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Volume 11 – Issue 29 • 16 Pages
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Palace: Duterte still trusts Cayetano by PIA LEE-BRAGO
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
Philstar.com
The City of Cerritos’ first Fil-Am mayor to serve position once again THE City of Cerritos, California swore in Mark E. Pulido as its mayor on Wednesday, April 25 — four years after he became the city’s first-ever Filipino American to serve the position. “What I love most about serving City of Cerritos Mayor Mark Cerritos is the opE. Pulido portunity presented Photo courtesy of Gloria Pulido each and every day to give back to my hometown for the many blessings that I have received,” Pulido told the Asian Journal.
Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano
Philstar.com photo
MANILA — Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano still enjoys the trust and confidence of President Duterte despite a call by career officers at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) for his resignation due to what they called “gross incompetence” that led to the diplomatic row with Kuwait. Asked if Cayetano still had the backing of Duterte, presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. re-
plied, “Yes.” Roque, however, is leaving it up to Cayetano to answer the call of the career officers for the resignation of the foreign affairs secretary and his appointees. In a statement on Thursday, May 3, the DFA labeled a report of The Star about the call of career diplomats for Cayetano’s resignation as “malicious.” The career officers group pointed out that the President is the chief architect of Philippine foreign policy and engages in
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PH favored to host Miss Universe 2018 pageant in Boracay by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
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American Boracay resort owner arrested PHILIPPINE Bureau of Immigration (BI) agents have arrested an American tourist for illegally operating a beach resort on Boracay island. BI Commissioner Jaime Morente on Monday identified the foreigner as 52-year-old Randall Lee Parker, who was apprehended on April 25, barely a day before Boracay was closed by the government. Parker was arrested by BI intelligence operatives inside The Artienda, the resort he was illegally operating at Boracay’s Station Two, Morente said. The BI chief disclosed that he ordered Parker’s arrest after a complaint was filed against him for running the resort “without the appropriate work permit or visa.” “He will undergo deportation proceed-
high stakes diplomacy, with the secretary of foreign affairs bridging the gap with the international community. “Having no vision on foreign policy, Cayetano and his top aides miscalculated Kuwaiti reaction to the controversial rescue missions of distressed Filipino housemaids. This blunder resulted in the expulsion of our Ambassador to Kuwait, Rene (Renato) Villa, who was declared persona non grata by the host government,” the of-
LAND DISTRIBUTION. President Rodrigo Duterte, in his speech during the Pamamahagi ng Titulo Handog ng Pangulo program at Liwasang Alfaro G. Aguirre in Mulanay, Quezon on Wednesday, May 2, declares that he is willing to hand down government-owned land that are deemed unused or unproductive to the farmers. The president, however, was quick to add that he needs the cooperation of congress for the reform of government-owned lands. Malacañang photos by Alfred Frias
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AN organizer of the 2016 Miss Universe in the Philippines shared that the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) has approached them again for a possible restaging of the beauty pageant’s 2018 edition in the country. Requesting to be anonymous as he is representing a private company that helped stage Miss Universe 2016 in the country, the organizer confirmed that the MUO asked their company to be ready in helping to restage the pageant, should the Philippine government give it the green light. Tourism Undersecretary Kat De Castro said that there is a good chance the country is hosting the pageant once again. “It’s just me and the Miss Universe Organization trying to iron out a few details,” she said. Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon TulfoTeo said in April that President Rodrigo Duterte talked about restaging the Miss Universe pageant in Boracay — which was closed for rehabilitation last April 26 — to attract tourists back to the popular tourist
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PH ranks 2nd in Asia-Pacific in deaths due to household pollution DFA: Kuwaiti assurance of protection to PH workers may end diplomatic row
The Philippines has the third highest death rate in the region after China and Mongolia due to outdoor air pollution, says WHO. Inquirer.net photo
POLLUTION caused by traditional cooking fuel is killing people in the Philippines at higher rates than those in most other countries in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The Philippines has earned the distinction of having the region’s second biggest number of deaths due to indoor air pollution, WHO said in a recent report. Data gathered by the world health agency showed that close to 84 deaths per 100,000 Filipinos were recorded in 2016 due
to indoor or household air pollution. This put the Philippines second only to Laos, where at least 85 deaths per 100,000 population were recorded. The Philippines also ranked third in the number of deaths at 45.3 per 100,000 due to outdoor air pollution. China recorded 81.5 deaths, and Mongolia, 48.8. “Air pollution is the most lethal environmental health threat in our region, and it affects people
by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com
VIRAY
THE assurance of Kuwait to the Philippines that it would address the Filipino workers’ concerns could end the diplomatic row between the two countries, Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said on Tuesday, May 1. “This gesture on the part of Kuwait, a country with which we have a shared history and strong u PAGE A2 people-to-people ties, will allow us to move forward and hurdle the challenges we face,” Cayetano said in a statement.
Duterte: China vowed to spare Scarborough from island-building
Kuwaiti Deputy Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah said that his government was ready to work with Manila in addressing the concerns of Filipino workers in the Gulf state. Cayetano said the Philippines acknowledged Kuwait’s assurance to Manila of protecting the rights and promoting the welfare of 262,000 Filipinos working in the Gulf state where about 150,000 were household service workers. “This is a shared goal that should be pursued with willing-
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by NESTOR
CORRALES Inquirer.net
LAUNCH. The Philippine Consulate General in New York (PCG-NY), in partnership with the Philippine Department of Tourism New York, Philippine Airlines, and Tanduay Asian Rum launched the Filipino Restaurant Week 2018 (FRW 2018), on Thursday, 3 May 2018, at the Kalayaan Hall of the Philippine Center. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
CHINA has reassured President Rodrigo Duterte that Scarborough Shoal would be spared from Beijing’s militarization of the disputed South China Sea. Duterte said he had a recent meeting with Chinese officials, whom he did not identify. The president said he asked the officials to spare Scarborough shoal Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers Abdullah Mamao meets with Kuwaiti Deputy
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Foreign Minister Khaled Al-Jarallah.
Philstar.com photo
A May 4-10, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
Palace: Duterte still... PAGE A1 t
ficers said. The DFA said that the Union of Foreign Service Officers (UNIFORS), the Organization representing the career corps, has been inactive and that any position, statement or letter from the group would have to be circulated to the membership and signed by its leadership. “The alleged clamor by career officials for the Secretary to resign as contained in the supposed letter came from some who do not represent the views of the entire career Foreign Service Corps,” the DFA said in a statement. “Career officials remain committed to the highest standard of professionalism and patriotism. Under the guidance of the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, the career foreign service corps can be counted upon to pursue the President’s vision of an independent foreign policy,” it added. Meanwhile, the government has stopped the deployment of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) who are hired by manpower agencies in Qatar. In an advisory, Philippine Overseas Employment Administration chief Bernard Olalia said the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) will cease to verify and process recruitment documents for outsourcing and subcontracting companies in Qatar. “All verification and processing of documents for all categories of company workers being hired by manpower agencies shall be suspended,” Olalia said. He said the suspension would be lifted only after the POLO and the Philippine embassy in Qatar have reviewed the labor market situation and submitted a recommendation to resume verification and processing of recruitment
documents for agency-hired OFWs. Only documents verified by the POLO prior to the issuance of the advisory will be processed and the OFWs deployed, Olalia noted. According to Olalia, the government opted to suspend verification and processing amid mounting complaints of employment contract violations from OFWs employed by labor supply companies, cleaning and hospitality and subcontracting companies. “The reported employment violations include non-payment and underpayment of monthly salaries and benefits, illegal termination, substitution of contracts and maltreatment,” Olalia said. “Our workers will be in a better situation if they are employed in hotels, hospitals, schools and other establishments without being hired through manpower agencies,” Olalia added. Meanwhile, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III expressed confidence that the Philippines and Kuwait would soon resolve their diplomatic row and forge an agreement ensuring the protection of OFWs in the Gulf nation. In a radio interview, Bello said he is set to meet with his counterpart and several other Kuwaiti officials as part of efforts to resolve the recent diplomatic spat between the Philippines and Kuwait. “According to the Kuwaiti ambassador, they are eager to see me,” Bello said, as he expressed optimism that the diplomatic row will be resolved. He said he will fly to Kuwait as soon as the travel arrangements have been cleared. The labor chief said he would be traveling to Kuwait along with
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From the Front Page representatives from the Department of Foreign Affairs. Bello said upon their arrival in Kuwait, he would also negotiate for the release of two Philippine embassy drivers who were arrested after the video showing a rescue of distressed Filipino workers from the house of their employer went viral. Labor group Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisa at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) urged the government to resolve the row with Kuwait for the sake of thousands of OFWs there. SENTRO further called on the government to put in place reintegration programs for all migrants who would be repatriated from Kuwait and other countries. The group said the reintegration program should include not just job placement and training but also the establishment of a national savings program for migrant workers and their families. The government should make jobs in the country more attractive to prevent thousands of workers from seeking employment overseas. When President Duterte declared the deployment ban, other foreigners working in Kuwait were thankful because they were also covered by the amnesty program extended by the Kuwaiti government to OFWs, a Filipina who has been working in the Arab country for more than 20 years said. Like some OFWs, foreigners working without permits were covered by the amnesty program that was extended up to three months, said Loraine Dulay, before returning to Kuwait last Monday night. “Saludo kami sa president nyo. (We salute your president),” Dulay quoted foreigners before her flight. “That makes me proud as a Filipina.” n
PH ranks 2nd in Asia-Pacific in deaths...
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in middle-income countries at a much higher rate than those in high-income countries,” WHO regional director for Western Pacific, Dr. Shin Young-soo, said in a statement on Wednesday. Use of kerosene, wood The number of deaths related to indoor air pollution in the Philippines may be due to the use of kerosene and wood in stoves, open fires and lamps.
WHO noted that women and children were “most at risk” of household air pollution, as more than 40 percent of the world’s population had no access to clean cooking fuels and technologies in their homes. Outdoor air pollution is mainly caused by the “inefficient energy use in households, industry, the agriculture and transport sectors, and coal-fired power plants.” WHO said air quality could
also be influenced by geographical, meteorological and seasonal factors. Dangerously high Air pollution levels in many parts of Asia “remain dangerously high,” the agency said. Its new estimates also show that nine out of every 10 people worldwide breathe air “containing high levels of pollutants.” Of the 7 million premature deaths due to air pollution, a
PH-IMF COOPERATION. Senator Loren Legarda, Chair of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Finance, and Climate Change, together with Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno and Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez, met with International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde to discuss the Philippine economy, IMF’s work on “emerging issues”, and areas of cooperation between the IMF and the Philippines. The meeting was held on the sidelines of the recently-concluded 2018 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group in Washington D.C. Senate photo
PH favored to host Miss Universe 2018...
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destination. Teo said the DOT would be “very proud and happy” to showcase the island once it had recovered from the environmental damage it had suffered through the years. The Philippines has been reconsidered after talks with China reportedly failed because of Beijing’s refusal to broadcast Miss Universe live. PH gov’t to release P490-M for Boracay roads According to the government, they will release more than P400 million for the rehabilitation
of the world-famous Boracay, which has been closed down for a major clean up. Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno made the announcement at a press conference on Wednesday, May 2. He said that the department will shell out P490 million for the repair of the whole Boracay Circumferential Road in Aklan during the half-year closure of the island. The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has allotted P50 million for the improvement of Boracay Circumferential Road in the 2018 General Appropriations Act, while
the additional P490 million is an augmentation to fast-track project completion. The Boracay road rehabilitation project includes a 12-meter widening plan along the 5.2kilometer road in the villages of Manoc-Manoc, Yapak, and Balabag. The island’s drainage and sewerage system will also be improved. According to Diokno, the DBM has already released P448 million to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) to cover financial assistance for the affected residents and workers in Boracay. n
third, or 2.2 million, were from the Western Pacific region, which includes the Philippines, WHO said. Heart disease, stroke More than half of the 2.2 million deaths related to air pollution were due to heart disease or stroke. Other leading ailments are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and pneumonia. Despite the latest data, WHO said the Western Pacific region had shown some “progress” in
the last few years as measures were being taken to reduce air pollution from particulate matter. As a result, deaths went down by 600,000 from 2.8 million in 2012. “Many of the world’s megacities exceed WHO guideline levels for air quality by more than five times, representing a major risk to people’s health,” said Dr. Maria Neira, WHO director of public health, environmental and social determinants of health. Good news Neira added that the “good
news is that we are seeing more and more governments increasing commitments to monitor and reduce air pollution as well as more global action from the health sector and other sectors like transport, housing and energy.” WHO is expected to hold later this year the first Global Conference on Air Pollution and Health, which aims to bring together governments and partners in an effort to improve air quality and combat climate change. (Jovic Yee/Inquirer.net)
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 4-10, 2018
Family caregivers finally get a break – and extra coaching WASHINGTON — For today, there are no doctor’s visits. No long afternoons with nothing to do. No struggles over bathing — or not. At the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., a group of older adults — some in wheelchairs, some with Alzheimer’s — and their caregivers sit in a semicircle around a haunting portrait of a woman in white. “Take a deep breath,” said Lorena Bradford, head of accessible programs at the National Gallery, standing before “The Repentant Magdalen” by Georges de La Tour. “Now, let your eyes wander all over the painting. Take it all in. What do you think is going on?” “I think she looks sad,” said Marie Fanning, 75, of Alexandria, Va., an Alzheimer’s patient. “Yes. Yes, she looks sad,” said Bradford. “This is such a gift,” Bill Fanning, 77, Marie’s husband and caregiver, said of the outing. Across the country, community groups, hospitals, government agencies and nonprofits are doing more to support at least some of the estimated 42 million people who are the primary caregivers of adults and children who have disabilities, are recovering from surgeries and illnesses or are coping with Alzheimer’s and other chronic diseases. In California, for instance, Dignity Health Systems, the state’s
Lorena Bradford (left), head of accessible programs at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., leads a March 5 session of the Just Us program. The program gives adults with memory loss and their caregivers a chance to explore and discuss works of art in a small-group setting.
