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M AY 24-30 , 2019 Volume 12 - No. 31 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

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Comelec proclaims 12 winning PH senators (NP) who was endorsed by the administration’s Hugpong ng AJPress Pagbabago party (HNP). Villar THE Commission on Elec- garnered a total of 25,283,727 tions (Comelec) declared the votes.

Following Villar is another winners of the recently concluded 2019 midterm elec- re-electionist Grace Poe, who tions on Wednesday, May 22, ran as an independent candiat the Philippine International date and still managed to garConvention Center (PICC) in ner a total of 22,029,788 votes.

Third on the list is former Pasay City.

Topping the list is incum- Special Assistant to the Presibent Senator Cynthia Villar dent (SAP) Christopher “Bong” from the Nacionalista Party Go, who got 20,657,702 votes

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Democrats criticize Trump’s new immigration plan that would slash family-based petitioning

as he ran under the ruling party Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

Another HNP-endorsed newly-elected senator is former Taguig City Representative Pia Cayetano, who got 19,789,019 votes.

Trailing behind Cayetano is former Bureau of Corrections chief Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa who got 19,004,225 votes, under PDP-Laban. He was

u PAGE 2

NEW SENATORS PROCLAIMED. The National Board of Canvassers (NBOC) proclaims the 12 senators who won in the just concluded mid-term elections at the PICC Tent Forum in Pasay City on Wednesday, May 22. In photo are Senators-elect Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr., Francis Tolentino, Lito Lapid, Ronald “Bato” dela Rosa, Bong Go, Cynthia Villar; NBOC Members Marlon S. Casquejo, Rowena V. Guanzon, Al A. Parreño, Commission on Elections Chairman Sheriff M. Abas, Luie Tito F. Guia, Socorro B. Inting, and Antonio T. Kho Jr.; Senators-elect Grace Poe, Pia Cayetano, Edgardo Angara, Imee Marcos, Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III, and Nancy Binay.

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

‘Upset’ Duterte orders shipment of trash Pangilinan quits Liberal Party, Robredo rejects resignation back to Canada even at PH expense

by CHRISTINE

S. VALENTE ManilaTimes.net

Speaking to reporters, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said Duterte directed concerned government officials PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte has to look for a private shipping company ordered the shipping of garbage back that would “immediately” bring back to Canada at the Philippines’ expense, the waste to Canada. as he expressed dismay over the “in“President Rodrigo Roa Duterte is ordinate delay” and Ottawa’s failure to so upset about the inordinate delay of reclaim tons of trash shipped to Manila Canada in shipping back its containers about six years ago, his spokesman of garbage. We are extremely disapsaid on Wednesday, May 22.

u PAGE 2

SENATOR Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan on Tuesday, May 21, resigned as president of the Liberal Party (LP), following the devastating loss of all eight opposition senatorial candidates.

However, Vice President Leni Robredo, LP chair, rejected his

u PAGE 4

California Sen. Kamala Harris denounces the perceived “hierarchies” of immigrants the plan would impose AS reported by the Asian Journal last week, the Trump administration unveiled its new immigration plan that focuses on curbing the influx of new immigrants by way of a more restrictive “merit-based” system.

In an uncharacteristically softer tone, Trump addressed the growing problem with the country’s current immigration program, noting that “we want immigrants coming in [and] we cherish an open door, but a big proportion of those immigrants should come in through merit and skill.”

Through this plan, nearly 4 million people would be wiped out of the waiting list for a green card, a process that could take decades.

by AJPRESS

u PAGE 4

Sen. Francis Pangilinan Philstar.com photo

Pacquiao vs Keith Thurman: ‘I want to prove at age 40 I can still beat undefeated fighters’

by MOMAR

G. VISAYA

AJPress

Manny Pacquiao joined American Keith Thurman in New York City to kick off the press tour for their world welterweight title fight. “I will end Pacquiao’s career. This will be his last fight. I am excited to be the guy that shows him the exit is on the left,” remarked Thurman at the press event in New York on Tuesday.

AJPress photo byMomar G. Visaya

PHILIPPINE Sen. Manny Pacquiao will be fighting against undefeated welterweight champion Keith Thurman who is promising to end Pacman’s boxing career when they meet on July 20 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

“I have always wanted to fight the greatest names in

boxing. I am very grateful, very happy to be sharing the ring with a legend like Manny Pacquiao. Floyd is gone, Pacquiao is here.

Come July 20th, he will disappear,” Keith Thurman said, pointing at Pacquiao a few feet away on stage at the kickoff news conference on Tuesday, May 21 in New York. “You announced him as a senator, he belongs as a sena-

tor, in the Philippines.”

“He will always be remembered as a legend in the sport but I am doing to Manny Pacquiao what he did to Oscar de la Hoya. Oscar de la Hoya never fought again. Facts.

You are not gonna want to miss this fight, especially because it’s about to be this man’s last fight,” he added.

u PAGE 2

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From the Front Page

Comelec proclaims 12 winning...

PAGE 1 followed by HNP-endorsed reelectionist Sonny Angara, who finished sixth with 18,161,862 votes.

Seventh on the list is actor Lito Lapid who clinched a Senate seat with 16,965,464 votes, followed by former Ilocos Norte Governor Imee Marcos, Manny Pacquiao’s confidante and chief trainer Restituto “Buboy” Fernandez, who just won as vice mayor of Polangui, Albay another HNP candidate with during the recent May 2019 midterm elections, joined Pacquiao in the kickoff press event in New York to announce the July 20 15,882,628 votes.

Former presidential political fight against Keith Thurman.

AJPress photo by Momar G.Visaya adviser Francis Tolentino who was also a PDP-Laban candidate garnered 15,510,026 PAGE 1 Asked why he chose Thur- votes, while re-electionist Aquiresponding to Thurman’s The 40-year-old Pacquiao threat of sending him to re- man over other viable oppo- lino “Koko” Pimentel III trailed just smiled and said later that tirement. nents, Pacquiao said, “be- behind him with 14,668,665 he does not resort to trash “Keith Thurman is the kind cause he’s undefeated and I votes. talking, but he guaranteed of fighter you can’t under- want to prove that at the age Securing the eleventh spot that fans will have a great time estimate. He’s undefeated of 40, I can still beat unde- is HNP-backed Ramon “Bong” watching their July 20 Las and this gives me more en- feated fighters.”

Revilla Jr. with 14,624,445 Vegas match. He is 10 years couragement and motivation The senator from the Phil- votes, while re-electionist older than Thurman who is to work hard like what I did ippines is a slight underdog Nancy Binay completed the socoming from a 22-month lay- before in my biggest fights in this match, a position Pac- called Magic 12 after garnering off because of his bouts with against big names in boxing. quiao is in for the first time 14,504,936 votes. an injury.

I will not predict this fight but since his much talked about Sitting outside the win“I’ve been boxing for two I will make sure I am 100 per- 2015 match against Floyd ning circle are re-electionists decades and I’m never scared cent conditioned and ready Mayweather.

JV Ejercito and Bam Aquino, or intimidated. I am so excit- for the fight. Let’s see who’s “I like it that I am the un- with 14,313,727 votes, and ed for this fight because I am tougher in the ring on July 20. derdog for this fight. This 14,114,923 votes, respectively. fighting with somebody who This is going to be exciting,” gives me more motivation to No member of the opposition is undefeated,” Pacquiao said, he added. u PAGE 4 slate — Otso Diretso — made it to the top 12 as majority or nine out of 12 of the newly-elected senators were endorsed by President Rodrigo Duterte. As such, political analysts assessed that it will be helpful for policy continuity but questionable in terms of checks and balances

Pacquiao vs Keith Thurman: ‘I want to prove...

in the country.

“The election was widely seen as a test of Duterte’s popularity and as an opportunity for him to consolidate power by gaining control of the Senate, which had proved an obstacle to his policy plans in the first three years of his presidency,” Fitch Solutions said in a commentary.

“The strong show of support for Duterte will both give him the confidence and ability to push ahead with his reform programme,” they added as reported by The Philippine Star.

Other senatorial bets concede defeat Senatorial candidates Romulo Macalintal, Florin Hilbay, Erin Tanada, Jiggy Manicad and Leody de Guzman thanked their supporters as they accepted their defeat in the recent midterm elections.

Macalintal thanked his family, Vice President Leni Robredo, and his supporters. He also expressed gratitude to senior citizens.

Meanwhile, Hilbay recognized that “the will of the people is supreme, so we respect the results of the elections.” He congratulated the winners as he wished that they “may serve the country well.”

“To all our HILBAYanihan volunteers: You all did whatever it took, and whatever you could. I am sorry that our

resources did not match your brilliance, your heart, and your hope,” Hilbay added as reported by Rappler.

On one hand, Otso Diretso be Tañada said that he “would like to concede and congratulate all those who won the elections.”

