proceeding whose aim is to remove an impeachable public officer outside an impeachment trial in the Senate is a palpable violation of the Constitution; it is a diminution of the Impeachment Clause, a circumvention of the exclusive character of an

impeachment and incompatible with the design of the Constitution,” the two senators argued.

“With due respect, the honorable court should not allow itself to become a party to a patent transgression of the Constitution,” they added.

With this, De Lima and Trillanes asked the SC to dismiss the petition against Sereno for lack of jurisdiction.

The SC has already denied the two petitions for intervention filed by the Makabayan bloc of party-list lawmakers led by Bayan Muna Rep. Carlos Zarate and a group of private individuals led by running protest Fr. Robert Reyes. But it took note of the similar intervention filed by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines. n

Duterte ready to certify Bangsamoro Basic Law as urgent by alExis

RomERo

Philstar.com

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has said he is willing to certify the Bangsamoro Basic Law urgent as he urged lawmakers to consolidate their versions of the measure.

Duterte and some lawmakers discussed the BBL during a meeting in Malacañang on Wednesday, April 4 .

“The president asked them to finalize already their version of the BBL to consolidate all pending versions, and he will certify it as urgent to fast track the passage of BBL,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said on Thursday, April 5.

If a measure is certified urgent, it will not be covered by a rule which states that a bill needs to

be read on first, second and third reading on separate days.

Roque stressed that Duterte is committed to achieve lasting peace with Moro groups and communist rebels.

Duterte reiterated his promise to support the enactment of the BBL during an agriculture event in Malacañang on Thursday.

“I will comply with the BBL. Give me time,” the president said.

The BBL aims to create a new Bangsamoro political entity with greater political and economic powers.

Last Monday, Duterte admitted that he is racing against time to have the proposed BBL passed

by Congress,saying the measure should be enacted within the year.

“I am racing against time. The

MILF is in a hurry and has placed on us the burden of a timeline and I have agreed to that period.

I gave my solemn promise and I assure you, I am working hard to meet the deadline,” the President said during the distribution of certificates of land ownership award in Sultan Kudarat.

“It has to be this year because that was what was agreed upon,” he added.

The president said he would meet with MNLF founding chairman Nur Misuari this week to discuss a possible peace settlement. This, despite a final peace agreement between the government and the MNLF signed in 1996.

Misuari is opposed to the peace agreement signed by the government and the MILF in 2014. (Philstar.com)

Garin, other Health execs charged over ‘Dengvaxia deaths’ CRIMINAL charges were filed by the Public Attorney’s Office (PAO) on Thursday, April 5, against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and other former officials of the Department of Health over the death of four children inoculated with Dengvaxia.

Charged at the Department of Justice were Garin, Socorro Lupisan and Maria Rosario Capeding of the Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM); and other officials involved in the purchase of the vaccine– Vicente Belizario Jr., Kenneth Hartigan-Go, Gertardo Bayugo, Lyndon Lee Suy, Irma Ascuncion, Julius Lecciones, Joyce Ducusin, Rosalind Vianzon, and Mario Baguilod.

Also included in the charge sheet were Sanofi Pasteur Inc. and distributor Zuellig Pharma Corporation.

Sanofi officers named in the complaint were Carlito Realuyo, Sanislas Camart, Jean Louis Grunwald, Jean-Francois Vacherand, Conchita Santos, Jazel Anne Calvo, Pearl Grace Cabali, and Marie Esther De Antoni. Those from Zuellig were Kasigod Jamias, Michael Becker, Ricardo Romulo, Imran Babar Chugtai, Raymund Azurin, Nilo Badiola, John Stokes Davison, Marc Franck, Ashley Gerard Antonio, Ana Liza Peralta, Rosa Maria Chua, Danilo Cahoy,

Manuel Concio III, Roland Goco, and Ma. Visitacion Barreiro.

They were charged with four separate complaints of reckless imprudence resulting in homicide under Article 365 of the Revised Penal Code and violation of Republic Act No. 9745 (AntiTorture Act) and torture.

PAO chief Persida Acosta said the complaints were filed by the families of victims Aejay Bautista, 11; Angelica Pestilos, 10; Lenard Baldonado, 10; and Zandro Colite, 11.

Acosta was tapped by the DoJ to conduct a conduct fact-finding probe and build up cases on criminal liabilities of government personnel and private individuals for the children’s death.

“After inoculation of Dengvaxia, Respondents Garin, et al. did not initiate a full-fledged, active and aggressive monitoring and surveillance of Dengvaxia recipients so as to immediately address any report of serious adverse and life-threatening reactions and events among the latter, thus, resulting to the increasing number of deaths including that of herein victim,” the complaint stated.

Dr. Erwin Erfe, PAO forensic expert, said the victims had severe bleeding. Four of the victims died of organ failure.

“Based on the admissions and declarations of respondents

Sanofi Pasteur, Inc., if Dengvaxia is administered to a person who has not yet contracted dengue, that person will have a greater risk of developing severe disease, which would have been otherwise had Dengvaxia not been administered upon him,” the complaint read.

“In so doing, they (respondents) displayed grave recklessness, utter bad faith, lack of foresight, lack of skill, want of care, gross neglect and deliberate, arbitrary and even malicious disregard of the safety and lives of thousands of Filipino children,” it added.

As to the charge of torture act, the PAO pointed out that the respondents “intentionally inoculating the Dengvaxia recipients with an unsafe product undergoing clinical trial, which caused them not only severe pain, exhaustion, disability or dysfunction of one or more parts of the body, but untimely death.”

“We have established the strong link between the mass vaccination and the untimely deaths of the victims,” Acosta told reporters. “The deaths are not just mere coincidental, the deaths are unusual. The mass vaccination was highly suspicious because the children affected were appeared to be healthy.” (Jomar Canlas/ManilaTimes.net)

Jinggoy Estrada inclined to run for senator again

by RosEttE

adEl

Philstar.com

MANILA — Former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada on Thursday, April 5, express intent to run for senator in the 2019 national elections.

“I’m inclined to run again for the Senate,” Estrada said on CNN’s “The Source”.

Estrada, who is identified with the Pwersa ng Masang Pilipino, said he is keeping his options open on what political party he will join. He said he is open to joining the administration Partido Demokratiko Pilipino- Lakas ng Bayan, since he is supportive of the current administration.

He, however, said he might not join “The Force”, the slate

that half-brother Sen. JV Ejercito will be running under.

Asked why he wants to run for the Senate again, Estrada said he feels like he still have a lot of things to do in the Senate. “[There are] bills that haven’t been passed. There is still several unfinished business,” Estrada, a former Senate president pro tempore, said in mixed Filipino.

Estrada also countered Ejercito’s statement that he wants to run for vindication after his release on bail.

“That is not true,” Estrada said.

“I’m sure I will be vindicated so please don’t spin the story,” he added.

The former senator said that he was jailed in 2001 for plun-

der charges and was released in 2003. He immediately ran for Senate in 2004. He was acquitted in 2007 and ran again in 2010, when he won.

Estrada was released on bail last September after being detained for more than three years for graft and plunder charges over his alleged role in the anomalous “pork barrel” scam.

Meanwhile, Estrada is confident that if he runs in the 2019 polls, the votes for the him and Ejercito would not be split because they use different surnames.

He said he went to court to have his name legally changed to Estrada and he has been using the name in official documents since. n

BRIEFING. Senator Panfilo Lacson, chair of the Senate Committee on Accounts, stresses the need for an “iconic, secure, functional and green” design for the proposed new Senate building, during the executive briefing held between senators, Senate Secretariat officials and representatives for five architectural firms held on Wednesday, April 4. Lacson said that the design for the new building must be flexible, so that it could properly accommodate any possible increase in the number of senators and their staff due to proposed revisions or amendments of the 1987 Constitution. Also in photo are Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III, along with Senators Antonio Trillanes IV, Sherwin Gatchalian, and Gregorio Honasan II, Senate Deputy Secretary for Administration and Finance Arnel Bañas, Senate Secretary Lutgardo Barbo, and Senate Sergeant-at-Arms M/Gen. Jose Balajadia Jr. Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

PH seen to prosper as ‘upper middle-income’ country by 2019 by dana

sioson AJPress

THE Philippines can become an upper middle-income country by 2019, according to the state planning agency National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

Citing the country’s sustained robust growth, NEDA said the Philippines is poised to reach the upper middle-income status earlier than the initial target of 2022.

