062918 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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Volume 11 – Issue 36 • 16 Pages

JUNE 29-JULY 5, 2018

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DATELINE

USA

Tagle calls for calm amid ‘distraction’ Palace: No apology for ‘stupid God’ remark

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump calls for stripping right to due process for undocumented immigrants AMID the crisis at the border after the Trump administration began separating (and then reuniting) families at the border, President Donald Trump publicly advocated the denial of due process to undocumented immigrants crossing the border, thickening the plot in one of the most polarizing and convoluted political battles of this administration.

Instead of bolstering the backlogged immigration courts who must process the immigration processes of unauthorized asylum seekers, Trump advocates for immediate deportation of these individuals and families without granting them due process of law.

In a series of tweets, the president openly mocked the United States judicial system at a time when Washington lawmakers are grappling with bipartisan consensus on immigration legislation. To add to the complications, federal immigration agencies continue struggle to reunite the more than 2,000 migrant children with their parents after Trump reversed his administration’s policy that separated children from their parents at the border, as previously reported by the Asian Journal.

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Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump’s travel ban Asian American community reacts to the decision to allow the so-called “Muslim ban” THE Trump administration scored a major victory on Tuesday, June 26, when the Supreme Court decided to uphold President Donald Trump’s controversial travel ban, further intensifying the national debate over United States immigration and conduct over immigrants, people of color and Muslims.

The conservative-leaning court ruled 5 to 4 in the case Trump v. Hawai’i in which a federal judge from Hawaii halted the travel ban from taking effect. The court’s conservatives said that Trump’s long history of inflammatory comments about the perceived threat of Muslims in the United States do not undermine his power to implement national security practices.

“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is a tremendous victory for the American People and the Constitution,” the White House said in a statement on Tuesday. “In this era of worldwide terrorism and extremist movements bent on harming innocent civilians, we must

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

by CATHERINE

MODESTO ManilaTimes.net

CARDINAL Luis Antonio Tagle called for calm amid religious outcry against President Rodrigo Duterte’s “stupid God” remark, saying the faithful should not be distracted from other pressing issues confronting the country.

“Be at peace. Be calm. Don’t let things disturb your inner peace. Let us read the Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle ManilaTimes.net photo situation with the eyes of faith,” the Ma-

nila archbishop said in a letter to priests on Wednesday, June 27.

Tagle, who was in Geneva for a UN conference on migrants and refugees, said questions about God and the Bible, such as the story of creation that was the subject of the President’s recent tirades, “are always raised and will continue to be raised.” “[L]et us not be distracted from addressing other pressing concerns with fervor of faith and love, for example, the

increasing prices of goods, job security, exploitation of women and children, violence in homes and neighborhoods, different types of addictions, crimes, vulnerabilities of OFWs (overseas Filipino workers) the daily paralyzing traffic in big cities, flooding, reconstruction of destroyed cities, combating terrorism, corruption and others,” the prelate said.

The Second Vatican Council that modernized the Church, Tagle noted,

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CHR, PNP agree to meet on anti-tambay policy

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

OFFICIALS of the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) have agreed to set up a meeting so they can discuss the rules of the police’s campaign against loiterers who are violating city ordinances and other laws.

Appearing as a guest on “The Chiefs,” a program over One News on Cignal TV, CHR Commissioner Roberto Cadiz and PNP spokesman Senior Supt. Benigno Durana Jr. discussed issues on intensified operations against idlers on the streets in compliance with President Rodrigo Duterte’s directive.

Durana read reminders that Senator Francis Pangilinan posted to the public: remain calm when accosted by the police, ask for the name and unit of the person and the reason for accosting, explain one’s side but not quarrel with policemen and, if arrested, to be allowed to call a relative or a lawyer.

He said people should follow these and warned them against signing any document without understanding its contents and never try to escape when already under

NEW VILLAGE OFFICIALS. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte delivers his speech in front of around 2,000 newly-elected barangay chairpersons in Northern Mindanao region after they took their oath before the President during a ceremony held at the Atrium Convention Center in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, June 25. Duterte announced during the event that he asked the Department of Interior and Local Government to conduct audits on the anti-illegal drugs, anti-terrorism and peace and order operations of the barangays. He then added that he would file charges against barangay officials who are deemed incompetent in keeping their barangays safe and free from illegal drugs.

Malacañang photos by Ace Morandante

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Malacañang: Aquino militarized West PH Sea

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

MALACAÑANG on Monday, June 25, said it was former President Benigno Aquino III’s administration that first militarized the West Philippine Sea (South China Sea), which led to the heightened Chinese presence in the disputed waters.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr., in a news briefing in Cagayan de Oro City, mentioned the decision of President Rodrigo Duterte’s predecessor to deploy the country’s biggest warship to Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal in 2012 to block Chinese vessels from the rich fishing area.

“Just to be realistic, if we will use violence like what Aquino did, which is

u PAGE A3 Former Pres. Benigno Aquino III

Inquirer.net photo

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Manny Pacquiao conquers the highest peak in Maasim, Sarangani province.

Inquirer.net photo by Winchell Campos

‘85% ready’ as SolGen: Constitution does not allow same-sex marriage Pacquiao Matthysse fight draws near

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

The SC ordered all the parties—the petitioners and Calida, and intervenor-oppositors— to file their memoranda within 30 days from June 26.

Philstar.com photo by Miguel De Guzman

GOVERNMENT lawyers remained steadfast in their opposition to the petition seeking to legalize same-sex marriage in the Philippines.

According to Solicitor General Jose Calida, the petition should be dismissed due to lack of merit.

“Same-sex couples can live happily together but they cannot demand that the state recognize same-sex marriages because the Constitution doesn’t allow such unions,” Calida said on Tuesday, June 26, during his opening statement at the oral arguments on the same-sex marriage petition.

“The resolution of the current issue hinges on how the Constitu-

tion defines marriage...The petition is flawed. Careful examination of the petition shows it has no merit,” he added.

The petition was filed in May 2015 by lawyer Jesus Nicardo Falcis III, who described himself in the pleading as “an open and self-identified homosexual.”

Falcis sought the nullification of some parts of the Family Code of the Philippines, specifically Articles 1 and 2, which “define and limit marriage as between man and woman.”

He claimed that the State’s charter does not provide any gender restrictions when it comes to marriage.

Calida argued that although

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by MARK

GIONGCO Inquirer.net

MANNY Pacquiao showed his head trainer Buboy Fernandez and strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune a preview of what to expect in his ring return against Lucas Matthysse next month.

Pacquiao on Tuesday, June 26, flashed his deadly form when he rocked Gherich Chavez with a solid straight to the jaw during sparring that delighted Fernandez and Fortune.

“I would say he is 85 already percent ready and we don’t want him to peak too soon,” said Fernandez.

“He is right there where we

want him to be right now,” said Fortune.

Pacquiao’s power and speed may have diminished in time but he remains one of the best-conditioned boxers.

On Monday morning, Pacquiao conquered the steepest climb in Maasim, Sarangani province.

“It’s a sign that Manny is trying to ask himself questions whether he still has it or not. That talks a lot about his warrior spirit,” said Fortune.

‘The Fight of Champions,’ the biggest boxing event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since the great Muhammad Ali beat Joe Bugner in 1975 is less than three weeks away. ■

A

June 29-July 5, 2018 • neW yORK AnD neW JeRSey ASIAn JOuRnAl

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

From the Front Page

Tagle calls for calm amid...

PAGE A1 called for respect toward nonCatholics and even those who do not believe in God. “Religions are not to be used for conflicts but for mutual understanding and peace,� he said.

Tagle, nonetheless, said there was a need to update the Church’s response to questions of faith, with the help of Bible scholars, theologians, philosophers, scientists, catechists and social workers. ‘Blasphemy in the highest order’ In contrast, evangelical preacher Eduardo Villanueva described the President’s statements as “blasphemy in the highest or- Eduardo Villanueva ManilaTimes.net photo der.� “If you are the highest leader of “In the Bible it says that if you the nation and you are mocking curse God, you are inviting curs- the God invoked by your people, es on the entire nation,� Villan- you are violating the soul of the ueva said in an interview on the nation.�

ABS-CBN News Channel.

Villanueva, along with six other Villanueva quoted from the evangelical leaders, wrote a letter Bible’s book of Proverbs, say- on Monday, June 25, urging the ing that whoever remains “stiff- President to make a public apolonecked� after many rebukes gy before God for his “inappropriwould be “destroyed without ate and insensitive� statements. remedy.� “We see this as a mockery The God of the Roman Catho- against the God we worship,� the lics is the God of all the other letter stated. “We take the stateChristian denominations, he ments as an assault to our faith pointed out. and to us, millions of Christian By insulting Christianity, Filipinos.�

Duterte may have violated the No apology Constitution he had sworn to There will be no apology as protect, he claimed. the President is free to speak The preamble of the 1987 Con- his mind, said Palace spokesstitution invokes the aid of the man Harry Roque Jr., who was Almighty God, “the God of cre- part of a three-man team that ation,� Villanueva said. dialogued with evangelical lead“The very Constitution, the ers in Greenhills, San Juan on soul of the Filipino people, be- Wednesday. lieves in God,� Villanueva said.

In a news briefing after the

dialogue, Roque said the God he knew would not demand a public apology. “The God that I know is a God of love. He is too big for any words that may come from the mouth of a mortal,� Roque said. “My God will not demand a public apology. He is a God of love, and He would wish healing for everyone.�

In an interview on radio station dzMM, Roque said the Catholic Church should not be “onionskinned.� “[I]t is not good that the Catholic Church will be the only one to hurl criticism on the President, and if the President hurls criticism (on them), they cannot accept,� he said.

Roque admitted that the Palace expected a backlash in the wake of the President’s remarks because “that is how democracy works.�

Duterte’s ‘talkkalese’ President Duterte’s daughter, Davao City Mayor Sara DuterteCarpio, weighed in on the controversy, saying critics should focus on his work and not on his interpretations of the Bible. “Please do not listen to him interpret the Bible or Qur’an, he is not a priest, a pastor or an imam,� she wrote on Instagram. “Do not waste your negative energy on his interpretation of the bible, that is his opinion,� she said. “He is protected by the Constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression even if he is President.� “He is the President, listen only when he speaks about his work.

And criticize him on his work not on his ‘talkkalese.’� n

MalacaĂąang: Aquino militarized...

PAGE A1

the reason behind the Chinese presence in the Panatag [Shoal] — the deployment of the Navy ship — will result in a military standoff that we are dodging,�

Roque said. “Let us not forget that it was [former] President Aquino who first militarized [West Philippine Sea] when he brought the Philippine Navy [there]. That is why the Chinese never left the Scarborough,� he added.

According to Roque, Duterte refuses to apologize for his soft-

er approach against China and remain firm by his pronouncements that war would break out if the Philippines took a hard-line approach on the dispute. “The [issue on the] disputed islands, we have to resolve this through diplomacy and we cannot have diplomacy if you are fighting the side that you need to talk to in order to resolve the disputed islands,� Roque said.

Roque’s statement was in response to Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio criticizing Duterte’s constant warning that

fighting for the country’s sovereignty in the West Philippine Sea would lead to war with China.

During the graduation ceremony of the University of the Philippines National College of Public Administration and Governance on Friday, June 22, Carpio said Duterte’s statements were divisive. “[The president] is an author of the foreign policy. His consistent position is we will not give away any territories and we will not fight,� Roque responded. n

FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS Madaba,Mt Nebo,Petra,Aqaba,Jordan

(Tiberias, Ceasarea, Haifa, Meggido,Magdala, Nazareth, Cana, Mt Carmel, Capernaum, Mt Beatitude, Jericho, Bethany, Mt.Tabor, Mount Zion, Mt. of Olives, Old & New Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Qumran, Masada Dead Sea,Allenby Bridge, Madaba, Mt Nebo Petra, Aqaba Jordan)

NO TO FAKE GOODS. Law enforcement and regulatory member bodies of the National Committee on Intellectual Property Rights (NCIPR) and Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) destroy P11.8 million worth of pirated goods at the Philippine National Police (PNP) headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Thursday, June 28. The items are part of the P6.7-billion worth of seized illegal goods during the first five months of the year.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

Trump calls for stripping right to due process for...

PAGE A1 “Hiring many thousands [sic] of judges, and going through a long and complicated legal process, is not the way to go — will always be disfunctional [sic},�

Trump tweeted on Monday, June 25. “People must simply be stopped at the Border and told they cannot come into the U.S. illegally. Children brought back to their country‌‌‌.If this is done, illegal immigration will be stopped in it’s [sic] tracks - and at very little, by comparison, cost. This is the only real answer - and we must continue to BUILD THE WALL!â€?

The day before, he tweeted: “We cannot allow all of these people to invade our Country.

When somebody comes in, we must immediately, with no Judges or Court Cases, bring them back from where they came.

Our system is a mockery to good immigration policy and Law and Order.�

Due process, according to the Supreme Court, is a right for people to exercise legal rights and court processes guaranteed by American law. It allows individuals to challenge action proposed by the government in front of a judge or any neutral decision maker.

Oct 19, 2018 (Fri) Day 2 – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv/ Tiberias Ćž "/ 4" )" / **&$/ 1&,+ +! 201,*0Çž 4" 4&)) *""1 ,2/ ), ) $2&!"Çž 4%, 4&)) " 4&1% 20 !2/&+$ ,2/ 01 6 &+ ,)6 +!Ç˝ "+',6 1%" - +,/ *& 3&"4 ,# 1%" "!&1"// +" +Ç˝ " 4&)) 0-"+! ,2/ Ćœ /01 +&$%1 in Tiberias. Dinner and overnight (D). Beach Holy Eucharist Oct 20, 2018 (Sat) Day 3 – Tiberias/ Meggido/ Nazareth/ Cana/ Mt Tabor We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of We will have short stop in Meggido and the Plains of Armageddon, known in Hebrew as Meggido, a giant fortress and City built by King Solomon.

+ 1%" "4 "01 *"+1 ,,( ,# "3") 1&,+Çž &1 &0 /"#"//"! 0 1%" 0&1"0 ,# 1%" ČŠĆœ + ) 11)"Č‹Ç˝ /,* 1%"/"Çž 4" 4&)) ,+1&+2" ,2/ !/&3" &+1, Nazareth, where we will have Mass in the Church of the Annunciation ,the Cave of the Annunciation and and visit Joseph’s Work0%,- +! %"+ 4" 4&)) *,3" ,+ 1, + ,# )&)""Çž 4%"/" 2/ ,/!

-"/#,/*"! &0 Ćœ /01 *&/ )"Çż % +$&+$ 4 1"/ &+1, 4&+" 1 1%" 4"!Č’ ding feast. We will invite couples to Bless their marriage vows,Con1&+2" 1, ,2+1 ,/ Çž0&1" ,# "020 / +0Ćœ $2/ 1&,+Ç˝ Ćž "/4 /!Çž 4" will head to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D).

