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DATELINE Philippines, US begin largest military drills under Duterte from the AJPress NEWS TEAM AcroSS AMEricA

PhILIPPINe and U.s. military forces began on monday, may 7, their annual military exercises — the first and largest since Philippine President rodrigo Duterte entered office. the annual Balikatan exercises — now in its 34th year — launched in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City with around 8,000 soldiers from the two countries. Nearly 3,000 soldiers from the U.s. joined with approximately 5,000 from the Philippines, and will work alongside soldiers from the Australian Defense force and the Japan self-Defense force. U.s. and Philippine officials commended the longstanding relationship between the two countries dating back to World War II. “each year, through Balikatan, we reaffirm our commitment to each other under the mutual defense treaty and conduct an array of multilateral training opportunities to help us develop as allies,” said U.s. Lt. gen. Lawrence Nicholson, commanding general of III marine expeditionary

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New border enforcement policy will separate children from parents Parents who are criminally charged will be referred to federal court while their children will be placed in government custody IN order to tighten up immigration enforcement, the trump administration will escalate criminal prosecutions of parents illegally entering the United states and place their children in protective custody, according to federal immigration officials. speaking at friendship Park in san Diego adjacent to the U.s.-mexico Border on monday, may 7, U.s. Attorney general Jeff sessions and thomas homan, acting director of U.s. Immigration and Customs enforcement (ICe), said the administration is adopting a “zero-tolerance policy” toward anyone crossing the border. In other words, asylum seekers would be immediately directed to the Department of Justice (DoJ), and everyone would be taken to jail and prosecuted for the misdemeanor of illegal entry into the U.s. “People are dying trying to enter this country. there is a right way to do it and

may 1 0 - 1 6 , 2 0 1 8

Duterte on Forbes’ most powerful people list once again by Gaea

KatReena Philstar.com

cabico

the entry about Duterte took note of his rise to power on the mANILA — President rodrigo back of his campaign that promDuterte has been included in ised to eradicate street crimes and Forbes Magazine’s most Powerful the drug trade. “so far, his war on crime has People of 2018. Duterte ranked 69th of the 75 already resulted in the killing of leaders, advocates and entrepre- thousands of people across the arneurs in the international business chipelago country,” Forbes said. It also cited the chief executive’s magazine’s roster of who it deems (L-R) Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the most powerful people world- “raw and vulgar vocabulary.” Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin and U.S. Pres. Donald “he called obama ‘son of a wide. In 2016, he placed 70th. Trump..

whore’ and has used homophobic slurs to describe opponents,” forbes said. his inclusion on forbes’ list came days after he was named as of one of the strongmen in TiME magazine’s cover story. he, however, denied that he is a leader who rules with force. In several speeches, Duterte allayed fears that he would become

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Photos courtesy of Forbes Magazine

Total of 4,251 drug personalities killed, say PH government officials by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

A totAL of 4,251 drug personalities have been killed as part of Philippine president rodrigo Duterte’s war on drugs, Philippine government officials said on monday, may 7. the data was presented by the Philippine National Police (PNP) at its Camp Crame headquarters in Quezon City during a briefing on its #realNumbersPh campaign. Presenting the data was former PNP chief of operations and current National Capital region Police office (NCrPo) Director, Camilo Cascolan, who added that 142,069 drug suspects were arrested as part of 98,799 police operations recorded from July 1, 2016 to April 20, 2018. Cascolan authored the PNP’s infamous oplan NEW MONEY. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III as he receives a complete set of New Generation tokhang and oplan Double Barrel. referring to the government’s recovery and Well- Currency bank notes and coins from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, May 8.

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The president is encouraging the public to use the new currency wisely and responsibly for national development.

Malacañang photo

‘No more fighting’: Mayweather says no to rematch with Pacquiao

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by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

BoxINg champion floyd mayweather Jr. confirmed that there will be no rematch between him and fellow boxer manny “Pacman” Pacquiao. stylish and luxurious, he arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) last tuesday, may 8, and readily answered questions. “I’m an old man. there’s no more fighting in floyd mayweather,” he said, reject-

Resigned Tourism Secretary Wanda Tulfo-Teo will be replaced by Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. Philstar.com photos

Duterte accepts Wanda Teo’s Iglesia ni Cristo breaks ‘voluntary’ resignation; RomuloPuyat named new Tourism chief 3 Guinness records

Photo from Instagram/@dyancastillejo

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by Ritchel

Adam Brown, official adjudicator by Ritchel Mendiola and representative of guinness AJPress World records. the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) A total of 23, 235 participants officially broke three guinness lined up to form the sentence World records when it held its “Proud to be a member of Iglecharity walk event that over 1.5 sia ni Cristo” for the first record, million members participated at beating India’s previous record the Quirino grandstand in ma- which had 16,550 participants nila on sunday, may 6. that formed the sentence “You FOR THE RECORD. Religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ on Sunday, May the event, named “World- can you will” in 2016. 6 set a Guinness World Record for the largest human sentence during its charity walk at Quirino wide walk to fight poverty,” the participants gathered as Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park (Luneta). Clad in various colors, 23,235 participants formed broke the records for largest early as 12 a.m., and started to the sentence “Proud to be a member of Iglesia Ni Cristo.” According to Guinness adjudicator Paulina Sapinska, the participants had beaten the previous largest human sentence “You can human sentence, largest charity walk at 6 a.m. along the 1.6-kiyou will” set by 16,550 students on August 10, 2016 who celebrated World Youth Day in India. walk at a single venue and larg- lometer stretch of roxas BouleManilaTimes.net photo est human mosaic, according to u PAGE A2

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Mendiola AJPress

PresIDeNt rodrigo Duterte has accepted the resignation of tourism secretary Wanda tulfoteo, Presidential spokesperson harry roque confirmed tuesday, may 8. “Yes accepted,” roque said in a text message, when asked if the president has accepted teo’s resignation. teo was accused of conflict of interest after state auditors found that the Department of tourism (Dot) approved placing advertise-

ments with Bitag media Unlimited Inc. (BmUI), which produces “Kilos Pronto,” a blocktimer show on state-run PtV-4 hosted by her brothers, Ben and erwin tulfo. the Commission on Audit (CoA) flagged the payment of P60.01 million to BmUI, which is owned by Ben tulfo, for airing Dot’s commercial advertisements on “Kilos Pronto” despite the lack of a memorandum of agreement or contract. teo has come under fire following the CoA report, but roque said the office of the ombudsman

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From The FronT Page

New border enforcement policy will separate... PAGE A1 a wrong way to do it,” said Homan. Sessions said that at this time, parents may be separated from their children after the arrest. Parents will be sent to adult detention facilities while their children will be sent to juvenile shelters under the Office of Refugee Resettlement. Until now, border agents kept parents and

their children together at the same centers. “This border is not open. Don’t come unlawfully. We cannot take everyone on this planet who is in a difficult situation... If we do our duty to prosecute most cases, then children inevitably for a period of time might be held,” the attorney general said, prompting outrage from protestors on both sides of the

border. Previously, individuals who were apprehended at the border would be immediately deported without criminal charges. An asylum seeker who crossed into the U.S. illegally would have officially committed a federal misdemeanor, but the Dept. of Homeland Security would process their asylum case before being referred to the DOJ for prosecution. Even after being referred to prosecution, the DOJ wouldn’t prosecute until the asylum case was processed and completed. This new law would send asylum seekers straight to federal prosecution without having to process an asylum case first. Sessions has postulated that many asylum claims are fraudulent and propagated by “dirty immigration lawyers.” Additionally, this new law, while adhering to the administration’s mission to stiffen immigration policy, could overwhelm the already-crowded detention centers and add on to the massive backlog of cases in immigration courts. “If you are smuggling a child, then we will prosecute you and that child will be separated from you as required by law,” Sessions put it in an earlier meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz. The administration’s plan to impose immediate criminal charges on border crossers and asylum seekers comes as no surprise. Ending the phenomenon known as “catch and release” has been a key part of the president’s immigration agenda. For decades, thousands of Central Americans have been trying escape gang violence and political turmoil of their native countries by seeking asylum in the U.S. In recent years as violence and unrest continues to plague the region, more and more asylum seekers have been trying to find a way into the United States. Many of these asylum seekers travel in large caravans every year in order to protect themselves. A caravan of 300 people from Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador is currently trying to make its way through Mexico in groups of about 50 to seek asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. Global human rights organization Amnesty International PAGE A4

FIGHTING GRAFT AND CORRUPTION. Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Undersecretary Atty. David Erro (left) said his agency is investigating 800 cases of corrupt practices involving employees and officials, including directors from current and past administrations, in cooperation with the Presidential Anti-Corruption Commission (PACC), which is tasked to investigate graft and corrupt practices in government. Erro speaks during a press briefing held at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) central office in Quezon City on Tuesday, May 8. PNA photo by Joey Razon

Duterte on Forbes’ most powerful... PAGE A1

a dictator. But there were also instances when he defended his brand of leadership, stressing that there would be no progress if he did not act like one. Duterte’s ally, Chinese President Xi Jinping, seized the top spot in the 2018 ranking. He replaced Russian President Vladimir Putin, who held the title for four consecutive years. United States President Donald Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel placed third and fourth, respectively. Here are the top 10 World’s Most Powerful People: 1. Chinese President Xi Jinping 2. Russian President Vladimir Putin 3. U.S. President Donald Trump 4. German Chancellor Angela Merkel

5. Amazon’s Jeff Bezos 6. Pope Francis 7. Bill Gates 8. Saudi Arabia Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud 9. Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi 10. Google’s Larry Page Forbes said the factors taken into account to select the world’s most powerful people were: the number of people they influence, the financial resources they control, spheres of influence and the individuals’ active use of their power. ‘Real power emanates from people’ Duterte’s true source of power is the people, Malacañang said Wednesday, May 9. “The presidency, in the mind of [Duterte], begins and ends with

public trust where real power emanates,” presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said. Roque was reacting to Duterte’s inclusion in Forbes Magazine’s list of the most powerful people in 2018. “As chief executive for almost two years, he has faithfully served our people by promoting the interests of the Filipino people and the Filipino nation first,” the president’s mouthpiece said. Roque also said that the pursuit of a so-called independent foreign policy, the pro-poor policies and program of the current administration, and the war on drugs—which has killed more than 4,000 in law enforcement operations—reflect the government’s “advancing the welfare of the greatest number of our countrymen.” n

Total of 4,251 drug personalities killed... PAGE A1 ness Program (RWP), Cascolan said that 184,252 drug surrenders were graduates of the program — 79,099 from the PNP-initiated RWP, and 105,153 from supported community centers. Of the PNP’s own personnel, the numbers from the PNP Internal Affairs Service counted 302 uniformed personnel and eight non-uniformed personnel as having tested positive for illegal drugs — 265 have been dismissed from service. Of government workers, 504 were arrested, comprising of 239 government employees, 217 elected officials, and 48 uniformed personnel. Cascolan said that 2,676 kilos of shabu — the slang term for crystal meth — were seized, totaling PHP13.81 billion or over $265 million. In total, PHP20.23 billion worth of drugs and laboratory equipment have been seized. Number wars The Philippine Drug Enforcement (PDEA) and the PNP held its first “RealNumbersPH” forum in May of last year in an attempt to quash claims that Duterte’s controversial war on drugs is as deadly as international and local

rights groups and media make it out to be. After criticisms on the numerous killings of drug suspects, the PNP was twice removed from leading the government’s anti-illegal drug campaign. But in December of last year, Duterte reinstated them back to the frontline to support the PDEA. With the resulting death toll being central to the condemnation of the president and his administration, rights groups and lawyers have since been critical of the accuracy of its numbers, saying they are way too low. Human Rights Watch, among others, hold the count of people killed by police in the administration’s war on drugs to be closer to around 12,000. But those behind the forum say they’ve been nothing but transparent about their findings, blaming human rights groups and political agendas of the president’s opponents for causing obscurity. “Despite significant gains, many side issues — and to some extent — delivery of this information, continue to obscure the true picture of our anti-drug operations, often mislabeling the pure and good intention of the campaign with human rights is-

sues and political undertones,” said PNP Director General Oscar Albayalde as he opened up Monday’s forum. Last month, members of the European Parliament called on the Philippine government to stop the extrajudicial killings, while expressing concern that the police had been “falsifying evidence to justify extrajudicial killings.” Albayalde responded, telling the European Parliament to show proof of the 12,000 killed under the drug crackdown by having the victims listed “one-by-one.” Yet despite criticism, Albayalde said Monday that the PNP were “winning” the war on drugs. To reporters, he said, “It is really hard to quantify but with what we see in its effects, we know that we are winning this war on drugs.” He added, “There are less street pushers. The situation was not like before that buying drugs on the street was like buying a cigarette. It translates to lower crime volume all over the Philippines but on a personal note, maybe this more or less half.” The PNP did not say Monday how many of those reported to be facing drug charges have been cleared or convicted. n

Duterte accepts Wanda Teo’s ‘voluntary’... PAGE A1 is the only institution that can determine if the Tourism chief must be held criminally liable. Amid the controversy, the Tulfos announced that they would return the P60-million to the government. “It was more of delicadeza to protect the family name and to show that the Tulfos do not wish to benefit from any government funds,” Teo’s lawyer, Ferdinand Topacio, said. According to Roque, the plan to return the money was a “good gesture” but said “it will not completely exonerate what has been violated.”

