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Volume 11 – Issue 30 • 16 Pages
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New Tourism chief accepts Duterte’s challenge to affirm ‘no corruption’ policy by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
NEWLY-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat revealed President Rodrigo Duterte’s first in-
struction for her was to maintain a “no corruption” policy as she takes over the department that was recently involved in a P60-million advertising deal controversy. “My only instruction from the Presi-
dent when he offered it and then I accepted – he said, ‘Congratulations! All I want is no corruption. Don’t steal,’ he told me. And I said, ‘Yes, of course,’ ” Puyat said Wednesday, May 9. Wanda Tulfo-Teo resigned from her
post after the Commission on Audit (COA)’s report about a questionable contract involving the payment of P60 million for an ad placement on government-run PTV-4 and Bitag Media Un- Newly-appointed Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo-
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USA
Sereno returns to Supreme Court
FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
Prosecutors said the shooter was in love with the victim’s fiancée, acted out of jealousy
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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
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EXPLORE ISLANDS PHILIPPINES is officially open after the ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Her Royal Highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia (6th from left), Permanent Representative of the Philippines to the United Nations, Ambassador Teodoro Locsin, Jr. (5th from left) and Tourism Promotions Board COO Cesar Montano (7th from left). Among those who joined the kickoff celebration were (from left) Jerry Sibal, Tourism Attache Susan del Mundo, representatives from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (Linday Boylan and Aries de la Cruz (partly hidden)), Carl Nelson, PAL VP for Marketing Ria Domingo, TPB Deputy COO Maricon Ebron and Edwin Josue. The four-day exhibition will run until Saturday, May 12 at the Vanderbilt Hall of the Grand Central Terminal in New York City. Full story and more photos in our LifEASTyle Section. AJPress Photo by Momar G. Visaya
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
AFTER two months of being on leave, Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno returned to work on Wednesday, May 9, after preparations for her impeachment trial at the Senate have finally been completed. Wearing a pink belted dress, Sereno was defiant and unfazed as she went to her office amid the rumor that the majority of her colleagues are seeking the invalidation of her appointment as top magistrate. The pink color is said to symbolize her “happy” state of mind for being back. According to Anacleto Lacanilao III, one of Sereno’s spokespersons, Sereno has “all the right under the law to come back” and that “she’s still the Chief Justice.” “Now that the purpose of her leave of absence has been served, the chief justice will resume performing her constitutional mandate and discharging her responsibilities as head of judi-
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Duterte on Forbes’ most Two Fil-Am educators among powerful people list once again 2018 Social Justice Activist of the Year Award finalists by RAE
(L-R) Philippine Pres. Rodrigo Duterte, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Chinese Pres. Xi Jinping, Russian Pres. Vladimir Putin and U.S. Pres. Donald Trump. Photos courtesy of Forbes Nagazine by GAEA
KATREENA Philstar.com
CABICO
In 2016, he placed 70th. The entry about Duterte took note of his rise to power on the back of his campaign MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has that promised to eradicate street crimes and been included in Forbes Magazine’s Most the drug trade. Powerful People of 2018. “So far, his war on crime has already reDuterte ranked 69th of the 75 leaders, sulted in the killing of thousands of people advocates and entrepreneurs in the interna- across the archipelago country,” Forbes tional business magazine’s roster of who it said. deems the most powerful people worldwide. u PAGE A2
Total of 4,251 drug personalities killed, say PH government officials by RAE
Philstar.com photo
‘I’M STILL THE CHIEF JUSTICE’
DATELINE Fil-Am father shot to death by SFO worker
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 ga-
Puyat
(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 Tokhang and Oplan Double Barrel. Referring to the government’s Recovery and Wellness 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
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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.,
Erica Viray Santos (center)
Gabriel Tanglao
Photos courtesy of National Education Association
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
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A May 11-17, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
New Tourism chief accepts...
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limited Inc. (BMUI)’s show “Kilos Pronto,” which Teo’s brothers, Erwin and Ben Tulfo, host. Puyat, who served at the Department of Agriculture for 12 years, said she would likely prioritize farm and culinary tourism. “We’ve been working with (the DOT) with regard to farm tourism. That’s been their main project with the DA (Department of Agriculture). So might as well
continue it,” she said. “I will continue the farm tourism and culinary tourism because when you go to a country, food is one of the things tourists go to.” Puyat admitted that she did not expect her new position. “I was a bit surprised because we were talking about agriculture then suddenly it was tourism,” she said. While she has no plans for DOT yet, Puyat emphasized that she will continue to work on the
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From the Front Page projects that Teo started. She also wants to check DOT’s plans concerning the rehabilitation project for Boracay and the possible re-hosting of Miss Universe 2018 in the country. Puyat also said that she’s always ready to explore more ways to improve the country’s tourism sector. DOT is confident Puyat’s expertise and experience will help reach its goal under the National Tourism Development Plan for 2016-2022. The DOT hopes to boost tourist arrivals to 7.4 million this year. n
Sereno returns to Supreme...
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ciary,” Carlo Cruz, legal counsel of Sereno, said to the reporters. Cruz also said that Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio had been informed of Sereno’s return. Sereno had been on an indefinite leave of absence since March. She will preside over the high tribunal’s special full-court session on Friday, May 11, but will recuse herself once the the quo warranto is tackled. Sereno is facing impeachment in the House of Representatives, which is dominated by President Rodrigo Duterte’s allies, but So- Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno greets supporters upon her arrival at the Supreme Court licitor General Jose Calida sepa- on Wednesday, May 9. ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo Jr. rately filed a quo warranto petition for the final Supreme Court ruling against her for allegedly failing to peachment case. “If there will be an overwhelm- before making our final action on submit all of her financial statements when she applied for the ing vote favoring the quo warranto the impeachment complaint and petition against the Chief Justice, I I am confident this will be about job in 2012. On Wednesday, Mindoro Ori- will recommend that the impeach- declaring the process moot,” he ental Rep. Reynaldo Umali, chair ment complaint against her be ar- said. However, the House still has of the House justice committee, chived,” Umali told the media. “But if there is a close vote in to follow its own rules by votsaid that the panel would wait for the Supreme Court decision favor of the quo warranto petition, ing to dismiss the complaint, he before proceeding with the im- we will play it by ear. We will wait added. n
Two Fil-Am educators among 2018 Social...