WORLD’S STRONGEST MAN. Brian Shaw throws the 65-pound kettle bell on the second day of the World’s Strongest Man competition held in Pasay City. The American, who had won the contest four times, was one of 40 men who joined the competition. ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma
American Boracay resort owner... PAGE A1 t
Research on other museum-based programs like the National Gallery’s Just Us has found that analyzing and discussing art in small groups reduces apathy among people with Alzheimer’s, and reduces stress and isolation among their caregivers. Photos byLynne Shallcross
largest nonprofit hospital company, is partnering with the nonprofit Santa Barbara Foundation to provide caregiver coaches to help caregivers transition their
The City of Cerritos’ first Fil-Am... PAGE A1 t Pulido, who has called Cerritos home since 1972, considers the city’s residents his extended family, often helping the parents, grandparents, or even children of those he grew up with. He also isn’t a new face in City Hall. In 2011, he was elected to the city council where he drew the most votes recorded in the city’s history of elections. In 2013, he served as Mayor Pro Tem before becoming the city’s first Fil-Am mayor in 2014. A year after, he was re-elected to the city council, and became mayor pro tem again in 2017. Outside City Hall, Pulido has an extensive history of service in both the local community, local state, and federal government. With a passion for education, he served on the ABC Unified School District Board for several years and served as board president in 2007-2008 before concluding his service in 2011. He also served as the board liaison for the ABC Federal Head State and State Preschool programs for seven years. He was awarded by the Los Angeles County Office of Education its “Board Member of the Year” award in 2009. In 2017, California Governor Jerry Brown appointed Pulido to the California Science Center Board of Directors and to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Commission. But Pulido’s leadership and community involvement started way back as a student of Cerritos’ Whitney High School, which has been ranked the number one school in California for several years. Among his most favorite memories of growing up in Cerritos, Pulido said it was starting the high school’s Club Kaibigan in 1984 — a club dedicated to enriching students with Filipino heritage. The club still exists today. “That was my very first leadership position,” said Pulido, laughing. “The purpose was to one, learn about the culture ourselves because we were born and raised in America. And two, it was to share it with our friends who were from different backgrounds, thus the name Kaibigan,” he added. Not much focus was being put on the Fil-Am youth during the 1980s and 1990s when gang violence, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse were among the social issues and challenges faced, he said. “I’m so proud of what we did collectively as young people,” he added. Around 200 students were involved with the club, including his wife Gloria. For Pulido, starting the club sent him on a path of purpose and leadership, and taught him what it meant to be grounded in his community. After high school, Pulido went on to study at the University of California, Los Angeles where he received his bachelor’s degree in history and Asian American studies and again honed his leadership skills by becoming the first Fil-Am to serve as UCLA student body president. He then went on to receive his Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Chicago as a Woodrow Wilson National Fellow, during which he also served as a graduate fellow of the Congressional Asian Pacific Ameri-
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can Caucus Institute at the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau for Justice Assistance in Washington, D.C. But Pulido eventually found himself coming back home to Cerritos with his wife Gloria — a Fil-Am who grew up in Cerritos herself — and who also attended UCLA where the couple was involved with the university’s Filipino club, Samahang Pilipino. for Cerritos are very much reflective of his strong connection to the community. Among tackling mayoral duties of preparing budgets, upgrading aging infrastructure, and ensuring public safety, Pulido’s longterm goals are focused on making sure the city’s plans are aligned with the needs and wants of its community members. “I’m always interested in engaging with residents to find out what are their continuing priorities, and their hopes and dreams for new ideas and new programs to be established in the City of Cerritos,” said Pulido. Before turning out of office in 2020, Pulido has his goals set to make sure its members are on the path of seeing their vision for their city fulfilled. More specifically, Pulido wants to empower the city’s youth and provide them the best opportunities to become leaders of the future. “I want to make sure we are doing things as a city, to assist families, our school districts, our communities, and the development of leaders of our future,” said Pulido. “It’s so important that our civic leaders come together consciously to stress and implement programs and services that will fully empower our youth.” Similarly, Pulido hopes to empower the community’s large senior population as well by ensuring them a continued quality of life in their golden years. “We’re a community where people move to because of the safe neighborhoods and quality schools which are factors that people look for when they want to raise families,” shared Pulido. “But now, we have this dynamic called Aging in Place,” he added. “Once people raise their kids and send them to college and enter retirement, people are choosing consciously to stay because they love their community.” On Cerritos’ strong FilipinoAmerican community, Pulido said he was proud of what it has become. Filipinos make up a large percentage of the city’s majority Asian community, with a population of 7,223. “I’m so proud of our FilipinoAmerican community in Cerritos for being a dynamic model of what can happen when Filipino Americans come together to support each other socially, economically, and politically,” said Pulido. “The Filipino-American community of Cerritos is more than 50 years old and we have fully realized the promise of political empowerment, civic engagement in our community, and in doing so, we are equal partners with all communities in moving our city forward. That is why I am so humbled to have the opportunity to lead as a mayor of Cerritos at this important time,” he added. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
patients to home care. At any given time, 1,000 caregivers are being coached, said Kathleen Sullivan, vice president of acute
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ings for illegally working in the country,” Morente said in a statement. He stressed that both the Labor Code and the Immigration Act “strictly forbid aliens from engaging in gainful activity unless they obtain a work permit from the labor department and employment visa from the BI.” Morente said that Parker, who arrived in the country as a
tourist, “blatantly violated the conditions of his stay as a temporary visitor” by engaging in such business activities. Parker has been in the Philippines as a tourist for almost two years after arriving on April 16, 2016, BI spokeswoman Atty. Antonette Mangrobang said. The spokeswoman bared that Parker’s stay as a tourist was supposed to be extended up to June 14 before his illegal operation was discovered. Previ-
ously, the American had gone in and out of the country since 2005, she added. “Existing laws that regulate the employment of aliens in the country are intended to ensure that their activities in the country are consistent with their immigration documentation,” Mangrobang said. “The rule is that aliens holding tourist visas are not allowed to engage in any form of gainful employment or business activity,” she stressed. (Julius N. Leonen/Inquirer)
A May 4-10, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
Third version of Trump’s travel ban reaches Supreme Court with intense arguments by Rae
ann VaRona AJPress
AFTER months of lower court battles, the third and current version of President Donald Trump’s travel ban reached the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 25 where heated arguments revolved around the president’s power to issue the ban, and whether or not the ban was to be seen as motivated by animus. Much like in the two previous versions, the ban’s third iteration bars travelers from five predominantly Muslim countries: Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen. The ban is also extended to certain government officials from Venezuela, and travelers from North Korea. Chad was originally on the ban list, but was removed by the Trump administration earlier this month. Central to Wednesday’s contentions were whether the president’s action was actually motivated by concern for national security, or by his personal beliefs. Solicitor General Noel Francisco, who represented the Trump administration, made a number of assertions centered on the argument that the ban was “not a so-called Muslim ban.” “If it were, it would be the most ineffective Muslim ban that one could possibly imagine,” said Francisco sometime during the oral argument. Among Francisco’s arguments was that a significant amount of people from Muslim countries would still be able to enter the U.S. Justice Stephen Breyer, an opposer of the ban, challenged Francisco’s claims and at one point, asked for numbers. Roughly 400 people would still be able to enter, said Francisco. Breyer responded, “That’s 400 out of 150 million.” Justice Samuel Alito joined in support, saying that the ban “doesn’t at all look
like a Muslim ban.” “Five predominantly Muslim countries are on this list. The population of the predominantly Muslim countries on this list make up about 8 percent of the world’s Muslim population,” Alito said. “If you looked at the 10 countries with the most Muslims, exactly one, Iran, would be on that list of the top 10.” Refuting Alito’s analysis, Neal Katyal — an attorney representing challengers — said, “The fact that the order only encompasses some Muslim countries, I don’t think means it’s not religious discrimination.” Katyal continued, “For example, if I’m an employer and I have 10 African-Americans working for me and I only fire two of them, I don’t think anyone can say that’s not discrimination.” Challengers to the latest ban cited Trump’s Twitter posts and campaign speeches about Muslims as being indicative that his personal opinions of Muslims played role in the ban. Trump’s tweets have hurt his arguments in court before. In a 9-4 ruling in February in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit, the federal appeals court concluded that the third version of the ban was “unconstitutionally tainted with animus toward Islam.” Challengers referenced the “words of the President” as “undisputed evidence” of anti-Muslim bias, with the 4th Circuit Chief Judge Roger Gregory citing the president’s “disparaging comments and tweets regarding Muslims.” The second version of the ban was blocked by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in June of last year with judges citing a tweet by Trump from the same month that pointed to “dangerous countries” in justifying the ban. Trump’s tweet weakened the government’s argument, the
court argued. On Wednesday, Justice Elena Kagan — an Obama appointee — presented for the court a hypothetical in which a “vehement anti-Semite” presidential candidate “says all kinds of denigrating comments about Jews and provokes a lot of resentment and hatred over the course of a campaign and in his presidency”, and later issues a proclamation that says “no one shall enter from Israel.” Francisco called Kagan’s hypothetical “extreme”, but boldly said that if the president’s Cabinet were to inform him of a national risk, he could issue such a proclamation, “even if in his private heart of hearts he also harbored animus” — essentially saying that private citizen Trump and public President Trump should not be received the same. Justice Anthony Kennedy — who some see as a possible tie-breaker for the ideologically divided court — also posed a hypothetical on Wednesday. “Suppose you have a local mayor and, as a candidate, he makes vituperative hateful statements, and he’s elected, and on day two, he takes acts that are consistent with those hateful statements… Whatever he said in the campaign is irrelevant?” asked Kennedy. Maintaining the argument to distance private citizen Trump and President Trump, Francisco said yes. “We do think that oath marks a fundamental transformation, but I would also say here it doesn’t matter, because, here, the statements that they principally rely on don’t actually address the meaning of the proclamation itself,” said Francisco. Chief Justice John Roberts questioned the statute of limitations on whether Trump’s campaign statements on immigration would hold him unable to address immigration indefinitely. n
Duterte: China vowed to spare Scarborough... PAGE A1 t from Beijing’s aggressive islandbuilding. Scarborough Shoal is the international name of Panatag Shoal, a rich fishing ground 143 miles off Zambales province that China seized after a two-month maritime standoff with the Philippines in 2012.
Filipino fishermen were now allowed to fish in the shoal but with coast guard ships nearby. “During our talks last three weeks ago, wag lang galawin Scarborough. They promised no construction,” Duterte said a speech before troops in Cebu on Tuesday, May 2. The president had earlier men-
tioned that China assured him they would not build anything in the Scarborough shoal following reports that Beijing would construct environmental monitoring station there. China has reclaimed several islands and reefs in the South China Sea and has installed military facilities on some of them. n
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REMOVE IMPEACHABLE OFFICIALS. Mother Mary John Manansan (left) together with 56 leaders of the Coalition for Justice (CFJ) formally called on senators to fulfill the Senate’s Constitutional mandate to assert its power to remove impeachable officers, citing Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno’s impeachment case pending in the Lower House during a press conference at the Senate in Pasay City on Wednesday, May 2. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
Ancajas ecstatic for historic bout vs Sultan INTERNATIONAL BOXING FEDERATION (IBF) super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas is raring to make history with countryman Jonas Sultan when they collide on May 26 at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, California. This will mark the first time two Filipinos will clash for a world title in almost a century, and the 26year-old Ancajas is elated to play a huge part in it. “I am so glad and very grateful that I was given an opportunity to fight Jonas Sultan,” Ancajas (271-1, with 19 KOs) said in a news release from his promoter, Top Rank Inc. The Magallanes, Cavite-based boxer will put his title on the line against Sultan, the No. 1 ranked contender from Cebu City. The latter earned the title shot when he outpointed former flyweight champion John Riel Casimero in their eliminator last year. The last time two Filipinos fought for a world title was on May 2, 1925, when boxing great Francisco Guilledo, popularly known as “Pancho Villa,” defended his flyweight crown against Clever Sencio in Manila. Now Ancajas said it’s up to him and Sultan to put on a show to remember.