Teo is the fifth official to leave the Duterte Cabinet, following the resignation of former Justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre II. “We wish to clarify that there was no demand on the part of the president for Secretary Teo to resign, and that the decision to do so was purely out of her own volition,” Topacio said in a press briefing at the DOT office in Makati. New tourism chief Department of Agriculture Undersecretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat has been appointed by Duterte as the new head of DOT, replacing Teo. This was confirmed on Tuesday,

May 8, hours after Teo announced her resignation to Special Assistant to the President Christopher “Bong” Go. Puyat is the daughter of former Senator and Foreign Affairs Secretary Alberto Romulo. She is also a grandniece of Carlos P. Romulo, the first Asian president of the United Nations General Assembly, and the great-granddaughter of Pio Valenzuela, the man whom Valenzuela City is named after. She is an economist, who has worked in the government as early as 2005, when she was a consultant to the Presidential Management Staff under the Arroyo administration. n

Iglesia ni Cristo breaks 3... PAGE A1 vard from the Cultural Center of the Philippines in Pasay City to Rizal Park in Manila. The walk was concurrently held in 300 sites across 18 time zones by INC members. INC’s charity event also broke the record for largest charity walk in a single venue with 238,171 participants, beating its previous record of 175,509 participants from its first Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty held on February 15, 2014 The event also broke the world record for largest human mosaic formed by 9,000 members forming the INC flag, which was previously set by Abeer medical group from Saudi Arabia with 4,500 participants in observance

of World Diabetes Day on November 14, 2017. According to Brown, they were still verifying two possible world records for the event – largest charity walk at multiple venues and the most nationalities in a charity walk. The number of participants from the other 300 sites will be verified as well as he passports of those who participated in the event. Edwil Zabala, INC spokesman, said only those whose wristbands have been deposited in the drop boxes at the end of the finish line were counted for the world record. “Some might have not finished the walk or kept the wristband as a souvenir. So only those who surrendered their wristbands

were counted,” he said. Sunday’s charity walk was for for the benefit of the less fortunate in selected communities, especially in Africa where poverty is the principal cause of hunger. “Poverty is the principal cause of hunger in Africa and elsewhere. The Church recently established an eco-farming project in Ladybrand, South Africa aimed at helping address the pressing concerns of hunger and malnutrition in that area,” the INC said. “Proceeds of the second Worldwide Walk will be used to continue providing food and medical assistance for those in immediate need in impoverished communities,” the church added. n

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Fil-Am father shot to death by SFO worker Prosecutors said the shooter was in love with the victim’s fiancée, acted out of jealousy by KlaRize

Medenilla AJPress

Erica Viray Santos (center)

Gabriel Tanglao

Photos courtesy of National Education Association

Two Fil-Am educators among 2018 Social Justice Activist of the Year Award finalists by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

Two Filipino-American high school teachers have been nominated to receive the National Education Association (NEA) 2018 Social Justice Activist of the Year Award, which commends educators who have shown leadership on social and racial justice issues both in and out of their classrooms. Gabriel Tanglao of Bergen County, New Jersey and Erica Viray Santos of San Leandro, California are among the seven educators from around the U.S. nominated for the award presented by the NEA EdJustice program. “Education advocacy and social justice advocacy go hand in hand, as an increasingly diverse kaleidoscope of students and educators must feel welcome in our public schools,” read the NEA announcement. It added, “The 2018 Social Justice Activist of the Year award will be presented to the exceptional efforts that demonstrate the ability to lead, organize and engage educators, parents, and the community to advocate on social justice issues that impact the lives of students, fellow educators, and the communities they serve.” The NEA is the largest professional organization in the U.S., representing over three million elementary and secondary teachers, higher education faculty, school administrators, education support professionals,

retired educators, and future teachers. Gabriel Tanglao, New Jersey A graduate of New Jersey Public Schools, Tanglao went on to receive an MA in economics education from the University of Delaware, and an MS in teaching and BA in political science from Pace University. Tanglao teaches social studies and specializes in Advanced Placement (AP) economics, financial literacy, world history and global issues. outside of the classroom, Tanglao acts as an advisor to the National Social Studies Honor Society, Model United Nations, and served as a STEM Mentor. In the union, he serves as local treasurer and chair of the legislative action team. He is also an alumni of New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Union School, and the NJEA Apprentice Program. He also leads NJEA’s first Minority Leadership Training Cadres. “He is committed to the power of public education both inside and outside of the classroom,” read the NEA announcement for the award nominees. “This commitment has led him to empower diverse communities through programming and events that cultivate a culture of civic activism around racial justice in public education.” Erica Viray Santos, California A teacher and program director at The Social Justice Academy of San Leandro High School, Santos has been an educator

since 2005 and began teaching at the academy in 2008. She currently teaches U.S. history, government, economics, and social justice courses. with a background in ethnic studies and community organizing, Santos has been vocal about many issues related to Fil-Am and minority culture and experiences, such as the budget cuts to San Francisco State University’s College of Ethnic Studies, and the proposal to rename a Union City high school after Fil-Am labor movement leaders Philip Vera Cruz and Larry Itliong. She was also very active in campaigning with her students in supporting officials and residents of San Leandro when they declared their city a sanctuary city for immigrants last year. “we have been working on the campaign since November and didn’t expect a unanimous vote at both the school board and the city council meeting,” the Inquirer quoted Santos saying. The NEA said of Santos, “Her commitment to equity and passion for creating an inclusive school climate that empowers students to learn and become social justice activists has led to her becoming a driving force in developing, sustaining and directing a school campus focused on social justice.” Voting for the award is open to educators, public education allies and partners, and ends at midnight of May 25, 2018. Voting can be done on www.educationvotes.new.org/2018sja/. n

A FILIPINo-AMErICAN man was shot and killed last week by a San Francisco International Airport (SFo) employee who was reportedly in love with the victim’s fiancée, who also worked at SFo. Mark Mangaccat, 31, was picking up his fiancée, Thandel Seinn, from her job at SFo on wednesday, April 25, when Seinn’s coworker, 31-year-old Kevin Prasad — who was allegedly in love with her — followed the couple on their way home in Daly City. Twenty-five-year-old Donovan rivera drove the car that Prasad was following the couple in. As Mangaccat was backing into their garage, reports said that Prasad exited the car, walked up the driveway and fired five to six shots at Mangaccat. Seinn was not shot. Mangaccat’s mother, who was at the home when the shooting took place, rushed to the garage to find her son with multiple gunshot wounds.

“I saw my son with the blood in his mouth, and I saw a hole and I said, what happened?” said the mother. “So I ran upstairs and called 9-1-1 and came back and tried [CPr] to my son.” Seinn said that she never saw the shooter at the time of the killing. “I’m waiting and I’m sad and crying. Heartbroken,” Seinn told reporters. “So I’m crying and I’m thinking, ‘what happened?’ He has no enemies. I don’t have enemies either.” After the shooting, Prasad reportedly hurried back to the car and rivera drove them away from the scene. However, investigators were able to identify and arrest them the next day, officials said. Seinn said that she saw Prasad as a friend who knew that she and Mangaccat had been in a serious relationship for years. According to prosecutors, Prasad had been trying to start a romantic relationship with Seinn and wanted her to leave Mangaccat, but Seinn didn’t take Prasad’s requests serious-

ly and rejected his advances. “He just tell me, ‘Don’t go’ and ‘I want to be with you,’” said Seinn, “He would just say something like a friendly joke.” officials have defined the motive as an act of jealousy toward the victim. “The working proposition for the motive is, “If I kill him and get him out of the way, then I could be there to start the relationship with the grieving widow,” San Mateo County District Attorney Steve wagstaffe said, as quoted by ABC7. “That’s pretty bizarre.” The couple had a 3-year-old daughter and were about to move the family to Las Vegas together before Mangaccat’s untimely death. wagstaffe said that last wednesday was Seinn’s last shift at SFo. “I didn’t want to lose my husband. He was my soulmate,” Seinn said. Prasad and rivera were charged with murder and made their first court appearance on Monday, April 30. They didn’t enter pleas and will return to court on May 8. n

Philippines, US begin largest military drills... PAGE A1 Force. “we as military are charged with being ready when our nations need us most.” Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) Lt. Gen. Emmanuel B. Salamat, exercise director for this year’s exercises, said, “I’m greatly honored to stand side-by-side with our U.S. military counterpart to share our mutual responsibility and commitment in making this PhilU.S. bilateral exercise a success.” “we extend this commitment to strengthen our alliance and learn from both forces to improve our interoperability,” Salamat added. The drills come shortly after China installed anti-ship cruise missiles and surface-to-air missile systems on three of its outposts in the South China Sea, as reported by NBC. But officials, not mentioning China, said the focus of the Balikatan exercises will be focused on missions including

mutual defense, disaster relief, humanitarian assistance, and counterterrorism. Lieutenant Liezl Vidallon, a spokesperson for the Balikatan exercises, told rappler last month that humanitarian civic action activities, including medical missions and school buildings in areas in Cagayan and Central Luzon, would also be featured. The drills also come nearly a year after U.S. special forces came to the Philippines to aid local troops fight against ISIS-backed Islamist militants who took hold of the southern Philippine city of Marawi last May. “we want both our forces to learn from our great and hard-earned experience in our past battles like Marawi,” said Salamat. “we just want to help each other to be able to effectively combat future scenaarios.” while in Marawi, U.S. soldiers were only able to provide

technical support as local laws prohibit troops to take part in combat. Salamat said that by the end of the Balikatan exercises, they expect both countries’ troops to learn from each other, from both training and “hard-earned experience of both our forces.” “May this exercise add value on only in the spirit of our U.S.Phil Mutual Defense Treaty engagement and friendship of our armed forces, but also in our commitment to better perform our mandate in protecting our people and state,” said Salamat. “our alliance remains a key source of strength and stability in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Nicholson. “It is paramount to recognize that Balikatan is a training opportunity that will test and enhance our readiness while strengthening the bond between our nations.” The drills and operations will continue until May 18. (Rae Ann Varona / AJPress)

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Philippine military capability among weakest in Asia Pacific — report

as the fourth largest diaspora in the region after China, india and Bangladesh with an outward migrant population of 3 million. AMOnG its Asia Pacific neighthe study also showed that bors, the Philippines ranked low China is the Philippines’ largest in terms of its military capability trade partner with 25 percent of measure, according to the Asia the country’s regional trade. Power index released by foreign the United states, meanwhile, policy think tank Lowy institute. is the Philippines’ largest culture the index showed that the Philand defense partner. the report ippines ranked 16 of 25 in overall noted that the Us has transferred power score, where different indiabout $261 million worth of arms cators such as military, economic, to the Philippines. cultural, diplomatic and political in terms of the “power gap,” the power were measured. Philippines is an “overachiever.” “the Philippines’ strongest Lowy institute defined power performance is in future trends, gap as “the difference between a ranking in place with a score of country’s overall power and what 4.0. its lowest ranking occurs in its power is expected to be given its available resources.” “the country wields more influence in Asia than would be expected from its resources, resulting in a positive Power Gap score of 1.4,” the report said. the Asia Power index showed that despite China’s ascendance, the Us remains the most powerful region but not for long. Beijing is now leading Washington in diplomatic influence and economic relationships in the region. “Us diplomatic strength in Asia is surpassed by China and almost equaled by Japan, which could have implications for upcoming Us-dPrK denuclearization talks,” Lowy institute said. the index maps and ranks the power of 25 countries in Asia The index showed that the Philippines ranked 16 of 25 in overall power score, where different and the Us as the major external indicators such as military, economic, cultural, diplomatic and political power were measured. power in the region. the map will Philstar.com photo be updated annually. n by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

the military capability measure, in 19th place with a score of 4.1,” the report read. the report noted that the Philippine navy operates only one frigate and does not have destroyers, cruisers or carriers. the United states remains the strongest military power in the region with a score of 94.6, followed by China with 69.9 and russia with 61.4. the Lowy institute also reported that the Philippines has overtaken Australia in 11th place for economic size. the country’s GdP is forecasted to grow by 110 percent between 2016 and 2030. the Philippines also emerged

SCORCHED. Members of militant groups burn a U.S. flag during a rally near the United States embassy in Manila. The group opposed the holding of the Balikatan exercises under which Filipino and American troops hold joint military exercises. ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Duterte to visit PH Rise on May 15-16 by ritcheL

MendioLa

AJPress

President rodrigo duterte will visit Benham rise from May 15 to 16 and lead the commemoration of its renaming to Philippine rise, Malacañang confirmed on on tuesday, May 8. “the president will be commemorating the renaming of Benham rise to Philippine rise by visiting the Philippine rise itself; and this is on May 15 to 16,” Presidential spokesperson Harry roque said in a Palace press briefing. roque also said duterte’s visit will launch the start of scientific research to be conducted by an all-Filipino team composed of 50 scientists. “so the event will be attended

by the 50 scientists whom the president will be sending off, as they start their scientific researches in Philippine rise,” he said. duterte signed executive Order no. 25 changing the name of the undersea feature to Philippine rise on May 16, 2017. the eO 25 stated that “the Benham rise region is subject to sovereign rights and jurisdiction of the Philippines pursuant to relevant provisions of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, national legislation, and the UnCLOs and applicable international law.” the United nations approved the Philippines’ claim that the Philippine rise is within the country’s 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone through recommendations of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental shelf (CLCs) in 2012. With the ruling, the country was granted “sovereign rights” over Benham rise, meaning the Philippines has the exclusive rights

to explore and exploit resources there. duterte on April 26, 2018 announced he will sail to to Benham rise to “make a statement there that nobody but nobody owns this place including the continental shelf, the underground land mass that extends under the sea”. the president earlier issued an order that all international researchers are required to to secure permission from the Philippine government first if they wish to conduct studies on Philippine rise. this was a result of the heavy backlash against the government for allowing China to explore the area despite its dispute with the Philippines over the south China sea, resource-rich waters on the archipelago’s west coast. duterte also said Filipino researchers will be given priority in exploring the 13-million hectare undersea plateau off Aurora province. n