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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, Califor-
nia 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
NEW MONEY. President Rodrigo Duterte is accompanied by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III as he receives a complete set of New Generation Currency bank notes and coins from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Governor Nestor Espenilla at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, May 8. The president is encouraging the public to use the new currency wisely and responsibly for national development. Malacañang photo
Duterte on Forbes’ most powerful... PAGE A1 t It also cited the chief executive’s “raw and vulgar vocabulary.” “He called Obama ‘son of a 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 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. US 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
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
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Dateline USa
NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 11-17, 2018
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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
BALIKATAN FLAG. Philippine Exercise Director of Balikatan 2018, Lt. Gen. Emmanuel Salamat; and United States Exercise Director of Balikatan 2018 Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson; lead the unfurling of the Balikatan Flag of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the United States Armed Forces at the start of the annual “Balikatan Exercise 2018” on Monday, May 7 held at Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City. The exercise will be held from May 7-18, 2018. PNA photo by Joey Razon
New border enforcement policy... Fil-Am father shot to death... PAGE A1 t country. There is a right way to do it and 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 sep-
arated 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 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)
Total of 4,251 drug personalities... PAGE A1 t 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 issues 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 “oneby-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
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rage, 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 seriously 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. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)
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A May 11-17, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
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Pacquiao slower, easier to hit – Matthysse by
Dino Maragay Philstar.com
NEW PISTOLS. Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista (right) presents a .40 caliber Taurus pistol to Philippine National Police chief Oscar Albayalde. With them is Metro police chief Camilo Cascolan. QCPD director Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr. thanked the city government for its logistical support. He said the 1,250 Taurus Cal. 40 Model PT840 semi-automatic pistols will be issued to policemen who have just been assigned to the city. The three vehicles will be for the official use of the PNP chief, NCRPO director and QCPD head. ManilaTimes.net photo by Ruy Martinez
Lawyer behind ICC communication: I fear I’ll be killed anytime by gaea
Katreena Philstar.com
cabico
THE lawyer who sent an information to the International Criminal Court regarding the Philippines’ bloody war on drugs said that he does not go out often because of his constant fear for his life. Jude Sabio said he has received numerous death threats since ICC Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda announced in February that her office has started a preliminary examination into President Rodrigo Duterte’s anti-narcotics campaign based on the communications he had filed in April 2017. “nowadays I do not go out so much in public places. Specifically, I’m afraid that I’ll be killed at any time. Somebody will be just coming and pump a bullet into my head,” Sabio said in an interview with the national Public Radio, a Washington, DC-based media organization, posted May 5. Sabio, who is also the legal counsel of self-confessed hit-
man Edgar Matobato, said he has been living in Manila for more than a year because he would feel more vulnerable should he return to his home in Mindanao. He noted that he is now being viewed as the “foremost villain in the country” for accusing Duterte and other senior government officials of crimes against humanity but the 51-year-old lawyer has no regrets. “I’m doing this because this is the right thing to do. And the only way that we can achieve justice against the president is to bring this to the ICC because there is no way that this can be done in the country right now,” Sabio told nPR. In an earlier interview on AnC’s “Headstart,” Sabio expressed confidence that the ICC formal investigation into the drug war would be launched within six months. The preliminary examination is intended to determine whether the communication of supposed violations of gov-
ernment security forces under Duterte’s administration is within the court’s jurisdiction. Malacañang, on the other, does not expect that the allegations would prosper. But in March, the country announced its withdrawal from the Hague-based court, citing the perceived bias of the international community. Under Article 127 of the Rome Statute, a state party may withdraw from the treaty through a written notification addressed to the Un secretary-general. The withdrawal will take effect a year after the date of receipt of the notification. Individuals and organizations both at home and abroad have criticized the government for its ferocious war on drugs, which has claimed over 12,000 lives, according to human rights watchdogs. The government, however, disputes these numbers and counts a little over 4,000 “drug personalities” killed in police operations. n
FOR WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse, Manny Pacquiao’s best days are long gone, and now is the perfect time to take the Filipino icon out. Matthysse, who will put his title on the line against Pacquiao on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, said Pacquiao’s style is tailor-made for him. Another thing going for the Argentine is the notion that Pacquiao is already on the decline. “I really like his style. We have the same height, he is a fighter who comes forward and who likes to attack like me, so that is going to be good for my way of boxing,” the pride of Chubut, Argentina said in boxingscene. com report. Matthysse likewise draws confidence from the fact that the 39-year-old Pacquiao is not the same fighter he once was. “I have already faced lefthanded fighters and it did not
Matthysse, who will put his title on the line against Pacquiao on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, said Pacquiao’s style is tailor-made for him. Philstar.com photo by Jun Mendoza
create any problems for me. In addition, Pacquiao has had a lot of hard fights, and in the last few it was evident that he gets hit more often and that he does
not have the same speed and explosiveness as before,” added Matthysse, who started heavy training last week in Coachella, California. n
Philippine military capability among weakest in Asia Pacific — report by Patricia LourDes Philstar.com
Viray
AMOng its Asia Pacific neighbors, the Philippines ranked low in terms of its military capability measure, according to the Asia Power Index released by foreign policy think tank Lowy Institute. The index showed that the Philippines ranked 16 of 25 in overall power score, where different indicators such as military, economic, cultural, diplomatic and political power were measured. “The Philippines’ strongest performance is in future trends, ranking in place with a score of 4.0. Its lowest ranking occurs in 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 as the fourth largest diaspora in the region after China, India and Bangladesh with an outward migrant population of 3 million.
The index showed that the Philippines ranked 16 of 25 in overall power score, where different indicators such as military, economic, cultural, diplomatic and political power were measured. Philstar.com photo
The study also showed that China is the Philippines’ largest trade partner with 25 percent of the country’s regional trade. The United States, meanwhile, is the Philippines’ largest culture and defense partner. The report noted that the US has transferred about $261 million worth of arms to the Philippines. In terms of the “power gap,” the Philippines is an “overachiever.” Lowy Institute defined power gap as “the difference between a country’s overall power and what its power is expected to be given its available resources.” “The country wields more influence in Asia than would be expected from its resources, result-
ing 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. “U.S. diplomatic strength in Asia is surpassed by China and almost equaled by Japan, which could have implications for upcoming U.S.-DPRK denuclearization talks,” Lowy Institute said. The index maps and ranks the power of 25 countries in Asia and the U.S. as the major external power in the region. The map will be updated annually. n
US pledges additional P182-M aid for Marawi
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THE United States has provided an additional P182 million ($3.5 million) worth of aid to support humanitarian relief in wartorn Marawi City. U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim made the announcement Thursday, May 3, bringing Washington’s total contribution to Marawi to nearly P1.4 billion ($26.4 million). The additional financial assistance will be used to build transitional shelters for 58,000 internally displaced persons through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the Philippine government and humanitarian organizations. “This is obviously very im-
portant work and we hope to do more in the coming years,” Kim said in a press conference. This demonstrates “the deep ties and unbreakable bond between the United States and the Philippines as friends, partners, and allies.” USAID is also eyeing to work with the national and local government to start projects that would expand protection services for women and children, create income-generating activities for the local economy and repair water and sanitation facilities. “The U.S. government, through USAID, has been a key partner to the Philippine government in the recovery, sta-
bilization, and rehabilitation of Marawi City and its surrounding areas,” the U.S. Embassy said in a media release. Since the conflict in Marawi broke out last year, the US has been actively working to improve conditions in evacuation centers such as providing maternal, newborn and child health supplies and services for affected communities. In March, the U.S. announced assistance worth P100 million for food security in Marawi. In partnership with the World Food Programme, USAID provided 1.8 million kilograms of rice, which would feed an estimated 45,000 people for four months. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)
