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.com T H E F I L I P I N O –A M E R I C A N C O M M U N I T Y N E W S PA P E R

Volume 29 - No. 25 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

J U LY 5 - 1 1 , 2 0 1 8

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Palace: Duterte’s first 2 years in office ‘fruitful’

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s first two years in office have been “generally fruitful,” according to Malacañang. It cited the administration’s reported successes in its war on drugs, the economy, and the improvement of government services as some of the promises that Duterte fulfilled.

Palace Spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. said in a statement on Sunday, July 1, that Duterte “has fulfilled many of his promises of real change” because of his “strong political will” and “deci-

sive leadership.”

“I have witnessed firsthand the president’s hard work, dedication and sense of duty. Major promises have materialized because we are headed by someone who has strong political will, decisive leadership and compassion for his fellowmen,” he said.

According to Roque, the current administration remains laser-focused on the president’s strong campaign against illegal drugs — one of the cornerstones of his administration.

Roque cited the latest data from the Philippine National Police (PNP), saying a a total of

USA

DATELINE Amid immigration debate, several Filipinos arrested by ICE FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Filipino green card holder detained for decade-old conviction WITH the current administration’s efforts to tighten immigration enforcement in the United States, several reports are emerging that Filipinos have been part of recent sweeps conducted by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

One such case is that of Cloyd Edralin, a Filipino green card holder and U.S. resident of 30 years, who was arrested by ICE earlier this month for a prior conviction he served over a decade ago.

As of this writing, the 47-year-old remains in detention and faces deportation.

91,704 anti-drug operations were conducted by law enforcement agencies from July 2016 to March 20, 2018, during which 123,648 drug suspects were arrested.

Furthermore, the intensified effort against illegal drugs also resulted in the dismantling of 189 drug dens and clandestine laboratories in the country.

A total of P13.46 billion-worth of methamphetamine hydrochloride or shabu and P19.67 billion-worth of drugs, controlled precursors and essential chemicals, and laboratory equipment were seized by government forces, as stated

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HUGGING THE PRESIDENT. President Rodrigo Duterte is embraced by the child of one of the guests during the 58th founding anniversary of the province of Southern Leyte at the Provincial Capitol Grounds in Maasin City on Monday, July 2. Also in the photo are Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Southern Leyte Governor Christopherson Yap. Malacañang photo by Rey Baniquet

Drug war helped cut crime rate in Metro Manila - Police

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

ONE of the main factors for the 25 percent decline in Metro Manila’s crime rate in the first half of 2018 is the government’s war on drugs, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) cited.

Metro crime incidence has been reduced under the government’s Oplan Tokhang, an anti-illegal drugs campaign spearheaded by the Philippine National Police (PNP), as stated by NCRPO. The campaign has seen 48,886 susThe Philippine National Police (PNP) said that the country’s peace and order pected drug users and pushers situation has improved. It added that while there are incidents of killings, it would also be proper for the public to determine how far peace and order situation in arrested; 1,590 neutralized; and the country has improved by looking at objective data.

Philstar.com photo 233,896 surrendered.

“Evidently, the less number of drug addicts on the street equates to lesser criminal activities and criminal incidents,” the NCRPO said before explaining that drug abuse and addiction lead to crime because of the constant need to purchase substances.

“To some extent, they are forced to steal, rob shops and innocent people on the streets, barge into homes, in worst cases have to assault, hurt and even kill their victims to get money to buy illegal drugs,” it added.

The steady police presence in the streets, strict implementation of local ordinances and national

laws as well as PNP’s information dissemination were also cited by the NCRPO as important measures to prevent crime and ensure public safety.

NCRPO further said that the continuing internal cleansing of the PNP also helped the drive against crime.

“On the first day of the new ‘ISEND mo SMS/TEXT’ based system of the NCRPO, 31 messages or 21 percent were complaints against police scalawags. The feedback from the community shows that the NCRPO is on the right track with its priorities in

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Malacañang calls for ‘ceasefire’ between Duterte, church leaders

by NESTOR

CORRALES Inquirer.net

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CBCP President Romulo Valles Inquirer.net photo

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday, July 3, called for a “ceasefire” between President Rodrigo Duterte and some Catholic Church leaders critical of the chief executive.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque made the call days before the scheduled meeting of Duterte and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Romulo Valles in Malacañang.

“I think it’s always bilateral. If there is going to be a cessation of hostile language, I think it has to be from While training for Matthysse in General Santos City, Pacquiao is pulling out all the stops to get both institutions,” Roque said in a Palace briefing. himself ready for what is turning out to be a make-or-break fight in his career.

Photo courtesy of Manny Pacquiao Promotions

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ConCom OKs draft of proposed federal constitution Pacquiao reprises killer moves

by RITCHEL PH Sen. Grace Poe spoke with Fil-Ams in Los Angeles about experiences living in the U.S. AJPress photo by Rae Ann Varona

Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global Filipinos’ during Los Angeles visit

PHILIPPINE Senator Grace Poe shared her experiences and thoughts on what it means to be a Filipino abroad during a recent visit to Los Angeles, California on Friday, June 30.

“What we all went through is universal,” said Poe in Filipino, after warming up attendees with a few Filipino jokes in honor of late Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago

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by JOAQUIN

MENDIOLA

AJPress

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte’s 22-member Consultative Committee (Con-com) approved the final draft of the proposed federal Constitution on Tuesday, July 3, after nearly five months of deliberation.

The final draft was unanimously approved by the Con-com after former Senate President Nene Pimentel moved to approve it. Pimentel’s motion was unopposed.

“The Con-com hopes to submit the draft to the president on or before July 9—as originally planned—in time for the State of the Nation Address on July 23,” Con-com Spokesperson Ding Generoso told the media.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said Duterte will then transmit the proposed revisions to his allies at the House of Representatives.

“He will encourage his partymates to study

M. HENSON

Philstar.com

Consultative Committee Ding Generoso

Philstar.com photo

it very closely, and if possible, to pattern the proposed revisions after what the [committee] has recommended,” Roque said.

According to him, the Chief Executive understands that any changes to the Constitution should be approved by Congress. He also said that the Con-com’s draft will surely be consid-

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MANILA — Manny Pacquiao has rediscovered the killer formula that transformed him into a global boxing icon and looks more determined than ever to score a resounding win over WBA welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina at the Axiata Arena in Kuala Lumpur on July 15.

While training for Matthysse in General Santos City, Pacquiao is pulling out all the stops to get himself ready for what is turning out to be a make-or-break fight in his career. Pacquiao, 39, has no plans to retire in the near future but a loss to Matthysse will no doubt make him reconsider. If Pacquiao wins convincingly, he’ll

be back on the throne and big money fights against Vasyl Lomachenko and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a possible rematch could be around the corner.

Pacquiao knows what’s at stake and that’s why he’s dead serious in preparing for Matthysse.

“Manny has found some of the old moves of yesteryears and has probably asked the same questions to himself when he pushes himself to the limit,” said MP Promotions media director Winchell Campos. “Have I seen him this hungry for a win and is he going for a knockout the way he’s been working in the gym? No, I haven’t seen Manny this hungry in a long time and yes, he’s gunning for a knockout.”

Even if there are slow-down

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A

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ConCom OKs draft of proposed...

PAGE A1 ered by the House of Representatives as it is composed mainly of the administration’s PDP-Laban party. “We have a supermajority in the House. I think at least in the House it will be very persuasive. We’re hoping it will be equally persuasive in the Senate,� Roque said.

The Con-com furnished a briefer of the highlights of the final draft for the media as the copy of the final draft of the federal Charter is yet to

be provided to them.

One of Duterte’s campaign promises during the 2016 election race was the shift to a federal form of government.

Highlights Under the Con-com’s draft constitution, a family is allowed to run for only two positions in an election — one member for a national position and the other for a regional position as political dynasties have no place under a

From The FronT Page

federal government.

Turncoats among political parties are banned with the intention of promoting and strengthening political parties as public institutions. Campaign contributions from religious organizations and foreigners are banned as well.

The draft also states that the Philippines would have 18 federated regions which would get a share of not less than 50 percent of all the collected taxes on income, excise, value-added tax and customs duties The president under the federal government will still be chief executive with a four-year term and can be reelected once. Voters will choose a president-vice president tandem.

Meanwhile, two senators will be elected from each of the 18 federated regions under the draft charter.

The draft also states that President Duterte and Vice President Leni Robredo should step down from power on June 30, 2022. n

Drug war helped cut crime rate...

PAGE A1

fighting illegal drugs and internal cleansing,� it said.

The increase in the salaries of police have also helped, according to NCRPO, since it has boosted the morale of the police force, especially those in the rank and file.

Moreover, crime prevention has been greatly assisted by technology through CCTVs, GPS systems, tracking devices, and smart phones, among others. “With the advent of technology and social media, the accomplishments, plans and programs of Team-NCRPO have gained trust and confidence from the public. Netizens are even more cooperative and supportive in giving relevant information and reports,� it said.

NCRPO Director Chief Supt.

Guillermo Eleazar implored the public to trust and support the efforts of NCRPO, stating that they are always committed to “serve and protect.� “Magtulungan po tayo upang mapanatili ang kapayaan at kaayusan sa ating rehiyon (Let’s help each other in order to maintain the peace and order in our country),� he said. 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)

IDENTIFIED. Director Amador Corpus of the Police Regional Office 3 shows to media a diagram of the suspects in the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo. The self-confessed gunman in the killing of Fr. Richmond Nilo in Zaragosa, Nueva Ecija said he was paid P100,000 to kill the priest.

Omar Mallari alias “Bulik� also identified the alleged mastermind as Manuel Torres. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Oscar Albayalde on Monday said aside from Mallari and Torres, four other suspects were arrested last week. They were identified as Marius Albis, Rolly Sigua, Bernie Limpio, Allan Maniacop alias “Macky� and Michael Ocampo alias “Bamboo.�

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger RaĂąada

Palace: Duterte’s first 2 years...

PAGE A1

by Roque.

He added that 6,462 barangays in the country have already been declared drug-free, as of April 2018, as reported by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The country’s significant economic feats under the Duterte administration were also cited by Roque.

According to him, the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 6.7 percent from last year, making the Philippines among the fastest growing economies in Asia. “The government is now targeting the country’s GDP to increase by 7 to 8 percent in 2018,� Roque said.

The administration’s tax collection efforts also received a boost during Duterte’s second year in office, Roque added.

Revenues from tax collections in 2017 reached P2.251 trillion, as reported by the Department of Finance (DOF) in March 2018.

It is considered as the highest tax effort in 10 years prior to the introduction of new laws.

Roque also said, “investors’ confidence in the country also remains high.�

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

He also mentioned the signing of Republic Act 10931 or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, which has paved the way for 1.3 million students to avail of free tuition and miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges and local universities and colleges beginning school year 2018-2019.

Roque said the Free Irrigation Service Act or Republic Act 10969 signed in February 2018 is another promise of Duterte that has been fulfilled. “(This) ensure(s) that free irrigation services are made available to poor farmers through the continued construction, repair, and maintenance of necessary irrigation facilities,� he said.

Moving onto the “Build, Build, Build� initiative, Roque assured that the administration is doing double-time to begin and to finish major infrastructure projects — preferably within the term of Duterte — that have been lined up.

He said 35 infrastructure flagship projects have already been approved by the National Economic and Development Authority, 16 of which are are estimated to be completed by 2022. Meanwhile, PAGE A3

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

He cited the P195.7 billion worth of investment approvals for January to April 2018, which is 28 percent higher than the P153.1 billion figure during the same period last year as reported by the Board of Investments.