‘No more fighting’: Mayweather... PAGE A1 ing the possibility of a rematch with Filipino eight-division world boxing champion, Pacquiao. However, there is one thing Mayweather would like to do with Pacquiao if given the chance — shoot some hoops. “My love for boxing is like my love for basketball,” the retired boxer said. Mayweather is currently on a world tour aboard his $3 million Gulfstream iV on a personal mission to meet and greet boxing fans the world over. “i’m touring the world and embracing my fans, and getting love from around the world. right

now i’m retired,” he said. the unbeaten world champion boxer has already travelled to dubai, singapore, indonesia, thailand and now Manila. He wasted no time and immediately travelled to sun-soaked island of Palawan. He is currently staying in el nido’s premier luxury resort in Pangulasian island along with his friends from the the Money team (tMt) and dyan Castillejo. “it’s been great,” Mayweather said of his visit to the Philippines. “People have been nice, real generous, real respectful, fun, caring. i like it.” n

New border enforcement policy... PAGE A2 UsA slammed the new policy to separate parents from their children and have said they planned to challenge it in a court of law. “the idea that children can be protected by tearing them away from their families defies all sense of logic and humanity,” said executive director of Amnesty international UsA Margaret Huang. “these are children who have already suffered the

trauma of violence and persecution in their native countries and arduous journey to seek safety. Why in the world would the U.s. government institute a policy that would compound their distress by separating them from their families, claiming it’s for their own good? this is a monstrous policy that flies in the face of human rights and should be rescinded immediately.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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D ateline PhiliPPines SWS: More Pinoy families ‘non-poor’ by Catherine

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

Nearly 60 percent of Filipino families now consider themselves non-poor, a record improvement over the past four years, the latest Social Weather Stations (SWS) survey showed. The poll, conducted from March 23 to 27, found that 58.2 percent of families were not poor, up from 56.4 percent in December 2017 and 47.9 percent in December 2014. about 28 percent of families said they were “always nonpoor” in the March survey. In

addition, one in every three Filipino families escaped poverty in recent years. While the same proportion was observed in December 2017, more Filipino families, at 18.2 percent, said they used to be poor five or more years ago (usually non-poor) but were no longer poor, compared with 16.8 percent in the previous poll. another 12 percent said they escaped poverty in the last four years (newly non-poor). The same survey also found that 12 percent of Filipino families—about one out of eight families—had fallen into poverty.

According to a recent poll, 58.2 percent of families now consider themselves non-poor. Philstar.com photo

But this was two points lower than the record-high 14 percent who identified their families as “newly non-poor” in the survey conducted in December last year. Self-rated poverty The SWS said 42 percent of families were now “self-rated poor,” 29 percent of which were “always poor.” Four years ago, self-rated poverty stood at 52 percent. The pollster reckoned its data since December 2014, when it began to ask its self-rated poor respondents if they have ever experienced not being poor, and if so, when they most recently experienced it. It also asked its self-rated non-poor (including borderline) respondents if they have ever experienced being poor, and if so, when they most recently experienced it. The SWS noted that when the question was first asked, nationwide self-rated poverty was at 52 percent, wherein almost three out of five self-rated poor families, or 30 percent of families overall, said they had always been poor. “December 2014 was also the quarter with the highest rate of newly poor families at 10.7 percent,” SWS said. Nationwide self-rated poverty reached a three-year high in PAGE A7

CAMPAIGN SEASON. A teener jumps off a vehicle to distribute campaign materials during a sortie for the May 14 Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections at the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Road in Quezon City on Tuesday, May 8. PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Duterte to tap ‘all-Asian’ team for Dengvaxia probe by Catherine

been camping out in Padre Faura Street in Manila. Marcos said that he is still hoping that the results will proclaim the truth and anomalies behind the vice-presidential polls will come out in time. The former senator said he went to the PeT to personally check on the system for the recount. “Kaya tayo andito para tingnan din ang revisors, para malaman kung paano ang patakbo ng recount. Mabagal ang recount. Baka naman meron pa tayong maitutulong kung saka-sakali. We’re hoping to find ways to help the process to be finished as soon as possible (That’s why we’re here to check the revisors and for us to understand

S. Valente ManilaTimes.net

PreSIDeNT rodrigo Duterte will form a three-man, “all-asian” panel of experts to investigate the controversial Dengvaxia vaccine, Malacañang said on Tuesday, May 8. Palace spokesman Harry roque said Duterte made the decision during Monday’s Cabinet meeting in Malacañang. “The president after much discussion said that he will create a three-man panel of experts, all the process. The recount is slow. asians, no Westerners and he will Perhaps we can do something to be bound by the findings of these be of help),” the former lawmaker three-man experts on the issue of stressed. whether or not dengvaxia actually Marcos did not discuss merits caused deaths,” he added. of the case or any update on the In a news briefing, roque said recount due to the gag order conflicting findings of the Public issued by tribunal on both par- attorney’s Office (PaO) and the ties. University of the Philippineslast april 19, robredo filed Philippine General Hospital (PGH) motion for reconsideration asked prompted Duterte “to seek further the PeT to set aside its april 10 advice” through the foreign panel resolution denying her plea for of experts. the 25-percent threshold to be “The problem of the president applied. is although there is a finding of The threshold adopted by the a PaO expert and there is a PGH Comelec is designed to scan ev- panel of experts’ finding, as a ery oval on the ballot and count lawyer and a former prosecutor, as a valid vote those that contain he knows that expert witnesses appropriate marks based on pre- can cancel out each other’s testidetermined sharing threshold. monies,” he added. “In effect, he said that with PAGE A7

Marcos asks PET to speed up VP poll recount MaNIla -- Former Senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Wednesday, May 9, asked the Supreme Court (SC) sitting as Presidential electoral Tribunal (PeT) to speed up the recount on his electoral protest against Vice President Maria leonor “leni” robredo which has been ongoing almost two years after he lost the 2016 vice presidential race. “Two years is too long for the people to wait what happened, who is responsible, what can we do to avoid it in the future. If we still don’t know the real results, two years is too long to keep the people waiting, and what were the true results in the last elections,” Marcos told reporters outside the SC where he also meet his supporters who have

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conflicting testimonies from the experts from the PaO and the PGH, he is constrained to seek further advice from disinterested parties,” roque said. according to him, the foreign experts must have no ties with the Philippine government and the Dengvaxia manufacturer, Sanofi Pasteur. “He [Duterte] requested that the panel of experts should be foreign, should have no links absolutely with the Philippine government… at siyempre dapat walang links sa Sanofi (and of course must have no links with Sanofi),” roque said. “Pakikinggan po niya ang report at opinyon ng mga ekspertong ito nang maka-usad na tayo dito sa isyu ng Dengvaxia. Sa ngayon po, nag-aantay pa ng mas malinaw na scientific finding ang ating presidente kaya nga po bubuuin niya itong three-man panel na experts para malaman talaga kung ano ang dapat gawin dito sa Dengvaxia (He will listen to the report and opinion of the experts for us to move on from this issue. For now, the president is just waiting for more transparent scientific finding that’s why he wanted to form the three-panel of experts for us to know what we can do about this Dengvaxia

controversy),” he added. Dengvaxia maker Sanofi earlier hailed the vaccine as a breakthrough in combating dengue, which kills hundreds of people in the Philippines, mostly children, every year. But the French company set off a panic when in November it said a new analysis showed that the vaccine could lead to more severe symptoms for people who had not been infected with the dengue virus. In February, the Department of Health (DOH) confirmed that of the 14 children who died of various causes some time after receiving Dengvaxia, only three died of dengue, but none of the deaths could directly be attributed to the vaccine. The PaO, however, is standing by its findings and has even filed criminal charges against former Health Secretary Janette Garin and several others over the deaths of some schoolchildren administered with the vaccine. More than 830,000 public school students were injected with Dengvaxia as part of the anti-dengue immunization program. The Philippine government suspended the vaccination program in December 2017 and threatened to sue Sanofi. n

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OpiniOn

Setting a precedent

Features

The law is what the Supreme Court says it is, and the high tribunal must not take this responsibility lightly. every decision of the SC sets a precedent that can be applied to similar cases in the future. This week the high tribunal is expected to decide on an unprecedented petition that seeks to unseat the chief justice merely by a vote of her peers. Several of the SC justices have openly resented the promotion of the second most junior member of the tribunal to the post of chief magistrate. But no SC justice has heeded calls to inhibit from deliberations on a quo warranto petition seeking the ouster of Maria Lourdes Sereno. The petition was filed by the government’s chief lawyer, who argues that Sereno’s appointment was void from the start. Sereno also faces ouster efforts before Congress, this time through the constitutional process of impeachment. While the super majority in the House of Representatives is expected to vote for Sereno’s removal, her conviction after trial by the Senate is uncertain. The chief justice is one of only a handful of government officials led by the president who

are specifically mentioned in the Constitution as impeachable public servants. Because these officials hold such sensitive posts, the Constitution was crafted to insulate them from arbitrary and whimsical efforts to remove them from office. Concerns have been raised that the quo warranto petition will circumvent and undermine the constitutional process. If the solicitor general can move for the speedy ouster of the chief justice, there are also valid concerns that it will undermine the independence of the judiciary, which is weak enough as it is. Speculative reports indicate that the SC justices are unfazed and are set to vote for the ouster of Sereno. Once this mode of removing a chief justice succeeds, there is no stopping the next administrations from doing the same thing. In deciding on the quo warranto petition, SC justices must rise above their personal concerns and decide with the best interest of the nation in mind. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

History and national identity

Commentary

CeCilia Gaerlan IT is a moral outrage when one country tries to suppress the history of another through various forms of coercion. But it is a bigger offense when one’s own government colludes in this crime and commits a breach of trust against its own people. The recent stealth removal by the Philippine government of the Comfort Women Statue in Manila is a massive indignity to the Filipino people and to all those who believe in the sanctity of freedom. More than 76 years ago, the Philippines, a U.S. Commonwealth at that time, was attacked by the Empire of Japan just hours after Pearl Harbor was bombed. The United States declared war against Japan but the ravages of war did not reach the continental United States and instead the war was fought

Philstar.com photo

in its colony, the Philippines. In any war, the majority of casualties are civilians. Approximately 1 million Filipino civilians died during WWII. Yet today, the legacy of those who made the ultimate sacrifice is but a dim memory, forgotten by the leaders of the Filipino nation. Young students grow up without any knowledge of their ancestors’ heroic deeds, many of whom chose death over a life of bondage. And memorials to Filipinos who suffered so much during the war are dismantled in favor of the Japanese occupiers who inflicted pain and tyranny. Seventy-four years after World War II ended, one would think that it was the Empire of Japan that won the war in the Philippines. Perhaps it did. Otherwise, why are we allowing a foreign power to dictate how our history is being presented? Many of our leaders have deliberately chosen to forget the nation’s glorious past in favor of the road to economic prosperity. In

doing so, we have lost our sense of national identity. Without this, the Filipino nation cannot become a leader in its own right. In the long run, a nation’s self-worth is just as important, if not more, than economic prosperity. As a country, there is no true sovereignty unless a nation has a sense of identity and self-worth. If we do not have that, then our ancestors’ sacrifices were all in vain and our nation will remain a vassal of other mightier countries. In California, several generations of Filipino Americans, which now make up the largest Asian population in the state, grew up without a sense of identity because the legacy of their ancestors were not being taught in schools. The Filipinos’ contribution during WWII was a seminal part of U.S. history and this should be learned not just by Filipino Americans but by all students in the United States so that they can appreciate the sacrifices that were made in fighting

for their freedom by an entire nation some 5,000 miles away. It is for this very reason that Bataan Legacy Historical Society, with support from the community, fought for the inclusion of WWII in the Philippines in California’s high school history curriculum framework. On July 14, 2016, it was finally approved for inclusion in California’s Grade 11 U.S. history curriculum framework. Because California is one of the two largest consumers of textbooks in the country (Texas being the other), publishers are mandated to include any changes in the curriculum framework in these two states. These textbooks are distributed nationally so it is only a matter of time before WWII in the Philippines will be taught across the U.S. This was presented during the last conference of the National Historical Commission of the Philippines in August 2017 in Pampanga. It was received with much enthusiasm and teach-

ers and historical societies were clamoring for its introduction in the Philippines. Except for one paragraph about the Bataan Death March in the social studies curriculum, why is it that WWII in the Philippines is not taught in high schools when two weeks are devoted to the EDSA revolution (downfall of Marcos regime)? Why is there no political will to do this? The recent removal of the Comfort Women Statue, a memorial to many Filipina women who were enslaved by their Japanese occupiers, is a wakeup call to a nation that needs a strong national identity. A country’s history should be presented in its unvarnished form. It should never be tampered with, suppressed or embellished. Students should be able to make their own determination and hopefully, they will become more engaged in their civic affairs. If we do not heed to this call, we will lose a golden opportunity to awaken our youth so that they can take pride in their heritage and become better citizens of their country and the

world. I am calling on the leaders of the Philippines to invest in their country’s future by educating its youth of its proud legacy – a history unencumbered by economic interests. I am also calling on the entire Filipino diaspora to take a stand as one nation and not rely on the old proverb “Dios na ang bahala.” (God will provide). What so many fail to recognize is that this is only half of the proverb “Nasa Tao ang Gawa, Nasa Dios ang Bahala” (loosely translated God helps those who help themselves). As descendants of the greatest generation, we have a moral obligation to ensure that the legacy of our ancestors will live on in future generations. It is time for Filipinos to take matters into their own hands so that they can have a strong national identity. Only then can we have a future that is strong and filled with possibilities. Mabuhay ang Pilipinas! *** Cecilia Gaerlan is the Executive Director of Bataan Legacy Historical Society. For more information, log on to www.bataanlegacy.org.