“The strong economic growth performance of the country in 2017 enabled us to achieve gross national income (GNI) per capita growth rate of 4.8 percent, higher than the target of 4.5 percent,” NEDA said in its Socioeconomic Report 2017 launched Tuesday, April 3.

In 2017, the Philippine economy grew by 6.7 percent—among the fastest in Asia.

“This would make it possible for us to reach the upper middleincome country standard definition of just below $4,000 income per capita by end-2019,” NEDA added.

World Bank classifies countries with a GNI per capita be-

tween $4,036 and $12,475 as upper middle-income economies. Lower middle-income economies, meanwhile, are those with a GNI per capita between $1,026 and $4,035.

The Philippines is currently classified as a lower middle-income country. As of 2016, the country’s income per capita stood at about $3,500.

In a press conference, NEDA Undersecretary of Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon noted that the government’s massive “Build, Build, Build” infrastructure program “will really propel our economic growth rate even faster and we’ll reach that upper middle-income status.”

Under “Build, Build, Build” program, the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte is rolling out P8 trillion-worth of road networks and other infrastructures to enhance the mobility in different parts of the country.

Through massive public investments in infrastructure and social services over the medium term, the government hopes to transform the country into an upper middle-income economy by the end of Duterte’s term in

NEDA Undersecretary of Policy and Planning Rosemarie Edillon Inquirer.net photo

2022.

“Actually, the target for the PDP (Philippine Development Plan) is that we will be an upper middle-income country by 2022. But we think we will get to that status much, much earlier,” Edillon said.

She continued: “We also looked at the performance of the economy last year, where our gross national income increased by 6.5 percent—that’s really a very high growth path. And if I’m not mistaken, the threshold for the upper middle-income country is $4,100. So I think we will breach that as early as next year.” n

A6

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APRIL 6-12, 2018 • OC/IE ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Beyond a shadow of a doubt

FEATURES

“WET ballots” and “audit logs” are becoming household phrases as the manual recount of votes in the vice presidential race in 2016 gets underway. The camp of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., which sought the recount, is claiming fraud in the race that saw him losing by a narrow margin of 219,127 votes to Leni Robredo.

The fraud allegations are expected from any candidate seeking a vote recount. Robredo, who ran under the Liberal Party, has denied winning the nation’s highest post through cheating.

On the first day of the recount, Marcos questioned the wet ballots and missing audit logs from 38 out of 40 ballot boxes from Bato town in Robredo’s home province of Camarines Sur, as discovered by revisers involved in the recount.

Yesterday, four revisers of the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal, quit for still unspecified reasons. The camps of both Robredo and Marcos expressed concern over the resignations, particularly in the possible delay that might result.

With Marcos contesting the results in only three pilot provinces, the recount is expected to be completed quickly. Obviously, the most important requirement in the recount is credibility. This is the

first manual review of votes since the restoration of democracy in 1986, and its outcome will have a major impact on political stability.

While Marcos was the running mate of the late senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, he and his family are known to be close to President Duterte. In several public engagements, the President has cited Marcos’ eldest sister Imee as one of a handful of individuals who supported his bid for the nation’s top post in 2016.

Robredo, on the other hand, belongs to the ruling party in the previous administration, toward which the President has shown undisguised disdain. The Vice President was eased out of the Cabinet and there are no indications that she would be recruited again. This is a politically charged recount, especially because the only son and namesake of the late dictator is directly involved. The outcome of the recount must not be tainted by any shadow of a doubt.

(Philstar.com)

Editorial

PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. A FAST-MOVING initiative for peace and hopefully, the beginnings of rapprochement, is underway in the Korean Peninsula between the two separated Koreas, North and South.

We hope it is to be followed by a larger three-way Summit with the U.S., most likely in April or May between the two Korean leaders, potential Nobel Peace Prize winners, President Moon Jae-In of the South and Kim Jong-Un of the North, with President Donald Trump.

The objective is to establish the main agenda and hopefully achieve the difficult but long-desired result — the beginnings of peace on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone, along the 38th Parallel which partitions Korea at the waist — for the peoples of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) of the North, and the Republic of Korea (ROK) in the South.

Over the years, since we first travelled to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital in 1990, as a younger congressman, as then Acting Chairman of the

Opinion

Philstar.com photo

Our hope for the Two Koreas in a confederation Foreign Relations Committee of the House of Representatives, our visit and talks with North Korea’s founding President Kim Il-Sung immediately resulted in a return visit to Manila by then North Korean Vice Premier Kim Dahl Hyun, and the rapid establishment of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and North Korea (DPRK), with the active support of the late President Corazon Aquino and the late Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus.

In the last two years, as Chairman of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), now with some 350 ruling, opposition and independent parties as members, we had since moved from Manila to Seoul the headquarters of ICAPP, which we founded in Manila in 2000, in the hope that we could help bridge the gap between the two Koreas by helping promote the feasibility of establishing the Korean Confederation for the Two Koreas, ideally working with the North’s sole political organization, the Korean Workers Party.

We envisioned that South and North would keep their independent countries separate but in peace and join in a loose Confederation, normally trading

and doing business, engage in cross-trade and tourism, developing their agriculture, industries, fisheries, highways, airways and railways system, and connect from Pusan in the deep south, (gateway to Japan), all the way to the North, in a TransSiberia Railway leading to Russia and to Europe.

This is of course possible and probable if there is common will, with the support of the U.S., China, Russia and Japan, with ASEAN, the European Union, and U.N. providing guidance and active support.

It is not fair to ask North Korea now to give up its nuclear weapons because it will not, but the relations between the Two Koreas can and should develop normally, if they start preparing for it now.

In previous speeches in the region and in previous news columns we had pointed out: “We believe that the lingering conflict and potentially dangerous flashpoint in the Korean Peninsula with North Korea, now nuclear-armed and continuously testing improved nuclear weaponry, and perhaps even the potential of missiles launched from submarines, could be resolved peacefully through diplomacy, cooperation

and bilateral and/or multilateral dialogue. No matter how most difficult, it must be constantly tried and pursued, and we claim its eventual success, for the sake of the two Koreas, Asia, and the world.

“We urge the revival of the long-postponed Six-Party talks among the U.S., Russia, China, Japan, South Korea, and North Korea, and even better, the sustained direct talks between North and South that would directly contribute to enhancing political stability and security not only in the Korean Peninsula but in the Asia Pacific region, but most importantly lead to unite the two Koreas, forswear war, and together build a strong, united prosperous, eventually first-world nation for the Korean peoples in the second or third decade of the 21st Century.

“Perhaps, the successful dynamics of North Korea’s nuclear development could be channelled to economic mobilization.”

“And the Six-Nation Talks (long-suspended) could have a business-focused auxiliary to develop economic joint-ventures for deployment in the Korean north.

We also noted that in a speech at the former East German city

of Dresden in 2014, the former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, now unfortunately in prison, 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.”

At the time we also said: “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.”

We had much earlier pointed these out to our two close friends in Seoul: our ICAPP CoChairman and former SecretaryGeneral Chung Eui-yong and current ICAPP Secretary-General Park Robyug, former South Korean Ambassador to Russia.

Of course our capable Co-Chairman Chung is now on leave from ICAPP, has been appointed South Korea’s National Security Adviser, who a few weeks ago flew to Pyongyang, successfully conferred with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and went on non-stop to brief President Trump in Washington, Chinese President XI Jinping in Beijing,

and Japanese National Security Adviser Shotaro Yachi.

Now to secure the deal with North Korea (DPRK): the key is to forge initially a respectable Confederation between North and South, no harm to the South, which is far bigger, already industrialized and wealthy, and for the North, to begin to build its economy, industries, agriculture and trade, and a common North-South railway extending all the way to Pusan in the south, to Russia and onwards to Europe.

In earlier days, atomic powers like Kazakhstan, which is almost as large as Western Europe, also voluntarily demilitarized and gave up its nuclear weapons and today leads in Eurasia.