Foreign direct investments (FDIs), meanwhile, are at an alltime high as data gathered from the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) showed FDI net inflows amounted to US$2.2 billion for the first quarter of 2018, a 43.5-percent hike from the US$1.5 billion recorded in Q1 last year. “The Duterte administration’s independent foreign policy with other countries has also proven beneficial to the country,� Roque said, citing Duterte’s state and official visits in the past months that resulted in billions worth of investments, and are expected to create thousands of jobs for Filipinos. “Efforts of the Duterte administration to afford all Filipinos of the services they deserve continue to be unrelenting,� he added.

According to Roque, the launching of the Overseas Filipino Bank, a wholly-owned savings bank subsidiary of Landbank that would service overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), was another presidential promise fulfilled.

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 5-11, 2018

Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global Filipinos’...

PAGE A1

who like Poe was a 2016 Philippine presidential candidate and was known for her humor.

She added, “Whether you’re here in the U.S., or you’re in the Philippines, we struggle everyday to provide for our families.”

Hosting the event were employment advocating organizations Los Angeles County Filipino American Employee Association, CSI Professionals Inc., and SEIU Local 721.

On moving to the US After studying at the University of the Philippines Manila, Poe and her husband moved to the U.S. in the 1990’s where she studied in Massachusetts’ Boston College and earned her degree in political science.

Her husband, Neil Llamanzares, went to San Francisco and then Washington D.C. for undergraduate and later master’s studies. The two then went to live in Virginia for 12 years where Poe gave birth to her three kids.

“As soon as we got here, my husband and I had to work very hard because we were determined to live our lives in this country without having to rely on our parents,” shared Poe who worked as a preschool teacher and part time as a scientific equipment salesperson — jobs she said gave her enough pay and flexibility to be around her family.

Aside from experiencing economic differences, Poe spoke of the struggles of homesickness shared by many Filipinos living abroad.

“It was exciting to be around new surroundings, but we missed our families and the Filipino culture that we had left behind,” said Poe, again eliciting laughs from attendees through the mentioning of Filipino personality traits — pointing with their lips, having a balikbayan box as another piece of luggage, collecting hotel items for souvenirs, and seeing a meal as incomplete if it didn’t have rice.

Poe also reminisced on the days before internet when she and her husband would look for the cheapest calling cards in Filipino stores to stay in touch with their family back home in the Philippines, and how they would similarly search for the cheapest balikbayan box delivery company to send home sought after American goods.

And then there were trips to Filipino markets for “Boy Bawang, patis, and sinigang mix” to give them a taste of home.

“Kung ano ano pa ang comfort food (whatever else was comfort food),” said Poe. She added that having faith and determination was what helped her family in starting a life in the U.S. “What saved us I guess was our faith and resilience — our determination,” said Poe. “I think Filipinos are resilient people and can easily adapt to new surroundings.”

On responsibility Speaking of social responsibility, Poe encouraged Filipinos to be involved in bettering the Philippines, despite living elsewhere.

“You’re all here today I’m sure not because you love the Philippines less, but because we have a responsibility also to better ourselves so that we can be a positive force to any community that we a part of, whether here or whether we choose to retire in the Philippines someday,” said Poe. She said that doing good in one’s community abroad was a good way of bringing pride to the Philippines.

Stressing the importance of being respectful, she said, “It doesn’t matter who you are or who you dealt with. It’s important to disagree without being disagreeable.”

“And it’s also important for you to set a good example,” she added.

The adopted daughter of the King of Philippine movies, national artist and later 2004 presidential candidate Fernando Poe Jr., the senator said much of her inspiration to enter public service came from her father who was a big advocate of fighting poverty.

After her father passed away in 2004, Poe returned back to the Philippines permanently to help her mother actress Susan Roces. Moving back, she said, opened her eyes again to the “harsh realities of Philippine society.”

She decided to further her father’s mission and served as chair of the FPJ for President Movement which after his death continued advocacy for political and social programs, offering services like free legal advice and medical missions.

“Even if my father was never

officially a part of government, in his own personal capacity, he was able to help many of our country,” said Poe. Poe further encouraged Filipinos to exercise both support and criticism when needed, adding that she herself would support the president if whatever program he is pushing is right.

“But I’m also a critic,” said Poe. “Especially when I feel that it is not just.”

She said in Filipino, “It’s hard when you’re always mad. You need to be supportive too. But, there are many things in the Philippines that we know need to be fixed. Don’t lose your vigilance. It’s important for democracy.”

Speaking specifically of Filipinos living in the U.S., she said its numbers had the ability of influencing the future of the Philippines.

“The sheer number of Filipino-Americans alone make us a force to be reckoned with,” said Poe, citing the U.S. Census Bureau’s population numbers gathered from the 2010 census.

Fil-Ams are currently the largest Asian American population in California. In Los Angeles County alone, Filipinos account for 606,657 of its people.

“Imagine how much is spent on clothes and groceries,” said Poe, adding that some of her favorites places to shop and eat are Ross Dress for Less, In-NOut Burger, and a number of Filipino joints like Barrio Fiesta and Island Pacific.

On Philippine future Often seen at senate hearings in cases such as last year’s University of Santo Tomas hazing death, and cases regarding extrajudicial killing investigations stemming from the current administration’s controversial anti-drug campaign, Poe reminded that a lot of work was being done outside of hearings.

Among the most recent efforts Poe has been involved in include the recently signed Balik Scientists Act which is expected to encourage Filipino professionals to come back to the Philippines, and the Tax Reform for Acceleration and Inclusion (TRAIN) which Poe pushed to include support for the country’s poor population.

Poe emphasized the importance of the Philippines’ younger population in the country’s PAGE A4

A3

CELEBRATING THE PRESIDENT’S 2ND YEAR ANNIVERSARY. Supporters of President Rodrigo Duterte from Mountain Province perform a traditional dance celebrating the Chief Executive’s second year in office on Sunday, July 1.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Andrea De La Cruz

Palace: Duterte’s first 2 years...

PAGE A2 the remaining 19 will extend beyond 2022.

“The tourism industry likewise experienced growth,” Roque said.

He noted that foreign visitor arrivals also increased to 642,757 in March — which is higher than the 574,065 arrivals recorded in the same period last year. The total foreign visitor arrivals for the first quarter of 2018 reached 2,049,094, higher by 14.8 percent over the 1,784,882 recorded in the first quarter of 2017.

Roque also mentioned the 93

Republic Acts that have been signed into law by Duterte in his two years in office.

Among the 93 laws signed include extending the validity of Philippine passports to 10 years and drivers’ licenses to five years, a measure establishing free internet access in public places, and an act increasing penalties for hospitals and medical clinics that refuse to administer appropriate treatment and support in emergency or serious cases.

“Indeed, the first two years of the Duterte administration has

generally been fruitful,” Roque said.

“Much has been accomplished but much more needs to be done.

It is a continuous work in progress in achieving and actualizing the promise of genuine and meaningful change for the Filipino people,” he added.

“The president cannot do it alone. No man or woman can do it alone. Let us help the Chief Executive fulfill his goal of building a nation where opportunities abound and where citizens are empowered to realize their aspirations,” he concluded. ■

Malacañang calls for ‘ceasefire’ between...

PAGE A1 Duterte had earlier ranted about a “stupid God” and questioned the creation theory in the Bible, which earned the ire of the Catholic Church and other religious groups.

Some church officials slammed Duterte for his remarks, prompting the President to form a committee to hold a dialogue with the leaders of the Catholic Church and other religious groups.

“So I think it’s not just the President who should be told that as we hold this dialogue, that perhaps there should be a ceasefire, it should also be told to some leading Church leaders as well,” Roque said.

Despite the call for a ceasefire,

Roque said Duterte would not hesitate to hit back if he gets criticized.

“Pag nagtuligsa po sila, eh asahan nila sasagot ang Presidente.

Ganoon lang po iyon, hindi naman pupuwede na sitting duck ang Presidente (If they criticize the President, expect him to answer.

The President should not be a ‘sitting duck’),” he said.

Meeting on July 9 The meeting between President Rodrigo Duterte and Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) President Romulo Valles will be held in Malacañang this July 9, a Palace official said.

“Well, I confirm that this Monday, July 9, Archbishop Valles will be meeting the President

here in Malacañang,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a Palace briefing.

Roque said Duterte believed that his meeting with Valles is “not unusual” since they were known to be friends even before the former Davao City mayor became the President of the country.

The dialogue between the two leaders would come after Mr. Duterte hurled scathing remarks against the Catholic Church, even calling God “stupid” and questioning the creation theory in the Bible.

Duterte had earlier formed a committee to dialogue with the Catholic Church and other religious groups to address the President’s rift with the Church. ■

A

Dateline USa

july 5-11, 2018 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

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‘Guam senators cancel meeting with Dela Rosa’

SEVERAL lawmakers in Guam canceled the scheduled meeting with former Philippine National Police chief Ronald Dela Rosa, citing his involvement as the top enforcer in the Philippine government’s brutal war on drugs.

Several media outlets in Guam such as The Guam Daily Post and Pacific News Daily reported that Dela Rosa was supposed to meet with local senators in the Guam Congress Building for a “courtesy visit.”

Dela Rosa, who now heads the Bureau of Corrections, was also expected to visit Guam’s prison facilities.

But Sen. Dennis Rodriguez Jr, who invited Dela Rosa, canceled the visit to the Guam Congress Building Friday night, June 29, following a criticism of a fellow lawmaker.

Sen. Telena Nelson, who chairs the legislative committee oversee-

Former PNP chief Ronald Dela Rosa

ing public safety, said the visit of Dela Rosa would send “the wrong message.”

“Law enforcement officials in Guam and throughout the world must protect the judicial system, not act outside of it. When numerous human rights organizations allege that thousands of lives were taken without due process, each of us have an obligation to say no—not stand there for photos,” Nelson said.

Inquirer.net photo

Rodriguez was quoted as saying by the Pacific Daily News said that several senators backed out of the visit following Nelson’s criticisms.

During his stint as the country’s top cop, Dela Rosa had been heavily criticized for being on the forefront of the government’s bloody campaign against illegal narcotics, which has killed thousands of individuals, mostly urban slum dwellers. (Philstar.com)

Sen. Grace Poe speaks of ‘Global Filipinos’...

PAGE A3

future, describing them as an “advantage.”

“The median age is 23 years old,” said Poe. “In other countries, the median age is like 40 plus. Tayo bata (We are young.).”

She gave the example of focusing on the first 1,000 days of children’s lives — providing parents with access to vitamins, supplements, and checkups during the children’s’ developmental years.

“What kind of children are we

going to have if they are hungry?,” she asked.

Poe also touched on the opportunities of tourism, explaining that roughly six million tourists visit the Philippines annually, generating roughly five billion dollars. When compared to Thailand which gets around 26 million tourists a year and generating around 48 billion dollars, she said there’s room for improvement.

“We’re an English speaking country. We’re an archipelago.

We’re surrounded by beautiful

Pacquiao reprises killer...

PAGE A1 effects of age or wear and tear, Campos said he’s not worried.

“Manny’s mental set and ring experience are the compensatory factors,” he said. Campos noted that Pacquiao has surrounded himself with four sparring partners who are known to be durable survivors.

The sparmates are unbeaten Australian lightweight George Kambosos, 25, Cebu superlightweight Jheritz Chavez, 27, Bohol superwelterweight Arnel Tinampay, 34 and Bohol superlightweight Ricky Sismundo, 31.