If China deploys missiles, so should we Opinion

riCardo Saludo FIRST, let’s get real. No amount of global protest will make China remove anti-ship and anti-aircraft missiles reportedly installed on the three islands it reclaimed in the South China Sea. Assuming President-for-life Xi Jinping approved deployment, it would be a huge climbdown before the world if he orders them out. That would weaken him in front of 1.38 billion Chinese, and potentially destabilize the country. No way. And if Xi didn’t actually allow the missiles to be installed or know about them, then we may have a bigger problem: rogue elements of the People’s Liberation Army making major, regionally destabilizing decisions outside Beijing’s control. That’s highly unlikely. Rather, what’s almost sure is that the Chinese leadership agrees with the PLA that the missiles should be installed on the three islands, despite the international reaction. Why Beijing put up missiles So, what pressing factors could have prodded Beijing to arm its man-made islands with ship-sinking and plane-downing projectiles sure to alarm all nations with vessels and aircraft passing the South

China Sea? Of the many reasons, let’s ponder just one: the possibility of war with the United States over the North Korean nuclear missile crisis, or Taiwan’s leanings toward independence. The latter got a recent boost from a new U.S. law calling for Cabinet-level contacts with the island. That’s an utter no-no for Beijing, which insists that Taipei is a renegade regime not entitled to direct relations with sovereign states. Plainly, if there may be armed conflict, then China — like the U.S. and any other major power — will take all military measures necessary to defend its security and interests, even if every nation on earth objects. So, with or without international protests, the PLA has put up missiles to protect the islands and nearby Chinese shipping routes from air and sea threats. Those sea lanes are immensely vital to China, carrying among other essential commodities, four-fifths of its oil imports. And no less than a U.S. Armyfunded study by the RAND thinktank, “War with China: Thinking Through the Unthinkable,” explicitly urged that one war strategy against the PLA should be “cutting off Chinese access to seaborne supplies of oil and liquefied natural gas.” Now, if a potential adversary has said that it was a good idea to cut off your country’s fuel imports during war, would you deploy missiles, warplanes, and radar

jammers on island bases to protect your ships, especially your oil tankers? Absolutely, and no power in the world would stop you. What makes China even more fearful are the increasing number of potentially hostile ships and planes coming around, with the US Navy’s freedom of navigation operations (fonops) challenging Beijing’s claim over nearly all the South China Sea, as well as the claimed territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles from its reclaimed islets. Plus: Japan, Australia and India, all part of the U.S.-led Quadrilateral alliance seeking to secure the Indo-Pacific region, have also begun naval sailings in the South China Sea. Recently, China warned Australian warships patrolling the area. And if the Philippines ever moved ahead to fully implement the 2014 Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, then Washington may proceed with its announced plan to deploy 60 percent of its naval assets in the region under its pivot-to-Asia policy. The EDCA would treble rotations of US forces in the country, and give them access to several military bases. Now, is all that reason enough for China to put missiles, planes and radar jammers on three small islands? Just to be very clear: the foregoing discussion is meant to explain — but not justify — Beijing’s deployment of island bases, warplanes and missiles in the South China Sea.

The graphic from Rep. Gary Alejano shows the range of missiles recently installed by China on three of its artificial reefs in the South China Sea.

And besides securing its shipping, there are other reasons for China’s militarization of the South China Sea, from asserting its regional supremacy, just as the U.S. did in the Americas in the 19th century under the 1823 Monroe Doctrine; to addressing the PLA’s main naval challenge of being hemmed in by the Japanese, Philippine and Indonesian archipelagos — all U.S. allies — the so-called First Island Chain. But the naval threat to Chinese shipping is more than enough reason to brave global opprobrium to put up missiles in the Spratlys. Now, what should the Philippines do? How to secure our ships First, President Duterte may wish to call the National Security Council, which may include not just the Cabinet and defense officials, but also congressional leaders and former presidents. With the NSC meeting the national leadership can achieve

two imperatives: discuss security issues in confidence, and get everyone behind the chosen action points. By contrast, the public hearing on the Chinese missiles urged by some senators, while grabbing TV publicity for those due for reelection next May, would only serve to publicize hugely sensitive security deliberations and information. It would also heighten partisan divisions, denying the nation the leadership unity needed to deal with China. Second, the NSC may wish to consider one military option: acquiring anti-ship missiles and anti-aircraft systems, as urged by this column <http://www.manilatimes.net/defend-seas-get-missiles-not-ships/383395/>. Then, if our ships are targeted by China, we can retaliate against its vessels, thousands of which sail between China and Luzon — well within missile range. Now, if China doesn’t mean to threaten our ships with its mis-

siles, then its shipping should not fear our rockets. At the same time, our projectiles, with a range encompassing the 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zone, can deter intruders in our EEZ. Third, the Philippines must forge a joint defense agreement among Southeast Asian nations around the South China Sea. Under the accord, if a country’s ships are attacked by China, the alliance blocks Chinese shipping in waters within range of their forces. This purely defensive agreement would be far preferable to Beijing than getting Uncle Sam and its Quadrilateral allies to defend Asean. Now, which is the best response to Chinese reclamation and militarization — diplomatic protests Beijing will just ignore, U.S. forces sure to be targeted by the PLA, or our own missiles and mutual neighborly defense? (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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PH, Kuwait agree to sign agreement on protection of Filipino workers — Palace

CLIMATE ACTION. Senator Loren Legarda stresses the need for bold climate action, transformation in all sectors, multi-sectoral involvement, community level local climate action, and industrialized nations leading the low carbon pathway to meet the 1.5-degree Celsius global warming limit and to bring about sustainable development. Legarda made the statement during the press conference, “Talanoa Dialogue: What Happened and What It Means for COP24�, organized by the World Resources Institute (WRI) during the 48th Session of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC in Bonn, Germany where she is Head of the Philippine Delegation. Also in photo are (from left to right): Rhys Gerholdt, Senior Communications Manager, Climate Program, WRI; Marianne Karlsen, Deputy Head of Delegation of Norway; Paula Caballero, Global Director, Climate Program, WRI; and Yamide Dagnet, Senior Associate, International Climate Action, WRI. Senate photo

Ombudsman erred in dismissing Junjun Binay, CA says by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

The Court of Appeals (CA) reversed the ruling of the Office of the Ombudsman to dismiss and perpetually disqualify from government service former Makati City Mayor Jejomar erwin “Junjun� Binay, Jr. over the construction of the Makati City hall parking building worth P2.28-billion. In a 159-page decision penned by Associate Justice edwin Sorongon, the appellate court dismissed the administrative case against Binay based on the socalled “condonation doctrine� — which bars the administrative disciplining of an elective official for a wrongful act committed during his/her immediately preceding term. The Supreme Court struck down this doctrine, which was laid down in the Aguinaldo v. Santos case in November 2015 due to lack of basis under the 1987 Constitution. however, according to the CA it is still applicable in Binay’s case. The CA said that “the abandonment of the condonation doctrine should not be given any retroactive effect as to prejudice Binay, Jr.� for the acts he allegedly committed when said doctrine was still in effect and duly recognized — referring to the alleged irregularities in Phases III to V of the Makati City hall Parking Building (MChPB). “Considering that the present case was instituted prior to the ruling of the Supreme Court in Carpio-Morales, the condonation

former Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun� Binay, Jr. Philstar.com photo

doctrine may still be applied,� the CA added. The appeals court explained that the alleged irregularities that Binay allegedly committed happened before he was elected in 2013. “Clearly, these pertained to acts which transpired before Binay, Jr., was subsequently elected and continued in public office on May 14, 2013. It is uncontroverted that Binay, Jr. served as the City Mayor of Makati from June 28, 2010, and was re-elected into the same office on May 14, 2013,� the CA said. The Ombudsman dismissed Binay and 20 others because “flagrant anomalies were found to have been committed by Binay, Jr. and the other respondents in the design and construction of the building consisting of six phases� in its 103-page joint decision in 2015. According to the Ombudsman, the condonation doctrine could not be applied because the alleged anomalies were committed after his reelection in May 2013,

during his second term — which the CA contracted by saying that the disbursement vouchers contested in the case were signed by Binay before he was elected. “Indubitably, this Court cannot sustain the OMB with respect to Binay, Jr. without utterly disregarding the foregoing pronouncements of the Supreme Court,� the CA held. “Given the factual circumstances herein and the prevailing jurisprudence, this Court holds that the undisputed and subsequent reelection of Binay, Jr. in the year 2013 is a condonation of his administrative liabilities,� it added. The CA also dismissed the administrative complaints against Marjorie De Veyra, Cecilio Lim III, eleno Mendoza Jr. and Virginia hernandez for lack of jurisdiction. On the other hand, the CA affirmed the Ombudsman’s ruling over 11 other city officials involved in the case namely City Legal Officer Pio Kenneth Dasal, City Budget Officer Lorenza Amores, Civil engineer of the Central Planning Management Office (CPMO) Arnel Cadangan, CPMO chief Line dela Pena, City Legal Officer Giovanni Condes, Technical Working Group (TWG) officer Rodel Nayve, General Services Department staff Norma Flores, Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) member Ulysses Orienza, CPMO staff Connie Consulta, BAC secretariat Manolito Uyaco and BAC member Gerardo San Gabriel. n

The Philippines and Kuwait agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the protection of Filipino workers in the Gulf state, MalacaĂąang said on Wednesday, May 9. This was after the high-level Philippine delegation, led by Palace Spokesman harry Roque and Silvestre Bello III, met with the officials of the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry in which both countries “look forward to the normalization of ties.â€? “Kuwait, on its part, has expressed the value of Filipinos

in Kuwait. A Memorandum of Agreement is expected to be signed and agreed upon after the meeting,� the Palace said in a statement. “Also, Kuwait agreed to create a Special Unit within the Police that the Philippine embassy can liaison with regarding complaints of Filipino workers which will be available 24 hours and a Special Number that Filipino workers can call for assistance (also available 24 hours),� it added. According to the Palace, the

meeting of officials between the two countries also “saw the release of four drivers� who faced arrest for kidnapping after the Philippine embassy rescued allegedly abused Filipino maids from their employers’ homes. “It guaranteed that all remaining undocumented Filipinos (under 600), except for those with pending cases, will be allowed to go home — at least 150 of them will be joining the Philippine officials in returning to the Philippines,� it said. (Catherine Valente/ManilaTimes.net)

SWS: More Pinoy families... PAGE A5 December 2015 at 50 percent, which was also the quarter with the highest rate of families who were always poor, at 40 percent. Since then, nationwide selfrated poverty has been at threeyear lows. In September 2016, the figure stood at 42 percent. “September 2016 was also the quarter with the highest rate of families who were always nonpoor, and is the only quarter where the proportion of families who were always non-poor (30 percent) outnumbered those who were always poor (29 per-

cent),â€? SWS said. Palace elated Sought for comment, MalacaĂąang welcomed the latest survey, saying “the Duterte administration, as we all know, has espoused inclusive, sustainable and resilient growth.â€? “We have broadened access to free education, medicine and healthcare and other basic services to ensure that our people directly benefit from the country’s economic gains while reducing the vulnerability of families through our conditional cash transfer programs and employment facilitation and mi-

croenterprise projects,â€? Palace spokesman harry Roque Jr. said in a statement. “Rest assured that we will continue to reduce inequality, expand economic opportunities, and lay down the foundation of a comfortable life for everyone,â€? he added SWS conducted the survey using face-to-face interviews with 1,200 adults, aged 18 years old and above, nationwide. The poll had a margin of error of Âą3 percent nationwide, Âą4 percent for Luzon, and Âą6 percent each for Metro Manila, the Visayas and Mindanao. n

Marcos asks PET to speed up... PAGE A5 Although the voters are told through the voter information to fully shade the ballots, the shading threshold was set at 25 percent of the oval space. Comelec said the purpose is to ensure that votes are not wasted due to inadequate shading. Robredo wants the PeT to “immediately direct the head Revisors to use the 25-percent threshold percentage used by the Commission on elections for the 09 May 2016 National and Local elections in lieu of the 50 percent used in the 10 May 2010 National and Local elections.� The granting of this prayer would benefit both her and Marcos, the motion said. In its five-page resolution dated April 10, the PeT denied Robredo’s plea to direct the head revisors to apply the correct threshold percentage as set by the Comelec in the revision, recount and reappreciation of the

ballots, in order to expedite the proceedings for lack of merit. “Protestee’s (Robredo) claim that the Comelec, as purportedly confirmed by the Random Manual Audit Guidelines and Report, applies the 25 percent threshold percentage in determining a valid vote is inaccurate,� the PeT said. The PeT started the recount last April 2 and said it could not determine yet when the recount would be finished. The recount will be conducted Monday until Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with two 15minute breaks and a one-hour lunch break. The time limit per ballot box with less than 300 votes will be 5.5 hours while for 300-700 votes will be 8.25 hours and for more than 700 votes will be 11 hours. During the revision, the head revisor will segregate and examine the contents of each ballot box and on the basis thereof,

determine the number of votes received by each party. At the same time, the party representatives will be allowed to claim and object to ballots, as they deem necessary. If the revision committee fails to comply with the time limit, they shall proceed to revise another ballot box and the parties shall be deemed to have waived their right to claim or object to the remaining ballots. Marcos filed the protest on June 29, 2016, claiming that the camp of Robredo cheated in the automated polls in May that year. In his protest, Marcos contested the results from 132,446 precincts in 39,221 clusters, covering 27 provinces and cities. Robredo won the vice presidential race in the May 2016 polls with 14,418,817 votes or 263,473 more than Marcos’ 14,155,344 votes. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)

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may 10-16, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 10-16, 2018

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B

Journal

Mom hopes to inspire more Fil-Ams to become resource families in LA County by Christina M. Oriel / AJPress

With Mother’s Day approaching this weekend, Armida Chow is quite sentimental. it will mark one year after she and her husband Brandon adopted Delaney, whom they had been fostering since she was four days old. it was a 15-month process toward adoption. “For me, i’ve learned that motherhood means that the children don’t necessarily have to come from your stomach,” Armida Chow, a teacher at an adult education school, told the Asian Journal. to date, the Chows have fostered five children at their threebedroom home in the San Gabriel Valley, where they live in a community near families who have adopted or are fostering children. Before Delaney, who turned 2 earlier this year, the couple adopted a son named Cooper, who is now 6 years old and in kindergarten. “During the first placement, it was a challenge because i got attached and didn’t want to let them go. At the same time, reunification is important. i’ve been teaching my own children that we’re taking care of other kids temporarily,” Chow said.

