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Volume 29 - No. 15 • 2 Sections – 16 pages

April 19-25, 2018

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEw YORk/NEw JERSEY

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US, PH officials lead groundbreaking of first major EDCA project

by AJPress the construction of a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (hADr) storage facility in Basa Air Base in Pampanga began on tuesday, April 17.

Philippine Defense secretary Delfin Lorenzana and United states Ambassador to manila sung Kim led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the warehouse, which is one of five projects under the Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana (second from left) and U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines enhanced Defense Cooperation CHANGE OF COMMAND. President Rodrigo Duterte troops the line with outgoing Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Chief-of-Staff Gen. Rey Sung Y. Kim (third from left) lead the groundbreaking ceremony for a multipurpose Humanitarian Defense Response Warehouse at Basa Air Base in Pampanga.

Inquirer.net photo

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

Trump quietly orders major crackdown on public assistance programs Trump administration establishes stricter requirements for Medicaid, TANF, and food stamps

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US Court deems deportation law ‘vague’ in decision involving Filipino the U.s. supreme Court said tuesday, April 17, that the part of a federal law that allows easier deportation of immigrants was too vague, impeding the trump administration’s efforts in deporting non-citizens.

Bringing in the decision was Justice neil Gorsuch — President Donald trump’s supreme Court appointee — who sided with the court’s four liberal justices in a tie-breaking decision involving a legal U.s. resident from the Philippines. the tuesday decision in sessions v.

Dimaya involved James Dimaya, a filipino who came to the U.s. as a legal permanent resident in 1992 when he was 13 years old. Dimaya was convicted of two residential burglary charges in California in 2007 and 2009, and was sentenced to four years in prison in total. the case was first argued in January 2017 but was deadlocked 4-4 following the death

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Leonardo Guerrero (left) during the change of command ceremonies at the Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City on Wednesday, April 18. Western Mindanao Command head, Lt. Gen. Carlito Galvez had officially assumed as the 50th AFP chief-of-staff.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

De Lima to stay in jail after SC junks appeal

DATELINE USA

AmID the shocking news of airstrikes on syria and President Donald trump’s ongoing personal scandals, the president last week ordered for the major overhaul of the nation’s public assistance net. though the news largely went under the radar, trump on tuesday, April 10 signed an executive order called reducing Poverty in America By Promoting opportunity and economic mobility which calls for departments across the government to review their safety net programs and propose new regulations. some of the affected programs in this potentially significant move include sup-

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Sen. Leila De Lima

senAtor Leila De Lima will remain in detention after the supreme Court (sC) dismissed her motion for reconsideration on the arrest warrant against her issued by muntinlupa regional trial Court (rtC).

In a ruling penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr., the sC upheld the arrest order against the senator, which was issued by muntinlupa rtC exInquirer.net photo ecutive Judge Juanita Guerrero

on february 23, 2017.

De Lima surrendered to authorities on february 24, 2017, and has since been detained at the Philippine national Police (PnP) Custodial Center in Quezon City. the warrant of arrest came after the Department of Justice (DoJ) charged De Lima for her alleged involvement on the illegal drug trade inside the new Bilibid Prison when she was justice secretary from 2010 to 2015. the senator, however, de-

nied the charges and cried political persecution.

In her petition, De Lima argued that it was the office of the ombudsman, not the rtC, which has jurisdiction over the drug cases against her because she accused of profiting from drug trade by using her position as the Justice secretary. she also claimed that Guerrero committed grave abuse of discretion for ordering her arrest despite the fact that she had a

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Pacquiao on splitting with Roach: No final decision on trainer yet

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

fILIPIno boxing champion manny Pacquiao clarified that he has not made any decisions on who will be his trainer for his upcoming fight against WBA welterweight champion Lucas matthysse yet.

Pacquiao made the clarification in a social media post on monday, April 16,

amid reports that he has cut ties with freddie roach, who’s been his trainer since 2001.

“Contrary to statements which I personally did not make that are circulating in the media, I have not made my final decision who will be my head trainer for my July 14 (U.s. time) fight with (Lucas) matthysse,” Pacquiao said. “my advisor mike Koncz

has been in contact with freddie’s people to keep them informed. I will make a final decision within the week,” he added.

In earlier interviews, Koncz told media that Pacquiao has replaced roach with Buboy fernandez, the filipino boxer’s lifelong friend and the career-long Pres. Rodrigo Duterte said he is against the legalization of divorce and dissolution of marriage assistant trainer. in the Philippines.

Inquirer.net photo According to Koncz, Pac-

Duterte maintains stance VP Robredo’s lead narrows in recount against divorce bill former senator ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. has narrowed the lead of Vice President maria Leonor “Leni” robredo in the ongoing recount of the 2016 vice-presidential election. sources at the Presidential electoral tribunal (Pet) told The Manila Times that after the recount of 210 clustered precincts in Camarines sur province, robredo’s tally was reduced by some 5,000 votes. robredo won the vice presidency with a lead of 263,473 votes over marcos. In the official tally, robredo obtained 14,418,817 votes while marcos had 14,155,344.

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by AJPress PhILIPPIne President rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, April 18, reiterated that he is against the legalization of divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.

Duterte said he could not support house speaker Pantaleon Alvarez’s bill because his daughter, Davao City mayor sara Duterte, is “not happy” with his proposed law.

“I’m sorry but I cannot folA Supreme Court officer walks past ballot boxes and desks during an inspection low you. my daughter is not of the venue for the recount of votes in the 2016 vice presidential race. Philstar. happy with that, really,” the com photo president said during his speech sources said the recount “It’s still a long way to go at the Change of Command of the of 210 clustered precincts but the figures as they are Armed forces of the Philippines narrowed the lead down to coming out, may already be (AfP) in Quezon City. about 258,000.

Duterte teased Alvarez, “magu PAGE A2

usap na lang kayo ni sara (Just talk with Sara).” the Davao City mayor and house speaker earlier engaged in a word war after Alvarez reportedly called sara a part of the opposition when she formed a separate regional political party.

Alvarez is one of the authors of the house Bill 7303 or “An Act Instituting Absolute Divorce and Dissolution of marriage in the Philippines.” malacañang earlier confirmed that the president is against the bill. “he doesn’t want to comment but since there was voting already in Congress, the president is against divorce,” Palace spokesperson harry roque said last

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Duterte maintains stance against...

PAGE A1 month.

Duterte, according to Roque, thinks divorce should not be made legal as “children would be pitiful if there will be divorce.”

On March 19, the House of Representatives approved the proposed law on its third and final reading with a vote of 134-51-2.

The bill, however, has no counterpart in the Senate.

The bill aims to give “the op-

portunity to spouses in irremediably failed marriages to secure an absolute divorce decree under limited grounds and well-defined judicial procedures to terminate a continuing dysfunction of a long broken marriage.”

It likewise aims to grant the divorced spouses the “right to marry again for another chance to achieve marital bliss.”

Among the grounds of divorce include existing grounds for legal

From The FronT Page

separation under Article 55 of the Family Code, and annulment under Article 45 of the same code, which include physical violence, homosexuality, marital infidelity, and affliction of sexually transmissible infection, among others.

Grounds also include separation in fact for at least five years, legal separation by judicial decree for at least two years, psychological incapacity, gender reassignment surgery, irreconcilable differences, and joint petition of spouses. n

VP Robredo’s lead narrows...

PAGE A1 considered substantial recovery or change in the results of the elections. It is definitely favorable to former Senator Marcos,” a PET insider said.

The high tribunal is set to revise more than 5,800 clustered precincts from Marcos’ pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros Oriental.

It will be recalled that at the start of the recount early this month, the camp of Marcos claimed to have discovered irregularities in a number of ballot boxes, such as wet and distorted ballots.

It was also discovered that some of the ballot boxes did not have an “audit log” or the logbook indicating the time of opening of precincts, the time of transmittal of results and the times the voting started and ended.

Marcos, son and namesake the late strongman Ferdinand Marcos, is contesting the election results in some 39,000 clustered precincts from 30 provinces and cities all over the country.

He paid for a recount in 36,465 clustered precincts, and wants the results annulled in 2,756 precincts. Based on Commission on Elections data, the total 39,221 clustered precincts being questioned by Marcos are composed of 132,446 precincts.

Marcos accuses Robredo of benefiting from “massive electoral fraud, anomalies and irregularities” such as pre-shading of ballots, pre-loaded Secure Digital cards, misreading of ballots, malfunctioning vote-counting machines, and an “abnormally high” unaccounted votes or undervotes. (ManilaTimes.net)

STILL AT IT. Supporters of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno, bearing photos of five associate justices of the Supreme Court, hold a rally in front of the Supreme Court building. Sereno had asked the five justices — Teresita de Castro, Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza and Noel Tijam — to inhibit themselves from the quo warranto case filed against her by Solicitor General Jose Calida. The justices rejected the chief justice’s motion for inhibition.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr.

US, PH officials lead...

PAGE A1 Agreement (EDCA) between the two countries.

The facility will be used to store equipment and other supplies critical to responding efficiently and effectively to “evolving security challenges and promote peace” in the Asian region, according to Lorenzana.

In his speech, Lorenzana also applauded the alliance between the Philippines and U.S. “built on a strong foundation of shared values, sacrifices, and history.”

“I know that EDCA is one of the sure ways to enhance our alliance and help promote peace and security in the region as it provides a framework through which both the Philippines and the United States will approach the evolving security challenges,” he added.

The Defense chief also said EDCA allows the increase in training opportunities for the U.S. and the Philippine forces, increasing the interoperability of both militaries.

EDCA trainings, likewise, allow both forces to respond to humanitarian crises affecting the Philippines.

“Hence, it is the Filipino community that will ultimately benefit from this project which is not only a testament to our countries’ commitment to having a stronger alliance, but also to our desire to help one another grow capabilities together,” Lorenzana said.

Kim, meanwhile, described EDCA as a testament to the “continued dedication and commitment to our partnership and friendship” and an “agreement

between two sovereign nations, a pact between equals.”

“As we break ground at the very first major EDCA project, we look forward to continuing to work closely with Philippine government for future EDCA projects at the five agreed locations,” the U.S. ambassador said.

“The Philippines, of course, will maintain full control of facilities,” Kim added.

Signed in 2014, EDCA is an agreement that allows the U.S. military to construct facilities and pre-position defense assets inside Philippine military bases: Basa Airbase in Pampanga, Antonio Bautista Air Base in Palawan, Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Lumbia Airport in Cagayan de Oro, and Mactan-Benito Ebuen Air Base in Cebu. n

De Lima to stay in jail after SC...

PAGE A1 pending motion to quash.

The high court dismissed De Lima’s petition to nullify her arrest on Oct. 10, 2017 due to lack of merit. The senator later filed a motion for reconsideration, which the SC also dismissed recently.

In a statement on Wednesday, April 18, De Lima lamented the

SC’s decision to junk her motion for reconsideration.

“I am disappointed but hardly surprised…It is disheartening because our case is clearly meritorious. And I say that as plainly and as objectively as I possibly could,” the senator said.

She also vowed “to continue fighting for [her] innocence.”

“Because I am innocent. No lie

can ever change that fact. Someday I will attain my vindication, and all the lies—especially the lies about the deaths of the thousands of victims of the so-called ‘War on Drugs’—will be exposed, and the butchers, tyrants, and oppressors will be brought to answer for their crimes against the Constitution and against humanity,” De Lima added. n

US Court deems deportation law ‘vague’ in...

PAGE A1 of Justice Antonin Scalia. It was argued again in October with Gorsuch.

The government sought Dimaya’s deportation through a clause in the Immigration and Nationality Act that allows the detention and deportation of non-citizens convicted of an “aggravated felony.” Such felonies include “crime of violence” or any felony that “by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.”

But the federal appeals court in San Francisco said that the provision was unconstitutionally vague — an opinion affirmed by the Tuesday Supreme Court ruling.

In her opinion, Justice Elena Kagan cited the 2015 Johnson v.

United States ruling written by Scalia that said a similar criminal statute was unconstitutionally vague.

“We can as well repeat here what we asked in Johnson,” said Kagan. “How does one go about divining the conduct entailed in a crime’s ordinary case? Statistical analyses? Surveys? Experts?

Google? Gut instinct?”

Commenting on the lower

courts’ inability to be consistent with immigration law, Kagan asked if car burglary would qualify as a violent felony.

“Some courts say yes, another says no,” said Kagan.

She added, “What of statutory rape? Once again, the Circuit parts ways. How about evading arrest? The decisions point in different directions. Residential trespass? The same is true.”

Kagan’s opinion was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor.

While Gorsuch did not join all of Kagan’s opinion, he agreed with the decision.

“Vague laws invite arbitrary power,” wrote Gorsuch. “Today’s vague laws may not be as invidious, but they can invite the exercise of arbitrary power all the same — by leaving the people in the dark about what the law demands and allowing prosecutors and courts to make it up.”

The court’s 5-4 decision was a setback for the Trump administration which has long called for tighter immigration laws and has favored deportation.

Following the decision, Trump was quick to voice his displeasure in a two part tweet.

“Today’s Court decision means that Congress must close loop-

holes that block the removal of dangerous criminal aliens, including aggravated felons,” tweeted Trump.

He continued, “This is a public safety crisis that can only be fixed

by Congress — House and Senate must quickly pass a legislative fix to ensure violent criminal aliens can be removed from our society. Keep America Safe!”

Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICE) Deputy Director Tom Homan said he too was disappointed in the Supreme Court’s decision.

“As a law enforcement agency, ICE will certainly abide by this decision; however, it will have an adverse impact on our ability to establish that aliens convicted of certain violent crimes — such as sexual offenses, kidnapping, and burglary — are removable from the United States and ineligible for certain immigration benefits,” said Homan.

“It is yet another example of the need for Congress to urgently close the loopholes that allow criminal aliens to avoid removal and remain in the United States,” he added.

Dissenters of the decision were Chief Justice John Roberts, and Justices Anthony Kennedy, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito.

(Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

Pacquiao on splitting with Roach...

PAGE A1 quiao “wasn’t very pleased” with some of Roach’s statements to the media during Pacquiao’s fight against Jeff Horn in July last year in Brisbane, Australia.

Roach, in response, said he did not hear personally from Pacquiao about the split up, and was hurt by the news.

“Manny and I had a great run for 16 years—longer than most marriages and certainly a rarity for boxing,” Roach said in a statement last week.

“I wouldn’t trade any of it.

Inside the boxing ring and the political ring, I wish Manny nothing but the best,” he added. “I would be lying if I didn’t say I wasn’t hurt that he didn’t Coach Freddie Roach and Sen. Manny Pacquiao Philstar.com photo contact me personally about his decision, but the great times we clarified that he has not made a Freddie will be the first one to enjoyed together far outweigh final decision on who will be his be informed, and then I will trainer yet. advise the media,” the Filipino that.”