Kambosos, Chavez and Tinampay have never lost inside the distance while Sismundo has been stopped in four of 11 losses. They’re averaging 30.5 fights, 29.25 years old, 9.75 years as a pro, 6.75

KOs, 19.75 wins, 8.75 losses and of their 35 total defeats, only four were by stoppage.

Last Saturday, Pacquiao went 12 rounds of sparring, four each with Tinampay, Chavez and Kambosos in that order. Sismundo has sparred sparingly. Chavez, who was floored in a session last week, has an 8-3-2 record, with 6 KOs. His three losses were on points, twice in Tokyo and once in Moscow. Tinampay’s record of 2421-1, with 10 KOs, may not seem impressive but what’s remarkable is all his setbacks were by decision, including five majority and one split. Tinampay has fought in Australia, Korea, Thailand, Japan, Singapore, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan in a career that started in 2003.

Sismundo has seen action in

beaches. Our countrymen are warm by nature. Why can’t we compete?” she asked.

Ending her speech, Poe again encouraged Fil-Ams to do their part in improving the Philippines.

“Like you, I’ve lived here,” said Poe. “And we still continue to love our country, so whatever you can do to contribute, you can go home, do community service work, medical missions, anything. I’m sure our kababayans will be very grateful.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

BASKETBALL BRAWL. Australia’s Daniel Kickert and Roger Pogoy of Gilas Pilipinas square off as Jayson Castro William (7) slips on the floor during the brawl that erupted during the third quarter of the game at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on Monday, July 2. Australia won by forfeiture after FIBA officials pushed through with the game even if Gilas had only three players left — June Mar Fajardo, Gabe Norwood and Baser Amer. Nine of the 12 Gilas players were ejected after the brawl.

ManilaTimes.net photo

House rejects GOP compromise immigration bill

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

WITH the ongoing immigration debate in the United States, another bill seeking to address several immigration issues failed to push through this week.

Despite President Donald Trump’s last-minute call to pass a compromise on immigration, the House of Representatives on Wednesday, June 27, rejected a GOP-led massive overhaul of the Russia, Canada, the US, Japan, American immigration system.

Mexico, Australia, Thailand and The bill failed with only 121 Indonesia since turning pro in members voting for it and 301 2006. His record is 33-11-3, with members — including 112 Re15 KOs. Kambosos has a 14-0 publicans — voting against it, record, with 8 KOs, and will face highlighting the ongoing inefOriental Mindoro’s J. R. Magboo ficacy of both chambers of Conin an eight-round bout in the gress to resolve the problem with Kuala Lumpur undercard. the Deferred Action for Childhood Matthysse, 35, is 5-6 1/2. Pac- Arrivals (DACA) program, which quiao’s sparmates are around that Trump arbitrarily terminated last height with Chavez and Tinampay year. at 5-7, Sismundo at 5-5 and KamThe Border Security and Imbosos 5-9 1/2. Trainers Buboy migration Act was a collaboraFernandez and Justin Fortune are tion among a tight-knit group of focused on Pacquiao’s marksman- conservatives as a solution for the ship in sparring. Fortune calls it country’s long list of immigratarget practice. Matthysse, who is tion problems. The measure apslow-footed, will be a clear target plied many of Trump’s requests: for Pacquiao. What makes Mat- create a new, merit-based visa thysse dangerous is his power as program, allocate $25 billion for he has scored 36 KOs in 39 wins, border security and the wall and a 92 percent rate. n establish a solution for recipients

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of DACA, an Obama-era program that granted benefits for eligible undocumented youth.

It also called for ending family separation at the U.S.-Mexico border by having children remain in the custody of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) for longer than 20 days along with their parents, who were previously held in the custody of the Justice Department if they were being prosecuted. Specifically, this bill would funnel more money into family detention centers.

“Once again, Republican leaders put a partisan immigration bill on the floor, and it failed overwhelmingly,” said Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Maryland), the House minority whip. “When will they realize that the path forward on immigration and asylum reform must be a bipartisan one?”

Wednesday’s rejection — which came before the House’s week-long recess — adds to the long list of immigration proposals that failed to achieve majority support. Not a single immigration compromise bill has been able to pass through Congress after several attempts by both political parties. Even the president’s lastminute plea to pass this current bill wasn’t enough to garner the needed support.

“HOUSE REPUBLICANS SHOULD PASS THE STRONG BUT FAIR IMMIGRATION BILL, KNOWN AS GOODLATTE II, IN THEIR AFTERNOON VOTE TODAY, EVEN THOUGH THE DEMS WON’T LET IT PASS IN THE SENATE. PASSAGE WILL SHOW THAT WE WANT STRONG BORDERS & SECURITY WHILE DEMS WANT OPEN BORDERS = CRIME. WIN!” the president tweeted early Wednesday.

This year, the Senate rejected a string of immigration measures and Democrats have promised support for legislation that provides a legislative solution for DACA and bolstering border security.

But they have not been willing to support measures with Trump’s more strict demands, including limiting the avenues for legal immigration such as family reunification and the Diversity Visa Program.

The country’s sweeping immigration problem will likely be the de facto political issue going into the midterm elections.

Democrats are harnessing the legislative failures of the GOP on the immigration front to push for folks to vote blue to flip both chambers of Congress, which are currently Republican-majority. n

Amid immigration debate, several Filipinos...

PAGE A1 His 12-year-old daughter sobbed as she spoke to ralliers while standing on the Supreme Court steps in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, June 26.

“My father loved his family. He appreciated the little things, even if it didn’t matter that much, “ said Michelle, the youngest child of Edralin.

She said that she didn’t get to see her dad much due to his complicated work schedule. Edralin had reportedly recently started his new job as a machinist.

“But the day I was gonna be able to see him when he got home from work, after I hadn’t seen him for two days, he got picked up by ICE and I couldn’t see him at all,” added the 12-year-old.

Edralin, a resident of Highland Park, New Jersey, was arrested on the morning of June 4 as he was leaving to work.

His wife Brandi Davidson-Edralin, a U.S. citizen, told local news that he was being held for a 2007 conviction in which he was found in possession of an airsoft gun at a traffic stop.

Airsoft guns are considered to be replica or toy weapons which under federal law are not classified as firearms, but are in some states including New Jersey and are thus illegal without proper firearms licensing.

Edralin had served his time and had even gotten his green card renewed more than five years after his conviction, a sign he and his family saw as meaning safety from deportation.

“Out of nowhere for this to come up and for him to be held in detention while it is sorted out is unconscionable,” his wife told local reporters.

ICE said in a statement, “Cloyd Tolentino Edralin, a citizen and national of the Philippines, is removable based on his felony conviction for possession of a handgun. He is currently in ICE custody pending removal proceedings.”

In a rally held outside the Reformed Church of Highland Park a few days after his arrest, Pastor Seth Kaper-Dale, who called for the rally, said the ICE was punishing “people for past mistakes that have already been paid in full.”

In front of the Supreme Court building Tuesday, Kaper-Dale again spoke in front of demonstrators.

“We’ve been torturing kids in the interior of the country as well as on the border through deten-

tion of dads,” said Kaper-Dale, who is also a vocal immigrant advocate.

Edralin’s arrest came during a five-day ICE sweep in New Jersey during which 90 others were arrested, according to the agency.

ICE said arrests were targeted at at-large criminal aliens, illegal re-entrants, and other immigration violators. Of the total 91 arrests, 77 percent were convicted criminals, and 70 percent had prior felony convictions.

John Tsoukaris, field office director of Enforcement and Removal Operations in Newark commended the arrests, saying, “The remarkable results of our officers and law enforcement partners highlight ICE’s ongoing commitment to public safety.”

“This operation focuses on the arrest of individuals convicted of serious crimes and are a threat to public safety. Because of the targeted efforts of these professional officers, there are 91 fewer criminals in our communities,” added Tsoukaris.

Compared to the crimes committed that were shared by ICE, Edralin’s possession of an airsoft gun pales in comparison. Crimes mentioned included drug distribution and possession, money laundering, homicide, kidnapping, assault, and membership in the MS-13 gang.

On the Supreme Court steps, Michelle described her experience of having her dad in detention, an experience she described as horrible.

“The fact that I can only see him an hour when I am able to see him. It’s so horrible,” she said.

“He’s a green card holder. Why was he picked up for something he did 11 years ago and was convicted for?,” said Michelle. “He did his time!”

ICE detainment of Filipinos The arrest comes as the United States deals with toughening immigration policies and an increasing fear among both illegal and permanent U.S. residents across the nation.

While deportation of legal residents isn’t new, the Trump administration has made it clear that low-level offenders may no longer be off the hook.

On Jan. 25 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring that non-citizens who have been convicted of any criminal offense may be a priority for removal.

According to ICE, a total of

four Filipinos including Edralin were arrested in the New Jersey sweep. One Filipino mentioned by the agency was a 58-year-old who has convictions for DUI, child abuse, and domestic violence assault.

In Southern California, two Filipinos were apprehended early this month in a three-day ICE sweep that took in a total of 162 people, according to the agency.

Three other Filipinos were reportedly said to also have been apprehended by ICE between June 7 to 14.

Lolita Andrada Lledo, associate director at the Pilipino Workers Center (PWC) in Los Angeles, told the Asian Journal that while many Latinos get taken in, ethnic communities such as Filipinos should be aware that ICE does look into groups.

Recent Filipino apprehensions monitored by PWC included a caregiver who was arrested in Covina, and another from Panorama City who has been a U.S. resident for 17 years and whose wife said her husband was a victim of notary fraud in 1999. PWC is still monitoring the individual’s status.

Another in May was of a Filipino who was arrested in Torrance.

Both the Covina and Torrance residents chose self-deportation, while the one from Panorama City has gotten a lawyer.

Lledo expects more sweeps to happen as ICE agents make efforts to reach quotas.

But Lledo said that the best way to understand the issue and where one stands is to stay informed. PWC holds information sessions and legal clinics for those that need guidance.

She added that if someone were to be apprehended, their best bet would be to not sign anything and answer questions only in the presence of a lawyer.

“If they don’t have a lawyer, they can contact us and we can probably look for a pro-bono lawyer if they are low income,” Lledo told the Asian Journal in an interview.

But if deportation were to happen, Lledo said Filipinos must keep positive and make preparations such as obtaining a special power of attorney to take care of family affairs.

In 2017, ICE deported 182 Philippine nationals, one down from the 183 deportation of Philippine nationals in 2016, according to agency statistics. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ JULy 5-11, 2018

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Dateline P64%hiliPPines of Filipinos support Boracay closure â&#x20AC;&#x201C; SWS PLEDGE OF COMMITMENT. Priscilla Capuno, San Pablo City District Hospital, Service Delivery Network (SDN)-point person, affixes her signature as a pledge of commitment at the launching of SDN with government service providers in Laguna held at Santa Rosa Auditorium, Santa Rosa City. Capuno said the key message of SDN is â&#x20AC;&#x153;mapping outâ&#x20AC;? every Filipino service provider so that the needed health services are met anytime, anywhere at an appropriate level of care. Behind her is DOH Calabarzon Director Dr. Eduardo Janairo.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The killing of Tanauan City Mayor Antonio Halili in broad daylight is an indicator of the vulnerability of local leaders, the League of Cities of the Philippines said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The boldness and manner by which Mayor Halili was assassinated and killed terrify us all, exposing how vulnerable we all are to murderers who seem so bold and fearless in committing dastardly acts,â&#x20AC;? the 145-member cities of the LCP said in a statement.

The group also called for the immediate resolution of the case of Halili, who was shot while he was with city hall staff at a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 2.

The group also recalled that Halili was â&#x20AC;&#x153;well-loved by his constituents,â&#x20AC;? despite his â&#x20AC;&#x153;controversial methodsâ&#x20AC;? in combating crime.