Oct 21, 2018 (Sun) Day 4 – Tiberias/Mount Beatitude/ Multiplication / Primacy/ Capernum/Boat Ride “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven�

Early AM departures to Mt. Beatitude Drive up to Mount Beatitudes, visit the site of the Sermon on the Mount, where Jesus preached to the people., Eucharistic Celebration . "+',6 0 "+& , 1 /&!" /,00 1%" " ,# )&)"" 1, -"/+ 2*Çž %,*" ,# 2/ ,/! !2/&+$ %&0 *&+&01/6Ç˝ Ćž "/ 3&0&1&+$ 1%" 6+ $,$2" where he taught, proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the ), 3"0 +! Ćœ 0%"0Ç˝ %"+ 1, 1%" %2/ % /&* 6 ,# 1 "1"/0Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ Oct 22, 2018 (Mon) Day 5 – Magdala 2)) ! 6 /"1/" 1Çž , 20 4&)) + )2!" -/,$/ *0 0"! ,+ 1%" %&01,/&Č’ ) +! ")&$&,20 3 )2" ,# 1%" $! ) 0&1"0 More info coming up as we get closer to the dates

Çž 0/ ") Č” Ç—Ç•Ç•Çž &0 ,3"/&"0 #/,* +"4 / % ",),$& ) !&$ are creating excitement in the area where Jesus began his ministry. The village is called Magdala (Migdal in Hebrew), and it’s the %,*" ,# /6 $! )"+"ǽȋ %" )&3"! %"/" +! 0%" *"1 "020 %"/" and she continued with Him. Yes, it’s that place The most important discovery in Magdala has been a synagogue dating back to the 1&*" ,# "020Ç˝ ,/!&+$ 1, / % ",),$&010Çž &1ȉ0 1%" Ćœ /01 ,+" !&0 ,3Č’ "/"! &+ 1%" )&)""Ç˝ Oct 23, 2018 (Tues) Day 6 – Jordan Valley/ Jericho/ Bethany/ Jerusalem Mass at the Church in Bethany Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" %" ! 1, "/& %,Çž 1%" ,)!"01 &+% &1"! &16 &+ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ &"4 1%" ,2+1 ,# "*-1 1&,+Çž 4%"/" "020 0-"+1 ǙǕ days fasting in the desert. We will visit the ancient ruins of the wall.

We will continue to Bethany and will have mass to celebrate Holy 2 % /&01 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 7 /20Ç˝ %"+ 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" -Č’ 1&0* ) 0&1" &+ &3"/ ,/! +Ç˝ -,+ //&3 ) &+ ,2+1 ,-20 *" +&+$ Mount of the Watchmen/Sentinels, is a mountain in northeast Je/20 )"*Ç˝ +',6 1%" Ćœ /01 3&"4 ,# "/20 )"*Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž 4" will check in at our hotel in Jerusalem (B/D) Oct 24, 2018 (Wed) Day 7 – Jerusalem (Old City)/ Via Dolorosa/ Mount Zion Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher “And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place ,# 0(2))Çž 4%& % &0 ))"! &+ 1%" " /"4 ,)$,1% ǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇžÇżÇ–ÇœČœ We will enter the Old City of Jerusalem and will follow the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and say the Station of the Cross to the holiest shrine in Christendom, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, 3&0&1 ,)$,1% +! 1%" ,* ,# 2/ ,/!Ç˝ Ćž "/ * 00Çž 4" /"12/+ 1, the hotel for breakfast. Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) "+1"/ 1%" )! &16Çž 0&+$ %6*+ &+ 1%" Church of St. Anne and view the Pool of Bethesda. Then we will 3&0&1 1%" % -") ,# ) $")) 1&,+Çž &1%,01/ 1,0 Č›4%"/" 1%" 0,)!&"/0 -) 6"! 1%" *" ,# &+$0Čœ +! 1%" / % ,# 1%" ČŠ " ,*,Č‹Ç˝ Dinner/Overnight

Oct 25, 2018 (Thurs) Day 8 – Jerusalem Mass at the Holy Eucharist Church of St Peter in Gallicantu ČŠ %" ,/! " *" Ć? "0% +! !4")1 *,+$ 20ǽǽǽȋ Č› ,%+ Ç–ÇżÇ–Ç™Čœ " 4&)) 4 )( 1, 3&"4 1%" ,*" ,# 1%" , ( #/,* 1%" ,210&!"Çž +! visit the Western Wall,( Wailing Wall ) the only part of the Herodian Temple still standing and the most sacred place in the world for "40Ç˝ %"+Çž 4" 4&)) !/&3" 1, 1Ç˝ &,+Çž 1, 3&0&1 1%" --"/ ,,*Çž /"Č’ 3"/"! 0 1%" 0&1" ,# 1%" 01 2--"/Çž 1%"+ 02/3"6 1%" ,/*&1&,+ "6Çž +! 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ "1"/ &+ ))& +12Çž %" 0&1" 4%"/" "1"/ !"+&"! "020 1%/"" 1&*"0Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" ! 6ȉ0 1,2/Çž we will return to our hotel for dinner and overnight. Jerusalem (B, D) Oct 26, 2018 (Fri) Day 9 – Mount of Olives/ Gethsemane/ Bethlehem/ Jerusalem (New City)/ Ein Karem Mass at the Church of Nativity ČŠ *,2+1 &+ ,# ,!Çž /" "&3" *"Çž *,1%"/Çž 4&1% *6 %&)!ǽȋ Č› /,1,Č’ "3 +$")&2* ,# *"0 Ç—Ç—ÇżÇ˜Čœ " 4&)) //&3" 1 1%" ,2+1 ,# )&3"0Çž 1, "+',6 +,1%"/ 3&"4 ,# "/2Č’ salem, visit the Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster Church and the ,*&+20 )"3&1 țȊ ,! 4"-1Č‹Čœ 0 + 12 /6Ç˝ "51Çž 4"ȉ)) 4 )( 1%" )* 2+! 6 , ! 1, 1%" /!"+ ,# "1%0"* +"Çž +! 3&0&1 1%" , ( ,# $,+6 +! 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0Ç˝ + 1%" Ćž "/+,,+Çž 4"ȉ)) !/&3" to Bethlehem, a city whose name is recognized around the world. Ćž "/ ")" / 1&+$ 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1&3&16Çž 4" 4&)) 0"" 1%" +$"/Č€ 3&0&1 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ 1%"/&+"Çž 1%" /,11, ,# 1Ç˝ "/,*" +! 1%" %"-%"/!0ȉ &")!0Ç˝ Then we will return to Jerusalem (New City), to view the Temple Model to see how it looked during the time of Jesus. Here, we will gain a better understanding between the old and new cities of "/20 )"*Ç˝ - +"51 &0 1/&- 1, &+ /"*Çž &/1%-) " ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist, to see the Visitation Church, where Mary proclaimed %"/ # *,20 ČŠ $+&Ćœ 1Č‹Ç˝ " 4&)) "+! ,2/ ! 6 6 /"12/+&+$ 1, ,2/ Hotel. (B/D) Oct 27, 2018 (Sat) Day 10 – Jerusalem/ Dead Sea/ Qumran/ Masada Mass at the Church of all Nations Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ")" / 1" * 00 1 1%" %2/ % ,# )) 1&,+0 and then we will drive to Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. Visit Qumran; see the caves where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to Masada, visit Herod’s fortress and the Jew’s last 01/,+$%,)! $ &+01 1%" ,* +Ç˝ "12/+ 1, "/20 )"* #,/ !&++"/ and Overnight (B, D) Oct 28, 2018,(Sun) Day 11 – Jerusalem/ Allenby Bridge/ Madaba /Jordan/ Mt. Nebo/ Aqaba Mass at Mount Nebo On this day, we head to Allenby Bridge and cross into Jordan. We 4&)) $, 1, 1%" -1&0* ) &1" 1 "1% +6Çž 4%& % ,-" ,%+ 2)

3&0&1"! &+ ǗǕǕǕǽ %"+Ǟ &1ȉ0 ,+ 1, ,2+1 " ,Ǟ 4%"/" ,0"0 3&"4"!

1%" /,*&0"! +!Ç˝ 2/ +"51 01,- 4&)) " 1%" %2/ % ,# 1Ç˝ ",/$" &+ ! Çž 4%& % %,010 1%" # *,20 *,0 & * - ,# 1%" ,)6 +!Ç˝ Then we will drive down to Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba (B/D). Mov"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ "Ç˝ Oct 29, 2018 (Mon) Day 12 – Aqaba/Petra Mass at Stella Maris Church – Aqaba Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) ',2/+"6 1%/,2$% 1%" &.Çž 2+1&) 4" $"1 ,2/ Ćœ /01 $)&*-0" ,# 1%" % 7+"% Č› /" 02/6ČœÇ˝ %"+ 4&)) 4" 4 )( !,4+ 1, visit the Temple and view the many caves all around the Theater.

At the end of the tour, we will drive back to Aqaba for overnight and !&++"/ Č› ČĄ ČœÇ˝ ,3"+-& ( "0,/1 Ç” "0&!"+ " Oct 30, 2018 (Tues) Day 13 – Aqaba/ Jerusalem We Cross the Jordanian Border to return to Jerusalem. Dinner/ Overnight Oct 31, 2018 (Wed) Day 14 – Jerusalem /Yad Vashem Museum/ TLV/ LAX Ćž "/ /" (# 01Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" ! 0%"* 20"2*Çž&0 0/ ")ȉ0 ,Ć› & & ) *"*,/& ) 1, 1%" 3& 1&*0 ,# 1%" ,), 201Ç˝ 1 &0 !"!& 1"! to preserving the memory of the dead; honoring Jews who fought $ &+01 1%"&/ 7& ,--/"00,/0 +! "+1&)"0 4%, 0")Ć? "00)6 &!"!

Jews in need; and researching the phenomenon of the Holocaust in particular and genocide in general, with the aim of avoiding 02 % "3"+10 &+ 1%" #212/"Ç˝ Ćž "/ 1%" "01"/+ ))Çž ! 0%"* &0 1%" 0" ,+!Č’*,01Č’3&0&1"!

0/ ")& 1,2/&01 0&1"Ç˝ "12/+ 1, 1%" %,1") #,/ )2+ % +! /") 5 1&,+ &+ -/"- / 1&,+ #,/ ,2/ /"12/+ Ć? &$%1 ( 1, 1%" Ćž "/ !&++"/ 4&)) " 1/ +0#"//"! 1, 1%" &/-,/1 #,/ ǖǿǕǕ * )&$%1 ,3 ǖǞǗǕǖÇ? Č› %2/0! 6Čœ

or permanent.�

Courts have always found that anyone on U.S. soil is protected by this constitutional right, even if they illegally entered the country seeking asylum. They have also upheld that if an order for deportation was given to illegal border crossers, they have the right to challenge those decisions through civil proceedings in immigration courts and judges under the Justice Department.

This process can take months or, in some cases, years due to the intense backlog of immigration cases.

Even immigrants who are ordered for expedited removal can avoid it by seeking asylum; U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services agents will then review the case to see if the applicant has a credible fear of persecution back home.

As previously reported by the Asian Journal, the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance policy� which immediately puts criminal charges on adult border crossers, even those seeking asylum — complicates this protocol. Asylum proceedings are a civil process, but now the government also separately pursues criminal prosecution in federal court. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

Pilgrimage to Some of ITALY’s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist Nov 12, 2018 to Nov 22,2018 Spiritual Director REV.JOEL BUGAS

OCTOBER 18 to Nov 1, 2018 SPIRITUAL CHAPLAIN: REV. ANTONIO FLORES Oct 18, 2018 (Thur) Day 1 – Lax to Tel Aviv, Israel / +0Č’ 1) +1& Ć? &$%1 #/,* 1, "+ 2/&,+ +1"/+ 1&,+ ) &/-,/1Çž ") 3&3Çž 0/ ")Ç˝ Č› " )0 0"/3"! &+Č’Ć? &$%1Čœ

Access to due process has been a mainstay in the modern American judicial system and a fundamental rampart against tyranny. The concept was first introduced in the Constitution as a way to balance the power of law while protecting individuals from abuse of that power.

The Fifth Amendment provides that “No person shall... be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law.� The Fourteenth Amendment — which was adopted after the Civil War to grant citizenship rights and equal protection of the laws for former slaves — also has a Due Process Clause that reinstates the Fifth Amendment text.

Trump’s possible denial of the right of due process for unauthorized immigrants at the border would violate the Constitution, which allows due process for all individuals within the U.S. regardless of citizenship.

In the 2001 landmark Supreme Court case, Zadvydas v.

David, the judges determined that “once an [immigrant] enters the country, the legal circumstance changes, for the Due Process Clause applies to all ‘persons’ within the United States, whether their presence is lawful, unlawful, temporary,

Day 1 – 12 Nov 2018 – (Mon) Day 2 – 13Nov 2018 – (Tues)

- USA - ROME - Rome -,+ ,2/ //&3 ) &+ ,*"Çž our Tour Escort will wel,*" 20 1, 1 )6Ç˝ ,*" &0 the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all ,3"/ 1%" 4,/)!Ç˝ Ćž "/ short panoramic orienta1&,+ ,# 1%&0 1"/+ ) &16 1, 20 ,* + 1%,)& 0Çž 4" 4&)) have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City.

Č› Çž Čœ Day 3 – 14 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Rome / Papal Audience/ Rome

This morning before we continue with our tour, we will % 3" - ) 2!&"+ "Ç˝ %"+ Ćž "/Çž 4" 4&)) 3&0&1 1%" # Č’ *,20 ,)&0"2* +! 0"" 1%" ,/2*Çž 1%" /"3& ,2+1 &+ and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi ,2+1 &+Çž "#,/" %" !&+$ 1, ,2/ ,1")

Č› Çž Čœ Day 4 – 15 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / Basilicas We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, +! "3"+ + &"+1 /""( +! ,Č’ man artists. the largest church &+ ,* + 1%,)& &0*Çž 1Ç˝ "1"/ȉ0 Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary ',/Çž ,)),4"! 6 3&0&1 ,# 1%" Č’ silica. We continue to visit the rest ,# 1%" * ',/ 0&)& 0 4&1%&+ 1%" 4 ))0 ,# ,*"Çž +! 1Ç˝ ,%+ 1"/Č’ an, St Paul Outside the Wall.

We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same 01"-0 1% 1 %/&01 0 "+!"! 1, /" "&3" &) 1"ȉ0 2+'201 ,+Ȓ demnation.