“When that decision is made, boxer added. n But Pacquiao on Monday

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DOJ on deportation of EU party official: ‘Partisan political activity illegal’ in PH

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

DENGVAXIA ISSUE. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian shares his belief that former President Benigno Aquino III is not criminally liable for the government’s controversial dengue vaccination program to Senate reporters during the Kapihan sa Senado media forum on Wednesday, April 18. Gatchalian said that it was former Health Secretary Janette Garin, and not Aquino, who was the “prime mover” of the P3.5 billion Dengvaxia program administered to public school students nationwide. Also in photo is journalist and Kapihan host Cely Bueno.

Senate photo by Lord Cielo Estojero

Trump quietly orders major crackdown on...

PAGE A1 plemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid and housing assistance. The executive order directs agencies — including the departments of Commerce, Labor and Housing and Urban Development — to enforce current requirements as well as propose more stringent work requirements and give some flexibility to states to issue their own modifications.

Specifically, the order is directed at all agencies with “any program that provides meanstested assistance or other assistance that provides benefits to people, households or families that have low-income.”

“Since its inception, the welfare system has grown into a large bureaucracy that might be susceptible to measuring success by how many people are enrolled in a program rather than by how many have moved from poverty to financial independence,” reads the executive order.

The executive order also encourages these agencies to make cuts to these programs in order to save money.

The executive order has not put forth official policy, but experts say the notion of tougher requirements for these programs could have a drastic impact on low-income Americans.

In the case of Medicaid — the

nation’s public health insurance program for low earners — the executive order calls for all applicants to provide proof of employment, which could stunt many Americans.

By tightening up the requirements for Medicaid, which is the last health care resort for many low-income Americans who do not qualify for programs like the Affordable Care Act, the options for the nation’s most vulnerable could be severely limited, according to Executive Vice President of the Kaiser Family Foundation Diane Rowland.

“What we’re talking about in Medicaid is saying that someone who doesn’t meet these requirements than can be locked out and not be able to get medical coverage for a certain number of months or maybe even up to a year,” Rowland told Michel Martin of NPR’s All Things Considered. “And they do say that there’ll be exceptions, but the president’s directive wants to narrow those exceptions. So really, some of the purposes of this is to get people off the rolls.

And we know that for the people already working on Medicaid, the reason they need Medicaid is their job doesn’t come with health insurance that’s either available or affordable.”

Other programs that could see a dramatic shift include various housing programs, the

and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which provides poor families with financial aid.

Experts and lawmakers alike have deemed the executive order as a reflection of the overall conservative agenda to slashing these programs and shrinking the federal safety net, programs which Democrats argue strengthen low-earning Americans.

“Attacks on successful programs like Medicaid, nutrition and housing assistance are attacks on millions of vulnerable Americans. No one can argue our nation is made stronger by cutting these priorities,” Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) said in a tweet on Tuesday, April 17.

Moreover, the White House has been accused of attempting to expand the definition of “welfare” — a term that has garnered a negative connotation since the Reagan administration — to include public programs like Medicaid and SNAP (aka food stamps) as a way to vilify them.

“This executive order perpetuates false and racist stereotypes about certain groups supposedly taking advantage of government assistance,” Reps.

Steny Hoyer of Maryland and Barbara Lee of California said in a joint statement. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

THE Philippine Department of Justice (DOJ) on Monday, April 16, justified the detention and deportation of a European politician, explaining that it is illegal for a tourist to engage in any “partisan political activity.”

Giacomo Filibeck, the deputy secretary general of the Party of European Socialist (PES) and a native of Italy, was detained at the Cebu International Airport and immediately deported last Sunday, April 15.

In a message to reporters, Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra explained that it is “unlawful for aliens staying in our country to engage in partisan political activities.”

Guevarra also noted that the government “has the right to refuse entry to those who have committed these illegal acts in the past.”

Filibeck was supposed to join the Akbayan Party-list Congress as a guest of honor on Monday.

Akbayan is a sister party of PES. The Bureau of Immigration, however, ordered his deportation because he supposedly “violated the conditions of his stay when he came to the Philippines last year.”

Giacomo Filibeck, deputy secretary general of the Party of European Socialist (PES), was detained at the Cebu International Airport and immediately deported last Sunday, April 15.

Philstar.com photo

Filibeck was part of a human rights delegation that visited Manila in October 2017 and denounced the killings under Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs.

“He (Filibeck) was not supposed to do that because being a tourist he does not enjoy the rights and privileges of a Philippine citizen, particularly the exercise of political rights which are exclusively reserved to Filipinos,” said BI Commissioner Jaime Morente.

Morente also stressed that the Philippine government “cannot

allow the entry of foreigners who have shown disrespect to our duly-constituted authorities by meddling and interfering in our internal affairs as a sovereign nation.”

In a statement on Tuesday, April 17, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said foreigners who visit the Philippines should not feel “superior” and must abide by the country’s law.

“When I visit other countries, I am very careful not to interfere with their domestic political issues because I know their law and I am a law-abiding citizen.

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Long Beach approves $2-million settlement with family of mentally disabled Fil-Am shot and killed by police Settlement among largest in city history

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

cort him off the premises after customers grew nervous of his possession of a knife.

THE city of Long Beach, CaliA statement released by the fornia has reached a $2-million Long Beach Police Department settlement with the family of a day after the shooting said a a mentally disabled Filipino- preliminary investigation found American man who was shot to that while officers were responddeath at an arcade by city police ing, they received an update that in 2015.

Saycon was waiving the knife inThe settlement is said to be side the business, causing some among the largest approved by customers to leave. the city in a police brutality case.

The statement said that offiMharloun Saycon, 39, was at cers arrived to find Saycon seatthe Looff’s Lite-A-Line gaming ed and armed. Upon giving verestablishment he frequented, bal commands to drop the knife, when staff aware of his mental it said Saycon failed to comply illness called police to help es- with orders.

Attorneys representing the family said Saycon was seated in the chair with a small pocket knife in his lap when police arrived, and stayed seated throughout the incident.

Saycon did not make any threats, nor exhibit aggression or violence, according to a news release by the family’s attorneys. The release added that when calling police, staff made clear that Saycon was not threatening anyone and that they just needed help getting him out.

“Despite that, rather than

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US vows freedom of navigation, freedom from fear, coercion

by Michael

Punongbayan Philstar.com

THROUGH the presence and more frequent visits of powerful aircraft carriers in in the Philippines and other parts of the South China Sea, the U.S. is sending a loud and clear message that America’s military forces are ready to defend and protect its allies in the Indo-Pacific region.

Speaking at a reception onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the waters of Manila Bay on Friday, April 13, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim said the U.S. will continue to ensure “freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce and freedom from fear and coercion.”

Kim said the aircraft carrier, carrying a handful of F-18 Hornet fighter jets, helicopters and some 5,000 sailors and marines, is named after the 26th president of the United States.

Roosevelt, a soldier, a visionary president and a Nobel Prize winner, is famous for the saying “Speak softly but carry a big stick.”

Hence the carrier is nicknamed “the Big Stick.”

“But I might take exception to the first part of the Teddy Roosevelt saying about speaking softly. I think there are times when we should speak loudly and clearly,” Kim told an audience of that included Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Supreme Court Senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio, Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, Philippine Navy Flag Officer in Command Rear Admiral Robert Empedrad, Oriental Mindoro Rep. Reynaldo Umali, Pangasinan Rep. Leopoldo

Bataoil and business leaders Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala, Tessie SyCoson, Ricky Razon, Alfred Ty. “The presence of the Theodore Roosevelt here in Manila Bay sends a very clear message to everyone in the region, especially to our friends in the Philippines, because our commitment to the U.S.-Philippines alliance is unbreakable and will remain so indefinitely,” Kim said.

“Our friendship has never been stronger and we have been and remain an Indo-Pacific nation. And our commitment to this region and its well-being is enduring,” he said.

Kim said the U.S. clearly showed its commitment to the alliance with the Philippines when it came to the assistance of the brave men and women of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) as they defeated the terrorists in Marawi City last year.

He said the U.S. also shows its clear commitment when it welcomes every year tens of thousands of Filipinos to the U.S., to study, to visit loved ones – and sometimes to shop.

“Our commitment is also clear on the number of U.S. companies investing in Philippines’ thriving economy, providing jobs to talented Filipino workers and also when we welcome Filipino products to U.S. markets,” he added.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt is a fourth Nimitz-class aircraft carrier launched in 1984. She saw her first action during Operation Desert Storm in 1991 that is now under the command of Rear Admiral Stephen Koehler of Carrier Strike Group 9 whose crew include some 400 Filipino-Americans.

Speaking at a reception onboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt in the waters of Manila Bay on Friday, April 13, U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim said the U.S. will continue to ensure “freedom of navigation, freedom of commerce and freedom from fear and coercion.”

Photo by KJ Rosales/Philstar file

“At well over a thousand feet long and weighing in at well over a hundred thousand tons, sticks don’t come any bigger than the Theodore Roosevelt,” he said.

Kim said the timing of Roosevelt’s visit to Manila is fitting as the Philippines observed the Day of Valor or Araw ng Kagitingan just recently.

Kim said such day is a somber reminder of what the U.S. and the Philippines have endured throughout history.

“Yet we emerge from these trials stronger, both as individual nations and as friends, partners and allies.

The Day of Valor invites us to remember and honor the past. But the presence of this amazing carrier in Manila Bay reassures us that together we can have a secure and prosperous future,” Kim said.

Kim later told reporters that the visit of the USS Theodore Roosevelt to the country is “a clear sign, clear reflection, clear demonstration of our commitment to the Indo-Pacific Region, commitment to the U.S.-Philippines alliance and also our commitment to promoting and protecting important values, principles and rights like freedom of navigation, freedom of flight and freedom of commerce.”

Asked about recent reports that China has put up jamming devices in disputed islands of the West Philippine Sea, Admiral Kohler said the aircraft carrier along with other navies sail through the region regularly.

“We like to promote and ensure that those freedoms and those commons are open to everybody.

And so that’s what we’ve done here and that’s what we’ll continue to do here in the region and sail professionally and safely like all other navies that we’ve run into,” he said.

Kim, responding to the same issue, said when U.S. President Donald Trump visited the region in November last year, he made it very clear that one of the central themes of his policy and approach to the Indo-Pacific region was to make sure to secure and promote an open and free region.

“And I think what the Admiral and his team are doing in the region is just that – to promote freedom, fairness, and openness,” he said.

Kohler said the presence and sailing of the USS Theodore “is an indication that we’re here to support all of our friends and allies here in the region.” n

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SWIMMING GOLD. National Capital Region (NCR) representative Althea Michel Baluyot wins a gold medal for the 200 LC meter butterfly event during the 2018 Palarong Pambansa at the Quirino Stadium Poolside in Ilocos Sur on Tuesday, April 17. The Palarong Pambansa, which is organized by the Education Department since 1948, is the premier sports event for both public and private student-athletes coming from the 18 regions of the country.

PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

Jinggoy faces contempt over ‘fake’ US invite by elizabeth

Marcelo Philstar.com

STATE prosecutors from the Office of the Ombudsman have asked the anti-graft court Sandiganbayan to order former Sen. Jinggoy Estrada to explain why he should not be cited in contempt for allegedly making false claims just to secure the court’s permission to travel to the United States later this month.

In a motion for reconsideration filed before the Sandiganbayan Fifth Division on April 13, the ombudsman’s prosecution panel asked the court to reconsider its earlier ruling allowing Estrada to stay in the US from April 30 to May 30.

Furthermore, the prosecution also prayed to the court to order Estrada to explain why he should not be cited in contempt for allegedly using a falsified invitation letter in support of his travel motion.

“The prosecution respectfully submits that the falsity of the invitation letter attached by accused Estrada to his Motion to Travel Abroad makes the motion misleading and deceiving, warranting the reconsideration of the Order granting the same,” the prosecution’s appeal read.

“The exposure of the scheme employed, in effect, has dismantled the propriety of granting the travel,” it added.

It can be remembered that the Fifth Division had earlier granted Estrada’s motion to travel despite the vehement objections of the prosecution.

In his motion filed on March 16, Estrada asked the court’s permission for a one-month stay

in the US for a vacation with his family, a medical check-up in connection with his “recurring” shoulder pains and to attend the event of the Filipino-American group US Pinoys for Good Governance (USPGG).

Estrada said he was invited by USPGG to be a guest speaker in its annual general membership meeting to be held in Sterling Heights, Michigan on May 20, 2018.

Estrada attached in his motion an invitation letter signed

by USPGG-Michigan chapter head William Dechavez, asking the senator to be a speaker on current issues in the Philippines such as on extrajudicial killings, Dengvaxia mess and the administration’s federalism plan.

The letter bears the official logo of USPGG. However, in a press statement posted on its website a day after Estrada’s travel request was granted by the court, USPGG chairperson Filipino-American philanthropist Loida Nicolas Lewis and USPGG President Rodel Rodis denied issuing an invitation to the former senator.

“USPGG Willie Dechavez did not invite Jinggoy Estrada to speak in Michigan under USPGG nor is any program being planned by USPGG Michigan since Willie Dechavez is on vacation in the Philippines,” the group’s statement read.

The prosecution said allowing Estrada to still push through with the travel despite his alleged use of a falsified invitation letter “may constitute a travesty of justice.”

“The settled rule is that in the absence of satisfactory explana-

tion, one found in possession of, and who used a forged document is a forger. If a person had in his possession a falsified document and he made use of it (uttered it), taking advantage of it and profiting thereby—the clear presumption is that he is the material author of the falsification,” the prosecution said.

In a hearing Monday morning, Fifth Division Chairman Associate Justice Rafael Lagos directed Estrada’s legal team to submit its comment on the prosecution’s motion for reconsideration within three days, after which, the motion is deemed submitted for resolution.

In a phone interview, Estrada maintained that the invitation letter he received from De Chavez was not forged.

“I never used any fake letter, I never misrepresented anyone,” Estrada said.

“These prosecutors are crazy to think that I would forge a letter just to be able to travel. Why would I fool the court, when I know that they can revoke my bail anytime?” he added.

Estrada is facing plunder and graft cases before the Fifth Division in connection with his alleged involvement in the multibillion-peso pork barrel fund scam.

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

DOJ on deportation of EU party official...

PAGE A3

These foreigners who come here should not feel that they are ‘superior’ to us and hence above our laws! All should follow the law!” Pimentel remarked.

He went on to say, “If we want Filipinos to follow our laws then we should show our own people that foreigners are not above our laws!”

Akbayan, meanwhile, called Filibeck’s deportation a “deplorable act of silencing the strong

voices for human rights.”

The party also urged the House of Representatives to probe the PES official’s deportation, adding that the “unfortunate incident only shows how paranoid this government is in keeping the rest of the world blind from the damage President Duterte has done to our country.”

PES president Sergei Stanishev, for its part, condemned how Filibeck was “treated as a criminal on the orders of the

government and forcibly deported from the country.”

“Clearly, the president intends to silence criticism of his deadly policies both at home and abroad,” Stanishev said.

