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Volume 11 – Issue 28 • 16 Pages

A P R I L 2 7 - MA Y 3 , 2 0 1 8

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Duterte declares state of calamity in Boracay

by AJPRESS

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte has placed Boracay under state of calamity on Thursday, April 26, the same day when the island’s six-month closure begun.

Duterte has signed Proclamation No. 475, declaring barangays Balabag, Manoc-Manoc, and Yapak in Malay town under a state of calamity “until lifted by the president, notwithstanding the lapse of the six-month closure period.”

Boracay will be closed until October 25 as part of the government’s efforts to address the world-famous island’s environmental woes.

The proclamation cited several violations that led to Boracay’s

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DATELINE

STROLLING IN BORACAY. Foreign tourists stroll along the white sands of Boracay in Aklan during a cloudy day early this year. Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary Rod Garcia earlier said the six-months cleanup and rehabilitation works in the island, which will start on April 26, could be shortened or extended, if found necessary.

PNA photo by Joey Razon

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Cayetano pressed to file diplomatic protest against US for detainment and alleged torture of PH activist Activist from Mindanao detained for 28 hours in US airport

Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano Malacañang photo

A HUMAN rights group has called on Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano on Monday, April 23 to file a diplomatic complaint against the Trump administration after a young Filipino activist was detained in the U.S.

BALIK BARIL PROGRAM. President Rodrigo Duterte chats with Maguindanao Governor Esmael Mangudadatu as they inspect the firearms laid down by the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighter (BIFF) surrenderors during the launching of the Maguindanao Balik-Baril Program at the Buluan Municipal Gymnasium in Maguindanao on Wednesday, April 25. Also in the photo are Philippine National Police Director General Oscar Albayalde, Department of Interior and Local Government Office-in-Charge Eduardo Año, Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana, Sec. Bong Go of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President and Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Governor Mujiv Hataman.

Malacañang photo by Toto Lozano

PH gov’t vows to sustain country’s economic growth

by AJPRESS MALACAÑANG on Monday, April 23, vowed to support the country’s economic growth by solid macroeconomic fundamentals and sustained investments in infrastructure and social services.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. made the remark as he welcome two recent studies projecting the Phil-

ippine economy to grow by at least 6.8 percent for the first quarter of 2018.

In a report released over the weekend, Moody’s Analytics said the Philippine economy is currently in a “sweet spot.”

“The Philippine economy likely grew 6.8 percent year-on-year in the first quarter,” it said in a report. “The economy is in somewhat of a sweet spot. Consumer spending is rising at a healthy pace thanks to steady inflows

A new electric car sharing service launches in LA and is the largest of its kind in the US Inaugural hub locations include Historic Filipinotown

IN Los Angeles, cars continue to be the preferred method of travel for many of the county’s 10 million residents. This is true even as investments go into expanding the city’s transit network.

Having a car often means independence,

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by DJ

YAP Inquirer.net

FORMER Ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr. was meted a combined maximum sentence of 27 years in jail on graft and malversation charges for misappropriating $17,524.27 (about P895,000) in insurance claims for his official residence in New York in 2006.

Baja, who served as the country’s permanent representative to the United Nations during the administration of PresiFormer Ambassador to the United Nations Lauro Baja Jr.

AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona

years,” Moody’s Analytics said.

The country’s official gross domestic product (GDP) growth data will be released next month. The possible 6.8 result would be an improvement from last year’s 6.4 percent.

Welcoming the report, Malacañang said: “We guarantee that the country’s robust economic growth will be supported by solid macroeconomic fundamentals and sustained investments

Ex-envoy to UN Baja gets 27 years for graft, malversation

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BlueLA, a carsharing program that gives drivers access to a car for as low as $1 a month.

of overseas worker remittances and a firm labor market.”

It also noted that the country’s “investment has been robust and is likely to remains strong as the government boosts infrastructure development,” while “the upswing in external demand is lifting exports.”

“With these factors and favorable demographics, the Philippines s likely to remain one of the fastest growing economies in the region in coming

Inquirer.net photo

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Secretary Jesus Dureza, (left) Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process emphasizes a point with Consul Arman Talbo at a briefing with community leaders held at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center on Wednesday, April 25.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Federal judge ruling: US must continue DACA Dureza highlights PH peace Judge John D. Bates joins other federal judges in support of the Obama-era program that provides benefits to undocumented youth efforts in UN General Assembly

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

THE Trump administration has been dealt with yet another blow in its mission to terminate a program which grants work authorization and protection from deportation to undocumented youth.

Judge John D. Bates of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia ruled on Tuesday, April 24 that the federal government must keep the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) in place and continue accepting new applications.

Like previous federal judges’ rulings, Bates found that the phasing out of DACA was “arbitrary and capricious” because the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) lacked an adequate explanation for “its con-

clusion that the program was unlawful.”

He also said that the administration provided “meager legal reasoning” in its justification of ending the program. Given that hundreds of thousands of DACA recipients (nearly 650,000 by some estimates) came to the U.S. as children, Bates has called the move to end DACA “particularly egregious.”

Bates’ ruling will take place in 90 days to give enough time “to allow the agency an opportunity to better explain its rescission.”

DACA was first put into effect via an executive order by former President Barack Obama in 2012. Since then, hundreds of thousands of undocumented youth have been able to work (through renewable two-

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PRESIDENTIAL Peace Adviser Jesus G. Dureza highlighted the peacebuilding efforts of the Philippine government as he spoke before the United Nations (UN) General Assembly in New York City on Wednesday, April 25.

In his message delivered during the high-level meeting on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, Dureza presented several initiatives being undertaken by the Office of the Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP) as proof of government’s commitment to peace.

He said these include the

implementation of socio-economic development programs in conflict-affected areas through PAyapa at MAsaganang PamayaNAn (PAMANA) and the development of a peace constituency through the People’s Peace Table.

Using the “chicken and egg” analogy, Dureza said peace and development should not come one after the other but “should come hand in hand.”

“As you all know very well, you cannot have peace – or you cannot sustain peace – if there is no development; and you cannot also sustain devel-

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A APRIL 27-mAy 3, 2018 • NEW yORK AND NEW JERSEy ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426

From the Front Page

Duterte declares state of calamity...

PAGE A1 t closure, such as the high concentration of fecal coliform due to insufficient sewer lines and illegal discharge of untreated wastewater into the beach.

Aside from waste management violations, it also cited the illegal constructions on forestlands and wetlands; the degradation of the coral reefs and coral cover of Boracay Island; and the damage and destruction of the natural habitats of Puka shells, nesting grounds of marine turtles, and roosting grounds of flying foxes or fruit bats.

“It is necessary to implement urgent measures to address the abovementioned human-induced hazards, to protect and promote the health and well-being of its

residents, workers and tourists, and to rehabilitate the island in order to ensure the sustainability of the area and prevent further degradation of its rich ecosystem,” the proclamation read.

The proclamation will also expedite the release of funds needed for infrastructure work on the island and for assistance to thousands of affected workers and residents.

With the six-month closure in effect, the island is now offlimits to both local and foreign tourists, while individuals who wish to visit Boracay for business purposes, as well as visitors of the local residents, need to secure a permit from the authorities first.

Earlier this week, the Philip-

pine National Police (PNP) announced that it will deploy 400 of its officers to monitor the island amid its closure.

PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday, April 23, said that Chief Superintendent Cesar Binag, regional director for the Western Visayas, will be “in full control and supervision” and will have the “responsibility on how to deal with the misdeeds” in Boracay.

“We will monitor that (Boracay situation) 24 hours a day. We will be implementing it on the 26th,” Albayalde said.

While the PNP is expecting less resistance, Albayalde assured that the police force will implement maximum tolerance against possible protesters. n

Dureza highlights PH peace...

PAGE A1 t opment unless there is peace,” he said.

The peace adviser added that development should be done through a “peace lens,” using an inclusive approach that involves the different stakeholders of conflict.

“We cannot address sustainable peace if you only attend to people who are triggers of conflict, or are involved in conflict,“ he said, emphasizing that the concerns of “the bigger table, which is the public” should also be addressed.

Dureza closed his presentation by reaffirming govern-

PAGE A1 t

ment’s commitment to pursuing and sustaining peace in the country. He also expressed gratitude for the UN’s role in strengthening government’s peacebuilding efforts.

“The work for peace is not an easy to road to travel. There are roadblocks. There are many ways, however, to peace. We cannot avoid roadblocks … but we have to stay in the course,” the peace adviser said.

Dureza expressed his gratitude to the United Nations and the countries that have “kept faith with our work for peace.”

“Many mechanisms for peace have been in place in the coun-

try today are being supported strongly by the UN systems and the UN agencies,” he said.

Dureza also recognized the importance of mediators who facilitate peace negotiations.

“We have noticed that when there are foreign nations supporting the peace process, it is not too easy for the rebel groups, in times of challenging situations in the process of the negotiation, (to) walk away from the table,” he said.

Aside from addressing the UN General Assembly, Dureza will also update the Filipino community on the peace process on April 26 at the Philippine Center in New York. n

Federal judge ruling: US must...

year permits) and have reported better career and education opportunities because of DACA. In addition to work opportunities and protection from deportation, DACA recipients are granted other benefits that vary from state to state. In California, for example, DACA recipients may apply for a driver’s license.

Bates’ decision adds to a string of the Trump administration’s legal defeats in their multiple attempts to terminate the program. Although the administration maintains its view that the passing of DACA violated the Constitution, no federal

court so far has found it to be unconstitutional.

In response to the ruling, the Justice Department (on behalf of the Trump administration) released a statement standing by the administration’s initial reasoning, reiterating its view that DACA is an “unlawful circumvention of Congress” and that it will continue to make its case to the court.

“The Department of Homeland Security therefore acted within its lawful authority in deciding to wind down DACA in an orderly manner,” DHS spokesman Devin O’Malley said in a statement. “Promoting and en-

forcing the rule of law is vital to protecting a nation, its borders, and its citizens. The Justice Department will continue to vigorously defend this position, and looks forward to vindicating its position in further litigation.”

For the last eight months, DACA recipients and their families have been scrambling to secure their benefits after Trump announced the termination on September 5, 2017. As previously reported in the Asian Journal, after many federal judges’ rulings, DACA has already been allowed to resume after its March 5, 2018 deadline administered by the president. n

WHAT NOW? A farmer looks at his parched land in Tanza, Cavite. Without rainfall or irrigation, farmers in areas that are starting to feel the pinch of a drought will be unable to plant crops. The weather bureau had warned that the temperature will continue to rise in the coming weeks.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Andrea de la Cruz

PAGE A1 t

PH gov’t vows to sustain...

in infrastructure and social services, such as education, health and social protection.”

Malacañang also welcomed the latest findings of Oxford Business Group in Asean CEO Survey, which found that “investors’ sentiment and business

prospects for the Philippines remain upbeat.”

“The Philippines also ranked highest in the Asean region in terms of projected gross domestic product growth, with business leaders forecasting the Philippine GDP growth between 6 to 8%,” Roque added.

The Palace official then guaranteed that the Duterte administration “remains on track in accelerating the country’s growth rate by improving the ease of doing business to transform the country into the one of the world’s leading investment destinations.” n

Ex-envoy to UN Baja gets...

PAGE A1 t

dent Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, was also ordered to pay a fine equivalent to that amount by the Sandiganbayan’s Fourth Division.

In a decision promulgated on April 13 but made public on Friday, the antigraft court found Baja guilty on both counts of violation of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act and malversation for the misuse of public funds.

The funds represented proceeds of an insurance claim for $780 and $12,504.56 for personal and building damage in the Philippine governmentowned townhouse that served as Baja’s residence in New York, “holdback” of $1,739.51, and a separate claim of $2,500 for lost cash and jewelry belonging to Baja’s wife.

Baja said in a statement that he would appeal the decision.

Three checks “We were very confident of acquittal because no injury was done to government, no evidence I pocketed the money, all funds were used for the repair of the damaged building which was acknowledged by the insurance company itself and all disbursements covered by receipts of construction company,” he said.

Court records showed that the Philippine Mission to the United Nations in New York filed a claim for damage caused by a broken heating system pipe on the second floor of the townhouse at 15th East 66th Street in 2004, prompting the insurance company to issue three checks.

The checks should have been deposited to the Mission’s Philippine National Bank account but Baja and finance officer Tomas Valerio opened a new account under the name “Phil-

ippine Mission to the UN-Renovation of Townhouse,” to which the money was deposited.

Baja then made several withdrawals in 2006 of the insurance proceeds and contracted a certain James McDonnell for the repair of the townhouse without bidding, records showed.

Valerio testified that he told Baja that the insurance proceeds ought to be deposited in the mission’s official bank account.

But the Sandiganbayan said there was “evident bad faith” in Baja’s handling and disposal of the insurance payments.

“Jurisprudence describes ‘evident bad faith’ as something that connotes not only bad judgment but also palpably and patently fraudulent and dishonest purpose to do moral obliquity or conscious wrongdoings for some perverse motive or ill will,” the court said. n

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 27-mAY 3, 2018

A

PH condoles with Canada amid van incident

The Philippines expressed its condolences to Canada after an incident in which a rented van plowed into pedestrians, killing 10 and leaving 15 others injured.

There have been no reports yet of Filipinos among the casualties or injured, according to the Philippine embassy in Ottawa.

The Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, meanwhile, is checking with authorities to ensure the safety of the 270,000 Filipinos in the area.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Canada.

We mourn with the families of those who lost their lives in this tragedy,” Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said in a statement.

Toronto police identified the suspect as Alek Minassian, a 25-year-old from the Toronto suburb of Richmond hill.