Indeed North Korea could leverage and give-up its nuclear weapons in exchange for largescale cash and economic assistance and rapidly build up its economy and be equal in status as sovereigns with South Korea.

In a Confederation, North and South would be co-equal sovereign nations, with some centralizing connectivity, and in the fullness of time, could decide to unite as one nation-state like the two Germanies and the two Vietnams. ■

We build casinos, not tech and innovation hubs

CIVIL society, if such a thing really exists in the country, should try to measure the floor space allotted to serious research and MARLEN RONQUILLO development (R&D) work in the government agencies and public research universities. Then measure the space allotted for casinos and other forms of organized and officially sanctioned gambling in the urban areas and the tourist zones.

The result would make the citizen who loves the country weep.

For he/she will come face to face with the grim reality. There is more space for casinos and officially sanctioned gambling than for serious research and development work.

If we add the space occupied by cockpits, online gambling joints, the minor casinos and other gambling sites, the total space occupied by gambling would reduce the floor area devoted to R&D to a minor blip in the Philippine universe.

The lover of the country will realize that the dream of attaining First World status is just an official scam, parroted through generations via official public statements and national aspirations, but never actually pursued and funded.

Why is the goal of attaining First World status an official scam?

What are the numbers?

Singapore, the first in the ASEAN region to attain true First World status, allocates 2.1 percent of its GDP to research and development.

Per one million residents, the number of scientists and researchers is more than 7,200. It is no wonder that when we speak of cuttingedge developments in a knowledge society, the ASEAN’s pride is Singapore.

What about us, what is our place in this very critical area? I will use a Tagalog word – kulelat. The Philippines is the ASEAN laggard in research and development.

Over the years, the national allocation to R&D has never breached the embarrassing 0.14 percent of GDP. To us, a 1 percent R&D budget has been a dream on the scale of Mt. Everest, a goal never scaled.

On the number of serious researchers per one million residents, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Dado Banatao, the chair of Phildev, admitted in an interview that the Philippines is not a country for serious STEM people.

We have more lawyers than high-quality scientists and engineers involved in world-class research and development work. We don’t even have the expertise to survey the riches of our own Benham Rise.

The Global Competitiveness Report for 2017-2018 tells the same story. We are eighth in ASEAN, behind Vietnam and Brunei Darussalam. It is the only country that slid in the regional ranking, eighth from its previous rank of sixth.

Where are we in the ranking of “smart cities“ – the cities most prepared for today and the future? The answer?

Nowhere. We are in the usual place down, along with the usual suspects, cities with traffic gridlocks, pollution and political chaos.

The IESE, the graduate school of business of the University of Navarra, regularly ranks “smart cities” across the globe and Metro Manila has always been on the low-rank category.

A country that pays little attention to R&D work usually drags down the reputation of its university system and the Philippines is not an exception. The latest QS Global World Ranking placed the UP System at number 367, which is a major demotion from its place in the global university ranking two decades ago. In the old days, UP was always in the Top 25 Asian universities.

Ateneo, La Salle and UST were ranked, but they were so deep down in the global rankings that they were barely noticed. Ateneo was in the 551-600 bracket. La Salle was in the 701-750 bracket while UST was on the 801-1000 list.

The other prestigious survey, the World University Rankings, placed UP only in the 601-800 bracket, a harsher verdict. It was the only Philippine university ranked by the WUR. So, what is the solution offered to reverse this laggard status? Is it allotting 2 percent of Philippine GDP to research and development?

Is it the frenzied and ambitious development of technology and innovation hubs? Is it the massive funding of our public research universities? Is it a springtime — funding-wise — for the DOST. The answer? More casinos.

The Macau Galaxy Entertainment, a giant operator of casinos in that haven for casinos, has teamed up with a local group, the Leisure and Resorts World Corp., to build a giant casino in, of all places, Boracay. After Mr. Duterte condemned Boracay as a “cesspool,“ and after the local authorities and the DENR have teamed up to sup-

Inquirer.net photo

posedly rid the place of illegal hotels and other structures, beaming executives of Galaxy Entertainment signed a deal with PAGCOR to build a giant casino at Boracay.

After the supposed cleaning and cleansing process, a casino.

Wow. After the giant casino project in Boracay was green-lighted, we can only wonder about what the priorities of government are. Filipino-owned establishments are torn down to give way to a casino owned by a foreign gambling entity. What kind of priorities enter into the decision-making process?

A marine research center would have been ideal there. On second thought, however, a research center would have been an anomaly in a country hooked on gambling, not on the promotion of the knowledge economy. (ManilaTimes.net)

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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A

Abu Sayyaf hunter, peace advocate named new AFP chief

by Audrey

MorAllo Philstar.com

AGENTS SEND-OFF. Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Martin Andanar shares a light moment with special agents of the Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFoMS) at the sidelines of their send-off ceremony held at Malacañang, Manila on Monday, April 2. The agents will be deployed in different provinces around the country which has had cases of media killings.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan

Duterte names Albayalde new PNP chief by rAlph

“The 185,000-strong PNP uniformed and non-uniformed personnel will give its full support to his leadership. His proven track record of service assures us that the policies of the government relative to public order and safety will be sustained,” he said.

De la Rosa said that Albayalde was one of his top picks as his replacement.

Following his retirement as PNP chief, de la Rosa will serve as the next Bureau of Corrections chief. n

VillAnueVA

And roy nArrA ManilaTimes

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte named Police Director Oscar Albayalde of the National Capital Region as the new Philippine National Police (PNP) chief.

Albayalde will replace Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa, whose term was extended for the second time

by Duterte on February 20.

De la Rosa was originally scheduled to retire in January, when he reached the mandatory retirement age of 56.

Albayalde was in the short list of officers whom de la Rosa cited as his potential successor.

The list included Generals Ramon Apolinario, Archie Francisco Gamboa, Fernando Mendez and Camilo Cascolan.

Albayalde vowed not to betray the trust and confidence of Duterte shortly after his appointment was announced and was thankful to de la Rosa.

“I will not betray their trust and confidence that was given to me. That is my promise to them,” he said.

Albayalde also vowed to con-

NCR Police Director Oscar Albayalde

tinue serving the people and fight for Duterte’s advocacy for the Filipinos.

“Thank you to the President.

Really, I have nothing to say but thank you so much. I will continue to serve the Filipino people,” he said.

In a statement, Chief Supt.

John Bulalacao, PNP spokesperson, welcomed the announcement.

Court grants Mike Arroyo’s travel plea THE Sandiganbayan’s Seventh Division has granted former first gentleman Jose Miguel “Mike” Arroyo’s plea to let him travel to Japan and to Hong Kong.

Arroyo filed a motion asking the court for permission to travel to Japan and Hong Kong from April 21 to 27.

“Over the objection of the prosecution, the instant motion was granted during the hearing on the motion, subject to the usual terms and conditions imposed by the Court…,” the court said in a resolution dated March 26.

In granting his motion, the court said in part “[t]hat his itinerary of travel shall cover only Tokyo, Japan and Hong Kong” and that he “shall leave not earlier than April 21, 2018 and shall be back in the Philippines not later than April 27, 2018.”

He must also “personally pres-

ent himself,” with his passport, to the Sandiganbayan Seventh Division Clerk of Court within five days after his expected date of return, regardless of whether or not he was able to undertake the trip.

The court is enforcing a hold departure order in connection with a graft case filed in 2012 against former Philippine National Police (PNP) Director General Jesus Verzosa and other individuals, including Arroyo.

A hold departure order bars respondents from leaving the country without the court’s permission.

The case is in connection with the PNP’s procurement of two supposedly second-hand helicopters that were allegedly passed off and paid for as brand new. (Reina Tolentino/ManilaTimes.net)

Agreement to protect El Nido signed by rhodinA

VillAnueVA Philstar.com

government, will support them,” Cimatu said.

Aracel Bacolod and Ricky BalMANILA — The Department lena, chairpersons of Barangays of Environment and Natural Re- Bucanan and Buena Suerte, sources (DENR) and the local respectively, Policarpio Ramos government of El Nido in Pala- of the Pagkakaisa Pagtutulungan wan recently signed an agree- Kalikasan Pakaingatan Ecotourment to protect natural resources ism Service Cooperative and on the island.