He continued: “As a united political family, we refuse to be silenced. We will continue to express our solidarity with the democratic opposition to Mr. Duterte’s increasingly authoritarian rule in the Philippines.” n

Long Beach approves $2-million...

PAGE A3 make any effort to assess Mharloun’s mental state or speak to any other patrons at Looff’s about the situation, Officers Cruz and Nguyen immediately responded with unreasonable force,” read the release. “Within seconds of their arrival, Cruz and Nguyen both deployed their tasers without warning.”

According to the release, Long Beach Police Officer Robert Cruz struck Saycon with his baton. Police officer Vuong Nguyen “fired eight shots in rapid succession, killing Mharloun at the scene.”

“Through the tasing, beating, and shooting, Mharloun remain seated in his chair, where he died moments after being shot. Surveillance footage irrefutably establishes that Mharloun never threatened the officers, but sat defenselessly while Cruz and Nguyen attacked and shot him,” the release read.

Joe Sayas, co-counsel representing the family, said Nguyen unloaded all eight bullets in his .45 caliber within a period of 7.28 seconds.

“The gun had a total of eight bullets, and he unloaded everything — the entire clip,” Sayas told the Asian Journal.

The city does not admit any wrongdoing in the settlement agreement.

“It seemed to be a fair settlement for all parties and it enabled us to resolve the matter without… the need for trial and potential greater financial exposure,” Deputy City Atty. Howard Russell told the Los Angeles Times.

“The case was hard fought,” said Sayas. “This small bit of justice for the Saycon family came

The city of Long Beach, California reached a $2-million settlement with the family of a mentally disabled Filipino-American man who was shot to death inside Looff’s Lite-A-Line by city police in December 2015. File photo from Thursday, March 17, 2016 shows Filipino Attorney Joe Sayas, who represented the Saycon family, at a press conference in front of the Long Beach Police Department headquarters announcing legal action for the 39-year-old’s death.

AJPress file photo by Ding Carreon

only after a federal judge denied a motion filed by the officers and Long Beach, asking the court to declare that they were immune from suit.”

Saycon’s mother Ana Luz Saycon, and father Khanly Saycon, filed a wrongful death suit after the incident in 2016. The Long Beach City Council voted to approve the settlement on December 5, 2017. The settlement was executed on March 6, 2018.

“All we want is our son, who deserved to live,” said Saycon’s father. “While nothing can bring him back to us, if this case saves even just one life by holding the police more accountable for how they treat people with mental illness, that’s the most I can hope for.”

Saycon came to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1985 and studied at Santa Monica High school where he was an honor student and athlete, before attending nearby Santa Monica

College. He was diagnosed in his early 20s with bipolar schizophrenia, his family said at a news conference back in 2016.

Attorneys for the family also hope that the settlement will bring awareness to the need for better training of officers in dealing and interacting with individuals who are mentally disabled.

“A settlement of this magnitude sends a message to the City and its officers that it must improve tactics and training for officers who detect and interact with persons affected by mental health disabilities, because mental illness is not a crime,” said Cindy Pañuco, a counsel of the case.

“This settlement will not bring back the life taken,” said Dan Stormer, an attorney who represented the family. “However, it testifies to the gravity of the case that the settlement is one of the largest in the City’s history for this type of suit.” n

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D ateline PhiliPPines Sen. Binay signs draft Dengvaxia report

A

recommending charges against Aquino

by AJPress Senator nancy Binay has signed a draft committee report on the Dengvaxia controversy recommending the filing of charges against former President Benigno “noynoy” aquino III and his officials.

“I signed already,” Binay told reporters on Monday, april 16. the Senate Blue ribbon Committee, chaired by richard Gordon, is seeking the prosecution of aquino and his officials “for all the tragedy, damage and possible deaths” resulting from his administration’s scrapped P3.5 billion dengue vaccination program.

Binay, however, said she “may amend” and interpellate once the draft report is tackled in the plenary. “‘Yung (The) committee report, it’s not yet the final report,” Binay noted.

“Pagdedebatehan at paguusapan pa ‘yan at ide-defend pa ‘yan sa floor so hintayin na lang natin ‘yung magiging deliberation na magaganap sa floor (There will be debate and discussions so let’s wait for the

Former President Benigno Aquino III Inquirer.net photo

floor deliberation),” she added. the committee is recommending aquino to be charged with violation of republic act 3019, or the anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices act, as well as republic act 6713 or the Code of Conduct and ethical Standards for Public officials and employees. also tagged as “primary conspirators” in the procurement of the controversial vaccine were

former Budget Secretary Florencio abad and former Health Secretary Janette Garin. “aquino, Garin, abad and other officials are primary conspirators and must be held criminally liable… and must be prosecuted for all the tragedy, damage and possible deaths resulting from the Dengvaxia mass vaccination program,” the draft report stated. aside from Binay, Senate Majority Leader Vicente Sotto III and Senators JV ejercito, Gregorio Honasan II, and Juan Miguel Zubiri, also reportedly signed the draft report.

Senators Leila de Lima and Panfilo Lacson, meanwhile, expressed against the signing the draft committee report, describing it as Gordon’s attack against aquino. “the Gordon report is as malicious as it is pre-ordained. It is made-to-order in accordance with Gordon’s political agenda,” De Lima said in a handwritten statement.

Lacson, for his part, claimed Gordon was supposedly “directing the investigation to suit the outcome that he had desired from the very start.” n

Palace: Duterte tirades vs Sereno not an attack to judiciary

by Patricia LourDeS Philstar.com

Viray

ManILa — President rodrigo Duterte’s attacks against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno should not be interpreted as an attack to the co-equal judiciary branch, Malacañang said on Wednesday, april 18. “the President’s rebuke of the Chief Justice must therefore be taken as a dislike of the Chief Justice and not an attack to the judiciary or an affront to judicial independence,” presidential spokesperson Harry roque said. this statement was made in response to a lawyers groups’ report to the united nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers

narrating how the Duterte government attacks the judiciary.

Several lawyers’ groups, headed by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines, urged un special rapporteur Diego Garcia-Sayan to take action on Duterte’s attacks against Sereno. “the recent tirades of the president against the chief justice do not sound at all foreboding. they rather expectedly punctuate the long-winded attacks on judicial independence that began almost two years ago, when the chief justice dared resist an apparent intrusion into judicial power,” the groups said. roque, on the other hand, stressed that some justices of the Supreme Court have testified against Sereno during

House impeachment hearings. “the Chief Justice was made to go on indefinite leave by her colleagues to protect the integrity and reputation of the court after it became clear that the CJ failed to file some of her annual SaLn,” roque said.

He added that Duterte’s remarks against the chief justice, head of a co-equal branch, were only “reaction to these accusations.”

In the report submitted to the un special rapporteur, the lawyers’ groups narrated how Duterte declared Sereno as an “enemy” during a speech on april 9. the president had also asked the Congress to fast track the impeachment proceeding against Sereno. n

Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority Notice of Public Comment Period and Public Hearing As required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Notice is hereby given that the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority will hold a Public Hearing to solicit comments on the Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority’s Annual Agency Plan for FY2019.

The Public Hearing will be held at: Howard Cannon Center Commission Chambers 340 North 11th Street Las Vegas, Nevada 89101 Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5:30pm The Plan will be available on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at all Public Housing Community Offices as well as in the main lobby area of SNRHA Administrative Offices located at: Howard Cannon Center – 340 North 11th Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 W.F. Cottrell Administrative Building – 5390 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, NV 89122 Housing Programs Building – 380 North Maryland Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89101 The Plan will also be available on our website at www.snvrha.org, Welcome Page, scroll down to Agency Plans section, click on “Click here for all Agency Plans” and scroll down to the pdf icon for this plan.

If you wish to comment on this Plan, require additional information, and/or need special accommodations, please call 702-477-3112.

Written comments will be accepted from Wednesday, April 18, 2018 through Friday, June 1, 2018 at 5:30pm at the above address.

HOME AGAIN. President Rodrigo Duterte hugs Pahima Alagasi, a former domestic worker in Riyadh who was abused by her employer. Alagasi and her family paid Duterte a visit in Davao City over the weekend.

ManilaTimes.net photo

Emotional PNP chief Dela Rosa bids farewell to police

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

outGoInG Philippine national Police (PnP) Chief General ronald “Bato” Dela rosa bade goodbye to police service in tears on Monday, april 16.

During his final flag-raising ceremony at the PnP headquarters in Camp Crame, Dela rosa thanked the police force for their hard work in implementing the anti-illegal drugs campaign of President rodrigo Duterte.

Dela rosa also apologized to those who were disappointed at his performance as the PnP chief for a year and nine months.

“I did my my best” he said. “that’s all I want to convey.

Whether I’m a good or bad father of the organization, it’s up to you to judge.”

He continued: “I don’t have to brag about it. You be the judge.

If I had many mistakes, I’d like to say sorry.”

Citing some of his accomplishments during term as the PnP chief, Dela rosa took note of the 19,086 drug offenders who were arrested during the 12,032 antiillegal drugs operations nation-

wide from December last year until april 13.

He said these operations were “not at all a walk in the park because there were isolated lifethreatening confrontations with armed drug suspects that necessitated the use of reasonable force by our operatives, thus resulting in 207 deaths from these police operations.”

“I am glad to take note of the responsiveness of the Police regional offices in heeding the call of the national leadership and the popular desire to rid our nation of the scourge of illegal drugs,” he added.

Dela rosa also remarked that the government’s anti-illegal drugs campaign will not end with his retirement. “the commitment of the PnP in the illegal drugs campaign does not end with the retirement of ronald ‘Bato’ dela rosa. rather, we can expect more results-oriented operations under a new leadership that would infuse new blood into the campaign,” he said.

Dela rosa will formally turn over his post as the PnP chief to national Capital region Police

Outgoing Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief General Ronald “Bato” Dela Rosa Inquirer.net photo

office (nCrPo) Director oscar albayalde on april 18. albayalde, meanwhile, vowed to do his best to “match, or even exceed” Dela rosa’s performance. “the Philippine national Police chief that we will follow is very amiable and well-loved by the public. I may not be able to fill in his shoes but I will do my best to match, or even exceed the public’s expectation of him and his responsibility,” albayalde said. n

A

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april 19-25, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

OpiniOn

Humane treatment

Features

The situation has improved since the height of Oplan Tokhang.

Back then the typical jail left no room even for a decent sleep.

Inmates had to take turns to be able to sleep lying down in cells that were packed nearly all the way to the ceiling.

The number of persons arrested or who surrendered in the drug war swelled the inmate population nationwide, overwhelming jails that were already filled to capacity even before the start of Tokhang.

While being in jail is better than ending up in a ditch with your head wrapped in packing tape, with your wrists bound behind your back and a bullethole in your head, even crime suspects have a right to a modicum of humane treatment. And inmates can die a slow death in a congested jail.

This week an inmate died at the crowded Pasay City Jail, reportedly from the heat. Jail custodians admitted that congestion worsened the poor ventilation in the facility. Video footage of the jail showed inmates half naked and still

looking like they needed air.

The jail congestion can be horrific particularly for the innocent who are wrongly accused, whether in the drug war or other cases. But even the guilty and convicts deserve humane treatment. They are wards of the state, whose duty at the very least is to keep them alive and, as much as possible, away from abuse and harm in detention.

Lawmakers must work with the executive to correct this sorry situation, by providing additional resources to the jail and corrections agencies. These are intrinsic elements of the criminal justice system. The public generally supports any campaign against criminality. The ongoing one must be backed by the needed detention facilities. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

New US Supreme Court ruling saves Filipino immigrant from deportation DEPORTATION. This is perhaps The Fil-Am among the top stress- Perspective ors of kababayans in the United States, especially those who have already established new lives in Gel SantoS-ReloS this adoptive country. The fear is real, not only among undocumented immigrants, but even among those who have already been granted green cards, also known as Permanent Resident Status.

Green card holders are technically NOT citizens of the United States of America, and therefore do NOT enjoy the same protections from deportation as those who have already

naturalized. This is especially true under the Trump administration’s goal to deport undocumented immigrants and even limit legal immigration. Such policy is translated to how arrests are conducted and deportation cases are heard in immigration courts.

We have heard heartbreaking stories of immigrants being deported, despite the fact that they have not committed any serious violent crimes, or do not pose any threat to the security of the United States of America. With the new ruling of the

Government of national unity AFTER most of our Godcentered thoughts during the Peacelast Holy Week, we felt there Maker is need today for new initiatives for peace, renewal, and development in our country, and what immediately comes FoRmeR SpeakeR to mind is to revive our old JoSe C. de VeneCia, JR. proposal for a “Government of National Unity.”

The other choice of other more extreme advisers is for President Duterte to declare a “Revolutionary Government.”

A revolutionary government has its strategic uses but after a time, after goals are achieved at great cost, it is usually difficult for the Revolutionary Leader to disengage from authoritarian rule and return the nation to normalcy.

Perhaps without seriously aiming to, in meandering thoughts, when he spoke on the eve of Holy Week, of re-establishing in effect diplomatic ties with the Liberal Party of Vice-President Leni Robredo, Mar Roxas, Frank Drilon, and Francis Pangilinan, former Vice-President Jojo Binay and his group, and other friends, the Villars, and other foes in the Nacionalista Party, etc., he was perhaps really thinking, why not be friends with everyone, with charity for all and malice towards none in the whole nation, which the Filipino people can only applaud and support.

Anyway, the president has declared publicly he will stay only for one complete six-year Constitutional term.

Under a largely conflict-free government of national unity, the president can then and should address the following: Finalize and implement a peace agreement in Mindanao with the MILF, while keeping the existing pact with the MNLF, start and complete the full-scale rebuilding of the devastated Marawi City, and finish off the diminished Abu Sayaf in Sulu and Basilan or to allow the least guilty to return to the fold of the law; Advance to the final stage the surrender of firearms and full demobilization by the New People’s Army and integrate some of their units into the Armed Forces and appointment of one or two of their leaders in the Cabinet; Complete the Constitutional process for the adoption of the Federal system of government nationwide; Negotiate and finalize an agreement with China and Vietnam for joint-exploration and development in the South China Sea to be followed by similar arrangements with Malaysia, and Brunei; Full-scale infrastructure building, mass-housing and agriculture development; and, Full-scale rehabilitation of the nation’s drug addicts.

Obviously all these cannot be completed during President Duterte’s term.

But full-scale development and industrialization with strategic economic dispersal in a decentralized system can begin and continued in earnest, accompanied by Constitutional reform as hopefully the various insurgencies come to an end and join the fold.

We believe Items 1 to 6 are definitely achievable, not impossible and a Government of National Unity with everyone pitching in, is the key and we should all support it. n

Supreme Court on one kababayan’s case, it may provide hope to many other immigrants fearing deportation.

As we reported on The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” on Tuesday, April 17, the U.S. Supreme Court (SC) justices’ decision struck down a provision in federal immigration law that they consider “unconstitutionally vague,” and has spared Filipino James Garcia Dimaya from deportation. The surprising twist — the deciding vote was casted by Trump’s SC appointee Justice Neil Gorsuch.