Terror threat in South remains – US envoy by Jefferson
antiPorDa ManilaTimes.net
UnITED States Ambassador Sung Kim on Thursday, May 3 called for vigilance and deeper cooperation between the Philippines and the U.S. to address continuing terror threats in Mindanao. Kim said threat from terror groups remain despite the defeat of the Maute group in Marawi City last year. “Both our experts including those in the military and their Filipino counterparts believe that the U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim threat continues to exists and that tinues to recruit new members in we must remain vigilant and we Southeast Asia, including in the must continue to work together,” Philippines, to launch acts of terKim said during the Kapihan sa rorism in their hometowns. Irfan Saeed, director of the Embahada news forum organized Department of State’s Office of by the embassy. The U.S. ambassador said co- Countering Violent Extremism, operation between the Philippines said the U.S. had destroyed soand U.S. through sharing intel- called caliphates in Syria and ligence and information is impor- Iraq, effectively stopping IS operations and travel, but that didn’t tant. The U.S. supported the Phil- stop the group from getting new ippines by providing technical recruits. Saeed explained that terrorists support and weapons to troops who battled the Islamic State (IS)- have been looking for safe havens linked Maute group that occupied in which to operate unfettered. This was sparked by their recent Marawi City. Kim said the U.S. intends to con- defeat in Syria and Iraq. But apart from security related tinue providing help to the Philippine military and law enforcement assistance, Kim said the humaniunits to help them foil similar at- tarian aid being provided by the U.S. will continue as he announced tacks. In April, an official of the U.S. the allocation of P182 million ($3.5 Department of State said IS con- million) to support the rehabilita-
Inquirer.net photo
tion of affected communities in Marawi City. The U.S. ambassador said the money will be used to build transitional shelters, repair water and sanitation facilities, and provide psychosocial support to affected residents. More than 300,000 people were displaced in the fighting that started in May and ended in October last year. Part of the fund, Kim said, would also be used in the establishment of safe spaces to protect women and children from exploitation and violence and also help to jumpstart local economy through income generating activities. “This brings the total U.S. contributions to the Marawi humanitarian response to nearly P1.4 billion or $26.4 million,” Kim told reporters. n
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Dateline PhiliPPines
A
Nat’l museum shows oldest Palace to create foreign panel of experts proof of hominin existence in PH to probe Dengvaxia controversy
ManIla — The national Museum has announced the publication of the article titled “Earliest known hominin activity in the Philippines by 709,000 years ago” in the May 10, 2018 issue of the journal nature. In a press briefing on Thursday, May 10, national Museum of the Philippines (nMP) Director Jeremy Robert Barns discussed the details of the article which presented the oldest evidence for the occupation of hominins — species generally of the genus Homo including Homo Sapiens or modern humans — in the Philippines. Barns said the article “relates the discovery of an almost complete skeleton of Rhinoceros Philippinensis with cut and percussion marks, stone tools and a tektite which are archaeological findings considered as indirect evidence for a very old presence of early humans on the island of luzon far beyond the former earliest published evidence of 67,000 years relating to a hominid bone fragment from callao cave, cagayan.” The fossils were discovered in an archaeological site in Rizal, Kalinga province by a team of international and local researchers led by Dr. Thomas Ingicco from the Museum national d’Histoire naturelle. Archaeological finds’ implications Barns said “discovering the remains of the rhinoceros and the stone tools within the same layer points to association or coexistence of the two in the past.” To identify the age of the finds, at least five dating methods were used, he said. “One of them hit the nail on its head, the australasian tektite which formed during a major meteoritic impact just before the onset of the Brunhes normal polarity epoch at 781,000 years ago and the other four just supported it,” Barns said. He added that the finds imply that “hominins were present in the Philippine Islands as early as 709,000 years ago.” “This is part of our heritage, the fact that this discovery is part of our country and related to advanc-
by Ritchel
Mendiola AJPress
Four of the 13 Rhinoceros Philippinensis bones, with cut and butcher marks, were analyzed and presented in the article “Earliest known hominin activity in the Philippines by 709,000 years ago” by Dr. Thomas Ingicco, et al. PNA photo
ing scientific knowledge which is why there is so much international interest on the paper, article also and it’s something to make every Filipino proud,” Barns added. UP-archaeological Studies Program representative Kathryn Manalo said that their team was not expecting to find anything valuable since the research project started in 2014. “When we found the tooth of the rhinoceros, we thought it was just a typical pebble like what the locals said. But we waited for it to be exposed enough and be measured, and we were amazed because it was the first part of the rhino that we found,” Manalo said. She said they were amazed when they found and analyzed all the bones which had been butchered or modified by early humans. “It’s not every day that archaeologists find something of that importance. It was a surreal moment. at that time, we haven’t really realized the impact of what we found,” she added. “The very fact that we were able to push back our history to 700,000 years ago, this will bolster our nationalism, this will strengthen our identity as Filipinos.” For his part, nMP acting assistant Director angel Bautista said: “When we find something significant like this, it satisfies us...sometimes we even cry.” ateneo de Manila University Sociology and anthropology instructor Mylene lising said that
discoveries like this help Filipinos understand their origin more. “We have a better understanding of the land on which our country sits on now...This is scientifically proven, we went through rigorous review of the paper...it’s science. We have all the evidence and it’s not fake news, this good news and this is real,” lising said. nMP Senior Museum Researcher catherine King said, “The hominin tool makers said to have existed in Kalinga are not related to us nevertheless we share the same heritage with the rest of the world.” Meanwhile, Kalinga Mayor Marcelo dela cruz is grateful for the honor that the research project and its findings have given to their community. “Makikilala pala sa mapa ang Rizal, Kalinga, salamat sa team... The national museum or the team help us magkaroon ng trabaho at tumutulong sila ma-protektahan ang area (Thank you to the team because Rizal, Kalinga would be known in the map...The national museum or the team help us have jobs and protect the area), the economic activity will grow in our place because of these finds,” dela cruz said. The tooth and three of the fossilized bones of the Rhinoceros Philippinensis are on display at the national Museum of Heritage while the rest are kept in a safety vault. (Ma. Teresa Montemayor/ PNA)
Cayetano on resignation calls: Let us finish our job by PatRicia louRdes Philstar.com
ViRay
ManIla — Foreign affairs Secretary alan Peter cayetano called on the people pushing for his resignation to allow him to finish the negotiations with Kuwait first. cayetano said that every Filipino has a right to call for any official’s resignation but doing so at the moment would “weaken” the government’s position. “any Filipino, it’s his right to call for any official’s resignation. So I am asking them: let us finish our job before we weaken our position,” cayetano told reporters in Riyadh. He added that what irked career officials was the news that they have called for the resignation of cayetano without proof. Earlier this month, The Star reported that career officers at the DFa are calling for the resignation of cayetano and his appointees for gross incompetence that led to the diplomatic row with Kuwait. The DFa had denied this report. noting that the negotiations on a memorandum of understanding with Kuwait are drawing to a close, cayetano said that he would take responsibility if proven that he made a mistake in handling the situation. “If they want to hold a hearing, if they want to sack me, if they want me to resign, that’s their privilege. and if what I did was wrong or the DFa did not do its
Malacañang will tap a three-man panel of foreign health experts to conduct independent scientific research about Dengvaxia, the world’s first dengue vaccine, and its impact on the immunized children in the country. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque Jr. said President Rodrigo Duterte seeks a more comprehensive and independent report after the conflicting reports on the matter by the Public attorney’s Office (PaO) and the Department of Health (DOH). Roque said Duterte “will create a three-man panel of asian experts” and that he “will be bound by the findings of this three-man expert team on the issue of whether or not Dengvaxia actually caused deaths.” “now the problem of the president is – although there is a finding of a PaO expert and there is the Philippine general Hospital panel of experts findings – as a lawyer and a former prosecutor, he knows that expert witnesses can cancel out each other’s testimonies,” he added. The opinion from independent experts will help in the probe to strengthen the government’s move to make Sanofi Pasteur, the manufacturer of Dengvaxia, accountable for what happened. a list of expert pathologists that DOH submitted are now with Duterte. Malacañang is also hoping for the passage of a law seeking to allow the government to use the P1.2 billion refunded by Sanofi for much-needed medical support and assistance for the vaccinated children who fell ill. DOH suspended the mass immunization program on Dec. 1, 2017 after Sanofi Pasteur announced that the vaccine poses threat of severe symptoms to those who have not been previously exposed to Dengue. Dengvaxia was administered to about 800,000 public school students aged nine years old
and above starting april 2016. 1,967 out of the 3,281 students hospitalized for various illnesses after being vaccinated contracted dengue, DOH said in a statement last month. last year, gabriela filed a
graft complaint against former health secretary Janette garin former president Benigno aquino III and former executive secretary Paquito Ochoa in connection with the Dengvaxia controversy. n