Deputy Police Chief Peter Yuen says the driver of the van is in custody but Yuen has not provided any possible cause or motive in the incident on Monday, April 23. he says the investigation is continuing.

Police Chief Mark Saunders said the incident “definitely

looked deliberate.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that the government will work with law enforcement partners while the investigation continues.

“It was with great sadness that I heard about the tragic and senseless attack that took place in Toronto this afternoon.

On behalf of all Canadians, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed, and my thoughts for a fast and full recovery to those injured,” Trudeau said in a statement. (Patricia Lourdes Viray with Associated Press)

A new electric car sharing service launches...

PAGE A1 t more freedom, and a lot of saved time. Yet many Angelenos do not have affordable access to personal cars, limiting their mobility across the large county.

On Friday, April 20, a fleet of white fully electric compact hatchback cars paraded out of Los Angeles City College donning “BlueLA” logos on their doors.

BlueLA is a carsharing program that gives drivers of at least 18 years, access to a personal car anytime they want for as low as $1 a month, and 15 cents per minute depending on income level.

The program sprung from a (L-R) in group photo: CARB vice chair Sandra Berg, U.S. Representative Jimmy Gomez, Deputy Mayor partnership between Los Ange- Barbara Romero, Blue Solutions CEO Marie Bolloré, LADOT general manager Seleta Reynolds, and AJPress photos by Rae Ann Varona les Department of Transportation 13th District City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell.

(LADOT) and Blue Solutions — a More information on the the sercarsharing subsidiary of France’s count.

The service also provides auto vice and how to become a member Bolloré group — and is the largest insurance coverage up to the state can be found on BlueLA.com, or of its kind in the U.S. BlueLA’s mission is to provide minimum limit, secondary to the by emailing contact@bluela.com.

(Rae Ann Varona / AJPress) an alternative and environmen- driver’s personal insurance.

Membership prices start as low tally friendly mobility solution to as $1 per month, and 15 cents per underserved communities.

“Blue Solutions recognizes that minute for households earning mobility is a key factor in creating an annual income of $35,000 or inclusive communities. By pro- less. That equates to around $9 viding a convenient and fully elec- per hour. A standard membership tric car sharing service at a more costs $5 month, 20 cents per minaffordable cost,” said Marie Bol- ute.

Environmentally friendly transloré, CeO of Blue Solutions. “By providing a convenient and fully portation alternative While the county of Los Angeelectric car sharing service at a more affordable cost, we believe les has been investing in its public that BlueLA will promote both in- transit system through expansions and improvements of rail and clusivity and sustainability.”

Currently, cars can be found in bus connections, putting the new seven initial hubs including Los BlueLA cars on Los Angeles roads Angeles City College, Koreatown, is about being an environmentally MacArthur Park, Chinatown, Pico friendly transportation alternative Union, Boyle heights, and right in to those who could benefit from front of the Pilipino Workers Cen- the mobility.

“It really provides a mobility opter in historic Filipinotown.

Three more stations are sched- tion for folks,” chief sustainability uled to be opened in less than two officer at LADOT, told the Asian weeks, working up to 40 stations Journal. “For families that may be and 100 electric cars around the a one car household, or zero car household, here’s another option city by the end of the year. that you can use to both support How BlueLA works Designed by the Italian auto using the bus and rail.”

Because the cars are 100-perdesign house Pininfarina, the BlueLA cars were made specifi- cent electric, they fall in line with cally for car sharing, seating up to Los Angeles Mayor eric Garcetti’s electric vehicle goals set in his misfour adults comfortably.

On a full charge, the cars can sion for a cleaner environment and get up to 125 miles thanks to the stronger economy.

Garcetti said, “We all want a systems and batteries made by healthier planet for our children the Bolloré group.

Using the carsharing service is and our grandchildren. BlueLA simple, and is great for trips to the will make our collective effort to grocery, running errands, picking reduce greenhouse gas emissions kids up from school, and so forth. more inclusive by providing unOnce registered, drivers can derserved communities with an reserve a car using the program’s environmentally friendly way to get app, or through an easy to use around town — at an affordable reservation kiosk located at any of price.”

The service runs 24 hours a day, the hubs.

Using either a Metro TAP card seven days a week which is helpful or a BlueLA card which gets sent when metro rails or busses may not through the mail, drivers simply be in service. Many of the stations unplug the car from the charg- are even located around existing ing station, tap their card near the metro stops.

“So you can imagine yourself car’s door, and begin their trip.

On their trip, drivers have ac- getting off of the subway or a bus, cess to the car’s own navigation using BlueLA to complete your ersystem, car-return system, and a rands, come back, and then maybe blue telephone button that con- jump back on the bus or rail,” said nects drivers to 24/7 customer Parras.

“For folks that are maybe needservice should they need any asing to go from the Pilipino Workers sistance.

To return the car and end a trip, Center to Union Station, it’s going all drivers have to do is park at any to be a quick trip,” he added as an of the hubs, and plug it back in for example.

It’s all part of what they call their free battery charging.

“The car sharing system is “first mile-last mile” solution that very good because you park in a they’re integrating.

BlueLA received $10 million in station where you booked in advance, your parking spot,” Bolloré investment from Blue Solutions which has already started similar told the Asian Journal.

The only requirements for the programs in Indianapolis, Singaservice are that drivers be at least pore, London, Paris, and other 18 years old, have a valid U.S. european cities. It is also funded driver’s license or international in part by California Air Resources driver’s permit, and have a debit Board and the California Climate or credit card to set up an ac- Investment Program.

Marie Bolloré, CEO of Blue Solutions, which partnered with LADOT to start BlueLA.

CLIMATE VULNERABLE FORUM. Senator Loren Legarda at the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF) and Vulnerable 20 (V20) Troika meeting with colleagues from Germany, the principal supporter of the secretariat of the CVF and V20 since 2015. Legarda, UNISDR Global Champion for Resilience and UNFCCC National Adaptation Plan Champion, emphasized the important leadership role of the CVF in pushing for greater sense of urgency in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.

Senate photo

Cayetano pressed to file diplomatic protest against...

PAGE A1 t for 28 hours last week and sent back to the Philippines.

Jerome Aba, a 25-year-old peace advocate from Mindanao, Philippines, was allegedly subject to “Guantanamo-style torture” after being denied entry to the U.S. at the San Francisco International Airport for what Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said was a “technical glitch” with his visa.

Aba had been given a 10year multiple visa by the U.S. embassy in Manila.

“Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano harps on national sovereignty whenever

international actors criticize the Philippine government on its human rights record. If Cayetano meant an ounce of truth in his pronouncements that the country should fully exercise its rights as a sovereign nation, he should uphold the rights of a Filipino citizen who suffered Guantanamostyle torture, among other violations, under the U.S. government,” said Karapatan secretary-general Cristina Palabay in a statement Sunday, April 22.

“We challenge him [Cayetano] to file a diplomatic protest against the Trump administration for the cruel and inhuman

acts of the U.S. Department of homeland Security and U.S. Customs and Border Protection against Filipino Moro human rights activist Jerome Succor Aba,” she added.

Aba had been invited by the U.S. chapter of the International Coalition for human Rights in the Philippines (IChRP), and was on route to Washington D.C. to talk with human rights organizations and U.S. congressional offices about the experiences of the Moro and indigenous people under the Duterte-declared martial law in Mindanao last year.

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A APRIL 27-mAy 3, 2018 • NEW yORK AND NEW JERSEy ASIAN JOURNAL

4 new ways you can avoid fines for not having health insurance

by MiChelle

andrews Kaiser Health News

THERE are already more than a dozen reasons people can use to avoid paying the penalty for not having health insurance. Now the federal government has added four more “hardship exemptions” that let people off the hook if they can’t find a marketplace plan that meets not only their coverage needs but also reflects their view if they are opposed to abortion.

It’s unclear how significant the impact will be, policy analysts said. That’s because the penalty for not having health insurance will be eliminated starting with tax year 2019, so the new exemptions will mostly apply to penalty payments this year and in the previous two years.

“I think the exemptions … may very marginally increase the number of healthy people who don’t buy health insurance on the individual market,” Timothy Jost, emeritus professor of law at Washington and Lee University in Virginia who is an expert on health law.

Under the new rules, people can apply for a hardship exemption that excuses them from having to have health insurance if they: • Live in an area where there are no marketplace plans.

• Live in an area where there is just one insurer selling marketplace plans.

• Can’t find an affordable marketplace plan that doesn’t cover abortion.

• Experience “personal circumstances” that make it difficult for them to buy a marketplace plan, including not being able to find a plan in their area that gives them access to specialty care they need.

In California, two of those exemptions will be particularly relevant — the one related to abortion coverage and the one for people in counties where only one insurer sells through the state’s Affordable Care Act marketplace, Covered California.

The first new exemption, for people in areas with no marketplace plan, isn’t relevant for consumers anywhere in the United states this year. since the Affordable Care Act’s marketplaces opened, there have been no “bare” counties.

However, in about half of U.s. counties — in which 26 percent

of enrollees live — there is only one marketplace insurer this year, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Kaiser Health News, which produces California Healthline, is an editorially independent program of the foundation.)

This includes California, where Anthem Blue Cross exited six counties and other communities this year, leaving an estimated 60,000 people with only one insurer.

The counties of Monterey, san Benito, san Luis Obispo, santa Barbara, Inyo and Mono were left with only one insurance option: Blue shield of California.

As for the abortion exemption, in many places it won’t be an issue either. Women in 31 states didn’t have access to a marketplace plan that covered abortion in 2016, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation analysis.

By California law, abortion services must be covered in marketplace plans as well as by Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, and by most private health plans outside of the marketplace — except employerfunded ones. That means women in the Golden state might have trouble finding insurance that excludes abortions, experts said.

New York and Oregon also have similar laws.

The ACA established several different types of exemptions from the penalty for not having coverage. Among them are exemptions for not being able to find coverage that is considered affordable or being without insurance for less than three consecutive months in a year. People claim these more common exemptions when they file their tax returns.

Hardship exemptions that had already been on the books protected people who faced eviction, filed for bankruptcy or racked up medical debt, among other difficulties. Consumers apply for these exemptions by submitting an application to the ACA insurance marketplace.

The new hardship exemptions apply to people in all 50 states, according to an official at the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid services, which oversees the health law’s insurance marketplaces. To apply, people generally need to provide a brief explanation of the circumstances that made it a hardship for them to buy a marketplace plan, along with any available documenta-

tion, when they submit their application to marketplace officials.

They can apply for the current calendar year or going back two years, to 2016.

It’s difficult to gauge how many people will try to take advantage of the changes, said Tara straw, a senior policy analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

“People aren’t sure how to apply or if they’re eligible, and that discourages them from applying,” straw said.

The penalty for not having health insurance in 2018 is the greater of $695 or 2.5 percent of household income.

During the 2017 filing season, there were more than 106 million tax returns reporting that all family members had health insurance, and nearly 11 million tax returns that claimed an exemption from the requirement to have it, according to a report from the Treasury Department’s inspector general for tax administration. In addition, more than 4 million returns reported paying penalties totaling nearly $3 billion for not having health insurance.

People often don’t realize they may owe a penalty until it’s time to do their taxes, said Alison Flores, a principal tax research analyst at H&R Block’s Tax Institute. H&R tax preparers first work to see if clients can qualify for an exemption that can be claimed on their tax returns. If that doesn’t work, they move on to the hardship exemptions. The preparers help people get the hardship exemption application, but it’s up to consumers to send it to the marketplace and get the exemption certificate.

The federal guidance about the new exemptions was released April 9, shortly before the end of the income tax filing season.

People who’ve already filed their taxes and qualify for the new exemptions for 2016 or 2017 and get marketplace approval can file an amended tax return to receive a refund of any penalty they paid, said Katie Keith, a health policy consultant who writes regularly about health reform.

“You have to really be motivated,” Keith said.

California Healthline reporter Ana B. Ibarra contributed to this report.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

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Dateline USa

NEW CLARK CITY STADIUM. Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Secretary General and Philippine Sea Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) Director General Patrick Gregorio leads the concrete pouring ceremony for the athletics stadium located at the National Government Administrative Center (NGAC) in New Clark City, Tarlac on Wednesday, April 25. The first phase of the project, which sits on a 60-hectare lot, will cost PhP 13.16 billion.

PNA photo by Jess Escaros Jr.

Palace believes Trump, not drug war report

by Christina

Mendez

Philstar.com

As far as Malacañang is concerned, the U.s. Department of state’s country report on human rights practices in the Philippines is not consistent with the statements of U.s.

President Donald Trump, who had praised President Duterte for his war on drugs.

“I personally heard the discussion between President Trump and President Duterte when they were here in the Philippines during the AsEAN summit and I think I heard words from President Trump praising President Duterte, including the war on drugs.

If I’m not mistaken, President Trump said he knows what he (Duterte) is doing in the Philippines,” presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. “so I do not know how to reconcile the state Department report with the actual statement of the president.”

Malacañang is inclined to believe the statements of Trump, which are not consistent with the state Department report, Roque stressed.

He said he was not sure whether the new U.s. secretary of state had reviewed the latest country report on the Philippines.

“I was really lost on how to read it,” Roque said, referring to the report, which said extrajudicial killings remain the chief human rights concern in the Philippines after noting the war against illegal drugs.

The report, citing 900 drugrelated deaths from January to september last year, noted that police impunity has “increased significantly.”

“Police claimed to have begun investigations of all reports of extrajudicial killings… some civil society organizations accused police of planting evidence, tampering with crime scenes, unlawfully disposing of the bodies of drug suspects and other actions to cover up extrajudicial killings,” the report read in part.