IBF junior bantamweight champion Jerwin Ancajas will put his title on the line against countryman Jonas Sultan. Philstar.com photo
“We are given a chance to display our talents on a world stage, two Filipinos fighting for a world title. This is history, and our names will be linked forever,” he added. Anjacas seeks to o further build on the momentum of his rousing U.S. debut in February when he knocked out Israel Vazquez in his fourth title defense. Prior to that, he has defended his title three
times in different parts of the world — against Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in Macau; Teiru Kinoshita in Brisbane, Australia; and Jamie Conlan in Belfast, Ireland. Sultan, for his part, is riding on a five-fight winning streak — winning four bouts by knockout— since a 10-round unanimous decision loss to Go Onaga in 2015. (Dino Maragay/Philstar. com)
DFA: Kuwaiti assurance of protection... PAGE A1 t ness to understand and respect where each side is coming from,” said Cayetano. “We affirm our friendship with the government of Kuwait and its people. The strength of that friendship will withstand this misunderstanding.” “Kuwait rejects any breach against its sovereignty or laws and would act decisively against any relevant attempt,” Al-Jaral-
lah said. Cayetano, however, was silent on the strong position of Kuwait against the breach of sovereignty, which may have been committed by the Philippines when it carried out several rescue missions on distressed OFWs which was revealed after a video of the operations were posted over social media. The viral video angered the Kuwaiti government, which
Family caregivers finally... PAGE A3 t care services for Dignity. “Now caregivers are identified as a partner in the health team” of the patient, she said. “They’re given a badge, they have a tote bag with information, and the hospital knows who to contact.” The group works with nonprofit aging agencies to provide in-home coaches, she said. “When people get home from the hospital, they’re just exhausted. They don’t remember what they were told in the hospital.” The National Gallery’s program in Washington, D.C., focuses on the health, well-being and education of caregivers, as well as those they are caring for. “We know that involvement with art improves well-being. In our own research for persons with dementia, we see a reduction in apathy. For caregivers, we see less isolation and a reduction in stress,” said Carolyn Halpin-Healy, executive director of the Arts & Minds program for caregivers and patients at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She co-founded the program with Columbia University neurologist James Noble in 2010 at the Harlem Studio Museum in New York. The Just Us program in Washington is a spinoff of that program. Other museums in New York and Dubuque, Iowa, have similar programs. A new bipartisan law signed by President Donald Trump in January calls for a national strategy to address the needs of caregivers, who are primarily women and provide 37 billion hours in unpaid care to relatives or close friends valued at $470 billion, according to an AARP study. The law will require the Department of Health and Human Services to set up an advisory council and develop a blueprint for government action on financial, workplace, respite care and other caregiver issues. At the same time, 42 states — including California — have passed laws requiring hospitals and other facilities to provide training for caregivers who perform medical tasks, and to record them as the “caregiver” when patients are admitted or released from hospitals or nursing facilities. In states without that law Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont and Wisconsin (Kansas’ law takes effect in July) — patients can be dismissed
from the hospital without family members being told or briefed fully on what care the patient needs. The CARE Act is “more than just a law,” said Elaine Ryan, AARP vice president of state advocacy and strategy. “It’s a change in the practice of health care.” Helping the helpers Caregivers are almost two times more likely to have emotional and physical problems, and three times more likely to have productivity problems at work, according to a 2015 study by Johns Hopkins. The more intense the care, the greater the effects, the study said. Dr. Eric Coleman, a gerontologist who received a MacArthur “genius award” grant in 2012, created the Care Transitions Intervention model (CTI). The national program based at the University of Colorado in Denver trains coaches. The coaches are usually social workers, nurses or others hired by hospitals and other facilities to work directly with caregivers. Coaches talk to the caregiver before patients are discharged from a hospital. Then they have a one-hour coaching session at the patient’s home, and three follow-up phone calls. Studies have shown that having transition coaches can drop readmission to hospitals by 20 to 50 percent, said Coleman. Even if a caregiver is with the patient when doctors give instructions, the medical talk can go right over their heads, he said. “We tell people that for the next 24 to 48 hours, here are key things you need to do. Then we follow up at home,” he said. Caregivers do more than make meals; they perform medical tasks like giving medicine, taking blood pressure, changing bandages and more. Yet they receive virtually no training, Coleman said. “I’m a physician, and when I take care of my mom, I have an endless loop in my head,” of the to-do list, he said. A study by AARP found that 46 percent of family caregivers perform medical/nursing tasks, 78 percent of family caregivers manage medications, and 53 percent of family caregivers serve as care coordinators. The majority said they received no training. Caregivers are “the backbone of our health system,” said Dr. Alan Stevens, a gerontologist
ordered the expulsion Philippine Ambassador Rene Villa, detention of four Filipinos hired by the Philippine Embassy; and the issuance of arrest warrants against three diplomatic personnel. The DFA, until now, has not made any statement regarding the status of the detained Filipinos as well as the warrants of the arrest. (Jefferson Antiporda/ ManilaTimes.net) who trains caregivers in partnership with Baylor Scott White, the largest nonprofit hospital company in Texas, and a group of aging agencies across the state. “If caregivers go away, we have a problem. It’s important to better understand their needs — and to help them.” Linking hospitals with caregivers In Virginia, the Bay Area Council on Aging and a consortium of four other groups and five hospitals are training caregiver coaches using the CTI program. The key to successful coaching of caregivers is to take training to the homes of caregivers and patients, said Kathy Vesley, of the Bay Area Council on Aging in Fredericksburg, Va. “Some of these folks are very ill and they’re managing 12-plus medications,” said Vesley. “You get into the home and they say, ‘Here’s my shopping bag of medicines.’ And it’s literally a shopping bag.” The consortium has seen 26,000 patients and caregivers over the past 2½ years and readmission to the hospitals fell from 23.4 to 9 percent, she said. Coaches help with food, medicine and video training for how to do medical procedures and help solve issues like how to get patients to doctor’s appointments. Out in rural southeastern Virginia, “transportation takes a whole new meaning,” she said, “when your driveway is half a mile long.” Having fun helps, too Caregivers need a little fun and relaxation, said Jason Resendez, executive director of the Latinos Against Alzheimer’s Coalition. About 8 million Latinos are caregivers for their family members, and nearly 2 million are caring for family members with Alzheimer’s, he said. For instance, in Los Angeles, Latino groups partnered on a play performed in Spanish about a son who is his mother’s caregiver. It was a comedy. And in Chicago, the Latino Alzheimer’s and Memory Disorders Alliance (LAMDA) holds caregiver training — and free salsa dancing classes. “It’s not just about translation; it’s not just about handing out pamphlets,” he said. This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. (Mindy Fetterman/Kaiser Health News)
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 4-10, 2018
Dateline PhiliPPines
A
Duterte among ‘strongmen’ in TIME cover story Vice Pres. poll recount:
Photo from Twitter/@Ian Bremmer
mANILA — President rodrigo Duterte has been included on the cover — and in the cover story — of the may 14 issue of TIME magazine international edition. The article, “rise of the Strongman” is on a global trend in favor of “more muscular, assertive leadership” embodied by U.S. President Donald Trump and russian President Vladimir Putin. “In every region of the world, changing times have boosted public demand for more muscular, assertive leadership. These toughtalking populists promise to protect ‘us’ from ‘them.’ Depending on who’s talking, ‘them’ can mean the corrupt elite or the grasping poor; foreigners or members of racial, ethnic or religious minorities. or disloyal politicians, bureaucrats, bankers or judges. or lying reporters,” the TIME article reads. “out of this divide, a new archetype of leader has emerged. We’re now in the strongman era.” The article, written by American political scientist Ian Bremmer, describes Duterte as a “former mayor who talked more like a mob boss than a president” and who was elected into power in response to rising street crime and because of his promise to wipe out the drug trade. Aside from Putin, whom Duterte has admitted to admiring, the article also features Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is described as having “used an anticorruption
campaign to sideline potential rivals while consolidating power on a historic scale” and whom President Duterte has professed love for. Widely popular leader Duterte remains popular in the Philippines, where many seem to agree with the government’s heavy-handed campaign against illegal drugs. In a Social Weather Stations poll released late April 2018, Duterte had a “very good” net trust rating of +65. This was down from an “excellent” +75 in December 2017. SWS defines net trust rating as the rounded off difference between respondents who said they have “much trust” in the president and those who said they have “little trust.” Three in every four Filipinos or 76 percent of the 1,200 adult respondents said they have “much trust” in Duterte, down from 83 percent recorded in December. Ten percent of the respondents said they have “little trust” in the president while 14 percent were undecided. opposition to the government drug war as well as to other government policies are often explained away as done by criminals, paid trolls, or corrupt politicians who want to return to power. Duterte has also railed against criticism and concern from foreign countries and international organizations, telling them to stop
meddling in Philippine affairs. In march, the Philippines announced it is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court because of supposed meddling by the court’s prosecutor, who had announced a preliminary examination into alleged crimes against humanity in the war on drugs. The Palace had, until then, welcomed the opportunity to address the allegations and had taken pains to explain that a preliminary examination is not an investigation. Bremmer writes that advances in information and communication technologies that seemed able to empower the individual against the state has been reversed. “[T]he world’s autocrats drew a different lesson. They saw an opportunity for government to try to become the dominant player in how information is shared and how the state can use data to tighten political control.” In the Philippines, the government has repeatedly denied employing so-called cyber armies to spread propaganda and to create “an artificial sense of popularity, momentum or relevance.” The Palace also last month denied having dealings with Strategic Communications Laboratories as first reported by the South China Morning Post. SCL is the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, a data marketing firm that was involved in a data breach that may have affected 1.1 million Filipino Facebook users. The TIME article was posted online as the Philippines marked World Press Freedom Day. earlier Thursday, media groups said there had been at least 85 instances of attacks against the press since Duterte came to power in 2016 — these attacks range from murder to online harassment. A separate group also raised concerns that freedom of opinion and expression in the Philippines are under threat. Socio-civic group “Let’s organize for Democracy and Integrity” on Thursday sent a six-page petition to David Kaye, UN special rapporteur on the promotion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. “We appeal for quick action from your end as President Duterte’s government rapidly constricts democratic space, especially that reserved by the constitution,” the alliance said. The group stressed that the Philippine press is facing the “most serious challenges since the downfall of the late dictator Ferdinand marcos” citing attacks against journalists under the Duterte administration. (Philstar. com)
Ex-CJ Puno: Two-party system ‘best’ for PH by Julius
n. leonen Inquirer.net
Former Chief Justice reynato Puno believes that a two-party political system is the “best” system for the Philippines at its current stage of political development. In an ambush interview on Wednesday, may 2, Puno said that the country had not reached the level of political maturity where more than two parties could participate in politics. “The study of this Consultative Committee is that at this stage of our political development, it is best to have a two-party political system,” the former chief magistrate told reporters. “We don’t like a uni-party political system where you have only one party because surely
that is not good for democracy. Nor are we sympathetic to the adoption of a multiparty system,” he said. Puno made the remark after malacañang’s Consultative Committee, which he chairs, adopted to include provisions in the draft federal charter that would ban political turncoatism. “The stress in all these reforms is to strengthen our political parties. We want to establish a meaningful two-party system,” Puno said. While the multiparty system was adopted in other countries such as those in europe, Puno explained: “We have not reached that level of political maturity yet where we can migrate from a two-party system to a multiparty system.” n
marCelo
Philstar.com
mANILA — The Presidential Commission on Good Government (PCGG) has failed to dispose of the ill-gotten properties it recovered from the cronies of the late strongman Ferdinand marcos, according to a report of the Commission on Audit (CoA). The report, posted on the CoA website over the weekend, said there were nine recovered properties set for sale in 2017, but not one has been sold as of yearend. The list was contained in the privatization plan that the PCGG submitted to the Department of Justice on April 20, 2017. “The audit team said that during the year, there was no public bidding conducted to privatize the assets. The management failed to dispose of the properties from previous years,” the CoA report read. The audit body said the last time the PCGG was able to dispose of the ill-gotten properties was in 2014, where only three of the 11 assets scheduled for privatization were sold to private buyers. Had the nine properties set for bidding in 2017 been sold, these
would have generated P336.014 million in income to the government. The amount was supposed to be used in the implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian reform Program (CArP) as provided under republic Act 6657. The nine properties listed for disposal included a 26,812-hectare Bredco property in Bacolod City which was surrendered to the government in a compromise agreement with Antonio martel and Simplicio Palanca; a 6.4-hectare property in General mariano Alvarez, Cavite surrendered by Jose Campos; a 5,952-square meter lot in Naga City recovered from roberto Benedicto’s Banahaw Broadcasting Corp.; a 2,335sqm lot in Francisco evergreen Subdivision in Tagaytay City; a 1,000-sqm Puerto Galera property in oriental mindoro recovered from Jolly Bugarin; a 300-sqm lot in Calapan, oriental mindoro also from Bugarin; a 480-sqm lot Kingswood Property in emerald Court Subdivision, Caloocan City surrendered by former marcos aide Alejo Ganut Jr.; two 300-sqm lots in Pangarap Village, Caloocan City also from Ganut.
by Jomar
Canlas Philstar.com
THe lead posted by Vice President ma. Leonor “Leni” robredo further dwindled as the Supreme Court, sitting as the Presidential electoral Tribunal (PeT), continued its recount of votes cast for the vice presidential election in 2016. Former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” marcos sought the recount claiming the vice presidential election was marred by fraud. PeT insiders on Wednesday said that on the third week of the manual recount, robredo’s lead was shaved by 21,000 votes. Thus, robredo’s lead of 263,473 votes over marcos narrowed to about 242,000. In the official tally of votes, robredo got 14,418,817 votes while marcos got 14,155,344. Sources said revisors continued to discover evidence of cheating and vote tampering. more wet ballots were found, and these smelled of chemicals. Some ballots had cigarette burns. revisors also reported missing election returns (ers) and voter’s receipts, figures that do not conform with official tallies as well as voter’s receipts mixed with pre-shaded ballots in many of the clustered precincts in Camarines Sur. Insiders said ballot boxes from the town of milaora, Camarines Sur yielded election returns soaked in battery acid. The sources said batteries of the Vote Counting machines (VCms) were found inside the ballot boxes. Wet ballots were found at the start of the recount. Dozens of ballot boxes also had no audit logs. revisors said 38 out of the 40 ballot boxes opened from the town of Bato in Camarines Sur had missing audit logs. The PeT is set to revise more than 5,800 clustered precincts from marcos’ pilot provinces of Camarines Sur, Iloilo and Negros oriental. So far, revisors have finished the recount of all ballot boxes collected from 16 towns of Camarines Sur—Baao, Balatan, Bato,
Buhi, Bula, Camaligan, Canaman, ocampo, Gainza, Garchitorena, Lagonoy, magarao, Pili, Presentacion, Sangay and San Fernando. The PeT is counting votes from the towns of milaor, minalabac Vice Pres. Leni Robredo Philstar.com photo and Sipocot. n
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PCGG fails to sell Marcos wealth in 2017 by elizabeth
Robredo lead dwindles
The CoA said the properties were not sold due to PCGG’s failure to reappraise them. During the exit conference with the audit team, PCGG acting chairman reynold munsayac admitted that the commission is hesitant to privatize the assets due to CoA’s issuance of notices of charge against the past management. The CoA issues a notice against a transaction if the tax, customs duties or appraisal of property is pegged lower than the expected or targeted valuation. munsayac said it was the Department of Finance and the Privatization Council that set the floor prices of the previously disposed properties, but the CoA still set a higher value. He promised that the PCGG management would work with the CoA for the reappraisal of the value of the properties and set new floor prices. P377.66-M remittance Despite the failure to sell any property in 2017, the CoA said the PCGG was able to remit to the Bureau of Treasury (BoTr) a total of P377.66 million, which exceeded the commission’s remittance
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A6 MAY 4-10, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
http://www.asianjournal.com • (212) 655-5426
FEATURES
OPINION
Deployment ban
IS the ban permanent or temporary? As of Tuesday, May 1, the word from the Department of Labor and Employment was that the ban on the deployment of overseas Filipino workers to Kuwait would be lifted once the two countries sign a memorandum of understanding to protect OFWs in the Arab state. It’s unclear if the Department of Foreign Affairs, whose personnel in Kuwait appear to need more training in diplomacy, is aware of the stand of the DOLE. It’s also unclear if President Rodrigo Duterte, who announced over the weekend that the ban would become permanent, agrees with his labor secretary, and whether he would still proceed with his trip to Kuwait for the signing of the MOU. Equally unclear is what might be in store for OFWs who heed calls for them to leave Kuwait and return to the Philippines. There are approximately 252,000 Filipinos in Kuwait, with more than half of them domestic helpers. So far there has been no rush to leave their jobs in Kuwait amid the diplomatic row between the two countries. Those OFWs left the Philippines for better employment opportunities, and the country for
the most part still has not come up with anything that can match what Kuwait has to offer. In the Visayas, thousands of people have just been added to the ranks of the unemployed following the unprecedented shutdown of Boracay for six months. A number of them will no longer get their jobs back. The diplomatic crisis in Kuwait should lead to improved coordination among government agencies as the government works out an agreement for protecting OFWs. The crisis must also strengthen the resolve of the national leadership to create more jobs with decent pay in the Philippines. Urging Filipinos to come home amid reports of abuses – and seeing the call ignored – says a lot about the state of a nation that cannot provide enough meaningful employment opportunities to its people. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Philstar.com photo
Workers’ health, safety, and pay are among the casualties of Trump’s war on regulations — Economic Policy Institute
The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS MAY DAY. May 1 is International Workers’ Day, a day when many countries around the world commemorate the working class of their nation. The “obrero” or workers and their supporters took to the streets to fight for workers’ rights, better working conditions and equitable pay. In the United States, this year’s commemoration is especially significant given how the Trump administration has been leading the way toward retrogression in the nation’s goal and aspiration to help the working class. In fact, on December 14, 2017, President Donald Trump held a press conference to take credit for the “most far-reaching regulatory reform in history,” and took pride in announcing that his administration has been responsible for more than 1,500 cancelled or delayed regulatory action, many of which were Obama-era regulations. Trump and the Republicans in Congress declared war on regulations over the last year by rolling back rules that were intended to protect workers, consumers, and public health. According to Economic Policy Institute’s Perkins Project