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job, we’ll take responsibility,” cayetano said. “But while we are in the middle of negotiations, in the midst of battle, you will weaken our position. If cayetano gets hit, the OFW gets hit too,” he added. The DFa secretary stressed that he is only the “face” of the negotiations with Kuwait and that it was a team effort. “In a team effort, there is a good guy, a bad guy... That’s the way diplomacy works all around the world,” cayetano said. cayetano is set to meet with his counterpart, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sabah al Khalid al Sabah to discuss the MOU that would protect the welfare of Filipino workers in the gulf state. labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III and presidential spokesperson Harry Roque earlier met with Kuwaiti officials to seek “normal-
Philstar.com photo
ization of ties” between the two countries. Roque announced that the four Filipino drivers arrested after the rescues of OFWs in Kuwait have been freed and the charges against them have been dropped. The Philippine government is still awaiting good news regarding three Filipino diplomats with arrest warrants in the Middle Eastern country. Kuwait earlier expelled Philippine ambassador Renato Villa following his remarks on the embassy’s rescue operations and the release of a video showing how embassy personnel rescued Filipino domestic helpers from the homes of their employers. The Kuwaiti government accused the Philippine Embassy of violating state laws and the Vienna convention on Diplomatic Relations. n
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
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A6 MAY 11-17, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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FEATURES
OPINION
Setting a precedent
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
Philstar.com photo
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
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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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 11-17, 2018
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Calida faces graft raps for owning security Iglesia ni Cristo breaks 3 Guinness records agency with government contracts by ritcheL
MendioLa AJPress
by Kristine Joy
Philstar.com
Patag
MANILA — Solicitor General Jose Calida is facing graft raps at the Office of the Ombudsman over his allegedly anomalous ownership of a security agency that has contracts with several government agencies. On Thursday, May 10, Jocelyn Acosta-Nisperos filed a 13-page complaint against Calida, accusing him of violating the AntiGraft and Corrupt Practices Act, the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Ethical Standards for Public Offices and Employees and the Revised Penal Code. Acosta-Nisperos said that, according to the document she received from the Securities and Exchange Commission, Calida owns 60 percent of Vigilant Investigative and Security Agency, while his wife and three children own 10 percent each. VISAI, said Acosta-Nisperos, acts as the security agency of the National Economic Development Agency, National Anti-Poverty Commission, Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and National Parks Development Corp. The complainant said that Calida’s ownership of VISAI presents a conflict of interest, as stated in the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees . “As solicitor general, respondent represents the agencies and instrumentalities of the government, including the NEDA, NAPC, PAGCOR and NDPC. Respondent cannot be the lawyer of
Solicitor General Jose Calida
the government, at the same time its client,” the complaint read. “By basically owning VISAI, respondent places the government at a disadvantageous position,” Acosta-Nisperos added. The complainant also claimed Calida’s filing of quo warranto against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is a violation of the anti-graft law. She claimed that Calida is guilty of “persuading, inducing or influencing another public officer—the Supreme Court in this case—to perform an act constituting a violation of rules and regulations duly promulgated of a competent authority. Acosta-Nisperos also said that Calida has violated his mandate at chief defender of the government when he “exhibited total bias in favor of the [clan of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos
Philstar.com photo
Sr.]” through his support to the move to dissolve the Presidential Commission on Good Government. The PCGG is the government body tasked to recover the illgotten wealth of Marcos and his cronies. The complainant also said that Solicitor General is guilty of malversation for having an illicit relationship with an intern at the Office of the Solicitor General and diverting public funds to her. She only cited reports for this claim, however. Although talk of the supposed relationship has spread online, it remains an unverified rumor. Acosta-Nisperos earlier urged Calida to initiate a quo warranto case against Associate Justice Teresita De Castro, which the solicitor general denied due to lack of merit. n
Ombudsman probes ex-Davao vice mayor Paolo Duterte by Ma.
reina Leanne toLentino ManilaTimes.net
FORMER Davao City vice mayor Paolo Duterte is being investigated by the Office of the Ombudsman but Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales could not specify the charges filed against the president’s son. “Well, they said there are cases pending investigation,” she told reporters in an interview on Tuesday, May 8. Duterte resigned as vice mayor last year over “recent unfortunate events” tied to his first
marriage, his public quarrel with his daughter Isabelle and charges that he was involved in the smuggling of drugs at the Bureau of Customs. On May 2, the Office of the Ombudsman said it has completed the fact-finding investigation into the complaint involving the smuggling of P6.4 billion worth of shabu (methamphetamine hydrochloride). The Office of the Ombudsman said the complaints against
Paolo and Manases Carpio, the husband of Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte, were dismissed for lack of basis. Based on a list from the Office of the Ombudsman, there were five pending cases against Paolo Duterte as of January 12, 2018 – for violation of the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and Employees, two graft complaints, a forfeiture case and an administrative complaint for conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service, grave misconduct, and serious dishonesty. n
ThE Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) officially broke three Guinness World Records when it held its charity walk event that over 1.5 million members participated at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila on Sunday, May 6. The event, named “Worldwide walk to fight poverty,” broke the records for largest human sentence, largest charity walk at a single venue and largest human mosaic, according to Adam Brown, official adjudicator and representative of Guinness World Records. A total of 23, 235 participants lined up to form the sentence “Proud to be a member of Iglesia ni Cristo” for the first record, beating India’s previous record which had 16,550 participants that formed the sentence “You can you will” in 2016. The participants gathered as early as 12 a.m., and started to walk at 6 a.m. along the 1.6-kilometer stretch of Roxas Boulevard 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
FOR THE RECORD. Religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) or Church of Christ on Sunday, May 6 set a Guinness World Record for the largest human sentence during its charity walk at Quirino Grandstand in Manila’s Rizal Park (Luneta). Clad in various colors, 23,235 participants formed 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 you will” set by 16,550 students on August 10, 2016 who celebrated World Youth Day in India. ManilaTimes.net photo
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
PH, Kuwait agree to sign labor pact ThE Philippines and Kuwait have agreed to sign a memorandum of agreement (MOA) on the protection of Filipino workers in the Gulf state, Malacañang said on Wednesday, May 9. This was after the high-level Philippine delegation led by Palace Spokesman harry Roque and Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello 3rd met with the officials of the Kuwaiti Interior Ministry in the Gulf State, where both countries “look forward to the normalization of ties.” “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. The Palace said the meeting of officials between the two countries “saw the release of four drivers” who were arrested 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. Roque and other officials left
for Kuwait on Tuesday night upon the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte. The meeting came after Kuwait formally protested the violations of diplomatic protocols and expelled Ambassador Renato Pedro Villa for allowing the rescue. The rescue mission, a video of which was uploaded on the internet, angered Kuwait. Duterte stopped the deployment of Filipinos to Kuwait after the discovery of the body of domestic worker Joana Demafelis inside a freezer. The president had said that Filipino workers’ passports must not be confiscated by Kuwaiti employers. Workers must be guaranteed adequate sleep, have a day off and allowed to cook their own food. (ManilaTimes.net)
A May 11-17, 2018 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL
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people events arts culture entertainment
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JERRY SIBAL, DOT-NY TOURISM ATTACHÉ SUSAN DEL MUNDO, MS. LOUIE LOCSIN, AMBASSADOR TEODORO LOCSIN, JR., PRINCESS KATARINA OF YUGOSLAVIA AND SERBIA, TOURISM PROMOTIONS BOARD COO CESAR MONTANO, CARL NELSON, TPB DEPUTY COO MARICON EBRON, LOIDA NICOLAS LEWIS, ABC-7’S NINA PINEDA AND EDWIN JOSUE AFTER THE RIBBON-CUTTING CEREMONY OPENING EXPLORE ISLANDS PHILIPPINES AT THE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL IN NEW YORK CITY.
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Philippine Tapestry Fashion Show
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PH Tourism Event Highlights Country’s 7,641 Islands Tourists Asked to Discover, Experience and Explore
Philippine Tapestry showcasing the various indigenous materials, weaves and fabrics.
AJPress photos by Troi Santos
Philippine Airlines executives Josh Vasquez and Ria Domingo present a boarding pass to the winner of a round trip New York to Manila ticket, along with TPB Deputy COO Maricon Ebron and DOT-NY Tourism Tourism Attaché Susan Del Attaché Susan Del Mundo Mundo
TPB COO Cesar Montano
by MoMar G. Visaya / AJPress
TPB Deputy COO Maricon Ebron, TPB COO Cesar Montano, Joebert Opulencia, PAL’s VP for Marketing Ria Domingo and DOT-NY Tourism TPB COO Cesar Montano with Asian Journal publisher Roger L. Oriel Attaché Susan Del Mundo and Fiesta in America’s Fernando Mendez.