Dimaya legally immigrated from the Philippines to the United States and have lived in Northern Califor-

nia since 1992. He was set to be deported because he pleaded guilty twice to residential burglary, and an immigration judge decided this to be a crime of violence.

The Supreme Court ruled on April 17 that home burglary was clearly NOT the kind of crime of violence that would justify deportation, effectively eliminating a federal immigration law that calls for mandatory deportation for non-citizens, including long-time permanent lawful residents, who are convicted of “aggravated felony.”

Legal analysts say that this SC ruling could limit the Trump administration’s deportation enforcement efforts.

An attorney for Dimaya said in a statement to the media, “The Supreme Court delivered a resounding message today: You can’t banish a person from his home and family without clear lines, announcing up front.”

The rule of law is still working in the United States. Kudos to Justice Gorsuch for his judicial independence in this ruling. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective. com, https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

Relos

It was Aquino, not Duterte, whom Cambridge Analytica ‘helped’ become president AN article published recently in the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post (SCMP) that claimed that a sister company of the controversial Cambridge Analytica helped President Duterte win the 2016 elections by advising him to adopt a tough crime-fighter branding turns out to be the perfect example of fake news, maliciously and deliberately contrived.

Rappler.com delighted in the fake news, and echoed it by posting an article that claimed that for this task, Cambridge Analytica used “Facebook data of 1.1 million Filipinos.”

The SCMP article had a sarcastic title: “How Cambridge Analytica’s parent company helped ‘man of action’ Rodrigo Duterte win the 2016 Philippine election.”

The truth is the exact opposite: It was former President Benigno S. Aquino 3rd whom the Cambridge Analytica’s affiliate Strategic Communications Laboratories (SCL) advised to adopt a tough crime-fighter branding.

SCMP should apologize for publishing the article contributed by one Raissa Robles, whom it should ban from ever writing for the newspaper for deliberately writing falsehoods to feed her Yellow, anti-Duterte obsession, not just in this case but in several articles there in the past.

(Jack Ma of the online shopping behemoth Alibaba Group who bought SCMP two years ago should fire its editors, imbued for so long with outlooks servile to the West.)

In her article, Robles, a unpaid blogger most of her working time, claimed that SCL “boasted in its website that it helped get Duterte elected in 2016 by rebranding him as a tough crime fighter.”

The SCL didn’t even identify Duterte, and the blogger’s sole basis for this was a post in its website, with its image in her

managing article: all aspects “Facing na- Commentary of the camtional elections, paign includthe incumbent ing research, client was widestrategy and ly perceived as output over a kind and honorseven-month able — qualities period. SCL his campaign RiGobeRto tiGlao Elections team thought were potentially election-win- successfully won the election for ning. By contrast, SCL’s research their candidate.”

After 2013 and through 2016, showed that many groups within the electorate were more likely SCL no longer reported the Philto be swayed by qualities such as ippines as a client. Only Kenya, ‘tough” and ‘decisive. Using the South Africa, India, Thailand and cross-cutting issue of crime, SCL Indonesia were its international rebranded the client as a strong, clients.

Either Robles was stupennon-nonsense man of action.’

To hint that SCL even tried to dously stupid, or deliberately hide its help for Duterte, the blog- ignored the time stamps on the ger claimed that SCL removed SCL’s posts which showed that it the “website content about the was impossible that Duterte was 2016 election, although archived its client. She even wove a web versions are still visible in the in- of lies by claiming that former SCL executive Alexander Nix ternet.”

Even as the “strong, non-sense had met with now PCOO underman of action” would seem to secretary Joel Egco, whom she be Duterte, the SCL wasn’t re- hinted was Duterte’s link with ferring to the 2016 but to the the firm.

That is so totally absurd, but 2010 elections, when he was still Davao mayor and not in his wild- so typical of this travesty of a est dreams had he thought he’d journalist. Egco was president of the National Press Club, and he be president.

The indisputable proof that the met Nix when the latter gave a SCL was referring to the 2010 talk on the role of mobile phone elections is the brochure that texting in elections.

Egco, who was a senior rewas posted was dated 2013. The Wayback Machine where the porter of this newspaper, got to blogger got the brochure also join the government only in the had a time-stamp that showed course of the NPC’s lobbying for that it was posted on November the government to include the 15, 2013. (The nonprofit Way- press organization’s representaback Machine, since 2001, has tives in its efforts to prevent more been preserving and making killings of journalists. I met Egco available to the public web con- hen I was also Manila Times tent, even if these are deleted by editorial consultant, and my impression then was he was even its producers.)

That there is absolutely no critical of Duterte. How could he doubt that SCL was referring to be such an insider that he would the 2010 elections is proven in be the liaison with SCL? My sources in the Aquino another SCL web content posted camp alleged that it was his cousSeptember 26, 2010 that read: “SCL Elections [the name of in Rapa Lopa, formerly president the SCL unit]was asked to run of polling firm Pulse Asia who the election campaign for a pres- contracted the SCL’s services, idential candidate; this included which cost P50 million, paid in

dollars, shouldered allegedly by another cousin, they tycoon Antonio Cojuangco, Jr. Lopa asked Yolanda Ong of Campaigns and Grey, to implement the SCL’s recommendations for Aquino’s campaign strategy.

The Aquinos have been big believers of foreign political consulting groups, as it was a pioneer in this field, the U.S.-based Sawyer Miller that engineered Cory’s extremely successful PR in the fight against Marcos that led to the EDSA revolt. I was told that it was the firm’s close-in adviser to Cory for this, the British Malloch Brown (also Smartmatic chairman) who recommended SCL, owned by his countrymen, to Aquino.

Despite SCL’s boast that it won the presidency for Aquino, the “branding” it recommended for him as a tough crime-fighter wasn’t adopted by his campaign camp. Obviously, it was inane advice, as it would have been like rebranding a Forest Gump into a Dirty Harry.

The Yellow Cult adopted a more effective branding strategy: Ninoy as the son of Saint Cory. The Yellows ridiculed SCL’s advice so that no party in the 2016 elections thought of contracting it.

Ironically, it was Duterte who for decades had that Dirty Harry branding, which he exploited to the hilt in the 2016 elections.

For that blogger to claim that a British, U.S.-based firm recommended that kind of image is the height of colonial mentality. Or depths of inanity.

This episode though is as hilarious as in a comedy where a sycophantic servant strives to please his master, only to end up shooting him in the foot. With this fake SCL article, Aquino and the Yellow Cult are again revealed to have stupidly spent huge amounts of money to buy vapid advice from foreigners.

(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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 19-25, 2018

Cayetano: Government has more info on South China Sea than in media reports

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — The Philippine government is on top of recent developments in the South China Sea, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Wednesday, April 18.

The secretary made this statement in response to a newspaper report that Chinese military transport aircraft have been spotted on Panganiban, or Mischief, Reef, where Beijing has installed military facilities.

Cayetano said that the U.S. and Japan have been helping the Philippines monitor the country’s territory.

“In fact, we know much more than what is published in the newspapers or released by U.S. think tanks because we see the bigger picture, so I have to first thank them because the starting point

is fact-finding and being able to monitor,” Cayetano said in a press briefing.

‘Unwritten protocol’ He added that the DFA is taking all diplomatic actions needed to protect the country’s claims.

Cayetano also confirmed the earlier disclosure of Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana that the Chinese have been warning off Philippine planes flying over disputed features in the South China Sea. “When foreign vessels enter what... we claim as our territory, we send them messages, ‘You are entering Philippine airspace, Philippine territory, Philippine maritime territory,’” Cayetano said.

The DFA chief, however, did not directly address reports that China has deployed military jamming equipment on Kagitingan, which is also called Fiery Cross Reef, and on Mischief Reef.

Cayetano said that the govern-

A

ment is following an “unwritten protocol” in dealing with the issue.

“The reality is that different claimants have different facilities and if, in every time there’s an improvement or there’s something new there, we start shouting at each other, we will lose the momentum on the areas that we have had agreements,” he said.

Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported that Beijing has installed equipment capable of jamming communications and radar systems on its artificial islands.

“While China has maintained that the construction of the islands is to ensure safety at sea, navigation assistance, search and rescue, fisheries protection and other nonmilitary functions, electronic-jamming equipment is only LET THE CONTEST BEGIN. Athletes from Region 9 parade in colorful costumes at the opening ceremony of the Palarong Pambansa held at ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada for military use,” a U.S. Defense the Quirino Stadium in Vigan, Ilocos Sur on Sunday, April 15.

Department official told Wall Street Journal. n

‘I take full responsibility’: Robredo Palace, int’l media group laud Filipino sorry for Holocaust Memorial photo journalist for winning Pulitzer MALACANANG on Tuesday, April 17, lauded a Filipino journalist who won a Pulitzer Prize for his reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs but maintained that administration’s anti-narcotics campaign was legitimate.

Speaking to reporters in Boracay, Palace spokesman Harry Roque reiterated that alleged drug-related killings were not state-sanctioned and that police would act within the law.

“Definitely, I’d have to congratulate Manuel Mogato, but the fact remains that the policy of the President on the drug war is that the drug war is legitimate. It’s intended to protect the youth from the ill effects of drugs,” Roque said during a press conference.

“The killings committed by state authorities are for as long as they are legal, will be defended by the state. But as in the case of Kian de los Santos, if the killings are contrary to law and unjustified, he will cause the criminal prosecution of the policemen themselves. So that’s the state of the drug war,” he added.

Roque made the statement after Filipino journalist Manuel Mogato won the Pulitzer for “International Reporting” with Reuters colleagues Clare Baldwin and

Andrew R.C. Marshall for their “relentless reporting that exposed the brutal killing campaign behind Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs.”

The three were behind Reuters’ winning work, a series called “Duterte’s War”, which looks into the “bloody drug crackdown in the Philippines.”

The Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines (FOCAP) also congratulated Mogato.

“The [FOCAP] congratulates Manuel Mogato, our dear member and member of the board for bagging the much-coveted Pulitzer Prize along with his fellow Reuters reporters Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall for relentless reporting that exposed the brutal killing campaign behind Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs,” the FOCAP board said in a statement.

At the same time, FOCAP also commended Mogato for his story amid the “dangers” in today’s journalism.

“Despite some dangers inherent in today journalism work, Manny remained steadfast and dedicated in carrying out his job,” the FOCAP said.

Mogato is Reuters’ political

and general news correspondent in Manila while Baldwin is the international news agency’s special correspondent, who has investigated the Philippine “drug war” since June 2016.

Meanwhile, Marshall, who also won in the same Pulitzer Prize category in 2014, is Reuters’ Southeast Asia special correspondent.

The Philippines’ “drug war” began in 2016, shortly after Duterte assumed office.

According to government authorities, more than 4,000 suspects were killed in anti-drug operations since the start of the drug campaign in July 2016.

Local and international human rights groups said Duterte in his public pronouncements ordered or encouraged policemen to kill those involved in the drug trade.

They said this resulted in more than 13,000 extrajudicial killings in the drug war.

The Pulitzer awards recognize achievements in newspaper, magazine, and online journalism, literature, and music composition in the United States since 1917.

Their award for International Reporting honors journalists who have shown excellence in covering international affairs. (Catherine Valente, Dempsey Reyes/ManilaTimes.net)

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!!!

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo on Tuesday, April 17, apologized for the controversial photo of her and some opposition party mates at the Holocaust Memorial in Berlin, Germany.

Acknowledging the point of critics who found their photo inappropriate, Robredo said there was no excuse for it. She is also sorry if it has offended anyone.

“While there was no malice in it, I take full responsibility, so I would like to apologize for whatever offense to the sensitivities of the people it caused,” she added.

Robredo and a number of lawmakers of the Liberal Party were called out by netizens for being “insensitive,” “disrespectful” and “stupid” by posing and smiling in the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe also known as the Holocaust Memorial. The vice president is the chairperson of the LP. Other Philippine officials seen in the photo were Sen. Francis Pangilinan, Rep. Jose Christopher Belmonte (Quezon City, 6th District), Rep. Teddy Baguilat Jr. (Ifugao) Rep. Miro Quimbo (Marikina City), Rep. Jorge Banal (Quezon City, 3rd District), Rep. Kaka Bag-ao (Dinagat) and former Budget Secretary Florencio Abad.

Baguilat, who posted the photo on social media and eventually

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

deleted it had apologized for the slip-up. He said he and his companions did not intend to demean the memorial.

“We, as human rights advocates, fully understand the plight experienced by Jews under the Nazis and we would be the last to disrespect their memory in the same way that we condemn injustice anywhere in the world, including our own country,” the solon said on Twitter.

Despite the backlash, the memorial’s Rules of Conduct for the Field of Stelae do not prohibit taking pictures at the site. The memorial “[honors and remembers] the up to six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust.”

The LP legislators visited the memorial following a study tour for poverty alleviation in Berlin.

Philstar.com photo

Robredo last Sunday, April 15, also denied the accusations that she spent taxpayers’ money for her trip to Germany last week.

She clarified that the trip was “fully financed” by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

The vice president said the foundation hosts study visits for leaders in developing countries to give them the opportunity to dialogue with officials and key figures.

In 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte also drew flak when he compared his anti-drug campaign to the Holocaust. “[Adolf] Hitler massacred three million Jews... There’s three million drug addicts. I’d be happy to slaughter them,” he said. The Nazi leader actually massacred around six million Jews, as well as other minorities. (Philstar.com)

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

A

april 19-25, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

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Journal Filipina social entrepreneur Clarissa Delgado joins Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia first batch of 2018 Obama Foundation Fellowship speak up against online bashing

By Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

Education has also long been cited as a way out of poverty and a path towards new opportunities and a better future. Yet, inequity in education continues to be a problem as many young students around the world continue to lack access to quality instruction. this is true in the Philippines where approximately 3.8 million young Filipinos aged six to 24 were said to be out of school, according to a 2016 annual Poverty indicators Survey conducted by the Philippine Statistics authority.

one Filipina philanthropist and social entrepreneur has become a champion of education reform in the Philippines, and is now one of the few selected individuals from around the world to enter the inaugural 2018 obama Foundation Fellowship class. clarissa isabelle delgado of Makati, Philippines was chosen out of over 20,000 applicants from 191 countries for her nonprofit organization teach for the Philippines, where she acts as co-founder and cEo. She joins 19 other changemakers representing 11 countries around the world. “a truly amazing morning to wake up to here in Manila [sun

Photos from Facebook/@Clarissa Delgado

emoji]. deeply grateful to the obama Foundation for the chance to represent the Philippines and honor her the way she deserves,” delgado posted on Facebook, sharing the announcement of former u.S. first lady Michelle obama. an alumni of the u.S.’ William & Mary university and prestigious Phillips Exeter academy, delgado co-founded teach for the Philippines in 2012 with philanthropists Elizabeth “Lizzie” Zobel and Margarita delgado, founders of the literacy advocacating Sa aklat Sisikat Foundation.