on Worker Rights and Wages — workers’ health, safety, and pay are among the casualties of Trump’s war on regulations. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) “is a nonprofit, nonpartisan think tank created in 1986 to include the needs of low- and middle-income workers in economic policy discussions. EPI believes every working person deserves a good job with fair pay, affordable health care, and retirement security. To achieve this goal, EPI conducts research and analysis on the economic status of working America. EPI proposes public policies that protect and improve the economic conditions of low- and middle-income workers and assesses policies with respect to how they affect those workers.” The EPI lists the following “casualties” of Trump’s year of deregulation: Deregulation casualty #1: Workers’ health and safety • Rolling back a rule that required employers to keep accurate records of workplace injuries and illnesses • Delaying a rule requiring employers submit injury and illness records electronically to OSHA. This Obama-era rule aims to identify patterns so that workplace hazards can be ad-
dressed and worker injuries and illnesses prevented. And because this information will be easily accessible to a broad audience on OSHA’s website, employers are more likely to comply with workplace safety rules to protect their workers—knowing that they’ll have to answer to the public if they don’t. • Delaying a rule protecting workers from exposure to harmful silica dust This Obama administration rule lowered workers’ permissible exposure limit to deadly crystalline silica dust. cancer-causing respirable crystalline silica. Studies have linked exposure to silica to lung cancer, silicosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and kidney disease. About 2.3 million workers are exposed to respirable crystalline silica in their workplaces, including 2 million construction workers who drill, cut, crush, or grind silica-containing materials such as concrete and stone • Rolling back protections for workers exposed to beryllium, exposure to which causes significant risks of chronic beryllium disease and lung cancer for workers • Proposing to weaken the inspection rule for metal and nonmetal mines. Under the Obamaera rule, mine safety inspectors
were allowed to conduct a safety examination at any time, including during the mineworkers’ shifts, which allows inspectors to spot unsafe practices and stop them before someone gets hurt. • Considering a proposal to increase poultry line speeds, endangering workers by placing poultry slaughter and processing workers at increased risk of injury, illness, or death • Proposing to weaken protections for farmworkers, The Trump Environmental Protection Agency proposed weakening regulations protecting farmworkers from harmful effects of pesticide exposure. Roughly 2,000–3,000 cases of acute pesticide exposure occur amon. Deregulation casualty #2: Workers’ wage • Proposing to make it legal for employers to take workers’ hard-earned tips • Taking money out of workers’ pockets by weakening the overtime rule Deregulation casualty #3: Workers’ savings • Rolling back rules that made it easier for workers to save for retirement • Delaying a rule providing protections for retirement savers. The rule simply requires financial advisers to provide what
most clients probably already think they are receiving: advice about their retirement plans untainted by conflicts of interest. Conflicted advice leads to lower investment returns, causing real losses for the clients who are victimized. Deregulation casualty #4: Workers’ safety nets • Putting the EEO-1 pay data rulePutting the EEO-1 pay data rule on hold. “Collecting pay data is a significant step forward in addressing discriminatory pay practices. This information will assist employers in evaluating their pay practices to prevent pay discrimination and strengthen enforcement of our federal anti-discrimination laws.” ª Proposing to roll back an SEC rule that requires disclosure of CEO-to-employee pay ratios. Rolling back the rule will simply deny workers and shareholders information necessary for them to evaluate CEO compensation and performance and determine the fairness of their own compensation structure. This allows corporate interests to operate behind closed doors with less accountability to the public and to workers. In 2016 CEOs in America’s largest firms made an average of $15.6 million in compensation, or 271
times the annual average pay of the typical worker. Deregulation casualty #6: Workers’ rights to organize and join a union • Rolling back a transparency rule that would allow workers to know when their employer has hired outside anti-union consultants during a union election • Rolling back rules to modify and streamline union elections Deregulation casualty #7: Consequences for employers who violate workers’ rights • Rolling back the Fair Pay and Safe Workplaces rule. This rule would have helped ensure that federal contracts (and taxpayer dollars) are not awarded to companies with track records of labor and employment law violations. Workers, taxpayers, and law-abiding contractors would have benefited from this rule. Having known these, are the Trump administration and the Republicans in Congress really looking after your rights and protection as workers? *** 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
Millennials take on DU30 and EDCA
Commentary
LITO MONICO C. LORENZANA THE Centrist Democracy Political Institute (CDPI) has been accepting third-year college students as OJT interns (on the job training) for the past decade. We have been fortunate in having young people (aged 18 to 22 years), coming from different schools in the provinces, work with us for six to eight weeks during their summer break. This year’s batch is the smallest. Craig Vincent Tibon, 19, Dennis Jay Paras, 20, and Nizle Caraballe, 19. They all come from Liceo de Cagayan de Oro and will graduate with degrees in international studies or political science. Last year’s batch of four females and two males was outstanding: three finished magna cum laude with one a sobresaliente, and two cum laude. Craig, a sobresaliente himself, is on track for a summa cum laude this incoming schoolyear. Both the CDPI and the interns benefit from these arrangements. The students get to learn to work in a real office environment and do field work on “political technocracy,” with schedules, assignments and deadlines, preparing them for an early professional life postcollege. CDPI profits from this
arrangement as the OJTs inject fresh insights and perspectives into our political institute; which brings me to this week’s article. I wanted to mine the brains of my young colleagues, gauge the depth of their socio-political awareness, and for them to put to paper their take as millennials on the issues of the day. They were given less than a week to write a 400 to 800-word essay on their favorite issues with one or two suggested by CDPI. Two out of three topics were about President Duterte while the lone female preferred the encroachment of the U.S. bases in the Philippines. What was evident is their predilection for sourcing news and issues almost wholly from social media. This could eventually spell the demise of the broadsheets as young readers migrate towards the exclusive use of internet platforms. The choice of topics reflects how abreast they are with current issues. Craig’s take on the Deegong is straight, linear and bold: “…the most powerful person in the country, the President, is not exempted from being the center of the discourse…apparently, this set of millennials believe that Digong is an imperial president. They argue that the president destroys the democratic processes and institutions of the country.
But there is an apparent cleavage of opinions between the pros and anti (Duterte). However, there are ‘passersby’ not (paying) attention on issues (not found) on their (FB) timelines. They are apathetic.” Dennis on the other hand employs the Socratic method: Is Deegong a prudent and rational man or is he just another bad decisionmaker? Machiavelli once said, ‘A prudent man never honors his words’…one could say that Deegong is indeed a prudent man due to his mood swings and his unique style of decision-making, which can be compared to modern artworks (complex, weird and unorthodox yet still has an appeal to the viewing public).” Such declarations may provoke debate among the more articulate millennials, particularly those now working in various professions. Most, however, seem to be ambivalent and oblivious of the passion of the moment – the erratic behavior of DU30 – particularly those who are still ensconced within the comfortable and safe confines of their classrooms. This is understandable as the millennials and the X Gen (40 +) barely have the firsthand memories of a dictatorship but only the lessons to be learned from books, essays and documents, mostly written by the baby boomers. The imposition of martial law and life
within a dictatorial regime are alien to their experience. But the greater danger lies where lessons are not learned and the creeping conditions similar to those of the Marcos dictatorship will again descend upon us. We need to be mindful of George Santayana’s dictum. Which brings me also to the short article of the lone female OJT on the Philippine-U.S. relationship. Nizle’s take is that recent news signaled the sneaking intrusion of American forces into the country with the bilateral military exercise “known as Balikatan – happening next month (May 7-18, 2018). This caters to the U.S.-Philippine arrangement in response to a recent crisis; but the cooperation and interoperability of the U.S. and Philippine armed forces is the core of this exercise; (depicting) too the embodiment of diplomatic affairs on both sides.” It will be recalled that past American administrations (Bush Sr./Reagan) were the champions of the Marcos dictatorship. In 1998, the U.S. military bases in the country, were taken out, eroding U.S. prestige in Southeast Asia. The Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA) was signed between the two countries as a watered-down version covering the U.S. military presence in the region, establishing the annual bilateral military
exercises called Balikatan. When the deadly Typhoon Yolanda (Haiyan) hit the Philippines in November 2013, the U.S. Marines were the first to arrive and give aid to the victims through the “disaster relief crisis response.” From this sprung the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) signed by the two countries. Effective for an initial period of 10 years, and enforced yearly thereafter unless terminated by either party, EDCA allows U.S. forces to operate out of agreed locations – facilities and areas that are provided by our government through our Armed Forces (AFP). Operational control of these facilities is with the US forces although the Philippines retains ownership of the “agreed locations.” The U.S. government asked for access to eight locations in the Philippines. We agreed to five. On April 18, 2018, the first “EDCA project broke ground at the Pampanga Basa Air Base for a ‘multi-purpose Humanitarian Response Warehouse.’ Defense Secretary Lorenzana said it will respond to the evolving security challenges and promote peace in the Asian region” Except for the remnants of the leftist groups in the country, these developments did not seem to disturb the equanimity of the mil-
lennials. With all media platform inundated by news about China’s illegal infringement on our territories in the West Philippine Sea, its bullying tactics, and Malacañang’s lame and inutile response, the millennials may be tolerant and even welcome the “return of the U.S. forces.” The perspectives of the millennials may be different from those of the past generations; and rightly so as they have one thing going for them today absent in our time – immediate and unfettered access to information. But with this rapid growth of technology, they are inundated with facts and “pseudo facts,” and a plethora of data, opinion and viewpoints. Do they have the sophisticated mind to separate the chaff from the grain allowing them to formulate their own views? The contribution of the interns manifested in their essays puts the answer in the positive. And labeling the President as ‘imperial’ and an unorthodox decision-maker; plus, their healthy skepticism about the continued presence of America in the country, they also have the courage to say it. This specific characteristic of the Filipino millennial is crucial in the maintenance and furtherance of the country’s democracy. We are in good hands! (ManilaTimes. net)
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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A
‘I’LL COME BACK’
Sister Patricia Fox defiant over expulsion by CeCil
Morella Philstar.com
MANILA — She spent decades helping the Philippines’ poorest people, but Australian nun Patricia Fox is fighting deportation after drawing President Rodrigo Duterte’s ire -- and says she will try to return even if expelled. The 71-year-old Melbourne native is due to be kicked out of the country by May 25 after Duterte personally accused her of political activism that violates the rules of her visa. Fox was singled out as Manila cracks down on foreign critics on its soil, where the president’s deadly anti-drug war has provoked a storm of international condemnation. The government deportation order against her sparked outrage from rights advocates and the religious community, but authorities are pressing ahead. “I’m still hoping that somehow something will happen (to stop the expulsion),” she said. Even if her appeal fails, Fox said she would still like to return and resume her work in the nation that has been home since 1990. “If I can come back as a tourist I’ll try and come back,” she said. “This is my life.” She landed in the Philippines as a member of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, a congregation of nuns founded in France in 1847 and famed for harbouring Jews fleeing from Nazi persecution in World War II. A former practising lawyer who worked with indigent clients in Australia, Fox said she has been educating landless Filipino farm hands and factory workers about their rights.
Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox is welcomed by human rights activists as she is escorted by immigration officers following her release from the Bureau of Immigration compound in Manila. Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman
Then on April 16 immigration service agents arrived at the congregation’s modest Manila office. Fox, the country head of an eight-member missionary group, was hauled off to the government agency’s headquarters, where she was informed of the allegations. She said she spent the night on the floor of the immigration service building, lying on a borrowed blanket and getting little sleep. The nun said she apparently angered the president by joining a fact-finding mission in April to investigate alleged abuses against farmers, including killings and evictions by soldiers fighting guerrillas in the southern Philippines. In Duterte’s hometown of Davao, Fox went to see farmers detained on charges of possessing explosives, and attended a press conference by workers who were fired after demanding better wages and conditions. “I gave a solidarity statement saying the social teachings of the
Catholic Church say you have the right to unionise, you have the right to just wages, you have the right to security of tenure,” she said. Fox said she thought she was safe in espousing a pet advocacy of the president. Duterte vowed during the 2016 election campaign to end the common corporate practice of hiring workers on five-month contracts to avoid paying benefits enjoyed by permanent employees. Yet hours after Fox’s release, Duterte announced he had personally ordered her investigated as a warning to foreigners who criticise his government. Fox said she has been quiet on the narcotics crackdown, a sensitive point that usually draws a response from Duterte. “Presidents can say what they like, but you know I’ve never met the president. I don’t remember saying anything in public about him,” the nun said. “I don’t know where his information is coming from.” n
GETTING READY. Workers inspect ballot boxes left to dry in Quezon City. The ballot boxes, cleaned and painted, will be used for the village and Sangguniang Bayan elections on May 14, 2018. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
Provisional witness protection for Napoles ends on May 26 by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
Patag
MANILA — Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra on Thursday, May 4, said that the provisional government protection of alleged pork barrel mastermind Janet Lim-Napoles is due to expire before the month ends. In a tweet report by The Star, the justice chief was quoted as saying that Napoles’ provisional admission to the Witness Protection Program will end on May 26. On March 26, it was made public that Napoles has been under the Department of Justice’s WPP since February 27. The businesswoman, believed to be the brains behind the multi-billion Priority Development Assistance Fund
scam, sought a transfer from the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology to a safe house. But the Sandiganbayan junked Napoles’ bid due to lack of merit as she is being lawfully detained and denied bail for plunder and other charges arising from her alleged involvement in the misuse of public funds. The DOJ said that Napoles executed an affidavit, and it will evaluate the its content to determine if she will be given full protection by the State. “After that, we will reevaluate whether her admission in the WPP should be extended or terminated,” Guevarra added. Guevarra has earlier said that Napoles’ case is one of his priorities upon assuming the
leadership of the justice department. Napoles’ admission comes months after the DOJ—then led by former Justice chief Vitaliano Aguirre II—said that it will reopen the investigation of multi-billiion Priority Development Assistance Program, under the administration of former President Benigno Aquino III. Sen. Leila De Lima, who is Aguirre’s predecessor, also initiated a probe into the pork barrel scam. This led to the detention of Sens. Jinngoy Estrada, Juan Ponce Enrile and Bong Revilla Jr. Napoles’ inclusion in the WPP was met with heavy criticism, as her credibility as state witness was questioned. n
UN rapporteur urged to look into freedom of expression in Philippines by gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
CabiCo
MANILA — An arts and media alliance called on a United Nations special rapporteur to fast-track an investigation into the threats to press freedom and the situation of the freedom of expression under President Rodrigo Duterte’s administration. Let’s Organize for Democracy and Integrity (LODI) on the celebration of World Press Freedom Day Thursday sent a six-page petition to David Kaye, UN special
rapporteur on the promotion of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. “We appeal for quick action from your end as President Duterte’s government rapidly constricts democratic space, especially that reserved by the constitution. LODI believes that freedom of the press and freedom of expression for all citizens cannot exist without another,” the alliance said. LODI stressed that the Philippine press is facing the “most serious challenges since the downfall of the late dictator Ferdinand
Marcos” citing attacks against journalists under the Duterte administration. While he created the Presidential Task Force on Media Security in 2016 to address media killings, the president has repeatedly hurled tirades against reporters and media outlets who have been critical of his policies. “President Duterte holds no monopoly on press freedom violations. But he stands out among Philippine leaders for his vicious displays of hostility toward journalists,” LODI said. According to a recent report by
FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Petra, Aqaba, Jordan
(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt. Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea, Allen by Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)
OCTOBER 18 to NOVEMBER 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct. 18, 2018( Thursday) Day 1 – MNL HKG, TEL AVIV, ISRAEL Oct. 25, 2018 (Thursday) Day 8 - Jerusalem Trans-Atlantic flight from LAX to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us...” (John 1:14) Israel. (Meals served in-flight) We will walk to view the Dome of the Rock from the outside, and visit the Oct. 18, 2018 (Friday) Day 1 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Western Wall, ( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still Tiberias standing and the most sacred place in the world for Jews. Then, we will Arrival from Manila still Oct. 18,2018 late in the evening. After we clear drive to Mt. Zion, to visit the Upper Room, revered as the site of the Last Immigration and Customs, will be met by our driver for transfer to tiberias . Supper, then survey the Dormition Abbey, and the Church of St. Peter in enjoy the panoramic view of the Mediterranean. We will spend our first night Gallicantu, the site where Peter denied Jesus three times. After the day’s in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Gai Beach Hotel (Oct. 19, 2018) Holy tour, we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Eucharist Notre Dame Vatican Hotel Oct. 20, 2018 (Saturday) Day 3 - Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana / Oct. 26, 2018 (Friday) Day 9 - Mount of Olives/Gethsemane/Bethlehem/ Mt Tabor Jerusalem (New City)/Ein Karem We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Mass at the Church of Nativity Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon. In the New “O mountain of God, receive me, a mother, with my child.” (Protoevangelium Testament book of Revelation, it is referred as the sites of the “final battle”. of James 22:3) From there, we will continue our drive into Nazareth, where we will have Mass We will arrive at the Mount of Olives, to enjoy another view of Jerusalem, in the Church of the Annunciation, the Cave of the Annunciation and visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the Dominus visit Joseph’s Workshop and Then we will move on to Cana of Galilee, where Flevit (“God wept”) sanctuary. Next, we’ll walk the Palm Sunday Road to the Our Lord performed His first miracle: changing water into wine at the wedding Garden of Gethsemane, and visit the Rock of Agony and the Church of feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows, Continue to Mount all Nations. In the afternoon, we’ll drive to Bethlehem, a city whose name is Tabor, site of Jesus Transfiguration Afterward, we will head to Tiberias. Dinner recognized around the world. After celebrating Mass at the Church of Nativity, and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D).Gai Beach Hotel. we will see the Manger; visit the Church of St. Catherine, the Grotto of St. Oct. 21, 2018 (Sunday) Day 4 - Tiberias/Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” Early AM departures to Mt. Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people. Eucharistic Celebration. Enjoy a scenic boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, home of Our Lord during his ministry. After visiting the Synagogue where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Then to the Church Primacy of St Peters. Overnight Magdala ( BB, D)
Jerome and the Shepherds’ Fields. Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of Jerusalem. Up next is a trip to Ein Karem, birthplace of St. John the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed her famous “Magnificat”. We will end our day by returning to our Hotel. (B/D).