The world-famous and iconic Grand Central Terminal in New York City is the home of the 7,641 islands of the Philippines – at least for four days this week as explore Islands Philippines, a major project to promote Philippine tourism is now ongoing at the Vanderbilt hall after a grand kickoff celebration opening the expo on Wednesday, May 9th. Philippine Mission to the United Nations Permanent Representative, Ambassador Teodoro Locsin, Ph Department of Tourism New York attaché Susan del Mundo and economic Affairs Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga from the Philippine embassy in Washington, DC led the opening along with guests from the Philippines – Tourism Promotions Board Chief Operating Officer Cesar Montano, Deputy COO Maricon ebron, Philippine Airlines VP for Marketing Ria Domingo, among others. her Royal highness Princess Katarina of Yugoslavia and Serbia led the ribbon-cutting ceremony along with representatives from the city and the state. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo sent his representative, Lindsey Boylan, Deputy Secretary for economic Development. “Napaka-importante nito dahil dito sa New York naka-sentro ang lahat ng mga turista sa buong mundo,” TPB COO Montano said. “This is the best place to do this, and to promote all our untapped destinations. Now that Boracay is closed for several months, this is a great opportunity for us to introduce and let them know the other amazing islands in the Philippines, lalo na at hindi alam ng mundo that we have more than 7,000 islands.” Jerry Sibal and edwin Josue, the men behind JS Productions and the organizers of the event were ecstatic that the project that they have been working on has come to fruition. “We finally did it! This is a historic event for the Filipino community as we showcase the Philippines to the world,” exclaimed Josue. Sibal, his partner shared that the project is three years in the making and seeing it unfold and happen is a surreal feeling. “We can’t thank you enough,” Sibal said as he thanked the sponsors among them the Department of Tourism and the Tourism Promotions Board. “It’s like having a baby and the baby is now here.” “I know that the Governor wishes he could be here, not least of which because it is on the list of places to go and it is certainly on mine,” Boylan said, prior to reading a short letter from Governor Cuomo congratulating the organizers of the event. Princess Katarina, a worldrenowned authority on tourism and hospitality and President of the Guild of Travel and Tourism, officially declared the exhibition open. ABC-7 reporter Nina Pineda acted as the program’s emcee. Travel and Trade In addition to promoting the white-sand, palm-lined beaches, crystal-clear lagoons and volcanic mountain vistas of the South east Asia nation, Philippine government officials and other experts also discussed trade and investment at the event. After the opening festivities in the morning, there were several panels that discussed various issues and topics related to travel and tourism. A Panel on “Why Invest in the Philippines” featured Teodoro Locsin, Jr., Philippine Ambassador to the United Nations and Nancy Valiakis, head of Business Development – Americas at Augentius, one of the largest independent alternative asset management service providers in the world, along with awardwinning journalist Ramy Inocencio of Bloomberg Television and Radio News. explores expo promotes ties between the Philippines and the world, and this year’s event follows a year of dynamic economic growth of 6.7 percent in 2017, one of the fastest paced economies in Asia after
Jerry Sibal, TPB COO Cesar Montano, Princess Katarina, Ambassador and Mrs. Teodoro Locsin, Jr. & Mrs. Louie Locsin, Lindsey Boylan and Edwin Josue.
Philippine Airlines executives Charisse Arboleda, Terry Romilla, Josh Vasquez, Ria Domingo, TPB COO Cesar Montano, Maricon Ebron and Teresita Landan.
China’s 6.9 percent and Vietnam’s 6.8 percent. Business Insider ranked the Philippines as the top country to invest in 2018. “I am confident that the expo will successfully present the Philippines as a premier tourism and investment destination, and New York certainly offers an unparalleled international stage to bring people together whether as prospective tourists or investors,” Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez said in an earlier statement after a briefing with the explore Islands Philippines Team in Washington, DC. Philippine Tapestry The celebration moved to the Roosevelt hotel with a dinner gala attended by more than 200 travel and tourism professionals in New York where lucky guests won round trip tickets to the Philippines, hotel accommodations in el Nido and Coron in Palawan, Panglao Island in Bohol and resorts in Cebu. The evening’s highlight was the 45-minute fashion show called Philippine Tapestry where models paraded on the runway wearing gowns and barong tagalog designed by worldrenowned designer and Philippine Ambassador of Fashion Renee Salud using indigenous weaves, fabrics and materials. The materials used came from ethnic tribes in Luzon (Cordillera, Lumban, and Bicol), the Visayas and Mindanao (T’boli, Caraga, and the Autonomous Region of Muslim Mindanao) and Salud, the fashion czar who has won global recognition and awards from international design expositions in key fashion capital of the world, turned them into modern gowns and evening wear. As a designer, Salud has dedicated decades of his life promoting Philippine fabrics whenever he can, one of the advocacies he actively promotes. “As an advocate, my goal is to bring Philippine fashion to the world stage – to a level that that there’s a global demand for our work, and this will create more jobs for the people. And it will prove to the whole world that Filipino designers are at par with the world’s best,” he told us in an interview for Balikbayan Magazine late last year, in the midst of prepping for the Philippine Tapestry project to go more countries outside the Philippines. “My dream is for Philippine Tapestry to grow into an event that is shown in all cities where there is a Filipino community. Our goal is to cement the presence of Filipino culture on all of these places,” Salud told us then. “Judging from the reaction of Filipinos wherever we go, things are off to a perfect start.” Since the Philippines is home to a lot of regional fabrics, it was a
major task to decide which fabrics were going to receive the highlight. For the fashion show where the collection is woven into the culture of the Philippines, Salud chose several fabrics from each island cluster: Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. “I make sure the entire country is represented, in terms of fabrics. But at the end of the of the day, it is all about how a designer works and styles a fabric – and converts it into fashion that a wearer can use in real life,” he said. But when it comes to individualized and personalized design, Salud said he chooses based on how he perceives the wearer, the customer. “At the end of the day, it is never about the fabrics – but about what the customer wants. The shapes and the style must be good. The fit must be good,” he quipped. Day Two and More at Grand Central Among the panel discussions held on Day One were dialogues with professionals in real estate, architecture, engineering, biotech, technology and finance. On Day Two, the Department of Tourism officials discussed various tourism initiatives including Beautiful Destinations, Students and Millennial tours, Diving Tourism, Adventure, Cuisine, Retirement, as well as Arts, Culture and history. Josh Vasquez, representing the flagship carrier of the Philippines, Philippine Airlines, gave a special presentation announcing that by the end of October 2018, PAL will be flying non-stop from New York to Manila, reducing the travel time to 15 and a half hours. Travel executive Joebert Opulencia, with more than four decades of experience running his own company Orientours, talked about the wide and varied land tours tourists can avail of in the Philippines. explore Islands Philippines is set to celebrate arts and culture on the final two days, Friday and Saturday, May 11-12, showcasing artists and artisans from the U.S. and the Philippines. Day 3’s program will include presentations from the Cultural Center of the Philippines, a performance by Kinding Sindaw, culinary tourism, Philippine martial arts, weavers, artisans and fashion. hollywood power couple Ruben and Janet Nepales are also set to talk about trends in films and location sites in the Philippines. explore Islands Philippines is free to the public and is open from 9am to 6pm each day. Vanderbilt hall can be easily accessed by the Pershing Square, 42nd St. entrance of Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central can be reached by all major subways (4, 5, 6, 7 as well as the S train from Times Square).