Learning from the non-profit teach for all, which remains their network partner, the women made it their goal and vision to provide all Filipino children access to excellent and relevant education through the development of quality teachers. according to the organization, roughly 40,000 teachers are needed in the Philippines’ public schools and the impact seems to be grave with only three out of 100 students who enter Grade 1 completing their education. of Grade 6 graduates, less than one percent are academically ready for high school. through the organization, young Filipino leaders — regardless of college degree or teaching experience — are recruited and trained to not only fill in the voids of public school teaching positions, but become advocates of education equity.

Clarissa Delgado, co-founder and CEO of Teach for the Philippines

“[the] qualities we look for are definitely leadership skills because we believe that the same qualities that make a good leader are the same qualities that make a good teacher. We look for bias for action — it’s not enough to recognize that certain changes need to be made. You have to act on it and make it happen,” Margarita delgado told the Asian Journal in 2015.

For two years, the young educators spend time teaching in public schools across the Philippines in hopes of becoming positive influences to their students and changing their students’ life paths. the organization currently operates in 29 schools across 17 local governments. on why the new fellow chose to focus on education advocacy, clarissa delgado said it came down to the growing inequality and poverty in the Philippines. “i believe that to alleviate poverty, the first step is to change the way in which those entrenched in it perceive themselves,” delgado told the Philippine Tatler in a 2014 interview. “to alleviate poverty, a society PAGE B2

iF there is anyone who has had more than their fair share of online hate, it would be popular celebrities who came of age in the social media generation, just like Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia.

“Bashers,” or individuals who seem to gain pleasure in leaving unsavory commentaries on social media, often flock to high-profile accounts like those of Barretto, Garcia, and other showbiz personalities.

Barretto, who belongs to an oft-controversial celebrity clan, is used to seeing nasty messages and comments disparaging her looks, talents, and personality online. She has had countless bashers tell her that she might have had work done on her face, that there is no talent behind her pretty face, and that she is another vain artista. Barretto confronts these negative statements in her new commercial, where she is joined by Garcia to convey an

Julia Barretto and Joshua Garcia Philstar.com photo

uplifting message. “this project is so timely,” she said. “Standing up against online bashing is something that Joshua and i feel is relevant because the audience will be able to relate to it. i think a lot of them are curious about how celebrities deal with PAGE B3

Why Megan is addicted to taking good care of herself

by MJ

MaRfoRi ManilaTimes.net

thErE is no doubt that the Philippines’ first ever Miss World beauty title holder Megan Young is one of the finest women in the industry. Just look at her face, her 23 inch waist, and bubbly personality.

When the Times met with Megan, she was glowing even though she said she had barely slept from taping for her GMa network soap “the Stepdaughters” the night before.

Megan shared nonetheless that she “addicted” in taking care of herself. “ “there’s this certain happiness PAGE B2 Megan Young

ManilaTimes.net photo

EntErtainmEnt

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Bianca thankful for her second life The Script reveals what they love about Filipinos

by Nathalie

tomada Philstar.com

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Not everyone gets a second chance to live. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m thinking, maybe I still have a mission in life.â&#x20AC;?

Bianca Manalo is â&#x20AC;&#x153;back to workâ&#x20AC;? but her near-death experience during the Holy Week is still fresh in her mind and difficult to talk about.

The beauty queen/actress survived a traumatic accident at sea on Maundy Thursday, after the speedboat she and her companions rode on got hit by strong waves and capsized en route to an island off Antique province. News reports said -she was with a group of 10, including fellow actress Ehra Madrigal and Biancaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s boyfriend, Mayor Jonathan Tan of Pandan, Antique, when the incident happened and left one dead. The mayor and a companion had to swim for two hours to seek help until they were spotted by local fishermen. Bianca and the rest fought for their survival for three hours before rescue finally came. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still recovering. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still having panic attacks. Kaninang umaga, yung dream ko dagat pa rin. Nalulunod ako. Yesterday, I dreamt of being in the water again, hinihila daw ako ng mga whale. My dreams are all water-related,â&#x20AC;? Bianca, whose sunburn marks were still visible, told the Star. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been having counseling with my psychologist. The last session I had with her was a two-hour session. Sabi niya, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not going to be easy, but itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s normal (what you are experiencing).â&#x20AC;?

According to Bianca, her psychologist advised her â&#x20AC;&#x153;to take deep breaths whenever Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m experiencing anxietyâ&#x20AC;Ś (and) run my race. Whatever my personal problems are, she told me to fix them first because once I fixed them, everything will fall into place.â&#x20AC;?

One thing is for sure, the beach lover added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Ayoko munang makakita ng dagat. Kasi pag nagfa-flashback... ayoko muna. Even the thought of stepping into a speedboat and imagining â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just imagining sa gitna ng dagat na wala akong...â&#x20AC;? Her voice broke off, as she suddenly placed her hand on her chest. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nanginginig ako, nagpapalpitate ako.â&#x20AC;?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not hard to understand why Bianca still struggles with the memory of her experience.

She tried holding back tears all

Miss Universe-Philippines 2009 Bianca Manalo Philstar.com photo

throughout this interview. But she has decided to open up about it so that others may somehow learn from her story. â&#x20AC;&#x153;For now, kahit mahirap, nagpapa-interview ako to create awareness at the same time be an example â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to be careful next time, be sure to have a life vest, dapat thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s presence of mind and you should always be alert.â&#x20AC;?

She believes her training as a former flight attendant helped her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I think so because I wouldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know basic swimming since I never had swimming lessons. I remember when we were almost drowning, hinihila ako ng mga friends ko because I wrapped my legs around the propeller,â&#x20AC;? she recalled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Hinihila ako ng friend ko, tapos sabi ko, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wag mong hawakan kasi malulunod tayo lahat, relax ka lang, calm down, so tinulak ko siya sa taas ng speedboat.â&#x20AC;?

She further narrated that she also took off her outerwear. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Nag-bikini na ako kasi mabigat eh. Because I remembered when I was a flight attendant, when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re in the water, you have to remove your clothes para di mabigat. So, basic swimming.

Everything was basic. Then pray and stay calm.â&#x20AC;?

There was a point though that Bianca thought she was going to die, and if that was to be her fate, she was already prepared to accept it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I still had my phone. Nalunod kami ng 10:15 a.m. 12:35 (p.m.) tumawag ako ng 911 twice. Hindi ko na marinig pero tumatakbo ang number, so I know nasagot. I said, please locate our location here, in the middle of the ocean, here in Antique.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;And then, that time, naisip ko, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;tatawag na ba ako sa Mommy ko? tawagan ko kaya brother-in-law ko, pahanap ako sa helicopter?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; tapos inisip ko, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Baka maging burden ako, ayoko nalang. Anong mangyayari sa show ko, may tribute kaya?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I had already accepted that I was going to die.â&#x20AC;?

Bianca began to entertain such thoughts because only about a foot of the boatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bottom stayed above water. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Then I saw the look of my friend, yung look na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wala na.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I heard her telling both of her kids, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I love you mga anak.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So parang pumikit nalang ako, sabi ko, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lord, wala na?â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Then, I was singing â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;God Will Make A Way.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; I was praying out loud. â&#x20AC;&#x153;tapos si Ehra, she was saying (to her husband Tom Yeung), â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Love, please stay strong for me.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So yun na ang naririnig ko. Sabi pa ni Tom, â&#x20AC;&#x2122;pag lumubog na ang banca, mag-floating tayo. I tried floating but I drank so much seawater. So, I thought, if this boat was going to go down, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re all going to die. â&#x20AC;&#x153;tapos nakatingin lang ako sa langit. Sabi ko, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Lord, kung ganito po ako mamatay, kayo na po bahala.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Kaya nung dumating na ang rescue, iyak ako ng iyak kasi dun ko na feel na, makikita ko pa pala yung pamilya ko.

Basta iba yung pakiramdam! Oh my God, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m alive!â&#x20AC;?

Bianca observed the Holy Week afterwards. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The next day, I attended the High Mass, the two-and-a-half-hour Seven Last Words. And then, I joined the procession and then Saturday, we rested kasi may bangkay kami, may lamay, so nakiramay kami. Then Sunday, I attended the Easter Mass. When I arrived in Manila, nagpa-thanksgiving Mass ako, and then last Tuesday, I went to Manaoag (Church in Pangasinan). talagang, Lord, grabe talaga!â&#x20AC;?

The incident led to a renewal of faith for her. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Grabe talaga, grabe po. Parang ngayon, ayoko ng gumawa ng kahit anong kasalanan. Kahit magsinungaling lang ako, baka mamatay ako, baka parusahan ako, ayoko na.

Parang ngayon, ngiti ka lang, mabait ka lang, pagbigyan mo lahat.â&#x20AC;?

Every day, Bianca said, she wakes up thanking God for her second chance at life. She has also resumed her work commitments. Last Saturday, she was PAGE B3

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by Patricia lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

DESPITE the difference in culture, rock band The Script believes they have a lot of similarities with their Filipino fans.

The Irish trio â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Danny Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue, Glen Power and Mark Sheehan â&#x20AC;&#x201D; were in the country for the fourth time last weekend for the Manila leg of their â&#x20AC;&#x153;Freedom Childâ&#x20AC;? tour.

In an interview a few hours before their show in Manila, The Script said that they were â&#x20AC;&#x153;pretty luckyâ&#x20AC;? as a band due to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;great crowdâ&#x20AC;? that they have wherever they go to. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I always remember about the Philippines was that when we first played here, we played in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Thrilla in Manila.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; We played that venue where we watched Muhammad Ali and (Joe) Frazier,â&#x20AC;? lead vocalist Danny Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue said, referring to the Araneta Coliseum.

The Script first performed at the Araneta Coliseum in 2011.

At that the time, Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue said they did not expect such overwhelming reception from

The Scriptâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Irish trio: Danny Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue, Glen Power and Mark Sheehan.

Filipinos. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were just expecting to get off the plane and maybe play to a few hundred people, but the welcome that we received was unbelievable considering none of us are from here, we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t speak Filipino,â&#x20AC;? Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That really kind of set off the relationship that we have that every time we have a tour we come back in the Philippines, I just remember my ears ringing from the crowd just singing every song,

Philstar.com photo

every word, not just the chorus,â&#x20AC;? he added.

The frontman said that despite being Irish, the band has similarities â&#x20AC;&#x153;in the insideâ&#x20AC;? of their hearts with their Filipino fans â&#x20AC;&#x201D; heart, passion, love, lyrics and music.

The rock bandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fourth concert in Manila served as their most interactive show so far as the members went down the stage in the middle of the show to perform among the crowd.

Piolo Pascual defends Robin Padilla on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movie issue by deNi

rose BerNardo Philstar.com

ACTOR Robin Padilla was recently criticized on social media for allegedly investing on a movie on the war in Marawi instead of donating the money.

In a recent press conference for new romantic comedy TV series â&#x20AC;&#x153;Since I Found You,â&#x20AC;? Piolo Pascual explained his and Robinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s decision to invest in the film. â&#x20AC;&#x153;â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Yung ibibigay nating kakarampot na pera, not even one family can appreciate that for a long time. Mas marami tayong kailangang tulungan so naisip ko lang na kailangan nating gumawa ng pelikula hindi lang para sa kanila, kundi para mamulat din â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga mamamayan na hindi porket okay ang buhay mo, okay na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yanâ&#x20AC;Ś Saâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;tin naman nagoriginate ang Bayanihan eh. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Di ba dapat matuto tayong maging compassionate at tumulong sa kapwa?â&#x20AC;?

According to Piolo, filmmaker Joyce Bernal, his partner at Spring Films that made their hit romantic comedy â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kita Kita,â&#x20AC;? originally wanted to donate part of her income from â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kita Kitaâ&#x20AC;? to Padillaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s foundation dedicated to Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehabilitation. Though he found it noble, he told Joyce that they could help more if they are to produce a film that could build more awareness on Marawi citizensâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; plight. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Mahirap sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ya pero kasi kung gumagawa ka ng isang adbokasiya, mas maganda na isipin mo â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung nobility ng ginagawa mo kesa â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung pressure na makacome up with something na pelikula lang. Alam natin na maraming experiences na kakapulutan ng aral dito sa nangyari sa Marawi at â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yon â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung gusto namin ipakita sa tao,â&#x20AC;? he explained in a round

table interview, including Philstar. com.

Piolo to cast real Maranaos for â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Marawiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; movie Instead of giving a man a fish, Piolo believes more on teaching man how to fish. In their movieâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s case, it is giving livelihood to Marawi war survivors partly through employing them to star in the movie.

The actor-turned-producer shared that his company will be holding auditions in Mindanao State University because they want to cast real Maranaos, even for soldier roles. He shared that the main character, an eightyear-old kid, is the hardest one to find. They are also finding difficulty casting a female soldierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s role since it will become a very physical one.

He and Robin will have a cameo in the movie as well if they will be allowed by ABS-CBN. It is Robin that convinced him to invest in the flick. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siguro â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung pinaka-wake up call ko na ang ganda ng buhay ko pero â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung kababayan ko hindi maganda â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung buhayâ&#x20AC;Ś Wake up call ko na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung sinabi ni Kuya Binoe na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Ito â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung nangyari sa Marawi, maraming taong walang matirhan.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; Ang sakit pala nun â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;no? â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Pag alam mo na â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung mga kababayan mo hindi maganda â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung buhay. Hindi naman nila ginusto na them being displacedâ&#x20AC;Ś Hindi naman nila ginusto na mawalan ng bahay pero para mawalan ka ng buhay, nakakakonsensya,â&#x20AC;? Piolo enthused. â&#x20AC;&#x153;So sabi ko, kailangan natin ng bahay para sa kanila. Siguro mas mabibigyan natin sila ng mas malaking budget bukod dun sa telethon na ginawa ng ABS. Mas mabibigyan natin sila ng mas magandang livelihood â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;pag continuous â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung pagtulong natin.â&#x20AC;?

Piolo Pascual

ABS-CBN photo

Besides casting Maranaos, Piolo hopes to shoot the film Ground Zero, which he finds to be very hard as the city has began its rehabilitation. He admitted that he, Robin and Joyce are not the only investors; they also tapped other investors, who are now pressuring them to start filming. â&#x20AC;&#x153;War movie na Philippine version kasi lahat ng napapanood natin Westernized, so this is something na maa-appreciate ng mga Pilipino na talagang nangyari dito sa Pilipinas,â&#x20AC;? he said on his vision for the movie.

Piolo, however, clarified that his efforts to help Marawi does not stop at giving people jobs for the film. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Starting with the film, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di naman natatapos dito,â&#x20AC;? he assured. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Siguro, one day at a time, one person at a time, gumawa ka ng magandang bagay para mapaganda â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;yung buhay ng ibang tao.â&#x20AC;?

Why Megan is addicted to taking good care...

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PAGE B1 I feel when I take good care of myselfâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a sense of accomplishment.

I know Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still in my 20s but Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve learned to take care of myself this early rather than eventually saying, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Sayang, sana ganito ginawa ko noon.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; So Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m doing everything that is good for me now.â&#x20AC;?