Plennie Candelario of Samahan Alexander Mancio of the El ng Nagkakaisang Magsasaka, Nido-Taytay Managed Resource Mangingisda, at Kababaihan Protected Area and Mayor Nieves Tungo sa Maunlad na KinabuRosento signed the renewal of kasan ng Pamayanan also signed the conservation agreement. the agreement.

“This covenant… is the right Signatories are expected to step toward achieving sustain- implement environment-friendly ability in El Nido, one of the most programs, including the estabbeautiful and biodiverse ecotour- lishment and maintenance of ism destinations in the Philip- materials recovery facilities as pines,” DENR Secretary Roy Ci- well as tree and mangrove seedmatu said. ling nurseries.

“This partnership aims to Regular coastal and sea cleanimplement and sustain ecotour- up and patrol of the seas and forism and other livelihood activi- ests of El Nido will also be conties for the people of El Nido. ducted.

The Malampaya Foundation Inc., Cimatu said the agreement another signatory, will train and goes hand-in-hand with the misprovide livelihood programs for sion of Task Force El Nido to the people while our local of- protect the 90,321-hectare key ficials, together with the local biodiversity area. n

El Nido, Palawan

Inquirer.net photo

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, April 5, named Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez of the Western Mindanao Command as the new chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the second significant change the chief executive announced to his security officials today.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said that the start of Galvez’s term of office and that of Director Oscar Albayalde as Philippine National Police chief, the president’s other major security appointment, would be on April 14.

“The president just said that please announce that it is Lieutenant General Carlito Galvez as the next AFP chief of staff,” Roque said in a press conference in the Palace.

Galvez is the chief of the Zamboanga City-based Western Mindanao Command, the area command that covers Marawi City, the scene of intense five-month fighting between government forces and Islamic State-inspired Maute and Abu Sayyaf terrorists last year.

He is also an Army Scout Ranger officer and a veteran of operations against the Abu Sayyaf. He is the overall commander of the military’s anti-terrorism campaign against militants in Marawi and the rest of the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.

Westmincom told Philstar. com that is has yet to issue an official statement on the appointment.

Galvez will replace Gen. Rey

In this Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2017 photo, Western Mindanao Command (Westmincom) chief Maj. Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr., gestures to then Armed Forces chief of staff General Eduardo Año and his predecessor Lt. Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz during the turnover of command rites inside the military camp in Zamboanga City.

Philstar.com photo

Leonardo Guerrero as military chief, whose term of office was supposed to end in December but was extended by four more months.

Galvez and Guerrero were the top two contenders to replace AFP chief Eduardo Año when he retired last year.

The president eventually opted for Guerrero, who was then the military commander in charge of Duterte’s hometown of Davao City and was the more senior officer.

Under Galvez’s command, several top commanders of the Abu Sayyaf group were captured, the most recent of which was militant leader Nhurhassan Jamiri, who was wanted for bombings and kidnappings in several towns and cities in Mindanao.

‘Soft-hand approach’ Despite his image as an Abu Sayyaf hunter, Galvez also espouses a “soft-hand approach” in dealing with militants.

He said that killing a terrorist might result in three or four

relatives taking up arms for themselves.

“If you will be able to reform one hardcore terrorist, all of his followers and his relatives will be reformed also,” Galvez said, adding that this was the best way to break the chain of violence committed by the Abu Sayyaf group.

Galvez, while commander of the 6th Infantry Division, was also instrumental in the peace process with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, which signed a peace deal with the government in 2014.

The announcement of Galvez as the new military chief capped a day of whirlwind announcements of resignation and appointments.

Duterte announced that he had already accepted the resignation of Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II and appointed Menardo Guevarra as his replacement.

The president also announced that National Capital Region Police Office Director Albayalde would replace Director General Ronald Dela Rosa as the Philippine National Police head. n

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april 6-12, 2018

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april 6-12, 2018

Rachelle aRizmendi:

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On serving the city of Sierra Madre and the need for future Fil-Am leaders by

Located in the foothills of the San Gabriel Valley and east of Pasadena, california sits Sierra Madre, which gives off a small town atmosphere reminiscent of somewhere in the middle of the country. the city’s main street is quaint and charming with local restaurants and shops and residents tend to know each other on a first name basis.

With a population of a little over 11,000, Sierra Madre is comprised primarily of caucasians (82 percent), Hispanics (15 percent) and asians (8 percent), according to the 2010 U.S. census. at the helm of the city is Filipina-american Rachelle Pastor arizmendi, who has held the post for the past year and has served on the city council since 2014. With her position, she joined a handful of Filams in Southern california elected into local offices. arizmendi and her husband Fili first moved to Sierra Madre 2006 in search of a place they could “grow old and retire in” Los angeles county. Years later, arizmendi decided to give back to her city of residence and ensure that the quality of life could be maintained there.

In addition to her mayoral leadership, she is the vice president and chief executive officer of the Pacific asian consortium in employment (Pace), a nonprofit community development organization based in La that serves over 40,000 people annually in the areas of job training and employment, business development and early childhood education, among others. ahead of the general municipal election in Sierra Madre on tuesday, april 10, arizmendi sat down with the Asian Journal to talk about why she is running again for the city council and her advice for Fil-ams seeking to hold public office in the future.

AJ: How long have you lived in Sierra Madre and what made you choose the city?

Ra: I’ve lived there for 12 years, but by Sierra Madre standards, that’s like you’re still new in town. People don’t live there for decades, they live there for generations so a lot of our residents have been there for two or three generations.

My husband and I have lived in several places in La county when we’re dating and even got engaged so I’ve probably lived in eight to nine places in La county…With all that moving around, we just wanted to settle down and so we looked for a place that potentially we could grow old and retire in. I wanted to look for three things: the first thing is a bagel shop I could walk to on a Sunday. I wanted a place I could

Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

walk my dog late at night if I had to.

We don’t have children; we have a dog. the third thing I wanted is a place where people still said ‘hello’ to each other and I will confess that we looked at claremont. I really like claremont too but it was so far and when we found Sierra Madre, it was just such a small town feel.

AJ: What made you run for the city council in 2014?

Ra: a lot of people ask if that’s always been my goal and aspiration in life. the short answer is no. When I was younger, I was class president.

So a lot of my classmates will say, “I’m not surprised that you’re on city council.” When I moved [to Sierra Madre], because we didn’t know anyone, I wanted to see how I could get involved. I saw that there was an opening on the community Services commission. I thought that was a nice fit because that’s part of what drew me to Sierra Madre — the community services — and that’s a lot of stuff that I’ve done in my entire life so I joined.

I had participated on that commission for five years and at one point there was an open city council seat and someone had asked, “are you interested in it?” that’s not what I want[ed] to do, but after a while, I decided there were a lot of things going on in the community where people wanted to change things. they wanted to build a lot of big developments in the city and as I just shared with you, that’s exactly the opposite of what we’re looking for there. So for me, it was being able to have a say in ensuring that we kept and preserved the qualities of Sierra Madre and just protect that villagelike character in it. For me it was about maintaining that quality of life and the quality of feel of Sierra Madre.

AJ: What’s a typical day like for you?

Ra: I wake up to work out first.

I think that’s important because in terms of taking care of your physical self, I do work out and make sure I eat pretty relatively well. I’m a dietitian by education so I try and make sure that part of me stays in health. But I actually have a spin bike at home and I start my emails right when I have a cup of coffee and water next to me on the bike.

I start answering emails so a lot of what I do could overlap with city work, and it could be with Pace work. I serve on quite a few boards and so it’s answering those emails too.

I go to Pace and I am usually there by 8 a.m. a lot of the work is focused on community development work, early education, job training development, business development, and affordable

housing — an array of services. Now I’ve been there for two years in the position of vice president and prior to that it was a different position. So I’m still on a steep learning curve but it’s been a lot of fun and extremely rewarding but usually by the afternoon, it’s city work so whether there’s a commission that I am a liaison for, I’m going into city hall to have meetings there. our official meetings are only twice a month but there are so many other meetings that you have in between.

With campaign season, it’s almost like having a third job so on the weekends I’m still walking door to door. even though I’m the mayor at this point you’d think that I would just take it for granted and say, “Yeah, this is going to be really easy to walk into in this position.” But I still think it’s extremely important to make sure we’re touching voters and we’re talking to folks and understanding what the needs are and making sure that they still know you and that your face is not just a face when you’re running for election but it’s a face that they can reach out and talk to.