Ms. Louie Locsin and Renee Salud with the fashion models at the conclusion of the Philippine Tapestry fashion show held at the Roosevelt Hotel
Renee Salud acknowledging the applause from audience
Philippine Airlines Area Manager TPB Deputy COO Maricon Josh Vasquez Ebron
Renee Salud (4th from right) with DOT-NY Tourism Attaché Susan Del Mundo (4th from left) and TPB officials led by Deputy COO Maricon Ebron (5th from left) with (from left) Hernan Narvadez, Carmela Febrio, Baby Landan, Raquel Tria (back row), DOT-NY’s Joey Chanco, host Rachelle Ocampo and Victor Palmos.
Philippine Embassy representatives Ivan Gonzales, Assistant (Economic Section), Ms. Susan del Mundo, TPB COO Cesar Montano, Minister and Consul JV Chan-Gonzaga, Paolo Galang, Assistant (Commercial Section), Mylo Fausto, Attache (Economic Section) and TPB Deputy COO Maricon Ebron
Fernando Mendez of Fiesta in America, Asian Journal publisher Roger L. Oriel, Tourism Attaché Susan del Mundo, TPB COO Cesar Montano, TPB Deputy COO Maricon Ebron, Baby Landan, Renee Salud, Raquel Tria and Hernan Narvadez.
Makilala TV host Rachelle Ocampo, host of the evening’s program
The evening’s highlight celebrating Philippine Tourism was a 45-minute fashion show called Philippine Tapestry where Filipino models paraded on the runway wearing gowns and barong tagalog designed by world-renowned designer and Philippine Ambassador of Fashion Renee Salud using indigenous weaves, fabrics and materials.
Immigration Corner
Titanic problems
my approach. They relate how they went to consultants or others with their situation, and Atty. MichAel no matter how serious the case, Gurfinkel, eSQ they were told their case is “no problem,” that they have a 95% AlmosT every Filipino has chance of success, etc., and were seen the movie Titanic, the story asked to immediately sign the of Jack and Rose who sailed that retainer contract. But they felt doomed ship, which hit an iceberg the law office or paralegal was and sank. more interested in getting the During consultations, I sign up and down payment sometimes compare the person’s than in giving them a realistic immigration situation to sailing assessment of their situation. on the Titanic. What do I mean In fact, I have turned down by that? If a person wants to buy many cases, where I felt the a ticket on the Titanic, I want to chances were slim, or the risks tell them about all of the possible too great. But I think I owe it to “icebergs” they may encounter. In the person to point out their the same way, if a person wants to “icebergs”, rather than telling pursue a particular immigration them it will be smooth sailing, benefit, I think they should be when I already know they will advised of all the possible issues, encounter problems, issues, or problems, dangers, and the like icebergs. And after pointing out (icebergs), in addition to being told those issues, they can make an of the requirements and chances. informed decision to go forward, I know this approach is or wait for new developments in counter-productive for business. immigration laws. I probably could have more sign And I want to be clear I am ups if I focus solely on the positive, not “guaranteeing” success or and downplay the negative. But approval on any person’s case, Filipinos tell me they appreciate even a case that seemingly has
Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA 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
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no icebergs. But I believe it is important for a person to fully understand and be informed on all aspects of their case and situation, not just the positive, but also the negative, so they can determine whether to proceed, and how to possibly deal with and avoid the icebergs. ***
Michael J. Gurfinkel is licensed, and an active member of the State Bar of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different. The information contained herein including testimonials, “Success Stories,” endorsements and reenactments) is of a general nature, and is not intended to apply to any particular case, and does not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
Angels among us (Second of 4 parts)
“ Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.”
– From Frank Capra’s film “It’s a Wonderful Life” romance, the story has spades of it as well. so check this film out on youtube whether it is Christmas or not. In my opinion, this is a timeless piece of good work worth watching a hundred times. It will be an hour and some minutes to lighten your load and feel the presence of angels in your life as well. suspend disbelief. That is the only way to enjoy stories about angels. 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
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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
Twice, he applied for an immigrant visa. Twice, he was denied. Find out the final score this Sunday, on CITIZEN PINOY! Joseph (center) was initially petitioned as a minor child of a green card holder, but his visa was refused at the interview because he admitted to drug use. When he aged out, his petition was reclassified to F-2B. At his second interview, he was denied for the same reason. His mother, Josie (right), and his sister, Evelyn (left), felt hopeless. They were running out of options, and were desperate. It felt like Nanay Josie’s promise of having the family reunited in America would just remain a dream. Mother and daughter consulted with leading U.S. attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel, after seeing a case similar to Joseph’s that was featured on Citizen Pinoy. Atty. Gurfinkel went to the U.S. Embassy in Manila and becomes a major contributor to a landmark decision and policy change that benefitted Joseph and many more. Watch a mother’s promise fulfilled on an encore episode of CITIZEN PINOY – on Sunday at 6:15 pm (PST) on TFC.
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 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 beneficial 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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On the PEP Front
People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong ThErE is something strange about the endearment and the magnetic force that attracts a child towards his mother compared to his father. The reason could be due to the biological relationship, literally from the umbilical tie that serves as a direct “line of connection” between them, having had sanguineous and mammiferous-based foundations. Mothers, generally, are referred to as God’s most significant female creation after Eve. She is gifted with such capability to undergo childbirth, to be caring, loving, understanding, all-giving, sacrificing, selfless, forgiving, protective, and most of all, be the perfect embodiment of a human paragon of righteousness and great deeds. And to appreciate, and recognize the unmatched greatness and unparalleled sacrifices that motherhood entails, every second Sunday of May was earmarked as a universal day of celebration in her honor. Although, it is fitting and proper to have it celebrated every minute of the day since a mother’s role is limitless and unending. The modern day observance of Mother’s Day was initially celebrated back in 1863 when Anna Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized “Mother’s Work Day” to raise awareness of poverty and unhealthy living conditions affecting children and to address such problems, she taught of mothers to lead the advocacy. After Anna’s death in 1905, her daughter (also named Anna), created a memorial in loving memory of her mom and started a campaign to officially institute a holiday to honor mothers. It was in a church service where the first Mother’s Day observance was celebrated through Anna’s initiative. She decorated the church with white carnations, her mom’s favorite flowers, to signify sweetness, purity, and endurance. The practice was carried out to this day, having white flowers for mothers who have died and red carnations or roses for living moms. The enormous impact of the universal celebration of Mother’s
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Mother’s Day feature: Multi-faceted moms’ inevitable ordeals
Day, unprecedentedly, made it as the most observed holiday. It ranks close to Christmas and Thanksgiving. It was officially noted that souvenir and gift items, flowers, and greeting cards, even restaurant reservations, rake in voluminous sales during this season, proving that mothers, in any language and creed, are most recognized and honored. In this year’s observance of mothers and motherhoods’ redletter-day, I chose to write about two mothers who relatively play the same role in two different situations. Both are undoubtedly idealistic and dedicated to the part they have to play but fashioned in a slew of distinctive performance Irene Abaya-Campos To be a mother is tantamount to sacrificing almost everything one enjoys during her singleblessedness, willingly performing even the meanest task just so to uplift the living standard of her family. A mother is a woman of tremendous strength and incomparable compassion serving as the ever-reliable driving force behind every single endeavor her children pursue, uncomplaining, tireless, and constantly aggressive with every possible opportunity that benefits her children. And to recognize the enormous sacrifices and the untiring efforts provided by a mother to build and sustain the career her children has ventured into Irene Abaya-Campos more than deserves these humble words of praise. A fulltime working mom at St. Luke’s / roosevelt hospital in Manhattan, NYC, Irene is the daughter of Gavino and Julia Abaya, Jr. and married to Felisberto Walden Campos with three equally talented children: Craig, Samantha, and Cara, all magnificently gifted with peculiar terpsichorean prowess. Aside from her daily office job and personally attending to the needs of her husband and children, Irene passionately manages the career of her three dancing kids. She closely monitors their rehearsals, assisting in the preparations for their competitions and showcases. She leaves no stone unturned just to insure that everything falls into place with no options for regrets.