Manicad also expressed gratitude in a Facebook live video post. He mentioned those who volunteered during his campaign.

“Gusto ko pong magpasalamat sa inyong lahat. Alam niyo po, ang mahigit anim na milyong boto ay malaki at alam ko po ang hirap din ng mga volunteers. Maraming salamat po sa inyong sakripisyo (I want to thank everyone.

You know, 6 million votes isn’t a small feat. I recognize the hard work of the volunteers),” Manicad said.

Labor Win candidate de Guzman emphasized the advantage of the campaign despite failing to secure a spot in the Senate seat.

“Hindi tayo pinalad na makapasok sa winning Circle pero pumasok naman tayo sa puso ng mga kabataang estudyante at organisadong seksyon ng mga manggagawa (We were not fortunate to be in the winning circle, but we were able to get through the hearts of young students and organized labor),” de Guzman said. n

Democrats criticize Trump’s new immigration plan...

PAGE 1 More than a quarter of those people are of Asian descent, and nearly 314,000 of those are Filipinos, according to State Department stats.

“Trump’s immigration plan would hurt Filipino immigrants, who rely heavily on the family-based visas that Trump wants to slash. Filipino Americans stand with the more than 30,000 Filipinos waiting to be reunited with their families — some for as long as 23 years,” Western Regional Press Secretary & Director of AAPI Media at the DNC John Santos said in a statement sent to the Asian Journal. “Instead of continuing to push his xenophobic immigration policies, Trump should join Democrats in working to fix our broken immigration system.”

Democrats on The Hill also condemned the president’s plan, including 2020 presidential hopeful Sen. Kamala Harris of California, who is half Indian.

“We cannot allow people to start parsing and pointing fin-

gers and creating hierarchies among immigrants,” Harris said at a meeting with AAPI leaders in Las Vegas. “The beauty of the tradition of our country has been to say, when you walk through the door, you are equal.”

Other elements of the proposal include doubling down on the border wall construction, regulating the flow of lower-wage workers as a way to protect Americans’ incomes and limit the asylum system.

Some of those qualified immigrants who would be fit within the merit-based system include laborers for important American industries, The proposal does not address any pathway to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, commonly known as DREAMers.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi also criticized the proposal as one of “the worst” of Trump’s immigration policy proposals, noting that the plan has little chance of making it through the House.

“The White House has repackaged the worst of its past failed immigration plans: greenlighting the Administration’s barbaric family detention policies, reviving the president’s ineffective and wasteful wall, completely abandoning our patriotic and determined DREAMers and gutting our asylum and refugee protections” Pelosi said in a statement.

Pelosi also scrutinized the proposal’s mandate that would cut family reunification programs, questioning what the president defines as an immigrant with “merit.”

“It is really a condescending word. They’re saying family is without merit?” Pelosi told reporters last week. “Certainly we want to attract the best to our country, and that includes many people from many parts of society. So we’ll see what values are reflected there. We’ve only heard titles like merit, which is non-merit. It means merit in the eyes of Donald Trump.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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Filipino Veterans Family Reunification ‘Upset’ Duterte orders shipment of trash...

Act introduced in Congress

by AJPress

NEW legislation has been presented in both the Senate and House of Representatives on Wednesday, May 22 to expedite the visa process for children of Filipino World War II veterans.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act was introduced by Senators Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Reps. Ed Case (D-Hawaii) and Don Young (R-Alaska) in the House.

Currently, estimates show that there are less than 6,000 Filipino World War II veterans still living in the United States who could potentially benefit from the Act. “During World War II, Filipino soldiers stepped up and answered the call to service, fighting and sacrificing alongside American servicemembers,” Hirono said in a statement.“However, because these family members have been stuck in a decades-long visa backlog, they have not been able to reunite with their

relatives in the United States.

The Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act would fulfill our nation’s promise to honor Filipino World War II veterans’ service to our country and reunite these families.”

More than 260,000 Filipino soldiers followed America’s call to fight under the American flag in World War II. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush granted U.S. citizenship to about 26,000 Filipino nationals in recognition of their service to the United States during World War II. However, the 1990 law did not confer citizenship or residency to the veterans’ children, who remained separated from their parents. Due to a visa backlog, Filipino applicants must wait more than two decades before their applications are considered.

Actions taken to address the family separation in recent years have included the Filipino World War II Veterans Parole program in 2016, which intended to reunite veterans and their surviving spouses with adult children

and certain other relatives.

In addition to Senators Hirono, Murkowski, and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act is also cosponsored

by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Jacky Rosen (DNev.), Tammy Duckworth (DIll.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), and Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.).

“The time to reunite our brave Filipino American World War II veterans with their families is running out,” Brendan Flores, National Chairman of the National Federation of Filipino American Associations, said. “We commend Senator Hirono for her unwavering commitment to these veterans, as she reintroduces the Filipino Veterans Family Reunification Act in Congress. We remain prepared to support any efforts to ensure that this timesensitive legislation comes to fruition.” n

PHILIPPINE National Police (PNP) chief Police General Oscar Albayalde on Monday, May 20, came to President Rodrigo Duterte’s defense, urging the Philippine government’s international critics to visit the country and see for themselves the peace and order and the drug war being enforced here.

This is after American comedian Hasan Minhaj presented “erroneous narratives” about Duterte and Philippine politics in the May 12 episode of political-satire show “Patriot Act” aired on Netflix.

“This is the very reason why our country is being portrayed as a chaotic place. That’s why we challenge these people to come here to our country and see for themselves the situation on the peace and order and the war on drugs here,” Albayalde said in a press briefing at the national police headquarters at Camp Crame.

According to him, this portrayal of the country is “unfair to the administration and to those working in the country.”

Albayalde also said that it causes “misinterpretation” and “misconception” of the Philippines to people abroad.

Malacañang earlier slammed Hasan as well as the episode which had the come-

dian criticizing Duterte’s war against drugs and expressing his thoughts on the President’s senatorial candidates.

“We find it desperate that, on the eve of the Philippine midterm elections, the vociferous detractors of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte would use an American comedy show, aired on Netflix, to demonize the Chief Executive and his government in its episode entitled ‘Brazil, Corruption and the Rainforest’ before the global audience,” Communications Secretary Martin Andanar said in a statement on Tuesday, May 14.

“Mr. Hasan Minhaj, an American comedian and host, maliciously implied that President Duterte is an ‘autocrat’ who ‘every so often goes on a killing spree,’” Andanar added. “He cited an exaggerated figure — 27,000, which is way higher than the official figure — to besmirch the government’s campaign against illegal drugs.”

According to him, there are about 5,050 drug personalities who died during the 115,435 anti-drug operations from July 2016 to November 2018 based on government data.

He also cited Philippine National Police’s (PNP) report which detailed that “a large number of deaths were done

by the hands of vigilantes due to the rivalry between drug gangs.”

Andanar mentioned the government’s rehabilitation programs, as well, saying there were about 303,533 individuals who graduated from these rehabilitation programs since Duterte assumed presidency in 2016.

“We express outrage that such erroneous narratives, obviously peddled by antiDuterte haters and trolls, would find their way to the gullible TV host and his comedy show and unwittingly parrot these falsehoods to an audience unaware of the real score in the Philippines,” he said.

“The Philippines, like the USA, is a country where democracy is vibrant and the will of the people reigns supreme. Ultimately, it is the Filipino people who will choose their own set of leaders and we simply have to respect the results of the elections,” Andanar added, referring to Hasan’s criticism against Duterte’s endorsement of some senatorial candidates.

The Palace official explained that the results of the midterm elections meant that the Filipinos still favored Duterte.. (Philstar.com)

PNP to int’l critics: See drug war for yourself

PAGE 1 pointed with Canada’s neitherhere-nor-there pronouncements on the matter,” Panelo said during a press briefing.

“Obviously, Canada is not taking this issue nor our country seriously. The Filipino people are gravely insulted about Canada treating this country as a dumpsite. As a result of this offending delay, the President has instructed the appropriate office to look for a private shipping company which will bring back Canada’s trash to the latter’s jurisdiction,” he said.

The Palace official said that the Philippine government “will shoulder all expenses and

we do not mind the same.”

“If Canada will not accept the trash, we will leave the same within the territorial waters or 12 nautical miles out to sea from the baseline of any of their country’s shores,” Panelo said.

“The president’s stance is principled as it is uncompromising. The Philippines is an independent sovereign nation [and] must not be treated as trash by other foreign nations.

We hope this message resonates well with other countries of the world,” he said.

Asked about Duterte severing ties with Canada, Panelo said, “I think it is going to that direction if you read his pro-

nouncements.”

Duterte said in April that he wanted the trash shipment from Canada returned, even warning that the issue may spark a war.