Eight years ago, the Chows took classes as they were looking to adopt a child from abroad. however, they realized that there are thousands of children here in the United States who are in need of a home and family. the couple became a resource (foster) family — an all-encompassing term in California for caregivers who provide out-ofhome care for children in foster care — through the Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and have been licensed to care for one child at a time. they had no Armida and Brandon Chow, with their adopted children, Cooper and Delaney, take a family race or gender preferences but photo during Easter 2018. wanted a child between infancy to 8 years old. in the separate cases of Cooper and Delaney, the Chows were called to pick them up at the hospital, as their mothers gave them up under California’s Safely Surrendered Baby Law, which allows babies less than 72 hours old to be relinquished at a hospital or fire station anonymously and without any questions asked. (the caveat is that the baby’s parents have 14 days to change their minds.) PAGE B2

The Chows during Delaney’s (3rd from left) adoption ceremony in May 2017. Photos courtesy of Armida Chow

Filipina-American filmmaker’s short film about motherhood earns third place in hbo competition Filmmaker Maritte Go discusses ‘Remittance’, inspirations and thoughts on Asianrepresentation in film and TV

by Klarize Medenilla/AJPress iF there’s one thing to be said about the Filipina mother, it’s that she puts her children first. that’s the thematic nucleus of Filipina-American filmmaker and producer the new short film “Remittance” by Filipina-American filmmaker Maritte Go

and producer Maritte Go, who won third place in the second annual hBO Asian Pacific American (APA) Visionaries Short Film Competition, where filmmakers had to tell stories surrounding the theme of “home.” “Remittance” tells the story of

a Filipina cruise worker (played by Go) who is notified via voicemail that her son is in the hospital. Stuck working on an Alaskan cruise, the mother desperately tries to get a hold of her family which proves to be a physical and emotional PAGE B6

Illustration By Tristan Yuvienco

InterestIng FACts About Mothers And Mother’s dAy

• THE first Mother’s Day was celebrated in 1908. Anna Jarvis honored her mother Ann Jarvis with a memorial. Ann Jarvis had started a committee in 1868 to establish ‘Mother’s Friendship Day’. Her motivation had been to reunite families after the Civil War. She died in 1905, before Mother’s Day became a holiday. • Mother’s Day became a recognized holiday in 1914 in the United States. • Americans spend $14.6 billion on gifts on Mother’s Day, including $671 million on cards and $1.9 billion on flowers. • Carnations are very popular flowers for Mother’s Day and are thought to be made from the tears of Jesus’ mother (Mary) when she wept at his feet the day He was crucified. Wearing a colored carnation on Mother’s Day indicates that a person’s mother is living. A white carnation means that a person’s mother is dead. • There are about 122.5 million phone calls on Mother’s Day, making it one of the busiest phone days of the year. • The U.S. National Restaurant Association reports that Mother’s Day is the year’s most popular holiday for eating out. • Although the U.S. spends more money than any other country on health care as well as on maternal care, it is more dangerous to give birth in the U.S. than in 49 other countries, including Kuwait, Bulgaria, and South Korea. • There are an estimated 85.4 million mothers in the United States. There are about 2 billion moms in the world. • Mothers do about 88 percent of laundry in the U.S. This equals 330 loads of laundry and 5,300 articles of clothing per year. The least favorite job for moms is vacuuming the stairs. • Even though motherhood is becoming less popular, a majority of women still become mothers. Modern moms are more likely to be more educated, single, and older. • In the Bible, Eve is credited with being the ‘Mother of All the Living.’

Source: 57 Interesting Facts about Mothers | FactRetriever.com

EntErtainmEnt

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3 Miss U queens together again by arlO

CustOdiO ManilaTimes.net

Jon Jon Augustavo’s “Just a Kid from Seattle” was filmed in Seattle over four days. It is a love letter to the city he grew up in. Photo by Nick Beeba

Fil-Am actor Carlin James stars as Jose, a 17year-old teenager who is preparing to move away from Seattle following his mother’s death. Photo by Luis Perez

Fil-Am filmmaker debuts short film, ‘Just a Kid from Seattle,’ at Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival LAAPFF runs until May 12

by Christina M. Oriel AJPress

IT’S that time of the year again — with May as Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, Visual Communications is back to present the 34th Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival from May 3 to 12. The 10-day festival features films, videos and panels by Asian international and Asian Pacific American artists and filmmakers across select cinemas in the city. This year’s lineup includes a handful of Filipino and FilipinoAmerican filmmakers. One of them is Jon Jon Augustavo, an award-winning Fil-Am director and filmmaker known for music videos and short films, who is debuting “Just a Kid from Seattle” on Wednesday, May 9 to an LA audience. “Just a Kid from Seattle” — produced by Sundance and sponsored by Visit Seattle — chronicles 17-year-old Jose (Fil-Am actor Carlin James) as he copes with his mother’s death and finds a new appreciation for his city. It’s a love letter to the city Augustavo grew up in and is loosely based on his own upbringing and culture. Augustavo was deliberate in having the roughly 20-minute film characterize another side of the city that isn’t commercialized and full of postcard shots. Rather, viewers follow Jose and his friend Quinon (Ryan J. Lewis) as they maneuver around a multicultural neighborhood. For example, they go inside an Asian market where

they get Filipino food and a barber shop, and play basketball with area kids. “The film represents the other part of Seattle that honestly people don’t know exists and the people of color there. In my opinion, people of color don’t exist in Seattle as far as the national consciousness where you see Starbucks, Amazon, ‘Fifty Shades of Grey,’ ‘Frasier,’ and ’Greys Anatomy.’ There is a different cultural part of the city that I think is important to see,” Augustavo told the Asian Journal. Last fall, Augustavo put out a casting call for a Fil-Am male to play Jose and received nearly 100 submissions from LA, San Francisco, New York and Seattle. He was introduced to James through Dante Basco and was struck by their similarities. When James read the role of Jose and eventually auditioned, he remarked that “it wasn’t too much of a stretch of who I am and how I grew up.” “Though I wasn’t too familiar with Seattle, I grew up in a not too nice area of Long Beach, where we’re dealing with the same issues of gentrification and having the heart and spirit of the neighborhood vanishing,” James told the Asian Journal. “The scene with the Asian market, it’s like the ones my parents went to.” Augustavo, who is Filipino from his mother’s side, has in recent years learned more about this part of his identity. He infuses some of those identifiers in the film as well, through items in Jose’s house or the food he eats.

“The kid is mixed, like me, so he’s not your fully traditional Filipino kid, but he still has a connection to his culture. I threw in the types of foods that he likes, that we all like,” he said. “Little nuances of his Filipino ethnicity, but it’s split because he’s a very American, urban kid. I was trying to balance that.” Of working with Augustavo, James remarked about the filmmaker’s artistic style. “Working with Jon Jon was a learning experience— he’s inspiring, passionate and has an amazing eye,” James said. “He’s big on doing one shot scenes which I haven’t done too much of. Basically the camera follows the action all the way through the scene. Me being a perfectionist would beg him to re-shoot some scenes even though he said they were fine.” The short film was shown during the Sundance Film Festival this past January, where Augustavo received mixed feedback, including from some viewers who were surprised to see how an Asian American male was portrayed. “Carlin’s part as Jose is a different Asian American male than what we we see. It’s not the first time ever but it’s rarely done. If you meet me, you get it. Jose is very much like me, my brother, and his friends that I grew up. We didn’t grow up seeing that on screen,” Augustavo said. “It’s not just a kid who’s doing math or Spiderman’s sidekick who’s just telling jokes. You want a kid PAGE B3

MISS Universe 2017 Demi Leigh Nel-Peters and Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mittenaere are in the country anew, fanning speculations that 2018’s pageant will be held in the Philippines for a second successive year. In December 2017, the pair of beauties were in Manila upon the invitation of noted stage and film actor Raymond “RS” Francisco’s events group FrontRow, as the latter’s “gift to Filipinos for the Christmas season.” Of course, Filipinos reputed to be the most passionate beauty pageant fans in the world, and lived up to it during the Miss Universe winners’ yuletide visit. Fast forward to Sunday, May 6, Miss U watchers were happily surprised over Mittenaere’s post on Instagram where she and Nel-Peters were sharing hammock with the famed Manila Bay in the background. She simply captioned it, “Reunited,” tagging @demileighnp and the hashtags #Philippines #twins.” The French beauty queen followed up with another post, this time going solo in a green gown in the same vicinity, writing “Can’t stop laughing when I’m in the Philippines.” Meanwhile, Nel-Peters pulled off her own surprise at the World’s Strongest Man competition at Rizal Park over the weekend to lend her support to countryman Johan Els. Her first post revealing she is in the capital with the caption, “Good morning Manila.” Soon enough, news spread that the two queens will be joined by the Philippines’ very own Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurzbach at a fashion show tonight aptly titled “Grit + Glam.” Presented by FrontRow, it will be held at The Cove at Okada Manila with another big-named surprise guest. For, if the Miss Universe queens

Miss Universe 2017 Demi Leigh Nel-Peters, Miss Universe 2016 Iris Mitternaere and Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach

are to provide the glam, someone has to whip out the grit. And based on Francisco’s latest Instagram post, it is no less than boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather who confirmed his arrival in Manila in a video upload. “Now it can be told,” the producer captioned. Pageant possibility In December, when the Miss Universe Organization (MUO) team came over along with NelPeters and Mittenaere, its president Paula Shugart already expressed hopes they can hold the 2018 pageant in the country. Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Teo in past interviews described the possibility as “90 percent sure,” and even related that President Rodrigo Duterte believes it is a good idea in time for the reopening of Boracay after its six-month rehabilitation. On Sunday, Shugart—who is also in the country anew to

accompany Peters and Mittenaere—had dinner with former Ilocos Sur Governor Luis “Chavit” Singson, who bankrolled the 65th edition of the pageant. Of the conversation they had, the MUO executive said the possibility of holding the pageant in the Philippines again is now in the hands of latter. Singson, on his part, related how business partners in China, Korea, Vietnam and Thailand have expressed interest to host the contest in their respective countries. China seems to be the frontrunner among them but poses an obstacle for the organization as the Chinese government will only allow a taped telecast of the pageant, whereas MUO has always aired it live. If Nel-Peters and Mittenaere were to decide, they said they were in favor of the holding of the pageant in the country as they now consider the Philippines their second home.