AJ: With the upcoming election, what do you want voters to know about what you have accomplished in the past year as mayor of Sierra Madre?

Ra: I just delivered our State of the city…on Saturday [March 24]…where I was able to highlight and share in terms of the accomplishments over the last year.

We brought in a new city manager last year, and I think that with the leadership of our current council, we’ve been able to do quite a bit.

We tripled our investment in water infrastructure in the past year, given that our city’s so old and the infrastructure and pipes were like 8090 years old and some of them were just obsolete.

We used to have a partial volunteer fire department, which is nice that you have volunteers who participate. But times have changed and even though we did that 80 years ago, it doesn’t necessarily work now so we professionalized our fire department…to ensure that we

small city like Sierra Madre. When you have your general fund, this equates 20-26 percent of our total budget. this is what people are really interested in [because] we can’t do without this utility users tax, but there are others that are just like, ”I don’t care if we don’t have any services here, I just don’t Arizmendi delivered the State of the want to pay the taxes,” which is a City address to Sierra Madre residents on very small percentage of people.

Saturday, March 24.

Basic issues like water — people really keep a safe community and ask, “How come my water rates are that we have paid professionals that so high?” and talking about how are on duty. our police department the drought came into play, how was not fully staffed…but now we we had penalties when you’ve are a fully staffed department. and overused your water, how were we’ve been able to really reduce trying to restructure that so it’s not our expenditures and increase our hitting residents too hard in terms general fund. So all good stuff and of penalties.

I’m really proud of that work. and then I wouldn’t say thirdly But at the same time, there’s like it’s an order, but a top hot topic still so much that has to be done. issue for voters is that they simply We’re still at a high percentage of want to stay safe. they see what’s our water loss. We need to maintain going on in other communities our water infrastructure, maintain and there is a reason people move our public safety, and ensure that as to Sierra Madre. But a lot of it is we are moving forward we can still themed around the idea of being balance our own budget knowing in a safe place and people want to that we still have these unfunded continue to have that with their liabilities that still need to be paid for families and being able to take this pension. generations on like other families AJ: When you’re going door have been able to do. to door, what are some of the AJ: Even if there isn’t a large concerns that residents have Fil-Am community in Sierra Madre, besides water and public safety? what do you want Fil-Ams in Ra: Right now we have a greater Southern California to measure that’s on the ballot, know about you?

Measure d, and it’s about repealing Ra: one thing about this this utilities rule tax altogether. that’s position and being the first Filipino probably the biggest issue because elected in Sierra Madre — though it not to get all nerdy about numbers was never a platform of mine saying but most of our budget comes from that I could the first Filipino here property taxes.

— is the responsibilities that come In Sierra Madre…cute as along with it. I want to continue our downtown is, it actually only being a role model of sorts for those generates 2 to 3 percent of our who wish to enter, whether it be in general revenue and the rest of it, public service or an elected official which is 24 percent, comes from this capacity, because the fact of the utility rate. Nobody likes taxes but matter is with Filipinos being the this measure is saying we’re going largest group in california and yet, to take it all away. So that it will be we have little to no representation $2.6 million out of our general fund, at all levels of government. It’s which is actually a huge chunk of a actually quite disheartening and the

fact that we have very few Filipina women in those positions, so I’m hoping that it’s encouraging to those who are interested. there’s such a small percentage of [Filipinos] there. It’s really not about the representation of Filipinos in Sierra Madre that I hope to represent, it is a bigger picture of how important it is for Filipinos to have a voice in all levels of government. and it doesn’t even have to be in that official capacity whether it’s leadership in their own communities. But as large as we are as a group, we definitely need to have more of a voice, more seats at the table when decisions are made and that we are looked upon from the larger society as a group that needs to be reckoned with.

AJ: What’s your advice for Fil-Ams who want to get into government or public office in the future?

Ra: I think a lot of it is just being active in different civic events [where] you are getting to know who your elected officials are and finding those mentors. I talked to a lot of aPI [asian Pacific Islander] leadership emerging groups… It would be nice if we had a Filipino one but this is usually in general and what we encourage them to do is just reach out and sit down with people in positions.

I’ve sat down with a few people where they just pick my brain and ask what are the things they can get started with. I tell them to be part of a commission or be an intern for different elected officials or agencies…and see if that’s an area of interest of yours and then make those connections. a lot of it is staying in touch with people, not just when you need something, but being able to offer help when need be and again building those relationships with others.

This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.

Regine Velasquez says she never Brillante Mendoza: Netflix series put in her mind that she is famous shows ‘necessary’ Duterte drug war

by CeCil MOrella

by Clarizel G. abanilla

Philstar.com

Inquirer.net

odd for someone as famous as her to say such but asia’s songbird Regine Velasquez said she really never realized how famous she was. She even joked about not thinking of herself as if she’s a supermodel.

“I accepted the fact that I am older. Saka more than anything else, I’m a wife, I’m a mom. Priority ko ang pamilya ko kaya hindi ko na masyadong naiisip na supermodel ako,” she said in a recent interview with select members of the entertainment press at the first audition leg of her newest singing contest, “the clash.”

“Never ko inisip na sumikat ako. For me it was a job, it was my dream I was very thankful that I got it. ‘Yun ‘yung kabataan ko pero hahit nu’ng bata ako, looking back, basta mag-iisip lang ako ng concept, hahayaan ko na sila tapos i-stress ko ‘yung sarili ko may manood ba? then ngayon na I’m older I’m more realistic,” she added.

Velasquez has had a stellar singing and acting career that spans 30 years now. She started in the late ‘80s winning singing contests and even represented the Philippines in the international

Regine Velasquez

scene.

But it was until the ‘90s that she rose to fame as among the most successful Filipino singers of all time. Her incredible vocal prowess made a mark in the pop culture that her songs and way of singing became a benchmark for promising singers wanting to make their way into showbiz.

She has popularized among the most powerful and endearing songs and has filled out concert stages and arenas whenever she held concerts.

Her talent also paved the

tHe deadly drug war waged

by President Rodrigo duterte is to be dramatized in the first Netflix series by award-winning director Brillante Mendoza, who says the internationally condemned crackdown is “necessary.” “amo,” which premieres april 9, is about a high school student who starts selling crystal meth and ends up tangled in a nightmarish world populated by violent kingpins and corrupt officials.

It is the latest up-close examination of the dark side GMA photo of Philippine life from cannesway for her to sing with different honored Mendoza, who is a international artists like Bryan duterte supporter and has filmed McKnight, 98 degrees, david two government advertisements Hasselhoff and Mandy Moore, promoting the president’s antiamong others. drug campaign.

McKnight has even been “Yes, it (the drug war) is quoted as saying Velasquez is one necessary for the Philippines—not of the best singers he’s ever sang only for the Philippines but also with. other countries afflicted with the But even though she has drug problem,” the 57-year-old achieved such level of success, it Filipino told aFP in a telephone never got to her mind that she is interview. who she is. “the reason why I did this is so “Dati nga hindi ko inisip na sikat people can see the other side of ako ngayon pa ba na hindi na ko the coin,” he said—from the point masyado sikat iisipin ko pa ba sikat of view of the “victims” as well as ako?” she ended. the “victimizers.”

Briallante Mendoza

Philippine police say they have killed roughly 4,000 drug suspects who fought back during arrest since duterte launched the war nearly two years ago, promising to rid his nation of narcotics.

But rights groups allege the actual number is three times higher and accuse authorities of slaying unarmed slum-dwellers in a nation where a quarter of the population lives in poverty. “amo,” Filipino slang for “master,” explores the drug problem as experienced by different characters, including a student and his policeman uncle.

Mendoza said he would not like the series “to look like

Philstar.com photo

propaganda for the government...

It is not.”

Nonetheless, the filmmaker stressed he remained an “advocate” against illegal drugs.

Netflix did not respond to aFP’s requests for comment.

‘Based on real events’ In a Filipino film industry dominated by syrupy, star-driven productions, Mendoza runs an independent production outfit that stands out for its choice of controversial topics.

He crafts stories of ordinary people in situations ranging from prostitution to corruption.