Oct. 23, 2018 (Tuesday) DAY 6 - Jordan Valley/Jericho/Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church of St. Lazarus MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one discovered in the Galilee.
famous mosaic map of the Holy Land. Then we will drive down to Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence.
Oct. 27, 2018 (Saturday) Day 10 - Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations After breakfast, we will celebrate mass at the Church of all Nations and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the Oct. 22, 2018 (Monday) Day 5 - Magdala Full day retreat , Focus will Include programs based on the historical caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last stronghold against the Roman. Return to and Religious value of the Magdala sites Jerusalem for dinner and Overnight (B, D) More info coming up as we get closer to the dates MAGDALA, Israel – 2009 Discoveries from a new archaeological dig are Oct. 28, 2018 (Sunday) Day11 - Jerusalem/Allenby Bridge/Madaba/ creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is Jordan/Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the home of Mary Magdalene.”She Mass at Mount Nebo lived here and she met Jesus here and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We will go to that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue the Baptismal Site at Bethany, which Pope John Paul II visited in 2000. dating back to the time of Jesus. According to archaeologists, it’s the first one Then, it’s on to Mount Nebo, where Moses viewed the Promised Land. Our discovered in the Galilee. next stop will be the Church of St. George in Madaba, which hosts the
Oct. 24, 2018 ( Wednesday) Day 7 - Jerusalem (Old City)/Via Dolorosa/ Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha.” (John 19:17) We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, visit Golgotha and the Tomb of Our Lord. After mass, we return to the hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, we will enter the Old City, sing a hymn in the Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then we will visit the Chapel of Flagellation, Lithostratos (where the soldiers played the Game of Kings) and the Arch of the “Ecce Homo”. Dinner/Overnight Notre Dame Vatican hotel
Oct 29, 2018 (Monday) Day 12 - Aqaba/Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba After breakfast, we will journey through the Siq, until we get our first glimpse of the Khazneh (Treasury). Then will we walk down to visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater. At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and dinner (B/D). Movenpick Resort & Residence Oct. 30, 2018 (Tuesday) Day 13 - Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/Overnight Oct. 31, 2018 (Wednesday) Day 14 - Jerusalem /Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX After breakfast, we will visit the Yad Vashem Museum,is Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. It is dedicated to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought against their Nazi oppressors and Gentiles who selflessly aided Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding such events in the future. After the Western Wall, Yad Vashem is the second-most-visited Israeli tourist site. Return to the hotel for lunch and relaxation in preparation for our return flight back to the USA after early dinner will be transferred to the airport for flight Oct 31, 2018 8:45 PM departure from TLV End of Our Memorable Pilgrimage to Jesus Home Land!!!
local media watchdogs, there have been 85 cases of attacks against the Philippine press since Duterte assumed office in July 2016. Malacañang has repeatedly maintained that the president’s moves and tirades are “not attacks on press freedom.” LODI then urged Kaye, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, to come to the aid of professional journalists, members of alternative media and human rights workers. “A combination of overt threats against truth-tellers and the lack of
transparency in governance represent serious obstacles to groups and individuals that seek redress for attacks on right, as well as those that strive to combat corruption, social and economic injustice and other governance problems,” the alliance said. LODI also cited the government petition seeking to tag more than 600 individuals as terrorists. It called the list a “grave danger to freedom of expression.” Under the law, the Anti-Terrorism Council can order the arrest of suspected terrorists even without
a warrant. The alliance, moreover, noted that the need for local and international rights defenders to speak out and come up with a comprehensive report on the supposed growing tyranny in the country has become more urgent with the release of the new list linking village officials to the illegal drug trade. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Monday bared the names of village chairmen and councilors included on the socalled “narco-list.” n
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
A8 May 4-10, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
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Honoring the inspiration of Fil-Am nurses this National Nurses Week Working in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself and ensuring you have enough physical, emotional and mental energy to take on the day, especially as a nurse working long hours. Philstar.com photo
by Rae ann VaRona / AJPress EvEry year, the United States celebrates National Nurses Week from May 6 to May 12 (the birthday of modern nursing pioneer, Florence Nightingale), to honor the over four million nurses providing care across the nation. This year, the American Nurses Association chose the theme of “Inspire, Innovate, and Influence” to recognize the impact and innovation of nurses both in and outside of the hospital — whether it be providing individual care to patients and their families, or helping solve many of the nation’s public health issues. For the nearly four million Filipinos living in the U.S., Nurses Week has also been about recognizing part of the Fil-Am culture and experience. roughly 200,000 nurses in the U.S. are Filipino — all familiar with ironed scrubs, matching clogs or nursing shoes, baon (packed lunch) preparations, and long 12-hour shifts. How Filipinos came to be so represented in the U.S. nursing industry dates back to the early 1900s as the first batch of government-sponsored scholars arrived in the states through the Pensionado Act of 1903. Upon graduating, many nursing students went back to the Philippines to work and help establish nursing schools. Many others also stayed in the U.S. where they eventually became the first generation of Fil-Am nurses. “Nursing is so important in our Filipino community because that is who we are,” said Alyssa Cosejo, a Fil-Am student in her first quarter of nursing school at the Loma Linda University School of Nursing. Much like many young FilAms in line to become the next generation of Fil-Am nurses, Cosejo, 19, found inspiration to become a nurse from watching her mom. “Ever since I was a little girl, I was always fascinated when she left the house in scrubs and came back with a smile on her face,” said Cosejo. “I would listen to her stories about what happened at work and it just made me want to be like her,” she added. “She is so caring and loving, and every time she comes back from work, she feels fulfilled.” Alec Kirk, a 23-year old Fil-Am in his second year as a nursing student at the university, similarly found inspiration from his sisters and cousin in Ireland, who despite everyday responsibilities like raising children, continued to work hard as nurses. He said he plans to follow in their footsteps and continue into graduate nursing education as well. But at the core of what influenced and pushed him to pursue nursing was the simple urge to help people. He suggested the same was for his fellow nursing colleagues. “Ask any other nurse and you’ll always get an interesting answer and perhaps very differ- ent from
Four self-care tips for nurses by KlaRize Medenilla/AJPress
For the nearly four million Filipinos living in the U.S., Nurses Week has also been about recognizing part of the Fil-Am culture and experience. Roughly 200,000 nurses in the U.S. are Filipino — all familiar with ironed scrubs, matching clogs or nursing shoes, baon (packed lunch) preparations, and long 12-hour shifts.
The Filipino culture of caring, dedication, and togetherness has also been cited by Fil-Ams in their choice to become nurses. Inquirer.net photos
mine, but it seems, the answer always returns to some version of ‘I like to help people,’” he said. Why so many Filipinos become nurses is a question asked by many in the U.S. — Filipino and non-Filipino alike. One reason may come from its rich history, as the profession continues to bring opportunities like it did in the past. “I think nursing is incredibly popular in the Filipino community because this career has numerous specializations, and job opportunities can be found anywhere in the world,” said Piercy Wayne Adlaon, a 21-yearold junior year student at the university. Filipino nurses working outside of the Philippines send about $1 billion in total to the Philippines every year, equating to roughly PHP50 billion annually. ron Carpio — a Fil-Am nursing instructor at Cal State University Channel Islands and Western Governors University — said that the attractiveness of a nursing career was apparent to his family back in the 1980’s when he was still in high school. Initially thinking of becoming a doctor, Carpio said his father encouraged him to look into nursing. “I went to pursue that, and I haven’t turned back since then,” said Carpio. The Filipino culture of caring, dedication, and togetherness has also been cited by Fil-Ams in their choice to become nurses. “I suspect that our culture of caring for each other — something akin to kapwa — is highly compatible with the image of nursing as a caring job,” said Kirk. In 2012, Filipina nurse Menchu Sanchez made the Filipino nursing community proud when she was lauded by former U.S. President Barack Obama for her heroism in saving 20 newborn babies during Hurricane Sandy. At the Filipino Nurses Global Summit & 11th International Nursing Conference in the
Philippines early this year, rev. Arnedo S. valera — Esquire Executive Director and Migrant Heritage Commission’s chairperson — said Sanchez was a representation of all Filipino nurses around the world. “They are hard working. Indeed, they have a reputation for going out of their way to take good care of their patients,” said valera. “This is because Filipino nurses come from a caring culture, where families take care of their own sick and aging relatives.” Nursing homes, for example, are rare in the Philippines. It isn’t uncommon to find generations of family members living together in one household. But culture and history aside, Carpio encouraged those thinking of pursuing nursing do it because they have the passion and will to endure the challenges it comes with. “That’s what I tell my students,” he said. “you’re going to learn a lot as a nurse, but at the same time, it’s tough. you have to enjoy doing it.” Inspire, Innovate, Influence In light of the Nurses Week theme, Kirk sees technology and its role in advancing the practice of nursing as being one of the focuses this year, and referred to one professor he thought embodied the spirit of innovation. “She taught us about using technology and research in healthcare as nurses, and how those are evolving the profession of nursing,” said Kirk. “Her point and emphasis to us was to always question our practice and participate in the inquiry to better it.” Touching on the theme’s emphasis on inspiration, Adlaon — who was inspired to become a nurse after shadowing one as a hospital volunteer — said he continues to find inspiration as a student. On who has been influential to him, Adlaon described his previous clinical instructor who he said influenced students by
“encouraging them to enhance their skills now so that in the future there won’t be any mishaps or confusion.” Cosejo added that the fact that her professors have chosen to teach her and her classmates despite the option of higher pay working full time at a hospital, has been inspiring. “They show the students what it means to truly love our clients,” she said. So how do the young future nurses think nurses should be honored? Kirk suggests giving a short remark or a small gift of gratitude to a nurse, such as one in the family. Lunch bags, tumblers, apparel, lapel pins, and pens have been popular gifts. He also suggests nurses send some acknowledgement to other fellow nurses. “It’s nice to say in a way, ‘Hey, I see you. I see that you are trying your best as a nurse despite everything else. Let’s keep going.’,” said Kirk. Adlaon gave another sweet and simple suggestion of donuts and a thank you card. For Cosejo, simply acknowledging the work they do is a good way to start. “I think Nurses should be celebrated by acknowledging all the hard work that they do,” said Cosejo. “People look past nurses and just praise the doctors when there is a lot of hard work done by the nurses themselves.” Having been around both seasoned and new nurses, Carpio also said that just recognizing and showing acknowledgment of what nurses really do — both in and out of the traditional medical facilities — is a great way to honor them. But regardless of recognition, Carpio added that the nurses who enjoy their job will continue doing what they love. “I love my job,”’ he said. “It’s what I do and I don’t need to be recognized for something I know I’m supposed to do.”