Good for her means weight training five times a week when

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with no preservatives. There are no restrictions in her diet but she makes sure it consists of the right portions of carbohydrates, protein and fat. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do the fad diets because Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve tried them before and I end up having bad habits or temporary results. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s really better to for me to take it slow but eat clean.â&#x20AC;?

Filipina social entrepreneur Clarissa Delgado...

PAGE B1 must have the sense that they can shape their own future. It is only through education that individuals are taught this,â&#x20AC;? she added.

Delgado recently received her masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in Education Leadership and Administration from Ateneo de Manila University.

The Obama Foundation Fellowship is a two-year, non-residential program that will provide hands-on training, leadership development, and a network for the Fellows to â&#x20AC;&#x153;amplify the impact

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her schedule permits and going to Pilates every now and then.

When it comes to her diet, she said that her secret is preparing her own food. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I have to make my own baon kasi I know what is in it. Nauubos ko rin.â&#x20AC;? Megan stays away from junk food almost all the time and snacks on â&#x20AC;&#x153;clean foodâ&#x20AC;? aka grains, fruits and other edibles

of their work and inspire a wave of civic innovation.â&#x20AC;?

The first gathering for the Fellows will be in Chicago this May. Obama recently made a visit to Singapore last month for an Obama Foundation discussion where he met with young adults representing Southeast Asian countries including Delgado. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The 2018 Obama Foundation Fellows come from a variety of disciplines, including healthcare, community organizing, technology, and the arts,â&#x20AC;? read an Obama Foundation announce-

ment release. â&#x20AC;&#x153;These leaders apply their talents to a range of missions, such as empowering parents and teachers to improve our schools, ensuring deaf children have equal access to literacy tools, and working across the healthcare system to treat addiction.â&#x20AC;?

Other fellows include Afghanistan refugee Zarlasht Halaimzai who started the Refugee Trauma Initiative, U.S. based Sasha Fisher who started Spark MicroGrants, and Maliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Moussa Kondo of the Accountability Lab Mali.

EntErtainmEnt

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

ManilaTimes.net

FiliPiNO-AMeRiCAN Miss Teen international 2017 Carly Peeters has been an advocate of literacy among youth ever since.

A dedicated volunteer of Jumpstart Children First—which is an early education organization that provides programming for preschool children in America from under resourced communities—and Build On, an international organization that builds schools in developing countries, Peeters’ lifelong dream is for children to have access to quality education.

The 16-year-old beauty queen was in the country recently as an ambassador of Yellow Boat of hope Foundation-Philippines, a group that primarily provides boats in hard-to-reach coastal communities so learners would not have to swim to school.

As an ambassador, she had the privilege to visit some of the remote communities in Caramoan, Camarines Sur to connect with the children in the underserved areas which she took as a very humbling experience. She brought with her Smart Schoolin-a-Bag containing a laptop, five tablets, TV, a solar panel with batteries, and educational content.

“We take what we have for granted a lot. i know i have days where i don’t want to do my homework and i don’t want to go to school because i’m tired.

Going to that community and seeing these people who are grateful to have a day of learning is just really humbling—it’s the best way to describe it,” Peeters told The Manila Times in an interview during a media event in Makati City. “it was a two-hour boat ride and half-an-hour hike just to get to the village itself. They just recently able to have filtered water and we also gave them solar-powered lamps that they were very excited about. it’s just really amazing to see people that are so grateful even in smallest things. it really puts things into perspective to me. People that have so little but are so grateful for everything and open to receiving everyone. They even cooked amazing meal for us.

They made grilled squid—which i think it’s all they have in the village—and they give it to us with open hearts,” the young

philanthropist recalled.

According to Peeters, she realized the importance of education when she got inspired from the story of her mother who strived to study and be able to immigrate to the United States to have a better life.

“My mom is from Manila and she’s from a lower-middle class family. She told us that education is the only reason she was able to migrate from the Philippines and make a better life for herself and then later on for us. She told me that education is the key to everything. if you’re educated you can do whatever you want in life and you can be who you want to be,” she said. “in the U.S., we take education for granted because it’s accessible to all of us but when i found out that there are adults who never had even a kindergarten education and don’t know how to spell their own name, it really hit me how important it is because these people were stuck in poverty and absolutely no way out,” Peeters continued.

Prior to joining pageants, she already had a platform called “literally literacy” for which she started a blog series with the same name. And now that she is Miss Teen international, she has been pushing to reach more places to widen her voice in giving importance to education.

“As Miss Teen international, i have to advocate for my platform which is literacy and education, especially to focus on the youth because i think the youth is the hope of the future and if we educate them today, we will create a better future for tomorrow.

Aside from visiting and helping out here in the Philippines, i am actually going to build a school in Nicaragua in June,” she noted.

Mixing school with acting it was not new to Peeters to encourage individuals and organizations to support her advocacy in improving learning among the youth but it is a different story when she entered beauty pageants. Prior to entering Miss Teen California, she tried her luck to join Binibini Teen in 2016.

“Actually i did not dream of becoming a beauty queen. i only started competing in pageants two years ago and it was just something fun that i tried because my friend had won Miss Teen California and she was like, ‘You should try it i think you’ll be good at it and you love

As an ambassador of Yellow Boat of Hope Foundation, the 16-year-old beauty queen goes to underserved areas and promote the importance of education.

by AllAn

PolicArPio Inquirer.net

Miss Teen International 2017 Carly Peeters Photo from Twitter/@carlyonsugar

community service so it’s a good way to kind of blend the two.’ So i eventually just fell in love with it because being on stage for like 30 seconds and have something to work toward was really enjoyable to me and on top of that, getting to advocate for a cause was just absolutely amazing,” Peeters said. it is surprising that not many people are aware that she is also active in acting. A rising senior at Granada hills Charter high School in los Angeles, she has appeared in movies and shows such as “Grey’s Anatomy” (2017) as Jamie, “little loopers” (2015) as Tiarre and “A Cowgirl’s Story” (2017) as Cinda, which is a show that is available on Netflix.

“Being a beauty queen, an actress and a student is definitely not easy. Being an actress calls for last minute jobs especially on school days. But my school is very flexible because in los Angeles, it has a lot of actors in it so they kind of understand and we have an agreement that as long as i keep good grades and they go to my teachers for recommendations when looking at excessive absences from class. So as long as i keep good grades and have a good relationship with my teacher, i’m okay to miss school for acting,” Peeters shared to The Manila Times.

“My parents are extremely helpful in all of this because they kind of put together my schedule and put together everything and they’re extremely supportive. i don’t think i can do it without my mom. She’s here today and she helps organize this entire trip. But between that and being a beauty queen, mainly pageants are on weekends and then every now and then during the week and school is everywhere in between,” she continued. “i also wanted to share that as much as she don’t want to admit it, my mother was a beauty queen when she was younger. She won a city pageant here in Manila so when i started beauty pageants, she was a little bit hesitant but when she realized it was more of the community service than it was about walking on stage for two minutes and how it made me a better speaker. i became more comfortable with myself.

Suddenly when i said i wanted to go to the Philippines, she said okay and help me with it,” Peeters happily enthused.

While Kim Chiu feels fortunate to have been part of highprofile screen partnerships, she believes that, at this point in her career, it’s also important for her to try acting vehicles beyond the love team concept.

“When you’re starting out in the biz, it helps a lot to be in a love team. i’m so grateful i went through that stage. These days, i find myself thinking, ‘Why not explore?’ Do things you haven’t done yet, make the rounds— hanggang kaya ng powers mo,” she told reporters at a recent press conference for Star Cinema’s new horror-comedy flick, “Dotga: Da One that Ghost Away.” “i’m so lucky i have been given these opportunities,” added the ABS-CBN star, who starred in her first solo film in the 2017 horror flick, “The Ghost Bride.”

That said, Kim’s not closing her doors to the prospect of being paired again with someone long-term, pointing out that many Filipino fans continue to crave the kilig a love team provides.

Open to indies “But i don’t want to be overly choosy when it comes to projects.

There are so many actors in the

business, so i’m thankful and happy with the work i’m getting,” related Kim, who’s also open to doing indie movies in the future.

“Perhaps something with a good message.”

Kim is turning 28 on April 19. in the past, she used to celebrate and reward herself—a new bag or a trip overseas.

But now, it’s all about doing charity work. She has made a personal vow to visit Aeta communities on her birthday and Christmas Day. And she does it on her own.

“Now i think more about other people—saka na ’yung para sa sarili ko,” stressed Kim, who went to Bamban, Pampanga, last year to hand out gifts to Aetas living there. “i bring them school supplies. We play games, we sing, we dance.” “i don’t have a personal wish… well, i hope people watch my film,” she quipped, laughing. “i will also try to attend all the block screenings my fans will organize, because they spend money and put a lot of effort into those.” in Tony Y. Reyes’ “Dotga,” Kim plays Carmel, a paranormal expert who, together with her best friend, Jeje (Ryan Bang), assembles a squad of ghost busters, which is

Kim Chiu Photo from Instagram/@chinitaprincess

then commissioned to exorcise a haunted house. This is Ryan’s first time in a lead role, Kim said, and she couldn’t be any happier for him. “he couldn’t believe it. But i have always felt that all actors will have a break at some point.

And this is his time,” she said. “i’m always open to working with anyone. After all, it’s not really about who you’re working with, but being able to deliver.”

Julia Barretto, Joshua Garcia speak up against...

PAGE B1

negativity directed at us online.”

“Nangyayari talaga ‘to sa amin,” agreed Garcia. “And the message of the commercial is really uplifting because people might say a lot of bad things about you online, but you shouldn’t feel bad about yourself because the people who know you in real life will know the real deal, the real story, and will always value you for being who you really are.”

The teen love team has made fans swoon over their romantic films “Vince & Kath & James,” “love You to the Stars and Back,” and “Unexpectedly Yours.”

Barretto said: “This is the first time that i had a project that tackled this reality, and it’s one that empowered us to voice out how we really feel about online bashing.”

‘They should stop’ To their credit, the love team does not reciprocate the hate they receive from bashers. “i feel like the bashers should stop. Their lives will be more positive if they follow the golden rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Focus on yourself, improve, and figure out how you can be a better person.

For those suffering from online bashing, it’s a waste of energy to

dwell on the negativity. Shrug it off. You know who you are and don’t let other people tell you otherwise,” Barretto advised.

“We can’t really stop the bashers from doing what they want,” Garcia thoughtfully replied to his on-screen partner’s statement.

“But i suggest that bashers think of their victims. You should get to know them, what they go through, before typing something mean. Madali mamintas than finding good things to say to a person. For the online bashing victims, the people who matter most will always love you for who you really are.” (Philstar.com)

Bianca thankful for her second...

PAGE B2 a judge at the press presentation of the finalists for the Mr. & Ms. hannah’s World Tourism Philippines pageant at SMX Aura. She has already informed the production of FPJ’s “Ang Probinsyano,” where she plays Bubbles, lover of Jhong hilario’s

villain character Alakdan, that she was ready to continue taping for the ABS-CBN series. “life goes on. Things are going back to normal. Basically, back to normal as an artista, as a sister to my siblings, as a daughter to my mother,” Bianca said.

“i’m very thankful for my second life. Not everyone gets a second chance to live. i’m thinking, maybe i still have a mission in life. Siguro mahal ako ni lord. Sinasabi nga nila, siguro mabait ka kasi pinagbigyan kang mabuhay uli or di pa tapos yung mission ko sa buhay.”

Marian raring to go back to work by lhAr

sAntiAgo ManilaTimes.net

MARiAN Rivera looked fresh and well rested when she sat down with Showbuzz at the grand premiere night of the Barbie Forteza-Derrick Monasterio movie “Almost A love Story” over the week.

The showbiz event was the GMA Network Primetime Queen’s first public appearance after arriving from a three-week europan holiday with husband and Primetime King Dingdong Dantes and daughter Zia. Onlookers could not help but say that Marian looks more gorgeous these days, which she would gratefully acknowledge with the sweetest smile.

Careful not to take the thunder away from the movie’s leads, she humbly said, “i’m here to support the people i love. Barbie who is with me in ‘Sunday Pinasaya,’ Derrick, and of course Direk louie, our director [in the noontime show], whom i love so dearly. excited siyempre akong makita

yung movie, especially since it was shot in italy. ‘Di ba kagagaling lang namin sa europe,” she enthused.

The european vacation was another unforgettable experience for Marian and her family. “We really had fun everywhere we went, visiting most of them for the first time. Nag-enjoy rin si Zia and that’s what’s important—yung ma-enjoy niya ‘yung mga lugar na pinupuntahan namin and all the activities we do. Saka ang sarap niyang bihisan kasi ang cute,” Marian dotingly giggled.

The highlight of their trip, of course, was their visit to Marian’s dad in Spain. initially, they were going to skip Spain because they were going to a different part of europe.

“Pero hindi, we felt that our trip would not be complete if we do not see Papa,” Marian averred. “Saka si Zia, sobrang gusto miyang nakikita si Papa. Pag nagkita nga sila, parang ang hirap paghiwalayin. Papa just adores her. Talagang nag-enjoy together ang mag-lolo.”

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Kim Chiu ready to try something new

Fil-Am Carly Peeters: ‘Education is the key to everything’ by izA iglesiAs

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 19-25, 2018

Marian Rivera

GMA photo

Now that the getaway is over, Marian is just raring to go back to work. She feels rested enough and that it’s time to focus to her career again. “i’ve already talked to my bosses at GMA about my new project,” she intimated. “When they presented the concept to me, i got so excited. it’s something that i haven’t done in a soap before and, as usual, i can’t give details yet but i’m sure the viewers will really like it. Wala pang napipiling ibang artista na makakasama ko pero sobrang gusto ko yung concept.”

So does this mean plans for a second baby will have to wait until she finishes her new series?

“Hindi naman. Dong and i have talked about it and we decided that we will go on with our respective projects, and if God wills that we have another baby, that’s the time when i will take things slowly,” Marian openly replied.

“Sa ngayon, we have Zia and we’re very happy. Kung bibigyan kami ng bagong baby, we will be The Primetime Queen says her European holiday with husband Dingdong Dantes and daughter very happy, but kung wala pa, Zia is unforgettable.

Photo from Instagram/@dongdantes tuloy lang ang buhay.”

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Celebrating spring the Filipino way Mommy Regine answers the parenting question

By Monet

Lu

Having four seasons in a year is an idea that is quite foreign to Filipinos who grew up in the Philippines. Back there, we only have dry (summer) and wet (rainy) seasons. Then there are those, like me, who migrated outside the Philippines to a place that has more than two seasons. This change also requires a change of wardrobe, food, scenery, and pastime. So how does the typical “Pinoy” deal with the changing of the seasons?