His “Kinatay” (Butchered), a gritty film that graphically Continued on Page 3

The 2nd Children Art Contest hosted by H Mart, Woori Broadcasting & The Korea Times Warm spring day, hopes and dreams painted by our children on a fun family event

H Mart, Woori Broadcasting, and The Korea Times are hosting the Children art Contest celebrating National Family Month. this second annual art contest in California is held on May 5th, 2018 at Whittier Narrows recreation area – the Meadows area D, (address: 750 S. Santa anita avenue South El Monte, Ca 91733) from 11:00 aM to 4:00 PM. Drawing theme is to be announced during the event. registration and award winners are categorized in 3 groups, Pre K~ Kindergarten, 1st~5th Grade, and 6th~8th Grade. California winners are awarded with $5,500 worth of scholarships as well as trophies and award certificates, totaling 69 winners; Grand Prize $1,000/1 winner, 1st Prize (1 winner/group), 2nd Prize (2 winners/group), 3rd Prize (3 winners/group), Happy Prize (50 winners/group).

Participants can register for this event at any California H Mart store’s Customer Service Desk during the application period, March 30th~april 30th. Fee of $20 per family is immediately exchanged for $20 H Mart Gift Certificate. applicants are encouraged to register during the application period since registration is unavailable on the day of the event.

Variety of events are ready for all guests to enjoy. Handson events for children such as face painting, balloon art, and bubble plays are awaiting, as well

april 6-12, 2018 www.asianjournal.com

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA

as recreation and games for all members in the family can enjoy.

Free food tasting events and goody bags will make this event even more abundant, sponsored

by Haioreum, Hello Home, Nong Shim, Samyang, and other major food & houseware companies.

H Mart sent a message saying, “last year’s successful art Contest in California brings another year

WE live in the land of mindboggling choices. We exercise the freedom to choose in nearly every aspect of our lives: from the mundane and trivial to the profound and significant. We choose which detergent to use or what color of hair dye your salon colorist will apply to your tresses this week. those are the easy ones. It is the profound, life-changing choices that stump us often, such as choosing a career, choosing a mate, which lifestyle to adapt or where to live. If we are to live fully, it is imperative to learn this one critical skill of knowing how to make the right choices.

Without this skill, life will just be a pathetic series of what-mighthave beens.

It is, at best, an intuitive skill.

How does one acquire it? there are no simple, cut and dried steps.

It helps to have a few essentials tucked in your belt such as: a broad knowledge base, a sound for children and adolescents to noggin, a good upbringing, a broaden their sense of creativity good heart, time and propensity and gain artistic education. We for deep reflection and study to ask for everyone’s participation think things through, guidance and attention as this event is full from both the mortal and the of family activities that would spiritual realms and the ability make great memories.” to extract the lessons from one’s H Mart Customer Service can own experiences or better yet, be reached for more information from the collective pool of other on this event (tEL. 877-427-7386). people’s experiences.

(Advertising Supplement) It is a tall order. No one can say for certain how the ability to choose wisely ever comes about in anyone’s life. More often than not, this gets developed late in life when all the lessons from a

Choices: Sowing and reaping “Wise men learn from other people’s mistakes; fools, from their own.”

— Plautus lifetime of experiences reach a critical mass and congeal. things finally click and everything seems clearer.

It could be a combination of nature and nurture where heredity may play a tiny part.

Even the wisest of men can have fools for children just as there are children seemingly born with old souls, far advanced in their wisdom, who can have fools for parents. It is enough to know that you learn this skill yourself acquiring it layer upon layer with every season of your life from birth to death. at the highest levels, the intuition to make the right judgment calls at every turn, works like a sixth sense. this skill belongs to the most highly evolved human beings.

Why is this skill so important?

It is because for as long as the world turns, our choices determine our results. the law of cause and effect like the force of gravity that holds the universe together, rules human life. to understand intimately how the intricate workings of this law apply to our own lives, imagine it as borrowing heavily from the principles of accounting.

Visualize an invisible, unerring and indisputable ledger of one’s life being recorded—its highs and lows, its pluses and minuses, the volume of both good and bad, both beauty and horror which one has generated through the course of his life, the amount and range of happiness and the depths of pain, misery and tears

Calendar of Events across

one has caused in others. and yet unlike human accounting, that same invisible ledger takes into account such intangible, unquantifiable factors, both human and divine, such as love, kindness, forgiveness, redemption, generosity of spirit and tender mercies. at the end of it all, one is presented with the bottom line— either in red—what one owes life, a deficiency or a debt that must be paid—if not in this lifetime— then in successive ones or if one has lived life well and has reached the highest rungs of nirvana—in the black, on the plus side with profits to show, with a wealth of positive contributions to the self, to others and the world at large — a life well lived, a life well spent. It is a thought-provoking parallel that should give everyone cause to take a long hard look at one’s own precious life. on the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican is the story of the last judgment.

Michelangelo, more than half a millennium ago, painted man’s spiritual history, beginning with creation to the fall from grace to redemption by Jesus Christ on the ceiling of the chapel. twenty years after he completed the ceiling, he undertook the painting of the last day on the altar wall.

It is a jaw-dropping, massive work with about 400 human figures swirling about with Jesus and Mother Mary at the center. It Continued on Page 5

America

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Advancing Justice Conference in Washington, DC

Why Kyla is a happy wife

by Boy ABundA Philstar.com

MoSt people, if not all, will agree that Kyla is very well deserving of the title as the country’s Queen of r&B for her clear-as-a-bell vocal tone. She is among the few who possesses an impressive vocal control and that means Kyla can sing every note specifically for the intended musical effect.

But did you know that she experienced a sudden voice loss? It happened a long time ago in one of her singing engagements in the province. She was singing with her mouth wide open when a moth accidentally landed straight inside her throat. the audience witnessed how Kyla had been choked by the insect while she was in the middle of a performance. thankfully, nothing serious happened. Her voice has remained in perfect pitch and, truth is, she is now celebrating her 18th year in the music industry with the release of her new album, Queen of r&B, under Star Music. It has 18 tracks, including bonus ditties that became theme songs of some of aBS-CBN’s muchloved drama series.

Lately, Kyla earned another title that has absolutely nothing to do with her singing yet not a single word of protest was heard either from her or her avid supporters whose been there since the beginning of her music career. She is now also known as the Queen of Knock-Knock Jokes.

Since when and how, you may ask.

Her being a hurado in one of It’s Showtime segments called “tawag Ng tanghalan” suggests a strong connection to it. of course, no one could better

Kyla with husband Rich and their son Toby.

tell how that amusing title was bestowed on her than Kyla herself, who sat for an interview in “tonight With Boy abunda.”

“Aksidente lang na nadiscover nila na may talent pala ako sa ganyang bagay,” began Kyla. “there are times when everyone in ‘Showtime’ has to share a knockknock joke. and with me, saliwa talaga ‘yung knock-knock ko at hindi swak, ‘yung parang may maibigay lang and they would end up laughing and laughing because my jokes were not funny, kaya ako natatawa na rin.”

Kyla has also admitted that she is a happy wife of former PBa star-turned-assistant coach rich alvarez whom she described as a perfect husband. “You know, I still do not know what good I have done for the Lord to give me a perfect husband. Perfect po s’ya for me, napakabait po.”

Between the two, rich is the jealous type. It was after they got married when Kyla learned that her husband was jealous of Jay-r, her former onscreen partner.

“I was clueless that he was jealous of Jay-r before because he would always suggest that I hold Jay-r’s hand when we sing onstage or he would tell me to be sweet with Jay-r. Sinabi lang nya nung mag-asawa na kami pero hindi ko talaga nahalata na nagseselos na pala sya. But when I asked rich, why he didn’t tell me right away, he said it’s not a big deal.”

Was there an attraction between Kyla and Jay-r before?

“With Jay-r on stage, our chemistry was undeniable probably because we shared the same influence pero off stage, para talaga kaming magkapatid.”

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

AprIl 14

SALIDA: Simbolo at Kultura in Queens, NY

Kyla

Photos from Instagram/@kylaalvarez

at present, Jay-r and Kyla are both Cornerstone artists under manager Erickson raymundo. and while Kyla has rich, Jay-r is happily going steady with Mica Javier.