The president was referring to 103 containers of Canadian waste, consisting of household trash, plastic bottles and bags, newspapers, and used adult diapers, that arrived in Manila in batches from 2013 to 2014.

The Canadian government said it was working on resolving the dispute.

It amended environmental laws in 2016 to set liability for private companies in such cases and to compel them to take back the waste. n

Pangilinan quits Liberal Party, Robredo...

PAGE 1 resignation along with that of Quezon City Rep. Christopher Belmonte as LP secretary general.

“The Vice President has not accepted Senator Kiko’s and Cong. Kit’s resignations. Much work remains to be done, and they will do it, together,” said lawyer Barry Gutierrez, spokesperson of Robredo, in a statement.

According to Pangilinan, he “should be held accountable for this inability to win the elections” since he served as campaign manager for Otso Diretso.

“We were unable to accomplish the task so the one charge must be held to account. Tendering my resignation is the signal that I assume full responsibility for the results of the campaign,” he told ANC. Robredo on Sunday, May 19, expressed her disappointment over the loss of the Otso Diretso candidates in the recent senatorial elections, insisting the need for a “balanced” Senate in the remaining three years of the Duterte administration.

LP, for its part, urged the Commission on Elections to expedite ruling on its manifestation and motion filed on May 17 to have the glitches investigated. The party also sought the release of transparency servers’ audit and system logs as well as the full report on technical glitches.

“We want to get to the bottom of the glitches, we want to get to the bottom of the election returns, malfunctioning VCMs (vote counting machines), corrupted SD cards,” Pangilinan said.

He also clarified that he will neither quit LP or become inactive after tendering his resignation from his post.

“I have no intention of becoming inactive. We will continue in building the party, building the coalition and preparing for the coming days,” he said.

“There is the issue of charter change, there is this continuing issue of extra-judicial killings, there is the issue of China and our sovereignty. In the next 3 years, these will be even more critical,” Pangilinan added.

According to Sen. Leila de Lima, no one should be blamed for the opposition’s defeat since the machinery used to destroy LP and the rest of Otso Diretso was too strong.

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, LP vice chairman, echoed the sentiment, saying the opposition’s defeat was not Pangilinan’s fault “because he exerted his best efforts with our limited resources.”

“Unfortunately, we were overwhelmed by the resources coming from the majority,” Drilon said. “[Pangilinan] feels bad because despite everything that he did, we did not succeed. I can understand where he is coming from,” he added.

De Lima lamented the loss but assured they would not back down in fighting the Duterte administration’s authoritarianism.

“With loss comes the opportunity to learn. And we won’t learn anything if we let ourselves wallow in disappointment or give in to hopelessness,” she said. n

Pacquiao vs Keith Thurman: ‘I want to prove...

PAGE 2 work hard in training and it’s fun,” he said.

This is Pacquiao’s second fight in 2019. Early this year, he beat former four-division titlist Adrien Broner, also at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

His undefeated opponent in July said that he is excited to show Pacquiao where the exit is.

“I’ve never lost to a fighter who’s lost seven times. I have no intentions of losing to Manny Pacquiao. I don’t see him winning any way,

shape or form... He’s 40, I’m 30. I want to show him that this ain’t Adrien Broner. My ‘AB’ is I be ‘about business,’” Thurman said.

As the presser closed, Pacquiao said he is undeterred by what Thurman has been saying, adding that he is looking forward to a great match instead and that he is not ready to retire just yet.

“My story is 40 years in the making. My time is not yet over. My journey will continue,” Pacquiao said. “I’m not ready to look back. I’m still looking forward.”

Gilberto Jesus Mendoza, president of the World Boxing Association welcomed the media to the kickoff press conference at Gotham Hall in New York to announce the Pacquiao vs. Thurman fight.

“We have a future Hall-ofFamer and a legend in the making in this great fight, they are ranked as the top welterweights in the world, number 1 and number 2.

This is what the fans want, a big fight. Both fighters have extraordinary lives outside of the ring. It’s going to be a dream match,” he said. n

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Former Ombudsman Morales Palace: The president is in good barred from entering Hong Kong health, will inform public if sick

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

Former ombudsman Conchita Carpio-morales on Tuesday, may 21, was detained by immigration authorities at an airport in Hong Kong.

“I was detained. When I arrived, I was brought into a room that was not meant for arriving visitors. I was interrogated and then after I was brought to their detention room. They asked me to sign papers in Tagalog, and I said I want an english version. When I read it, it said there ‘detention,’” she said. morales flew to Hong Kong together with her husband, son, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren for a family vacation, but was denied entry in the special administrative region of China.

Hong Kong authorities did not give an explanation why morales, who was told she would have to return to the Philippines on a 6 p.m. flight, was banned from the country.

The family flew back to manila with morales after not pushing through with the vacation — a decision which morales expressed disappointment over as she wanted to see her grandchildren having fun in their trip to Hong Kong Disneyland.

“I was deprived of the opportunity to see my grandchil-

Former Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales

dren enjoy their vacation in Hong Kong,” she said.

The former Philippine official believes her detention was due to the communication she and former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del rosario filed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Chinese President Xi Jinping for alleged crimes against humanity.

They called for an investigation into Beijing’s “systematic plan to control the South China Sea,” as well. morales said she does not regret filing the communication against Xi. “That gives us more resolve to pursue the case. That brings the level of the case to crescendo. We will fight for the examination by the office of the Prosecutor of the communication that the Ambassador and I filed,” she said.

Del rosario, for his part,

Inquirer.net photo

likened Hong Kong’s denial of entry to morales to bullying. “one of the reasons we had filed our case in the ICC is to be able to push back against the bullying and harassment that we have been encountering from our goliath of a neighbor,” he said in a statement.

“Today, with the holding of Former ombudswoman Conchita Carpio-morales by immigration authorities in Hong Kong as a security risk presumably due to the ICC case that we had filed, we are experiencing more of the same,” he added. meanwhile, Justice Secretary menardo Guevarra said they cannot question the action taken by Chinese immigration officials as “the entry of foreigners or the refusal thereof is the exclusive and sovereign prerogative of any country.” n

Robredo: I will never be part of any destabilization

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

VICe President maria leonor “leni” robredo denied new allegations that she was part of a plot to oust President rodrigo Duterte.

“I will never be part of any destabilization,” robredo said, answering questions from the media in a press conference on Thursday, after Peter Joemel Advincula alias “Bikoy” linked her and the liberal Party (lP) to the ouster plot.

“Waste of time ‘yung pagpaplano para pabagsakin ‘yung administrasyon, tsaka tingin ko subversion iyon ng will ng mamamayan,” she said.

(Planning to destabilize the administration is a waste of time, and I think that is a subversion of the people’s will.)

She said that there was no

mention about destabilization in all her meetings with Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV. “lahat ng pinag-usapan, tungkol sa kampanya (The discussions were all about the campaign),” she said. robredo, before answering questions from the media, said that she and Advincula never had any communication.

“Gusto ko lang sabihin dito na hindi ko siya kilala, never ko siyang nakausap, never ko siyang nakatext…never na nagkaroon ng communication between us,” she said.

(I just want to say that I do not know him, I never talked with him, I never texted him, there was never communication between us.) “‘Yung liberal Party once again nahila dito sa controversy. Gusto ko lang sabihin na…wala kaming kinalaman

Vice President Leni Robredo talks to the media during a press conference at the Office of the Vice President on Thursday, May 23.

ManilaTimes.net photo

dito sa Bikoy issue (The liberal Party was once again dragged into this controversy. I just want to say that…we do not have anything to do with this Bikoy issue),” said robredo, liberal Party chairman. n

mAlACAñAnG on monday, may 20, insisted that President rodrigo Duterte was actually in good health, saying that he merely laughed off rumors he was confined in the hospital.

According to presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo, Duterte’s voice was “very strong” and “upbeat” when they discussed the rumors about the president’s condition over the phone on Sunday, may 19.

“He (Duterte) was there in Bahay Pagbabago, signing papers. I talked to him yesterday (Sunday), his voice was very strong. He just laughed it off,” Panelo said at a press briefing.

“He never mentioned anything (about illnesses). But from the sound of his voice, he was very upbeat,” he added. rumors surfaced on Sunday about the president being confined at Cardinal Santos

medical Center in San Juan — the same hospital where he underwent an endoscopy last year — and that the hospital was on “code blue,” which refers to a patient suffering from cardiopulmonary arrest. malacañang denied the rumors; however, Panelo said Duterte neither confirmed nor denied that he went to the hospital. “[The president] said he neither confirmed nor denied [that he went to the hospital].

You draw your own conclusions,” he said.

“To him, it’s not a serious matter. Because if it’s serious, he always tells the public about it. remember, he tells you when he is sick, or if he went to [see] the doctor,” he added.