Mom hopes to inspire more Fil-Ams to... PAGE B1 “I’ve learned to be flexible as a mom. You have to laugh about things. I became resourceful getting services for the children and advocating for them because they can’t speak for themselves. The number one job of being a resource parent is advocating and protecting them,” Chow said. She narrates several experiences they’ve had, including fostering an Asian American teenage girl who was separated from her parents who were verbally abusive. Another instance was Christmas Day two years ago when they got a call about a one-year-old girl who was in the hospital. They went to see her the following day and noticed she had cigarette burns on her head and some older ones on her body. “It changed our perspectives and made us realize how sheltered we were. You’ll never get to experience that…It was one of those heartbreaking things where we could have kept her,” Chow said. The couple ended up fostering her for seven months and had anticipated to eventually adopt her but she was adopted by her grandfather instead. “Attachment is important. If you can attach, then you’re going to be a good resource parent because the children need attachment and need to be loved. It’s not easy because you can’t fall in love with them right away but the kids need to be protected and feel safe in order to develop trust because most of the time they can’t trust grown-ups,” Chow said. The foster children who had been placed under the Chows’ care were reunited with their biological parents or relatives, which is considered the primary goal. Second would be putting the children with relatives; but if those two options don’t work out and parental rights are terminated, foster/resource parents will be presented with the choice of adoption. “Sometimes my kids will say, ‘Remember when we were in your tummy?’ I’ll remind them that they’re actually adopted, but they came from my heart,” Chow said. “It’s our everyday language that they’re adopted. In between my kids, we’ve had placements so we were able to have pictures of children who have lived with us and I’ve shown my son and told him that we cared for them while their parents had to work through some things.” She mentions that books like “Yes, I’m Adopted!” by Sharlie Zinniger and Tiffany Cunliffe or “Tell Me Again About the Night I Was Born” by Jaime Lee Curtis are staples in their home, as are conversations about how superheroes like Iron Man and Superman were adopted. When asked if her son has started to ask questions about his background, she said, “He’s still young where he hasn’t been too curious yet, but I’m sure pretty soon he’ll realize, ‘my parents are Asians.’ But he hasn’t asked about race. They say in third grade that’s

The Asian Foster Family Initiative (AFFI) was started by the Korean American Family Services (KFAM) in 2014 and became a state licensed foster family agency last year, making it the first non-profit organization in Los Angeles that focuses on connecting Asian foster families with Asian children in the foster system.The organization’s office’s are located in LA’s Koreatown. AJPress photo by Christina M. Oriel

One of the rooms in KFAM’s office used for family visits

when it kind of gets visible. Right now, he doesn’t see color. That’s the beauty of a child.” The Chows’ household is multicultural with Chow being Filipina, her husband is Chinese/Hawaiian, Cooper is Caucasian, and Delaney is Latina. “We teach the kids about what it means to be Filipino through food and Tagalog words. They call my parents ‘lolo’ (grandfather) and ‘lola’ (grandmother). My daughter calls my son ‘kuya’ (older brother) because I wanted to make sure they knew the Filipino customs,” Chow said. “Still, we try to expose them to their birth culture. Since Cooper is white, we make sure we have friends who are Caucasian. For both of our kids, I pick three couples who come alongside with us and parent alongside us. For my daughter, who is Latina, I have friends who are Latinos so she can be exposed to her culture as well.” She added, “At the end of the day, this is my family and I’m okay with that. I actually forget that my kids don’t look like me or my husband until other people are staring at us and that’s when you realize.” Chow said that when she and her husband attended trainings, they were noticeably the only Asian Americans in the room. She wondered if there were other resource couples like them. They were contacted by the Korean American Family Services (KFAM), as the organization was

looking for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) resource families to share their experiences and guide others who were interested in going through the process as well. Chow was familiar with KFAM because she had seen their commercial on a local public TV station. Push for more AAPI resource families Located in the heart of LA’s Koreatown — in a multilevel building that’s a one-stop shop with organizations and businesses that cover an array of services — KFAM has catered the Korean-American community since 1983 through counseling, domestic violence and child abuse intervention, community workshops, and a food program. In 2014, it started the Korean Foster Family Initiative, which helped Korean families receive in-language resource family training who were then referred to partner foster agencies in order to be certified. In subsequent years, it branched out to include other Asian groups like Chinese, Vietnamese, and Filipino, rebranding itself as the Asian Foster Family Initiative (AFFI). The AFFI became a state licensed foster family agency (FFA) last year, making it the first nonprofit organization in Los Angeles that focuses on connecting Asian foster families with Asian children in the foster system. Its campaign has been to recruit PAGE B4

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Matteo Guidicelli reveals plans if Sarah Geronimo quits showbiz by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo ManilaTimes.net

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)

Lombard by the Bay: Peace of mind in the heart of Batangas Former beauty queen, model, singer and actress rosemarie de Vera-Javier believes that when it comes to choosing a property — whether for personal or investment — security would be one of the most important things to look at. That is why it was not hard for her and her husband, Giovanni Javier, to reserve two units at Lombard by the Bay. “The number one concern of all balikbayans and foreign investors is the security [of a place]. At Lombard, the property will be secluded, giving you peace of mind,” de Vera-Javier said. Apart from security, the former mutya ng Pilipinas-Asia 1980 and miss Asia Pacific Quest 1980 was also in awe of how close the property is to nature. “We bought the penthouse and a unit facing Isla Verde,” shared de Vera-Javier. “If we are not mistaken, this is where the sun rises, with no obstructions of the view even in the future. We feel that it has a sense of

harmony to the nature especially if you are an artist (which runs in the family). A very healthy environment — the clean air, and the cool breeze from the bay and ocean. It has a calming effect to your body.” Aimed at providing the most fulfilling experience for its residence and guests, Lombard By The Bay is just a two-hour drive from manila. Situated on a plateau overlooking the beautiful Verde Island Passage which is considered the center of marine biodiversity in the world, it promises to be the perfect destination for retirees and tourists — local or not. It is also in close proximity to the tallest statue of the Virgin mary, mother of All Asia, towering at 317 ft. “We love the building renditions of the condos — it is modern with a touch of european style, all world-class designs,” she explained and continued, “Lombard By The Bay has breathtaking views of two incredible bodies of water — Batangas Bay and the Pacific

ocean, located on high elevation with lush panoramic green mountains. We could not ask for more.” on the business side, de VeraJavier believes Lombard By The Bay is a good investment. “You buy and sell the units then later, if you want to rent out your property, the rate is very good especially during the summer,” she said. “It is a win-win situation for investors because the prices are still low and later the demand will raise it high. And what they always say in the realty world — location, location, location.” Lombard By The Bay is a 2.1hectare condominium project within the 130-hectare development area at montemaria, Batangas City in the Province of Batangas, Philippines. It is a joint venture between Premier Asia Pacific real estate and Development, Inc. and omnicor Industrial estate & realty Center, Inc. and design by Arch Haus Asia. (Advertising Supplement)

BeFore Sarah Geronimo broke down during a recent Las Vegas concert due to fatigue, reporters asked her boyfriend, matteo Guidicelli, if he is ready to support Sarah, should the pop star decide to finally quit showbiz. “Syempre, we wanna give, when we get married to the person we really want to be, we wanna give them everything, ‘di ba? As the man, we want to give them a home, everything, and really work hard for it. And you can’t say ‘Stop, I take care of it.’ It’s a process, kung baga,” he explained. “Kahit sino naman, pwede naman, ‘di ba?,” he said when asked if he can say he is stable enough to raise a family with the pop star. “But I still have lots of goals, a lot of dreams. I still have a lot of personal goals I want to achieve. We’re still moving forward,” he said on why he and Sarah have no wedding plans as of the moment. Though he has been paying his bills since he began in showbiz when he was 16, he admitted that he is still on his way to become financially independent. “I hope so. I’m getting there. I’m 27 years old and I can say that I’ve saved and invested my money properly,” he enthused. He, however, clarified that he continues to prepare for his possible future with Sarah by saving his earnings and investing in mutual funds.

Matteo Guidicelli and Sarah Geronimo

“You can’t say that you’re born with the silver spoon. You really have to work hard. every day, they fill up my schedule so I can work hard for the future,” he stressed. “You can’t just hide your money in your bed and expect your money to stay the same. Inflation will beat your money.” He feels no pressure between him and Sarah when it comes to fame or money. “I’m trying to grow my own career on myself. I’m not depending on anybody else. So, you have to take the steps slowly but surely.”

ABS-CBN photo

He appreciates how Sarah fights for their relationship. “Definitely she does. We do for each other.” According to him, he has been able to win the favor of Sarah’s parents and family through the years by “being honest and thinking about the future.” “Thank you,” he said to those looking up on him and Sarah for “relationship goals.” “But everything’s not beautiful flowers and colorful, ‘di ba? There are also challenges here and there. I think just like in any other relationship.”

Fil-Am filmmaker debuts short film, ‘Just a Kid from... PAGE B2 who’s leading. There are people like that but we don’t see that on film or TV. We need to open up that conversation about the types of Asian characters. If people could take that way from my film, that would be great because maybe someone else will write another story like that.” He hopes to develop “Just a Kid from Seattle” into a longer feature film with more social justice issues from a Fil-Am perspective. “In the last couple of years, I’ve become more aware of who I am and be more cognizant of why I’m doing something. If it doesn’t

add to a conversation or have some merit artistically, I wonder if I should be doing the project. It’s a privileged thing to think, of course, but I think it’s important as a director, especially as a director of color,” he said. “Just a Kid from Seattle” will be shown on Wednesday night at regal LA Live before “It’s a Party,” a feature film by Weldon Wong Powers. There are other Filipino/FilAm-made films not to be missed during the festival. on Friday, may 4, “Call Her Ganda,” a documentary by PJ raval on the murder of trans Filipina woman

Jennifer Laude was shown. on Sunday, may 6, “Prison Food” follows Fil-Am chef Johneric Concordia inside some of Asia’s most notorious prisons to see what food they serve, while Alexandra Cuerdo’s “ULAm: main Dish” highlights Fil-Am chefs in LA and New York and their contributions to the Filipino food movement. on may 9, mikhail red’s “NeomANILA” narrates a Filipino teenage orphan’s recruitment by a death squad. For more information and complete schedule of films, please visit https://festival.vconline.org/.

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Gerald: Living the Thuy character very rewarding Mom hopes to inspire more Fil-Ams to... by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

Since last year when he debuted as Thuy in the “Miss Saigon” UK tour, Gerald Santos has chalked up 280 performances (Monday thru Saturday, with two shows twice a week on Thursdays and Saturdays) in seven cities, starting in Manchester and on to Lester, Birmingham, Dublin, cardiff, edinburgh and Southampton. “it’s tiring but very rewarding, very fulfilling,” said Gerald in an exclusive interview with Funfare, a day after he flew in from London (direct flight via Philippine Airlines) for a two-week break. “i would go home with my adrenaline still high and still living Thuy in my dreams.” His rest day is Sunday when he does the grocery and the laundry, cleaning the place where he stays alone. “i have learned to live independently,” assured Gerald whose trip to UK was his first in europe. “There’s no way you won’t learn how to be independent because you have to do things yourself. The tour is constantly moving from one city to another, so it’s a continuous adjustment. Luckily, where i live in a city is within walking distance to the theater.” Gerald has been getting so many rave reviews that the producers decided to sign him up for one more year effective last March. While here, besides taking a much-needed, well-deserved rest, Gerald is releasing a single (titled “i Am Yours,” composed by Kiko Salazar) for Star Music, recorded when he came home in november last year, complete with

Gerald Santos as Thuy

Philstar.com photo

a music video shot in Dubai. His last performance before coming home was in Manchester where he performed with Aicelle Santos who was debuting as the bar girl Gigi van Tranh. “i’ve been visiting Aicelle since her arrival,” said Gerald. “She’s also living by herself. She told me that she was somewhat nervous, medyo may kaba, during her first performance. every actor goes through it. Aicelle was very good on her first night.” Also under a one-year contract, Aicelle will perform six days a week (for about two weeks) in Manchester before the tour goes to another city. (Before she left last March, Aicelle was surprised with a proposal from her boyfriend Mark Zambrano who wanted but failed to watch Aicelle’s Saigon debut because his grandfather died.) “She’s starting to get the flow of UK life,” added Gerald. “Sobrang saya namin every time we are together. She’s a very good actress, magaling siya, so she doesn’t really need tips on that score. What i’ve been giving her are pointers about life in the UK…such as how to ride the train, how to use the kiosk machines, small things like that. Sabi niya kain siya nang kain to lessen her homesickness. But she’ll get over that soon because she mixes with people easily.” There are other Filipino actors in the “Saigon” tour including Red concepcion (Sam’s brother as The engineer), Joreen Bautista (from Gerald with Aicelle Santos (no relation) Pampanga, as Kim) and Joaquin reunited in Manchester where Aicelle debuted Valdez (part of the ensemble). as the bar girl Gigi van Tranh in the Miss With new rehearsals going on Saigon tour. in Manila, more Filipinos will be

added to the musical. When he goes back third week of May, Gerald will resume the Saigon tour in Bristol. His new contract includes an international tour, with a possibility of a stint in the Philippines, something that Gerald eagerly looks forward to. “ Pa ra n a m a n m a k i t a n g ating kababayan ang performance ko,” he said. every now and then when he has spare time, Gerald watches other musicals. Once, when they were in Southampton, he managed to take a one-hour train ride to London where he watched other musicals like “Mamma Mia!” and “The Lion King.” But did you know that Gerald hasn’t seen “Miss Saigon” live? “We, principal actors, cannot do that because we have to perform six times a week,” explained Gerald. “But the first and second ‘covers’ and the understudies can. But we can file a one-day holiday para lang makapanood.” How and where does he get energy for the rigid schedule? “i should be sleeping longer but i try to get at least six hours of sleep every night. i take multivitamins; my diet consists mostly of vegetables. Since my adrenaline is high after every performance, sometimes i take melatonin to help me sleep better.” After “Miss Saigon,” what? “i’m planning to audition for other musicals,” said Gerald, just like what other Filipino actors have been doing (such as newlywed Rachelle Ann Go who, after graduating from “Miss Saigon,” went on to “Les Miserables” and now to “Hamilton)”. “i can always try.”