Being a nurse can be among the most rewarding career choices. As a nurse, you’re responsible for the dayto-day comfort and well-being of a wide range of ill patients. But being a nurse also means coping with stress, either from caring for patients or managing long shifts; more often you’re dealing with both. All of this can take a massive toll on your physical, emotional and mental health, and although it can be challenging finding respite within one of the most demanding of careers, it is essential to tend to your needs as much as your patients’ needs. Self-care routines largely depend on nurse to nurse, but these basic self-care tips can get you on the right track to establishing your own, unique routine. 1. Take care of your physical health: no one can work effectively if they’re indisposed in some way. And you’re definitely not in a position to take care of others if you’re not taking care of yourself. That means incorporating healthy, nutritious food (fresh produce, high protein and quality grains and fats) into your diet. Although it’s tempting to want to pop open an energy drink, sugary drinks do nothing but provide a short-term jolt. A good way to eat the right foods with little work during the week is to plan meals. Meal prepping, in general, is a great idea for anyone looking to reform their diet. Preparing three meals for the week means one less thing to worry about during your hectic schedule. Taking care of your physical health also means getting enough exercise. Some nurses, instead of sitting at the nurses’ station for long periods of time, walk the hallways and check on patients. Use a lunch break to go for a walk outside. it can be easy to fall out of these self-care necessities if you’re so focused on a job that requires so much of you, but diet and exercise ensure you have the right amount of energy to complete the tasks at hand. 2. Establish boundaries: it can be easy to obsess over your work, especially if you’re passionate about that work. in general, this is a good tip for anyone, but especially for nurses, many of whom become nurses for their inherent desire to take care of the sick. You’re a nurse between the time you
clock in and the time you clock out, and that should be it. it’s important to keep a healthy work/life balance. That also means sticking to only to the roles and tasks that fit within the parameters of your job requirements. As Filipinos, we’re predisposed to be hospitable and we want to make sure the people we’re taking care of are happy and comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing more work than what’s expected of you. You can always say no if a coworker or supervisor asks you to do more work. 3. Maintain a healthy personal life: Being a nurse can be exhausting and the thought of having a personal life seems like a luxury. But it’s an essential self-care element that can immediately de-stress you and take your mind away from your job. if you prefer to spend your time alone, schedule time each week to spend some relaxing time for yourself to focus on a non-nursing hobby. This can also mean engaging with your spiritual self and remain present even when your mind seems to be elsewhere. it can also mean keeping a journal for your thoughts or seeing a professional to work your emotions out. if you’re more extroverted, schedule time to see family and friends. Whatever it is, the key is scheduling time and having a routine-like approach to ensuring you make time for your personal life because that can often fall by the wayside when you’re so wrapped up in your job. Find the best balance for yourself. 4. Get enough sleep! nursing is often associated with long shifts. Whether it’s the night shift or day shift or the dreaded double shift, it’s exhausting even thinking about how many hours of sleep one may lose as a nurse. Working in tandem with a healthy diet and exercise, sleep is one of the most important things you can do to take care of yourself and ensuring you have enough physical, emotional and mental energy to take on the day, especially as a nurse working long hours. if you’re working a double shift, plan your sleep schedule beforehand so you’re not beat by the end of it. Sleep is the currency for hard-working nurses. Make sure you have enough of it.
As Filipinos, we’re predisposed to be hospitable and we want to make sure the people we’re taking care of are happy and comfortable, but that doesn’t necessarily mean doing more work than what’s expected of you. Philstar.com photo
Sarah gets showered with love Robert Lopez, wife Kristen nominated for Best Original Score after Las Vegas concert breakdown by deni Rose M. afinidad-BeRnaRdo Philstar.com
HOLLyWOOD — Filipino-American composer robert Lopez and wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez were nominated for Best Original Score at Philstar.com the 72nd Tony Awards. The nominees were announced on May 1. CELEBrITIES came to pop The couple were nominated for their composition for the musical princess Sarah Geronimo’s support version of their blockbuster Disney movie, “Frozen.” after her recent breakdown during They will compete with others nominated in the same category: her concert in Las vegas, Nevada Adrian Sutton for “Angels in America,” David yazbek for “The last April 29. Band’s visit,” Jeff richmond and Nell Benjamin for “Mean Girls” and While performing, Geronimo “SpongeBob SquarePants.” struggled in singing her hit “Frozen,” the musical adaptation of the animated blockbuster, got “Forever’s Not Enough” and had three nominations: Best Original Score, Best Book and Best Musical. to walk out of the stage at some robert and Kristen recently picked up their second Academy Award point to compose herself. She also for Best Original Song for their composition “remember Me” from the broke down in tears as she shared to the audience how hard it is to be Disney-Pixar animation “Coco.” If robert wins in the 2018 Tonys, it will be his fourth award from the Continued on Page 4 by Jan
Sarah Geronimo Photo from Instagram/@sarahgeronimoshots
Milo seVeRo
Filipino-American composer Robert Lopez and wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez are among this year’s nominees for Best Original Score at the 72nd Tony Awards. Inquirer.net file photo
most prestigious award-giving body for theater productions. In 2004, he picked up his first Tony for Best Original Score in “Avenue Q.” This was followed by Best Book of a Musical and Best Original Score for “The Book of Mormon” at the 2011 Tonys.
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ U.S. immigration law allows citizen parents to “transmit” or pass on U.S. citizenship to their children born abroad, provided certain requirements are met. One requirement for U.S. citizen fathers to transmit citizenship to their out of wedlock (illegitimate) children is that the child’s father (unless deceased) has agreed in writing to provide financial support for the child until the child’s 18th birthday. In many cases, the government had insisted this statement of support be on a specific form, DS-5507, Affidavit of Parentage, Physical Presence, and Support. A court order or local law requiring the father to pay child support would be insufficient, the father must “agree in writing.” On April 18, 2018, the USCIS updated its Policy Manual to clarify “what may qualify as a father’s written agreement of financial support for purposes of certain acquisition of citizenship cases.” According to USCIS policy: • The phrase “has agreed in writing to provide financial support” means that there “must be documentary evidence that supports a finding that the father accepted the legal obligation to support the child until the age of 18.” The written agreement of financial support may be dated at
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA DO you believe in angels? I do. Most people do. The strong presence of angels in the various books of the Bible, especially during the birth of Jesus Christ attests to the role of angels in human history. The Angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would bring forth a son. Zechariah received a message from an angel. It was an angel that told Joseph to take Mary for his wife. It was a multitude of angels that told the shepherds where to find the newborn child while angels
It is now easier for fathers to transmit citizenship to their out of wedlock children any time before the child’s 18th birthday. • If the child is still under 18 at the time of applying for a U.S. passport or Certificate of Citizenship, the father may provide the written agreement of financial support as part of the application for U.S. citizenship or passport. • If the child is already over the age of 18, the child can submit evidence of the father’s agreement to support the child that existed before the child’s 18th birthday. In other words, if the child is already over 18, it’s too late for the father to agree in writing to support the child. • The agreement must be in writing and acknowledged by the father; must indicate the father’s agreement to provide financial support for the child until the child’s 18th birthday; and must be dated before the child’s 18th birthday. • If there is no written agreement to support the child, other documents could be acceptable and satisfy that requirement, such as: • A previously submitted affidavit of support • Military Defense Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) enrollment; • Documentation establishing
paternity by a court, if the father initiated the paternity proceedings and the law required the father to provide financial support; or • A petition by the father seeking child custody or visitation, and the local law requires the father to provide financial support. This clarification could enable previously ineligible out of wedlock children to now claim their U.S. citizen birthright. In fact, I remember one case where the U.S. Embassy refused to issue a U.S. passport to an out of wedlock child, even though the father was under court order to pay child support, and had been paying the child support. That is because they insisted that the agreement to support be on a specific form and in a specific format. USCIS clarifies that other types of documentation can satisfy this “agreement in writing to provide financial support.” If your out of wedlock child’s citizenship was denied because of this issue, you may want to consult with an immigration attorney, to see if this change in policy could change the result on your case, by having your child recognized as an “instant U.S. citizen.” ***
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FAKE TOURIST VISA RESULTED IN BEING SENT BACK TO THE PHILIPPINES AND LATER JEOPARDIZED HIS IMMIGRANT VISA DUE TO FRAUD - ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF CITIZEN PINOY! Johnnatan (second from left) got a tourist visa through a newspaper ad that advertised “Non-Appearance” Visas for $2500. He entered the U.S. in 2002 without any problems, but when he returned in 2003, he was held at the airport and sent back to the Philippines, after U.S. Customs and Border Protection accused him of using a fake or counterfeit tourist visa. That meant a possible lifetime ban. Years later, his mother’s petition became current, and he was afraid how his fake visa would affect his and his daughter’s chances of immigrating to the U.S. Watch how a family was able to overcome a fraud charge and be reunited, on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – this Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
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It is believed 14,000 innocent male babies from the age of two and below were killed in Herod’s most cruel, preemptive strike against this perceived threat to his kingdom. The holy family stayed safely away for years until the king died and the danger had passed. Did these holy innocents become cherubs, angels without – Mattie Stepanek Author, “Heartsongs” wings? Do the millions of the unborn of our time the world over cut down by murderous the Magi had left for a long and hovered above the stable during abortionists become cherubs? arduous trek to a town in Egypt that wondrous night. Does God repurpose innocent It was also an angel that warned some scholars estimate to be 200 souls upon their deaths to become miles away where Herod had no Joseph of a clear and present angels themselves? There is a belief authority to commit mass murder. danger to the child Jesus. Herod, that souls are indestructible. If so, do You can bet a host of angels the unhinged, murderous king souls get recycled back to be born guided them in seeking refuge. descended from a long line of Herod’s murderous rampage began at another time and place? Only power-mad monarchs, wanted to God knows for certain. when he realized that the Magi had make sure no one stood between Angels were strong proactive tricked him and had taken a different him and his throne. characters when the story of route home ignoring his sly request In haste, Joseph left with Mary humanity unfolded during biblical to tell him of the child’s location. and the child during the night after
times. And while today, cynics, atheists and those on the dark side might argue that angels are figments of the human imagination, there are countless people who will brave the scorn of scoffers, fight back vehemently and attest to the very real presence of angels in their lives. The belief in the presence and power of angels to intervene is strong in popular conservative culture. In a remarkable 1999 Hallmark film, “A Season for Miracles,” an angel plays a pivotal role in helping a loving aunt to two children whose incarcerated, drug addicted mother places them in a situation forcing them to run and escape from the foster care system that threatens to split them apart during Christmas. The film is based on a novel by Marilyn Pappano and scripted by Maria Nation. Michael
Pressman directed the film. It is a heartwarming story set in a small town called Bethlehem during Christmas with engaging characters like Agatha and Corrina. For those with a penchant for romance, the story has spades of it as well. So check this film out on youtube whether it is Christmas or not. In my opinion, this is a timeless piece of good work worth watching a hundred times. It will be an hour and some minutes to lighten your load and feel the presence of angels in your life as well. Suspend disbelief. That is the only way to enjoy stories about angels. (To be continued …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com
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Angels among us
“ I think that someone is watching out for me, God, my guardian angel, I’m not sure who that is but they really work hard.”
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Paras brothers, Jackie forster reunion: 13 years in the making by Niña V. GuNo Inquirer.net
AfTER years of begging to see her sons and a messy publicized row, former actress Jackie forster has finally been reunited with eldest children Andre and Kobe Paras. Andre, 22, and Kobe, 20, are her children with ex-husband Benjie Paras. She was only 15 when they married; the former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) cager is 10 years her senior. She and Benjie separated in 2001. The two have since formed families with new partners: Jackie with a foreigner, and Benjie with former preschool teacher Lyxen Diomampo. Both have children with their respective significant others. In 2013, Jackie made an attempt to reach out to her boys through a YouTube video of their childhood pictures. She claimed that she hadn’t seen them since 2005. Both Andre and Kobe, then into adulthood, said they didn’t care about their biological mother and that they were happy with their stepmom. Jackie has persisted in airing her side and has been fearless in unearthing her marital woes, stating that she was “miserable” with Benjie in 2015 Instagram posts. She said she was reaching out to her sons through public social media posts because other avenues were to no avail. In a 2015 talk-show guesting at “Aquino & Abunda Tonight,” she relented, “I think it’s time to let go… but I will never stop loving them.” But her latest social media updates indicate that she never gave up on seeing her boys to whom she dedicated the hashtag #imissandloveyouAndreandKobe. A picture of the three in Manila shows the two towering men with their arms wrapped
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LOMBARD BY THE BAY. Giovanni and Rosemarie de Vera Javier recently signed a letter of intent for the reservation of Penthouse unit at Lombard by the Bay at Montemaria project during the Marketing Partners Orientation and Training. Also in photo are Rene Cinco, President and CEO of Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development Corp and Roger Oriel, Publisher and CEO of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. (Advertising Supplement)
Sarah Geronimo tells Vegas audience... From Page 2 “perfect,” and how she feels empty Jackie Forster with her children from her second husband, and Kobe Paras. despite seemingly having it all. Photos from Instagram/@jackie_forster After her breakdown, many in around their mom’s shoulders. the entertainment industry took “When you have little pieces to social media to give comfort to Geronimo, first of which was of you walking around on earth, boyfriend Matteo Guidicelli. all you can do that makes the Guidicelli shared on April 30 biggest difference is to pray for via Instagram a picture of him and them,” Jackie mused. Geronimo walking down the beach “I told you all — #prayerwhile holding hands. He wrote, swork,” she said. “Keep walking, I’ll always be beside She also made a request to you. No matter what. I love you my the public: “I ask for everyone to love. And I miss you.” please respect their privacy now, Apart from Guidicelli, stars like we have shared so much of our Enchong Dee, Marvin Augustin and personal lives with everyone and Jackie with Andre Paras singer-songwriters Paolo Valenciano and Sitti Navarro, among others, we want to take this time to heal Kobe shared the love for his also offered their support. mom and half-siblings. In a and bond.” “Sarah G’s feelings are so valid. candid picture of him and Jackie Kobe expressed his sentispeaking to each other, he wrote, Respect and admiration for this ments on the comment section beautiful soul,” tweeted Dee. with an emphatic “I love you Ma,” “I got it from my momma.” “I just saw Sarah’s posted videos He also shared a picture of with a hug and kiss emojis. when she couldn’t sing anymore,” them both from his childhood, Family reunion wrote Agustin on Twitter. “Lahat ng and then one of him and his It seems that even before tao napapagod, ang importante ay younger siblings. Jackie announced her reunion, binigay mo ang lahat mo hanggang In a picture of clear blue skies sa puntong di mo na kaya. Mas Kobe had already seen his mom nirespeto kita at ng lahat ng [mga] in California where he was previ- with vast rays of sun shining taong nagmamahal sa yo! Mabuhay through, he wrote, “The best ously based to pursue a basketka Sarah!” things in life are the most unexball career. (Everyone gets tired. What’s pected ones.” Jackie posted a picture of important is you gave it your all, up to Though he didn’t say what Kobe with her three children the point where you can’t anymore. situation he was pertaining to, from her second marriage, I respect you more now, as does it’s certainly applicable to their stating that it was taken in the everyone who loves you. Long live, reunion that had been long in middle of february this year. Sarah!) the making. On his Instagram Stories, Valenciano wrote, “Sarah is one
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Sarah Geronimo Photo from Instagram/@sarahgeronimoshots
of the few gems in the industry. Hoping for the best. We believe in you @JustSarahG!” Bossa nova singer Sitti Navarro, meanwhile, expressed that her heart breaks for Geronimo. Navarro hoped that Geronimo would be given the freedom to have a good long rest after the tour, to do things she wants with the people she likes. Veteran talent manager and host Lolit Solis herself shared on Instagram that she cried a bit after she found out about what happened to Geronimo. Solis pointed out the irony of Geronimo’s situation, being a star who seems to have it all, yet feeling empty. Solis also hoped that Geronimo’s feeling of emptiness does not turn into depression.