The Palace expressed gratitude over the public’s concern for the president’s health and assured everyone once again that it would let them know of any serious developments on

Duterte’s well-being. “let me assure the nation that if there is anything wrong with the president’s health serious enough to be of our concern, he will tell us,” Panelo said.

‘Right to privacy under the Constitution’ According to Justice Secretary menardo Guevarra, the Constitution only required the Chief executive to disclose any serious illness.

“If the illness is not serious enough to affect the discharge of his official functions, the president has no duty to inform anyone. like any citizen, the president enjoys the right to privacy under the Constitution,” he said on monday.

The president resurfaced in public on Tuesday, may 21, after a week of absence. He welcomed Thailand’s Ambassador-Designate to the Philippines Vasin Tuangprateesaeng who presented his credentials at malacanang. n

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OPINION

FEATURES

Senate independence A COOPERATIVE Congress means smooth sailing for a president’s legislative agenda. Every chief executive wants allies in Congress — the more, the better.

Cooperation between the executive and legislative branches, however, is possible without Congress turning into a rubberstamp of Malacañang.

This is what people are hoping for as administration candidates look poised to dominate the Magic 12 winning circle in the senatorial race.

Public concerns have been fueled by the behavior of the pro-administration super majority in the House of Representatives – a chamber that critics describe as a Malacañang rubberstamp.

The Senate in the outgoing Congress has been perceived as a bulwark against the loss of independence of the legislature. Will this change with the incoming team?

President Duterte is assured of the complete support of at least two of the candidates in the Magic 12. But most of those in the winning circle have found it necessary to issue statements reas-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SUPPORTERS of President Rodrigo Duterte, either from the Philippines or here in America, have always been up in arms in defending the president, fighting against any form of dissent or nonsupport among Filipinos in America who openly criticize the

suring the public that they would maintain their independence, and would not be remiss in providing the system of checks and balances that is indispensable in a healthy

democracy.

Midway through his presidency, Benigno Aquino III also saw members of his coalition team bagging nine slots in the Magic 12. But throughout the second half of the Aquino administration, the nine largely upheld the reputation of senators as independent republics.

Congressional independence does not mean being an obstructionist; there are many projects and programs of the executive branch that deserve support from the legislature. But lawmakers are expected to draw the line between this kind of cooperation and being a Malacañang rubberstamp.

Most of the candidates in the Magic 12 are promising to show this type of independence.

The nation will be watching, and will be holding them to their promise. (Philstar.com)

Dear Fil-Ams, did we miss the chance to make a difference in the Philippine midterm elections?

Duterte administration.

Legitimate factual news has been dismissed as “fake news,” despite videos and actual interviews of protesters and man-on-the-street interviews of kababayans who remain vigilant in following the news back home. This midterm election was no different.

However, such vigilance and advocacy seem to have fallen short to make a real difference in the outcome of the midterm election in the Philippines. This is not because there are no protests or criticism of Duterte PAGE 10

7

Philstar.com photo

Trump is correct in the Middle East and Korean Peninsula but future still uncertain, RP polls and ICAPP initiatives

PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. U.S. President Donald Trump is correct in rejecting the option to engage in war with Iran and to instead pursue the peaceful diplomatic route. He met with Swiss President Ueli Maurer whose nation has served as liaison between the U.S. and Iran which do not have diplomatic relations.

Apparently ignoring some of his White House advisers pushing for outright conflict with Iran, he has opened the door fornegotiations with Tehran, after his apparent earlier

mistake of withdrawing the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2015 that in hindsight had at least kept the peace until now.

We are reminded of Trump’s recent efforts towards peace in Northeast Asia and his meeting in Singapore with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un which at least broke ground and is now paving the way for a likely but still most difficult long-drawn peaceful settlement in the Korean peninsula.

We have been to the Middle East on both sides of the Persian (Arab) Gulf in the last year, long after undertaking several economic de-

velopment projects in Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as a pioneering entrepreneur in the 1970s, operating the ports of Jeddah and Jubail as a prime contractor on both sides of the Arabian peninsula, drilling for oil in Ajman in the UAE, hospital projects, roads and housing in Iraq and Kuwait, that led to the employment of millions of Filipinos in the Middle East up to today.

We must congratulate President Trump for not heeding some of the advisers urging military conflict with Iran and instead indicating he is open to talks with the Iranian lead-

ership.

As we have pointed out repeatedly a full-scale war on both sides of the Persian (Arab) Gulf involving Iran, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait,Yemen, Iraq, Syria, and most likely including Israel in a wide-ranging Middle East conflict would be disastrous and wreck much of the great economic and industrial gains in the region, painfully achieved over the years. *** We wish to congratulate the winners of our recentlyconcluded May 13 Philippine elections. To those who won and others who did not PAGE 10

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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OpiniOn and Features

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Dear Fil-Ams, did we miss the chance to make... Trump is correct in the Middle East and Korean...

PAGE 7 and his style of governance in the Philippines, but because of the disappointing turnout of votes among eligible Filipino voters in America. We failed to use the legitimate and consequential platform to make our voices heard.

As ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel’s daily newscast “Balitang America” reported on Tuesday, May 21, all Certificates of Canvas (COCs) have been transmitted to the Commission on Elections (COMELEC) in the Philippines.

The Philippine Embassy in Washington, D.C. clarified in a statement that the causes of the delayed transmission of COCs, which had hindered the proclamation of winners in both the senatorial and partylist elections, were the four malfunctioning SD cards coming from San Francisco and Los Angeles. Finally, the last replacement card for LA coming in was processed on Monday and all SD cards had been physically delivered to the Embassy on Monday night.

The Embassy also revealed that out of the 228,470 registered voters in the United States, only 39,511 actually voted. This means the dismal

turnout was only 17.29 percent.

Looking at the glass halffull, this is an improvement in voter participation compared to the 2013 midterm elections, when the turnout among registered Fil-Am voters was at 10.55 percent.

Think of it, the more than 200,000 registered voters among Filipinos in America could have made a difference in a close election — if only all Fil-Ams exercised their right to vote.

We can blame voter disenfranchisement due to lost ballots, or the inadequate election information campaign to help eligible voters to cast their ballot, or even alleged election irregularities. These are all valid concerns that the Comelec and the Department of Foreign Affairs should look into.

However, these are just parts of the problem. The bigger part of the problem is our own accountability as Filipinos living in America. Have we taken a more pro-active role to make sure we vote? Have we chosen to be dual citizens so we can be eligible to participate in Philippine elections? Have we informed the Philippine Con-

sulate of any changes in our address? Have we inquired when we could expect to get our ballots, and if they have our current address? Have we been more aggressive and pressing for information campaign from our Embassy and Consular offices?

While many of us have been very vocal about our thoughts and prescriptions in helping solve what we deem to be problems in the Philippines online, not enough have translated this advocacy to the platform that truly matters in making a difference: the ballot box.

Hopefully, this midterm election will serve as a wakeup call for us all. It does NOT matter who we support or who we are up against. What matters is that we VOTE, because, at the end of the day, this vote and its strength in numbers will effect real change, not Facebook posts or tweets. ***

PAGE 7 make it, may we quote the late U.S. Sen. Edward Kennedy when he lost the 1976 Democratic Party’s presidential nomination to Jimmy Carter, the “Peanut Farmer from Georgia,”whobecame a great president. Kennedy said “For all those whose cares have been our concern, the work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives, and the dream shall never die.”

Indeed, when one throws his hat into the political ring, he should be prepared to lose, as ultimately, it is the people who decide a politician’s fate in the elections.

As a politician for many years, having won the Speakership five times, the first in Asia, indeed we have fought many political battles, where we won some and lost some, including the Presidency in 1998, where we came out second in the field of ten.

As a public servant, we have Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s eye-witnessed, even taken “Balitang America.” Views and opinions part, in ephocal events in our expressed by the author in this column are country’s life. We have known solely those of the author and not of Asian up-close, men and women Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, who have shaped our coungo to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, try’s destiny for good or ill. https://www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.

We also initiated laws and Relos programs that have become landmarks and game-changers in our country’s economic history.

We are most proud of our historic Dollar Remittance Program that killed the dollar black market and that now earns the Philippines some $30-billion a year; the Bases Conversion Law; and the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Law. The game-changer Bases Conversion Law has turned the former American military bases on Luzon Island—the biggest of them being Clark Airfield and Subic Naval Base, Baguio’s Camp John Hay and La Union’s Camp Wallace and Poro Point—into thriving export zones and free ports with extensive employment potential.

Under one composite legislation, the initiative also converted the Filipino military camp Fort Bonifacio into the now booming satellite city, Bonifacio Global City (BGC), and the old Nichols Air Base into the now Resorts World Manila.