Č› Çž Čœ Day 5 – 16 Nov 2018 (Fri)–Rome /San Giovanni Rotondo Ç—Ç•Ç–Ç? &0 1%" Ç–Ç•Ç•1% ++&3"/0 /6 ,# 1%" 01&$Č’ matization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year . + &,3 ++& ,1,+!,Çž 1%" %,*" ,# 1 Č’ !/" &, ,# &"1/") &+ #/,* Ç—Ç? 2)6Çž ǖǞǖǛ 2+Č’ 1&) %&0 !" 1% ,+ Ǘǘ "-1"* "/Çž ǖǞǛÇ?Ç˝ +',6 1%" !/&3" $,&+$ 1, + &,3 ++&Çž Ćž "/ 4" check in our Hotel.

We visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated 4&1% %&* Çž 02 % 0 1%" %/&+" ,# 2/ !6 ,# / " 1% 1 contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditat&+$Çž 0"" %&0 /,,*Çž %&0 ,+#"00&,+ ) ,5 +! 1%" /2 &Ćœ 5 that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Cel" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 Č› ,1") / + / !&0, Čœ

+ &,3 ++& ,1,+!, (BB,D) Day 6 – 17 Nov 2018 (Sat) – SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body .Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesomeBasilica.

Č› ,1") / + / !&0,Čœ Day 7–18 Nov2018 – (Sun) – San Giovanni Rotondo / Lanciano /Loreto Ç˝ " //&3" 1 + & +,Çž # *,20 #,/ 1%" &/ )" ,# the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The mira)" 1,,( -) " !2/&+$ 1%" Ç?1% "+12/6 when a Basiline monk doubted the " ) /"0"+ " ,# ,2/ ,/! &+ 1%" 2 % /&01Ç˝ " #,2+! %&*Č’ 0")# %,)!&+$ 1%" %,01 1% 1 % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) )"0% +! 1%" &+" ,+ 1%" )1 / % ! % +$"! &+1, " ) ),,!Ç˝ We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine ,# ,/"1, 1, 0"" 1%" # *,20 0 /"! %,*" ,# 1%" *,01 ,)6 *&)6Çž "020Çž /6Çž +! ,0"-%Ç˝ &+ " ǖǗǞǙ 1%" %,)6 %,*" % 0 ""+ ), 1"! &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& ,# ,/"1,Ç˝ ")" / 1" ,)6 2 % /&01 &+ + & +, DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi Day 8 –19 Nov 2018 – ( Mon) Loreto/ Assisi ,! 6 4" "5-),/" 1%" %&))1,- &/1%-) " ,# 1 / + &0 ,# 00&0&Ç˝ + 1%" /6-1 ,# 1 / + &0 0&)& )&"0 1%" 1,* ,# one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, 1Ç˝ / + &0 ,# 00&0&Çž ,)6 2 % /&01 1 1%" /6-1 ,# / + &0 "" 1%" 0&)& ,# 1 ) /"Çž 4&1% %"/ &+ ,//2-1 body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its Cru&Ćœ 5 #/,* 4%& % "020 0-,(" 1, / + &0 ,21 %&0 *&0Č’ 0&,+ &+ ǖǗǕǛǿ ČŠ ,Çž / + &0Çž +! /" 2&)! *6 %,20"Çž 4%& % 0 6,2 0"" &0 # ))&+$ &+1, /2&+ǽȋ " 3&0&1 1%" 0&)& ,# 1Ç˝ Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi 1,,( -) " &+ ǖǗǙǕǽ %" 0* )) %2/ % ,# 1%" ,/7&2+ ,Č’ ) &0 &+0&!" 1%" 0&)& &10")#Ç˝ ,-" ,+,/&20

$/ +1"!

a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble %2/ % ,+ 2$201 Ç–01 +! Ç—+! "3"/6 6" /Çž 4&1% ,+#"0Č’ sion, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) Day 9 – 20 Nov 2018 – (Tues) – Assisi / Siena / Florence We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built &+ 1%" ǖǘ1% "+12/6Çž &1 &0 1/" 02/" %"01 ,# 1%" "+ &0Č’ sance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the city’s history while admiring it’s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europe’s great *"!&"3 ) 0.2 /"0Ç˝ ,+1&+2" 1, ),/"+ "Ç˝ Č› Çž Čœ " 01 /1 4&1% $2&!"! 4 )(&+$ 1,2/ ,# ),/"+ "Çž 1%&0 # 0Č’ cinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria !") &,/"Çž &,11,ȉ0 ")) ,4"/Çž 1%" -1&01"/6 ,# 1Ç˝ ,%+ the Baptist.

"01 ,# 1%" ! 6 #/"" Č› Çž Čœ Day 10 – 21 Nov 2018 (Wed) – Florence / Rome " 3" ),/"+ " /,2+! Ç— //&3"! ,*" )*,01 !&++"/ time (BB.D) Day 11 – 22 Nov 2018 (Thurs) – Rome / USA End of our wonderful Pilgrimage .

Please call QTS Tour and Travel NOW at 1 (714) 288-0800 or (714) 761-6280 1095 N Main St. Suite O, Orange, CA 92867

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29-JULY 5, 2018

A

2 Philippine Navy ships in Hawaii for RIMPAC exercises

by Jaime

Laude Philstar.com

LOW-PRICE GRAINS. A worker unloads a sack of rice from Thailand at a warehouse of the National Food Authority (NFA) in Quezon City.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger Rañada

Supreme Court rules in favor of Trump’s...

PAGE A1 properly vet those coming into our country.”

The travel ban, which is famously known as the “Muslim ban” for the selected nations it affects, was one of Trump’s first proposals. Generally, the ban prohibits travel of nationals from six countries: Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Somalia, Venezuela and North Korea. The administration chose these countries due to terrorist activity as well as lack of cooperation with U.S. officials to collaborate on vetting practices.

In January 2017, he signed an executive order to implement the ban, but it — along with two revised versions — have been shot down in several federal judges, as extensively reported by the Asian Journal.

While Republicans lauded the Supreme Court for validating the party’s national security, outrage over the decision began immediately with protestors who gathered outside the Supreme Court, chanting: “No ban, no wall.”

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), one of the nation’s largest legal organizations which has been challenging the Trump administration’s travel ban since it was first announced, decried the decision, with attorney Omar Jadwat saying the ruling “will go down in history as one of the Supreme Court’s great failures.”

Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ruth Bader Ginsburg said in their searing dissent, “The United States of America is a Nation built upon the promise of religious liberty. Our Founders honored that core promise by embedding the principle of religious neutrality in the First Amendment.

The Court’s decision today fails to safeguard that fundamental principle. It leaves undisturbed a policy that first advertised openly and unequivocally as a ‘total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States’ because the policy now masquerades behind a facade of nationalsecurity concerns.”

Sotomayor also compared the

decision to Korematsu v. United States, the 1944 decision that supported the detention of Japanese-Americans to during World War II, a three-year internment that has become a stain in American history.

Following the ruling, several Asian American lawmakers and organizations condemned the Supreme Court, all dubbing the decision a reversal of American values of inclusivity and racial and religious freedom.

Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.) said in a statement, “Trump’s Muslim ban will never be right. The majority opinion ignored reality and turned a blind-eye on the intent and motivation behind Trump’s discriminatory Proclamation.”

Chu, who chairs the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), pointed out a pattern in Trump’s proposed policies, saying, “This is an intentional strategy, along with his zero tolerance at the border and proposed changes to legal immigration to prevent non-whites from coming to this country.”

Asian American legal organizations also deplored the decision, arguing that, by honoring this practice, many minorities — not just Muslims — may be subjected to “discriminatory targeting.”

“We strongly condemn the Supreme Court’s decision and perpetual of state-sanctioned discrimination as inconsistent with our Constitutional values,” legal and civil rights alliance Asian Americans Advancing Justice said in a statement. “This decision greenlights religious and ethnic discrimination that runs counter to the inclusionary principles to which our country aspires.”

The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA), an alliance of Asian Pacific Islander legal professionals and students, that it is “deeply disappointed” in the ruling, saying, that the Supreme Court’s decision could exacerbate racist and xenophobic behavior toward people of color.

President Duterte wants minors and teenagers to be included in the crackdown on tambays or loiterers, ordering the Philippine National Police (PNP) to take into custody minors who are loitering in the streets to “protect” them against illegal drugs and other threats.

Philstar.com photo by Joven Cagande

CHR, PNP agree to meet on...

PAGE A1 police custody. He also implored people to be aware of the laws and regulations and be alert for rogue police officers who might plant evidence on them, to seek witnesses and, if possible, take photographs and videos.

“Ignorance of the law is never an excuse,” he said.

Cadiz and Durana got in a heated debate over the issue of loiterers being accosted by the police for violations of city and municipal ordinances as Cadiz initially said there was confusion when the police followed Duterte’s order to the letter.

“The people got confused as loitering is not a crime and yet there were arrests,” Cadiz said.

Durana retaliated with “it’s very clear he (Cadiz) is trying to insinuate that we are interpreting the president’s statement word for word,” for implying that they just obeyed President Rodrigo Duterte’s order without any regard to existing laws and regulations.

Durana, though he admitted that some police officers have committed irregularities in the conduct of anti-criminality operations, insisted that there was never any confusion in the PNP when

it implemented Duterte’s order within the bounds of the law.

According to him, erring policemen are being investigated, and cases are not just being swept under the rug.

Aside from this, Cadiz and Durana also fought when the latter stated that 11,251 people in Metro Manila were accosted as of Tuesday, June 26.

Cadiz stressed that these people were not only reprimanded but brought to police stations.

Durana, for his part, clarified that while all the idlers were brought to police stations, only 96 people, or 0.85 percent, were actually charged while the rest were released to their respective barangay officials or parents, in cases of minors.

He also clarified the offenders were only accosted and not arrested as opposed to what Cadiz implied.

The two officials then talked about setting up a meeting to fine-tune the campaign and for the CHR to understand the police guidelines and provide ideas during a break in the program.

Although the meeting is not yet finalized, Cadiz welcomed the opportunity to discuss and thresh out the issues. n

“NAPABA remains concerned that this decision permits and promotes continued discrimination against Muslims, particularly given our nation’s long and painful history of anti-Asian Pacific Islander immigration policies and violence against Asian Pacific American communities,” it added.

The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund Executive Director Margaret Fung chimed in and said that the ruling “will be judged harshly for its unquestioning acceptance of a discriminatory policy motivated by religious bigotry.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

AFTER sailing more than two weeks, two Philippine Navy (PN) warships finally arrived in Hawaii for the scheduled launch of the world’s biggest joint naval drill in the Pacific.

Newly installed Navy spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata said landing dock ship BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) and BRP Andres Bonifacio with an Augusta Wastland helicopter are now docked at Pearl Harbor, all ready for today’s opening of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercises 2018.

“The PN’s participation in this undertaking is indeed an indication that the nation’s premier maritime force is ‘coming of age,’ consistent with its vision toward a strong and credible navy that our maritime nation can be proud of,” Zata said.

Bearing the theme “Capable, Adaptive Partners,” RIMPAC 2018 is the 26th exercise in the series that began in 1971 and is held biennially.

For the first time, the PN sent a Naval Task Force to participate in the world’s largest joint and combined naval exercise scheduled until Aug. 2 in and around the Hawaiian islands.

Zata said this is by far the largest international defense and security engagement that the Navy has taken part in.

Participating navies from around the globe will demon-

Newly installed Navy spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata said landing dock ship BRP Davao del Sur (LD-602) and BRP Andres Bonifacio with an Augusta Wastland helicopter are now docked at Pearl Harbor, all ready for the opening of the Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) Exercises 2018.

Philstar.com photo

strate the inherent capabilities of their respective naval forces through a range of realistic exercises that includes humanitarian assistance and disaster response, maritime security, sea maneuvers and complex war fighting.

“The exercises not only aim to harness other nation’s naval capabilities but also to bolster cooperation among participating nations to secure the maritime commons against threats,” he said.

As scheduled, 26 navies from around the world – Australia, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India,

Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, the United States and Vietnam, deploying surface and sub-surface naval assets, including land-based troops and equipment – are participating in the drills.

Just like the Philippines, Brazil, Israel, Sri Lanka and Vietnam are first timers in the massive naval war games that will also involve, among others, the firing of longrange anti-ship missiles and surface-to-surface missiles. n

A

June 29-July 5, 2018 • neW yORK AnD neW JeRSey ASIAn JOuRnAl

Dateline USa

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Asia Society survey probes barriers in the US workplace facing Asian Americans

Two Filipino fishermen signal they are in distress to sailors from USS Mustin (DDG 89) on Tuesday, June 26. U.S.

Navy photo by MC2 Sonja Wickard

US ship aids stranded Filipino fishermen in West Philippine Sea

by Patricia

Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

A GUIDED missile destroyer of the U.S. Navy assisted two distressed Filipino fishermen in the West Philippine Sea after suffering an engine malfunction.

According to a report from the U.S. Pacific Fleet, USS Mustin was conducting routine patrol on Tuesday, June 26, when watch standers spotted the fishermen frantically waving from their boat.

The U.S. ship immediately provided assistance upon learning that the fishermen’s vessel had engine trouble and were unable to return to shore nor communicate with the Philippine coast guard.

The Filipino fishermen had water onboard but did not have food, according to the U.S. Pacific Fleet.

The fishermen apparently did not have a radio and did not have a way of contacting the coast guard, only relying on the luck of finding other people out at sea for help.

The crew of Mustin contacted a nearby fishing vessel to relay the situation of the stranded fisher-

men, deployed an inflatable boat and towed the adrift boat for the mariners to rejoin their fellow fishermen.

Aside from towing the small fishing boat, Mustin crew also provided food good for three days to the distressed fishermen after making sure that they were safely back with other Filipino fishing vessels.

Cmdr. Warren Smith, commander of USS Mustin, said that his crew feels fortunate that they were at the right place at the right time to assist the Filipino fishermen while patrolling in the South China Sea, part of which is the West Philippine Sea. The Mustin commander added that he was proud of his sailors for safely and professionaly assiting their fellow mariners at sea.

Filipino-American watch standers aboard the U.S. Navy ship provided translation when Mustin assisted the local fishermen.

“That pride extends from my bridge watch officers who spotted the Filipino mariners in the distance indicating distress by wav-

ing their shirts over their heads, to our Tagalog speakers who could break through the language barrier to determine the extent of the distress, and finally to my small boat team for their ability to tow the fishing boat to safety during heavy rain, lightning, and thunderstorms,” Smith said.

Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Nicasio Bone said that he used the ships’s announcing system in breaking the language barrier.

“It is the right thing to do to help people in distress and if anyone was put in the same position as me, they would bring the same help. I was really impressed by how the ship came together at the end of a long day to help these two fishermen; it seemed natural to do,” Bone said.

Mustin is currently deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations and conducting routine patrols in the Indo-Pacific region.

The nuclear-powered “supercarrier” recently docked in Manila as part of its routine patrol in the Pacific. The U.S. ship will be in Philippine waters for four days. n

SolGen: Constitution does not allow...