The slain mayor was known for his â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walk of Shameâ&#x20AC;?, where he paraded suspected criminals on Tanauanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s streets.

It was later renamed the â&#x20AC;&#x153;Walk of Changeâ&#x20AC;?, where those who have undergone rehabilitation went around the city to encourage others to undergo the program. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If the intention of the murder of Mayor Halili was to sow fear among us, cow and intimidate us to cower and let up on our campaign against criminality and vices in whatever form in our localities

Karagdagang kaalaman sa Filipino (Tagalog) ay makikita rin sa website ng Lalawigan ng Clark Kagawaran ng Halalan sa: www.clarkcountynv.gov/vote.

CALL OF SPECIAL ELECTION CLARK COUNTY, NEVADA 2018 ALL MAIL BALLOT SPECIAL ELECTION â&#x20AC;&#x201C; JULY 17, 2018 FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING THE REPUBLICAN PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR NOMINEE TO APPEAR ON THE 2018 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT I, JOSEPH P. GLORIA, the duly appointed Registrar of Voters for the County of Clark, State of Nevada, do hereby certify that the Republican Public Administrator - All Mail Ballot Special Election will be held on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

The Republican primary for Clark County Public Administrator will be redone with a special election due to voting discrepancies in the June 12, 2018 primary. This will be an all-mail ballot election; voters eligible to vote in this election will receive their ballots at the residential address listed on their voter registration, or the mailing address provided.

Only voters that participated in the Republican 2018 Primary Election will be eligible to participate. Mail ballots can be mailed in the envelope provided with your ballot or dropped

off at one of the mail ballot drop-off locations listed below. The mail ballots must be received in our RIÂż FH E\ RU EHIRUH S P RQ -XO\ $ OLVW RI WKH '523 2)) ORFDWLRQV DQG EXVLQHVV KRXUV are listed below if you prefer to deliver your ballot in person. Voters can only bring in their own ballot.

Voters eligible for the special election may vote their mail ballot in person at the Election Center 965 7UDGH 'ULYH 6XLWH $ 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV 19 GXULQJ QRUPDO EXVLQHVV KRXUV RU RQ (OHFWLRQ 'D\ IURP D P WR S P Drop-Off locations will be available starting July 2, 2018 through July 17, 2018 during regular business hours, except on July 4, 2018. Locations will be closed on Wednesday, July 4, 2018. On Election Day, the Election Center location will be open for extended hours from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

Drop-Off Sites

Locations

Clark County Election Center Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Election Day: 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

7UDGH 'ULYH 6XLWH $ 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV 19

&ODUN &RXQW\ (OHFWLRQ 'HSDUWPHQW Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

500 S. Grand Central Parkway Las Vegas, NV 89106

%RXOGHU &LW\ &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂż FH Monday - Thursday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

City Hall, 401 California Avenue Boulder City, NV 89005

&LW\ RI +HQGHUVRQ &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂż FH Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

City Hall, 240 Water Street Henderson, NV 89015

&LW\ RI /DV 9HJDV &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂż FH Monday - Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

City Hall, 495 S. Main Street Las Vegas, NV 89101

&LW\ RI 0HVTXLWH &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂż FH Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

City Hall, 10 E. Mesquite Blvd.

Mesquite, NV 89027

&LW\ RI 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV &LW\ &OHUNÂśV 2IÂż FH Monday - Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:45 p.m.

City Hall, 2250 Las Vegas Blvd. North, 1RUWK /DV 9HJDV 19

Clark County Regional Government Center Monday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Closed: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

101 Civic Way Laughlin, NV 89029

JOSEPH P. GLORIA Clark County Registrar of Voters 38% -XQH DQG -XO\ Las Vegas Asian Journal

Flores Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Three in five Filipino adults were in favor of the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s move to close Boracay Island to tourists for a year for full rehabilitation, a recent survey by the Social Weather Stations (SWS) showed.

The survey, taken from March 23 to 27, found 64 percent of Filipinos who agreed with the closure of the entire island to tourists, while 20 percent disagreed, for a net agreement score of +44, classified by SWS as â&#x20AC;&#x153;very strong.â&#x20AC;?

Seventeen percent of the respondents were undecided.

The survey was undertaken almost a month before the sixmonth closure of the world-renowned beach destination, which started on April 26.

SWS said stronger support for the closure of Boracay was registered in Mindanao, urban areas and among those with higher education.

It was highest in Mindanao at an â&#x20AC;&#x153;extremely strongâ&#x20AC;? +55 (68 percent agree, 13 percent disagree), followed by Metro Manila at a very strong +49 (69 percent agree, 20 percent disagree), balance Luzon at a very strong +45 (64 percent agree, 20 percent Members of the League of Cities of the Philippines pose for a picture with President Duterte disagree), and the Visayas at in this 2016 file photo.

MalacaĂąang photo a moderately strong +26 (53 percent agree, 27 percent disagree). and communities, the murderers the illegal drugs trade.

Net agreement was an exBefore talking about Halili, are mistaken,â&#x20AC;? the LCP added. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We will all the more deter- Duterte mentioned Ozamiz City, tremely strong +50 (68 percent mined and inspired by the memory Misamis Occidental Mayor Rey- agree, 18 percent disagree) in of Mayor Halili to rid our cities of naldo Parojinog and Albuera, Leyte overall urban areas, compared to malefactors,â&#x20AC;? the mayorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; group Mayor Rolando Espinosa, both of the very strong +38 (59 percent whom were allegedly linked to agree, 21 percent disagree) in added.

In a related development, Zam- drugs and who died in shootouts overall rural areas.

Support for the closure of Boboanga City Mayor Maria Isabelle with police.

Duterte later clarified that his racay was stronger among those Climaco-Salazar disclosed Tuesday that she has been receiving death comment was just a â&#x20AC;&#x153;suspicionâ&#x20AC;? with higher educational attainthreats that she said may be related that the killing was related to ment, the SWS said.

It was highest among colto the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong stance against drugs.

This accusation was vehemently lege graduates at an extremely terrorism.

She said that despite the threats, and tearfully denied by Haliliâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s strong +54 (70 percent agree, 16 she is opposed to moving the daughter. She said on Tuesday percent disagree), followed by weekly flag-raising ceremony morning that the president may high school graduates at an exfrom Plaza Rizal in front of city have received wrong information tremely strong +50 (69 percent agree, 18 percent disagree), nonhall, despite buildings nearby about her father.

Opposition lawmakers, mean- elementary school graduates at being potential hiding places for while, said that the killing of a very strong +34 (55 percent snipers.

Duterte links Halili to illegal Halili is due to the â&#x20AC;&#x153;culture of agree, 20 percent disagree), and violenceâ&#x20AC;? perpetrated by Duterte. elementary school graduates at drug trade The authorities conducting an a very strong +33 (57 percent President Rodrigo Duterte, whom Halilil is said to have idol- investigation into the case, that agree, 23 percent disagree).

Majorities in all areas say ized, meanwhile said on Tuesday they suspect may have been carthe closure of Boracay â&#x20AC;&#x153;would that his killing was connected with ried out by a sniper. n

City mayors say Halili murder highlights vulnerability of local execs

by Kristine Joy

by Helen

In this March 17 photo, Boracay residents, workers, and business operators form a human chain along the islandsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s famous white beach to show support for cleanup efforts and to appeal to the government not to shut down the island.

Inquirer.net photo

help rehabilitate the nature in the islandâ&#x20AC;? (64 percent) and â&#x20AC;&#x153;increase the number of tourists in the futureâ&#x20AC;? (61 percent).

The proportion of those who said the closure of Boracay would help rehabilitate nature in the island was highest in Metro Manila at 71 percent, followed by balance Luzon and Mindanao, both at 64 percent, and the Visayas at 61 percent.

On the other hand, the percentage of those who said the Boracay closure would help increase the number of tourists in the future was highest in Metro Manila at 68 percent, followed by Mindanao at 61 percent, Visayas

at 60 percent, and balance Luzon at 58 percent.

The survey used face-to-face interviews of 1,200 adults, 18 years old and above, nationwide.

President Duterte ordered the closure of Boracay for six months so establishments may improve sewerage systems and remove illegal structures.

An inter-agency task force in charge of Boracayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rehabilitation had recommended that the island be closed for a maximum of one year.

Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu earlier said the rehabilitation effort at the island resort was â&#x20AC;&#x153;50 to 60 percentâ&#x20AC;? complete. n

A6

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JULY 5-11, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

Stopping impunity

FEATURES

THE deadly attack might not be related to journalism, according to initial reports. The only way to find out, however, is to catch the killers of Manuel Lacsamana, a propety developer and quarry operator who contributed to the local monthly The Media Messenger and chaired the Central Luzon Media Association.

Lacsamana was on his way home from a business meeting and was driving his pick-up truck along Mabini Street in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija before midnight of June 23 when gunmen on a motorcycle opened fire. He was able to continue driving a short distance but eventually died.

Whether or not the attack was related to journalism, the killers must be brought to justice. With Lacsamana’s murder, the Philippines will likely retain its ranking among the worst countries in the Impunity Index drawn up by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The Philippines ranked fifth worst in the latest index, which rates countries based on the number of deadly attacks on journalists and ability to bring the killers to justice.

The inability has made the country one of the most “murderous” and dangerous for media work-

ers for many years now. A Presidential Task Force on Media Safety has been formed, but the solution rate for journalist killings remains disappointing.

The poor solution rate for all murders and homicides in this country, with thousands perpetrated in the past two years alone, has bred the impunity that guarantees more killings. Journalists aren’t the only targets. Left-leaning activists, legal professionals and, recently, even priests have been shot dead, mostly by gunmen on motorcycles.

With an election year approaching, deadly violence is expected to escalate as politicians, believing they can get away with any crime, use murder as the ultimate weapon for permanently eliminating rivals.

Solving crime means not only arresting a suspect but also securing final conviction and sending the

Editorial

Babe’s Eye View BABE ROMUALDEZ LAST week, I accompanied Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano and National Security Adviser Jun Esperon to the U.S. State Department for a meeting with State Secretary Mike Pompeo. I was pleased to learn that a Filipino-American, Brian Bulatao, has been nominated by President Donald Trump as the State Department’s Under Secretary of State for Management – a position that was held by Patrick Francis Kennedy from 2007 to January last year.

Bulatao and Secretary Mike Pompeo are very close, having been classmates in the U.S. Military Academy at West Point where they graduated in 1986.

Both men also went to Harvard – Pompeo finishing law at Harvard Law School while Bulatao finished his MBA at the Harvard Business School. In 1998, Pompeo and Bulatao, along with some

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte says he never called God “stupid,” it’s only the biblical story of creation and original sin and why people naively believe in it, he says, that he finds “stupid” and called it so. But his rant was completely offensive and unprovoked, and has offended Catholics and evangelicals alike. One Evangelical leader — Brother Eddie Villanueva of the “Philippines for Jesus Movement,” father of the sitting young senator Joel Villanueva and a one-time presidential candidate — wrote DU30 a letter demanding a public apology for his tirade. The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches has also expressed its own unhappiness over DU30’s rant. But presidential spokesman Harry Roque says DU30 will not apologize.

To apologize should have been the easiest thing to do, if only DU30 truly understood his real duties as president of a predominantly Christian Catholic country. He could have easily said, “I am so sorry that the little I have said has caused so much unnecessary confusion and misunderstanding among our people, and I deeply apologize for it.” He would have quickly laid the whole matter to rest. But false pride and conceit intervened. He was apparently determined to “liberate” the na-

offender to prison. Hired guns and masterminds alike must be brought to justice. This should warrant the urgent attention of an administration that

professes to give priority to fighting crime. As long as people believe they can get away with breaking the law, impunity will reign. (Philstar.com)

Fil-Am formerly with CIA now with Secretary Pompeo other West Point alumni, founded Thayer Aerospace where both stayed on until 2006.