The U.s. government also expressed doubt over the accuracy and legitimacy of Duterte’s list of drug personalities.

Philippine senators suggested that the Duterte administration engage the international community to address concerns over the thousands of drug-related killings in the country. senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto stressed “there is no doubt that extrajudicial killings exist” where “thousands have died.”

“It’s no surprise that both the U.s. and EU (European Union) have called the government’s attention to extrajudicial killings. We are part of a global

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community,” Recto said as he also made it clear that the public supports the war on drugs and Duterte’s leadership style.

When asked how the administration should address concerns of the EU parliament and the U.s. state Department, he said: “I expect them to engage.

Prove them wrong. send their data, if any.” senate Majority Leader Vicente sotto III lamented that the EU parliament and the Us state Department “do not know what is really happening here.”

“They were only listening to the anti-administration groups, especially in the media. Why aren’t they like that when it comes to rapes in India? Is the anti-drug pushers campaign here the only important issue for them?” sotto said. sen. Panfilo Lacson said Malacañang should squarely address the serious concerns of the international community by presenting facts.

As chair of the senate committee on public order and dangerous drugs, he stressed that diplomacy and dialogue will go a long way in setting the record straight on the administration’s controversial and bloody campaign against illegal drugs.

He added that Malacañang should exert efforts to inform the international community of the administration’s side, particularly the casualties among security forces who battled it out with drug traders and their men.

“The best antidote to such criticisms is to throw back facts. Instead of saying ‘we don’t care,’ let productive people in the intelligence community analyze their (EU and U.s.) reports and correct them through communications,” Lacson told dzBB. “Our communication – not only in the country but also outside – should be improved and that can’t be done by cursing or criticizing. When you criticize, were you able to correct any misimpression?” the senator added as he appealed to the media to also report the strides of the government against illegal drugs and the numerous casualties sustained by the police during the campaign.

Lacson said the international community is greatly influenced by what the local media report in forming their stand on the administration’s war on drugs.

The senator said Malacañang should also concede that some of the criticisms on extrajudicial killings have basis even as he stressed that there remains a need to review the anti-drug operations.

As a former policeman him-

self, he pointed out that police officers handling drug cases should not be lazy or frustrated if the suspects they are prosecuting are set free either by corruption or poor evidence gathering.

“Nothing beats hard work, good intelligence and patience,” Lacson said. sen. Risa Hontiveros hit the government’s foreign policy, saying “Duterte’s foreign policy is protecting impunity, not sovereignty.”

“His foreign policy people like to use the word ‘sovereignty’ when what they really want to do is silence all forms of dissent, domestic and international, while they stay appallingly silent about China’s blatant incursions into our territory,” Hontiveros said.

Meanwhile, rights advocates Karapatan challenged Foreign Affairs secretary Alan Cayetano to file a diplomatic protest against the Trump administration for the cruel and inhuman acts of the U.s. Department of Homeland security and U.s.

Customs and Border Protection to Filipino Moro humanrights activist Jerome succor Aba. According to the group, Aba suffered various forms of psychological and physical torture at the hands of U.s. agents from April 17 to 19 after arriving at the san Francisco International Airport for a speaking tour organized by the Human Rights Office of the Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church and the U.s. chapter of the International Coalition on Human Rights in the Philippines.

“Aba was forced to strip naked, with an electric fan blasting at him, while he was being interrogated by U.s. officials.

Throughout the interrogation, Aba was kept handcuffed.

(The U.s.) officials also denied him food and water, and even disrespected his religious beliefs by deliberately serving him pork. Also during interrogation, the slightest movement from Aba, even for just stretching his arms or moving his head, would earn him the ire of interrogators,” the group claimed.

It stressed the U.s. is “like a pot calling a kettle black” when it reported on the Philippines’ rights situation when it also has one of the world’s worst rights record.

“The filing of a diplomatic protest against the U.s. government will be an indicator if Cayetano and the Philippine government are indeed capable of exercising the country’s sovereignty, or if it is just rhetoric used to conveniently dismiss critics,” said Cristina Palabay, Karapatan secretarygeneral. (With Paolo Romero, Rhodina Villanueva)

Cayetano pressed to file diplomatic protest against...

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Opening up about his experience, Aba told media reporters that as an advocate, he wasn’t used to being a victim of human rights violations. He also said he was denied access to a lawyer, and was commanded to undress and stand in a cold empty room where an industrial cooling fan was brought in and turned on. He added that he was intimidated with the threat of being shot.

“I was afraid to use the restroom, because they might make a drama that I was trying to escape and they might shoot me,” Aba was quoted saying in an ICHRP-U.s. statement.

He said he remembered an agent saying, “Be good here, be nice here, if you do anything bad, I will not hesitate to shoot you”, saying the agent would reach for his side arm whenever he would move.

An attorney from the Na-

tional Lawyers Guild (NLG) was at the airport attempting to talk with CBP, according to the statement. Callers from NLG to CBP offices were told they would be called back.

ICHRP said that offices of Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi and senator Dianne Feinstein also made calls to CBP officials and were told Aba was being detained on a “soft disposition” or “something that could easily be overcome.”

Aba said he further experienced anti-Muslim comments, was interrogated about his beliefs and rally participations, and was accused of being a “terrorist” and “communist.” On two separate occasions, he said he was left in a room with a gun and a grenade which he saw as CBP attempts to “entrap him into using the items.”

CBP spokesman Jamie Ruiz said in a statement that “U.s.

Customs and Border Protection does not consider country of origin or human rights activism to be determining factors for admissibility.”

Before being released, Aba said he was coerced to cover up details of his detainment by recording a video statement of him saying he had not been tortured.

A “foot-tall stack of papers that the agents purported were their profile on him” was shredded in front of him before his release, according to the ICHRP-U.s. statement.

To Cayetano, Payaba added, “The filing of a diplomatic protest against the U.s. government will be an indicator if Cayetano and the Philippine government are indeed capable of exercising the country’s sovereignty, or if it is just rhetoric used to conveniently dismiss critics.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

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A

Dateline PDuterte hiliPPines vows to pass BBL before May ends

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

GARLIC-MADE PAPERS. Sen. Cynthia A. Villar and George Dela Rama head of Public Information of PRRC and other members of Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission look on as Danny Espanola demonstrates how to use the handmade paper machine donated by Sen. Villar to the Pasig River Rehabilitation Commission, which will be used by residents of Brgy. Baseco in Tondo, Manila in making specialty papers out of garlic.

Senate photo

Marcos to PET: Statements on poll recount ‘observation’

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos Jr. told the Presidential electoral Tribunal (PeT) that his press statements on the ongoing recount of votes in the 2016 vice presidential race were mere “observations.” marcos claimed that he “did not make any comment or disclosure pertaining to the revision proceedings that may be construed as prejudging the issue, influencing the court, or obstructing the administration of justice.” earlier this month, the Supreme Court (SC), sitting as PeT, issued a show cause order against marcos and Vice President Leni robredo for publicly discussing information involving the election protest in the 2016 vice presidential race.

PeT has ordered marcos and robredo to explain why they should not be cited in contempt for disclosing information on the vote recount.

But marcos, in his compliance reply, insisted that his camp’s statements were “limited to his personal observation of what transpired during the revision.”

“To be sure, the legal counsels of the protestant repeatedly requested that the Adhoc revi-

Former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.

sion Committee of this Honorable Tribunal to issue media advisories in connection with the ongoing proceedings so that they will not be forced to grant any interview in order to clarify the developments in this election protest,” he added.

The revision of ballots begun on last week, on April 2. on the first day of recount, marcos’ camp revealed before the media that wet ballots were discovered from the clustered ballots of municipality of Bato, Camarines Sur. marcos’ spokesman, Vic ro-

Inquirer.net photo

driguez, further claimed that there were missing audits and ballots pre-shaded for robredo.

The revision of ballots is being conducted in connection with marcos’ electoral protest against robredo, who won the 2016 vice presidential race with only 263,473 more than him. marcos accused her of committing massive electoral fraud.

Shading threshold on Tuesday, April 24, PeT has directed marcos and the Commission on elections (Comelec) to comment on robredo’s appeal on the shading threshold in

PHILIPPINe President rodrigo Duterte on Wednesday, April 25, has reiterated his promise to pass the Bangsamoro Basic Law (BBL) this year.

During a speech in Buluan, maguindanao, Duterte assured the moro people anew of his commitment to pass the BBL, hopefully by the end of may.

“So let us fast-track the BBL. I promised that before end of may, it will be passed. If not, I might resign as president. It’s now up to you, I cannot do it anymore,” the president said.

“Give me time, this year. I don’t want next year, next election. This year I will finish it, let’s finish first the BBL,” he added.

BBL aims to end decades of conflict in mindanao by granting a fiscal autonomy to a new Bangsamoro region that will replace the current Autonomous region in muslim mindanao (Armm).

In a briefing, Senate President Aquilino Pimentel III said that the Senate will “try” to pass BBL this year, adding that the timeline follows the “game plan” of Senator Juan miguel Zubiri, chair of the Senate subcommittee on the BBL. Pimentel also said that the measure’s counterpart in the House of representatives was also being tackled.

Last month, malacañang announced that House and Senate leaders made a commitment to pass BBL by may.

Congress is currently on break and set to resume session on may 15.

Aside from the passage of BBL, Duterte on Wednesday also vowed to declare the whole of mindanao a land reform area and distribute

the government lands to the people “I’ll give it all to you. You find a public land, including those where military camps are situated, that’s yours,” Duterte said. “I will give it all, you plant rubber, you plant palm oil.”

The president also promised to “do everything” to achieve peace in the area. n

the vote recount.

In a motion filed last week, robredo asked PeT to follow the 25 percent threshold set by the Comelec for shading of ballots, citing the “interest of justice and fair play.”

Threshold pertains to what percentage of the vote should be shaded to be counted. PeT is currently applying the 50 percent threshold in determining the validity of votes. robredo also claimed that PeT’s decision to apply a 50 percent threshold on validity of votes “has resulted to a systematic decrease in her votes.” reacting to the motion, marcos’ camp earlier slammed the vice president for “casting aspersions meant to debase [PeT’s] integrity” and “attempting to cheat the Filipino people again by trying to change the rules in the middle of the game.” n

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:8CC PFLI 8::FLEK D8E8><I )() -,,$,+)Australian nun Patricia Fox during her release from detention at the Bureau of Immigration.

Inquirer.net photo by Marianne Bermudez

BI orders Sister Fox to leave PH

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THe Philippine Bureau of Immigration (BI) has ordered Australian Catholic missionary Patricia Fox to leave the country after it forfeited her missionary visa for engaging in “partisan political activities.”

The BI issued its one-page order on Fox on monday, April 23. Fox was directed to leave the Philippines within 30 days from receipt of the order.

“She was found to have engaged in activities that are not allowed under the terms and conditions of her visa,” BI Commissioner Jaime morente said on Wednesday, April 25. morente explained that Fox’s missionary visa, which is supposed to expire on September 5, only grants her the “privilege to engage in missionary work and not in political activities.”

While Fox’s missionary visa was forfeited, BI spokesperson Antonette mangrobang clarified that the Australian nun “may still enter and leave the country as a tourist.” mangrobang also noted that the deportation case against Fox is still pending as she has yet to submit her counter-affidavit on the case.

“It is only after the parties have been heard, will the case be submitted to the Board of Commissioners

for their deliberation on whether or not she will be deported and barred from entering the country in the future,” mangrobang said.

Fox, who has been living in the Philippines for 27 years as a missionary and as an advocate of farmers’ rights, was arrested by BI officers on April 16, for engaging in “illegal political activities” in the country. She was released on April 17 after validating her missionary visa.

In a statement, Fox said she was surprised when she heard the news about the BI’s order directing her to leave the country after her missionary visa was forfeited.

“I was surprised, as I had thought the process was that I would have 10 days to put in a counter-affidavit to answer the charges. It was through the media that I heard of the decision, as I, or my legal counsel, don’t yet have a copy. I am very sad that the decision at present is that I leave the Philippines,” Fox said.

She then added, “I may lose my right to be in the Philippines but I can never lose the learnings and beautiful memories.”

Fox also expressed hope “for a chance to explain how I see my mission as a religious sister and maybe the decision can be reconsidered.”

In a television interview, Jobert Pahilga, Fox’s lawyer, slammed the BI’s directive, claiming it violated

the nun’s right to due process.

“What we received yesterday was the supplemental report of the intelligence division. We were given 10 days to supposedly file our counter affidavit. That’s why we were surprised there was an order by the BI to forfeit her visa,” Pahilga told ANC. Pahilga said their camp will file a motion for reconsideration. He also insisted that Fox has only engaged in missionary work and not in political activities during her stay in the Philippines. mangaronbang, however, clarified that forfeiting Fox’s visa and her possible deportation were different cases.

“The issuance and grant of a visa is a privilege, not a right, hence a hearing is not necessary in visa forfeiture proceedings,” mangrobang said, noting that it is the bureau’s discretion whether or not it would cancel a foreigner’s visa. meanwhile, Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III agreed that the BI has the power to order the Australian nun to leave the country.

“I think that is within the power of our immigration bureau. especially if the foreigner has violated some of our laws,” Pimentel told Inquirer. “I don’t know the details of this particular case. But as to the theory being followed by the BID they are correct as they have such a power.” n

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A6 APRIL 27-30, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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FEATURES

OPINION

Saving Earth

THE country joined the international community in observing Earth Day last April 22 as Boracay prepared for an unprecedented monthslong shutdown to give way to a massive cleanup.

Across the country, many other travel destinations can use more aggressive action, although not the draconian measures being applied in Boracay, to stop pollution and protect the environment. The concept of sustainability has yet to take root in this country.