We were also privileged with others to author the landmark B-O-T (Build-Operate-Transfer) Law, which has become a model for the other developing countries and the formula for “Private-Public Partnerships.” In the Philippines the law has made possible private investments and

public-private partnerships in infrastructure projectsvalued in excess of $30 billion as early as the mid-1990’s.

Now at age 82, we are also proud that as a 30-year-old Minister and Economic and Press Counselor at the Philippine Embassy in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), Vietnam during the Vietnam War, we conceived of, designed, and implemented the historic Dollar Remittance Program for the Philippine overseas workers, which now raises more than $35-billion a year for the Philippines, continuously saving the Philippine economy during recurrent crises, from the major 1970 devaluation through the dark years of Martial Law, through the Asian financial crisis, and the impeachment and coup attempts during the Estrada and Arroyo years, and which program has become a modelfor many Third World countries.

We are most grateful to our beloved constituents in Pangasinan, my colleagues in the House of Representatives and counterparts in the Senate, and the Filipino people for giving us the privilege to serve our country as Congressman in the 7th and 8th Congresses, then as Speaker of the House of Representatives five-times, during the 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, and 14th Congresses.

My wife Gina, who also served for two terms, and we are proud of our son Congressman Christopher who won a second congressional term last week. *** Our International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP), which we founded and launched in Manila in September 2000, is postponing to a later date this year the Special Workshop on Media which we initially scheduled on June 13-15, 2019 in Vladivostok, Russia.

We received a letter recently from Sen. Andrey Klimov, Vice Chairman of ICAPP and Deputy Secretary General for International Relations of the ruling United Russia Party, requesting us to postpone the ICAPP media conference as Moscow has scheduled an urgent meeting of the General Council of the United Russia Party to be presided by its Chairman, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev.

The ICAPP Special Workshop on Media, which was supposed to be hosted by Sen. Klimov and United Russia Party in the Russian Far East, is under the auspices of the ICAPP Media Forum, one of our subsidiary groups in

ICAPP. We are happy to note that the current Co-Chairman of the ICAPP Media Forum is the Philippines’ Roger Oriel, a veteran journalist and publisher of the Asian Journal, which is circulated in various cities in the U.S. including separate editions in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York. He is also the publisher of Balikbayan magazine.

We are also proud that the former Co-Chair of the ICAPP Media Forum is also a Filipino, the respected writer and Philippine Star columnist Carmen Pedrosa, whose late husband Alberto Pedrosa was our Ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg.

Besides the ICAPP Media Forum, the other subsidiary groups of ICAPP are the ICAPP Youth Wing, ICAPP Women’s Wing, ICAPP-COPPPAL (Asian-Latin American) Business Council, ICAPP Program for Disasters Assistance (IPDA), Asia-Europe Political Forum (AEPF), and the Asian Cultural Council (ACC). The AEPF just met in Colombo, Sri Lanka last month and ACC was launched in Siem Reap, Cambodia last January.

We also have a working partnership with the Latin American and Caribbean political parties under COPPPAL or Association of Political Parties of Latin America and the Caribbean; African political partiesunder CAPP (Council of African Political Parties); and a number of European political parties.

We in ICAPP are initiating a working partnership with the U.S. political parties, the Democratic Party and Republican Party, which we hope will eventually lead to a globalorganization of political parties.

The ICAPP has offices in Manila and Seoul, where the Secretariat is based, now led

by Secretary General Park Ro-byug, formerly Korean Ambassador to Moscow, who succeeded Chung Eui-yong, now the able South Korean National Security Adviser under President Moon Jae-in who has been active recently in promoting talks with North Korea.

The ICAPP represents some 350 ruling, opposition, and independent political parties from 52 countries in Asia.

This columnist is the Founding Chairman and Chairman of its 39-member Standing Committee since 2000 and we are scheduling ICAPP’s 20th Anniversary in Manila in November 2020. n

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ mAY 24-30, 2019

COMMUNITY Journal

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Employer-sponsored green cards are still available despite H-2B ban Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ THE USCIS has â&#x20AC;&#x153;de-listedâ&#x20AC;? (or banned) Filipinos from applying for the seasonal/ temporary H-2B visa. (This visa allows U.S. employers to bring foreign nationals to the United States to fill temporary nonagricultural jobs, such as housekeepers at hotels during the busy summer season.)

However, this ban DOES NOT APPLY to Filipinos seeking green cards through the labor certification or PERM process. That avenue for green cards or legalization is still available to Filipinos, as long as it is a legitimate job opportunity and you follow the rules and abide by the law.

The USCIS and U.S. Embassy concluded that Filipinos were abusing and/or being abused under the H-2B program: The Philippines has a high H-2B overstay rate, where nearly 40 percent of H-2B visa holders from the Philippines overstayed their visa and went TNT. Nearly 40 percent of the worldwide visas for family members of victims of trafficking (T-visas) were from Filipinos who came to the U.S. as H-2B visa holders and then claimed they were victims of trafficking. In other words,

DHS and DOS are now concerned about the high volume of trafficking victims from the Philippines who were originally issued H-2B visas and then became victims of trafficking. So, it appears it is not safe for Filipinos to apply for H-2B visas, as so many claim they were abused. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; continued inclusion creates the potential for abuse, fraud, and other harm to the integrity of the H2A or H-2B visa programs.â&#x20AC;?

It also may be that many Filipinos were taking advantage of, or abusing, these programs by entering the U.S. on an H-2B visa but violating the visas by overstaying. Then, in an attempt to remain in the U.S., made up stories about being abused or trafficked, so they can remain in America and bring their family from the Philippines to join them.

However, even though Filipinos are banned from applying for H-2B visas (except on a case by case exception), they can still apply for green cards under labor certification or PERM. In fact, I have had several Filipino clients consult with me, who were eligible to be petitioned by an employer, but mistakenly thought they were now banned from doing so. That is not true. Filipinos can still be petitioned for green cards through an employer. The basic requirements are: A financially stable employer in the U.S. with a real job position, where the alien will work once they obtain their

green card. It need not be a Fortune 500 company. It can even be a six-bed board and care facility, sole proprietorship, etc. Typically, the net income on the employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tax return should equal the alienâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s salary in order to demonstrate an employerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;ability to payâ&#x20AC;? the wage.

An alien who is qualified for the particular job position either through education or experience. It need not be a college-level job. In fact, caregivers are also eligible for green cards through employer sponsorship, and right now it takes about the same amount of time as professional or skilled workers (approximately 2-3 years.).

The employer must first make a good-faith effort to locate qualified U.S. workers for the job. If there is no qualified U.S. worker ready, willing, and able to perform the job duties, the job can be â&#x20AC;&#x153;certifiedâ&#x20AC;? for the alien.

Even if a person is out of status, they may still be eligible to get a green card if they were grandfathered under section 245(i) or qualify for a provisional waiver.

Therefore, if you believe you are eligible, or know someone (such as a relative in the Philippines) who may be eligible, and there is an employer who willing to sponsor the alien, you should consult with an attorney, who can evaluate the case and assist in processing it. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t miss out on a green card PAGE 12

TRUE LOVE FOUND OVER A CUP OF COFFEE RESULTED IN MARRIAGE, A GREEN CARD, AND A MOTHER AND DAUGHTERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S REUNION. Magoy (center) had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years, and was lonely and guilty for having left her children behind in the Philippines, when she arrived in the U.S. She found love at a random stop in a coffee shop, where she met U.S. citizen Daniel. Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband, which allowed her to marry Daniel (without having to obtain an annulment in the Philippines), which, in turn, enabled Daniel to petition Magoy in the U.S. and Magoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Kara, from the Philippines, without having to adopt Kara. Watch this heartwarming story on an all-new episode of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Citizen Pinoyâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

True love (and green card) the second time around on a brand-new episode of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Citizen Pinoy!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; MAgOY had been separated from her first husband for over 17 years. She sacrificed those years working in the Middle East to support her children, while also missing them, feeling the guilt of being away for the important milestones in their lives.

During one opportunity to go on vacation, Magoy took her daughter, Kara for bonding time in the U.S. Little did she know that a random

Starbucks coffee break would change her destiny forever.

It was at Starbucks that Magoy met Daniel, a U.S. citizen. It was a chance encounter where love was sweeter the second time around for Magoy. Magoy was able to get a divorce from her first husband in the U.S. (An annulment in the Philippines is not necessary to marry in the U.S.) Her divorce allowed her to marry Daniel, which,

in turn, allowed Daniel to petition Magoy and Magoyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s daughter, Kara.

Leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. gurfinkel did not just focus on getting Magoy her green car, he went beyond that. Watch this success story on an all-new episode of â&#x20AC;&#x153;Citizen Pinoyâ&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x201C;â&#x20AC;&#x201C; on Sunday 6:15 p.m. PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select Cable/Satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

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may 24-30, 2019 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL

Community Journal

Whatever happened to ‘happily ever after’?