Although the military school mates eventually ventured into other business pursuits – with Pompeo eventually going into politics as Kansas Congressman from 2011 to January 2017 – it’s obvious that they have remained close because one of the first things that Mike Pompeo did when he became Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director in January last year is to bring along Brian Bulatao, first as a senior adviser and then as chief operating officer (a position formerly known as “executive director”).

As the CIA’s Number 3 man, Bulatao brought his expertise in business management to institute reforms in the Agency and make it more efficient management-wise – streamlining operations, cutting down programs perceived to be non-essential and pushing for greater autonomy in decision making for agents on the ground. As some described it, Bulatao gave the CIA a “business-style makeover,” asking program heads under his juris-

diction to outline their strategic plans and objectives as well as priorities.

When President Trump named Mike Pompeo as the new State Secretary following the departure of Rex Tillerson last March, speculations ran high on whether Bulatao would join his army buddy at the State Department. The answer came a few weeks ago when President Trump named the former U.S. Army Ranger as among those who would be occupying senior positions in his administration. The Under Secretary of State for Management serves as the principal adviser to the State Secretary and Deputy State Secretary on management issues and matters pertaining to budget, personnel, facilities, technology, logistics, the day-today operations and other matters necessary for the U.S. to carry out its foreign policy mission.

Naturally, the Filipino-American community is very proud of Brian and his accomplishments.

People like him are a source of pride for Fil-Ams because they help reinforce the positive image of Filipinos in the U.S.

Last Thursday, June 28, I had an open forum session with The Washington Diplomat (an independent monthly publication on various issues that include foreign policy, international relations, politics, trade and diplomacy) and one of the questions was about the new immigration bill and how it would affect Filipinos. I told them that Filipinos are known for being industrious and hardworking – the kind of image U.S. legislators have about Filipinos. The assurance I get is that the new immigration bill will be more than fair for new immigrants including Filipinos.

Aside from Brian Bulatao, another Filipino-American, Richard Buangan who has been with the State Department since 2000, will join Secretary Pompeo as Executive Assistant. No doubt, there are also many other Filipino-Americans who have distinguished themselves in their respective professions, such as former White House Executive Chef Cristeta Comerford, the first woman and the first of Asian descent to hold such a position, serving under the administration

of George W. Bush and Barack Obama.

And then there is Dr. Connie Mariano who is the first female to head the White House medical unit, serving presidents George H. Bush, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton. Dr. Mariano also has the distinction of being the first Filipino-American to reach the rank of Rear Admiral in the U.S. Navy.

Other well-known Fil-Am doctors in the U.S. are Dr. Jorge Garcia whom I get to play golf with.

Jorge has the reputation of being one of the best heart surgeons in the world whose patients include state leaders and celebrities; another golfer is Dr. Alex Aquino, a distinguished kidney transplant specialist; and Dr. Elwin Bustos, a nephrologist based in Washington, D.C. who also happens to be my personal physician.

In the U.S. military, one of the most distinguished is retired Lt. General Edward Soriano who has the distinction of being the highest Filipino-American to have served in the military and the first one to be promoted to the rank of general. Just recently, he

was with retired U.S. Army Major General Antonio Taguba for the presentation of the Congressional Gold Medal to Filipino World War II Veterans at the War Memorial Veterans Building in San Francisco.

Another Fil-Am and a good friend is USAID Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia Dr. Gloria Steele, who played a very critical role as USAID Philippines Mission Director supervising the agency’s Rebuild project in the aftermath of Typhoon Yolanda.

There is really a great sense of pride when you meet many Filipino-Americans who have done well in the U.S. As the Philippine Ambassador here in DC, I really feel good when I meet many U.S. officials, private individuals including colleagues in the diplomatic corps who tell me that they are fortunate to have Filipinos in their staff. Indeed, as former Ambassador to Japan Manolo Lopez told me, “it is both fulfilling and rewarding.” * * * Email: babeseyeview@gmail.com (Philstar. com)

DU30 must meet priests for dialogue and healing

Opinion

FRANCISCO TATAD

Philstar.com photo

tion from religion, as one of his supporters puts it, after he had liberated himself from the Constitution and from basic good manners. Thus, his insistence on his utterly erroneous take on the Bible.

Not DU30’s competence As president, DU30 has no business trying to critique what Christians, especially Catholics, believe as a matter of Faith, assuming he completely and accurately understood what they believed. The State, in whose name he speaks, is not the source, nor the enforcer, nor the interpreter of moral or religious doctrine, and he does not have the recognized personal or professional competence to speak on the subject.

There are a thousand and one things he could talk about that are germane to the business of the state, he had absolutely no reason to be bungling his way into any biblical narrative.

Even if, as he insists, he did not call God stupid, his half-literate statement “questioning why God created something perfect only to destroy it later with original sin” has created so much uproar that he should have made amends for it. There is nothing in the biblical narrative that allows him or anyone else to say God “created” or “caused” original sin. What the Bible says is that God put everything he had created at the service of the first man and woman, but forbade them to eat of one particular fruit. They were free to choose. And they

chose not to follow this particular directive. The woman listened to the tempter and ate of the forbidden fruit, then gave it to the man to eat.

Man’s original sin This act of disobedience became the original sin, which marked the Fall of Man. But because of God’s love for man, He decided to redeem him from his fall. In the fullness of time, He sent his only begotten son Jesus Christ to redeem fallen man by dying on the Cross for him. This is the long and short of the biblical narrative as the faithful have come to believe.

DU30 misquotes this by saying God created original sin after creating a “perfect” universe, and calls “stupid” God and those who believe in him. The whole thing could have been avoided if only DU30 had a little more respect for others and for the duties of his office. But he clearly does not, so he goes to a particular place or event unprepared to say anything worthwhile, grabs the microphone as soon as the TV camera is on, and says whatever vulgarity comes to his mouth.

Despite the anger DU30’s rant has caused among the laity, some of whom would like to see him excommunicated and exorcised, the Catholic hierarchy has shown greater forbearance and called for prayers and healing instead of any punitive response. Archbishop Romulo Valles, Archbishop of Davao, president of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philip-

pines, and a personal friend of DU30, has maintained a position of dignified silence, preferring a friendly dialogue to a spirited confrontation.

Cardinal Tagle’s statement From Geneva, where he is attending the UN Conference on Migrants and Refugees, sponsored by the Holy See, Caritas Internationalis, World Congress of Churches and International Detention Coalition, etc., Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the Archbishop of Manila, has written to the priests of his archdiocese, upon the request of Monsignor Jose Clemente Ignacio, the vicar general of the archdiocese, a letter urging them to “be at peace, to be calm, not to let things disturb their inner peace,” and “not to be distracted from addressing other pressing concerns.”

The Archbishop of Manila is an extremely popular cardinal whom the Vatican watcher John Allen likes to describe as “the next Pope.” I fear, however, that his message to his priests could cause as much unhappiness as DU30’s original statement. I will quote the letter at length.

“2. Vatican II stressed that we Catholics should respect nonCatholics and other religions.

We also respect those who do not believe in God. All people should strive to respect those who differ from their beliefs.

Religions are not to be used for conflicts but for mutual understanding and peace.”

Who is disrespecting

whom?

Comment: The problem is not about Catholics disrespecting non-Catholics. Rather, it is the President of the Philippines, disrespecting the faith of Catholics and other Christians alike while priests are being killed in broad daylight. None of us are using religion to promote conflict; DU30 is the one trying to create conflict where there is none.

“3. Questioning God and God’s ways is not new. It is as old as humanity and religions.

In the history of the Church they have become moments for study, reflection and clarification of doctrine. Creation and evolution, God’s goodness and evil, God’s grace and human freedom, God’s mercy and eternal punishment — these topics have been raised at various moments of the Church’s history.

In my visits to colleges and universities, I have been asked similar questions by young people.

Their scientific and technological education calls for a review of the relationship between Faith, science and reason. Remember Glyzelle, the young girl who asked Pope Francis at UST, why does God allow children to suffer? These questions are always raised and will continue to be raised. As a constructive step, perhaps we can invite our philosophers, scientists, theologians, bible scholars, catechists and social workers to revisit these concerns and present responses appropriate to our contemporary sensibilities. Maybe

a renewed apologetics is needed for those who are sincerely searching for the truth.”

Comment: Catholics are not averse to a continuing reexamination of their Faith. But they have to denounce any attempt by anyone to use political power to dictate their own interpretation of the truths of the Faith.

Is God now a mere distraction?

“4. While these questions are extremely important for the dialogue between Faith and current concerns, let us not be distracted from addressing other pressing concerns with the 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, the daily paralyzing traffic in big cities, flooding, reconstruction of destroyed cities, combatting terrorism, corruption and others. We need to come together and contribute to positive responses according to each one’s capability.

We cannot address these problems by just blaming someone.

Those who believe in God must work faithfully and joyfully for the Lord. Those who do not believe in God must serve out of human decency, generosity and concern for neighbors.”

The greatest commandment Comment: This is extremely saddening. I cannot imagine

u PAGE A7

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 5-11, 2018

A

Palace tells Joma: Go home if you want to help

by Patricia

Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

Malacañang on Monday, July 2, insisted that the Philippine government was not at fault for the continuous termination of peace negotiations with communist rebels. last week, national Democratic Front founding chair Joma Sison said that the communist group could no longer negotiate with the Duterte administration.

Sison said the communist Par- National Democratic Front founding chair Joma Philstar.com photo ty of the Philippines would rather Sison join efforts to oust the president. way.

Presidential spokesperson HarThe government also guaranry Roque said that Sison cannot teed Sison that he would not be overthrow the government while arrested if he decides to go home he is out of the country. for the peace negotiations, Roque “Joma Sison, wake up, you’re said. dreaming. You cannot overthrow “But Joma Sison is arrogant, a government while you are in he thinks that he is the country’s Europe. You’ve been there for so savior,” the Malacañang spokeslong, go home and live here in man said. the Philippines,” Roque said in amid botched peace talks beFilipino during a press briefing in tween the communist rebels and Southern leyte. the government, the Department Roque added that the govern- of Justice has moved for the canment gave the communist rebels cellation of temporary liberty of a chance when cPP leaders were nDF consultants Benito Tiamzon, freed to join peace talks in nor- adelberto Silva, Rafael Baylosis,

Randall Echanis, Vicente ladlad and alan Jazmines.

Meanwhile, Sison accused Duterte of being the “biggest spoiler” of the peace talks.

“He continues to repeat ad nauseam his demand that the venue of negotiations should be in Manila under his control, surveillance, manipulation and duress,” Sison said in a statement released Saturday.

The cPP also called Defense Secretary Delfin lorenzana a “war promoter and consummate militarist” after backing Duterte’s anti-peace talks policy. lorenzana earlier told Sison that he was irrelevant without the peace talks and that the government would instead focus on localized peace talks in the absence of the nDF founding chair.

“Mr. Sison, you know that the peace talks is the only thing that is keeping you in the limelight.

Without it you are irrelevant.

You also know that the president can terminate the talks, and this is why you are desperately using reverse psychology and intimidation to save it,” lorenzana said. n

DU30 must meet priests for dialogue...