The worst pollution can be found in urban areas that are not deemed to be travel destinations. At the San Juan River in Kalentong, Mandaluyong, for example, truckloads of solid waste were collected as part of Earth Day activities.

This year’s Earth Day theme focuses on curbing plastic pollution. As the experience in this country has shown, this calls for a nuanced, realistic solution – one that encourages plastic recycling, better waste management and a general attitude change toward garbage disposal.

Plastic remains indispensable in modern life. Put meat, fish, frozen goods or even leafy vegetables in a paper or eco bag and see what happens within a few minutes. The ban on plastic bags in several cities led to the widespread use of extra thick, double layer paper bags, and paper comes from trees. Supermarkets and wet markets ended up using thin

plastic bags or wrappers anyway for wet, frozen and fresh goods before the items are placed in paper bags.

Plastic bags are also the most convenient shopping containers for people who can only afford to commute and have no maids or drivers to carry their shopping bags.

Companies that manufacture plastic products such as PVC pipes rely on used plastic for their raw materials, and have expressed readiness to step up recycling efforts. The government can facilitate linkages among these companies, local government units, garbage handlers and community organizations to institutionalize plastic recycling.

Biodegradable plastic is also available, and some of the biggest companies are now using them. Single-use plastics can be phased out to make way for the new versions that are kinder on the environment.

The greenest materials, however, will still contribute to pollution if they are disposed of indiscriminately. The planet is polluted not just with plastic but also with non-biodegradable tin cans, bottles and metals. Unless people get rid of filthy habits, the planet cannot be saved. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Get well soon, Boracay!

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS BORACAY — consistently ranked as one of the best islands and beaches in the world, as it has been voted to the top many times by travelers worldwide.

For me, Boracay is personal.

This tropical paradise has been so much a part of my family’s history. That is why the news that Boracay will be closed for six months to rehabilitate is like me getting a news that a family member is sick and would have to go to the hospital for surgery and recovery.

Beginning April 26, Boracay will shut down and will no longer accept tourists and visitors for six

months. Only local residents will be allowed on the island. Checkpoints will be manned by police officers and soldiers have already been set up at piers make sure this is strictly followed, or hefty fines will be imposed.

While marine scientists say it may take more than six months to fully rehabilitate the island, in fact, they say Boracay needs 300 years to fully recover from the deterioration resulting from environmental abuse, President Rodrigo Duterte’s bold and decisive move will serve as an impetus toward the island’s healing.

As ABS-CBN news reported, even compliant establishments will be covered by the closure.

The government will also demolish some 900 structures within the 30-meter shoreline easement or no-build zone, in-

cluding those in wetlands and forest lands.

The worsening problem of pollution that has been damaging the ecosystem of the island has also been caused by illegally connected sewers and pipelines that have been discharging waste to inland streams, according to a report of ABS-CBN News.

Eeeewww… I know…All these problems really need a major “surgery” that will take some time to correct and for businesses to be made compliant with health, safety and environmental laws and regulations.

This diagnosis of Boracay is so unthinkable during my first visit to this island in 1992.

While there had already been a few small local businesses and tourists as early as the 70s, my first Boracay experience had

given me a benchmark by which I compare all other beach destinations in the Philippines and around the world.

The pure fine white sands that felt cool even during tanghaling tapat.... The clean, crystal clear sea water where my kids got to snorkel and play with different kinds of fishes just a few steps away from of the bahay kubo style beach houses... The coconut trees, tropical plants around the island, the bountiful fresh seafood, the clean fresh air, the blue sky, the sun and the moon and the stars, the famous Boracay sunset... I could go on and on as I reminisce how Boracay was almost 30 years ago.

My family would go back to the island almost every year since then. I was also privileged to produce the program “Tatak Pinoy” for ABS-CBN cable chan-

Possibilities for peace in the two Koreas THERE is a clear focused movement in inter-Korean and U.S.-North Korean Peacetalks, prior to formal difficult negotiations among the heads of government, that Maker hopefully could lead to eventual peace in the Korean Peninsula, long awaited by Asia and the global community.

FORMER SPEAKER The news in the last few days is that JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who will soon assume the post of U.S. Secretary of State uponSenate confirmation, quietly met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Unin the North Korean capital of Pyongyang, signalling the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump in May or June, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un. The South Korean President Moon Jae-In, who initiated the fast-moving diplomacy, will meet perhaps as early as next week with the North Korean leader.

We believe the objective is to achieve North Korean denuclearization, which is not easily achievable considering that it will mean that North Korea will give up its nuclear weapons, atomic and hydrogen bombs, and delivery systems,aftergreat North Korean expense and sacrifice in their development.

But the fact that North Korean Kim has agreed to the convening of the talks with President Trump and his South Korean counterpart, President Moon Jae-In says a lot.

We believe that over and above the giving up of its nuclear weapons, it would be realpolitik to expect that North Korea would hope for an iron-clad Omnibus Agreement leading to a Permanent Peace Treaty, with the South and the U.S. that could likely include the following: North Korea (The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, DPRK) and South Korea (Republic of Korea, ROK), as separate independent Republics, but perhaps connected together by a looseConfederation, until at some point in the near or distant future, they can consider uniting like the two Vietnams or the two Germanys; Withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea; Withdrawal of large North Korean and South Korean troops from the areas of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the 38th Parallel to make the DMZ really demilitarized; Development of a concrete formula for South-North Confederation where the two Koreas will be separate and independent but develop common inter-dependent synergies until they can set-up a Union or what the Greeks call “Enosis” in 15 to 25 years or earlier; Develop inter-Korea commercial flights, highways, and a common railway system for the two Koreas from Pusan at the end of the Korean South facing Japan to North Korea’s Yalu border with China, which, it is hoped, will interlink-

with the Trans-Siberian Railway to Russia and to Europe; Develop close political and economic relations between North and South and with China, Japan, the U.S., Russia, and ASEAN and work with the U.N. system and the global community; Develop and industrialize the North Korean economy and agriculture, put an end to the recurring causes of famine, expand the education system, and immediately open the region toactive tourism; North Korea or DPRK to immediately join ASEAN Plus 3 (Japan, China, South Korea) to become ASEAN Plus 4; Immediately organize an adequate Development Fund for compensating North Korea for terminating its nuclear weapons and delivery system, which Fund shall be used for the North’s economic and social development and augmentation of the national budget; Consider a state of Neutrality for the two independent Koreas which shall actively interact with the regional and global economy so that the North, with itshydrocarbons potential, mining, and hydro-electric resources, etc. can join the South, which has already developed much earlier into a credible major economic power.

We had pointed out before that the successful dynamics of North Korea’s nuclear development could be channeled to economic mobilization.

We added that the “long-suspended Six-Nation Talks could have a business-focused auxiliary to develop economic joint ventures for deployment in the Korean north.”

We believe that the potential of the two Koreas in cooperating together or united in peace could eventually lead to a prosperous second- or first-world nation in the third decade of the 21st Century.

Since our last 1990 visit to Pyongyang where we conferred with North Korea’s founding President Kim Il-Sung, grandfather of today’s young leader Kim Jong-un, which immediately led to the establishment of Philippine-North Korean (DPRK) diplomatic relations, supported then by the late President Corazon Aquino and late Foreign Secretary Raul Manglapus, we hoped that at some point the long crisis and twilight struggle in the Korean peninsula will come to an end.

We are meeting in London for the second conference of the Asian and European political parties on May 17-20 and then in Moscow in October, of the Asian political parties of the left, center, and right, and hopefully we can make even a small contribution to the long struggle for peace in the Korean peninsula. ■

nel and my staff featured the island in all its glory. This yearly sojourn just stopped when we immigrated to the United States in 2001.

In 2009, my family had the chance to go on a vacation to the Philippines and we went back to Boracay. What a difference eight years made. My husband and I went back again just last January, and it pained us to see how all the more crowded, commercialized, noisy and dirty the island has increasingly been through the years.

Truly, the local government of Aklan, as well the national government, had failed in protecting this beautiful island.

This solution ordered by Duterte, however, makes me think of the business owners and the ordinary people of Boracay and nearby towns who

live by the income they get from the tourism industry of Boracay.

Six months is a long time not to have a source of income. Setting aside the issue of a big casino that is reported to be built in the island, doing nothing is NOT an option, or the island of Boracay will cease to live.

GET WELL SOON, Boracay.

We have made a lot of memories as a couple, as a family in your paradise. I hope to bring my grandbabies to you someday, so that they, too, will experience nature at its best as we knew it then. *** 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

De Lima’s bizarre award confirms: US media on an all-out campaign to take out Duterte “President RodriIF you didn’t notice, even the Liberal Commentary go Duterte’s hardline Party and other Yelpolicies against drug low leaders didn’t dealers are polarprofusely congratuizing globally, but late the jailed Sen. in the Philippines Leila de Lima for her they’ve faced little inclusion by Fortune RIGOBERTO TIGLAO dissent. De Lima, magazine in its 2018 who headed a comlist of “50 World’s mittee investigatGreatest Leaders.” ing hundreds of extrajudicial killings I guess even they felt that the award under Duterte’s leadership, has been was so bizarre, so over the top in the a noble exception. Last February she magazine’s attempt to paint her as the was arrested and jailed for as-yet-unPhilippine version of Myanmar’s Aung tried crimes, but imprisonment hasn’t San Suu Kyi, that it was embarrassing. stopped the firebrand from continuing I don’t think even Yellow leaders to speak out publicly.”

Benigno Aquino and Mar Roxas would Huge lies say that De Lima ranks with such perHow can a purportedly world-class sonalities in the 2018 list as Bill and media outfit print such huge lies?

Melinda Gates (the biggest philanthroIf the committee it mentioned was pists of all time), French President Em- the Commission on Human Rights manuel Macron, and tennis champion that De Lima headed during President Serena Williams. Why, De Lima at the Arroyo’s administration, it did inves39th slot even outranks SpaceX presi- tigate the alleged “death squads” of dent Gwynne Shotwell (42nd) and Ana Davao City. Its report though was inBotin (46th), the first female to head a conclusive, and didn’t accuse Duterte world-class bank. If you still don’t re- of anything. It merely asked the justice alize how perplexing de Lima’s inclu- department to further investigate the sion in the list is, past members of this allegations. super-elite list (started in 2014) were If the committee was the Senate Pope Francis (for two years), Ger- committee on justice that De Lima many’s Angela Merkel, and Chinese had headed, it was her colleagues in leader Xi Jinping, who is assuming the the 2016 senatorial elections, Senators stature of the titan Mao Zedong.

Sherwin Gatchalian, and Joel VillanueC’mon, I don’t think there’s any- va, Senator Grace Poe who ran against body who would even objectively put Duterte in that election, and nearly all De Lima in a list of 100,000 greatest of its members, who voted to remove leaders of the world. She couldn’t even her as its chairman. Gatchalian very influence her lover, her driver Ronnie aptly explained why: She was makDayan, not to testify against her. Who ing the committee “a hollow vehicle is she leading? for the fulfillment of personal political Fortune’s explanation on why De vendettas.”

Lima landed in its list is so grossly inThat committee when it was coaccurate it boggles the mind: u PAGE A7

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Dateline PhiliPPines

SC rules foreign divorce valid in PH

by Dana

SioSon AJPress

THE Philippines now recognizes a divorce obtained by a Filipino citizen against a foreign spouse outside the country, according to the Supreme Court (SC).

In a landmark ruling on Tuesday, April 24, the SC ruled “that a foreign divorce secured by a Filipino against a foreign spouse is also considered valid in the Philippines, even if it is the Filipino spouse who files for divorce abroad.”

According to SC spokesperson Theodore Te, ten justices upheld the CA ruling, while three dissented: Associate Justices Mariano Del Castillo, Estela PerlasBernabe, and Alfredo Benjamin Caguioa.

Associate Justice Francis Jardeleza, meanwhile, took no part in the decision as he was solicitor-general when the case was brought to the SC. Te said the SC based its ruling on Article 26 (2) of the Family Code, which provides that

“where a marriage between a Filipino citizen and a foreigner is validly celebrated and a divorce is thereafter validly obtained abroad by the alien spouse capacitating him or her to remarry, the Filipino spouse shall likewise have the capacity to remarry under Philippine law.”

The SC was acting on the case of Marelyn Tanedo Manalo, who was married in the Philippines to Japanese national Minoru Yoshino. The Japanese court granted her motion for divorce on Dec. 6, 2011.

The Dagupan City Regional Trial Court, however, denied having her divorce recognized in an Oct. 15, 2012 decision due to “lack of merit.”

“The court a quo ratiocinated that the kind of divorce recognized here in the Philippines are those validly obtained by the alien spouse abroad, not by the Filipino spouse, pursuant to Article 26 of the Family Code,” it ruled.

Manalo filed an appeal but was denied. She then elevated her case to the Court of Appeals

chaired by the independent senators Richard Gordon and Panfilo Lacson concluded after six hearings that “there is no sufficient evidence to prove Duterte’s administration is sponsoring summary killings” in the country.

“Arrested and jailed for as yet-untried-crimes”?

It was De lima who delayed the trial against her by filing a case at the Supreme Court that she should be tried not by the regular courts but by the Sandiganbayan. That was a preposterous claim, intended to delay a trial.

Any college student would know that since the charges against her were for her involvement in the illegal drug trade, it is a regular court that will try her. The Sandiganbayan is a special court that tries cases of government corruption.

Eight months after De Lima filed the case at the Supreme Court, it threw it out October last year. But she filed another petition asking to change its decision. The Court, after a thorough review, upheld its decision last week. Yet Fortune claims that De Lima is in jail without trial?