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PAGE B2 more Asian families as licensed foster care providers through the DcFS. it is seeking to hire additional social workers who specifically focus on the different Asian groups. To be a resource parent, there is a long list of requirements, including being at least 25 years of age, attending pre-approval trainings, and complying with home safety inspections and background checks. The organization has helped some 40 Asian families with certification so far. in any given month, there are close to 35,000 children in the LA county foster system. nearly 700 of whom are of Asian and Pacific islander descent — that entails both children who immigrated to the U.S. with their parents and those who were born in the country. Of that figure, there could be somewhere between 100 to 200 Filipinos, making them the largest population of AAPi foster children, according to data the AFFi shared with the Asian Journal. Alice Lee, the initiative’s program manager, said Filipinos in the system are most likely undercounted since Filipino surnames could be Spanish-sounding. The social workers at AAFi told the Asian Journal that the top reasons why AAPi children get taken away from their families are cultural differences (parenting styles in the U.S. versus back in Asia), neglect (i.e. leaving underaged children alone for a lengthy period of time or not feeding them), and drug or alcohol abuse. 2017 data from the DcFS showed that 31.7 percent of children in the LA county system were removed from their families for general neglect, followed by at-risk/sibling abuse and physical abuse. “The reason for the high number of Filipino kids in the system is similar to the other Asian cultures in that Filipinos are not aware of how to parent their kids. it’s different from how to parent your children in your home country coming to a Western society,” chow said, sharing some of what she along with other resource parents have observed. “Here, teachers are mandated reporters. Kids can just be telling stories like ‘my parents don’t feed me’ and if teachers hear that, that’s a red flag. it’s more of a parenting issue.” Though AAPi children comprise approximately 2 percent of the foster care population in LA county,

there has been a lack of attention on minimizing cultural differences the children may face when they are placed in homes. “it would be ideal to put them with a family that looks like them, eats similar food and speaks the same language they did at home,” Lee said. The AFFi shares one story in particular during its orientations wherein a three-year-old Korean boy lost his entire family to an accident and was placed in non-Asian foster homes so he didn’t have an appetite and couldn’t speak his native Korean language. His foster mom learned how to make a kimbap (seaweed rice roll) and he ate that at every meal for an entire month, Lee said. The AFFi recently hired its first Filipino social worker, Mariah Oca, who is slated to start this summer ahead of the organization’s twohour orientations on Saturday, June 9 (english) and Tuesday, June 19 (Tagalog/english) for those in the Filipino-American community who want to learn what it takes to be a resource parent. it also plans to hold other outreach activities. Oca said in an email that she intends to “shed light to not only to resource families but to the general Filipino community about the kind of support that Filipino children in the foster care system need.” Lee shared that the organization is willing to hire more qualified social workers to handle the number of Fil-Am kids in foster care. “it’s a very labor intensive process from our perspective,” she said. “When the family has to go through that much work, the social worker has to go through even more paperwork. The number of social workers does make a difference.” Reducing hesitations With May as national Foster care Month, the DcFS is looking to raise awareness on the growing need for families to foster, adopt or mentor children in the system. There were less than 4,000 foster homes in LA county, as of 2015. One of the ways is holding orientation classes and letting interested families know that the county provides financial support since the cost of child care can be a burden. According to recent rates, the monthly stipend is at least $923 a month. “Many families do not have a realistic portrayal of foster youth and are concerned they may not be up to the task. They may perceive foster youth as ‘damaged goods,’” neil Zanville of the DcFS’ Office of

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Public Affairs told the Asian Journal in an email. “The fact is, foster youth are very resilient and capable of achieving great things with the support of a stable and caring resource family. A good stepping stone to becoming a foster parent is to first mentor a youth to see firsthand what’s involved.” Lee said that AFFi doesn’t “sugarcoat” the experience because it could take anywhere from four to six months to become a resource parent. The organization is upfront about the expectations and since it is a foster family agency now, it can not only recruit, certify and train families, but also provide support to them once they receive placements, like how to care for the child and dealing with social workers and the county. chow’s parents have been supportive of her fostering and adopting children, but shared that she still gets criticized by extended family members because they don’t understand why she does it. She hopes that AFFi’s information sessions will reduce the stigma of foster parenting within the Fil-Am community. “Some of my relatives think it’s silly and crazy. it’s the mentality of ‘why are you doing this? Don’t you want to have your own child?’ Of course everyone has an opinion. There are many children out there, why would i have one when i can actually help out?” she said. Life for the chows hasn’t stopped, despite the long and tedious procedure surrounding adoption and taking in foster children. “it’s like carrying your biological children, for me. We still have fun. even though they’ve gone through challenges… it doesn’t mean that we’re living a sad story. We live like a family and take them out, eat out, and go on vacation — except we just report it to DcFS,” she said. “When you and your partner or spouse need a break, have someone you can rely on to take care of your kids and still go out on dates. Your life and relationship don’t have to stop. Take care of your emotional health. if you do this with a spouse, take care of each other emotionally because it can strain a relationship.” “Don’t let your fear hinder you from becoming a resource parent. if you have the heart to help, follow it. i always tell people that my children are worth it. it was a hard journey from fostering to adopting, but in the end, it’s rewarding. i wouldn’t change a thing and would do it all over.”

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Your Immigration Solution Atty. NANcy Miller & lorellA t. Hess Over 20 years ago, Congress tightened the law regarding the immigration ramifications of knowingly making a false claim to U.S. citizenship for a purpose or benefit under federal or state law. False claims always rendered a person inadmissible (not eligible for lawful entry) or removable (deportable even if you already are here lawfully). But one who made such a claim was eligible for a waiver of the misrepresentation provided they had a qualifying relative who would suffer extreme hardship if the alien were not permitted to enter or remain in the United States. That waiver still exists for false claims to citizenship made on or before September 30, 1996. However, false claims to U.S. citizenship made on or after October 1, 1996 are no longer waivable. A very limited exception to inadmissibility or removability exists for one who made a false claim if each natural or adopted parent is or was a citizen, the alien permanently resided in the U.S. prior to attaining the age of 16 and the alien reasonably believed at the time of making the claim to citizenship that he was a citizen. A separate but related ground of removability exists for one who votes in violation of any Federal, State or local constitutional provision, statute, ordinance or regulation. The nuances of that ground of removability are beyond the scope of this article. If the results are so draconian, why do non-citizens falsely claim to be a U.S. citizen? Like most instances where people misrepresent, they fear that telling the truth will not get them what they want or they are desperate to get that which the false claim will provide them. People come to the United States in order to make

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Second of 4 parts) (Continued from last week …) 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. It was very ably directed by Michael Pressman. 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

Health@Heart PhiliP S. ChuA, Md, FACS, FPCS How common is cancer of the colon and rectum? Colorectal cancer is the thirdmost common cancer in humans, topped only by cancer of the lungs and female breasts. More than 150,000 people in the United States each year discover they have cancer of the colon or rectum, and approximately 46,000 will die from it this year alone. The incidence starts to rise at the age 40 and the peak is between ages 60 to 75. Colon cancer is more common among women and cancer of the rectum among men. About 5% of the patients have both (synchronous cancer). Does genetics play a role in colorectal cancer? To some degree yes, but there is really a low genetic predisposition to cancer of the large intestine. exception to this is seen in “cancer-families” and “colon cancerfamilies,” where colorectal cancer victimizes family members cross several generations, usually occurring before the age of 40. Predisposing factors include chronic ulcerative colitis, ganulomatous colitis, and familial polyposis. The older the person is, the higher the risk. Are meat-eaters more prone to colorectal cancer? It appears to be so, because colorectal cancer is found more prevalent in populations that lowfiber diets that are high in animal proteins, fats, and refined carbohy-

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 10-16, 2018

Life in the United States after alendar of Events a false claim to US citizenship C across a better life for themselves and their family members. Starting in 1996, Congress required that employers confirm that their employees have some lawful status that allows them to work in the United States. employees were and are required to complete a form called an I-9 which states under what immigration status they are permitted to work. If they claim to be here on a work visa or a green card, they need to show that document to the employer. Strangely enough, if they claim to be a U.S. citizen, they do not need to show proof of that status. As a result, many desperate people check the U.S. citizen box on the form. Under the same rationale, aliens without status will check that they are citizens when they are applying for student loans or mortgages or driver’s licenses in states that require lawful status for that benefit. And, they usually don’t realize what a dreadful position they are putting themselves in. So, what happens if the noncitizen is remorseful and wracked with guilty feelings and wants to undue the false claim? Is that possible to walk-it-back? The answer is yes, possibly, depending on the facts, under the Doctrine of Timely retraction. Timely retraction means taking a voluntary action, not under threat of discovery or punishment, with the intent to correct the misrepresentation. What action might be required for a timely retraction is again very dependent on the circumstances of the particular false claim. A false claim to citizenship, even one that cannot now be cured by timely retraction, is not a complete bar to immigration relief. For example, false claims do not rule out eligibility for S-, T-, or U-visas for criminal informants, trafficking victims, or victims of other serious crimes. Someone who has made a false claim is also

eligible for voluntary departure at the conclusion of immigration proceedings, allowing that person to avoid a removal order and forced deportation. Generally, false claims to U.S. citizenship may not statutorily bar an applicant from seeking cancellation of removal for lawful permanent residents or non-lawful permanent residents. However, the false claim presents two issues. To be eligible for cancellation for non-permanent residents, the applicant must show good moral character and false testimony for the purpose of obtaining a benefit under immigration law is a bar to a finding of good moral character. So, an important question is, was the claim false testimony? And, the other issue is whether the immigration judge should favorably exercise discretion on behalf of the one who made a false claim. As in all requests for benefits, the one applying for the relief bears the burden of providing oral and documentary evidence to prove that they are eligible under the law and as an exercise of discretion for the benefit sought. Congress intentionally made it hard to overcome a false claim to citizenship. But it is possible. The first step is to consult an experienced and knowledgeable immigration lawyer. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China. For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com. Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case. (Advertising Supplement)

Angels among us “ Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”

– From Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life”

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. Trawl the internet and social media and read about how angels, though unseen in many instances, can be felt by many who believe in them. There are many instances when the presence and oftentimes the direct interventions of one’s personal guardian angel are a part of the twists and turns of the unraveling story of many people’s lives. Many have written about their encounters with angels, documenting how their guardian angels are a real part of their lives guarding, guiding and protecting

them from harm and on many occasions, even from death, because their time had not yet come. I am sure many others have their own personal stories to tell about this unseen entity that can be ascribed to the presence of God himself – an ever-present help to aid us in navigating life on earth. The common image of an angel is a beautiful heavenly being with piercing eyes, big white pair of wings and long cascading golden hair, robed in androgynous white gown and who is neither male nor female but to which we ascribe the word “he” just for convenience. An angel, who is an eternal celestial being, is not subject to the constraints of gravity, time, space or language problems. Communication between protector and PAGE B6

Warning: Colorectal cancer drates. The incidence of colorectal cancer is indeed high among those who eat red meat (pork, beef, etc) compared to those who eat high-fiber diets (vegetables, fruits, wheat, bran, etc) and fish. what are the signs of colorectal cancer? The person may not have symptoms at all. It could be so subtle, like fatigue and anemia. Blood in the stool (black or bloody red stools) is one common sign. The others include change in the bowel habits, diarrhea or constipation, stools more slender or flatter than usual, stomach discomfort, bloating, fullness, abdominal cramps, frequent gas pains, unexplained weight loss, a sensation that the rectum does not empty completely. Not all these symptoms and signs need to be present, or necessary, to suspect possible presence colorectal cancer. Any one of these, if persistent, should alert one to seek medical help. what are intestinal polyps? These are small benign tumors (not cancerous growths) in the colon, but they may become cancerous over a period of time, hence termed “precancerous.” Detecting and removing polys is one strategy to prevent colorectal malignancy. In most instances, polyps can be removed by colonoscopic procedure (long, tube-like flexible fiberoptic lighted “tele” scope, about the diameter of the index finger, inserted thru the anus, to inspect the rectum and colon, make biopsy and/or excision of polyps). This saves the patient from an abdominal surgery. About 60 percent of all colorectal cancers are within

the reach of flexible fiberoptic sigmoidoscopy, popularly known as colonoscopy. when should colonoscopy be done? Anyone who is 50 years old and older should have an annual fecal occult blood test and a prophylactic colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years, in coordination with a physician. Since blood in the feces is one of the earliest sign of colorectal cancer, testing for blood in the stools yearly among those 50 and older is essential, and could be lifesaving. And so with prophylactic colonoscopy. How do we prevent colorectal cancer? As mentioned above, a highfiber (fruits and vegetables, bran, oat, wheat) and fish diet will tremendously reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, staying away from animal protein, like red meat (pork, beef and anything made of these) is a big factor in preventing the development of colorectal cancer, besides heart attack and stroke. Daily exercises make our body healthier and more resistant to illnesses. Abstinence from tobacco is a must. Checking your stools for blood every time you defecate and reporting any warning signs listed above to your physician will help. For those 50 and older, having a yearly fecal occult blood test and a colonoscopy every 3 to 5 years, is strongly recommended for early detection and cure of the disease. what is the treatment for colorectal cancer? Depending on the stage and PAGE B6

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

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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.

Archdiocese of Los Angeles hosts Santacruzan-May Crowning Everyone is invited to the 14th Annual Santacruzan-May Crowning sponsored by the Filipino Ministry of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles to be held on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 2:45 p.m. at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (555 W. Temple St., Los Angeles, CA 90012). Msgr. Alex D. Aclan, Vicar for Clergy of Archdiocese of LA, will be the principal celebrant. Highlights include presentation of “Sagalas” who are young girls and women comprising the Court of Honor for the Procession of the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Eucharistic Celebration, Crowning of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Flower Offering, and a “Banda Musiko”accompanied Procession. It will be participated by different civic, religious, devotional, and ethnic organizations including the Philippine Consulate General in LA. The theme of the celebration: “Immaculate Mary, Caring Mother of Missionary Disciples.” The celebration is capped by a Dinner-Dance at Casa Italiana (1051 N. Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90012, 6:30 p.m.) For more information, please contact: Chairperson Arnel Bailon at (818) 310-3663 / nyarface2@yahoo.com or Co-chair Fe Amit at (323) 376-8448 / fe.amit@gmail.com.