PAGE A6 any well-formed catholic agreeing that defending the honor of god from the libel thrown by any irresponsible demagogue is a “distraction” from other necessary cares and concerns. It is a catholic’s first duty, and everything else is a distraction. In Matthew 22:36-40, when asked which is the greatest commandment in the law, Jesus answers: “love the lord your god with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. and the second is like it. love your neighbor as yourself. all the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” as for ”the increasing prices of goods,” etc., which the good cardinal would like to commend to his priests, these are not among their basic duties. They are among the one thousand and one things that should primarily occupy DU30, who has promised to solve most if not all of those problems. DU30, not the priests, is the one who has distracted himself from his basic duties by talking about the church’s teaching on original sin, which is outside his competence.

as gaudium et Spes, the Pastoral constitution on the church in the Modern World, so eloquently puts it, “the church, by reason of her role and competence, is not identified in any way with the political community nor bound to any political system, nor does she claim competence in proposing solutions to concrete political and economic problems. The church and the political community in their own fields are autonomous and independent of each other. [although] both under different titles, are devoted to the personal and social vocation of the same person.”

The church cannot remain silent in the face of error being propagated by the most dangerous sources. Every priest must speak. This is the message we heard from the Magisterium when on June 2, 2001 then archbishop (now cardinal) Jean-louis Tauran, then Secretary of Relations with States, addressed 70 Filipino bishops in Manila on the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and the Holy See. He said: The priest as prophet “It is only right that at all

times and in all places the church should have true freedom to teach her doctrine and to pass moral judgment in those matters which regard the common good and fundamental rights and freedoms… The People expect something else from their Pastors, that they be witnesses to christ, giving force to the lord’s teaching by being the ‘conscience of the nation,’ by being prophets in the biblical sense of the word, whose charism is to denounce evil wherever it is to be found and to call all men and women back to god in true conversion.”

To call on the religious and the clergy to be silent in the face of grave abuse is to ask them to renounce their right of prophetic denunciation at a time when even the stones should speak.

That DU30 has agreed to dialog with the church is a welcome development. But for him to name three individuals to represent him, instead of personally meeting with the bishops himself, is certainly absurd. He must meet with the priests and bishops himself if there is to be genuine dialogue and healing.

(ManilaTimes.net)

BORACAY CLEANUP. Local residents participate in a massive cleanup drive on Boracay Island as part of the 6-month rehabilitation program to bring back the tourist destination’s beauty.

PNA photo by Alan Jay Jacalan

BISHOP URGES FAITHFUL

‘Don’t tolerate evil’ by catherine

a. Modesto ManilaTimes.net

ManIla auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo urged catholics to wake up and stand up against evil in the aftermath of President Rodrigo Duterte’s “stupid god” remark, as he questioned the sincerity and “openness to truth” of a four-man government panel tasked to dialogue with the catholic church.

“I am happy that many people are now speaking out. Duterte crossed the red line when he insults our god. People have come out of their stupor. I say to all, wake up and stand up. Evil should not be tolerated,” Pabillo said in his blog.

The prelate said a person “who has no respect for others and even for god is himself not respectable.” although people are entitled to their own beliefs, this does not give a person the privilege to attack and publicly shame other beliefs, “even if he is the highest official in the land.”

“Some continue to tolerate Duterte on the ground of freedom of speech and even of freedom of religion. Freedom of speech should not be given as a reason for such a blasphemous attack. Freedom of speech brings out with it responsibility to respect what others hold dear. If Duterte does not believe in the teachings of our faith, we cannot do anything about that. He can believe what he wants,” he said.

“Each one of us will stand in front of the judgment seat of god one day. But he should not call our god stupid! He should not denigrate our faith in a public forum,”

Pabillo said.

Pabillo questioned the Duterte government’s sincerity in reconciling its differences with the church and other religious groups, citing its debatable track record in terms of “openness to the truth.”

“Unfortunately the track record of this government does not point to this. First, the persons that are asked to conduct this dialogue on their part do not have a good record of openness to the truth,” Pabillo said, referring to the members of the dialogue panel formed

by Palace.

The panel members are Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr., political strategist Pastor “Boy Saycon,” Foreign affairs Undersecretary Ernesto abella, and Secretary to the cabinet leoncio Evasco, a former priest.

Saycon had claimed that church leaders could be involved in a destabilization plot against the government, a statement he later took back and rejected by the Palace.

“Do Roque, Saycon and Panelo have the ability to understand their dialogue partners and not jump to conclusions and false accusations as they are doing now?” Pabillo said.

Dialogue should have happened even before President Duterte criticized church teachings and the christian faith, he said.

“We cannot then fault people who see this offer for dialogue as a damage control measure for the strong protests against Duterte and his cohorts. It may just be offered as a face-saving strategy. Is there really sincerity in this offer of dialogue?” a cBcP official, Fr. Jerome Secillano, talked to Saycon in a pre-

Manila Auxiliary Bishop Broderick Pabillo Inquirer.net photo

liminary.

Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. also had a meeting with archbishop gabriel giordano caccia, apostolic nuncio in the Philippines on Friday night, and it was agreed that cBcP President Romulo Valles and Duterte would have a “one-on-one” dialogue.

Sen. Panfilo lacson agreed that Duterte crossed the line when he insulted god.

“I believe that he crossed the line. So he should make amends. after all he is the leader of our country,” lacson said.

He added that the creation of a government panel to talk to various christian groups offended by the President is a good move.

The senator said the President should work on his statesmanship and watch his statements because these could be misunderstood.

Pabillo also lamented delays in the peace talks with the communist Party of the Philippines (cPP) and the new People’s army (nPa).

“The peace negotiations with the ccP-nPa have shown the inability of the government in coming to any agreement,” he said..

Pabillo said President Duterte could “whimsically cut-off negotiations and pull away from hardearned agreements with flimsy reasons and accusations.” n

A

july 5-11, 2018 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

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VEGAS&STYLE

B

Journal 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

Miss Universe Spain Angela Ponce and Miss Universe Catriona Gray Photos courtesy of Miss Universe Spain and Binibining PIlipinas Inc.

Catriona Gray to compete with trans woman in Miss Universe

by Deni

rose BernarDo Philstar.com

The 26-year-old Ponce is also reportedly going to be Miss UniTHE Philippines’ representa- verse’s first trans woman comtive, Catriona Gray, will be com- petitor after the Miss Universe peting against Angela Ponce, Organization (MUO) has lifted the the first trans woman crowned ban on transgender contestants in as Miss Universe Spain, in the 2012, following a legal challenge upcoming Miss Universe 2018 by transgender TV personality pageant.

PAGE B2

Berna Romulo-Puyat: On her own

by BüM

D. Tenorio Philstar.com

Philippine Tourism Secretary Berna RomuloPuyat Philstar.com photo

Jr.

A REPUTABLE name is worth more than all the riches in the world. It sounds like a cliché until you meet Berna Romulo-Puyat, the secretary of tourism.

From the Romulo clan that puts dignity to public service, Berna maintained an unsullied reputation in the almost 12 years she was agriculture undersecretary. She was in charge of the country’s agribusiness, promotion of local products and organic agriculture.

At the DA, Berna, who, before the passing of her husband Dave Puyat in 2010, admits to being a creature of comfort, found herself in the fields around the country, relating with farmers under the sun, helping them in marketing their produce.

PAGE B3

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 the 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 Elaine Castillo AJPress photos by Momar G. Visaya dinner was most appropriate.

People’s Army, one that has Castillo wrote unapologetically ing about 200 pages of text.

Then she shifted to a POV of always been at the back of her about Filipino language, culture and food, the one she grew up someone from the NPA or New PAGE B2 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 Elaine Castillo with Nicole Ponseca, owner of she couldn’t write from that same point of view anymore after writJeepney and Maharlika.

Features

B july 5-11, 2018 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

MYRTLE SARROSA

From cosplayer to super hero, to role model

by Arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

COSTuME play or cosplay can become a career. Since it became a hobby phenomenon in Japan in the ‘90s —sourced from anime, cartoons, comic books, live-action films. video games and television series— cosplayers have multiplied tremendously around the world. The fad had turned into a subculture, spawning conventions and competitions both locally and internationally.

In the Philippines, one of the most successful cosplayers is Myrtle Sarrosa, who legitimately built a name in the entertainment industry when she was declared the “Pinoy Big Brother Teen Edition” grand winner in 2012.

Shortly after—as Sarrosa is laden with talent and not just one who imitates a real or fictional character—she officially became an actress in the ABS-CBN teledrama, “Kahit Puso’y Masugatan.” On the recording front, she and Young JV released a digital single titled “Your Name” that became No. 1 on the Myx music channel. A stint as VJ (video jock) ensued on “Hero TV.” Her “Mr. Kupido” single culled from her self-titled album under Star Records got her a nomination as Best New Female Recording Artist in the PMPC Star Awards for Music. She also became the resident judge and host for the first Philippine cosplay show, “iCosplay.”

In 2014, she adorned the cover of FHM Philippines men’s magazine November issue. The following year, she joined the early morning show “umagang Kay Ganda” as feature and travel host, then as main presenter in the NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) for Seasons 91 and 92. She was one of eight

celebrity performers in the second season of “Your Face Sounds Familiar.”

In between these dizzying schedules, Sarrosa penned songs (together with Jonathan Ong) for Jennelyn Mercado and Maja Salvador and finished her Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Communication graduating cum laude. Her research on cospaly’s history in the Philippines had been awarded and cited multiple times.

She again graced the cover of FHM February 2018 issue and 2018 calendar girl of liquor brand Ginebra San Miguel.

She’s presently in the cast of the high-rating primetime series “Ang Probinsyano” starring Coco Martin, after the conclusion of “La Luna Sangre.”

Being in the limelight in multiple platforms, Sarrosa has naturally amassed following with some of them becoming stalkers in the end. Good-naturedly, she said, “Treat them kindly.”

If there’s one thing that she is thankful for at the moment, it is her contract renewal as brand ambassador of Sisters sanitary napkins and pantyliners, which brings her to a lot of schools around the country in the product’s “School is cool” campaign.

Now on her third year as brand ambassador, Sarrosa has already visited about 30 high schools for the advocacy of the manufacturing company, Megasoft, which has given recognition to outstanding students and teachers in high schools nationwide.

With her sexy image, she is surprisingly wholesome in her approach to life. “No one has a perfect body. For me, just embrace who you are,” she said about those who body-shame others.

Myrtle Sarrosa

ManilaTimes.net photo

She also prefers to ignore those who post lewd or vulgar comments to her photos on social media. “I haven’t gotten any indecent proposals though,” she laughed.

The talented personality will soon soar to the silver screen as a superhero in the upcoming fantasy-comedy film, “Wonder Bra” under Blue Rock Productions with Zeus Collins and Cacai Bautista. Her role as Barbara comes with superpowers whenever she wears her magic bra. “It’s like cosplaying – you wear a costume and play a role,” she said.

Sarrosa was in the “2018 Megasoft School is Cool Tour” at Atimonan National Comprehensive High School and at the Gumaca National High School in Quezon Province talking about feminine hygiene and feminism.

She will be in Sto. Tomas, La union for the 2nd Sanglad Festival on July 19 and Waltermart Tarlac on July 21.

Catriona Gray to compete with trans woman...

PAGE B1 and model Jenna Talackova.

Ponce was crowned in Spain last June 29, defeating 22 other contenders in the national pageant.

In an Instagram post shortly after her win, Ponce said in Spanish: “Bringing the name and colors of Spain before the universe is my great dream… My goal is to be a spokesperson for a message of inclusion, respect and diversity not

only for the LGBTQ+ community but also for the entire world.”

In 2015, Ponce, who is from Seville, represented Cadiz in Miss World Spain.