PAGE A1 t

the Constitution does not limit marriage between a man and a woman, the intent of its framers must be considered.

“Same-sex relationships was foremost on the minds of the framers [of the 1987 Constitution] when they deliberated on the meaning of family and marriage,” stressing that while there was empathy for this sector of society, “both natural law and religious values affirm that the normal family relationship is between man

and woman,” he said.

“The framers intended marriage as a union between a man and a woman. It is clear that marriage has always been defined as a union between a man and a woman primarily to constitute a complete and perfect community between two heterosexual individuals and, consequently, to preserve the human race,” he added.

Calida went on to say that state is not violating anyone’s rights in imposing this limit on marital

unions, pointing out that the “ultimate goal” of any marriage is procreation through natural “sexual cooperation.”

The Supreme Court ended the oral arguments on Tuesday, following around three hours of interpellations.

Both parties were instructed by acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio to submit their respective memoranda, which would wrap up their arguments on the case, and all requested documents within 30 days. n

NEW YORK — Asian and Asian Pacific American (APA) employees in the United States are less likely to attain senior leadership positions, according to Asia Society’s 2018 Asian Corporate Survey. The survey suggests this is partly because APA participants selfreported being less assertive and less likely to speak up and share their perspectives compared to their non-APA counterparts. Indeed, among the five most frequently cited barriers to workplace advancement

by APA survey participants are “cultural background” and “communication skills”.

“There is a cultural mismatch that many U.S. employers may be unaware of, with many APA employees stating they believe they are less likely than their non-APA counterparts to be considered for senior roles at their companies due to cultural differences. This is a great opportunity to make sure that both direct and indirect communication channels are available between employees and managers to accommodate and

address such differences,” said David Whitelaw Reid, Executive Director, Corporate Programs and Talent Initiatives at Asia Society.

To explore the nature, severity, and possible ways to address this gap, for the first time the 2018 survey included 400 non-APA employees in addition to 2,800 APA employees across the United States working in various industries.

“Bamboo Ceiling” The 2018 survey also found that APA employees were more likely to report a shortage of role models, executives and board directors representing their cultural backgrounds.

Over a third of respondents reported no APA presence in the leadership.

“We are seeing a vicious cycle in the workplace. APA employees often do not get considered for senior positions. In turn, this means aspiring Asian employees do not have role models to look up to,” noted Reid.

In comparison to their nonAsian counterparts, Asian

employees had a much lower favorability on a set of measures: • Asian respondents felt that their companies did not comprehensively implement initiatives as stated in their company’s mission statement, programs, policies and procedures.

• Asian respondents also indicated lower favorability on how their managers support the professional growth of employees of Asian background.

• Due to this dissatisfaction, Asian respondents were less likely to care about their company’s overall success and less likely to stay if offered a comparable position somewhere else.

The Asian Corporate Survey is developed in consultation with Asia Society’s Global Talent and Diversity Council, which is comprised of more than 20 diversity leaders from Fortune 500 companies. It includes direct responses from APA employees as well as Diversity & Inclusion/HR departments. n

Xi to US: China will not lose any inch of territory

by Patricia

Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

CHINESE President Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s position on the disputed South China Sea in his meeting with United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis.

Becoming the first Pentagon chief to visit China since 2014, Mattis is in China to seek improved security dialogue with the country.

Chinese state-run Xinhua reported that Xi said the U.S. and China should promote development of bilateral ties based on mutual respect and “win-win” cooperation.

The Chinese leader, however, stressed that Beijing’s stance remains “steadfast and clear’cut” when it comes to its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“Any inch of territory passed down from ancestors can not be lost while we want nothing from others,” Xi told Mattis, as quoted by Xinhua.

Xi noted that military relations between China and the

U.S. maintained “sound development momentum” in the past years.

“It has long been known that the real experts on military affairs do not want to employ military means to solve issues,” Xi said.

Mattis, meanwhile, said that Washington is willing to strengthen strategic communication and expand mutuallybeneficial cooperation as the U.S. attaches great importance to U.S.-Sino relations.

However, both the American and Chinese sides made no mention of certain topics that strained the relationship of the two countries such as Taiwan, militarization of the South China Sea and the Korea peninsula.

In their public comments, Xi and Mattis focused on the importance of US-China military relationship.

“This is an important time in the history of China and the United States as we work our way forward. It reminds me just how important this is for both

of our nations. So I’m here to keep our relationship on a great trajectory, going in the right direction, and to share ideas with your leadership, your military leadership, as we look at the way ahead,” Mattis said.

Mattis’ visit to China comes a month after the Pentagon disinvited the People’s Liberation Army Navy from participating in the 2018 Rim of the Pacific Exercises, the world’s largest multionational naval exercise.

The Pentagon chief has been vocal in his criticisms against China’s conduct in the South China Sea. The Pentagon withdrew its invitation for China as an “initial response” following reports that the latter had deployed anti-cruise ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles and electronic jammers on the artificial islands in the Spratlys. The US also expressed alarm over the Chinese Air Force’s deployment of a nuclear-capable bomber on Woody Island in the Paracel Islands. n

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Dateline PhiliPPines

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International tourist arrivals up 6% in first 4 months

CONFERMENT SPEECH. The University of the Philippines conferred upon Senator Loren Legarda the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws, Honoris Causa, on Sunday, June 24, during the 107th General Commencement Exercises of the University where Legarda was invited to be the Commencement Speaker. The honorary degree was bestowed upon Legarda in grateful recognition of her unequivocal hard work, dedication, passion and commitment as a public servant.

Senate photo

Malacañang sides with DepEd, opposing mandatory drug tests for elementary students

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

Malacañang said on Monday, June 25, that it would not support the Philippine Drug Enforcement agency’s (PDEa) proposal to make drug tests mandatory for students as young as 10 years old, siding with the Department of Education’s (DepEd) stance that such testings are unconstitutional.

Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque said that no mandatory drug tests would be conducted for elementary students.

“We concur with Secretary [leonor] Briones that the Dangerous Drug act limits possible drug testing to high school and not to grade school students,” said Roque during a press briefing in cagayan de Oro. Roque was referring to leonor Briones, DepEd Secretary.

Roque further cited the United States in his statement, saying that the mandatory drug testing among high school students in the states was also seen as unconstitutional.

“In america, random drug testing for high school students was upheld as constitutional but

mandatory drug testing in high school was struck down as being unconstitutional,” he added in Filipino.

The stance came as PDEa officials last week said that they were planning to make drug tests mandatory for teachers and children as young as 10 years old during the 2018 to 2019 school year. PDEa director general, aaron aquino, said that the proposal was in large part due to the agency having once arrested a 10-year-old suspected of drug use.

Following the PDEa proposal announcement, the DepEd said that it opposed testing plans that would have affected 14 million primary school students from grades four to 12, saying that it was against the law.

It said that it also already had a drug prevention program that was supported by Duterte.

“The primary mandate of DepEd is still the integration of preventive drug education in curriculum and instruction,” said the DepEd in a statement.

“The president expressed his full support of the program. Secretary leonor Briones also noted that for the younger set, the di-

rective of the president is to enhance the curriculum on preventative drug education, to which DepEd is responding,” it added.

DepEd began random testing of teachers and students of public and private schools last September 2017.

The department also warned that the testings would require considerably large costs amounting to nearly PHP 3 billion.

“The population of students from grade 4 (the grade level of 10-year old students) to grade 12 total at least 14 million. at P200 per student for the testing alone, the budget will already amount to P2.8 billion,” said the education department.

The Human Rights Watch, which was been critical of president’s controversial war on drugs, criticized the PDEa proposal, calling it the “latest dangerous outgrowth of Duterte’s anti-drug campaign which has already claimed the lives to dozens of children.”

The proposal it added, would “place school children at grave risk.”

The PDEa said that the drug test results would be confidential. n

Ombudsman indicts Abaya over MRT mess

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FORMER Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio “Jun” abaya and 16 others has been charged by the office of the Ombudsman with graft and corruption before the Sandiganbayan, citing anomalies in the 2016 maintenance contract for the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT-3) in which the government stood to lose more than P4 billion. according to investigators, abaya and other transport officials violated Section 3(e) of the anti-graft and corrupt Practices act when they “extended unwarranted benefits, advantage and preference” to the MRT-3 maintenance contractor, Busan Joint Venture.

The Ombudsman, in a statement, said Busan was given special treatment despite not being technically, legally and financially capable to undertake the P3.8-billion, three-year maintenance deal.

The Ombudsman also accused the transport department and Busan of violating the rules for joint venture (JV), as only a potential private partner submitted a statement to enter into a JV, and Busan submitted a registration as a mere specialpurpose company instead of a JV. It castigated abaya, claiming that he could not avoid respon-

Former Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya Philstar.com photo

sibility by “invoking reliance on his subordinates, especially considering that the subject contract is one with a scope and magnitude affecting a big portion of the commuting public in Metro Manila, with an accompanying financial impact on the coffers of the government amounting to more than P4 billion.”

“By allowing the award of the contract to the Busan JV despite the attendant glaring irregularities, abaya deliberately ignored applicable laws, rules and regulations, and standard operating procedures, falling short of or disregarding the required competence expected of him in the performance of his official functions,” it further claimed.

Enricka gonzalez, who had served as abaya’s spokeswom-

an at the transport agency, said they find the decision “unfortunate, considering that Secretary Jun clearly laid out his defense against the poorly crafted and unsubstantiated complaint filed by the [Department of Transportation].”

Meanwhile, lawyer charles Mercado, spokesman for Busan Universal Rail Inc. or BURI, refused to comment.

“If and when we receive such a resolution, we shall study it and take the appropriate action, because it can be or may still be subject to further legal remedies,” he said.

Other former transport officials charged were undersecretaries Edwin lopez, Rene limcaoco and catherine Jennifer Francis gonzales; MRT-3 general Manager Roman Buenafe, assistant Secretary camille alcaraz, Bids committee chairwoman Ofelia astrera, Bids committee chairwoman charissa Eloisa Julia Opulencia, and Oscar Bongon and Jose Rodante Sabayle.

Officials of the Busan JV, composed of Edison Development and construction, Tramat, TMI corp,, Inc., castan corp,, and BURI were also charged by the Ombudsman. These officials are Eldonn Ferdinand Uy of Edison; Elizabeth Velasco of Tramat; Belinda Tan of TMI; Brian Velasco of castan; and antonio Borromeo, Jun Ho Hwang and Elpidio Uy of BURI. n

Sereno on running for public office: It’s an option

by KRistine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

ManIla — “I am open to running for public office. It’s an option.”

Ousted chief justice Maria lourdes Sereno on Thursday, June 28 told anc’s “Headstart” that she is open to running for the Senate.

On May 8, before the Sc’s historic ruling on the government’s quo warranto petition against her, Sereno said that she does not “have such plans” to run for senator. after she was removed as the country’s top judge through a vote of her peers on May 11, Sereno has not given a straight answer on whether she is gunning for a Senate seat.

In her media appearances, Sereno has, instead, said that she wanted to focus her time and energy to hearing the people’s plight about the justice system.

But on Thursday, Sereno gave

a different reply, saying she is open to join the 2019 senatorial race.

Sereno said that the liberal Party has yet to “officially talk” and invite her to join their slate.

Sens. Paolo Benigno aquino and Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan have not made it a secret that they want the former chief justice in the “Resistance coalition,” an alliance among liberal Party, akbayan and Magdalo party-list groups, and Tindig Pilipinas. asked whether she would consider joining the “Resistance coalition,” Sereno said that she is “weighing all options now.”

“My gut tells me I need more time,” she added.

In an interview with OnE news’ The chiefs last week, Sereno said her priority is “to encourage unity among all those who have coalesced their forces in order to fight for judicial independence.”

On June 19, the Sc upheld its voting on Solicitor general Jose calido’s quo warranto petition that

Former chief justice Maria Lourdes Sereno Philstar.com photo

nullified Sereno’s appointment as chief justice with a vote of 8-6.

The Judicial and Bar council has officially opened the call for applications for the chief justice post last Monday, June 25. n

ManIla — arrivals from January to april exceeded the growth target for the year as it registered a six-percent rise, driven by the asia-Pacific region.

In a report, the United nations World Tourism Organization (UnWTO) said the six-percent growth rate is higher than the four-percent to five-percent growth forecast for this year.

“However, the first four months of the year are low season in many countries and therefore not necessarily indicative of the full-year trend,” the UnWTO said.

It added that the growth was a reflection of the strong trend seen in 2017, with full-year arrivals growing by seven percent. asia-Pacific led the growth in the January-april period with an eight-percent increase in international arrivals, with Southeast asia posting a 10-percent rise and South asia recording a nine-percent increment.

This was followed by Europe, which posted a seven-percent growth, which was led by destinations in Southern and Mediterranean Europe and Western Europe, which both grew by eight-percent. growth in the americas is estimated at three percent, with the strongest results in South america, at eight percent.

Similarly, africa posted a sixpercent rise in arrivals in the first four months of the year, led by Subsaharan africa (six percent) and north africa (four percent).

In contrast, the caribbean saw a nine-percent decline in the period, which reflected the mixed performance of the region, as some destinations are still recovering from the impact of last

In a report, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) said the six-percent growth rate is higher than the four-percent to five-percent growth forecast for this year.

Philstar.com photo

year’s hurricanes.

The UnWTO said the January-april period represents some 28 percent of the yearly total arrivals and includes the winter sports season in the northern Hemisphere, the summer season in the Southern Hemisphere, the chinese new Year and the Eastern holiday, among others.

The Department of Tourism

(DOT) earlier reported that the Philippines posted a 12.35-percent rise in international arrivals in the first four months of the year to 2.64 million tourists, higher than the 2.35 million in the same period last year.

For this year, the country is targeting foreign arrivals of 7.4 million under the national Tourism Development Plan. (Philstar.com)

A6

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FEATURES

OPINION

Preventing abuse

FOR going shirtless outside his house in Novaliches, Quezon City, Genesis Argoncillo is dead. The 25-year-old was among the first persons to be rounded up on June 15 in the ongoing campaign targeting istambays — loiterers or idlers in the streets — and tossed into jails already overwhelmed by detainees in the war on drugs.

Worse than the overcrowding, however, was what Argoncillo’s relatives described as bullying by his fellow inmates who belonged to gangs. The relatives said Argoncillo was forced to fork out money so gangmen would stop bothering him.

Argoncillo was beaten to death on the night of June 18 and died the next day. The police initially claimed Argoncillo had died after suffering from shortness of breath.

As the Commission on Human Rights launched a probe, the Philippine National Police sacked the commander of Station 4 in Novaliches, Superintendent Carlito Grijaldo, police jailer Dennis Santos as well as three other cops who were on duty during the beating: Senior Police Officer 3 Ronald Nanola, SPO4 Valerio Perez and Inspector Oliver dela Cruz. At the same time, two members of the Sigue-Sigue Sputnik gang

have been charged for the killing.