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
Mother Irene and children...Cara, Samantha, and Craig.
Continued on Page 6
filipina-american filmmaker’s short film about motherhood earns third place in hbo competition
Irene Abaya-Campos
“It’s not easy doing this but I have to because I love my children and want to give them the best this rare opportunity offers. It was wellworth all the hardships and sleepless nights. Their success has always been my biggest motivational factor to keep me going, sustaining strength when I’m at the verge of feebleness…constantly fueling my drive especially during times when I almost wanted to surrender,” she said. “If only my mother is still around I’m certain she would be very proud of me. I inherited her strong fighting spirit and positive outlook in life. We’re both strongly motivated by challenges. Similarly, we’re both independent and just enjoy living the zest of life while being challenged unceasingly.” A typical housewife and mom, if there’s another most significant side of Irene that would be her endemic culinary expertise with kitchen recipes whipped out from
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Mother and son, Linda Mayo and Joey, in a recent photo taken during PACCAL’s WHM celebration.
her own self-concocted ingredients. her tender hands has gently raised wonderful children while simultaneously mashing, chopping, mixing, cooking, and baking mouthwatering and delectable dishes not only for them but for friends, as well. Despite suffering from tremendous pains from her swollen knee injury brought about by the impact of a recent car accident incurred while driving home from a Connecticut dance competition, Irene still unrelentingly manages to perform what she used to do, squeezing everything between her orthopedic and therapy appointments. This weekend, she’s up and Continued on Page 6
Filmmaker Maritte Go discusses ‘Remittance’, inspirations and thoughts on Asian representation 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 the new short film “remittance” by Filipina-American filmmaker 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 Continued on Page 5
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Filipina-American filmmaker and producer Maritte Go
Secretary Jesus Dureza holds Town Hall Meeting in New York
NEW YORK — Presidential Adviser on Peace Process Jesus Dureza held an engaging dialogue with members of the FilipinoAmerican media and Fil-Am community in New York at a town hall meeting organized by the Philippine Consulate General on April 25 at the Philippine Center’s Kalayaan Hall. Keeping the participants abreast of the peace process developments Secretary Jesus Dureza and members of Fil-Am community and media during the town hall in the country, Secretary Dureza Photo by Lambert Parong meeting in New York. informed the group that the Philippine government is committed to sitting down with rebel groups in trying to find a convergence point or common ground, not in the context of surrender, but in bridging divides among differing ideologies. He cautioned, however, that signing a peace agreement is not the measure of success that peace has been achieved. He emphasized that it is only one of the milestones and it is where the arduous work of attaining the long-elusive peace begins. Noting the lessons learned from previous failed peace talks, Secretary Dureza added that the Philippine government is now working on an inclusive approach for peace, where concerns of all stakeholders – whether they are Secretary Dureza answers Fil-Am community’s questions about probability of success of peace peaceful citizens or those who Photos by Lambert Parong and New York PCG process during Q&A. have taken up arms - are to be a pledge to be Ambassadors the “chicken and egg� dilemma, taken into consideration during of Peace in their community, peace and development must the negotiations. He said that the helping the Philippine come together, saying “you Philippine Government is likewise government in the daunting cannot have peace if there is no stepping up its catch up efforts to task of promoting awareness of development; and you cannot reach out to other rebel groups in the Philippine peace process. sustain development unless there depressed areas. More information about Peace is peace.� Secretary Dureza encouraged Ambassadors can be found on At the end of the meeting, potential investors to invest for OPAPP’s website at https://peace. peace in the Philippines, particularly Secretary Dureza recognized gov.ph/programs/ppa/. the time and effort given by the in conflict areas such as Mindanao, Consul Arman R. Talbo, the participants in attending the citing that the investment will Philippine Consulate General’s forum which is a testament to bring about development and Political Officer, moderated the their strong resolve to work for relative peace to people in the town hall meeting. peace. The participants took area. He underscored that unlike
Filipina-American filmmaker’s... From Page 4 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 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
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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
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M AY 1 1 , 20 1 8
Marilyn Ejercito (second from left) wife of Jesse Ejercito (brother of Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap� Estrada) hosted her birthday dinner at her residence in Ayala Alabang. Among her well-wishers and guests were (seated from left) an unnamed guest, Wjercito, New Yorker Menchie Portillo Peralta and standing behind them is Janna Ejercito. Contributed photos
New Yorker Menchie Portillo Peralta (second from left) was a guest at the birthday party of Baby Espanola (right) held at the Peking Garden in Makati. Among Baby’s well-wishers and guests were (from left to right) Tessie Briones, Peralta, Vilma Valera Mathay, wife of the late former Quezon City Mayor Mel Mathay, Lorna Valera Quisumbing, Suzanne Valera Laudico, Fortune Ledesma, Consul of Monaco and Espanola.
Philippine Consulate General conducts its third consular outreach of 2018 at Philadelphia
Left: The ďŹ rst batch of clients line up to avail of consular services. Right: The Consular Outreach Team in action.
Photos by NYPCG
THE Philippine Consulate General in New York held its third Consular Outreach at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania last April 28, in partnership with the Filipino Executive Council of Greater Philadelphia. The Consular Outreach Team led by Consul Arman R. Talbo provided nearly 250 consular services to clients who were also
able to avail of overseas absentee voting registration. Mr. Michael Azucena, Pag-IBIG Representative in New York was also present to entertain inquiries and process membership applications. For the first time, Post has utilized the “service bell� concept to obtain immediate customer feedback. A bell next to a sign that reads “Please press bell if you
are pleased with our service� has been strategically located. This provides real time feedback on the performance of the consular outreach team and serves as a job motivator for increased effectiveness and enhanced engagement. This service bell concept will be continued in all remaining consular outreach missions of Post.
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 Continued on Page 6
In Loving Memory of our Beloved
M AY 3 -1 2
34th Los Angeles Asian PaciďŹ c 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.
M AY 1 2
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 ďŹ lter & 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).
If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com
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An Asian Journal Magazine
The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY M AY 1 1 , 20 1 8
Mother’s Day tribute: Daniel Padilla on mom Karla Estrada by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
DANIEL Padilla, who just turned 23 last April 26, described in a nutshell his relationship with his mom, Karla Estrada. In a recent interview with select press, including Philstar. com, Daniel said that though he has been living independently, his mom is always by his side. “Problema, magkatabi lang ‘yung bahay namin. Nagugulat na lang ako, nasa bahay ko na lang!” he said in a jest. “Minsan nasa kwarto ko. ‘Anong ginagawa mo dito?’” Despite her busy schedule as host of morning show “Magandang Buhay,” Karla still makes time to always check out on her eldest son. “Oo naman pare, hindi naman nawawala ‘yun. Ermat ko ‘yun.” Daniel said he feels nothing but happiness for the blessings his
mom is receiving. “Ako, masaya ako sa mga nangyayari sa ermat ko ngayon. Sobrang masaya ko para sa kanya. Unang-una, na-she-share n’ya ‘yung knowledge n’ya bilang isang magulang, bilang isang single
Photo screengrabbed from Youtube.com
parent, sa mga tao,” he enthused. “Magandang show naman talaga kasi ‘yun. Hindi lang s’ya nagtuturo, pati s’ya natututo sa mga guests n’ya. Ang show is very positive and happy, kaya masaya ako para sa kanya.”