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya (Part 2 of 3) (Continued from last week’s issue …)

There is an onslaught of overwhelming assaults that come in all forms from just everywhere, facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and the ease of anything going viral through the internet. This warped, perverse world we live in today seems to delight in mischief and mayhem.

Against this gloomy global backdrop, what is good and true appear to be defenseless against unseen forces that doom personal struggles: relationship problems, selfesteem issues, financial problems, addictions, physical and mental illnesses and other ills too many to mention.

The result - there seems to be far too many lonely, alienated people these days.

The suicidal stage is the most dreaded period of such a state of mind, when intense loneliness descends to a deep vortex of hopelessness and darkness. Suicide signals the end of a futile human struggle.

There is available help — a sliver of hope. Psychotherapy and the safe and judicious use of antidepressants can help keep deep depression at bay.

That may very well be. But one cannot help but think that there has to be a better way when an alarming percentage of those who take antidepressants still throw in the towel and end it all.

In simpler times, if you can call and label adversity by name, you can figure out simple ways of defeating it.

Yet now because of the complexity of the world we live in, we don’t call people lonely.

We call them depressed. They

are diagnosed with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, paranoia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and a whole dizzying lexicon of mental diseases.

Two thousand years ago, our ancestors called the whole gamut of mental diseases and bizarre behavior, possession by the devil. One is no longer in charge of one’s soul but has been overpowered by a sinister, evil force. The soul is its habitat.

Pope Francis, fully aware and deeply concerned about what is going on in the spiritual realm in today’s world, has ordained exorcism official Catholic practice.

The greatest lie perpetrated by the devil during modern times is to make people believe that evil does not exist. It does. People lulled by a false sense of security in believing they are not in the sights of that sinister, unseen force, have become like the dodo, fat sitting ducks for evil, unwary and often caught off guard when tested.

The dodo is gone because it did not recognize the predators that wanted to kill it. In the spiritual realm, it has always been the battle for the human soul — good versus evil. The battle is raging. Sadly, many are none the wiser.

With beheadings, stonings and widespread Christian persecution in the Middle East and Africa by radical elements of Islam, and in the home front of western civilization, the pervasive liberalism that mocks Christian morality and values by touting political correctness, the world is back to 1 AD all over again. This is history repeating itself — a throwback to two thousand years ago when the blood of martyrs flowed, and Nero fiddled while Rome burned.

This is the present social and cultural canvass that engenders hopelessness and darkness in the souls of many individuals today.

There are far too many

news of suicide these days and its horrible spawn, murder-suicide.

Consider the recent case of that deranged, suicidal Germanwings pilot who planned and deliberately slammed a planeload of passengers against an Alpine mountain, causing the death of 149 people.

Who can forget about that despondent Malaysian Airlines pilot who may have caused the death of others by murder suicide? Efforts at recovery have been fruitless so far — the plane and its victims probably lost in the deep bowels of the Indian Ocean.

And then there are the twisted beliefs of suicide bombers seeking martyrdom.

They think they will go to paradise and be rewarded with seventy-two virgins for their atrocity. There are religious leaders intolerant of other beliefs, who incite their followers to eradicate Christians and Christian nations. Who can explain evil incarnate?

There is news of suicide that hits you harder because you personally know the person who took his own life. By all accounts, he has led a good life but unknown to all, was going through overwhelming personal struggles, wallowing in darkness and despair and simply gave up.

In many cases, those in their immediate family orbit say, they never saw it coming and will be left wondering WHY. Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless. Those left behind who will have to pick up the pieces deal with the heavy pall of gloom and guilt that descends on them for a long time.

(Conclusion in next week’s issue …) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, email monette.maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the through an employer based facts of the particular case. The on the H-2B ban, as it does information and opinions contained not apply to labor certification herein (including testimonials, green cards.

“Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an nature, and are not intended to apply attorney for over 35 years and is to any particular case, and do not licensed, and an active member of constitute a prediction, warranty, the State Bars of California and New guarantee or legal advice regarding York. All immigration services are the outcome of your legal matter. provided by, or under the supervision No attorney-client relationship is, of, an active member of the State Bar or shall be, established with any

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS

EGGS have been around for eons, even before man discovered they were edible. In many households around the world, eggs have been a routine part of breakfast. One of the concerns about eating eggs (yolk) is its cholesterol contents, the reason some health conscious people eat only the egg white.

One Harvard report about five years ago states that the choline in eggs (126 mg per egg) may induce and aggravate inflammation, the initial process in the causation of most, if not all, illnesses, including cancer. A new study of more than 1000 men with early stage of cancer of the prostate “found that men who consumed two and a half or more eggs per week — that’s just like one egg every three days — had a two-fold increased risk of cancer progression and an 81 percent increased risk of lethal prostate cancer.” A study published in the “New England Journal of Medicine,” the Cleveland team who did the famous study on carnitine fed research participants hard-boiled eggs instead of steak, and found that the egg-eaters had a spike in the level of carnitine, choline, and lethicin (same TMAO compounds found in red meat) and increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and death. Although our DNA is unique and there are other factors in our make-up in play, the inference in these recent studies should make us more cautious.

How much alcohol is healthy?

A couple of decades ago, the medical recommendation was not more than two drinks for women (zero for pregnant ones) and not more than three for men. This usually referred to wine, preferably red wine.

Pinot Noir was the favorite for its high resveratrol (cardio-protective) content. More recently, studies have asserted that there is actually no safe level for alcohol consumption. Your physician, who is familiar with your health, could expound on this matter and advise you reader. accordingly.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Why did you write soft Follow us on Facebook.com/ drinks are toxic?

GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @ Soft drinks (which I call liquid GurfinkelLaw candies) are all toxic to the body, Call Toll free to schedule a especially for children, because consultation for anywhere in the consuming them increases the US: risk for metabolic syndrome.

1-866-487-3465 Soft drinks, over time, cause (866) – GURFINKEL drinkers to have high blood Four offices to serve you: pressure, diabetes, arthritis, LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ heart attack, stroke, and even NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES increases the chances of cancer (Advertising Supplement) development. If we, as parents

Employer-sponsored green cards are...

PAGE 6

Health@Heart

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Queries from readers

and guardians, are not preventing our children from drinking these toxic beverages, then we are contributing to their unhealthy behaviors, illnesses, and premature death. The book on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention from the cellular (DNA) level, entitled “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (philipSchua.com, amazon.com, central.com.ph) expounds on this subject.

Is vaping (e-Cig) a better alternative?

Vaping (vapour products) or use of electronic cigarettes, is advertised as the healthier option to smoking tobacco. This almost 3 billion-dollar industry around the world, up from $4.2 billion five years ago, has the United States, Japan and the United Kingdom as its largest markets. The e-cigarette devise contains nicotine-based liquid which is vaporized and inhaled, as in smoking, is a dangerous alternative to conventional cigarette smoking. Its fumes are like second-hand tobacco smoke that causes cancer among those exposed to that smoke. One of the hundred harmful chemicals in vaping is formaldehyde, a known carcinogen (cancercausing agent). Studies have shown that switching to vaping (to help in quitting cigarette smoking) only prolongs the nicotine habit and definitely a deadly option.

How did the U.S. measles outbreak start?

The recent measles epidemic is a resurgence of the very virulent, rapidly transmissible, disease in the United States since 2000, when the CDC declared that “measles was eliminated in the U.S.” The current outbreak was attributed to travelers who brought measles back to the USA from Israel, where there currently is a massive epidemic. These infected individuals transmitted it to unvaccinated and under-vaccinated communities in New York State. From January first of 2019 to May 10, 2019, there were 839 cases of measles confirmed in 23 States, an increase of 75 cases the week before.

Measles are potentially deadly from complications causing encephalitis (brain inflammation). MMR vaccines are very effective in preventing measles.

It has been proven not to cause autism, and declared safe by the CDC. Are expired drugs unsafe?

According to the United States military studies on expired drugs, most drugs are still potent even after reaching, and beyond, their “expiration” date. The only exceptions are vaccines, tetracycline, nitroglycerine, insulin, liquid antibiotics.

Their potency, according to the military studies, “may decrease over time, but much of the original potency still remains even a decade after the expiration date.” Drug companies are mandated by a 1979 U.S. law to stamp an expiration date on medications, a date at which they can guarantee the full potency and safety of the drugs.

The U.S. military, with a massive and expensive stockpile of drugs, did a comprehensive study to prevent waste, and “found 90 percent of more than 100 drugs, prescription or over-the-counter, were perfectly good to use even 15 years after the expiration date.” Keeping medications refrigerated helps prolong their potency.

What in weed killer Roundup causes cancer?