Police have been rounding up vagrants for several decades, to keep children and beggars off the streets, apprehend sex workers and their pimps, and generally help prevent criminality. Vagrancy, however, has been decriminalized. And the mass enforcement of city ordinances related to loitering, implemented arbitrarily without clear guidelines on how to go about it, is highly prone to abuse.

While the filing of charges against the gang members and sacking of the police officers on duty are welcome developments, authorities must review the conduct of this anti-crime measure. Or else there could be more Genesis Argoncillos. And this campaign can erode public trust in the police and backfire in preventing crime. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Drug-test officials before school kids

Postscript

FEDERICO D. PASCUAL JR. BEFORE subjecting grade school children to drug tests, the government better conduct first mandatory drug screening of ranking officials in all branches – from Malacañang, the judiciary, the Congress, the military and the police, etc., down to the mayor.

Elective and appointive officials should lead by example instead of looking down and proposing that school children from Grade 4 and above pass the tests as proof that they are not into narcotics. If youngsters could be suspected of drug abuse, why not their elders?

It was a good thing Education Secretary Leonor Briones argued against the planned mandatory drug testing of students and suggested that any screening be random. She said tests should hew to existing laws,

including the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act of 2002.

The original plan of mandatory testing at P200 per student would have cost the government reportedly around P2.8 billion, an amount that could be put to better use under a wellthought-out priority plan.

Based on its own computation, the Alliance of Concerned Teachers said the mandatory drug testing for about 20 million students and over 700,000 teachers nationwide would cost the government as much as P4 billion.

The DepEd already initiated last year discreet drug-testing of some 1,300 officials and personnel at its central office, 3,800 in the regions, 26,000 in the divisions, as well as 10,000 teachers and 21,000 high school students, to determine the effectiveness of prevention programs.

The drug-testing of all ranking officials now being suggested by some sectors before that of young students could

be conducted by a composite group led by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency under the supervision of the Office of the President.

Drug-free officials should have no fear of a testing that is as transparent as a Red Cross blood donation. If some officials demur for legal, medical, religious or whatever reason, the public can make their own conclusion.

As a preliminary feeling out, private media could possibly help gauge the attitude of affected officials by asking them individually a Yes-or-No question if they are willing to undergo a drug test. Reporters can insert that one quick question in their interviews.

The responses can then be collated, tallied and published for the record – a la survey results – as they come in. The officials may choose to explain, but what counts is their Yes or No answer.

Those who should be asked if they are willing to take a drug

test must include the President, the vice president, Cabinet members, SC/CA justices, RTC judges, senators, congressmen, governors, mayors, AFP/PNP generals/colonels, officers and board members of governmentcontrolled firms, the Bilibid prisons director, jail wardens, and PDEA officers.

Priests should not arm themselves Priests who have applied for, or have obtained, licenses to possess and permits to carry firearms should reconsider.

Their superiors should order them to return quickly the licenses and properly dispose of the deadly weapons.

Those who fear for their lives in these violent times should be reminded that a gun, which is designed to maim or kill, does not befit a man of God. Pistolpacking priests are the antithesis of their fellows who would embrace martyrdom for their faith.

Christ himself, while being arrested in the garden of

Gethsemane, admonished Peter (when he drew his sword, swung and cut the ear of the servant of the high priest leading the posse) to put away the sword. The weapon was totally unnecessary.

Years of handling firearms and seeing them used in various situations have convinced me that a sidearm will not save a person – be he a priest or a president – from a determined assassin who has the means, the motive and the opportunity to kill.

Senior Supt. William Señoron, chief of the PNP Civil Security Group, reported last week that some priests have either applied for a gun permit or are renewing their licenses. At least 246 requests for licenses from prelates have reportedly been filed.

With everybody arming themselves against unknown or imagined assailants, we would end up with a sort of arms race that nobody wins except those who want precisely to sow fear

and take advantage of the ensuing confusion.

This reflex reaction recalls recent suggestions for the arming of teachers on some U.S. campuses scared by the spate of mass shootings in schools.

Pistol-packing teachers are not the proper response to that type of madness – in the same way that gun-toting padres will not deter paid assassins.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle has asked the faithful to pray for priests and others “whose lives have been taken by persons without conscience.” He also asked for prayers for government officials for them to look after the welfare and safety of the citizens.

The cardinal said: “We pray for all the people in our beloved country – that we may all be courageous in our faith, steadfast in our belief and resolute in the face of evil threats. Lock the lips and restrain the arms of those who shatter peace and foment hatred that lead to violence.” (Philstar.com)

Aquino, Del Rosario and media hid the loss of Panatag to China from the nation IT’S a cliché for sure, but I can’t help using it in disgust over the episode: “Only in the Philippines.” Indeed, where else could a nation’s loss of its territory be hidden for so long by its President, with the help of a media that claims to be independent?

The inept Aquino government on June 3, 2012 gave up Panatag Shoal (Bajo de Masinloc or Scarborough Shoal) to the Chinese, yet managed to keep it under wraps, so that the truth came out only in trickles over several years. So much so that many Filipinos, even knowledgeable ones, are unaware of that enormous loss, and how it happened, to this day.

This chapter is also an indictment of how media, especially the most powerful newspaper at that time, the Philippine Daily Inquirer, betrayed the nation by wittingly or unwittingly hiding that loss of Philippine territory which was the result of President Aquino III and his foreign secretary Alberto del Rosario’s bungling.

Chinese and Philippine government vessels had been on a stand-off for seven weeks in May and April 2012 in Panatag Shoal, with each party’s vessels refusing to move. On June 3 though, del Rosario without Aquino’s permission, ordered our three ships to leave the area. The Chinese never left the shoal; that’s how we lost Panatag – forever as it were.

Del Rosario, a corporate executive-turned-foreign-affairssecretary, obviously didn’t do

believed then his homework U.S. Ambason this most Commentary sador Harry crucial foreignThomas’ comaffairs issue. munication to In 1975, the him that the Vietnamese U.S. got China had fooled our to agree to a troops who had RIGOBERTO TIGLAO simultaneous been holding withdrawal Southwest Cay (also in the Spratlys) since 1968, of both countries’ ships. Or, as to leave for a party in a nearby Trillanes alleged, del Rosario island that Vietnam occupied. simply wanted the rift between They returned the next morning China and the Philippines to to find that the Vietnamese had worsen. The senator explained occupied their island, barring that he was still working out them from landing on it. The with the Chinese details of the Vietnamese of course never left simultaneous withdrawal when it and even built fortifications on he was told, to his shock, that the Filipino vessels had already it.

But in that case, it was low- left.

Del Rosario would later claim ranking soldiers probably bored out of their wits in a so faraway that the Chinese reneged on its island, who were fooled and lost agreement for a simultaneous our territory; in this case it was withdrawal, although even the US has not confirmed that China our foreign secretary. had agreed to withdraw. He kept Left June 3 The spokesman of China’s for- on referring to a stand-off over eign ministry Li Weimin issued Panatag, never saying that the a statement on Sunday, June 4, Chinese control it after our ves2012 : “The remaining Philippine sels were ordered out.

Banner story vessel finally left the lagoon on The Philippine Daily Inquirer June 3.” The spokesman even arrogantly warned the Philippines: had a banner story on June 16, “China does not hope to see any two weeks after China took conmore provocative behavior that trol of the shoal after del Rohurts China’s interest,” referring sario ordered our vessels out: to what it called “Huangyan in- “PH ships leave Panatag.” The cident” when starting “April 10, banner story’s drophead read: Philippine warships* harassed “ ‘Butchoy’ forces end to standoff with China,” referring to a Chinese fishermen.”

It was Sen. Antonio Trillanes typhoon with international code IV who disclosed that del Ro- name “Guchol.”

The article quoted del Rosasario had ordered the Philippine vessels to leave. Either del rio: “Citing bad weather, PresiRosario was so gullible that he dent Aquino has ordered home

two Philippine ships engaged in a standoff with China over Scarborough Shoal.”

That was a total fabrication.

Typhoon “Butchoy” never even entered the Philippine mainland, and moved on the opposite side of Luzon. And even if it had battered Panatag, its lagoon had been for centuries a refuge for even small fishing vessels to shield themselves from the roughest seas. It was a lie disseminated by almost all print and broadcast media on June 16: GMA News Online: ”Aquino orders pullout of PHL ships from Panatag Shoal due to bad weather”; Rappler.com: “PH pulls out ships from Scarborough due to bad weather”; Philstar: “President Aquino ordered two Philippine ships to pull out of Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal due to bad weather Friday night.”

ABS-CBN News’ report though was a bigger fabrication: “China pulls out boats from Scarborough.” The lede paragraph read: “Following a similar move by the Philippines, China pulled out its fishing boats from Panatag (Scarborough) Shoal last Sunday due to ‘inclement’ weather.” Chinese vessels of course had remained in the shoal in the lagoon, and leaving only when replacements arrive.

The much bigger smokescreen that Aquino and del Rosario employed to conceal their culpability for the loss of Panatag was the case it filed against China at the

Permanent Court of Arbitration for violating the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Even as the PCA’s “award” cannot be enforced – and didn’t rule on who owns Panatag as well as other disputed areas in the Spratlys – the case had portrayed Aquino and del Rosario as boldly fighting for Philippine ter-

ritory, thus concealing that they lost Philippine territory because of their ineptness.

Trillanes disclosure To be honest, I myself for two years had been fooled that we hadn’t lost Panatag and that we were still struggling with China over it, although I had written a

u PAGE A7

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • JUNE 29-JULY 5, 2018

Diokno: PH economy one of region’s fastest-growing

A

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Philippine economy is “bound to be one of the fastest, if not the fastest-growing economy in the fastest-growing region in the world,” Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno said on Wednesday, June 27.

He disputed President Rodrigo Duterte’s remark that the country’s economy is “in the doldrums” and pointed out that economic data showed that the Philippine economy was “doing well.”

“The numbers don’t lie,” Diokno said during a news briefing, in response to inquiries about Duterte’s statement on the country’s economy.

“You look at the facts. Not impressions. Not perceptions but the hard facts and you’ll be convinced that it’s not the case,” he added.

According to him, the Philippines is becoming a more attractive destination for foreign investors.

Diokno said, “The Philippines now is very attractive to investors. In fact, people say we’re now the number one choice as an investment destination. So let’s not change the conversation. We’re in a very good place.

We’re doing very well.”

He is confident that the investors would not be discouraged despite Duterte’s remarks.

“I think the foreign investors know the facts. They are intelligent people. They discount state-

Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno discusses the status of government spending in a breakfast briefing at the DBM Executive Lounge on Wednesday, June 27.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Bob Dungo

ments coming from the political side. In fact that’s what we are trying to do on the economic side,” Diokno said.

Duterte said the economy is “in the doldrums” in a speech in Davao City on June 22. He cited slow-moving state projects in the provinces and rising interest rates as the reason behind the decline.

The mega-projects in Metro Manila should be implemented on time, he added.

“In Manila, they’re starting on the mega projects. Well, I supposed that they should be doing it on time. But in provinces, it’s a doldrums thing,” Duterte said.

The statement was issued after the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas hiked interest rates for the second time since September to temper rising consumer prices.

The Philippine economy grew

by 6.8 percent in the first quarter, but it is lower than the government’s target of 7 to 8 percent due to higher commodity prices.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. explained that the reason why the President called for the timely implementation of the “Build Build Build” infrastructure program and pushed for federalism is because of the slow progress in the provinces.

“Our economic growth is not evenly distributed. Provinces are lagging behind in terms of progress and projects,” Roque said in a news briefing.

He added, “That’s why the president wants to fast-track the implementation of ‘Build, Build, Build’ in the provinces and he is calling for Charter change toward federalism because it will really provide the solution to the uneven distribution of growth.” n

Aquino, Del Rosario and media hid the loss...

PAGE A6 column during the stand-off explaining that it was Aquino who triggered the crisis when he sent our biggest warship in the area (“Scarborough fail: How Aquino blew it,” May 4, 2012), It is ironic that it was in an interview in November 2014 with Trillanes, in which he alleged del Rosario’s culpability for the loss which he claimed was deliberate, that I realized that our government stupidly lost Panatag to the Chinese.

To this day, it has been only specialized articles on the South China Sea by foreigners that we are told unequivocally that the Aquino administration lost Pana-

tag in 2012. A recent one was an article in a book (Examining the South China Sea Disputes: Papers from the Fifth Annual CSIS South China Sea Conference) which narrated: “In the Scarborough Shoal incident of 2012, China’s Fisheries Law Enforcement Command (FLEC) prevented the arrest of Chinese fishers by a Philippine coast guard cutter … The FLEC ships moved between the Philippine cutter and the fishing ships, beginning a standoff that ended when Manila withdrew its cutter and other vessels, and China occupied Scarborough Shoal.”

A report of the Center for Naval Analyses, a think-tank for the

U.S. military, explained the implications of such occupation: “China resolved the sovereignty dispute with the Philippines over Scarborough Shoal in 2012 when it established control over the shoal. Again, it is unlikely to relinquish it. The government of the Philippines is in no position to even begin to contemplate the use of force to recover Scarborough, and the United States is not going to become involved in any attempt to expel the Chinese.”

On Wednesday: Aquino and del Rosario begged U.S. to intervene in the Panatag stand-off, and were rudely rebuffed. (ManilaTimes.net)

WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. President Rodrigo Duterte gives words of encouragement to the injured soldiers who figured in a road accident recently. The President visited the injured soldiers at Camp Evangelista Station Hospital in Cagayan de Oro City on Monday, June 25.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

Aklan gov, 16 others face graft over Boracay neglect

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

THE Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) filed graft and administrative charges against Aklan Governor Florencio Miraflores, Malay Mayor Ciceron Cawaling, and 15 other municipal officials on Wednesday, June 27, for neglect of duty that turned Boracay into what President Rodrigo Duterte described as a “cesspool.”

Other provincial officials facing charges are Penro Valentin Talabero, Vice Mayor Abram L. Sualog, Sangguniang Bayan Members Natalie Cawaling-Paderes, Jupiter Aelred Gallenero, Frolibar Bautista, Lloyd Maming, Dalidig Sumndad, Maylynn Aguirre-Graf, Danilo Delos Santos, and Dante Pagsuguiron; Licensing Officer III Jen Salsona, Menro Edgardo Sancho, and Punong Barangays Hector Casidsid of Barangay Yapak, ChonaGabay of Barangay Manoc-Manoc, and Lilibeth Sacapano of Barangay Balabag.

According to DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III, Milaflores has “general supervision over all component cities and municipalities in the province of Aklan” and failed when he allowed the proliferation of illegal establishments.