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“Sana hindi mauwi sa depression ang empty feeling ni Sarah. Sana spur of the moment emotional outburst lang ito. Kasi the worst part of depression is when you feel it while you’re on top, kung kelan ka successful, and no one can see a reason why you will feel lonely or empty.” (I hope this does not lead to depression, this emptiness Sarah feels. I hope this is just a spur-of-themoment emotional outburst. Because the worst part of depression is when you feel it while you’re on top, when you are successful, and no one can see a reason why you will feel lonely or empty.) Meanwhile, Guidicelli assured people that Geronimo is now doing okay. In an interview with him and Shaina Magdayao which was shared by StarsPhotog Vids on YouTube yesterday, May 1, Guidicelli said that everything’s fine and Geronimo was just tired. “Everything’s fine, everything’s fine, she’s just tired,” assured Guidicelli. “Tuloy tuloy ‘yung (It’s a non-stop) tour, she has a tour kasi in America… I think she came from another state into Las Vegas ng walang tulog (without sleep) and she did the show, and you know, her 15-year show is a very emotionally jam-packed show from the start… and she just got emotional there, but she’s fine, everything’s good.””
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Calendar of Events across Parangal Dance Company
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EXPLORE ISLANDS PHILIPPINES AT GRAND CENTRAL
Program highlights: Tourism, business and arts & culture
NEW YORK, NY – A panel on “Why Invest in the Philippines” will open the Explore Islands Philippines Expo on May 9, 2018 at 1:30PM at the Vanderbilt Hall of the Grand Central Terminal on 42nd Street and Park Avenue in New York City. The panelists include Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Dept of Foreign Affairs; Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations and Nancy Vailakis, Business Development Director of Augentius, along with awardwinning journalist Ramy Inocencio of Bloomberg Television and Radio News. “I am confident that the Expo will successfully present the Philippines as a premier tourism and investment destination, and New York certainly offers an unparalleled international stage to bring people together whether as prospective tourists or investors,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in a statement after a briefing with the Explore Islands Philippines Team in Washington, DC. Scheduled on May 9th are business panel discussions with professionals in real estate, architecture, engineering, biotech, technology and finance. Panel discussions will include: Architecture, Green Buildings and Sustainability in the Philippines. Nick Medrano (Skidmore Owings and Merrill) and Vram Malek (Skidmore Owings and Merrill) w Hank Hendrickson, Moderator (Sustainability and Infrastructure) Smart Cities – Innovation Leading to the Future of the Philippines – Rhonda Binda (Smart Ventures); BioTech and Life Sciences: The effect on Business in the in the Philippines. Andrea Bartzen (Impactiv BioConsult). On Thursday, May 10th, Wanda Teo, Secretary of Tourism will speak at 11AM about various tourism initiatives including Beautiful Destinations, Students
The Metamorphosis
ERNIE D. DELFIN (PART 1 OF 2) THERE were very unusual and inquisitive questions and comments from women inmates during my Prison Ministry work recently at the County Women’s Jail in Santa Ana, California. They gave me this urge and inspiration to write my thoughts for this column. One inmate who exhibited above average intelligence commented that what made her and many like her land in jail was that they were never “pruned when they were young.” Our Bible study was John 15: “The parable of the Vine and the Branches.” Pruning is a must to be closer to the Vine, to bear much fruits. A very profound lesson, one that even inmates can easily understand. Another inmate asked me what is the purpose of life if she can just be cut off (pruned) from the vine and burned? Without any preparation for such penetrating questions, it’s very challenging to give a decent answer that makes sense to a “class of inmates” who come from diverse backgrounds, education and cultures. Pausing and silently praying for the Holy Spirit, a miracle happened that enabled me to verbalize something that apparently made sense to them. Miraculously, I related our lessons given to Catholic kids in Catechism. (The inmates are presumed to be mostly Catholics as the deputy-incharge announced that my class was a Catholic Bible Study and Communion Service for two hours). I said the purpose of our life as followers of Christ are: to know
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34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival
Philippine Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo
and Millennial tours, Diving Tourism, Cuisine as well as Arts, Culture and History. Josh Vasquez, Philippine Airlines Area Manager, will give a special presentation. Noted photographer and filmmaker Beth Watson and Rick Morris will be featured in “Exploring the Underwater Beauty of the Philippines. In a special appearance, the Bay Area Filipino dance company, Parangal, will perform at 1PM. Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Cultural Center of the Philippines, will open the arts and culture programming of the Expo on Friday, May 11, at 10:30AM. Kinding Sindaw, the prominent New York based Filipino dance company, will perform at 11:30PM. At 1:30PM, Ruben Nepales, past President, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Janet Nepales, Executive Secretary, Hollywood Foreign Press Association, and NY filmmaker Hezues R. will speak. Aries Tuazon of Ugly Kitchen Restaurant will talk about Filipino cuisine. On the final day, the Expo will run from 9AM to 3PM on Saturday, May 12. Explore Islands Philippines, an four-day expo showcasing 7,641 islands promoting vacation destinations, trade and investment in the Philippines, will run for four days from May 9. The ribbon cutting ceremony takes place at 10AM graced by Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia. Secretary Teo will be joined by Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations Teodoro
Arsenio “Nick” Lizaso, President, Cultural Center of the Philippines
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Filipino Women Organizers’ Forum in San Francisco, CA Manuel A.J. Teehankee, Undersecretary for International Economic Relations, Deptartment of Foreign Affairs
Locsin, Jr; President of the Philippine Tourism Promotions Board Cesar Montano, as well as other high-ranking officials from New York State and the Philippines at the opening. The Expo will open to the public at 130PM on May 9th. Explore Islands Philippines is free to the public and is open from 9am to 6pm each day. The exhibition on Saturday May 12 closes at 3PM. Vanderbilt Hall can be easily accessed by the Pershing Square, 42nd St. entrance of Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central can be reached by all major subways (4, 5, 6, 7 as well as the S train). The Expo is presented by JS Productions, the Department of Tourism of the Philippines, Philippine Tourism Promotion Board, Philippine Airlines and the Filipino Channel TFC. For more information, please visit: www. exploreislandsphilippines.com Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter: @ ExploreIslandsPhilippines #ExploreIlsandsPH
Prison Ministry work makes one a better human being Some recommendation to improve our flawed Calif. prison system
HIM, to love HIM and to serve HIM, and in faith to be with HIM in heaven for eternity after death. I followed with some past lessons that just came to mind, that to have true JOY in this life is to make JESUS, OTHERS, then YOURSELF, in that order. That the BIBLE, that is written upon the inspiration of God to the apostles and the chosen prophets thousands of years ago, means: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. We can always have God in our lives, if we have true love for HIM and for our neighbor, as ourselves. For God is love, and love is God. In so many ways, these two words could be interchangeable. Doing this prison ministry for about six years now is quite rewarding and grants me a genuine peace and JOY as it is a concrete manifestation of what Christ wants us to do. As written in Matthew 25: “Giving food to the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing to the naked, welcoming the stranger and visiting the people in prison.” While teaching prisoners, we prison ministers can also learn from them. Just the conscious effort to be where they are, to be able to empathize and communicate with them, is a gift and grace given freely by God. The transformation for me over these years of doing this ministry is profound as it is priceless. I can now see that even the lowly, sometimes, uneducated, poor inmates who probably never experienced a good family upbringing or good education during their formative years, also possess human dignity that God gifted to all of us. I can now see that the potential of any person to
The 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival will be presented May 3 - May 12, 2018 at select cinemas in the Los Angeles area. A key highlight of the annual Asian Pacific American Heritage Month activities, the Festival is produced by Visual Communications, the nation’s premier Asian Pacific American media arts center, and enjoys broad support from cinema artists and audiences alike. Since 1983, the Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival has presented over 4,000 films, videos, and digital mediaworks by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists, and additionally features seminars and panels, in-person guest appearances, and filmmaker awards. The Film Festival continues to be the largest festival of its kind in Southern California and is the premier showcase for the best and brightest of Asian Pacific American and international cinema. To learn about Visual Communications, visit www. vconline.org.
become a good citizen is always there but the process may be very difficult and challenging due to countless factors that surround them. Nevertheless, we have seen that many inmates once they have been converted (like Saul who became St. Paul) become good citizens and role models for others to follow. I remember and met a previously hardened criminal who is now a manager of Homeboy Industries in Los Angeles. Visit the website www.homeboyindustries. org and learn what one priest, Fr. Greg Boyle, S.J., has done to transform lives of ex-prisoners. The joy and grace that come with this Prison Ministry is something quite inexplicable. I believe that when I mouth something before the class my words in many instances come from nowhere, but I suspect it comes from the Holy Spirit, as no one can fully prepare for the totally unexpected in the class of diverse “student-prisoners.” I now believe that I am just a human instrument verbalizing something rooted in the Bible and sharing personal experiences and educational anecdotes accumulated from the last half a century of trying hard to live a Christian life. Unlike many meetings that I have been to, after two hours of this prison “class,” I always feel energized and never feel any kind fatigue or boredom. And the joy inside can never be compared to that kind of feeling that one experiences when having red wine or beer with friends. The happiness derived from each experience is uniquely different. (To be continued next week) *** Email writer : ernie.delfin@gmail.com or drbannatiran@yahoo.com
The Filipino American Center of the San Francisco Public Library and the Filipino American Human Rights Alliance of San Francisco present “Filipino Women Pushing Back: Planting Seeds of Hope and Resistance in the Philippines” on Saturday, May 5, 2018 from 3-5pm at the Learning Studio of the San Francisco Public Library (Main Library/5th Floor; next to The Bridge at Main). Featured speakers are Susan Quimpo and Aimee Santos-Lyons. This event is free to the public. Quimpo is co-author and co-editor of “Subversive Lives: A Family Memoir of the Marcos Years” and who watched her family members drawn into the anti-dictatorship movement where they found themselves pursued by the Marcos police and military. Santos-Lyons, meanwhile, is a longtime organizer in various communities and movements, fighting for racial, gender and economic justice. Both women will share the lessons gleaned from the Marcos dictatorship and their efforts in helping develop brave and powerful resisters. The San Francisco Public Library is located at 100 Larkin Street (at Grove); information about the forum or SFPL’s other programs are available by calling (415) 557-4400 or visiting www.sfpl.org. [All programs at the Library are free. This is a Politics and Current Affairs program. There views and opinions expressed in programs presented by groups unaffiliated with SFPL do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SFPL or the City.]
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Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown hosts “Rotary Pride” in LA Rotary Club of Historic Filipinotown cordially invites you to its “Rotary Pride” event on Saturday, May 12, 2018 from 6 p.m. to 12 a.m. With a FUN evening of Dinner, live band entertainment, dancing & door prizes with a surprise presentation. It will be held at Filipino Cultural Center (FCC) — 1740 Temple St., Los Angeles, CA. It is $50 per person ($65 per person after May 3). Proceeds to benefit a rotary project in the community and internationally.
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TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run in San Mateo, CA ABS-CBN International The Filipino Channel (TFC) will hold the 1st TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run at the Coyote Point Recreation Area (1701 Coyote Point Drive) in San Mateo on Sunday, May 13. The run starts at 8am, while the food festival (Duck Pond area/picnic sites 5-8) starts at 10am. The purpose of the event is to celebrate on Mother’s Day everything about family, fitness, fun and Filipino food flavors. The event is open to all ages, gender and races. Every kilometer of the 5K fun run will have Filipino taste stations, with a food festival and entertainment past the finish line. More importantly, participants who register and join the fun run help provide meals for 10 malnourished children in the Philippines via ABS-CBN Foundation International’s Bantay Bata (Child Watch) program. Every month, the program feeds 300 children with one nutritious meal a day during school time. For more information about the TIKIM event and AFI Bantay Bata can be found by visiting https://mytfc.com/tikim and http://www.abscbnfoundation.org/.
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Case for Kids Fundraiser in Tracy, CA ABS-CBN International The Filipino Channel (TFC) will hold the 1st TIKIM Filipino Food Fun Run at the Coyote Point Recreation Area (1701 Coyote Point Drive) in San Mateo on Sunday, May 13. The run starts at 8am, while the food festival (Duck Pond area/picnic sites 5-8) starts at 10am. The purpose of the event is to celebrate on Mother’s Day everything about family, fitness, fun and Filipino food flavors. The event is open to all ages, gender and races. Every kilometer of the 5K fun run will have Filipino taste stations, with a food festival and entertainment past the finish line. More importantly, participants who register and join the fun run help provide meals for 10 malnourished children in the Philippines via ABS-CBN Foundation International’s Bantay Bata (Child Watch) program. Every month, the program feeds 300 children with one nutritious meal a day during school time. For more information about the TIKIM event and AFI Bantay Bata can be found by visiting https://mytfc.com/tikim and http://www.abscbnfoundation.org/.
The Asian American Group to celebrate first annual Asian Culture Day in Las Vegas On Friday, May 18, the Asian American Group (AAG) will celebrate the first annual Asian Culture Day. The event will be held at the Conference Center of Las Vegas (6590 Bermuda Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119), and will start at 6 p.m. There will be a variety of Asian dishes and cultural performances at the celebration. The primary goal of the Asian Culture Day celebration is to invite and unite the Asian nations of the world, and to educate and share their respective cultures in order to achieve greater understanding and fellowship between nations. The annual Asian Culture Day was established by Senate Bill 175, which proclaims every 18th of May as Asian Culture Day in the state of Nevada. The bill was introduced and authored by State Senator Scott Hammond, and was signed into law by Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval last year. The bill gives recognition to the Asians and Asian-Americans who were instrumental in the settlement and early development of the State of Nevada; the culture and traditions shared by Asians and AsianAmericans; and the Asian and Asian-American communities that continue to make important contributions to the cultural, religious, political, and business environment. To purchase tickets visit https://www.asianamericangroup.org/saac-2/.
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SIPA hosts Spotlight on EntrePINAY Success in LA SIPA hosts Spotlight on EntrePINAY Success in LA Take a break and join Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) for a coffee + custard mixer on Tuesday, May 22. Learn from Kristine de la Cruz’s business journey from Créme Caramel LA and FrankieLucy Bakeshop, which is a collaboration with Annie Choi of Found Coffee. It will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at FrankieLucy Bakeshop (3116 Sunset Blvd Unit 1/2, Los Angeles, CA 90026). Limited tickets available. Please RSVP on Eventbrite: https://spotlighton-entrepinay-success.eventbrite.com. For more information or any questions, contact: Fidji Victoriano at fvictoriano@esipa.org or (424) 235-5011.