Bea Alonzo: ‘Technically’ single by Deni
Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com
IN a recent interview for her latest movie, “Kasal,” Bea Alonzo confirmed that she and rumored boyfriend Gerald Anderson are no longer a couple. “Hindi sa ngayon,” Bea told ABSCBN when asked if she and Gerald are still together. When asked if she is single, she declared: “Technically.” She, however, noted that she and Gerald are still talking to each other and are “okay.” The pair was seen together in public a few days before Bea’s confession. The actress did not give a reason for the supposed cool-off, but according to speculations, it has something to do with Gerald’s rumored involvement with Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach. Shortly after the release of Gerald and Pia’s romance-comedy “My Perfect You,” Bea “unfollowed” and deleted Gerald and Pia’s pictures on her Instagram.
KC Concepcion on her time off from showbiz: ‘I’ve really been enjoying my privacy’ by CoDy
CepeDa Inquirer.net
IT’S been almost three years since KC Concepcion left the spotlight of show business. And while she is much missed, for Concepcion, the break has been nothing but beneficial. In her recent Instagram Stories, Concepcion shared that she’s been talking to a friend all evening about why she took time off from showbiz. She admitted that she misses her fans and previous work style, and revealed that choosing to share her life again is only just a matter of time. “They say once in showbiz, always in showbiz, but I think it’s just a matter of time before I choose to share my life that way again, the way I did so much,” Concepcion said in front of her phone camera while lying stomach down on the bed. “What I want to share is that I’ve really been enjoying my privacy, and as much as I want to share everything all the time like I’m used to, there’s something nice about having a private life too.” It is known that Concepcion has lived most of her life under the spotlight. But with a mother like Megastar Sharon Cuneta, being followed by cameras and scrutinized by people all over
KC Concepcion
social media and real life is hardly surprising. Which is why Concepcion’s hiatus from the glitzy world of show biz has benefited her, as it allowed her to take step back and breathe, and at the same time put up the jewelry line she’s always dreamed of. Concepcion also took the time to empathize with her friends in the industry, who she says cope with public pressure and expectations every single day of their lives. “You know these people have been working hard
Inquirer.net photo
and working so much and I feel for them… I just want for them to be surrounded with kind people who truly care of them.” To cap off her #TheKCDiaries Instagram Stories, Concepcion shared with her followers something she learned throughout her career and life. “The power of a ‘How are you?’ When someone asks ‘How are you?’ and actually means it and truly cares, that means the world and can change everything for that person.”
Mother’s Day feature: Multi-faceted... From Page 4
Gerald Anderson
A few days after the unfollowing, Bea again began following Gerald. Gerald, meanwhile, told reporters, including Philstar.com that everything was well between him and Bea. In a recent “Magandang Buhay” episode where Bea was a guest,
ABS-CBN photo
she read a note from Gerald that said: “I will always be your fan and you will always be my teenage crush. Love, Gerald.” In response, Bea told Gerald: “In fairness mapadala siya ng bulaklak at ma-note. Thank you, thank you sa letter and thank you for always being there.” (Philstar.com)
about once again. This time, she is California-bound for another international dance competition. Aided by her cane and wheelchair, Irene fearlessly faces another emotional challenge amid her physical disability. There seems no stopping this all-around mom from doing what she loves doing best, making her kids look the greatest in their every appearance. For aside from helping them pick the suitable outfits for their performances, Irene takes also multi-tasking roles she performs efficiently and reliably well: as nanny, driver, personal assistant, security, runner, wardrobe mistress, career planner-adviser, caterer, critic, shockabsorber, and not to miss out, makeup artist. Her unmatched aesthetic talent on make-up application is way beyond compare that could, without any doubt, give professionals and experts a run for their money. With the tremendous amount of responsibility on her shoulders and the great expectations incessantly pressuring her while silently coping up with the limitless demands that motherhood entails, Irene could only release a deep sigh and with just the mere thought that she’s doing all these for her children more than alleviates every single pain there is… and then, she’s back on the track again. Linda Mananghaya-Mayo Motherhood becomes her, what with her charming ways and compassionate disposition. Although it is indisputable that the most significant achievement of a mother is the raising of virtuously educated and sensible children, Linda Mananghaya Mayo has just got one to rear sans regret. Bearing a child is laborious but raising them up is even difficult especially so, when one becomes a single mom and Linda has impressively passed this stage not only with flying colors but with kaleidoscopic hues as well. Her innate sense of motherhood and caring nature has invigoratingly transcended way beyond the walls of her well-manned abode. After having underwent several disheartening situations and gallantly faced seemingly endless challenges upfront, Linda came out victorious and unaffected. She was even made stronger with every battle she fought.
A quintessential exponent of an Aries-born, Linda was born to lead and administer. That makes her firmly authoritative and administratively organized but when it comes to her own personal matters she unmindfully surrenders to self-reclusion, without seeking for aid or assistance as she, sometimes, is being suffocated by her own foolish pride. Raising her only son, Joey, forced her to give up a great deal of pleasure (and leisure) for his sake. A typical career-oriented woman who is politically inclined, Linda knows that motherhood is also a career in itself and made sure that her home is the most valuable workplace than the office with her family taking the top preference in many aspects. Linda tends to be overprotective but that trait of hers is quite understandably acceptable since Joey, being her only son, is the sole source of her inspiration and the only person she could totally rely on when worse comes to worst. She knows what’s best for him and sometimes pampering is the only recourse she knows just to make up for anything else she fails to provide. All-giving is one of Linda’s innate natures and that extends even to her friends and colleagues. A product of a closely-knit family from Bulacan, Linda’s wings tend to span widely across the borders and seas. But she burns the wires without minding the cost, particularly when it comes to communicating with her own mother, Erlinda Santos Mananghaya, 95. Since her mother is in her twilight years, Linda, recently, made sure to be by her side in every possible way she could. Just last November and December of 2012, Linda abandoned her pressing workload and flew home to Bulacan to personally attend to her mom’s needs. She knows that we merely live on borrowed time and hers might be recalled untimely. Just being merely by her mom’s side made her feel like a helpless child wanting for the warmth of a mother’s caress. Feeding her mom instantly relived the past when she was being spoon-fed by the same bed-ridden woman in her arms. Her mother’s muted sighs and whispers sounded like music that used to lull her to sleep. Running her fingers on her thinning hair sent stabbing pains that Linda merely
kept in silence. If she could only take her place to free her from the dismal situation slowly diminishing her strength, she would do it uncompromisingly. She went back to America with a heavy hear, leaving behind the woman she’s deeply indebted for whatever she is today, the woman she has totally emulated all her life. Every passing hour without a call from Linda’s family back home was a moment of relief. There were sleepless nights and restless days until Linda was awakened by an early morning call last April 23. Enveloped with fear and premonition, she checked where the call was. Seeing the call’s origin, Linda’s blood ran cold, and her whole body went numb. She knew what the call was all about. Upon hearing the sad news from her brother, she almost lost her senses. She was already prepared for it yet eviscerated by her own denial. Linda spoke in mumbling voice with drowning sighs. Accepting reality was hard for her. Before she knew it, the phone conversation has transpired but she was kept immobile and stoic for a long period that she didn’t even notice. What pained her most was the fact that she couldn’t be home and send her off to her final journey. But her two-month stint with her gave Linda sufficient comfort to evade any form of guilt. At least, she has done her part and spent quality time with Nanay Erlinda before she finally succumbed to old age. And during the time when her mom was buried, knowing that she’d be gone forever, she felt like a melting candle with wick tossed against the gushing wisp of cold air, like a dying ember in the midst of a bleak desert. Linda felt a huge part of her seemingly gone with her passing. For the rest of her life, no matter how much time will pass, Linda knows that there will always be an empty space left especially reserved to fill up significant memories, until such time when she’ll be able to cope up with her mom’s loss and come to terms with reality and acceptance. To all the mothers and women with motherly instincts, Happy Mother’s Day! For suggestions and comments, please email: gemini0646@yahoo. com
Interesting facts about mothers...
From Page 4
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
Filipina-American filmmaker’s... From Page 5 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.
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
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.
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY mAY 11, 2018
An Asian Journal Magazine
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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY mAY 11, 2018