Fortune doesn’t even mention

that De Lima is in jail on horrendous illegal-drug charges. One of these would be shocking to Westerners: The Bilibid prison, purportedly the country’s highsecurity prison where the most terrible criminals are jailed, had been transformed when it was under De Lima’s supervision as justice secretary, into a command and even distribution center of drug lords who had been serving time there.

Bilibid Hilton And the charges against her aren’t just for command responsibility for this. Witnesses, which included her lover Dayan and the former head of the prison, testified that she was getting huge amounts of bribes so she would allow the national penitentiary to be a command center of drug lords. These criminals were even allowed to construct hotel-like facilities where they lived, that the prison had been dubbed the Bilibid Hilton.

The shocking details of De Lima’s involvement were even televised in the hearings by the House of Representatives justice committee which heard hour upon hour of testimony from more than 30 witnesses, which even included the former head

A

(CA), where she scored a victory in 2014.

“Considering that the said Japanese is already free to remarry, petitioner (Manalo) must likewise be allowed to remarry under the Philippine law,” the appeals court ruled.

It added that non-recognition of a divorce filed by a Filipino spouse will result in “inconsistency between the recognition of the effectivity of the foreign judgment and public records in the Philippines.”

The Philippines and the Vatican are the only two countries that have no divorce law.

NEW LAWYERS. Newly-minted lawyers are emotional, while checking the result of the 2017 Bar examinations at the Supreme Court (SC) in Last month, the House of Rep- Ermita, Manila on Thursday, April 26. Mark John Simondo from the University of St. La Salle Bacolod, who studied for 8-9 hours a day, topped resentatives approved on the the examination with a grade of 91.05 percent.

PNA photo by Avito Dalan third and final reading House Bill 7303, which seeks the legalization of divorce and dissolution of marriage in the country.

The divorce bill, however, may have a hard time getting approval in the Senate as sevby Dana SioSon aminees out of 7,227 law gradu- because the future of so many eral senators have already exAJPress ates who were allowed to took – the rights of so many – are pressed opposition to the meaFOLLOWING the release of the bar exams last November. being held in the hands of the sure. President Rodrigo Duterte Topping the bar is Mark John solicitor general and his boss… also declared that he will not the 2017 Bar Examinations, Malacañang on Thursday, April Simondo of the University of St our democratic way of life is in support the bill. n 26, congratulated law graduates La Salle Bacolod, with a grade danger. We will fall into onewho passed the one of the coun- of 91.05 percent. man rule,” she warned in an aptry’s hardest licensure exams.

In an earlier message to law parent reference to Duterte and Malacañang also encouraged students, Chief Justice Maria his officials. new lawyers to pursue a career Lourdes Sereno encouraged Sereno then told law stuof the prison and the drug lords in the government, as their “ide- them to oppose moves that will dents: “Do you want a future themselves.

I am belaboring the point: Not alism, integrity and competence undermine judicial indepen- where millions of government [employees] are [worried] about by any stretch of the imagination are most welcome” under the dence and stifle dissent. administration of President RoDuring a forum on Wednestheir security of tenure? If you is there an iota of truth in Forday, April 25, at the Ateneo Law don’t want that, then … protest. tune’s portrayal of De Lima as a drigo Duterte.

“We’d like to congratulate in School, Sereno warned that the Tell them that’s wrong, that we “prisoner of conscience,” much less as among the world’s great- advance and wish everyone, all country’s democracy and con- are facing a bleak future.”

She also encouraged them est leaders for 2018. Even her the barristers good luck on this stitutional form of government to carefully observe how the colleagues at the Liberal Party year’s bar exam,” said Presiden- are in “danger.”

Sereno, who is currently on government is exercising its have started to ignore her that tial spokesperson Harry Roque, leave, is facing impeachment power. no leader of the opposition has who is also a lawyer himself.

“We hope that many of our before Congress. She is also fac“Inaabuso po ba (Is there an even visited her in the past sevcountry’s new lawyers would ing a quo warranto petition filed abuse)? Ginigiit ang human will eral months.

(Is human will being forced on But there is reason for For- pursue a career in government Solicitor General Jose Calida.

She described Calida’s peti- the people)? Ang Constitution at tune’s madness in including so that they may take part in her in its list of world leaders. helping us with our shared goal tion, which seeks to nullify her ang mga batas (and our laws), The bizarre award, just like the of creating genuine reforms for appointment, as a “sword of they are there para may (so Damocles that hangs over the there would be a) limit with the Pulitzer Prize recently given to the nation,” he added.

The Supreme Court (SC) re- heads of all government em- exercise of the human will. The Reuters’ extremely biased series on “Duterte’s War,” is part leased the results on Thursday ployees.” She further claimed exercise of will by one man or of the U.S. media’s heightened afternoon. The 2017 bar exam that the case against her was his government is not the law, is not the Constitution,” Sereno campaign—helped by the Yel- posed a passing rate of 25.5 “effectively a dictatorship.”

“It is effectively dictatorship said. n low Cultists and especially by a percent, with a total of 1,724 exNew York-based Filipino-American tycoon—to bring down this ironically turned out to be worse anywhere in the world delights na, which the U.S. perceives as president, by portraying him to in terms of adherence to human in fighting a perceived evil-doer, its biggest competitor, and even the world as a mass murderer. rights than the dictators they and they believe U.S. journalists enemy in the coming decades.

Over-used narrative are infallible. brought down.

He is moving in his own way to It is an old, over-used narraThere is though a more im- weaken U.S. hegemony in the Why would U.S. media do tive that the American media has that? Partly because of its mind- portant reason: Duterte is the world, and to usher in a multioften deployed that it is so trans- set that it is the world’s cham- first ever Philippine president to polar world. parent: A persecuted woman pion of human rights, and after defy the U.S. which has been the The U.S.’ Deep State just canwho boldly defies a strongman, Duterte was tagged as violator, country’s master for decades. He not allow that, especially as other as in the case of Cory Aquino or it ignores whatever proof pre- is bringing the country closer to nations may just follow Duterte’s Aung San Suu Kyi, both of whom sented that he is not. Media as the emerging superpower, Chi- precedent. (ManilaTimes.net)

De Lima’s bizarre award confirms...

PAGE A6 t

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • APRIL 27-mAY 3, 2018

Palace: New law passers ‘most welcome’ to join gov’t

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Producers and stars of Call Her Ganda led by its director PJ Raval celebrating the premiere of the ďŹ lm at the 2018 Tribeca Film Festival.

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Naomi Fontanos, Kara Alikpala, Attorney Virgie Suarez and director PJ Raval.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 27, 20 1 8

THE JENNIFER LAUDE STORY MADE INTO DOCUMENTARY FILM

‘Call Her Ganda’ makes its world premiere at Tribeca Film Festival

by MoMar

G. Visaya/AJPress

Fil-Am director PJ Raval was invited to the Philippines in December 2014 to screen the two documentaries he has done – Trinidad and Before You Know it – for the QC Pink lGBTQ+ Film Festival. little did he know, he’d find there – his parents’ homeland - the idea and inspiration for what would be his third documentary feature.

“When i arrived, i discovered a country struck with grief, outraged over the death of Jennifer laude, a transwoman from Olongapo who was found murdered in a motel room,” Raval shared. “A U.S. marine was the leading suspect, but police authorities were unable to detain him, as he was protected by a Visiting Forces Agreement that gives the U.S. enormous latitude with cases concerning military personnel.”

A little more than four years later, Raval and his team are at the Tribeca Film Festival attending the world premiere of Call Her Ganda, the film that was born out of that festival in the Philippines.

Ganda in Filipino is beauty, and that is what Jennifer laude’s mother used to call her.

While doing a panel on lGBT rights at the festival in manila, Raval met Attorney Virginia Suarez who was representing the laude family.

She told us about the case and shared a clip of Jennifer’s mother,

“Nanay” (tagalog for “mother”), who spoke with raw passion, demanding justice for the death of her child.

During that panel, someone suggested that a documentary about Jennifer needed to be made, and all eyes turned to Raval, an award-winning director and cinematographer whose previous work explored the overlooked subcultures and identities within the already marginalized lGBTQ+ communities. “i’ve always wanted to make a film set in the Philippines, and having the opportunity to tell the story of Jennifer laude and those who worked tirelessly to seek justice for her death not only spoke to me as a queer person of color, but also as a Filipino-American,” he said. “This film integrates all aspects of my identity and i’m extremely thankful for being given this opportunity to tell an important story for so many people, including myself.”

At the second screening of the documentary film at Cinepolis in Chelsea, we were able to chat and mingle with some of the film’s key players, including Raval, Suarez and Naomi Fontanos. “i hope this movie will move people to act. it is not enough that we are good people, it is not enough that we just get inspired.

We need to rally and enlighten

Julita “Nanay” Laude being photographed by journalist and trans-activist Meredit Talusan

‘Jennifer’s altar’

Vigil for Jennifer

Photo by Mike Simpson

Atty. Virgie Suarez

people and retell this story hoping that this will help in our struggle for freedom, democracy and national identity,” Suarez told us.

Attorney Suarez is a labor rights lawyer and co-counsel of the laude family in the Jennifer laude murder trial, along with Attorney Harry Roque, who now serves as the spokesperson of President Rodrigo Duterte.

Suarez is also the head of the Filipino women’s rights group Kaisa Ka and Secretary General of the political organization Kilusan, whose mission is to create “genuine freedom and democracy” for the Filipino people.

As an organization, Kilusan has been campaigning actively in support of abolishing the Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA). VFA allows U.S. military personally stationed in the Philippines to be under U.S. jurisdiction. it has come under international scrutiny due to local Philippines authorities’ inability to detain the accused suspect, Joseph Scott Pemberton, in the murder trial of Jennifer laude.

“We’re just awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court. i hope that the decision will immediately come out because that will end somehow the agony, the pain of the laude family. Waiting for this case, it’s painful,” Suarez shared.

Shooting in the Philippines Raval shared that one of the most challenging parts in making this film was trying to make it in the Philippines, especially since the events were still unfolding when they began shooting.

“This is my third feature documentary and to be honest, i don’t know if i could have made this as my first. i needed to make a couple of films before i got to this one. i don’t know if a couple of years ago, i would have felt capable of making something like this. The project came at a right time and i felt this was a story that very much resonated with me, and one that i could tell from a perspective of a Filipino-American,” he said.

The story was clear to the team and it was just a matter of figuring out the form that it would take shape. They wanted to be able to contextualize the history of the United States and the Philippines, colonialism and its effects.

Enter meredith Talusan, a transgender writer, photographer, and scholar who has been covering the murder of Jennifer laude for several news outlets such as ViCE, The Guardian, and Buzzfeed. instantly, Raval saw that Talusan would be the perfect narrator of the film because of some certain parallels that Talusan and laude shared. meredith told us that she travelled to the Philippines a total of six times to cover the case.

Her article for ViCE, entitled “How the Killing of a Trans Filipina Woman ignited an international incident” was the first major article on Jennifer that took an investigative look into her backstory and community. meredith has since written multiple articles covering the Jennifer laude murder case and is now the executive editor of Conde Nast’s new lGBTQ publication Them.

When Raval first heard about the crime, one of the first things that struck him was the reaction of so many different people and so many different communities. it’s not only the trans activist communities, lGBT rights groups, women’s rights groups, antiUS imperialist groups in the Philippines, among others. “it really made me recognize that if it weren’t for the combined efforts of all these communities pushing for justice and visibility of this issue, nothing would have happened,” he said.

“Premiering our film here at Tribeca is amazing because Tribeca has a reputation of amazing, smart, artistic and important films so it is

Angelica Panganiban, Carlo Aquino to star in new movie by alfred Bayle Inquirer.net

ANGEliCA Panganiban and Carlo Aquino are reuniting to star in a new movie by director Dan Villegas.

Aquino hinted at the upcoming movie by uploading

Naomi Fontanos

Director PJ Raval

Photos courtesy of Call Her Ganda

an honor to be part of that lineup. i cannot thank them enough for giving us the opportunity to premiere the film here,” he added.

As the Tribeca Film Festival comes to an end this week, Call Her Ganda would have played in six screenings. The team behind it is looking forward to the next festivals so they can get the story out there. “i am hoping that people will watch this and understand that now is the time to be civically engaged. it is no longer just about being aware of the issue, are you willing to go out on the frontlines and actually demand change,” Raval said, echoing what Attorney Suarez told us earlier.

“For this to happen in the time of Trump, who is so anti-trans; in the time of Duterte, who is so antiAmerica and for the US Embassy

in manila to grant me a 10-year multiple entry visa to the US to be able to attend Tribeca is so full of irony to me. it is so ironic and unbelievable to me,” Fontanos, one of the players in the film, told us. “in my head and in my heart, i knew i wouldn’t get it. i knew so many friends who are Filipinos who applied for US visas multiple times and they all got denied. i think it’s all Jennifer’s work,” she shared.

“Jennifer has opened so many doors for me.”

After the world premiere, Fontanos, a transgender rights activist and executive director of Gender and Development Advocates (GANDA) Filipinas, gave a shout out to laude in one of her social media posts and honored her memory.

“Salamat Ganda, ang pelikulang ‘to ay para sa iyong alaala.”

Dennis Trillo on relATionshiP wiTh girlfrienD Jennylyn MerCADo

‘we talk about our future together’

a photo of himself hugging Panganiban on instagram with the caption, “Pagkakakitaan @iamangelicap #looktest #Happening #Walangbayad by @ joshenvahnlee.”