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
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M AY 4 , 20 1 8
Fiesta In America at 20: A hard-to-top milestone
The biggest expo and cultural show of its kind on the east coast is poised to reach a Fil-Am events landmark: two decades of undisrupted staging indoors. Fiesta In America, operated by a not-for-profit organization – Philippine Fiesta USA, Inc., will commemorate its 20th Anniversary at New Jersey’s Meadowlands exposition Center on August 11 and 12, 2018. “To the best of our knowledge,” said Len Manansala, Fiesta In America’s Vice President for Marketing and Communications, “no other two-day, indoor expo gives equal weight to entertaining thousands of consumers and boosting the niche-marketing efforts of American and Philippine brands. We are proud of having served the community without a break since 1998. Based on U.S. Small Business Administration data, small enterprises survive an average of five years; therefore, 20 years of continuous operation is really worth celebrating.” According to Manansala, Fiesta In America owes much of its success to the more than 200,000 Filipinos and multicultural consumers who have attended the event since it started at New York’s Javits Convention Center (the prestigious Meadowlands
expo Center in Secaucus has been the event’s home for the past 18 years). “As a gesture of gratitude for the community’s two-decade support, entrance to the Trade Pavilion will be free-of-charge for the first two hours on both days,” Manansala announced. “In addition, early-comers will be rewarded with discounts on general admission tickets to the star-studded concert. VIP concert tickets, on the other hand, will have three graduatedprice tiers instead of the usual single-pricing system.” hard-to-find Philippine products, the abundance of native food choices, the free business and self-improvement seminars, as well as free health screenings have been some of Fiesta InAmerica’s major points of interest. But the most popular crowd-pullers have always been the cultural show starring premier hit-makers in the Philippine film, TV and recording industries. Ogie Afable, Fiesta In America’s cultural show producer, affirmed that “only the most popular Philippine entertainers of the past and the present are featured on both days. The event also boosts the fledgling careers of outstanding new talents from the New York area.” Featured performers are Gary Lewis and the Playboys –Pop-rock
sensation with 7 top 10 singles in the Billboard hot 100! ; Ogie Alcasid– Singer-songwriter OPM’s hitmaker with 6 platinum and 5 gold albums, laugh-out-loud comic, record producer and TV Star!; Plus… Janella Salvador –Multi-awarded film & TV star, and pop sensation !; elmo Magallona– Celebrated film and TV heartthrob; gold recordwinning rap artist! The support of American and Filipino companies has been equally vital to Fiesta In America’s continuing success. Leading brands have capitalized on its captive-audience setting to conduct wrap-around direct marketing, onsite sales, and brand-building even months after the two-day event. Sponsors include the Philippine Tourism Promotion Board, AARP, Philippine Airlines, TFC, horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, hSBC, hackensack Meridian health, One Ayala, Goya Foods, Belmont hotel Manila, Toyota and Park Avenue Acura dealerships, T-Mobile, Xoom, Vonage and more.” To attend, sponsor or exhibit, call 212-682-6610 or email info@ fiestainamerica.com. Videos and photo galleries of past editions are available at www.fiestainamerica. com and on Facebook.
United Federation of FilAm Educators Summit set The United Federation Of FilAm educators (UNIFFIeD), an organization of teachers, is gearing for another summit this May 26-27, 2018 in Lanham, Maryland to be hosted by the Washington, DC chapter. It is the 5th summit and the first one that is global because the organization has expanded by leaps and bounds with chapters not only in the United States but in the Philippines, Dubai, and in the future Thailand and hong Kong, with the teachers in those two countries clamoring to be a part of UNIFFIeD. The first day will be devoted to workshops with invited presentors from the Philippines and Dubai and local teachers from the United States with one of the topics is a debate tackling the question “Is a college degree a good investment in life?” There will be a parade of chapters going into the ballroom later in the day, carrying the banners representing the
chapters, followed by the awardees by groups into their designated tables. It will be a festive atmosphere as the UNIFFIeD song will be played until everyone is in their places. The program will begin while everybody is standing with the Doxology sung by two teachers from Maryland, the husband and wife team of elmer and Amalia Nogales. Many guests, family members of the awardees, friends and colleagues will be on hand to witness the presentation of awards. Several dignitaries of the government were invited; among them Ambassador Jose ‘Babe’ Romualdez, Labor Attache Angela Librado Trinidad, Minister for economic Affairs, JV Gonzaga and Secretary Leonor Briones or her staff. Two distinguished ladies from the New York Filipino community were invited to be the honorary chairs of the event - Consuelo Almonte and Nieva Burdick of
the Philippine Community Center services for the Aging.. UNIFFIeD started with 6 chapters in 2014 and was formed out of a necessity. From then on, the members had the vision of creating chapters until there were 15 in the states and in 2017, Lynne Ciocon, decided to form a chapter in her town of Koronadal City in South Cotabato. Little did she know that the teachers of other towns were also thinking of doing the same thing and so instead of one chapter, there were 19 chapters inducted during the summit in Koronadal on August 3-4. The Organization used the tricycles of the city to parade around the streets escorted by five policemen. In December of the same year, two more chapters were added when some teachers went home for Christmas. The Global Summit of 2018 is hoping to be a big festive one with about 10 guests coming from the Philippines to join the teachers from America.
ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com. And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event. To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice. The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.
At PIDCI Philippine Center Fund Drive gig – photo shows part of an overflow crowd led by Philippine Independence Day Parade Honorary Grand Marshal Ambassador Mario L. De Leon, Jr. (third from left, standing) and Grand Marshal Dr. Restituto Estacio, (sixth from left, standing), and PIDCI President Antero “Ner” Martinez (eighth from left, standing). others present were Joji Jalandoni, past PIDCI President (ninth from left, standing), Myrna Gutierrez (extreme right, standing), publisher of the FilAm Who’s Who Magazine; Sofie Abad (fourth from right, standing), current PIDCI Board Member; Joy Aligarbes, (extreme left, standing) PIDCI Secretary; and PIDCI Vice President Rely Manacay (second from left, standing); Annie Ortiz, PIDCI Internal Auditor (second from left, kneeling). among many others were Eleanor, wife of Ambassador De Leon (fourth from left, standing) and many, many other community leaders and members. Photo by Rolan Gutierrez
PIDCI gears up fund drive
NeW YORK – The Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. last week shifted its fund drive into high gear with a gig under the guise of introducing this year’s Philippine Independence Day Parade Grand Marshals to the community at the posh lobby of the Philippine Center in midtown Manhattan. Filipino and FilipinoAmerican community leaders from across the Northeastern United States and members of the burgeoning Filipino and Filipino-American community of the Greater New York area made up the the sellout crowd at the event. Kudos go to past PIDCI President Joji Jalandoni, the main organizer of the event under the wings of this year’s first honorary Grand Marshal of the Philippine Independence Day Parade, Ambassador Mario Lopez de Leon, Jr., immediate
Health@Heart
past Consul General of the Philippines in New York. Though there was a short program for the evening, everyone in attendance were ebullient with praise for the event as being an astounding and overwhelming success. Two songs “You’ll Never Walk Alone” and “Dahil Sa Iyo” were rendered a cappella as the main feature of the short program by Shigemasa Nakano to the thrill of everyone in the audience. Brief messages were delivered by the two Grand Marshals, Dr. Restituto estacio and honorary Grand Marshal Ambassador de Leon, both of whom extolled the overflow gathering of Filipino and Filipino-American community leaders and members for their unstinting support and participation in the annual commemoration of Philippine Independence, now vaunted
by Filipinos and their friends around the world as the largest celebration of Philippine Independence in the diaspora. As in the past 27 years, the Philippine Independence Day Council, Inc. (PIDCI) will organize, manage, and lead the area’s annual commemoration of Philippine Independence anniversary, this year the 120th. PIDCI is led by an executive Committee made up of President Martinez, Vice President Manacay, Secretary Aligarbes, and Treasurer Nora Galleros. Also members of the Board Sofie Abad, Anthony Bautista, Dora Koltsidis, Chris de Guzman, Raul estrellado, Tommy Ludena, Ronie Mataquel, Nonoy Rafael, Matt Reyes, and Levi Tejada. In the PIDCI leadership are also Annie Ortiz, Internal Auditor and Manuel B. Quintal, General Counsel. (Tambi Wycoco)
Is the Filipino diet healthy?
Most of the available information today on calories in the different food items pertain PhiliP S. Chua, to western and european food MD, FaCS, FPCS varieties. In the Abbott Club Red publication, we found interesting TODAY, more than ever, people are more health conscious, data on calorie counts for various and since food greatly impacts our Filipino foods, delicacies and drinks. health, we are also interested to The following vegetables yield know if the food we eat is healthy, about 16 calories per cup or 90 g and how much calories are in a (cooked): ampalaya fruit, ampalaya portion of food items we choose leaves, Baguio beans, banana to eat. It’s just like watching our heart, cabbage, cauliflower, budget for our financial health, chayote fruit or leaves, eggplant, or being aware of, or sensitive to, what we do and what we fail to do kangkong, malunngay leaves, mushroom, okra, patola, onion for our well-being, physical and bulb, petsay, saluyot, and upo. half spiritual health, and longevity. Calorie is the amount of energy cup of the following also provides 16 calories: coconut shoot (ubod), in food/drink we ingest, and also Mungbean sprout (togue), sitaw, the energy consumed or lost with canned green peas, sweet corn, any bodily activity. The more we eat, the more calories we absorbed and tomato juice. The fruits listed here give 40 into our body, and the more we exercise, the more we burn or lose calories: apple (1/2), atis (1 fruit), calories. The balance in the calorie lakatan, latundan banana and chico, per piece; dalanghita (2); intake and output determines duhat (20 pieces); durian (30 g); whether we maintain our current grapes (10); guava (2); guyabano (1 weight, lose weight, or gain slice); langka (40 g); lansones 97); pounds. mangosteen (3); melon (1 slice); The level of physical activity papaya (1 slice); pineapple (1 slice); of the person is important. Using rambutan (8); santol (1); sinkamas the Krause Formula, the standard (1/2, 110g); suha (3 segments); average calories burned are as watermelon (1 slice); star apple follows: Sedentary, just sitting (1/2), buko water (1 cup); bananabehind the desk, 30 calories; que (1/2); mango chips (2); maruya average housewife chores, 40; (1/4); turon (1/2). carpenter, 45. Thirty grams of the following In general, the average calorie provide 41 calories: tenderloin, requirement per day ranges porterhouse, shank, sirloin, between 1500 to 2000, but those shoulder, rump, chicken leg, breast who are overweight could reduce (1/4), meat internal organs (3/4 this to 1000 calories a day, under cups); 1 slice of bangus, lapulapu, a physician’s advice. Diabetics dalag, etc; bacon (1 slice) is 45 have their own calculated caloriecalories. And so with ½ avocado, intake. eating 500 calories more a a teaspoon of peanut butter, 5 day (in excess of the total calorie pieces of pili nut, or a teaspoon of requirement) will make a person peanut or olive oil. gain one pound in a week, and, Rice and rice products (the conversely, eating 500 calories less infamous carb) contain very than the TCR per day will reduce high calories, 100 for each of the one pound from the person’s following: rice (1/2 cup); lugaw (1.5 body weight in a week. Pushing cup); bibingka, galapong (1 slice); ourselves away from the dining malagkit 91 slice); biko (1 slice); table less than full is a lifesaver. cassava cake (1/2 slice); espasol The average calories burned (2); kalamay, latik (1); kutsinta (1); in 30 minutes of any of these palitaw, no coconut gratings (4); activities are as follows: sleeping, puto bumbong (2); sapin-sapin (1 35; typing on computer, 50; slice); tikoy (1 slice); pan de sal (3); ironing, 63; cooking, 86; light lady gingers (5); mammon tostado housework, 115; mopping floor, 93); hopia hapon (1.5); ensaymada 119; shopping, 102; fishing, 119; 91); bihon, sotanghon, (each, 1 climbing hills (no load), 232; cup); kamote (1/2) ubi (1.3 cups); walking slowly, 106; walking kastanyas (11 pieces); and, sago 9 briskly, 120; running slowly, 280; 1/2 cup). running fast, 384; jogging, 215; Table sugar, one teaspoon, 20 cycling, 123; swimming, 311; calories; and so with the following: ballroom dancing, 98; aerobic taho with syrup and sago (1/4 dancing, 198; volleyball, 96; cup); ube, haleya (1 teaspoon); and football, 253; basketball, 265; golf, yema (1). halo-halo (2.3 cups) has 140; tennis, 209; and, badminton, 186. Foreplay in sex for 15 minutes 80 calories and pulvoron (1), 40 calories. burns about 22.5 calories and each of the following carbos actual sexual intercourse for 15 has 145 calories: buko pie (½ slice); minutes, 67.5 calories (a total of bitso-bitso 1); hopia, baboy (1); only 90 calories for the entire hot cakes (1); fruit cake (1 slice); activity, believe it or not!).
chocolate cake (1 slice); Spanish bread (1); cinnamon roll (1). One half donut has 190 calories; croissant, 235; muffin, 290; éclair, 212, century egg, 135; embutido, 2.5, 187 calories. As for menu dishes, ½ cup adobong baboy, 302 calories; 1 cup callos, 260; 1 cup dinuguan, 124; ½ cup kare kare, 103; ½ cup kilawin, 113; litsong baboy (50 g) 273; lumpia fresh with sauce, 273; lumpia with peanut sauce, 403; 2/3 cup of menudo, 144; okoy with tagunton, 184; and, putsero, 1 cup, 282. Alcoholic drinks: Pure water, zero; beer, 11 oz, 163 calories; cognac, 75; gin, dry, 107 per jigger; ginebra, one bottle, 832; martini, 143; whisky, 107, wine, red, 73 a glass; white, 85; champagne, 85. All soft drinks are unhealthy, harmful to our body. Processed foods increase the risk for cancer. Daily physical exercise and counting calories are vital to our health and well-being. In general, the way we eat as a nation, our native diet is not healthy as it could be. For those who are health conscious, the Filipino food could be healthy. eliminating rice in our diet, or cutting it down to half a cup or less, instead of 2 cups of cooked rice, would be a good start. While brown rice is better (lower glycemic index), it is still rice, still carb. eating fish and a lot of vegetables, which are abundant in the Philippines, some nuts (like walnuts, almonds) and some fruits, and minimizing red meat to maybe once a week, will make the Filipino diet healthier. A good version is the Mediterranean Diet, and homeland has all the ingredients we want for a healthier. The trend among chefs and restauranteurs in major cities in the Philippines is towards healthier menus, controlled calories, low fat, low carb, high fiber…many popularizing fusion recipes. Let’s eat healthy to live longer and enjoy healthy eating. Our children should be taught by our example that health and wellbeing, prevention of illnesses, and longevity are all achievable through living a healthy lifestyle. Visit philipSchua.com email: scalpelpen@gmail.com *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com
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 mAY 4, 2018
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 mAY 4, 2018