Food Filipinos love to eat and foreigners know that about us. One of the running jokes about Filipinos says, “wherever there’s food, that is where the Filipinos are.” now that is good if they meant that we cook great food, otherwise, it could mean that we’re known as gluttons. Either way, food is just at the core of every Filipino. and a food-loving Filipino has adapted the ability to adjust his palate according to the season. The spring season calls for a parade of spring rolls. and by that, i meant spring rolls of different varieties such as lumpiang Shanghai (pork spring rolls), lumpiang sariwa or lumpiang ubod (bamboo shoots spring rolls) and lumpiang gulay or lumpiang togue (bean sprouts spring rolls) are the best sellers at a company potluck or spring banquet. and because we just love to dip everything in sauce, we even have the appropriate sauces for each of the spring rolls. Sweet and sour chili sauce, peanut sauce, and of course, lumpiang togue’s faithful partner: sukang puti (white

vinegar).

Spring is also a great time to check out the newest Filipino restaurants or asian fusion cafes that invaded Southern California. You can also venture further south like San Diego and i bet you will the aroma of inihaw na liempo would lead you to these Filipino restaurants. Either that or a park filled with Filipinos with picnic baskets filled with Filipino delicacies. Filipino food is just everywhere and i credit that to the talented cooks and chefs who make Los angeles such a delicious place to live.

Fashion Spring is the second season of the year. and second to adjusting this season’s menu is switching clothes. This is the time where thermal jackets and winter boots are stored away. Unless you have a perfectly good reason for wearing that fur coat, it should be in the closet.

To the “petite” Pinays, they don a flowery sundress, spring colored jumpsuits, or some cute separates; like a good statement skirt with comfortable and flattering cotton top. Pair it with an accent pump and minimal accessories, and they swing their way to spring! For the men, skinny jeans are not as cool as they were before but still are known staples in any man’s wardrobe. it’s the season to loosen up a bit, so straight cut cool print chino pants are great alternatives to tight and dark jeans. Pair these up with a lightweight cardigan and a statement eyewear and you’re off to great spring.

Places One of the best things about this season is the blooming of flowers and fruit trees. This is also one of the things about spring that we, Filipinos, can relate to. and it’s not because we have spring

season but because planting and harvesting is a way of life for us.

We harvest vegetables and fruits and plant more tropical plants that our gardens could handle.

This season means a picnic at the park, checking out a botanical garden or Knotts Berry Farm, you know, the stuff that you do while you bond over food and wear your flowery and light cotton shirts.

Forget about hibernating in your pajamas, walking around your house wearing thermal socks. That is so winter ago! go out there and watch the cherry blossom, the tulips, open the windows and enjoy the warm sun. as this new season unfolds, we should make the most of it by welcoming Spring in all its glory. i do that by thinking of spring as the snow is finally melting, trees are blooming, and the streets are looking lively and green again!

For most people, spring is a time of change. Thoughts of rebirth, rejuvenation, renewal, resurrection, and hope come to us when we wake up from a cold winter night to a warm spring morning.

Oh, spring, you bring so many beautiful things. and as Filipinos fondly say — and let me say it with cheers to a spring season full of hope: “Mabuhay!” *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

by MJ

MARfoRi ManilaTimes.net

REginE velasquez-alcasid and her little man nate are the cutest mother and son tandem in showbiz today. The Times got to bond with the two during their launch as brand ambassadors for fast food chain Jollibee’s popular Jolly Spaghetti.

The event served their as their fifth endorsement to date, even if nate doesn’t know he’s actually saved enough money to go to an ivy league school of his choice!

Regine shared she hasn’t explained money matters to her son just yet and is just happy that he’s comfortable in front of the Regine Velasquez-Alcasid with son Nate camera. She’s even more thrilled that nate developed his love for mahilig na siya kumanta.”

Personality-wise, Regine is music like his OPM icon parents.

“Before he wanted to be a pilot, thankful that even though nate but now he just wants to be a pas- got Ogie’s playful side, he is still senger,” asia’s Songbird lovingly an obedient boy. in answer to the age-long laughed. “and because lagi niya kami [ni Ogie] nakikita na nag- question in parenting “to spank pra-practice—ako pa naman hindi or not to spank,” Regine said ako naglalagay ng earphones she believes spanking is needed when i practice, kasi boom box from time to time to discipline pa rin ako na very ‘80s—suma- a child.

“Iba rin pag ganon. it’s been sabay siya. Two years old pa lang

Photo from Instagram/@reginealcasid

a year since i last did it but mas naiintindihan ni nate what to do and what not to do. Spanking even has references in the Bible verses. Prov 13:24 says, ‘He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him often.” Then in Prov 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him.”

‘BeaRald’ still on: Gerald Anderson defends Bea Alonzo anew

by JAn Milo seveRo Philstar.com

nETizEnS were abuzz after fans discovered that Kapamilya actress Bea alonzo unfollowed and deleted photos of rumored boyfriend gerald anderson and her good friend Pia Wurtzbach on instagram last month. in an interview with the media during the Skechers x Camila Hi Lites event last Sunday in Trinoma, gerald set the record straight that it was just a misunderstanding and the issue is now resolved.

“Sana maintindihan niyo.

Ayoko nang humaba pa. Parang let’s just share positivity. Huwag na ‘yung puro nega na tao,” the Kapamilya actor said.

Bea has been receiving bashing comments and statements on different social media platforms since the unfollowing incident, and gerald has a message to Bea’s bashers.

“Ang gusto kong sabihin sa mga bashers, ‘yung mga Jinkee Pacquiao, wife of boxing champ turned Senator Manny nag-judge kay Bea na, ‘Wow, talaga?’ Parang siguraduhin Pacquiao, gave Sheeran boxing gloves with the Philippine flag.

Photo courtesy of Jinkee Pacquiao niyo na perfect kayo bago kayo

Jinkee Pacquiao gives Ed Sheeran boxing gloves

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

JinKEE Pacquiao met British singer Ed Sheeran on Sunday, april 8.

Backstage at the Divide Tour, Jinkee, wife of boxing champ turned Senator Manny Pacquiao, gave Sheeran boxing gloves bearing the Philippine flag.

Jinkee was among the celebrities who watched Sheeran’s comeback concert in Manila. However, she was among the few who had a chance to pose with the international singer-songwriter. “it’s an honor to meet you Ed Sheeran,” Jinkee wrote in her social media posts. in the music video of Sheeran’s “Shape of You”, the grammy award-winner showcased his love for the sport as he featured a video of himself boxing.

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Bea Alonzo and Gerald Anderson

magsabi nang masama tungkol sa ibang tao, celebrity man or normal na tao. Parang wala tayong karapatan at wala kayo sa sitwasyon. So ‘yun lang,” the actor said. gerald added that he and Bea are now doing well. Reports said that they were together in London last week.

“Basta ang importante okay ang lahat at okay kami. Basta

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ABS-CBN photo

okay naman. Basta moving forward tayong lahat. Parang sa dami ng negativity sa mundo, let’s focus on being positive. ‘Yun yung message ko para sa mga tao,” he said. gerald was the main attraction at the Skechers fashion show that showcased a full summer-spring 2018 collection inspired by exFifth Harmony member Camila Cabello.

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Will TPS help get a green card?

Your Immigration Solution atty. NaNCy Miller For several countries affected by armed conflict, environmental disaster, or other extraordinary conditions, the program which allows foreign nationals to stay and work in the United States legally, Temporary Protected Status (“TPS”), will soon be coming to an end. For nationals of Sudan, their program will terminate on November 2, 2018; for nationals of Nicaragua, TPS will end on January 5, 2019; for Haiti, TPS will terminate on July 22, 2019; and for El Salvador, TPS will come to an end on September 9, 2019.

So, for a national of one of these countries, is there anything some-

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MoNette aDeva Maglaya SPrING is here and the earth beckons. The rains came this year, sometimes with the intensity of a freight train, sometimes rain so fine and gentle, it feels like a caress on your face, a silent benediction from the heavens. Either way, we got a really good dousing. Thank God for this tender mercy.

Spring is a time of favor. The gardener at heart tunes out all dire predictions of doom and gloom we get in spades from our immediate environment or from nasty agenda-driven mass media. So cut the cable. Turn off the remote or SIMPLY UNPLUG. You might be surprised at the positive effects of reclaiming your life back from social media.

The realist in us thinks there is reason to be anxious with just about everything under the sun.

But the true gardener at heart remains unfazed. Cool, calm and collected, he chooses to live in that rare state of grace called equanimity.

It must come from the zen-like peace one gets when one gardens, even if it is simply tending a single potted plant on an office desk. Doing what must be done in the garden is his small way of keeping the delicate balance of nature in his own sphere of influence.

In many ways, gardening is like praying. It keeps fears and anxieties at bay and keeps one centered in the belief that all things in the cosmos work together for good.

I was and still am a reluctant gardener. I was thrust into it by circumstances since I have a thing about not wanting anything dying on my shift. I had to

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS IS DEET safe?

The ingredient DEET ((N,Ndiethyl-m-toluamide) in insect repellents is safe when used according to directions on the container, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). For approval, the EPA requires manufacturers seeking registration of a product to present laboratory data showing safety and efficacy supported by extensive testing on both the short-term and the long-term health effects of the chemical.

DEET passed this stringent test, and has been extensively used all over the world. Very few incidents of toxicity have been reported over its long history.

Why use insect repellent?

Insect repellents greatly minimize people’s exposure to tick bites and mosquito bites which may transmit potentially serious illnesses, such as West Nile viral infection, dengue fever, malaria, etc. The use of such repellent also allows individuals to indulge in outdoor activities, recreational or labor-related.

When should the repellent be applied?

It should be used before going outdoors, especially in known endemic areas for mosquito-borne illnesses. While the West Nile virus-carrying mosquitoes usually bite around dusk and dawn, some have been reported to bite during the day. The prudent thing to do is to use insect repellent whenever going outdoors, where mosquitoes abound.

Should it be reapplied?

Since perspiration, washing or rain may render the first application useless, the repellent should be reapplied accordingly, following the instructions on the

one who is currently in valid TPS status can do to facilitate immigration into the United States before their TPS status terminates? recently, United States Circuit Courts of Appeal in the Ninth and the Sixth Circuits have held that a grant of TPS qualifies as an admission under the Immigration and Nationality Act (“INA”), thus satisfying the “inspected and admitted or paroled” requirement for adjustment of status purposes, meaning that they qualify to complete the processing of their lawful permanent resident status (“green card”) without having to leave the United States. In both the 9th and 6th Circuit cases, the immigrants involved were married to U.S. citizens, and the bars preventing adjustment of status, relating to failure to maintain lawful status and unauthorized work were not applicable in each case.

This benefit would also apply to parent of a United States citizen who is over 21 years old and is

petitioning them.

Following the Ninth Circuit’s precedent decision, a United States District Court in California, held that a grant of TPS status by USCIS, constituted an “entry” (and, thus, entitlement to relief) in relation to a prohibition to adjustment of status under a different code section. This bar states that a person, “must maintain continuous lawful status since entry to the United States.” The U.S. District Court held that the grant of TPS status is the date of entry to the country, and as long as the person maintains lawful TPS status continuously since their initial grant, they shall be deemed as “being in and maintaining” lawful immigrant status. Importantly, the plaintiff in the District Court case, was a national of El Salvador, who initially entered the U.S. without inspection, but was granted TPS in 2001 and continuously reapplied and received renewal to his TPS status. Also, notable, is

Garden lessons “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”

–Claude Monet, speaking of his garden at Giverny in France

seek books and advice despite the frenetic schedule of a workaday world as I multitasked my way through the day. Nothing I did seemed right at the time. I tended to over water not knowing about the dangers of root rot.

My track record at growing things was dismal, yet I have often wondered what it would be like to watch something grow. I marveled at my mother’s green thumb. She can stick a seemingly lifeless stump at a clump of earth and grow a new beautiful plant nearly every time.

I wasn’t one to give up easily though. Tenaciously, doggedly I hung on to an image of me as a confident gardener. My education on the art and science of growing things had begun. I took baby steps and stumbled countless times. I still do.

I became quieter within as I began to observe and seek to understand the process of growth, the seasons and the cycle of life. I read voraciously volumes upon volumes about plants and watched public television that featured gardening. Nurseries and gardens have become my favorite haunts where I could ask those who knew better. I boned up on my rusty, halting Spanish quizzing the gardener as best I could. Finally, I slammed on the brakes fearing I had become boringly, compulsively obsessive. But I found that unless I got down on the ground myself, nothing happened.

I have discovered gardening to be a quiet, solitary pursuit

somewhat fit for hermits and loners — unglamorous, unexciting, backbreaking, time consuming, manual, icky, down in the dirt labor that was certainly not meant for immediate gratification.

So, why do it at all? I don’t really know. Must be borderline idiocy. of course, I speak only for myself. For one thing, it teaches you the patience of Job and the virtue of humility. I have failed more than succeeded and am still working on it. But as time passed, I have been encouraged by modest results. I became synchronized with the seasons and their gentle nuances. I took baby steps and was off and running at one point I could call most plants by name these days and seem to instinctively know what to do when a problem arises. If things don’t work on my own accord, I seek help. I still am a failure with azaleas. Azaleas have been dying on my shift so I am staying away from them. I suspect it has something to do with the amount of light and too much water that has drenched the soil because of an unusually wetter, longer winter season. I said goodbye too to a beautiful sago palm that must have suffered root rot. Farewell too to a French lavender bush that gave me so much fragrance.

The garden gets a lot of shade being in a Northwest orientation so I am quite alright with the fact that I will never have roses which I would love to have but can’t. Believe me, I tried. So I just admire them in my neighbors’ gardens PAGE B6

Insect repellents container. Those preparations with higher concentration of DEET are not any superior or more effective, but will provide longer lasting protection.

How about indoors?

Not really, unless you see or feel mosquitoes indoors. In this situation, the use of repellent is necessary. More importantly, check on all window and screen doors which may have holes in them, and making sure the doors and windows are always properly shut. Getting rid of stagnant waters (in potholes and containers) near the house also helps eliminate mosquito breeding places.

How does DEET work?

The reason why female mosquitoes bite people and animals is to suck the blood that contains the protein to help develop their eggs. The skin odors (even perfume, cologne or skin lotion) and carbon dioxide from our breath attract mosquitoes. Like other mosquito repellents, DEET repels mosquitoes, making the wearer unattractive for feeding. It makes mosquitoes unable to “find” the person. If you wear DEET and you are not being bitten my mosquitoes flying around, you know the repellent is working. If you still get a bite, then you have to reapply the chemical.

Which one works best?

The repellent that contains DEET has been proven to be the most effective. The higher the concentration (up to 50 percent only) of DEET, the longer the action is. Studies done in 2002 have shown that at 23.8 percent DEET, it provides almost 5 hours of protection; at 20 percent, 4 hours; at 6.65 percent, 2 hours; and, at 4.75 percent and 2 percent soybean oil were both (each) about 1 ½ hours. The rule of thumb is: choose the concentration that you could use for the various lengths of time you will be outdoors, since you can always reapply if needed for a longer period.

Are non-DEET repellents equally effective?