Director Dan Villegas, whom Panganiban worked with in “That

by lhar santiaGo ManilaTimes.net

Photos courtesy of Dan Villegas

Thing Called Tadahana,” also shared a snapshot of a monitor used during looktest session. He did not mention anything else about the movie on the caption aside from “#comingsoon.”

Early in march, Panganiban and Aquino flew to Australia with friends for vacation. Prior to the trip, the two celebrities had been visible to the public. Aquino even surprised Panganiban during

a book signing last Feb. 24 at Trinoma mall.

Panganiban and co-star Jm de Guzman also hinted at a sequel to “That Thing Called Tadhana.” meanwhile, the actress teased a new love team with JC Santos through an instagram post. She joked Aquino and De Guzman should just love each other because their fans love them so Dennis Trillo much.

GMA photo

ViEWERS of Dennis Trillo in the nightly rom-com series “The One That Got Away (TOTGA)” on GmA Network agree that he is very natural in acting out the role of liam—a catch of man, who after a string of failed relationships, found himself in a quandary as to who among his three ex-girlfriends is his true love. much as he made his choice though in lovi Poe’s Alex, their lives as a married couple are still entangled with those of the other two exes, Rhian Ramos’ Zoey and max Collins’ Darcy. in a sit down with Showbuzz, Dennis admits he fits liam’s role to a T. “i really feel i’m liam because we share so many things in common,” the talented actor related. “Even his mannerisms, akong-ako. Hindi Continued on Page 3

You should consider finding a Us employer for your spouse back home if you can’t get legal status

Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ Dear attorney Gurfinkel: I came to the U.S. many years ago, and am out of status. I have now been away from my spouse and children for many years, and have been desperately looking for ways I can bring them to the U.S. because we miss each other so much. I have an employer willing to petition me, but I’ve been told my case is hopeless because I am out of status.

Do you think there is any hope for me to bring my spouse and children to the U.S.?

Very truly yours, aH Dear AH: Ordinarily, in order for a person to adjust status (be interviewed for a green card in the U.S.), the person must be in status or be “grandfathered” under section 245(i), which is a law that allowed TNT’s to adjust status in the U.S. if they had been petitioned before April 30, 2001.

If a person is out of status and is not grandfathered under section 245(i), they ordinarily cannot adjust status in the U.S., except through a bona fide (“love”) marriage to a U.S. citizen.

I’ve had many people consult with me who are in a similar situation as you: desperately

trying to bring their family to the U.S., but they are out of status. In such a situation, another possible option is to consider finding a U.S. employer who could petition your spouse from the Philippines.

Remember, your problem is you are out of status. Your spouse back home is not. Your spouse would not need to have the benefit of section 245(i).

You may have been so distracted into thinking that the only way your family can come to the U.S. is through YOU. That is not always the case. You can help them immigrate to the U.S. on their own. While this may not necessarily help you get legalized, at least you could be united with your family in the U.S. and they could have green cards.

The basic requirements are: 1. A financially stable employer, with a real job position.

2. The person being petitioned is qualified for that job through education or experience.

3. It does not need to be a college-level job or a Fortune 500 company. Even caregivers are eligible for green cards, and small employers are qualified to petition people if the employer is earning enough to afford the alien’s salary.

4. Right now, it is taking about 2 ½ or three years to

‘We talk about our future...

From Page 2 mahirap sakyan ‘yung role because I can relate to it. I think the biggest similarity is may mga exes kami pareho and like Liam, may binalikan akong ex. Du’n palang swak na kami.”

The ex Dennis is talking about of course is Jennylyn Mercado. They may have had a controversial break up the first time they got together but since reuniting, it seems they’ve built a very strong foundation. In fact, showbiz friends see they’re good for each other, even in the way they’ve taken on being fit and healthy together.

Of course, everyone’s anticipating a wedding between these two beautiful people but

up to now, Dennis and Jen remain mum on plans. This, even if Dennis also admits they’ve been talking marriage already.

“Whatever we’re planning, we want to keep it to ourselves first.

Mahirap kasi kung announce ka ng announce tapos biglang hindi natuloy, nakakahiya ‘yun. Basta we talk about it and that’s all that I can tell you.”

He teased Showbuzz he would rather talk about TOTGA’s extended run and high ratings.

“The extension gives us more room to develop the story. May characters na babalik,” Dennis revealed. “Many things will happen and we’ll soon be taping on island.

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 27, 20 1 8

process an employment-based green card. But isn’t that a lot better than “never,” if you cannot legalize your status?

If you are out of status with a spouse and children, you may want to consult with an immigration attorney who can evaluate your situation along with your spouse, to see if there could be hope. Also you might be eligible for provisional waiver if you have parents who are citizens or immigrants and you have a way to get a green card now. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California.

Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter.

No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

Watch for it in the coming episodes kasi nakakatuwa siya.”

Besides TOTGA, Dennis is also busy shooting the sequel of the critically acclaimed movie “On The Job.” “I’m very excited about the movie and I like my role—it’s the first time I’m playing an inmate and he’s not an ordinary prisoner. He’s being used by some influential people to kill their enemies.”

Director Erik Matti, according to Dennis, is eyeing a 2019 showing for the movie to make sure it maintains the quality of the original.

Meanwhile, Filipino fans in the Middle East can look forward to seeing Dennis next week, along with Solenn Heusaff and Migo Adecer, for a GMA Pinoy TV show on May 3.

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

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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!!!

Caregiver petition allows Isaac to be reunited with his children in the U.S. as green card holders.

Driven by the desire to improve his life for his children’s sake, Isaac (left) jumped ship when his ship docked at Los Angeles in 2007.

Fortunately, he found an employer who was willing to petition him as a caregiver. The employer’s petition was approved, but Isaac still had to wait several more years before his priority date was current and he was eligible for a green card.

All that time, Isaac could not return to the Philippines due to his immigration status. But he still made that sacrifice, knowing it was the right way to do. For him, it was better to wait, if everything was done properly and legally. Isaac knew he was in capable hands under the Law Offices of Michael J. Gurfinkel, who helped obtain green cards for Isaac and his two young sons.

Watch this happy family reunion on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.

Scam-proofing basics 101 Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA

“ There is a sucker born every nanosecond.”

–A play on a qoute mistakenly ascribed to circus impresario, P.T. Barnum

smidgen of cynicism would have raised one’s hackles and suspicions.

There are rough estimates of YEARS ago, I came across an $183 million per year on average email message from a legitimate contact telling a sad story and asking that have been scammed from the unsuspecting on the internet. The for emergency money in a far-off figure could be more since a big land. I searched some phrases and percentage of people will not admit sure enough, it was a scam. Out it to being conned. went with the spam trash.

The electronic age has brought My take on this: my contact’s us wonders and unbelievable email was breached and his contact list hacked. This is one of the reasons convenience defying space/time constraints and accomplishing I am loath to forward emails sent by well-meaning friends, no matter how things we can only do in previous times if we were physically present funny. in one place. With an internet What is amazing is that people connection, we can do great and have been victimized by this scam wonderful things that were the stuff all over the world when a few of science fiction not so long ago. keystrokes would have verified it But there is a sinister side to the and a bit of common sense and a internet — a very sinister side. And

it gets darker as moral turpitude and relativism appear to be on the rise and our capacity to be shocked is diminished with every jawdropping crime.

There was a time when crime was met with swift and appropriate punishment. Sadly, we have archaic laws governing these types of crimes and enforcement is nearly non-existent. We are in uncharted territory.

For as long as these laws which were structured in the past cannot keep up with the overwhelming volume of cyber crimes, it is in our best interest to learn how to become savvy net users and defend ourselves from the onslaught that comes electronically.

Continued on Page 5

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

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 27, 20 1 8

On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places

Renz Mareon Fernando: Gold mined from far-flung Tawi-Tawi Islands

BoBBy T. yalong GARNERING four medals in a highly contested international talent competition such as the World Championships of Performing Arts (WCOPA) was one feat hard to duplicate but for a determined risktaker and an indomitable dreamer like Renz Mareon Florendo Amirul, simply identified as Renz Fernando in the entertainment arena, it was the outcome of long-range preparation, unmeasured perseverance and unreserved commitment.

From the 21st WCOPA event held at the Long Beach Performing Arts Center of the Westin Long Beach Hotel in California, twenty-two-yearold Renz emerged a winner in four categories he entered as part of the Philippine contingent: gold in Pop (Writing’s On The Wall by Sam Smith), silver in Soul (I Who Have Nothing by Tom Jones), Bronze in Broadway (Bui Doi / Dust of Life from Miss Saigon), and another Bronze in World or Ethnic / Original regional song (Ordee, a Cordillera chant).

Renz high-spiritedly left the stage with, aside from the 4 medals, a whopping $10, 000.00 scholarship grant courtesy of the New York Film Academy where he enrolled in Musical Theater.

His long stint in the school choir made him appropriately developed his vocal technique aside from learning how to blend and adjust his range. “I also learned varied genre where my voice would best fit and, most importantly, I personally embraced the truest essence of professionalism and group camaraderie,” he shared.

Confidently armed with a

Dina Bonnevie

ABS-CBN photo

Dina Bonnevie and the making of a veteran actress

because her husband Norman lied to her. Then Cherry Pie (Picache as Adele, the housekeeper-turned-surrogate mother) also lied,” Dina gave AS an actress, Dina Bonnviewers some foreshadowing of evie has practically run the what is to come. “Kumbaga Jestoni gamut of human emotions, When I dream, I dream big...

His first winter snow turns Renz into a child at play particularly in drama (from teen dra- and Cherry Pie (made love) para makabuo ulit ng baby kasi nawala ma “Underag”e and “Katorse;” family na yung egg na inim-plant sa drama “Magdusa Ka” and “Tanging Yaman”; political-cultural drama “A kanya. So niloko nila (ang characDangerous Life,”“Gumapang ter ko). Maybe in the future, Debbie Ka Sa Lusak,”“Magtanggol” an will fight back.” d “American Adobo;” to adult Meantime, Debbie remains drama “Kapag Iginuhit Ang Hatol the doting career-oriented mom to Ng Puso” and “Noon at Ngayon”). In the tres marias.

“It is interesting because it hapretrospect, the veteran actress thrives pens in real life,” Dina said of ‘The in relationship-driven dramas that Blood Sisters’ and its sense of realism. explore human foibles and spirit.

“Just recently, we saw a documenDina is banking on her treasure tary on three brothers; they were trove of roles essayed on the small separated at birth. Hindi talaga sinabi and big screens to give Debbie Bermudez-Almeda, her doctor character sa mga magulang na triplets pala ang anak nila. Enchong (Dee) uploaded it in the Kapamilya soap “The Blood on our Viber (account), na nangyayari Sisters,” a life of her own.

“Perhaps, it gives hope to people (ito) in real life. They only met one Renz with equally talented up-coming artist who are not able to have kids of their another when they saw each other in A personal encounter with International star Proof of evidence...the NYFA grant Alyssa Jade Shoemaker Lea Salonga the university. I told myself, ‘It’s posown,” said Dina when The Star asked I say I was extremely overweight tenor vocal range that could Bachelor of Science in Tourism at sible (to happen).’” about surrogacy, the issue where during my formative years… almost the dramatic narrative is juxtaposed shatter a crystal, Renz gained the Polytechnic University of the At this point in her career, Dina obese, to be precise. Yes, I was about against. “Parang siguro napapaintindi is in a position where she can share the comprehensive rudiments Philippines where he was active in 250 pounds until personal concerns of vocalizing while a student of the school’s Choral Group. her expertise in acting with the sa kanila na kung hindi kayo magcrept in and I indulged in basketball “Actually my college days were young blood. “Me, I don’t mind being kaanak, may solusyon.”“The Blood and other strenuous physical filled with physical, emotional, and a mentor to others,” she said. “For Sisters” mirrors a trend that there are activities. Another reason was when mental anguish and torments since example, when Maja (Salvador) and I I joined Mr. & Miss NDB (Notre Dame medical (fertility treatment) options it was my first time to be away from did ‘May Bukas Pa,’ she was so young available to some couples that wish of Bongao, my hometown school) my family and lived all alone by myself. But those challenges molded which motivated me to slim down. then, batang-bata pa si Maja noon. I to have a family of their own. What Then the tensioning college bustles Debbie doesn’t know is, the triplets me into a strong-willed being that think Maja was only 15 or 16, hindi and hassles aided in gradually I am now,” the swarthy vocalist pa siya marunong umiyak. Then I named Erika, Carrie and Agatha, all trimming me down to my current candidly confessed. portrayed by Erich Gonzales, are not taught her how to cry. (I told her to) ideal weight of 170 lbs. which I try to hers. This could put a huge strain on Noticeably possessing a welljust imagine yourself putting a pair of maintain,” he narrated. built physique, the intrinsically shoes on. Yung pangalan ng shoes ay Debbie’s marital life with Norman Aptly armed with unambiguous reticent Broadway hopeful was yung character mo. So kapag (Jestoni Alarcon). professionalism, strict discipline, and quick to explicate his long battle sinuot mo na yung shoes na yun, “But later on, baka maging being aggressively resourceful, Renz with the bulge.

Taken from his recent performance... (L-R) Danny Ivanoff Julian, Renz, Hermie Garcia, Ramona palaban siya (she could be feisty) Continued on Page 6 “You won’t believe me when Continued on Page 6 S. Gapasin, Bobby T. Yalong, Rose P. Javier, & Irene

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Goodbye Boracay — see you in six months

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A P R I L 27, 20 1 8

Scam-proofing...

From Page 3

BY MONET

LU

WHEN an island becomes an income-generating tourist spot and has drawn millions of people to its powder-white sand beaches and coral reefs, it is hard to imagine that it will suddenly come to an end – at least temporarily.