Miss universe 2018 was originally planned to be held in the Philippines, in time for Boracay’s reopening, following the country’s successful staging of the pageant in 2016. But due to the Tourism department’s change of leadership, new Tourism Secretary Ber-

nadette Romulo-Puyat decided not to hold the pageant in the country yet.

Netizens on Twitter have been celebrating the supposed relocation of the pageant from the Philippines to Thailand with the hashtag #Missuniverse201 8Thailand. Philstar.com tried to reach MuO for confirmation on the pageant’s new host country, but the organization has not yet responded.

http://www.asianjournal.com • (702) 792-6678

Fil-Am Elaine Castillo’s debut novel...

PAGE B1

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”)

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

and Emiliana Kampilan (“Dead 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 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.

PAGE B4

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ABS-CBN on John Lloyd Cruz comeback: Fake news

by Deni

Rose BeRnaRDo Philstar.com

ABS-CBN has broken its silence in response to news reports and blind items saying that actor John Lloyd Cruz asked the TV network to get him back and the station allegedly either denied or accepted him.

In a press statement released to Philstar.com on June 29, ABSCBN head for Integrated Corporate Communications Kane Errol Choa said: “There is no truth to reports that John Lloyd Cruz approached ABS-CBN to request that he return to work, and that the network turned him down.”

This is in reaction to reports that circulated online on June 29 that the actor is allegedly ready to return into the limelight. Some reports said John Lloyd begged for work from ABS-CBN and the network turned him down; while other reports claimed that the network welcomed him back with

But all these have been denied

by ABS-CBN. This means that contrary to reports, there is no comeback project slated yet for John Lloyd.

According to Choa, “John Lloyd is still on an indefinite leave to attend to personal matters.”

Some news reports claim that these “personal matters” refer to John Lloyd’s girlfriend Ellen Adarna, who allegedly gave birth to the actor’s son in a private hospital in Cebu sometime in June 28 or June 29. There are also reports that claimed the actress gave birth last April in Singapore. None of John Lloyd Cruz Philstar.com photo these reports, however, have been confirmed. open arms and is actually cooking The network, nonetheless, up something big for him. stressed that it never closed its According to one news report, doors to the actor.

John Lloyd has been signed to “ABS-CBN values its strong star in a big Star Cinema movie. relationship with John Lloyd built Star Cinema allegedly offered the through the years. ABS-CBN’s role to the actor because “nobody doors are always open to John can give justice to the character Lloyd, and he will always be a except John Lloyd.”

Kapamilya,” Choa assured.

Berna Romulo-Puyat: On her own

PAGE B1 “on May 8, at 4:30 p.m., I was in Malacañang because I accompanied former Sen. Serge osmeña for a meeting with the president. of course, I took it as an opportunity to discuss with President Duterte a written agenda for the next National Food Authority council meeting. “he read the paper. It was already the second draft. Like the first draft, he read it like an editor. he’s very meticulous.”

After that, Berna recalls, President Duterte put down the paper and asked her, “have you heard Wanda (Teo, former tourism secretary) is no longer with the Department of Tourism?” She answered, “I read about it.”

Berna remembers the president telling her, “Alam mo, bagay sa iyo ang position. You’ve been in government for so long and there’s no corruption issue about you. The way you are, bagay sa iyo ang DoT position. Do you want it, Berna?”

“Binibiro mo ako,” she told the president. But the president was not joking. Apparently, when he was still mayor of Davao City, Duterte asked Berna if she ever wanted to become the agriculture secretary, “because you also fit the job.” She said no but added that, if ever, she wanted to become the tourism secretary. “And the president remembered that, even if we discussed it in the past. he told me,

‘remember, a long time ago, that was what you wanted. Take the job.

You’re very credible’.”

So, on May 8 at 5 p.m., Berna was appointed the secretary of tourism, took her oath on May 14, started working at the Department of Tourism on May 15 and, on May 30, after six minutes, was confirmed by the Commission on Appointments.

Included in her short-term plans is the continuous use of “It’s More Fun in the Philippines” slogan of the DoT. For long-term, included is the promotion of sustainable tourism “with more responsible tourists.” She names the Top 5 countries that love the Philippines: Korea, China, the u.S., Japan and Australia.

She works hard to hit the target of 7.4 million tourist arrivals in the country by the end of the year.

When Boracay closed in April, people started trooping to other breathtaking destinations like Lu or La union, Siargao, Bohol and Mactan. “But Boracay will open on oct. 26.”

At the end of her frenzied day at work, Berna comes home to the warm embrace of her daughter Maia, 22, a writer. She also gets to talk on Viber to her son Vito, 21, who is graduating next month from the Newcastle university in London with a degree in Psychology with honors, minor in Neuroscience.

For two years now, she has had a steady relationship with Charlie Cojuangco, who, because Berna has been busy at the DoT, good naturedly “sets an appointment” with the secretary so they would see each other. Asked the state of her heart, she answered, “Contented.”

Berna comes from the family who knows how to genuinely love each other and celebrate each other’s accomplishment. “one good thing that came out from my being secretary now is that it brought a smile to my father’s (former Foreign Affairs and Executive Secretary Alberto romulo’s) face.

Ever since the passing of my sister Lupe last November, Dad has been crying every day. he is smiling now,” says the loving daughter of her dad, who taught her to always protect the romulo name. her mom Lovely taught her to always be supportive of her loved ones.

In a chance meeting with the romulo patriarch on his way to visit the crypt of Lupe in Makati, The Star asked him if he would give advice to Berna now that she is secretary of tourism. “No,” he said with a smile. “She is on her own because she is her own person. I am just a flower vase.”

Berna is on her own. And on her own she will prove her mettle.

The lady secretary is not known to disappoint when it comes to public service.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 5-11, 2018

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Reflecting on the Beautiful Life Celebration’s past awardees

By Monet

Lu

Through the years, the Beautiful Life Celebration has been recognizing individuals, youth, organizations, and couples who have shaped and influenced their communities in extraordinary ways. Now that the organization is celebrating its 30th anniversary, I’d like to this opportunity to share with my readers how these four amazing people — who were awarded at the event in 2017 — have lived beautiful lives and inspire a lot of people in the process.

Aida Jugo, Queen of the Philippines – International As an Assistant Vice President and Manager of Investigations (unit for Money/ Wire Transfer Department) for union Bank, Aida ensures that a customer’s money is safe from the hands of scammers and hackers.

A good day for Aida is when she recovers funds out of erroneous transactions or when she is helping out a victim of a hacked account.

Aida has been working with union Bank for 25 years and this is her first – and only – job in the u.S. She began her career as a young employee processing loans and worked her way up to her current position. growing up in La union and Pangasinan, she felt like being in paradise, surrounded by rice fields and vegetable farms, fish ponds and free-roaming animals in acres and acres of land. Aida moved to Manila for college at the Philippine College of Commerce, with a double major in advertising and marketing.

After graduating, her adventurous spirit brought her to the united States so she could experience a new life in the “land of opportunities.”

“A Beautiful Life is doing the things you enjoy the most. Life is beautiful when you are surrounded by a loving family, good friends and when you are accomplishing your dreams…” she said.

Mrs. Corazon Rosete, Life-

time Achievement Awardee Cora is a retired registered nurse after 46 years of service in Kaiser Permanente. She started as a head nurse at a community hospital in hollywood.

“That was my first job when I arrive in the uS in 1968. After that, I transferred to Kaiser in 1970 where they trained me to be to be a critical nurse for three months: one month for intensive care (ICu), another for critical care (CCu) then one month in open heart unit. They asked me to choose my specialty and I wanted to choose open heart unit at the time but due to [the] shortage of successful open heart cases, they couldn’t train for that specialty.

Instead, they transferred me to the coronary or intensive care unit which is a combination of critical care patient, respiratory, medical and surgical.”

Cora loves being a nurse because of the continuous learning and stable income it allows her to provide for her family back in the Philippines. But most of all, it is the privilege of acting and caring for your patients like a primary doctor would.

“I feel like a doctor! ICu nurses are trained to do their best when there’s a ‘code blue’ in the event that the doctor is not around, it is our job to try and save the patient the best way possible, the best way we can,” she said.

She mused, “A beautiful life is having a job that gives you the capability to give back. Also, a beautiful life is being blessed with a wonderful husband. god

gave me a husband who loved me dearly.”

Prinze and Geraldine Scott, Outstanding Couple of the Year Prinze is a registered respiratory care practitioner for 10 years and geraldine is an office manager of a hospice agency and the owner of TLC Services. geraldine also produces Filipino shows and concerts.

The couple first met at geraldine’s sister’s house on Christmas Day in 2002. Since then Prinze never left geraldine’s side. geraldine and Prinze have been together for 15 years. They first got married back in 2008 when gay marriage was legalized in California. In September 2013, they renewed their vows at CBS Studios in Los Angeles.

“I love helping people especially when they thank me personally for saving their lives or their families’ lives,” Prinze said.

Prinze and geraldine hope to have their own respiratory and hospice agency someday. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, awardwinning celebrity beauty stylist with his own chain of Monet Salon salons across Southern California and Las Vegas, Nevada. Ultimately, Monet is known as an all-around artiste who produces sold-out fashion and awards shows as well as unforgettable marketing campaigns. Monet is also the founder of the revolutionary all-natural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com

B july 5-11, 2018 • lAS VEGAS ASIAN jOuRNAl

Features

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JC de Vera shares photos of new baby with non-showbiz girlfriend

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

DIAMOND WEDDING ANNIVERSARY. Phil and Purie Mesina celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary last June 8, 2018. When asked what their secret is to celebrating a diamond wedding anniversary, the couple said to “never go to bed angry with your spouse.” It definitely worked!

KAPAMILYA actor JC de Vera finally showed to the world his own family by posting photos of them on social media.

In his Instagram account, the “Since I Found You Star” posted photos of him together with girlfriend Rikkah Cruz and daughter Lana Athena.

“My Strength. My happiness.

My Inspiration. My motivation.

My Love. My Life,” the hunk actor wrote. “#Weout #FamilyFirst #MyFamily #ThedeVeras #LanaAthena #MyVeryOwn,” he added as a hashtag.

Recently, JC’s daughter has been baptized with celebrity godparents such as “Banana Sundae” co-actors John Pratts and Pooh, together with Nadia Montenegro.

Nadia posted photos of the baptism on her Instagram ac-

On his Instagram account, JC de Vera posted photos of him together with girlfriend Rikkah Cruz and daughter Lana Athena.

Photo from Instagram/@akosijcdeberat

count.

“Ninang Duties! Congratulations inaanak Lana Athena and

proud parents (JC and Rikkah).

Love you guys! Beautiful Family,” Nadia captioned.

Because of Siwon? Pia Wurtzbach, Fil-Am Elaine Castillo’s debut novel...

Marlon Stockinger unfollow each other PAGE B2

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

IS racer Marlon Stockinger jealous of Super Junior member Choi Siwon?

That has been what fans have been asking themselves after celebrity couple Pia Wurtzbach and Marlon “unfollowed” each other merely days after the Miss Universe 2015 met her crush Siwon at the latter’s concert at the Mall of Asia Arena on June 30.

Earlier this month, Pia uploaded a video of her asking her boyfriend if she can go to the arena to watch Super Junior’s concert. Marlon repeatedly said “no” to that question. Fans tried to help convince Marlon by pleading for Pia on social media.

After the concert, Pia posted on her Instagram account a photo of her with Siwon at the backstage of the arena.

“Finally! A true fan girl moment for me! @siwonchoi #SS7Manila,” she captioned.