Kyla agreed that it’s normal for couples to disagree on certain things. In her and rich’s case, the two are not in sync when it comes to raising their son toby. Kyla said rich grew up in the U.S. so they tend to be different in some aspects.

“His ways are different from Pinoy gaya ng paglagay ng lampin sa likod. Me, I always make sure that toby has a lampin on his back but rich hates seeing it. ‘Wag daw lagyan, ako naman lagyan natin kasi baka matuyuan ng pawis. He believes that it is better if we just change his shirt.”

Kyla added that between them, it is rich who acts as the disciplinarian. But what makes Kyla feel so special is her husband’s loving gesture of preparing breakfast for her every single day.

“Yes, he cooks for me every morning. Grabe, I can’t ask for more but say thank you Lord and I promise to be the best person that I can be.”

During the late-night program, Kyla shared five things not many people know about her in 5 on 45: “First, before I go to work for ‘tawag ng tanghalan’ in ‘Showtime,’ I’ve done everything that needs to be done — I’m done with my laundry, I folded the clothes and I already ironed toby’s clothes.

“Second, we do not have a househelp so rich and I do everything at home and we do not have a yaya. “third, I don’t eat onions.

“Fourth, I love kakanin (rice cake). “and fifth, sobrang mahilig ako sa gatas ng kalabaw na may asin at mainit na kanin.”

3

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

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

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

AprIl 30

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

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

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FACCGLA’s bowling tournament The Filipino-American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) will host a bowling tournament on Saturday, May 26 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Winnetka Bowling Lanes (20122 Vanowen St, Winnetka, CA 91306). Open to both members and non-members, in teams of four or we can assign you a team. Slots are limited. To register your team, please call FACC-GLA Secretary Ms. Connie Mapue (323) 337-7714 or FACC-GLA boardmember Ms. Doreen Remo (310) 428-7200. For more information and online payment, please visit www. faccgla.org.

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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EMPLOYMENT

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EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

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Health@Heart

Lax launches ‘Smart Restrooms’ pilot project

The day I died

baseline, upon which one could measure his/her own health status and progress. Any deviation from PhiliP S. Chua, the parameters shown by all the MD, FaCS, FPCS tests done could alert the person accordingly.

ThIs is a story of a 4. The tests, depending on the gynecologist as he related in complaints, signs, and symptoms, LOs ANGELEs — Just in Medscape: could include a complete time for the busy spring break “When I began experiencing blood count, blood chemistries travel season, Los Angeles World chest pain that was different from (comprehensive metabolic panel, Airports (LAWA) and Tooshlights, my usual heartburn symptoms, electrolytes, lipid profile, liver the only smart restroom traffic I denied I could possibly be and renal panels, and thyroid management system that helps having a heart attack, but functions), urinalysis, chest x-ray, guests “know where to go®,” chewed four baby aspirins just in EKG; and other more specific tests announced today a pilot program case. Of the more than 350,000 the physician might determine of smart restrooms in one of Los individuals who experienced an necessary after the interview and Angeles International Airport’s out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in physical examination.

(LAX) terminals. The patented 2016, only 12 percent survived.

5. For those with chest or technology helps passengers Bystander recognition of cardiac upper abdominal discomfort navigate busy bathrooms and arrest and prompt intervention where the physician suspects will now light the way for them in with cardiopulmonary gastroesophageal reflux diseases American Airlines’ Terminal 4. resuscitation (CPR) and rapid (GERD), upper GI endoscopy LAX and Tooshlights are also defibrillation is essential for out(telescopic visualization of working with Infax, the dataof-hospital survival. the throat, food pipe and the driven provider of innovative IT “While exiting the expressway stomach) might be recommended. solutions for airports and other on my way to perform scheduled If the findings point to a nonpublic venues, which works in surgeries that morning, I came to cardiac condition, it is managed conjunction with Tooshlights a complete stop in the left-hand accordingly. to play a leading role in the lane of the exit ramp with three 6. If the family physician smart restroom transformation. cars ahead of me. The indigestion thinks the chest discomfort or Tooshlights provides Infax with I had been experiencing overnight other symptoms could be due real-time venue-specific data that was different from the heartburn to coronary heart artery disease, allows airport officials to track symptoms I’d had in the past. I the patient would be referred to a the occupancy usage of restroom declined my wife’s suggestion to cardiologist, who might perform stalls. go to the emergency department, any of the following: Thallium “We’re incredibly excited but compromised by taking stress EKG, an EChO, or Cardiac to try out this new technology, four baby aspirins, and planned Catheterization to view the heart which should help improve our to follow-up with a previously function and the integrity of guest experience and allow us scheduled appointment that the heart valves, and Coronary to better monitor and service afternoon with my internist. At Angiogram to see if any heart our restrooms,” said Barbara the age of 53, on August 29, 2016 arteries are blocked by cholesterol Michael Christensen, Deputy Executive Director, Facilities and Maintenance Group, LAWA; Allen Yamamoto, Chief Experience at approximately 7:40 a.m., I died deposits, which is the main cause Klevens, Founder & CEO, Tooshlights; Barbara Yamamoto, Chief Experience Officer, LAWA; Tracy Officer at LAWA. “The desire for waiting for the traffic light to Davis, Vice President, Sales and Business Development, Infax of heart attacks. clean and available restrooms is change.”

7. When Coronary Angiogram which affects passenger consistently in the top ranks of Michael Christensen, Deputy Luckily, a school bus driver shows significant blockages (more satisfaction,” said Allen Klevens, what guests want at an airport, Executive Director of the Facilities who witnessed the accident than 50 percent obstruction) in President and Chief Executive and this will help us provide a and Maintenance Group at called 911. This physician was any major coronary arteries, an Officer at Modus systems LLC, the LAWA. “Just like a physical traffic higher level of service to the successfully resuscitated. angioplasty with stent may be parent company of Tooshlights. traveling public and allow us to management system, these smart This is not an isolated done. If more than two blockages “Tooshlights is disrupting the better meet our strategic goal restrooms will allow us to do our story and it illustrates some are found, coronary bypass public restroom industry by of delivering facilities and guest job better and more efficiently.” fundamental principles we could surgery would be recommended. experiences that are exceptional.” fixing the efficiency of restrooms, If the smart restroom pilot is learn from.

The usual 1 to 2 percent risk for especially in large commercial The new smart restroom successful, LAX expects to expand Medical facts and lessons this procedure worldwide is clearly spaces like airports, where technology being deployed at the use of smart restrooms in 1. After age 40, chest outweighed by the 50 percent people are pressed for time. We LAX combines cutting-edge Terminal 4 and throughout the discomfort should be suspected risk of heart attacks and potential are thrilled that our hometown technological innovation with airport. to be an impending heart attack, death of those refused surgery. airport is the first airport in the a unique design aesthetic to “American Airlines is thankful till proven otherwise, and must 8. Obviously, prevention world to feature Tooshlights.” solve the critical problems of to have such forward thinking be attended to AsAP. Denial is the key. The vital factors LAX is leading the way on cleanliness and efficiency of partners at LAWA. We share their could be fatal. It could well be include lifestyle and behavior: technology, by leveraging smart public restrooms. According to commitment to creating a world indigestion or stomach acid a low carbohydrate diet of fish, building technology and data an Airport Council International class, 21st century experience for reflux, but erring on the safer side vegetables, nuts, some fruits, analytics to boost operational (ACI) Airport service Quality travelers in the City of Angels,” is the wiser choice. heart attack occasional or no red meat, with efficiencies. In addition to (AsQ) survey, the availability of said Jim Moses, American Airlines is treacherous. It could happen as little or no rice, bread, sweets, the stalls themselves, the smart washrooms/toilets is one of the Managing Director – LAX. among persons with pain in the as possible, more of protein; Restrooms also have touchscreens “Innovative ideas that leverage top five most important items to jaw area and arm, with no actual abstinence from smoking near the entrance/exit, for guests modern technology like this are all LAX guests in 2017. chest pains. hence, routine annual and substance abuse, severe to easily provide feedback The LAX smart restroom how we will turn that vision into medical check-up is essential. moderation in alcohol intake, on the status of the restroom pilot program of the Tooshlights a reality.”