The World Health Organization reported in 2015 Glyphosate, the main in Roundup, causes cancer. In August last year, a jury awarded $289 million to a man after he was diagnosed to have Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, following repeated use of Roundup weed killer.

The claims against Bayer and Monsanto, makers of Roundup, were based on its failure to warn consumers about the risk of using their product.

A California elderly couple who used Roundup for years each developed Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma was handed an unparalleled $2.055 billion verdict against Monsanto. This herbicide is also linked to kidney disease, infertility, diabetes, Parkinson, Multiple Sclerosis, liver disease, leukemia, brain, lung, testicular, thyroid cancers and birth defects. All chemicals (car and home air fresheners, disinfectants, cleaners, detergents, etc.) we have at home are real hazards to health. Their use also pollutes our environment (air, land, and sea), the air we breathe, the food and drink we ingest every day. Safer and cheaper alternative: ½ cup white vinegar, 1 pint alcohol, and 1 teaspoon dishwashing soap, plus water to make a gallon of spray for general cleaning (not for granite, varnished hardwood, or anything made of rubber). *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@ gmail.com

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EntErtainmEnt

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 24-30, 2019

13

Herbert Bautista planning showbiz comeback Matteo talks about his and Sarah’s dream wedding

by Jan

Milo Severo

Philstar.com

AFTER 33 years of public service, outgoing Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista revealed he wanted to go back to show business.

In interview with Lhar Santiago in GMA’s “24 Oras,” Herbert said he feels fulfilled on his roles as mayor, vice mayor and councilor for 33 years.

“I’m very much fulfilled kasi ‘yung nine years ko as mayor, ‘yung 12 years ko as vice-mayor, ‘yung six years ko as councilor, total of about 33 years, nakapag-ambag tayo sa unti-unting pag-unlad ng ating lungsod,” Herbert said.

“I hope magkaro’n ako ng trabaho sa entertainment industry because du’n kami lu-

maki. Hopefully after my term may mga project na pumasok na babagay naman sa akin,” he added.

He is also open to the possibility of hosting alongside Willie Revillame.

“Ire-rehearse ko muna ‘yung hosting sa mga maliliit na okasyon, ‘di ba? ‘Yung mga... sa ibang mga events. Hosting sa TV, puwede rin. Puwede akong maging alalay ni ‘Wowowin’,” Herbert said.

Apart from showbiz, Herbert is also eyeing to go back to school to finish his doctorate degree in public administration.

“Maliban sa pagbabalikshowbiz, gusto rin daw ng alkalde na mag-aral para matapos ang kaniyang doctorate

by ricky lo

ding with family,” he said.

But that would have to wait, especially now that Matteo has WHILE Sarah Geronimo joined the Philippine Army as a plays coy when asked about reservist. Starting on Sunday, her love life, her boyfriend May 26, Matteo will undergo a (fiancé?) Matteo Guidicelli is 45-day Scout Ranger training the opposite. Asked by Funfare at Camp Tecson in San Miguel, once and for all, in all honesty, Bulacan. if he and Sarah have started disBefore that, Matteo will be cussing about marriage, Matteo kept busy with the promo of said without batting an eyelash, Sundo, his new single under “Of course, of course, marriage Viva Records, his new record lahas been a topic,” adding in Former Quezon City Mayor Herbert a Freudian slip, “we’ve been bel. It will be formally launched Bautista Philstar.com photo on Friday, May 24, at Music Hall together for several years now.” degree sa public administraat Metrowalk, Pasig City. As (Sarah admitted that she and tion,” he said. she was during Matteo’s recent Matteo were going steady in “Kasi gusto mo ring magconcert with Carlo Aquino at 2014. A Fil-Italian, Matteo at artista at the same time so baka the Music Museum, Sarah will merong pag-aartistang once or surely be there to give Matteo twice a week, tapos kukuha ko moral support. ng mga ibang subjects ng once An upbeat pop/rock rendition or twice a week din. So that’s made popular by Imago, Sundo okay.” n is about “searching high and wide for a special someone” as expressed in this line: Kay tagal kong sinusuyod and buong mundo para hanapin, para 2015. hanapin ka.” (No doubt he’s Cameron played Miss Hanreferring to Sarah, although it nigan in the movie “Annie” could refer to his finding a new last 2014. She has also been home in Viva.) And this: Asahan known for her Hollywood films mo mula ngayon, pag-ibig ko’y such as “There’s Something sa’yo. (Definitely, he means About Mary,” “Bad Teacher,” Sarah.)

“Sex Tape,” “My Bestfriend’s After the recent presscon anWedding,” and “Charlie’s An- Sarah Geronimo plays coy when asked about her relationship with Matteo Guidicelli nouncing the release of Sundo, gels.” (Philstar.com) who unabashedly speaks up.

Photo from Instagram/@ISGFan PAGE 15 Philstar.com

29 is two years younger than Sarah.)

There were reports that during a trip to Europe, just the two of them, he and Sarah got engaged. Was it an engagement ring that Sarah was wearing in a photo that spread on social media?

To both questions, Matteo neither confirmed nor denied, but simply said, ”Secret!” (In showbiz parlance, “secret” could be interpreted as yes.)

But Matteo is vocal about the kind of wedding he hoped to have.

“Just a simple and small wed-

Hollywood star Cameron Diaz seen vacationing in Palawan HOLLYWOOD star Cameron Diaz was spotted in El Nido, Palawan while having her vacation in the country.

In his Twitter account, basketball analyst Charles Tiu posted the photo of the actress wearing a white swimsuit and a cap.

“Cameron Diaz in our Va-

EMPLOYMENT

nilla Beach El Nido Property!”

Charles captioned his post.

The actress, however, did not post anything in her social media accounts about her Palawan vacation.

Reports said that Cameron went on social media hiatus upon marrying American musician Benji Madden in

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

14

MAY 24-30, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

(212) 655-5426 N E W http://www.asianjournal.com YO R K / N E W J E R S• EY M AY 24 , 2 0 1 9

14

people events arts culture entertainment

‘I AM JAN ALEXANDER’

Fil-Am boy launches, signs his books at Barnes & Noble BY

ALEX and Ethel Quintos of Bloomfield, New Jersey are both proud and excited that their youngest son, 6-year-old Jan has published a book.

A book launch and an autograph signing session happened at Barnes & Noble in Clifton last April 28 for the book “I Am Jan Alexander,” written and illustrated by Jan, who is in kindergarten.

The book has three short stories with illustrations on every page which Jan himself had sketched.

Jan is the youngest among their three siblings, following Alexa, 13 and Josh, 7.

“It’s all about a day in school, going on a vacation and getting lost in a zoo,” Jan said as he talked

MOMAR G. VISAYA/ AJPRESS

about his book, adding that he likes both drawing and writing stories.

He fondly remembers the April 28 Barnes & Noble event.

“So much people came and I signed their books,” Jan said.

Alex revealed that it was Alexa who has compiled about 45 pages of text and when he saw her writings, he asked her if she wanted to publish it so the family could have it as a souvenir.

“She said no right away. Jan heard it and said he has a lot of stories and drawings and he wanted to put them in a book,” Alex shared.

“I didn’t take it seriously because he is only six years old.”

Alex

soon realized how much Jan wanted it when his son would call him on his phone, ask when he’d be home, followed with a question on when will he have his book. Alex then asked around and found a publisher in Ex-Libris. He emailed the publishers, sent the manuscript and illustrations and got the book published.

“I’m very proud, hilig na niya talagang mag draw even before pa,” Jan’s mom Ethel said.

Aside from writing and drawing, Jan is also into basketball and playing drums and piano, which comprise his daily routine as a kid. He also wanted to do karate but Alex and Ethel said no because he already has too much on his plate.

There are more books being planned, including a sketch book and a coloring book.

In fact, Jan’s second book is already in the works and this time, it’s called “Have You Seen Jacob?”

Alex and Ethel with their son Jan

This book has three stories as well, about how to eat fruits and vegetables, all about gym and tablet, each one with a lesson for kids.

“We’re very happy with the overwhelming support, spe-

Jan Alexander Quintos

Jan with his book “I Am Jan Alexander”. The young boy is done writing his second book and plans are underway for a sketch book and a coloring book.

Jan Alexander Quintos at his Barnes & Noble book launch and signing. Contributed photo

cially at the Barnes & Noble signing. We had friends and family but we saw a lot of strangers as well,” Alex said.

As parents, the couple said

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

they’re there for their kids to support and guide.

“Whatever makes them happy, we’re here. Mahirap pilitin kapag hindi gusto,”

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • mAY 24-30, 2019

Teacher Georcelle, the dancing queen

“MY main goal is to make everyone move,” declared Georcelle Dapat-Sy, artistic director of G-Force Dance Corporation fondly called Teacher Georcelle, “and how to make everyone love dancing. It’s quite a challenge because some people are afraid to dance, takot sumayaw.”