The preventive suspension of the said officials is currently being sought by the DILG for reportedly causing undue injury to the government and administra-

DILG Undersecretary Epimaco Densing III (left) pushes a trolley loaded with administrative and criminal complaints against Aklan officials at the Office of the Ombudsman in Quezon City on Wednesday, June 27. The officials were charged for neglect of duty that led to Boracay’s environmental crisis.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

tively liable for grave misconduct, gross neglect of duty, conduct unbecoming of public officials and conduct prejudicial to the best interest of the service.

Said officials failed to manage Boracay’s cleanliness and even issued business permits to establishments that did not comply with the requisite Fire Safety and Business Code.

Densing said the alleged anomalous transaction involving the collection of environmental

fees in Boracay in the last five years was not included in the charges filed.

He also said that the DILG is just waiting for the result a special audit by the Commission on Audit (COA) of the environmental fees to see if they can file another set of charges.

“This is just the first tranche.

We are talking about administrative and criminal charges against incumbent officials,’’ Densing said. n

A

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Cover photo by Amaal Said

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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 J u N E 29, 2 0 1 8

Fil-Am Elaine Castillo’s debut novel earns rave reviews

by MoMar

G. Visaya/AJPress

“[AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART is] a love story, a multi-generational family epic, and a deeply personal, lavishly painted portrait of lives in revision . . .With a sophistication rare in a first novel, Castillo recognizes a larger network of suffering—an understanding that trauma is, along with our mutual need for love, food, sex, and a coherent sense of self, one of humanity’s least exclusive clubs . . . [AMERICA IS NOT THE HEART] has an offhand vitality that startles on every page with its compassion and humor.”— Megan O’Grady, Vogue The chorus of praise for Elaine Castillo’s debut novel “America is Not the Heart” is a symphony of adoration from mainstream publications and critics such as New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Cosmopolitan, Elle and Vulture, among others.

Castillo has been called “one of the most promising new voices in fiction” and her book, published by Viking Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House as “extraordinary, exquisite and evocative”.

The 33-year-old Milpitas, California-based author was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley, and received her MA in creative and life writing from Goldsmiths, University of London.

Her dad, from Ilocos Sur, was a surgeon before she was born and when she was growing up, she remembered him working as a security guard. Her mom, from Pangasinan, worked as a nurse.

“I have one younger brother and three older half-siblings from my father’s first marriage, we’re a little mixed family. Minsan baby ako, minsan ate,” she shared in between bites of longganisa.

We were at Jeepney with a big group enjoying a hearty kamayan feast. For someone who has already read the book, the kamayan dinner was most appropriate.

Castillo wrote unapologetically about Filipino language, culture and food, the one she grew up eating, particularly dinuguan, pinakbet, daing na bangus, Pinoy pork BBQ and of course the classics: pancit, lumpia, and lechon.

She recalled writing about 1,000 pages for the book’s first draft. By the time it was ready for publication, it was whittled down to 400 something pages.

“It was surreal and I was in denial. If you’re a writer and you’ve been writing for so long, you don’t really believe that it exists in the universe. You just know it as something that exists in your Word document,” she reminisced the moment she turned in her final draft. “I felt a kind of detachment from it – okay, this is for the readers now, there’s some alienation from it.”

She said it took three years of editing, starting in 2013 when she wrote the prologue. She thought she was going to write it from another perspective but she couldn’t write from that same point of view anymore after writing about 200 pages of text.

Then she shifted to a POV

of someone from the NPA or New People’s Army, one that has always been at the back of her head.

“We have a family member – who I never met - who is a highranking NPA official. I knew I had to write from her perspective. It was a seed planted in my head.

That character knows Roni and the other characters and that was when the entire world sort of opened up,” she shared.

Back from PH Castillo was still giddy with excitement when we met.

She was just in Manila a little over 24 hours earlier as part of her book tour where she headlined the Philippine International Literary Festival and World Book Day celebrations. She was there for about eight days.

“It was absolutely life changing for me,” she admitted.

Her first time was when she was kidnapped - spoiler alert – much like a character in the novel. Second time was 22 years later and obviously, she said there was some trauma about going to the Philippines.

Besides, going back to the Philippines for vacation was unheard of for her and her family.

“The only people I knew who regularly went back were in a middle class family or upper middle class who could afford to do it. My parents couldn’t afford to do that. I’ve never been on a vacation,” she said.

This year it was totally different.

“This was my first time going back as an adult, without my family, not as a daughter or cousin of somebody. It gave me a relationship with the Philippines, with Manila that I hadn’t anticipated ever really happening,” Castillo admitted.

Aside from meeting new friends and starting relationships she never imagined she’d be able to make, Castillo is ecstatic to learn about the state of the literary world in the country her parents call home.

“The things that I learned, the literary scenes in the regions and not just in Manila, and the kinds of comics atmosphere there; and the real, radical resistance to a regime,” she quipped. “It was deeply nourishing and revivifying in a way where I now think, when do I go back?”

She mentioned buying books of the amazing writers and authors she met, among them Glenn Diaz (“The Quiet Ones”), Kristine Ong Muslim (“The Drone Outside” and “Black Arcadia”) and Emiliana Kampilan (“Dead

Elaine Castillo with Nicole Ponseca, owner of Jeepney and Maharlika.

Elaine Castillo with Elda Rotor, Vice President and Publisher for Penguin Classics about to enjoy the kamayan feast prepared by Chef Miguel Trinidad at Jeepney. Filipino food is almost on every page of her book, something that Castillo said she did not realize at first.

AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya

Balagtas Tomo 1: Mga Sayaw ng Dagat at Lupa”).

Memorializing Milpitas Growing up in the Bay Area, she said there were only a few Filipino-American authors that she knew of.

Castillo grew up in what she describes as a very Filipino neighborhood in a very Filipino atmosphere. Her town, Milpitas in California is a majority minority and there’s a large Filipino, Vietnamese, Mexican, Taiwanese communities there, which is why she said she didn’t grow up thinking of herself as a minority.

“I read quite a lot of translated works, which I realize now probably is a sub-conscious political response to a white mainstream canon. I read a lot of Filipino American writers from Jessica Hagedorn to Carlos Bulosan. That book, “America is in the Heart”, was the first time I ever read about someone from Pangasinan,” she said.

Castillo had read books about the Philippines but most of them focused on Manila and the rich people who lived there. She found it hard to reconcile that with the stories of her parents about provincial life, which is why she immediately related to Bulosan’s description of rural life in his own hometown of Binalonan, Pangasinan.

Asked if her novel is her response to Bulosan’s classic masterpiece, she replied, “To be honest, I didn’t actually think of the title as the grand, ambitious answer to Bulosan.”

“As a Filipino, I like a pun. So whenever I read the title America is in the Heart from Bulosan, I always thought, ‘America isn’t the Heart’ just as a rhyming joke that I

about two young women struggling to forge their identities after shedding past versions of themselves.

“The main character is a bisexual woman who is a former NPA rebel. For me personally, I am a bi woman myself. I would love to see more bi characters in fiction, I don’t think I see enough,” she lamented.

The novel follows Geronima (“Hero”) de Vera, a Filipina doctor and communist rebel who is captured from a remote insurgency outpost by the military.

After enduring isolation and torture, she is finally released from prison and her wealthy family helps her escape the country.

Hero finds refuge with a favorite uncle now living in a tight-knit Filipino-American community in Milpitas, California.

Slowly, Hero adjusts to her new life as an undocumented immigrant. Unable to immediately mend the bonds shattered by class difference and misunderstood vulnerabilities with her blood relatives in Milpitas, Hero finds surprising refuge in the larger Filipino community--who welcome her

used to say to myself. It was never a big thing. It came from that private, personal joke,” she said.

At the Asian American Writers Workshop in New York a few days later, Castillo shared the stage with poet Joseph Legaspi and author Luis Francia in a panel moderated by another author, Gina Apostol. The event was sponsored by Kundiman and PAL / Pilipinx American Library, a moveable non-lending library that celebrates Filipinx narratives.

“I was a very big reader as a kid but at that point, I didn’t know I was going to be a writer.

I didn’t read him (Bulosan) in class, I found him in a library and I was around 13, 14,” she shared.

“We are all in some way kids of Bulosan. It was the first Filipino book I read that talked about Pangasinan and the rural poverty that my mom came out of.”

Hero’s Story Loosely based on Castillo’s family history, America is Not the Heart is a fierce, heartbreaking novel that traces the promises and limitations of the American dream over three generations in one family. It is also a deeply affecting, modern love story

with a gentle compassion and easy acceptance that she has never experienced before.

The book reveals a side of the San Francisco Bay Area that is sorely lacking in representation.

Castillo’s Milpitas is not the glittering techscape most often portrayed in the media; it takes place in strip mall beauty salons, church multi-purpose rooms, and Filipino restaurants.

Castillo’s characters speak in English and Tagalog, Pangasinense and Ilocano. They visit emergency rooms and faith healers. They work graveyard shifts and over-mortgage their homes, supporting a rotating cast of family members in need. Castillo is at once generous and incisive in how she writes about the inequality, immigration, sexuality, multiculturalism, and power in contemporary American life.

Exuberant reviews aside, “America is Not the Heart” is a great addition to the growing diaspora’s own literature since it presents not just a snapshot of Filipino immigrant life in America but also one that is rich and replete with details of Filipino culture and history.

TNT Boys astonish music world over and over again Jo Ann Cordero-Belen: A Pinay in by arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

JUST 10 months after the first “Tawag ng Tanghalan Kids” winner was declared in June 2017,threeofthe grandfinalists—11year-old FrancisConcepcion, 12year-old MackieEmpuerto and 13year-old KieferSanchez—collectively known as TNT Boys have conquered UK television.

Their cover of Beyonce’s “Listen” on “Gandang Gabi Vice,” which became viral landed them on “Little Big Shots” where they performed the same song for the English audience in April. Their performance, according to comments on the show’s YouTube channel, brought goosebumps to viewers, many of whom were non-Filipinos.

Not long after, they were on the original version of the show in the US hosted by Steve Harvey, and again, their rendition of the Beyonce hit commanded a standing ovation.

Popular talk show host Ellen Degeneres, who is co-producer of the kiddie talent show, called out the former Destiny’s Child member on social media saying, “Beyonce, I hope you watch Sunday’s Little Big Shots.”

the smash-hit Avengers: Infinity War

REMEMBER the Filipina visualeffects compositor featured in this corner a decade ago (A Pinay with the “Dark Knight” Team) when she worked on that movie starring Christian Bale and the late Heath Ledger as The Joker? She’s none other than Jo Ann Cordero-Belen who has gone a long way since then.

After “Dark Knight”, Jo Ann has The ultra talented TNT Boys revel in the standing ovation Steve Harvey’s ‘Little Big Shots’ worked on 31 more films including audience gave them in the U.S. ABS-CBN photo such other hits as “Fantastic “Imitation truly is the sincerest form Beasts and Where To Find Them”, Back home, the TNT Boys were of flattery! Thank you #TNTBoys @ selected as “Your Face Sounds “Black Panther”, “Justice League”, YourFacePH for your rendition of Familiar” contestants, with them “The Mummy”, “Fifty Shades “Too Much Heaven” #MyBeeGees” doing “Too Much Heaven” by the Freed”, “Fifty Shades Darker”, sharing the YouTube link of the trio’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Bee Gees on the debut episode. performance.

Judge Gary Valenciano Men Tell No Tales”, “Alice Through In the next two weeks of the expressed amazement on how The Looking Glass”, “Spongebob contest, they chose to impersonate Out of the Water”, “Jupiter the boys excelled in their chosen the Apo Hiking Society with their song, while another judge, Sharon Ascending”, “Transformers: Age of rendition of “Mahirap Magmahal Cuneta, said she hoped Barry Gibb, Extinction” and many more.

Ng Syota Ng Iba” then as Salbakuta the only surviving member of the “Jo Ann spent eight months for “S2pid Luv.” It was on the fourth trio brothers— after Maurice died of exhaustive work under the week of the show that TNT Boys in 2003 and Robin in 2008—was Method Studios just to make finally topped the competition as watching “so he’d know how the visuals of ‘Avengers: Infinity Destiny’s Child with “Survivor.” They War’ beautiful,” wrote Jo Ann’s talented this generation of Filipinos did good as Aegis singing “Sinta” on mother, Rosalinda Cordero (of is.”

True enough, Gibb tweeted, Continued on Page 4 2-2 Pacimar Estate, Angeles City),

Jo Ann Cordero-Belen (front row, second from left) with the Method Studios visual-effects crew of Avengers: Infinity War. Philstar.com photo

a public school teacher who, in a letter, updated Funfare on her daughter’s rise as one of Hollywood’s A-List visual-effects compositors. “Our family is so proud of her.” (Jo Ann’s father is Jose Cordero, a former public school teacher and an OFW.) And to think that the big dream of then starry-eyed teener Jo Ann was only to be her idol Steven Spielberg’s water girl!

“That was the only way I could think of to enter the gate of Hollywood,” according to

Jo Ann, who is also a part of the Avengers film.

In that 2008 Funfare story, Jo Ann’s sister, Dr. Jocelyn CorderoBumanlag (of Angeles City), said that Jo Ann “is an alumna of the century-old (1908-2008) UP College of Fine Arts, batch 1992; and finished pre-school, elementary and secondary education also century-old (19072007) Holy Family Academy in Angeles City from 1986 to 1987.”

When Dr. Jocelyn saw Jo Ann’s Continued on Page 6

Immigration Corner

July 2018 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: FAMILY CATEGORY:

Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ Each month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. a priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and UScIS indicates on its website it will use the application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA [Select a handful of those things on your bucket list that have the highest chance of coming to fruition given your time frame. In tech speak, this means before your life’s energy goes into ‘low batt mode’ and life has run out of sockets to plug into.]

EVER wonder how the Peach Melba dessert got its name?

It was said that the celebrated

Unmarried sons and daughters of US citizens (over 21 years of age)

First Preference

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

February 15, 2008

June 1, 2006

(2A) Spouse and minor Second Preference children (below 21 years December 1, old) of green card holder 2017

December 15, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens

August 1, 1995 April 15, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens

December 1, 1995

March 22, 1995

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

February 1, 2007

Second Preference

Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

January 1, 2017

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

January 1, 2017

a green card. *** 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)

The bucket list Whip up your signature dish (Fifth of a series)

“Food is a way of making a connection with others and making memories.”

French chef Auguste Escoffier named the confection after his friend, the soprano Nellie Melba of Melbourne, Australia. She would dine in the restaurant where he was chef and would give him tickets to the opera where she was the main draw.