Plant-based repellents that are applied to the skin also provide some protection, but DEET appears to provide longer lasting protection. Product labels usually states on them the duration of protection. Individuals concerned about using DEET should consult their physician. You could also access the National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC) over the Internet at www.npic.orst.edu.

Those repellents with DEET are labeled accordingly.

How should repellent be used?

(1) read and follow the instructions on the label of the container; (2) Apply repellent on the skin that is exposed, not the skin under the clothing; (3) Do not over-apply; (4) Do not apply to wounds, irritated skin or cuts and bruises; (5) Upon return indoor, was the treated skin with soap and water; (6) Apply the spray aerosol or pump outdoors and not in an enclosed area or room; (7) Do not spray directly to the face, spray the hands and then rub them gently to the face, avoiding the eyes and mouth; and (8) The adult should apply the repellent on young children, excluding the children’s hands to prevent eye or mouth contamination.

Is DEET safe for children?

There are no specific studies done on the use of DEET in children. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Environmental Health has this report: “Insect repellents containing DEET (N,N-diethyl-m-toluamide, also known as N,N-diethyl-3-methylbenzamide), with a concentration of 10% appear to be as safe as products with a concentration of 30% when used according to the directions on the product labels.” The AAP and other experts say it is acceptable to apply repellent with low concentrations of DEET to PAGE B6

that the petitioner for his relative petition, was his U.S. citizen mother.

In California, at least, this latest decision paves a pathway for those who have entered the U.S. unlawfully, but who have since obtained and maintained lawful TPS status. For a person in this position, who knows that their TPS status will terminate on a specific date, there are steps they can take right away to facilitate at possible transition to lawful immigration status. If they have a qualifying relative, that is a Legal Permanent resident or U.S. Citizen spouse, parent, or child over 21-years-old, that relative can file a Petition for Alien relative.

It is imperative that this petition be filed as soon as possible, as it normally takes USCIS many months to process. once the petition is approved, and provided a visa is available for that category, a person then can file an adjustment of status application.

Another possible avenue, al-

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • ApRIL 19-25, 2018

though it hasn’t been addressed by a court in this context, is to have an employer file an Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker, on behalf the person currently in TPS status, if they qualify under an employment-based immigrant visa category. However, this avenue also requires the additional step of obtaining a labor certification from the Department of Labor. once the labor certification and the immigrant visa petition are approved and provided a visa is available for that category, the person can file an adjustment of status application under an applicable section of the INA. It is important to note that each person in the above referenced Court Decisions, was still in lawful TPS status when they filed to adjust their status and obtain their Green Card. That is why it is important to get the ball rolling on this process as soon as possible, so that an adjustment of status application can be filed before TPS status terminates.

Calendar of Events across

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If you believe that you or a family-member may be eligible for adjustment of status because of TPS or you are concerned because your TPS status is going to expire and you don’t know what to do, consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer immediately. You might be able to benefit in ways you never thought possible. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

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Family reunion in Las Vegas A surprise family reunion to coincide with the celebration of Rex & Nenita’s 60th wedding anniversary will be held at Texas Station Casino in Las Vegas on Saturday, April 21. The couple wed on the bride’s birthday on April 12, 1958 celebrating her 84th year, making this three reasons to celebrate. Rex first immigrated to the U.S. 51 years ago after serving with the U.S. Army Philippine Scouts and one year thereafter he was joined with his wife and their four young children. Joining the celebration are children Evelyn, Evangeline, Elizabeth, Enrico and their families, grandchildren, great grandchildren and close friends.

A p R I L 29

Pilita Corrales concert in New York Pilita Corrales, “Asia’s Queen of Songs,” will headline a dinner and show entitled “A Million Thanks to You” on Sunday, April 29. The dinner will be buffet and comes with a ticket.

Show begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Sheraton LaGuardia East Hotel (135-20 39th Ave, Flushing, NY 11354). For tickets, please contact: Baby Lantin at (917) 916-6770 / (718) 608-7771, Ching (917) 294-6783, Nel (347) 738-3025, Joji (908) 783-2680, Tessa (732) 492-4170, or Bong (646) 289-0917.

ApRIL 30

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

M Ay 3 -1 2

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

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

The primary goal of the Asian Culture Day celebration is to invite and unite the Asian nations of the world, and to educate and share their respective cultures in order to achieve greater understanding and fellowship between nations. The annual Asian Culture Day was established by Senate Bill 175, which proclaims every 18th of May as Asian Culture Day in the state of Nevada. The bill was introduced and authored by State Senator Scott Hammond, and was signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval last year. The bill gives recognition to the Asians and Asian-Americans who were instrumental in the settlement and early development of the State of Nevada; the culture and traditions shared by Asians and AsianAmericans; and the Asian and Asian-American communities that continue to make important contributions to the cultural, religious, political, and business environment. To purchase tickets visit https://www.asianamericangroup.org/saac-2/.

M Ay 26

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.

JUNE 9

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

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

B april 19-25, 2018 • laS VEGaS aSiaN JOUrNal

Features

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Nevada Republicans hit the ground Meet Nevada’s spelling bee running on National Day of Action champ: A fifth grader Filipina REpuBlICAN activists and supporters were out in full force across the Silver State recently as part of the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) National Day of Action.

The RNC partnered with the Nevada Republican party (NVGOp) to train and activate dozens of new volunteers during training sessions at multiple rallying points, including locations in Elko, Reno, Carson City and las Vegas. After the training sessions, volunteers were deployed to the field to engage voters on a one-on-one basis by knocking doors and making phone calls. All told, volunteers knocked nearly 8,000 doors and made thousands of phone calls from Northern Nevada all the way down to Clark County.

This event marked another major success in the RNC’s continued efforts to bulk up and build out a massive volunteer infrastructure ahead of the 2018 midterms. As explained in a recent national article, the RNC currently has more staff on the ground across the country than it has ever had at this point in a cycle, and these efforts have been especially advantageous in Nevada , where we already have roughly two dozen paid staffers on the ground working tirelessly to give volunteers the cuttingedge tools and training they need to successfully build teams in their own neighborhoods. perhaps lieutenant Governor Mark Hutchison, a special guest and keynote speaker at the Summerlin event characterized the field program best when he reminded volunteers and supporters that they are the heart and soul of the Republican party’s mission. And as evidenced by the massive showing of support – the volunteer infrastructure at the heart and soul of our operation is strong, robust, and growing.

“National Day of Action was the first major push for the 2018 cycle, and we were thrilled with the energy and passion we saw from volunteers across Nevada who are working nonstop to both engage voters and bring new volunteers into the fold. The stakes are high, and our team cannot and will not be outworked. As to all the talk of a blue wave, the success firmly establishes that

Nevada GOP Chairman Michael J. McDonald

HENDERSON, NV — Fil-Am Mischa Abad, a fifth grader of Somerset Academy Stephanie Campus, proves that she is Nevada’s top speller.

Mischa stood out among the 39 contestants from 11 counties in Nevada, and took home the state’s Scripps Spelling Bee trophy in March.

Mischa shared that it was a grueling competition against another Fil-Am speller Aaron Magio.

Mischa said that although the competition was fierce, she finished strong with a correct spelling of “Cambio.”

“I felt glad that each of us were in the finals and it made me really happy that Filipinos were in the spelling bee. My favorite word is gardenia.”

Mischa, a bookworm, also shared a few of her study habits.

“I prepared myself with the spelling bee by studying this list of words and reading a lot and some of the words were in my books. So AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal it gives me a little help on how to

spell them.”

Mischa’s passion for reading started before she started going to school. She said that she likes to read chapter books, and could read up to 25 books per day.

Mischa’s support system, her parents, said that as much as their daughter enjoys studying and reading, it’s still important for her to get enough rest, and to enjoy other activities.

“My advice to people who want to be in the spelling bee compettion. It’s gonna be hard work. Don’t get intimidated by other contestants, just try your best thats the only thing we tell Mischa. If you lose you lose know that experiences that you go through that carries you to another competition.”

Mischa will not only represent the great state of Nevada, but the Filipino-Americans who will be cheering for Mischa’s quest to be the next spelling bee champion. (Bev Llorente / ABS-CBN North American Bureau, Balitang America)

Mischa Abad

Ian Veneracion: The actor as a musician by

Tessa Mauricio-arriola ManilaTimes.net

Nevada Lt. Gov. Mark Hutchison

our party is a formidable foe and will be a major force to be reckoned with in Nevada.” — RNC Spokesperson Keelie Broom For more insight on the RNC’s success in Nevada, check out these quick facts on our cycleto-date progress: • we’ve trained more than 1,000 volunteers; • we’ve knocked tens of thousands of doors to engage and

rally voters from corner to corner of Nevada around GOp-led policies; • for 9 consecutive months, we outpaced Democrats in voter registration; • thanks to the RNC’s more than $200 million data program, we are consistently arming Republican candidates up-anddown the ballot with the most up-to-date data possible.

IF theater has what they call a triple threat—an artist who excels at acting, singing and dancing all at the same time—philippine showbiz has the habit of making its up and coming stars the same way. Sometimes even four times a threat if you add hosting a show as another talent.

For a lucky few, it all works out well, but there have been countless other artistas who end up a jack of all trade and a master of none, to use the proverb, juggling an acting, singing, dancing and/or hosting career all at once so that they fail to make a mark on the public.

Former child actor-turned teen heartthrob and one of the day’s most noted dramatic leading men, Ian Veneracion, is one celebrity who refused to go by this local showbiz formula and is happy that he stuck to his guns. Throughout his career, he chose to concentrate on acting, even if he had been playing classical piano and the electric guitar since age seven, writing songs and singing, and even if he had every opportunity to pursue his love for music as a member of the late German Moreno’s “That’s Entertainment” stable of talents.

“Music has always been part of my life but I’ve always seen myself as an actor first and foremost, so I concentrated on acting—it was that simple,” said the ever handsome Ian Veneracion, who shot to fame as the son of comedian Joey de leon in a hit ‘80s sitcom.

Now in his 40s with a formidable filmography in such phenomenal teleseryes as “A love to last” and “pangako Sa ‘Yo,” as well as notable movies like “Ilawod” (for which he just won Best Actor at the 38th Oporto International Film Festival in portugal)

PAGE B5

Ian Veneracion

among others, Ian believes he has dutifully established himself as an actor and finally has the license to explore another creative passion publicly.

“I’ll be mounting my first ‘real’ concert this April,” he laughed in a huddle with The T-Zone and a few other Entertainment Editors.

“The ones before—sa ‘That’s’ kasi lip sync eh!” he laughed even harder. “And then the others [that followed]from time to time were part of promotions for shows.”

And so, come April 21 at the Waterfront Cebu Hotel and May 13 at Resorts World Manila, a full band will join Ian on stage in a major concert entitled “Ian in 3 Acts” to show his long kept musical side.

His excitement contagious, the mestizo actor related how he and his band has been rehearsing for months and how he is thriving not just in the music but also the visual aspect of the production.

A painter too, just like his dad Roy Veneracion, Ian explained, “There’s going to be a giant lED screen that will play out my repertoire like a movie—that’s why the title of the concert is Ian in

ManilaTimes.net photo

3 Acts. Being an actor, I have to incorporate that major part of me in the show so I will be interacting with the visuals so that they won’t just serve as a background.

It’s fun because I get to tap into all my artistic sides for this one thing—being an actor, a musician—because I’d feel pretentious calling myself a singer—, and a visual artist.

The three acts, according to the performer will comprise the following: “The first act is ‘the Ian you know,’ and will cover the theme songs from my teleseryes; the second, ‘the Ian you don’t know,’ where I’ll bring in my personal choices in music from Sting, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder…; and finally the third act is ‘who I am,’ which is a combination of the first and second acts. This is where I’ll get to sing my own compositions.”

A song already playing in several radio stations and music streaming websites is Ian’s original song, “We’re All Alone,” will see its first live performance at the concert, perfectly summing up its composer’s life as an artist constantly in the spotlight.

Garden lessons

with a southeast orientation.

My journey to self-discovery has been made easier by understanding the process of nature, the seasons and the nature of things: of why a seed no matter how good cannot grow in a certain type of soil; or how a young tree cannot grow in the shadow of a mighty oak; or of how much light a plant needs to burst with flowers, of the impeccable timing and the cycle of the seasons that are in God’s perfect divine order like a well rehearsed dance or a Beethoven symphony; of why you must resist moving a plant from a place where it is growing so well to another place simply to satisfy a whim or a feng shui decorating principle; when and where to prune, of knowing when to water by sticking a finger in the soil or noting the droop of the leaves; or the merits of clay pots and plastic pots; of

when to re-pot or top dress; even how to propagate.

The most important lesson perhaps is learning when to leave well enough alone and letting go; of accepting death as part of life. I make it a point to take pictures when the flowers are in full bloom, knowing that no matter how pretty they are, their beauty is fleeting. I am left with images and memories.

These days, I have no time to spare for the garden. My circumstances have become more demanding and certain mandated human activities just suck the life out of me like a giant vacuum cleaner. Sigh…

The irony of it all is that the more I know, the more I realize how little I know. I guess that is the paradox of all lifelong learning. I now appreciate more clearly the delicate balance on which our planet depends for it to sustain life — of how vastly critical it

is for everyone to do their part to ensure that life continues, specially that of human life.

One can see life’s longing for itself in the perennial grass that grows. There is great wisdom in gardening. If you dig in the garden long enough, you will find an infinite variety of the parallel laws that govern all life with unsurpassed clarity. Gardening, if you stick with it long enough, is a metaphor for human life itself.

Gardening has taught me a zen-like passive skill of enjoying quiet solitude, of observing what works and what won’t, of doing what needs to get done with very little struggle and ultimately, of accepting and of simply letting go when all I have done is all I can do. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

Insect repellents

PAGE B5 infants over 2 months old. Other guidelines cite that it is acceptable to use repellents containing DEET on children over 2 years of age.

Check with your pediatrician for more details.

Is allergy to DEET possible?

Yes. As a matter of facts, there are occasional reports of skin allergy to some DEET preparations. If this happens, wash the areas with soap and water and consult your physician. As far as conclusive studies on pregnant women or data on its effects on the fetus, we are unable to find any, so we recommend against its use by them.

Can DEET be used with sunscreen lotion?

Yes, this is recommended dur-

ing daytime. Apply sunscreen first and then DEET containing repellent. Some preparations have both, but the use of these combination products is discouraged, because sunscreen may need to be applied more often than DEET repellent. Applying DEET preparation to clothing also helps.

How about non-chemical strategies?

The less chemicals or drugs we use, the better, and the lesser expensive, as long as we have equally effective and safer alternatives. If wearing long sleeve shirts, head nets and gloves (or, mosquito tent or net) will not interfere with the outdoor activities, and is effective, this is the best choice. However, realistically and

logistically, this strategy may be cumbersome and impractical. In this situation, insect repellent may be resorted to. Always remember to take a shower or wash the areas with repellent thoroughly with soap and water after the outdoor activities. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ ApRIL 19-25, 2018

Located in Montemaria, home to the ninth largest monument in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shrine to Mother Mary,Tower of Peace.

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