I have been to Boracay and the place never fails to give me a mix of emotions. On one hand, I love that it has been a haven for travelers looking to still gain some normalcy in their routine (or nightlife) by shopping and hanging out at bars and restaurants like they are actually in a city and not on a secluded island. But of course, this comes at a cost, hence the temporary closure.

As news reports have said, the rapid development and pollution that threatened its idyllic shores have led to the closure order to tourists for six months. President Rodrigo Duterte has said that inadequate sewage treatment Boracay has turned its beaches into a “cesspool.”

While I am in favor of cleaning the once-virgin island that boasts of pristine clear waters and warm sands, I think this decision to close it temporarily will threaten the livelihood of thousands of people. Most of the roughly 40,000 residents of the four-square-mile island are dependent on tourism.

Ms. Graf, an operator on the western side of the island says, “We want the government to help us.

But closing the island is another matter altogether. We don’t want that.”

“Closure means the end of jobs,” she said, asking how local workers were “going to eat in the next six months.” She predicted that it would have ripple effects across the entire Philippine economy.

“You close us down, and we will likely not recover from it,” she added.

“Tourism in Asia is very competitive.”

The Boracay’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry also

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS Restaurant menus Following the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rule introduced in 2012, restaurant menus today in about two-thirds of the largest restaurant chains have eliminated the highest caloric food items on their menus. In these 66 chains, higher calorie sandwiches, which have 52 to 71 more calories than their average items, were dropped. This is a healthy trend, but desserts, which are in carbohydrates, and soft drinks, which are toxic to the body, have remained unchanged.

Low-carbs, low-fat, more vegetables and nuts are in. Indeed, long overdue.

COPD among non-smokers?

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), which chronic tobacco smokers inevitably acquire after years of exposure (firsthand or secondhand) to the countless toxic agents in cigarettes, could also result from other causes, like environmental chemical pollution, and rarely, from a genetic disorder called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, a hereditary condition.

Unbeknownst to many, COPD could also be caused by GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease), where the valve between the stomach and the esophagus (food pipe) is incompetent (loose), allowing stomach hydrochloric acid (which normally helps in food digestion) to backup to the esophagus and higher up. The acid could also flow into the windpipe, frequently causing small coughs, and over the years, leading to inflammation in the respiratory track, leading to COPD, with lung congestion, bronchial spasm, some shortness of breath and wheezing, similar to asthmatic attacks. For this, metered dose inhalers (MDI) with bronchodilators, some with steroids, is part of the treatment, besides the use of Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) to reduce acid formation, abstention from spicy foods/alcohol, and sleeping with the head of the bed elevated.

Oral-cardiac health link There is an intimate relationship between oral health and cardiac health. Any infection in the mouth, dental/oral, causes bacterial invasion and inflammatory processes that increase the risk for the development of heart attack and stroke. In the U.S., greater than 80 percent of Americans have undiagnosed periodontal or gum disease. This is the reason why it is vital to have maximal oral health by maintaining good oral hygiene and having dental checkup at least two times a year. As we have alluded to in this column in past articles, inflammation in oral cavity or any part of the body, evidenced

asked Mr. Duterte to reconsider, arguing that not all businesses are violators, and that those found to be polluting should instead be cut off from the water supply.

There are mixed reactions from the residents. Some understand the logic and thought it would be worth it in the long run.

I remember back in 2010, the New York Times described Boracay as being known for its laid-back party culture and Asia’s next tourism hot spot. Since then it has landed on the covers and “best” lists of travel magazines.

Foreigners, most of them Chinese or South Korean, crowd its beaches and shops, and local officials say the island drew two million visitors last year.

The race for tourist dollars fueled rapid development.

Bamboo huts and modest, woodframed inns gave way to modern hotels, mall outlets and American chains like Starbucks, KFC and McDonald’s, and Caticlan Airport recently expanded to handle the flow of tourists. The boom brought jobs and money, but it also brought trash and overtaxed the island’s water and garbage disposal systems and, crucially, its sewers and storm drains.

This is the reality of having a commercialized vacation spot.

We reap what we sow and now ‘payback’ has followed us to this day. It’s hard to say goodbye to Boracay, but the situation has left us no other choice. I just hope that the government is sincere in this project. Rumor has it that they signed an agreement with Galaxy

Entertainment, a Macau-based casino operator, and a Philippine partner to begin construction next year on a $500 million beachfront casino that would add to the burdens on the island’s infrastructure.

However, a local newspaper reported that the new casino would need to secure an environmental clearance certificate from the agency before opening. Besides, that would actually defeat the purpose of having the island cleaned only to open up a bigger establishment that will eventually – or swiftly turn the place into an even bigger cesspool.

Whatever the government is planning (or hiding), I feel it is fitting that I write my goodbye piece to this marvelous island that has brought pride and economic benefits to our countrymen. Six months may seem like a short time to recuperate from the damage that commercialism has caused this paradise but I am keeping my fingers crossed.

So long, ‘Bora’, may you be as beautiful, if not more glorious than you have ever been. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning 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

Health info capsules by elevated C-reactive protein, is the cause of most major illnesses known to man.

Shotgun approach versus cancer In view of the deadly nature of cancer in general, medical science and technology are unceasingly finding new and more effective ways to target cancer with this multi-pronged approach: preemptive recognition of genetic risks, prevention (lifestyle, vaccines), discovery of markers, early diagnosis, more precise targeted treatment, immunotherapy, and more accurate prognostication. This evidence-based approach is aimed at conquering this killer disease to allow victims to live longer or even attain total cure.

Genetics, genomics, mapping The new frontier in screening tests for cancer are in the area of genetics and genomics. On such test searches for BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, which predispose women to develop breasts and ovarian cancers, like in the case of renowned actress Angelina Jolie, who had her breasts and ovaries surgically removed as a prophylactic measure.

Today, there is also a home test that detects changes in feces that identify colon cancer.

A great advance in cancer care is the mapping of the genetic blueprints of 33 cancer types. The DNA similarities would allow more precise target treatments of cancers, because greater success in the fight against cancer can be achieved if we can first classify them according to their genomic and molecular makeup. This would identify their vulnerabilities.

Biomarkers and liquid biopsy Biomarkers are substances in urine, blood, and other body fluids that reveals cancer. These tests are: Liver cancer: alpha-fetoprotein (AFP); Prostate cancer: prostatespecific antigen (PSA); Thyroid cancer: Thyroglobulin (TG); and nonsmall cell lung cancer: ALK gene.

Biomarker proteins for pancreatic cancer for its early diagnosis are still being investigated.

Standard biopsy is done on solid tissues or tumors. Liquid biopsy, newly approved by the FDA in 2016, is a blood test that could detect cancer DNA circulating in the blood stream. Besides revealing changes to the EGFR gene in the serum of patients with non-small cell cancer of the lungs, liquid biopsy for other forms of cancers are underway.

Anti-cancer vaccines Like vaccination for the prevention of chickenpox, measles, etc., vaccines, which works with our immune system to prevent, or even treat, cancer are a welcome regimen in our fight against these killer diseases. Gardasil, the very effective vaccine against cervical cancer we reported in this column in 2006, has dramatically

reduced Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection by 64 percent and correspondingly cervical cancer.

The other two are the hepatitis B vaccine, which significantly prevent deadly hepatoma (liver cancer), and sipuleucel-T (Provenge) vaccine, which treats prostate cancer.

Investigations worldwide are going on for vaccines against other types of cancers, like melanoma (skin cancer) and colon cancer.

Screening tests for cancers Since most of our screening tests for cancer have potential side-effects, like radiation from mammogram or CT scans, false positive results from biopsies from gastroscopy/colonoscopy, more precise indications are needed to find out which individuals are more at risk and really need to be screened. If prevention does not succeed, finding cancers in their early stage before they spread is the next best strategy to get a possible cure, so screening tests are important.

Pills in your home against cancer You may not realize it but, most likely, you have pills in your medicine cabinet at home today which could help in the prevention of colon cancer and heart attack.

Some of you may have been taking it already. I am referring to aspirin (acetylsalycilic acid), first introduced in 1899, which, when taken in its 81 mg low-dose regimen once daily for at least 4 years could reduce deaths from heart attack by 25 percent and from colon cancer by 44 percent, if taken for ten years. The US Preventive Services Task Force states those 50 to 59 could benefit from this mini-dose aspirin therapy.

There is also a group of medication that blocks estrogen receptors and lowers the risk for breast cancer.

Drugs called aromatase inhibitors may also prevent breast cancer.

Consultation with your physician is advised before taking any medication.

When it comes to warding off diseases, including heart attack and stroke, and especially cancer, a healthy lifestyle is at the top of the list of preventive measures at our disposal. The ball is in our court, our future largely in our hands. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua.com; Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com (Advertising Supplement)

The amount of available crud (translate that to disgusting things like porn, pedophilia, scams and gambling and some such variation of evil) on the net is staggering. In the book I wrote, there is a chapter dedicated on avoiding the pitfalls of scams and the schemes of con artists designed to separate you from your hard-earned money.

This time, the level of sophistication is up several notches higher as many unscrupulous and oftentimes, amoral and downright evil people everywhere around the world see the internet as the modern, deceptively innocuous version of highway robbery using a computer instead of a gun.

If we are internet users, we are all at risk, unless and until we take the necessary psychological and physical precautions to deal with this and become relatively “scam proof.”

No one is sacrosanct. These scams are designed to prey upon two basic weaknesses ingrained in our DNA wiring as humans: GREED and FEAR. Here’s one blanket caveat to keep us on our toes about how lottery scams and cons play out in cyberspace. REMEMBER — and I can’t emphasize this often enough, on this matter, and perhaps, other significant areas of life — IF IT’S TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. Okay, repeat that as your mantra.

The scams that feed on greed are so sophisticated that they can send a seemingly authentic check by mail from a real bank with so many zeroes on it. If you bite at the first overture, they then ask for a processing fee from you for you to get the rest of the winnings. This is called the Nigerian scam apparently because the first perpetrators allegedly were well educated but destitute Nigerians who found that their facility for the English language could be exploited to scam millions using the internet.

The scam has spread and morphed with mind-boggling variations but with only one nefarious purpose — to separate you from your money. No one race or culture has the monopoly on these. These can originate anywhere in the world. I have had mine come in purportedly from G8 as well as impoverished countries.

If you have not consciously joined any lottery, why in heaven’s name would you think you have a snowball’s chance in hell of winning even one thin dime? Also, legitimate lotteries will NEVER, repeat NEVER, ask you for money in order for a winner to claim a prize.

Some scams feed on your fear.

One of the most deceptive things is to receive an email from your bank instructing you to click on a link and verify your information since someone supposedly is accessing your account and if you don’t verify your information, particularly your pin number or password, this can result in a temporary hold on your funds.

The modern term for this is “phishing” which refers to the activity of defrauding an online account holder of financial information by

posing as a legitimate company. I received one of these phishing calls which had a legitimate ID on the caller ID asking us to call a number and even left a reference number claiming to check on some gas card purchases. I told her I need to verify if her call is legitimate. I detected a hint of dejection in her response.

Sure enough, a check on the phone number she left indicated it was a phishing call.

No legitimate financial entity will ask you for financial information online. Cut scammers off at the knees with the simple expediency of calling the fraud unit of your bank or credit card company yourself.

Take the bull by the horns.

Generate the call. Get the telephone number from your statement or your card and DO NOT CALL THE NUMBER that the caller or e-mailer provided you with. It’s a TRAP. If it is an email, hit the spam button and empty the trash. Don’t just delete it. Sure, they will morph into another form but be proactive and make it more difficult for them.

These scams are like viruses or shape shifters and can mutate faster than the speed of light. PC users are more vulnerable to spammers/ scammers and pesky pop-ups than Mac users. But this too can change.

C’est la vie.

Is there karmic justice? Because con artists rarely ever see the faces of their victims or know the full extent of the damage that they wreak on real people with real lives, these crimes seem impersonal in nature and rarely, if ever, do con artists get their comeuppance.

Translate that to jail time or some form of punishment, like being exposed to an anthill, boiled in oil or tickled to oblivion… Just kidding of course… Con artists should be happy we no longer live in Medieval Times.

Often, these scammers are based overseas outside of any jurisdiction. The wheels of justice grind ponderously, exceedingly slow and you sometimes wonder if crime stoppers and society in general, would ever catch up with this distinct phenomenon of the interesting times we live in.

If you think only the “little people” are at risk, think again.

Governments and institutions have become easy targets for sophisticated, often juvenile hackers. Cyber crime has reached daunting proportions and has reached the institutional level.

Supposedly uber secure websites such as that of the CIA, NSA, FBI, Scotland Yard, the US Congress and mega-corporations like Sony, Nintendo, Citibank and a host of others have recently been either hacked or brought to a halt from the comforts of a teen-ager’s bedroom in a foreign land.

A few years ago, a 19 year old, baby-faced, reclusive boy from England named Ryan Cleary, is alleged to have been responsible for bringing down the websites of the CIA and Scotland Yard. The teener stayed glued to his computer holed up all day in his room filled with

Calendar of Events across

posters of scantily clad women.

The upside to be gleaned from such high-level security breaches is that this exposes the weaknesses of such websites. It also shows how vulnerable we all are. The electronic security industry sees the potential of a business that can change the architecture of the internet by piping the flow of information.

For government operatives to use unsecured email to conduct top secret operations is like dangling fresh bait to a sea of sharks.

Clearly, these breaches, like Julian Assange’s wikileaks, are not for monetary gain but for the notoriety and the bragging rights of being a once lowly unknown gnat bringing down behemoths. The motive is deeply rooted in probably what Andy Warhol once said in 1968, “In the future, everyone will be world famous for 15 minutes.”