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY J u N E 29, 2 0 1 8

June 22, 2016

(2B) Unmarried sons and daughters (21 years old or older) of green card holder

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

An Asian Journal Magazine

Nellie Melba was the late 19th century equivalent of a celebrity these days that could pack opera houses for the elite in London, Paris and New York. On a historical note, Escoffier partnered with Cesar Ritz (from whose name Continued on Page 6

FATHER AND DAUGHTER REUNITE AFTER 40 YEARS OF LIFE-CHANGING CHOICES AND “MISFORTUNES” ON AN ENCORE EPISODE OF “CITIZEN PINOY!” Decades ago, Tatay Rolando left his wife and daughters in the Philippines to seek a better life in the U.S. After getting his green card, he petitioned his family, except for Anna Lyn (center) who had turned 21, and was left behind. The years that followed became a series of rough twists and turns for Anna Lyn, including being caught attempting to enter the U.S. on a fraudulent visa.

After a fraud waiver prepared by another attorney was denied, leading US immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel put together a convincing fraud waiver package that was quickly approved, paving the way for the much-awaited, happy reunion of this family on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – Sunday at 6:15 (Advertising Supplement) p.m. (PST) on TFC.

AARP invests $60-M in the dementia discovery fund to kick-start its ‘Disrupt Dementia’ campaign New AARP physician survey underscores the need for innovative solutions to world’s brain health crisis impacting more than 50 million people

WITh nearly 10 million new cases of dementia and alzheimer’s disease occurring each year, and no cure, aaRP launched on June 25, Monday, a new campaign, “Disrupt Dementia.” The campaign aims to help drive new diagnostics and treatments for dementias while providing education, support and hope for patients and family caregivers impacted by the physical, emotional and financial stress of dementia.

The centerpiece of the campaign is aaRP’s new $60 million investment in the Dementia Discovery Fund (DDF), the first and largest venture fund focused Katie Couric interviews Jane Krakowski about her experience as a caregiver (along with her mother) when her father was diagnosed with dementia. At one point, Krakowski became on discovering and developing emotional as she recalled the struggle that their family had to go through.

Continued on Page 6 AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

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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 J u N E 29, 2 0 1 8

Grand opening of 99 Ranch Market Hackensack Store 99 Ranch Market, the leading Asian American supermarket chain, has officially marked its third store in New Jersey with a grand opening celebration held on June 27, 2018.

The new Hackensack store occupies around 60,000 sq. ft. It is close to The Shops At Riverside and located at 450 Hackensack Ave, Hackensack, NJ 07601. As the ideal Asian Market within the area, it provides surrounding area residents with the best tasting, freshest and most flavorful foods at highly competitive prices.

99 Ranch Market always develops new business models and constantly expands its business to meet customers’ needs. The Hackensack store provides a comfortable shopping environment, with a wide array of products and a full selection of specialties, along with attentive and friendly customer service.

Here you will find the freshest vegetables including Filipino favorites such as camote tops (talbos ng kamote), upo, patola (Chinese okra), bitter melon and seasonal fruits such as mangoes, pineapple, dragon fruit and different kinds of bananas. No matter if you prefer local items or those imported from other areas, 99 Ranch Market will perform every effort to meet your needs.

A wide variety of live seafood products including crabs, lobsters, prawns, fish, clams, and oysters are available, along with free cleaning, deep frying and steaming services which are available at the Seafood department. From bangus (milkfish) to tilapia and hito (catfish) and galunggong, to all other major seafood in between, it is available at 99 Ranch. In the meat department, quality meat items are prepackaged to provide convenience to the customers.

The hot deli section offers those who advocate for authentic and delicious Asian cuisines. Popular house-made dim sum, self-service meals, barbequed and marinated products and much more are also available. The bakery department serves fresh baked goods every

Mark Bautista

Inquirer.net photo

All is well with Mark months after his controversial book came out

by Clarizel abanilla Inquirer.net

ACTOR and balladeer Mark Bautista said all is well now months after he released his controversial book “Beyond the Mark.”

At a recent press conference for his latest musical “Eto na!

Musikal nAPO,” Bautista said, “Bestseller siya sa National Bookstore and so far okay naman ‘yung pagtanggap ng mga tao.

(It’s a bestseller at the National 99 Ranch Market in Hackensack offers Filipino favorites like snails and ube, talbos ng kamote, patola (Chinese okra) and frozen sili leaves, pandan Bookstore and so far, people have and ube and various Pinoy ice cream flavors and juices such as calamansi, mango and pineapple. This is their third store in New Jersey after Edison accepted it well.)” and Jersey City. Their fourth one in the east coast will open in Maryland in the next few months.

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya In the book he released earlier this year, Bautista spoke about Coupons are only good for the purchase receipt of $30 or more day. From tiramisu, cheesecake how he was sexually molested purchase of Housemade Bakery and redemption voucher). and birthday cake, you can find by a distant cousin when he was Products and Hot Deli items.

You will also receive a gift if you all these delightful pastries in This weekend 06/30 and 07/01, young. provide personal email address the bakery department for any For many years, Bautista did customers can play spin the wheel or subscribe to one of 99 Ranch occasion. not speak about what he went game and receive a gift with a Market’s official social media 99 Ranch Market opened through. He now encourages purchase receipt of $30 or more. accounts. Additionally, double its new store in New Jersey and parents to be more cautious about For more information about coupons promotion is here for appreciates every opportunity to 99 Ranch Market Hackensack store, the people that their children you! With your purchase of $20 or participate in community activities interact with. please follow our announcements more, you will receive a $1 coupon. in the region. 99 Ranch Market Bautista also revealed in the in local newspaper and social During Monday through Friday aims to provide the best shopping book that he was bisexual, having media, or visit our official website with the purchase of $60 or more, experience for all customers. had relationships with both men at: www.99ranch.com on Saturdays and Sundays with For the Grand Opening (Address: 450 Hackensack Ave, and women. the purchase of $80 or more, you’ll celebration of the Hackensack During the press con, Bautista Hackensack, NJ 07601; Phone: 201receive two $1 coupons for every store, the first 200 customers 489-8899) $20 you spent. Single Receipt Only. received a gift pack (with the (Advertising Supplement) admitted that not everyone had

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a positive reaction to what he divulged in the book.

“Siyempre hindi ko ma-please naman lahat. Maraming iba-ibang reaction but now na nalagpasan ko siya, saka wala na nagsasabi na negative sa akin. ‘Yung first lang na lumabas may parang na-shock. (Of course I couldn’t please everyone.

There were different reactions but I’ve gotten over it and no one is telling me anything negative about it. At first, however, there were some who were shocked.),” he said.

“Siguro after noon, nabasa na nila or something, and alam na nila na malinis ‘yung intensyon ko for the book and now marami akong natatanggap na maraming nainspire sa book, marami na one way or the other, natulungan sila ng libro. (Perhaps after they read the book, they knew that my intentions were pure and I’ve been getting comments that many were inspired by the book, or were helped by the book, one way or the other.),” he added.

He said he was grateful for the support of his fans not only for his book but for all he had undertaken throughout his 15 years in the industry.

Comcast expands number of international channels available nationally Comcast makes 42 international channels available coast-to-coast for Xfinity TV customers; coupled with the recent sling international integration, the international experience on Xfinity X1 now offers more than 415 networks in more than 20 languages

PHILADELPHIA, PA – Comcast today announced that it has expanded the number of international channels that are available to Xfinity TV customers by including 42 networks, now available nationally on Xfinity X1 and through the Xfinity Stream TV app and portal on mobile devices, computers, and Roku devices in the home.

From Bollywood movies and Chinese news, to Russian cinema and Brazilian telenovelas, X1 customers can now find and enjoy foreign language content such as STAR India PLUS, Zee TV, TV Asia, Globo, Record TV, TV5Monde, TV JAPAN and Willow sports content.

Coupled with the recent addition of Sling International on X1, the new international experience on X1 now includes over 415 networks in more than 20 languages and the content is organized and curated in a way that makes search and discovery by geography or language simple and easy.

X1 customers can just say “International” to go directly to the International destination on Xfinity on Demand. Additionally, customers can use their voice to discover programming relevant

to a specific region of the world - “Asian Entertainment,”“South Asian Entertainment,”“European Entertainment,” or “Brazilian Entertainment” are all voice commands that take the viewer directly to a curated assortment of channels, shows, movies, music and more. With more than 1.5 billion voice commands generated in the first quarter of 2018 alone, X1 customers are using the X1 voice remote more than ever to find the content they love.

“Xfinity X1 is now the go-to platform for the best international programming and viewing experience,” said Rebecca Simpson, Executive Director, International Strategy for Comcast Cable. “With the demand for multicultural content increasing, we are thrilled to complement our existing array of international programming by adding more channels all thoughtfully curated into an easy way to navigate, discover and enjoy.”

X1 customers can access the current international programming that is part of their subscription, or quickly subscribe to additional channels and/or packages of interest, which include: TV shows and movie

collections from countries including Brazil, China, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, the Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Asia, and Vietnam.

Multicultural networks available on the Sling International X1 app, featuring content from different countries in 21 languages, including Chinese (Beijing TV, CCTV News and iCable News), South Asian dialects (GEO TV, Jus Punjabi, Aaj Talk, and Bollywood News), and Arabic (Al Jazeera, ART Movies, and MBC).

Programming, music and more from around the world from popular streaming services Netflix and YouTube available over the internet on X1.

Starting at $6.99 per month, International channels and packages can be added to a customer’s Xfinity TV subscription by visiting the International destination on X1, going to https://www.xfinity.com/ international, or by contacting the Comcast Call Center (1-855755-2212), which also provides inlanguage support for Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean, Tagalog and Vietnamese speakers.

(Advertising Supplement)

TNT Boys astonish music world over...

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From Page 2 the fifth week.

Whether as all-boy, all-girl or mixed, the TNT Boys proved they can be as effective with their successive performances as The Supremes (“You Can’t Hurry Love”), Hagibis (“Nanggigigil”), and just last week, wresting back the top spot as Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men (“One Sweet Day”).

On June 22, the trio returned to “Little Big Shots USA”, commanding a standing ovation anew with their perfect harmonized rendition of rock band Queen’s “Somebody To Love.”

In the official Facebook page

of the show, the video clip is annotated with, “The TNT Boys harmonize in a way we have never heard before.” It then said, “The TNT Boys are back and ready to capture your heart for the second time.”

The performance has been viewed more than 4.3 million times and shared 3,800 times as of this writing.

One of the members of Queen—known for their song, “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “We Are The Champions”—Brian May, shared the video saying, “Check out these lovely young lads from the Philippines. Brilliant. Great to see youngsters relating to Queen

so well —and enjoying.” Other members are Roger Taylor, John Deacon and the late Freddie Mercury, whose biographical film is due for release in October.

According to comments on the TNT Boys’ Facebook page, the trio will be seen and heard as Spice Girls next and also set to appear in the Australian edition of the kiddie talent show. They are also part of the “TNT All-Star Showdown” concert at the Araneta Coliseum on July 28 gathering the first and second season winners and grand finalists of the popular singing competition segment of the ABSCBN noontime show.

An Asian Journal Magazine

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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 J u N E 29, 2 0 1 8

Guimaras, Bensalem, PA to finalize sister-state link BENSALEM, PA. — Officials of the island province of Guimaras in the Iloilo region of the Southern Philippines paid a courtesy call on officials of Bensalem, Pennsylvania preparatory to finalizing an agreement to be linked as SisterStates under the Sister City, State program of the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

The Guimaras delegation was led by Governor Samuel T. Gumarin, MD, MPH of Guimaras island province in the Iloilo region of the Philippines who paid a courtesy call on officials of Bensalem, Pennsylvania led by Mayor Joseph “Joe” DiGirolamo at Bensalem’s City Hall.

The Guimaras delegation came replete with its more-than30-member Guimaras dancers contingent of teenage boys and girls who were in the area after being featured in the Philippine Independence Day celebrations in New York City.

While on their call on Bensalem officials, the Guimaras dancers, gayly dressed in their colorful costumes, also performed several

Shown in the photo are from left to right: Joaquin R. Nava, former governor and Congressman of Guimaras island province, Nida Imperial, President, Filipino Executive Council of Philadelphia, Pa.; Pennsylvania State Representativ Gene Di Girolamo; Bensalem, Pa. Mayor Joseph “Joe” DiGirolamo; Ernesto Gange, Chairman of the USA-Philippines Friendship Commission and Chairman and Founder of the International Network of Filipinos Overseas (INFO); Guimaras Governor Samuel Tayo Gumarin, MD. MPH; Pennsylvania State Senator Tommy Tomlinson; Member of the Philippine House of Representatives Dr. Lucille L. Nava; Ambassador Mario L. de Leon, past Consul General of the Philippines in New York and this year’s Honorary Grand Marshal of the Philippine Independence Day Parade; Guimaras Vice Governor Edward Gando, Esq.; Deputy Consul General of the Philippines in New York Kerwin Orville C. Tate, who is currently the acting Head of Post (Consulate General), Hermie Aczon, Ruth Luyun, and Cyril Beltran, member of the Guimaras Board. Kneeling are some of the girls of the Guimaras Festival dancers.

Photo by Tambi Wycoco

dances from their wide repertoire to the shrieking delight of the locals.

According to a source from the Guimaras government, the formal papers finalizing the sister state agreement are being finalized and will be ready for signatures by the two governments within the next

few weeks.

Guimaras governor calls on Bensalem, Pennsylvania Mayor preparatory to signing an agreement between the two governments to become sister states under the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) sister city, state, program.

Jo Ann Cordero-Belen: A Pinay...

From Page 2 name at the end credits of Dark Knight, “I wanted to shout, ‘Hey, Jo Belen is my sister!’ That was how excited I was.”

So how did Jo Ann’s journey to Hollywood begin?

Jo Ann started her career in advertising design at Basic Foote & Belding. While working on Palmolive Shampoo, one of her accounts, she attended the shoots and the post-production/editing sessions.

“That’s how I got interested in visual effects,” recalled Jo Ann in the previous Funfare story. She’s married to 3D artist/animator Norman Belen, a lecturer on traditional and 3D animation at Ngee Ann Polytechnic University in Singapore; they have three children…Joshua Neal, Justine Nicole and Jennifer Nadine…who are all artistic. “Armed with only passion and interest, I took the courage of applying for a job with neither any computer knowledge nor experience.”

She was hired and trained

by Optimal Digital Manila and became one of the first FLAME artists in the Philippines doing visual effects for TV commercials, broadcast design, feature films and TV series, in the process receiving awards from the New York Festival for her work on such GMA shows as “Bubble Gang” and “Election”, while other works she participated in were recognized by the

and training services around the region, lecturing and mentoring students in Diploma for Visual Effects and Animation at 3D Sense Media School.

Her big break came when the Double Negative recruiting team visited Singapore looking for artists to be trained and hired in London for Hollywood films.