2. A history of chest pain doing daily physical exercises, and -- and then identify any issues system includes more than 20 This is just one of the many should be investigated, even stress management with weekly that require a maintenance or smart restroom stalls, which will ways that LAX is using technology among younger individuals. I have R&R, mini or full vacation with custodial response. work similarly to parking garage to improve the guest experience, done heart bypass on a 25-yearfamily and/or friends.

“The real-time data that we lights. Each unit consists of a which also includes the use of old woman, who was a diabetic 9. since dental problems will be receiving through our smart latch and indicator light.

Automated screening Lanes and hypertensive, with high cause inflammation which new smart restroom technology When the stall is available, the in several terminals, biometric cholesterol level, who smoked adversely affects our immune will help us to respond quicker light is green. When the stall is screening for boarding on some heavily. heart attack victims are system and contributes to heart when issues occur, and gain occupied, and the smart latch international flights, and the getting younger and younger. diseases, a visit to the dentist base-line data for daily and activated, the light turns red. recently launched integration 3. A visit to a family physician, every six months would be very weekly restroom usage, so we There are also blue indicator of the airport’s maps, including if not a cardiologist, even before beneficial to overall health. can better plan and deploy our lights for ambulatory stalls. restrooms, pet relief areas, and any medical problem arises for 10. When one feels irregularity “A common problem in facility resources, including custodians, concessions, into the Apple Maps those beyond 40 will establish a or rapid heart beat or thumping in and maintenance workers,” said design is flow of movement, app. LAX recently launched its new website, FlyLAX.com, and real-time flight information and parking information can be found From Page 3 there, and by “asking Alexa” for made by the leaders of men and shows in terrifying graphic detail LAX information. by the millions of individuals how everyone shall be judged For more information about of a nation through their accordingly on the last day. It Tooshlights, please visit https:// representatives on vital issues, shows an angel with the Book of tooshlights.com/. For more that shape the way a country’s Good Deeds and an angel with information about LAX and its history plays out over time. the Book of Evil Deeds. The good technology initiatives, please Ultimately, our choices Touchscreens placed at the entrance/exit of the smart restrooms allow guests to provide book is less than half the size of real-time feedback regarding restrooms including the need for supplies, maintenance and/or contact laxpr@lawa.org. determine how our own karmic custodial services.

(Advertising Supplement) the other one. The good of the story plays out. Karma is that earth are given their reward as ancient principle common they seem to float heavenward in to hinduism and Buddhism God’s presence and the evil ones, that upholds the natural law twisting in torturous agony and of moral cause and effect. It is pain are ferried by Charon on the grounded on the belief that a river, styx into the depths of hell man’s collective thoughts and to wallow in grief and misery for actions of the present determine other meals, hotel and airfare/local all eternity. music).

CALLING all alumni of the UP his future. Everything that transportation.

• July 7, 2018 - Dinner/Reunion school of Economics (UPsE)! Join The idea of reward and is happening at the present Alumni may opt to stay at at stoney’s Rockin’ Country us in the first ever UPsE reunion punishment is much easier moment is a result of the choices Planet hollywood, Las Vegas with Cost: $ 115.00/person paid in the UsA this summer 2018. to comprehend when viewed room rate at $ 159 per night + $35 instead as the natural, predictable that were made in the past. Many before May 1, 2018 ($130.00 after Malayo Man Narating, Pusong people, at different stages of resort fee per night + 13 percent May 1), which will cover the Party UPsE pa rin! consequences of every conscious their lives, believe and subscribe Las Vegas tax.

Bus Tour (including all drinks and When: July 6, 2018 (Friday) to choice that we make. Choices to the laws of karma and are Please email or call UPsE’s gratuity) on July 6, reunion buffet July 7, 2018 (saturday) determine how results come into guided by them accordingly. contact person below to confirm dinner and celebration on July 7, a Activities: being. It is the choices made by Except for those well your interest and attendance. reunion t-shirt, event videography/ • July 6, 2018 - Early reception an individual of sound body and publicized yet highly unusual Contact person: Jay Ortega (562) photography and memorabilia, dinner at Ocean One Bar and Grille mind that determine his life. and extremely rare twists of 676-7735 (UPsE Batch ’83) or eincidentals. followed by a Party Bus Tour along On a national level, history fate and flukes of nature that mail: upselasvegasreunion@gmail. has shown that it is the collective Cost WILL NOT COVER the the Las Vegas strip (complete with occur in some charmed lives com Friday optional reception dinner, wine/beer/cocktails, Kodakan and choices over a long span of time — the purpose of which will

LAX first airport in the world to install Tooshlights restroom traffic management system in American Airlines’ Terminal 4

the chest and dizziness anywhere, or while driving, taking a very deep breath and coughing as hard and as often as you can every two seconds or so could being your heart beat back to normal.

Without delay, drive to the nearest emergency room. A false alarm might be embarrassing, but at least, you are alive.

11. When alone at home and chest pains develop, dial 911 for emergency help and notify a family member or neighbor, and take four baby aspirins (81 mg each) if previously recommended by your physician for such an event. As a home remedy for headache and pains, the usual dose is two tablets of regular aspirin (325 mg each, or a total of 650 mg) every 4 to 6 hours, so taking 4 baby aspirin tablets is like taking only one regular tablet. Aspirin is a mild blood thinner. This will prevent a severely blocked coronary artery from being totally obstructed by a blood clot and cause cardiac arrest. Those with a history of stomach ulcer/bleeding should not take aspirin, unless instructed by their physician.

12. In addition to the above, do not eat anything. Unlock your front door to allow paramedics to get in, and sit up by the front door (do not lie down as this would flood your heart and lungs with more blood, while your heart is having a hard time beating from the insult of the heart attack). scary statistics In the United states alone, a person suffers a heart attack every 20 seconds and one dies from heart disease every 34 seconds, one every 5 minutes (close to 300 every 24 hours) in the Philippines. Each day, more than 2,700 Americans die from heart disease. About quarter of a million Americans die of a heart attack annually before they reach the hospital. Those who are undereducated have a higher risk of suffering a heart attack. Countries with the highest death rates from heart diseases include Russia, Poland, hungary, Romania, and Czechoslovakia, and the lowest are Japan, France, Canada, spain and switzerland.

Notwithstanding our genes, our health and longevity, to a greater extent, are intricately linked to our lifestyle and behavior. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

Choices: Sowing and reaping

‘Malayo man narating, pusong UPSE pa rin!’

First grand reunion of the UP School of Economics

forever remain mysterious and incomprehensible to the human mind — the law of moral cause and effect simply means that what we sow is what we reap.

For those of us who pray fervently for specific outcomes in our lives, there will be times when we may end up bitterly disappointed when what we ultimately get from our petitions to the Almighty is not exactly what we are asking for. Rest assured that God always answers our prayers. The answer, like a good parent to a child who is asking for something, may be yes or no and even, maybe. But if we keep the faith and refrain from acting like spoilt brats who throw tantrums when rebuffed, one might see clearly in hindsight the wisdom of God’s choices for our lives and the exactness of his timing. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Brillante Mendoza: Netflix series...

From Page 2

depicts the rape, murder and dismemberment of a sex worker, won him the Cannes best director award in 2009. his films have been well received in Europe and in 2014, Mendoza became the first Filipino director to receive one of France’s highest honours, the Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres (Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters).

Mendoza earlier told AFP he learned about the full extent of the nation’s drug problem while doing research for the 2016 film “Ma’ Rosa”, which won the Cannes

best actress award.

The director said he did not want to comment on the current state of Duterte’s drug war, or the preliminary examination announced by the International Criminal Court over the crackdown that critics say amounts to war crimes.

“I think my work, including the series I’m doing, speaks volumes about what I want to say.

I’d rather have my work do the talking,” he said.

Mendoza said “Amo” was originally shot for a Philippine television station that contracted

him to make a series of films.

But he convinced the network boss to “explore... platforms other than free TV” for the series, and sent two of the episodes to Netflix.

“I think one of the reasons why they were interested in the material, in the story, is the way it was shot. It looks very realistic, like a documentary-style shoot and unlike your typical TV series,” Mendoza said.

“This is something based on research, and the police had their input too. Our story was based on real events.”

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