Free oil filter & motor oil recycling event in Baldwin Park, CA ATTENTION ALL BALDWIN PARK RESIDENTS – Free Oil Filter & Motor Oil Recycling Event! Everyone is invited to bring in their used motor oil and used oil filters. All those who recycle their used oil filter will receive one FREE new Oil Filter. Recycling motor oil and filters helps save our environment and keeps our water clean. So don’t miss out – we’re making it easier for you to keep your car running smoothly and efficiently. It will be held on Saturday, May 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at O’Reilly Auto Parts (14503 Ramona Blvd., Baldwin Park, CA 91706).

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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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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 Asian-Americans; 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 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://spotlight-on-entrepinay-success.eventbrite.com. For more information or any questions, contact: Fidji Victoriano at fvictoriano@esipa. org or (424) 235-5011.

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

JUNE 2

Holy Trinity Church hosts 2018 Fiesta in Los Angeles Come and celebrate Holy Trinity Church’s 2018 Fiesta on Saturday, June 2 from 1 to 9 p.m. There will be lots of fun games, music and food for the entire family. The program will feature Anatalia Villaranda, Buhay Cali, HTC Choir and more. The coronation of the prince and princess of Holy Trinity Church will also take place. Holy Trinity Church is located at 3722 Boyce Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90039.

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

Features

B may 10-16, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

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Four City of Las Vegas pools open for summer season May 26 Rep. Kihuen celebrates National Nurses Week Five city pools will open by June 4 for fun, swimming lessons and aquatic sports

Carlos l. Martinez & Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary reese Freedom Park, Garside Pool, Pavilion Center Pool and Municipal Pool will open Memorial Day weekend and the following weekend, before opening full time for the summer season June 4. For the holiday weekend, Municipal Pool will be closed Friday-sunday for a swim meet, opening 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday. summer pool hours will be: • Carlos l. Martinez & Darrio J. Hall Family Pool at Gary reese Freedom Park, 889 N. Pecos road, 702-229-1755 – May 26, the pool at Gary reese Freedom Park will host a special afternoon event. Everyone is invited to Fiesta Day from noon to 5 p.m. Entry and swimming are free. latin food and beverages will be available for purchase. latin music will enliven the celebration. June 4aug. 12, this pool will be open for recreational swim Monday-Friday noon-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., and saturday-sunday, noon to 5 p.m. The pool also will be open June 3, aug. 18-19, aug. 25-26 and sept. 1-3, noon to 5 p.m. • Garside Pool, 250 s. Torrey Pines Drive, 702-229-6393 – Garside will be open daily for recreational swimming June 4-aug. 12, with Monday-Friday hours noon-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m., as well as saturday and sunday, noon-5 p.m. The pool also will be open May 26-28, aug. 18-19, aug. 25-26 and sept.

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1-3, noon to 5 p.m. • Pavilion Center Pool, 101 s. Pavilion Center Drive, 702-2291488 – recreational swim opens for the summer season June 4aug. 12, Monday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m.; saturdaysunday, noon to 5 p.m. limited adult lap swim is open MondayFriday 5 a.m.-noon and 4-7 p.m., and saturdays, 8 a.m.-noon. The pool also will be open May 26-27, noon to 5 p.m. and May 28, noon to 4 p.m. • Municipal Pool, 431 E. Bonanza road, 702-229-6309 – Municipal Pool is open for recreational swimming May 28-sept. 3 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, as well as noon to 6 p.m. saturday and sunday. From 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, there are limited lanes for adults-only lap swim. • Doolittle Pool, 1950 N. J st., 702-229-6398 – June 4-aug. 12, Monday-saturday, 1 to 5 p.m. • Baker Pool, 1020 E. st. louis ave., will be closed this summer for renovation. all city pools will be closed June 2 for annual summer in-service training. Go online for a listing of planned pool summer special events in the summer Beyond the Neon guide. Daily fees at all pools are $2 for ages 4-17; $3 for ages 18-49; $2 for ages 50+; and free for ages 0-3. all-summer pool passes, valid Memorial Day weekend through

las VEGas, NEVaDa – rep. ruben J. Kihuen issued the following statement celebrating the start of National Nurses labor Day, also are available for Week which began on May 6th, purchase. Pass prices are $40 for 2018. a child under 18 years old or a se“Nurses play a monumental nior age 50+ and $75 for an adult role in our health care system, age 18-49. Passes are good for often serving as the first indilap and open swim at each of our vidual who helps treat our health five open swimming pool venues, needs. Whether in our schools, valid Memorial Day through labor hospitals, homes, or retirement Day. Group family passes are not communities, nurses are comoffered this year. mitted to improving quality of Each pool will offer private, semi-private and small group swimming lessons. Private lessons are $125, semi-private lessons (two-three students) are $65, and by Ronnie CaRRasCo iii ManilaTimes.net group lessons (four or more students) are $25-$30 ($5 at select QUEzoN City 2nd District pools), for five or six 45-minute lessons. swim lesson sessions councilor roderick Paulate has and water exercise classes begin a lot to thank his bosom friend the week of June 4 at most pools. lipa City, Batangas representaEach pool also will offer novice tive Vilma santos-recto for in his competitive swimming, diving, political crossover. Kuya Dick—as he’s fondly adsynchronized swimming and water polo teams for ages 7-17 for only dressed in showbiz circles—will $35 for the entire 10-week sum- have completed his third and last mer pool season. registration for term as city alderman before the swimming lessons, water exercise mid-term elections next year. “I always keep in mind what classes and team participation is ate Vi tells me, ‘Never concede open until full. see all the information online at www.lasvegaspark- to your detractors’,” Paulate told sandrec.com (click on “aquatics” a group of entertainment writers or “Beyond the Neon Guide” for and editors at a gathering on april 30, exactly 10 days after graft and details). For more information, call corruption charges against him 702-229-PlaY or the Municipal were filed anew. “It’s actually the same thing Pool at 702-229-6309. Financial filed in 2010 but was dismissed in assistance is available for qualified families. ask for a financial 2016 by the Court of appeals,” the assistance application at the actor-politician said of the case involving P1.1 million for allegedly pool. hiring ghost employees, “They

location of the colorectal cancer, the primary strategy is wide surgical resection of the cancer and regional lymphatic drainage. Cure is possible in 75 percent of surgical patients. For cancer limited to the mucosa (surface lining of the wall of the colon), 5-year survival is about 90 percent; those cancer going deeper into the mucularis propia (muscle-layer of colon), 80 percent; those with positive lymph nodes, meaning cancer already spreading to the lymph nodes, 30 percent. other modes of treatment includes pre-operative radiotherapy, adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy. When surgery and/or any of these other modalities are indicated will depend on the location, extent and stage of the colorectal cancer.

Workforce reauthorization act of 2017, which will help expand nursing programs in our state and reduce medical costs for Nevada residents. In the United states, the nursing community is made up of one million individuals who help provide invaluable high-quality healthcare services. Closing Nevada’s nursing shortage will help provide better access and care for residents and guarantee a healthy Nevada for future generations.”

Roderick Paulate thanks Ate Vi for support

Warning: Colorectal cancer What is the outlook for colorectal cancer patients? There is no question that the outlook for colorectal cancer, and most other cancers in general, is much better today. But we cannot overemphasize the common-sense wisdom that prevention is the best “treatment,” especially when dealing with any potentially deadly disease like cancer, heart attack, stroke, aIDs, etc. New hopes for cancer victims are in the pipeline of dozens of research/clinical laboratories in the United states and other countries around the world. Before the advent of the oral medications for pulmonary tuberculosis, the disease acted like cancer, spreading from the lungs to the brain, bones, liver, kidneys, spleen, lymph nodes, etc. We predict that someday soon, hopefully

life and access to health care for their patients. Nevada faces significant challenges given the increased demand for healthcare and a shortage of nurses throughout our state. specifically, in Nevada’s Fourth Congressional District which is mostly rural, residents face increased burdens in accessing health care and must sometimes travel hundreds of miles to reach a medical provider. That is why I have supported legislation like H.r. 959, the Nursing

in the not too distant future, many forms of cancers, if not all, will be cured by simply taking anti-cancer pills. In the meantime, it behooves each one of us to play an active role in protecting ourselves from becoming cancer victims by living a healthy lifestyle and by being ever vigilant about our health and that of our loved ones. *** 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

“Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang, we’re talking of a little over a million pesos here which I can generate in five months [at P200,000 per month] from working either in aBs-CBN or GMa. Would I have chosen politics over showbiz kung kikitain ko rin naman yun?” he asked. He, however, looks at this demolition job as nothing new. “Kinasuhan nila ako nung tumatakbo ako for my second term [in 2013], yet I won. Sumunod was in 2016, but again I made it through. since next year is election season again, heto na naman,” Paulate chuckled albeit he has yet to decide which of the three major elective positions he’s Quezon City Councilor Roderick Paulate eyeing next. “Ever since I’ve made ate Vi [political rivals] are bringing it as my role model the very first back again.” Paulate modestly reasoned out time I set foot on political soil. I the amount involved vis-à-vis his chose this so dapat handa ako,” larger earnings from his showbiz the 56-year-old alderman said matter-of-factly. work.

Filipina-American filmmaker’s short film about... PAGE B1 challenge. The film is a reminder of a mother’s hardship and the sacrifices many overseas Filipino workers (oFWs) make to provide for their families. Though she’s thousands of miles away from home, hearing her son’s voice over the phone reminds her that home isn’t a location but rather the unbreakable bond between a mother and her child. Go, a UsC Film and TV Production graduate, drew inspiration from her family’s experiences and chose this story to evoke the vast meaning of home. But she was particularly inspired by her own mother’s story. With the help of her family, Go’s mother, an immigrant from the Philippines, was able to become a doctor in the U.s. and, for her, family was the sole driver for all her hard work. “she raised me to work for my family and that everything we do is for family. she’s really my inspiration for everything I do,” Go shared with the Asian Journal in a recent

phone interview. “she’s just incredibly strong and works so hard, and so when I saw that HBo called to make a film about ‘home’ I thought this is perfect because I’ve always seen [how] my mom misses home so much and everything she does is for her family and all the money she makes she goes to them. so home isn’t necessarily where you are but where you’re heart is and her heart was always back in the Philippines back there.” With very few lines of dialogue, “remittance” profoundly captures the internal conflicts of a distressed mother who begins to question the decision to separate herself from her son, a feeling very familiar to the more than 10 million oFWs around the world. like many Filipino families, she has relatives working as oFWs who have spent most of their lives away from the family in order to provide for it. “There’s people from around the world, you know, people who have to find the work wherever it is to be able to support the family whether that’s working on a cruise ship or at

a hotel,” Go said, highlighting the collective struggle of all oFWs who have the bravery to be separated from loved ones. “It’s being able to move there, and sacrifice your own happiness so that your family can live a good life is heartbreaking, but it’s also beautiful and so moving in that you’ve given that up so that your family can succeed.” In February, “remittance” was selected as a finalist for HBo’s aPa Visionaries short Film Competition, a competitive program that provides emerging aPa filmmakers a chance to feature their talents. In addition to Go’s “remittance,” two other films were selected as finalists: “June” by Tawainese Huay-Bing law and “Jiejie” by Feng-I Fiona roan. The three films were then screened at the los angeles asian Pacific Film Festival on May 4, where law and roan took first and second place, respectively. “remittance” and the other short films are now available to stream on HBo NoW and HBo Go.

Angels among us

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.

PAGE B5 protectee is often wordless and automatic. some are messengers and some bring punishment and death but each has a definite purpose, most of which are benefi-

cial to humans. some claim to have seen their angels appearing differently from the common image we believe of winged beings. some morph into human form to lend a hand, to

protect from danger or avert disaster then disappear quickly. They appear specially when the humans they are protecting find themselves in dire straits and need help. as one might imagine, angels are extremely busy considering the weakness of humans and their predilection to stray from the straight and narrow. In Frank Capra’s classic Christmas film, “It’s a Wonderful life,” Clarence, a portly, bumbling character aspiring to become an angel must earn his wings by doing something good for a human being in desperate need and contemplating suicide. “Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings,” is a memorable line in this classic film that is intended never to get old and aptly becomes new again for a new generation around the Christmas season. on the other hand, in the warped imagination of liberal film makers, “Michael” supposedly about Michael, the archangel, the highest seraphim who fought satan and flung him to the burning sulfurous depths of hell and believed to be the protector of the nation of Israel, is portrayed as somewhat of a sleaze who is more human than angelic. In this film, archangel Michael can charm females because he smells of cookies and who is a bit of a lothario to boot. It may be somewhat funny to color outside the lines in portraying angels but don’t be fooled by the liberal yarn on angels. Hollywood, in my opinion, has no gravitas on angelic matters. Trust your own instincts. Your own personal experience will color the lens with which you view and relate with your personal guardian angel. God so loved the world, He sent His only son to redeem us from sin and death so we may gain eternal life. angels are sent to help us during our time here on earth towards this arduous journey to eternal life. (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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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • mAy 10-16, 2018

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B may 10-16, 2018 • LaS VEGaS aSIaN JOURNaL

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