Her first Hollywood job was “Dark Knight”, followed by “Quantum of Solace” and “Hellboy 2: The Golden Army” (also in 2008); “Sherlock Holmes” and “Angels & Demons” (2009); “Green Zone”, P”rince of Persia”, “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice”, “Harry Potter Deathly Hallows” and “Iron Man 2”, all in 2010;” Captain America, the First Avenger” (2011 ); “Avengers 1” (2012); “The Great Gatsby” (2013); and other big films mentioned earlier.

Between films, she managed to work on nine TV episodes including The “Punishers” (2017), “S WAT” and “Zoo”.

“Thanks to my work, I have traveled around the world,” said Jo Ann who has worked for such studios (in London, Singapore, Australia and Canada) as Industrial Light & Magic, Sony Pictures Imageworks, Moving Pictures, Framestore, Animal Logic Logic, Method Studios, Iloura and Fuse FX. She’s currently working on the new “Avengers” movie. “Thank you, Marvel,” Jo Ann ended her letter to Funfare. “I am proud to be part of your team.”

Asian Pacific Community Fund celebrates 28 years of community impact & investing in the API nonprofit sector LOS ANGELES – On Thursday, June 21 2018, the Asian Pacific Community Fund (APCF) celebrated the 12th Annual “Giving for All Seasons” Fundraising Gala. The gala was held at Fifth Floor, Los Angeles Music Center, 135 North Grand Avenue in downtown Los Angeles and began at 6:00pm with a hors d’oeuvres reception and silent auction, followed by a formal program and awards presentation at 7:30pm.

Amanda Ma, Innovate Marketing Group CEO and APCF Chairwoman, said, “For 28 years, APCF has served as the gateway and resource for Asian & Pacific Islander (API) philanthropy by connecting generous corporate and individual donors with nonprofits who consistently deliver quality services to the API community.”

“There is a common misperception that the API community is the ‘model minority,’ which masks the reality that many lack access to education, healthcare, employment services, affordable housing, and counseling,” remarked Michael Lee, Lee & Associates Vice President and Gala Co-Chair.

“APCF seeks to address these basic needs by supporting the nonprofit organizations, including our Network of 40 API nonprofits that provide linguistically and culturally appropriate services to our API communities in need.”

APCF recognizes those who have led the way in Asian American philanthropy and provided the foundation for API communities to live with

$550,000 in scholarship funds to over 200 students who are predominantly low-income API youth, with 5,094 applications coming from 31 states nationally.

“By building Asian American philanthropy, APCF and our partners are building Asian American community,” shared Chun-Yen Chen, Executive Director of APCF. “As the fastest growing racial group, what will be our legacy as API philanthropists?”

As the needs of the API community evolve, the mission of APCF is to cultivate philanthropists to invest in organizations that empower underserved APIs to prosper. APCF’s vision is a thriving API community fostered by a culture of philanthropy. APCF is proud to work with its corporate and community partners, and individuals to build healthier and stronger API communities.

This year’s gala sponsors include Diamond Sponsor, Cathay Bank; Platinum Sponsor, First General Bank and Shawn Chou; Silver Sponsors, Royal Business Bank, South Coast Plaza, and Walmart; as well as many other corporate partners who have made generous donations to APCF, such as California Statewide CDC, City National Bank, Diagnostic Medical Group of Southern California, East West Bank, Edison International, Fineman West & Company, Greenberg Traurig LLP, KW Executive – The Chou Team, Mitchell Silberg & Krupp LLP, Snell & Wilmer, and Wells Fargo, to name a few.

For additional information, please visit www.apcf.org.

AARP invests $60-M in the dementia discovery...

From Page 3 effective new drugs for treating dementia. AARP also helped secure the participation of UnitedHealth Group and Quest Diagnostics, which have invested $10 million and $5 million respectively – totaling $75 million to the DDF’s fight against a condition that has not seen a new approved treatment in 15 years.

“AARP’s mission is to empower people to choose how they live as they age, but dementia takes that privilege away from millions of Americans and people around the world,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins at an event in New York.

“The statistics are staggering, and the numbers continue to climb each year. By 2030, there are projected to Jo Ann Cordero-Belen be 82 million people suffering from Creative Guild and Advertising dementia. And despite decades of Congress. In 1996, she worked on research costing billions of dollars, two local films, “Takot Ka Ba sa there is still no cure and few ways to Dilim” and “Impakto”. treat symptoms of dementia. With Then, Jo Ann moved to today’s investment in the DDF, AARP Singapore where she continued and our partners have committed to helping find innovative solutions working in post production. that can reverse the trend of this In 2001, she took a break health crisis and champion brain and joined Discreet Logic (a health.” software company now known A newly released AARP as Autodesk). She became the survey of U.S. physicians shows Effects Specialist for Asia Pacific that doctors are also frustrated where she did product demos with the limited tools available to diagnose and treat dementia for their patients. One in three U.S. delightful chocolate ice cream, physicians surveyed say they feel from scratch and there is never that current dementia treatment or potluck events. Cook it until From Page 3 enough. A colleague, Malou options are poor, and nearly half of they clamor for you to bring it the term “ritzy” is derived, to Halili-Case who hails from Pamphysicians strongly agree that there mean elegant and first class, and because your dish is memorable. panga (famous for women who needs to be more diagnostic tools You notice that people come for cook heavenly dishes) prepared pricey as well) to establish the and research for dementia. seconds until it’s all gone. Clean Ritz-Carlton Hotels chain.

Dinuguan, on slow cooker and In fact, most physicians (62 From the book, “Memories of plate and happy faces —the it was special and memorable. percent) say a lack of diagnostic mark of a culinary success…

My Life” by Auguste Escoffier, Team it up with puto and, Voila, tools is the greatest impediment to Congratulations! You’ve creat- you have a wonderful meal. here’s the original recipe good effective treatment. Moreover, there ed your signature dish. You have for 6 that he created for Peach If you don’t have any signature is not significant optimism among placed your name on it. Best of physicians for progress anytime Melba. dish, get cracking and work on soon. Only 10 percent say they are “Choose 6 tender and perfect- all, you’ve created gastronomic one, just one dish you can enjoy memories, quite hard to forget ly ripe peaches. The Montreuil preparing and put your mark on. extremely or very optimistic that effective treatment protocols will peach, for example, is perfect for because, believe you me, the gut With time and practice, you will remembers. this dessert. Blanch the peaches get better at it. Choose one that emerge in the next five years.

The last Alzheimer’s drug I have met many who have for 2 seconds in boiling water, is popular with most taste buds. was approved more than a done this and it is a source of joy Don’t let your ego rule trying to remove them immediately with decade and a half ago and only a slotted spoon, and place them specially when shared with many. reinvent the wheel and try an brings temporary relief of disease My friend Angel cooked Spanish in iced water for a few seconds. exotic dish, like alligator soup, symptoms. Since that time, more Paella with original ingredients Peel them and place them on a for instance. than 400 clinical trials have failed. from Spain and with great flourplate, sprinkle them with a little Nix the labels low calorie, low Highly touted research focusing on sugar, and refrigerate them. Pre- ish wearing a chef’s hat and fat, gluten free, low carb. It is a eliminating plaques and tangles pare a liter of very creamy vanilla risqué apron of washboard abs, bit of a downer when you have to has, unfortunately, not produced in a class reunion held in their ice cream and a purée of 250 work within limiting parameters. safe, effective treatments, and grams of very fresh ripe raspber- mountain view home. It was deli- It doesn’t have to be original but some companies have abandoned ries crushed through a fine sieve cious and memorable. it must be pleasing to most taste their efforts in the face of long Two of my sisters, Olga and and mixed with 150 grams of buds within your orbit of friends odds. Because of this, nearly half Evelyn, bake Sans Rival and inpowdered sugar. Refrigerate. and family. Oftentimes, it could be of physicians in the new AARP deed, nothing rivals their concoc- just a tweak on an existing, tested survey say dementia is a hopeless To serve: Fill a silver timbale tion. Fresh lumpiang sariwa, with recipe with a secret ingredient or with the vanilla ice cream. Delidiagnosis. And the brain health many hours of chopping, slicing crisis doesn’t just affect dementia cately place the peaches on top a different technique of doing. and dicing of the ingredients is sufferers, but also their friends, of the ice cream and cover with Make it simple, easy and fun. my mother’s and eldest sister, the raspberry purée. Optionally, Food is a way of making a con- family and loved ones.

The latest data shows that Olga’s signature dish. There is during the almond season, one nection with others and making Agnes Jovellana’s delightful orig- memories. Remember that Jesus the impact of dementia on both can add a few slivers of fresh patients and family caregivers inal espasol which she prepares almonds on top, but never use Christ in his time ate bread, fish for her parties. My sister Mitch dried almonds.” and drank wine with his disciples will only continue to grow, as of San Antonio, Texas prepared Signature dishes are not just on many occasions. Those were and become His body and for the rich and famous. They are Buttered Mochi and her baked the staples of his time and salt dish was a hit. I do a simple blood. It is a daily reminder of for you and me, as well. was the flavoring. He multiplied how God loves us — so much Choose just one dish. Just one potato soup with bacon that is the bread and fish as He fed He sent His only son to redeem from many possibilities… Choose popular in the winter time. The thousands who followed him to millenials in our family love it. My hear his teachings. Jesus knew us from sin and death so we a scrumptiously delicious one. daughter-in-law Elia, prepares may live forever.

Work on it many times until you how important it was to make a her special recipe for Turkey We use food to feed our can do it from scratch without connection. He still connects with with bacon on Thanksgiving and us two thousand years later in bodies and make a connection looking at your cheat sheet and draws rave reviews from the it becomes a masterpiece. the Holy Eucharist at Mass when with others. Partaking of the family. My son, Rene, prepares Cook it for family gatherings bread and wine are consecrated Eucharist to feed our souls in

The bucket list

dignity and flourish with each generation. This year’s honorees are First General Bank with Wilson Mach, COO, accepting on behalf of the company (Spirit of Giving); Walmart with Kenney Tran, Rosemead Store Manager, accepting on behalf of the company (Corporate Philanthropy Award); and Mr. Shawn Chou (Philanthropy Leadership Award).

“Each of this year’s honorees demonstrates excellence in philanthropy to empower underserved API communities,” said Wendy On, Partner at Fineman West & Company and Gala Co-Chair. “Together, we will bring a stronger voice and support system for our communities in need.”

As the only community fund in the U.S. that builds a united API philanthropic voice, APCF functions as both the sole API federation in local workplace giving campaigns as well as a community fund through its Donor-Advised Fund program. Donor-Advised Fund is a philanthropic vehicle allows donors to centralize their charitable dollars into one convenient account – providing maximum tax advantages and taxfree growth as well as flexibility of grant making. APCF now houses over 40 Donor-Advised Funds with assets exceeding $6 million.

APCF continues to partner with philanthropists and corporates to offer “customized” scholarship programs for lowincome students pursuing higher education. Since the inception of APCF’s scholarship program in 2011, APCF has awarded over

the number of people with the disease in the U.S. is estimated to reach 14 million by 2050, according to research conducted by the Alzheimer’s Association. It is estimated that family caregivers of people with Alzheimer’s and dementiaprovided 18.4 billion hours of unpaid assistance in 2017 alone, a contribution valued at $232.1 billion nationally.

To draw attention to the experiences of patients and family caregivers and to spark bold new solutions for the world’s brain health crisis, AARP is initiating a conversation during national Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month.

AARP hosted an event in New York City featuring a group of experts in the medical, business and technology sectors as well as notable celebrity guests, including acclaimed journalist and author Katie Couric as the event emcee, andaward-winning actress Jane Krakowski, who shared her own personal experience as a dementia caregiver. AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins was joined by experts and advocates who also spoke at the event including Kate Bingham, the SV managing partner of the Dementia Discovery Fund; UnitedHealthcare’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Peter Pronovost; and technology and personal finance reporter and expert, Natali Morris.

Key learnings, tips and content for family caregivers will be shared at www.AARP.org/ DisruptDementia for those unable to attend in person.

“Dementia is a devastating disease that affects the lives of millions of people and their families,” said David S. Wichmann, CEO of UnitedHealth Group, a new DDF investor.

“UnitedHealth Group is grateful to be part of this important work with AARP because it is grounded in the idea that, by joining together, we can support scientific discovery to help identify and bring to market new and effective therapies that may one day prevent, cure, or slow the progression of dementia.”

Added Steve Rusckowski, Chairman, President and CEO of Quest Diagnostics, which has also invested in the DDF: “Current efforts to diagnose and treat dementia have not been successful and more needs to be done. That’s why we’re proud to join forces with AARP and UnitedHealth Group to support the development of new tools and treatment options.”

Said Kate Bingham of the DDF: “We are thrilled to have received an investment of $60 million from AARP. This investment,

together with participation from UnitedHealth Group and Quest Diagnostics, is further recognition of the potential of the DDF’s unique approach to finding important treatments for dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. It also represents further U.S. interest in the fund, reflecting the global importance of developing new treatments for dementia.”

For many, the battle isn’t professional, but personal.

“After my family’s personal experience with dementia, I echo AARP’s concerns about this looming health crisis and I applaud the campaign to Disrupt Dementia,” said Jane Krakowski.

“The chance to stop the impact of this heartbreaking disease could be nothing short of life changing for so many people, and AARP’s mission to spread education and understanding of the disease has the power to be truly transformative.”

Since its launch in 2015, the DDF has invested in 16 drug discovery companies and projects, with new investments now made possible because of the backing of AARP, UnitedHealth Group and Quest Diagnostics.

By investing in new scientific approaches and applying insights from other areas such as oncology and immunology to develop novel dementia drugs, the DDF seeks to tackle this global challenge from a renewed perspective.

While research is underway to find treatments and a cure, AARP offers resources and tools on its website for the 16.1 million Americans who care for people living with dementia. The organization continuously works to improve the communities in which people with dementia and their caregivers live, by working with leaders and local governments across the U.S. to adopt “age-friendly” guidelines and develop resources.

AARP also founded the Global Council on Brain Health to help people strengthen their brain health and minimize their risk of dementia. And, AARP is part of the National Advisory Council for Dementia Friendly America.

To access information available to family caregivers, visit: https://www.aarp.org/caregiving/ care-guides/dementia. To join the conversation on social media, use AARP’s official campaign hashtag, #DisruptDementia.

AARP also urges people to share memories of loved ones impacted by dementias or Alzheimer’s on Twitter and Instagram at #HowIRemember.

order to make a connection with the divine is the other aspect worth pursuing as part of our bucket list.

Food is a blessing, a visual and visceral aid, that makes our life here on earth so wonderfully engaging.

Make your signature dish and the joys they have caused to

yourself and others part of the wonderful memories etched in your soul forever.

Next week: Another idea to consider for The Bucket List … ***

(Advertising Supplement)

Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette.maglaya@ asianjournalinc.com

An Asian Journal Magazine

7

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JuNE 29, 2018

An Asian Journal Magazine

8

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY JuNE 29, 2018