But those big holes are for the big boys to plug. As for the ordinary cyber citizens, simply proceed with caution when online.

In cyber matters, a healthy dose of cynicism and a smidgen of common sense work as well as an ounce of prevention.

Be on guard. Better yet, UNPLUG for long stretches from Facebook, Twitter, Gab, Instagram, Reddit or any other social media or from following inane and insane celebrity tweets on Twitter.

Strive to live in the REAL WORLD. The virtual world STILL cannot hold a candle to the real world. You can’t feel the sensation of a good sneeze virtually. Or that of a hug or a kiss… Or of the wonderful feeling of being in your bed sipping a warm mug of cocoa as you listen to the gentle pelting of the rain on the roof at night as you prepare to go to sleep…

There is a lot of real living for us to do. The internet has its place in our world. But you are the boss and you can decide to curtail its influence on the quality of your own life. We get to pass this way but once. Choose well.

Grill salmon steaks brushed with butter (Yup! Butter makes it better!) and sprinkled with lemon on a summer’s day. Create panini sandwiches for friends or loved ones on your grill pan. Dance. Fly a kite.

Knit a shawl. Take time to sip your tea or tend to your garden in the spring. Laugh with the kids. Log off for long stretches of time and create something with your hands that will make your heart glad and make the people in your immediate orbit praise God for having you in their lives — even for just a short while.

The virtual world is a blessing simply meant to enhance life, NOT REPLACE IT. That’s all it does. Even with all its bells and whistles, it is a spice, not the main entree.

After all, life tethered on terra firma, is for real living, right here, right now. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS A P R I L 28

Batangas Investment and Tourism Forum in Glendale, CA Learn about the investment and tourism opportunities of the province of Batangas, Philippines on Saturday, April 28 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel (100 West Glenoaks Boulevard, Glendale, CA 91202). For more information, please call: Trini Foliente at (818) 4552132, Errol Santos at (818) 621-2912 or Amor Palisoc at (323) 810-7908.

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-andsilent-auction/.

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

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An Asian Journal Magazine

New Kapuso Jasmine Curtis Smith says network wars are ‘stupid’

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY A p R i l 27, 20 1 8

Anna Luna bags new foreign Best Actress nomination

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

BEFORE she signed up as a new GMA contract star on April 17, actress Jasmine Curtis Smith told Philstar.com that she was happy being a freelancer and that AWARD-WINNING independent actress she finds network wars “stupid.” and 2018 Star Magic Circle Anna Luna has “It was one thing that I told earned another validation of her stellar my manager na ayaw kong maipit performance in the movie “Maestra” with sa mga network war. Parang for a Best Actress nomination at the 2018 Philadelphia Independent Film Awards (Pifa). me, that’s stupid,” she told Philstar. com in an interview during her In an interview shortly after receiving the news, Luna said she was happily shocked launch as Pantene endorser in 2017.

“Let’s be open to be working that her portrayal of Iah Seraspi, a teacher’s licensure exam topnotcher in the Lem Lorca- with everyone. Be collaborative.

Just be more, I guess, willing to be independent film, impressed foreign movie creative? Because that’s what we critics. lack now because gusto ko d’yan “Tina-try talaga nilang iikot ang movie kung saan may mga festivals. Hindi ko naman lang s’ya. You know, nasasayangan ‘yung opportunity ‘pag ganun eh. siya iniisip na sobra pero siyempre masaya po Parang ‘pag if you restrict na dapat ako dahi napansin ulit ang mga Pinoy,” she ang ica-cast lang namin ‘yung nasa explained.

The said nomination is Luna’s second nod network lang namin, if you deem someone else from that network for the said film, which debuted in 2017 at or someone who’s not signed to the Cinemalaya Film Festival. not play that role.”

Her first recognition came last year at At that time, Jasmine was the 2017 Five Continents International Film willing to work with actors from Festival in Venezuela, where she brought different networks. “For me, it’s pride to the country by bringing home the just normal. They’re actors from Best Lead Actress trophy. a network na exclusive, but that Maestra is a heavy drama, which follows the story of three struggling teachers whose doesn’t give them one more over me. Nasa talent ‘yan eh. If jive kayo dedication to their profession pushes them ng vibe, ‘yun!” to educate young people despite their When Jasmine signed with personal difficulties.

GMA, it came as a surprise to Luna has been nominated alongside many since GMA is the archrival of actresses Keniesha Robinson, Margherita ABS-CBN, where her older sister Mannino and Catalina Lavalle for the Best Anne Curtis is.

Actress trophy at Pifa.

(ManilaTimes.net) ManilaTimes.net photo

Anna Luna

Dina Bonnevie: The making... just happened. Unang-una, Erich and I, we’ve become super close.

Last Sunday, we went to church ano ang nararamdaman ng chartogether, (with) my kids, my family. acter mo at the moment. (Tapos) pag-cut (na), hubarin mo na ulit yung We had lunch also together. There I met her admirer. We’re like mother sapatos. And now, look at her, di and daughter.” Dina added that she ba?” Dina, however, will only give worked with director Jojo Saguin tips to those who seek her help and in ‘May Bukas Pa,’ and Cherry Pie in guidance. Experienced actors will the past. The soap has also allowed agree with Dina that the new crop her to work with Tessie Tomas and of stars should come prepared on the set and respect those who came Jestoni Alarcon for the first time. Attending the same church, Dina and before them.

During the group interview, Dina Erich both starred in “Two Wives.”

“Yung nagpapasaya sa ‘Blood expressed her joy in doing the soap.

Sisters’ ay yung para kaming “I’m enjoying working with pamilya,” she reiterated. “When the cast, we’re like family,” said we tape, naglolokohan lang kami.

Dina, who would do hula hoop in Pero kapag kailangan mag-work, between takes. “We didn’t plan it. It From Page 4

serious talaga. Everybody is a professional. Everybody gets the chance to shine.”

Adding to that happiness is portraying Debbie, the agonizing mother of triplets as the character is being described by many. She is not a caricature type. “Kapag sobrang bad or black (yung character), I don’t like kasi may tendency yung mga tao na they tag your character to your personality,” Dina said. “Ang sama ng ugali niyan. But it’s just a role. Good thing with Debbie, she is kind.”

Given where she is at now, the actress finds delight in playing Debbie and in being Dina on cam and off cam, respectively.

Jasmine Curtis Smith

In an interview with Philstar. com on April 19 during another Pantene event, Jasmine admitted that the Kapamilya network also offered to get her.

“Actually, hindi po ako lumipat ng GMA for about two years.

Wala na po ako sa TV5. Two years na pong wala na ‘yung kontrata ko sa TV5, nag-expire na po s’ya.

And it just so happens matagal na pong nanliligaw si GMA and ever since natapos na po ‘yung previous contract natin kay TV5,

Photo from Istagram/@jascurtissmith

nagpaparamdam na po sila ng other network and it just so happens na GMA ang napili,” she explained.

She assured that though she chose GMA, she has no bad blood with ABS-CBN. Her sister Anne also understands her decision.

“Very happy naman, wala namang hurt feelings. Work is work and I’m so happy to be welcomed so warmly and so lovingly by GMA,” Jasmine enthused.

Renz Mareon Fernando: Gold mined...

From Page 4 achieved every aspect of endeavor he had aimed for. .

“My body’s defenses kicked in to high gear in rapid succession that vigorously motivated me to be essentially focused on what I did with clenched fist to ultimately overcome and survive all trials.

Actually, to this day, I don’t really know how I was able to surmount all those challenges,” Renz admitted.

Unlike a raw mineral that needs extensive polishing to uncover its facets and luster Renz was “unearthed” (almost) perfectly refined just waiting to be tapped. His unquestionable stage exposures since his early years progressively honed his proficiency and readily paid off the very moment opportunity knocked.

His unprecedented dedication to his craft all the more fortified and strappingly motivated him to reach the seemingly elusive dream he earnestly chased and desired.

If the Guinness Book of World Records listed USA’s Tim Storm as the male with the highest and widest vocal range at 10 octaves (who interestingly also holds the record with the lowest vocal note) while Mike Patton has 6 octaves, Axl Rose of Guns and Roses and Freddie Mercury of Queen have 5 octaves, Arnel Pineda and Steve Perry’s voices reached 4, then where does Renz Fernando’s voice fall? `Easily that would be anywhere at par with Arnel’s or slightly lower by an octave. His vocal rendition of Tom Jones’“I, Who Have Nothing,” according to music aficionados, is a couple of notes higher with more exciting arrangement.

Watching him from a distance gives the audience a faultless vantage point and visualization of his arresting personality that Renz is physically equipped with: shrouded with a commanding presence and outfitted electrifying stature, skillfully engaged presence, and adept with his performance. His innately strong stage charisma is fundamentally equated with magnetism that draws attention and curiosity. There’s something invisibly perceived that kept all eyes glued on him before he could even sing a note.

His energy level is consistently strong enough that it builds progressively toward the denouement and effortlessly controls its sustained range until he reaches the final note.

“I have learned to develop the ability to size up my audience… be aware of its composite assemblage, and exert an effort to reach out to the last person seated at the last row,” Renz uttered with well-defined coyly manner.

“I always see to it that I directly deliver the message of my song while simultaneously entertaining them,” he added with indisputable tone.

Just recently the multi-medalist tenor performed at PAFCOM’s 2018 Grand Marshal Gala (in honor of Jersey City Council President Rolando Lavarro) at the Harbor Side Atrium along Hudson Street in downtown Jersey City. The thundering applause was more than sufficient substantiation that Renz is indubitably a total performer.

His sostenuto (sustained slowing of tempo) and legato tempo (the smooth flowing manner without breaks between notes) were very much effortlessly applied when he belted out his own vocal interpretation of Tom Jones’“I Who

Renz greets the horizon with positivity

Have Nothing” and Broadway’s Jekyll and Hyde’s “This Is The Moment.”

Since diversity spices life’s social status, it is easy to comprehend Renz’s leaning towards up-tothe-minute styles. His inherent flair for fashionable wardrobes inevitably made his entry into the entertainment arena glitzy since his status plausibly requires just the right outfits. His commanding stature at 5’11” devoid of rural traces straightforwardly makes him a potential ramp mannequin… proving his limitless potentials.

To create a clear vision and to better know the real Renz Mareon Fernando, let’s size up the Bongao, Tawi-Tawi-born lad by how he candidly answered the following interesting inquiries.

Asian Journal (AJ): How was your childhood like?

Renz Mareon Fernando (RMF): I guess I was just like any other ordinary kid... but the only difference was I grew up in one of the remote southwesternmost islands in the Philippines. Our playground used to be the open sea and the bountiful nature that surrounded us. It was already a big treat for us to go to Zamboanga City, about 6 hours travel, for pleasure and shopping.

AJ: When did you start to embrace music?

RMF: I became familiar with singing even before grade school but my exposure during a program while in Grade 6 opened the doors for me. I started to sing-along via karaoke and joined several town fiesta’s amateur singing contests where winning the championship with matching thousand pesos cash motivated me to further hone my craft.

AJ: How was your first Manila stint?

RMF: After high school I aimed for college in Manila and ended up in PUP (Polytechnic University of the Philippines) after auditioning for scholarship. My initial choice was Architecture but unfortunately there was no more slot left so I opted for Broadcast and Communications Research, a two-year course, then later I shifted to Tourism.

AJ: How was college life away from home?

RMF: It was actually something new to me and quite complicated at first. Life was fast-paced but it made me a better man. I totally learned to be on my own. It was a sagaciously preferred independence!

AJ: When was your first public exposure in Manila?

RMF: That was during the Interschool National Musical Contest, although it wasn’t actually my solo exposure…it was a duet number.

Then small projects followed until the WCOPA audition.

AJ: Who influenced you to join WCOPA? RMJ: I was inspired by Erik Santos

The singer is also a potential model

and Jed Madela. I auditioned in Makati on November 19, 2016 and luckily chosen to join the more than 80 Philippine delegates to the 2017 WCOPA. AJ: How was it after winning?

RMF: The feeling was overwhelming! I was like walking on cloud nine. I celebrated my victory with some friends in Las Vegas and Orange County in California before flying back to Manila.

AJ: How did you cope up living in New York City?

RMF: It was a totally concrete jungle struggle. Boredom and idleness kicked in during the height of winter chills but my studies at NYFA ably provided comfort and kept me active. Luckily, I’ve the opportunity to do what I loved best-- singing. I’ve done a couple of shows and met new connections.

AJ: How do you prepare for a gig?

RMF: (Rolled his eyes trying to grasp the right response…) Well, I take a complete rest and try to get an eight-hour sleep. I stay hydrated, vocalize a lot, and, if possible before my performance, I take a shot of brandy to smoothen my laryngeal muscles.

AJ: Other than techniques you personally learned through experience, what did you formally learn?

RMF: There were a lot being taught in school but so far breathing and air support, phonation, posture, vocal resonation and projection, and vocal control are very useful pointers that I constantly remember.

AJ: Any current shows?

RMF: I can only perform when I’m free from school…but my weekends are open. I will be part of Mountaintop Entertainment Productions’“This 15 Me” concert of Sarah Geronimo on May 6.

AJ: What are you future plans?

RMF: After my course there’s no other path for me to tread but towards the Broadway stage. I could only hope to get my Artist’s Visa and pray to see my name etched on the marquees of the Great White Way! For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo. com.

An Asian Journal Magazine

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY ApRil 27, 2018

An Asian Journal Magazine

8

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY ApRil 27, 2018

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