Actually, it’s a baseless “fear;” there’s nothing to be afraid of, really, especially if you watch Mark Dacascos as Zero and Asia Kate Dillion as The Adjudicator in “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” Photo by Niko Tavernise enthralled as Georcelle sways this way and that, twirls around like a butterfly, and dances on and on as if it’s the last day of her life. She has so elevated the art of dance that G-Force has become a brand and a verb.

Once you are ”G-Forized,” you can dance to your heart’s content.

It helps that Georcelle, who trains Kapamilya stars (Maja, Kim, Liza, Maymay, et al) before they regale “ASAP” audiences,

by Klarize Medenilla stepped foot on set.

AJPress has a sense of humor because “I’ve had the smallest dancing involves not merely NOT-SO-SPOILER alert: amount of prep time for the body language but also emobiggest project I’ve been a “John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parational equanimity. bellum” has a lot of fight part of,” Dacascos explained.

“If you are not in a good “I got a text from Chad [Stascenes. mood,” said Georcelle during On its face, the third install- helski, director of the John an interview with Funfare at the ment of the wildly popular film Wick franchise] on a Sunday G-Force Dance Center, “it will franchise seems like your gar- night, talked with him on show in your movement and Monday, flew from LA to New den variety action film about will ruin the whole thing.” assassins. But John Wick 3 York on Tuesday, prepped on As she always is, Georcelle Wednesday and started filming proves itself to go beyond was in a buoyant mood, surpurely escapist entertainment on Thursday.” rounded by her choreographers But the brief preparation and opts to showcase the best who have become like a family in martial artistry and the craft time was actually a blessing in to her. (The dance company disguise for Dacascos, noting of stunt acting to the highest includes six eclectic groups the “unforgettable” experidegree. specializing in distinctive dance ence he had working with the Among those in the talented genres: The G-Force Stallions, and diverse cast is Filipino cast and crew.

G-Force Femmes, Megaminds, “To be able to work with American actor and decorated Fil-Am Mark Dacascos as Zero in “John martial artist Mark Dacascos such a high-level, experienced Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum,” which Poppers, Unique and DemiForce.) “It started as a dream (“Cradle to the Grave,” “Iron and accomplished cast was just came out on Friday, May 17. in 2005,” she revealed, surChef America”), who plays phenomenal, and I mean every international goose chase. actor that Chad had on board Zero, the principal villain to Throughout the 131-minute Keanu Reeves’ John Wick, a I’m a fan of, so I’m happy about fearsome and skilled assas- how things turned out because thrill ride, viewers are treated that all could have been quite to some of the most creative PAGE 13 sin.

Although Dacascos — who overwhelming had I had time and expansive combat scenes Funfare did a one-on-one with is also part Japanese, Chinese to process it,” Dacascos said. seen yet in the John Wick Matteo.

What made you decide to As of press time, “John Wick franchise. Stahelski’s stunt and Irish — boasts a 30+ year career acting in a variety of 3” has amassed $93.3 million production company 87eleven join the army?

“I guess it’s something I’ve films showcasing his extensive worldwide. It debuted to $57 Action Design provided the expertise in martial arts (his million making it the first film choreography and coordinated always wanted to do, and I feel father was renowned martial to beat “Avengers: Endgame” the sequencing for the film and like I have to do it. It’s another arts instructor Al Dacascos at the top of the box office. And were “extremely collaborative way to serve my country. I can do a lot through the army. We and from ages 7 to 18, Mark just like its first two install- and open-hearted.”

“He’s a highly accomplished have a lot of projects with the Dacascos won multiple cham- ments, it has been met with pionships in karate and kung high regard from critics and stuntman and extremely pro- army for the youth.”

What military activities are ficient at different martial fu), Dacascos told the Asian fans alike.

At the start of “John Wick arts, and that was a huge you participating in?

Journal that John Wick 3 was “Right now, we’ve been go3” (released Friday, May 17), advantage,” Dacascos said of his biggest break to date.

“Professionally, this is cer- Wick finds himself “excom- Stahelski. “He knows how to ing around different schools, tainly a highlight of my career municado” from the assas- bridge the gap between what talking about ROTC, encouragand it’s so interesting to wake sin society The High Table, works in real life and what ing students to be a reservist up to friends and family mem- who has placed a $14 million looks good on camera, and because it trains them to deit really shows when you see velop discipline and a sense of bers texting you about how bounty on his head.

As Wick fights his way the film, and everyone just ap- nationalism and patriotism. So I your film is No. 1 in America.

I mean, unless you’re someone through some of the world’s proached every sequence with think this is very important. And like Keanu Reeves, when does most deadly assassins, Zero, the actors in mind and it was on May 26, I’ll be entering the military school. I’ll be gone for that ever happen for an actor?” the odd, yet formidable mer- such a joy.”

This week, production of more than one month.” cenary formerly for The High Dacascos said, laughing.

Are you going to engage in Dacascos was cast late in Table, is hired by an adjudica- “John Wick 4” was announced, the project, noting a days-long tor from the High Table to hunt set for a 2021 release. “John combat (war, etc.)?

“When you join, they prepare turnaround time from when he down Wick as well as those Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum” you to be ready for an event of was approached to when he who have aided him on this is in theaters now. n

Fil-Am martial arts maestro Mark Dacascos talks going from smaller projects to the box office-breaking ‘John Wick: Chapter 3’ “Professionally, this is certainly a highlight of my career.”

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veying the space that vibrates with infectious energy. “I knew that dream would become a reality.”

Asked what makes her a “force” to be reckoned with, she minced no words, “I’m pretty, I’m sexy and I’m beautiful.” And then she broke into laughter that sounded like dance music.

Was she kidding? “No,” she said, “I’m serious.” And then laughed and laughed even louder.

She was to the art born, having been honed by parents who were dancers.

“I grew up in Tondo,” narrated Georcelle. “We didn’t have a Boom Box but our neighbor had, so araw-araw nangangapit-bahay ako. My playmates and I would engage in a contest.

Whoever memorized the dance steps the fastest got candies as the prize.”

She was barely five years old then. At 10, she recalled dancing jazz at the MET. At 14, she began dancing professionally.

Today, a mother of three (ages 18, 14 and 9) and managed by her husband, Georcelle is the undisputed Dancing Queen who is preoccupied with, aside from managing her Dance Center, the G-Force Project kicked off in 2007, an annual signature dance movement workshop that brings together students and young aspirants “to realize their dancing dreams at the biggest and most renowned stages in the country.”

The Project was inspired by Georcelle’s “lauded mindset revolution of bridging cultures and differences through the universal language of dance” and

Georcelle Dapat-Sy Photo from Instagram/ @teachergeorcelle

it continues to produce young fresh talents every year under the mentorship of G-Force’s roster of celebrity choreographers.

Since last month (until July), the company has been conducting a series of workshops nationwide.

“It’s payback time,” said Georcelle. “I want to share whatever knowledge I have with aspiring dancers. I grew up loving dance shows that I watched on TV and I want to instill in them the same love for dancing. I was lucky to be trained by the best dancers in the country, those in the Metropolitan Dance Theater.”

How does she keep herself so trim, so fit and fabulous and, to borrow her own words, “so pretty, so sexy and so beautiful?”

“I practice the holistic lifestyle. I meditate every day, I eat healthy, I avoid sugar, I follow my nutritionist.” n

Matteo talks about his and Sarah’s... war. But that’s not the main objective. The main objective is to help out, to serve the country in national disasters, humanitarian efforts, feeding programs, and in inspiring the youth. You can do a lot of things as a reservist.”

Is it true that some people close to you (including Sarah) are against your joining the army (and how were you able to convince them)?

“In the beginning, you know, of course, my parents and Sarah were all hesitant for me to join the army because they thought that it meant going to war, etcetera, all the stuff. In reality, in my position, it’s not about going to war, it’s about giving back to the country. It’s about my advocacy which is spreading nationalism, spreading patriotism. It’s showing the kids that this is also important.

It teaches discipline and selfrespect, and respect for the country. It’s a different avenue

to give back to the country and support the soldiers who have been serving us and protecting us.”

Speaking of Sarah, did you and she get “secretly” engaged abroad (is she wearing an engagement ring)?

“Secret. Hehehe!!!”

Once and for all and honestly now, have you been discussing about marriage?

“Of course, of course. Marriage has been a topic. We’ve been together for several years now.”

If and when, what kind of wedding do you want?

“Just a simple and small wedding with family.”

Now that you are with Viva, can we expect a project with you and Sarah together?

“I don’t know…maybe in the future, we’ll see...The opportunities and the things we can do in Viva are endless and limitless. Let’s see what will happen.” n

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may 24-30, 2019 • NEW yORK aND NEW JERSEy aSIaN JOURNaL

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