Last year, Pia and Marlon also “unfollowed” each other on Instagram due to unknown reasons.

Recently, the couple appeared in a BlueWater Day Spa event

EMPLOYMENT

“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 about two young women struggling to forge their identities after shedding past versions of Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach met Choi Siwon of K-Pop boy group Super Junior during the themselves.

Super Show 7 on Saturday, June 30.

Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach “The main character is a bisexual woman who is a former NPA where they are the new endors- individually. Marami pa kaming rebel. For me personally, I am a plano individually. Marami pa bi woman myself. I would love to ers.

They said they are not yet kaming gustong ma-achieve, ako see more bi characters in fiction, ready to tie the knot anytime soon sa career ko and siya sa racing I don’t think I see enough,” she because they are not rushing career niya,” Pia said. lamented.

Marlon agreed with his girlthings between them.

The novel follows Geronima “Not in the near future, no. friend, although he stressed (“Hero”) de Vera, a Filipina docWe’re not there yet. I still feel that the beauty queen is a “wife tor and communist rebel who is like we want to achieve a lot material.” captured from a remote insurgen-

EMPLOYMENT

cy 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 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,

FOR RENT

SERVICES

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

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.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

Your Immigration Solution ATTY. MICHAEL BHOTIWIHOK THE Trump Administration continues to muddy the immigration landscape in the United States through United States Attorney General Sessions’ June 11, 2018 decision on Matter of A-B by determining that victims of domestic violence and gang violence no longer generally qualify for asylum in the United States.

Under United States immigration law, asylum provides protection for individuals who fear persecution in their home countries.

Any person who has suffered persecution or fears suffering persecution in his home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion may seek protection through asylum in the United States.

When the persecutor is a private actor, the asylum applicant must demonstrate that the government is either unwilling or unable to control the private actor.

Of the five protected grounds established under United States asylum law, membership in a particular social group has experienced extensive litigation and varying legal interpretations. As a result, the particular social group category continues to develop and is a flashpoint in United States immigration law In 2014 seminal case of Matter of A-R-C-G, the Board of Immigration Appeals recognized new particular social group based on private violence – “married women in Guatemala who are unable to leave their relationship.” Then in Matter of A-B, the Board of Immigration Appeals granted an El Salvadorian women asylum based on her being a victim of domestic violence. The woman was granted asylum based on her membership in a particular social group as a victim of domestic violence.

The Attorney General’s new decision on Matter of A-B addresses whether a victim of private criminal activity constitutes a particular social group for asylum

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

Strict requirements eliminate Calendar of Events across victims of gang and domestic violence from claiming asylum and withholding of removal. The decision spells out a two prong test for an asylum applicant to establish persecution on account of membership in a particular social group. First, membership in a particular social group must be demonstrated. This requirement is met through a group composed of members who share an immutable characteristic, is defined with particularity and is socially distinct. Second, the applicant’s membership in the group must be the central reason for the persecution.

The Attorney General’s action significantly changes the policy on asylum for victims of domestic violence and gang violence, impedes due process and access to the asylum system in the United States.

In the Attorney General’s decision he states that “generally, claims by aliens pertaining to domestic violence or gang violence perpetrated by non-government actors will not qualify for asylum.”

He goes on to justify his position by writing “ the mere fact that a country may have problems effectively policing certain crimessuch as domestic violence or gang violence- or that certain populations are more likely to be victims of crime, cannot itself establish an asylum claim.”

Prior to releasing his new decision, the Attorney General spoke at an Immigration Judge training seminar where he indicated that legitimate asylum cases are buried by the high volume of invalid asylum claims. Presently, there is a growing backlog of 700,000 cases at asylum offices across the United States.

The Attorney General’s new decision severely impacts thousands of domestic violence victims seeking asylum in the United States, especially those with pending cases for the immigration courts.

Equally as disturbing is that fact that many women and children could be sent back to their coun-

tries to face their abusers and criminal gangs.

While the Attorney General’s new ruling is binding on Immigration Judges and USCIS Asylum Officers, it can be overturned by a federal appellate court if a legal challenge is mounted.

This more stringent shift in asylum requirements comes after the new Zero Tolerance policy for illegal entry on the United States’ borders as well pressure of Immigration Judges to complete a certain number of case per year.

The Attorney General has stated that “the world will know what our rules are, and great numbers will no longer undertake this dangerous journey.” Collectively, these changes in immigration policy and enforcement represent the shape of things to come from the Trump Administration’s restrictive and unwelcoming immigration policy.

Asylum is a complex area of immigration law that requires careful legal analysis. An individual who fears returning home because of past persecution or a fear of persecution in his or her native country, should consult with an experienced immigration attorney to determine whether a claim for asylum should be pursued before the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and/or the Immigration Court. *** Reeves Miller Zhang & Diza is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

For more Information please call (800) 7958009 or visit www.rreeves.com.

Telephone: (800) 795-8009 E-mail: immigration@rreeves.com Website: www.rreeves.com. *** The analysis and suggestions offered in this column do not create a lawyer-client relationship and are not a substitute for the personalized representation that is essential to every case.

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The bucket list

The world is your oyster -Go travel!

“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.” –Marcel Proust cept she could not find the time while she is still working. There are those who list the Via Dolorosa in the Holy Land and would like to take the time to travel to pilgrimage sites: Lourdes in France, Fatima in Portugal, Medjugorje in Bosnia and other sites where the Blessed Mother has appeared to children.The Grand Canyon is a sight to behold. The Great Wall of China is a must-see. Hongkong rocks and Palawan beckons. Bali says hi. What’s up with Cambodia’s Angkor Wat? Among the Japanese where the love of nature is deep, one of the more popular trips among the very hip, is to experience, at least once in their lifetimes, braving the freezing temperatures in the Arctic regions to witness first hand the dancing, mesmerizing Northern lights, the Aurora Borealis. To them, it

Health@Heart

Health and household tips

THERE are eight (8) groups of edible items in the stores, and perhaps in our kitchen pantry, that we should stay away from because they cause havoc on our body and increase our risk for the development major diseases as children and when we grow older. Unfortunately, their adverse impact on health and longevity happens gradually and not immediately evident, until it’s too late. The debilitating illnesses they cause including diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, heart attack, stroke, and cancer, are mostly preventable.

Among these unhealthy items are tobacco, alcohol, processed meats and processed vegetables, regular red meat, soft drinks of any and all kind, yogurt, cereal bars, and other items with wheat and high fructose corn syrup.

Healthy foods include: a lot of vegetables, green-leafy and multicolor varieties, avocado, olives and olive oil instead of vegetable oil and corn oil, wildcaught smaller fishes (salmon, sardines, mackerel, not huge albacore tuna, swordfish, and

fishes which are loaded with antibiotics, hormones, etc. Eat a handful of nuts (almond, walnuts, etc.) daily. The pescatarian diet (vegetable and seafood diet, no animal meat at all) appears to be gaining popularity because it is healthier.

Many fast food restaurants offer breakfast menu 24/7 because today, they recognize the concept that we eat when we are hungry and eat what we eat for nutrition, without the old rigid rule that each meal, like breakfast, should have “standard” items.

This could also help in dieting.

Calories (quantity) and specific food items (quality) and their nutritional and health value are the current recommendation. The caveat I propose: Push yourself away from the table less than full.

I cannot overemphasize the health benefits of physical exercise, at least 5 times a week, even simple brisk-walking for 30 minutes a day. Exercise is not only good for losing excess weight but it boosts the immune system, provides brain and psychological health, and also prevents cancer and Alzheimer’s.

To prevent all diseases listed above, we must start our preemptive and pro-active health strategy in the cellular (DNA)

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America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS J U LY 6 -26

Solo exhibit of Fil-Am Artist Lynda A. N. Reyes in Burbank The Betsy Lueke Creative Arts Center, the municipal gallery of Burbank, is proud to present the Solo Exhibit of artist Lynda A. N. Reyes from July 6 to the 26,2018. The public is invited to the opening reception on Friday, July 6 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. The gallery is located at 1100 West Clarke Avenue, Burbank, California 91506. The exhibit will highlight her watercolor and oil paintings that have been featured in museum exhibits in California, Wisconsin, Louisiana, Pennsylvania and Montana and in national juried shows in Berkeley, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, Sta. Monica, Glendale, Brea in Orange County and in international shows in Kentucky, Canada, Maryland, Wisconsin, Colorado and New York. Paintings that have given her recognition, as well as new works will all in one big venue. For more information about the artist, visit www.lyndaanreyes.com or contact her at lyndaanreyes@gmail.com. For information about the gallery, call 818-238-5397 or visit www.burbankca.gov/cac. The gallery hours are Mondays through Thursdays 9 a.m.-9 p.m., Saturdays 9 a.m.-1 p.m. and closed on Sundays.

J U LY 7

Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA celebrates 40th anniversary in Long Beach, CA Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA (PB-USA), one of the oldest non-profit and tax-exempt umbrella organizations in the U.S., will celebrate its 40th foundation anniversary coinciding with the induction of its officers on Saturday, July 7 from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Marriott Hotel Long Beach on 4700 Airport Plaza Dr. This year’s PB-USA theme is, ”Believe it can be,” and will present the induction of new officers. Proceeds of this gala night are earmarked for the social programs of the organization that includes charitable projects, supplemental scholarship grants, Gawad Kalinga affordable homes, livelihood programs, disaster relief and youth projects, among others.

For further inquiries, interested parties may call Bong B. Soriano at (909) 851-1493 and Jackie M. Ferrer at (714) 757-3502.

J U LY 1 3

LA Veterans Resource Expo in Pomona, CA On Friday, July 13, LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis presents the LA Veterans Resource Expo from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Pomona Fairplex Bldg. 4 (1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768). The day will feature information on jobs, health & resources. FREE admission and parking at Gate 17 entrance. Participant registration also available the day of the event. For more information about the event, please visit www.LAVetExpo.com.

J U LY 1 4

COFACC to host SoCal Family Picnic in San Dimas, CA The SoCal Family Picnic organized by the Coalition of Filipino American Chambers of Commerce (COFACC) will be held at 4 p.m. at J. Bonelli Park, San Dimas, CA. Friends and family are invited to join in some fellowship and camaraderie to strengthen bonds with the five Filipino-American Chamber chapter members from Greater LA (FACCCGLA), Orange County (FACCOC), San Bernardino, LA and Riverside (FACC-Tri-County), San Diego (FACC San Diego) and Hollywood (FACCHollywood).

J U LY 1 8

(Sixth of a series) [Select a handful of those things in 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.]

LIFE is, indeed, “a moveable feast” to borrow verbiage from Hemingway. Travel makes it so.

Do it while you can.

I ask friends at random what is on the top tier of their personal bucket list. A consistent response is that they want to travel — to see the world —whether the world as their oyster, is local or global: just their city, their state, the length and breadth of their native land, or the world at large.

One friend said that she and her family have been to 22 of the states in the US and would very much like to go visit all 50 states. This is at the top of her bucket list. Another said that she would like to travel to Europe ex-

PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULY 5-11, 2018

is a sort of spiritual experience.

I’m a warm-blooded creature so I’ll take their word for it and experience the Northern lights vicariously.

Then there are those who have been permanently bitten by the travel bug and have accumulated travel mileage to circle the moon and back.

A married couple I know have made it a point to travel extensively and have visited more than 50 countries thus far, making it a point to spend the Christmas holiday season in a different country every year.

They travel light (perhaps the first rule of travel) and have become savvy on the art and science of world travel: planning in advance, budgeting, dealing with foreign currency, being aware of the local culture, booking planes and trains and PAGE B6

living a healthy lifestyle beginning in the womb and dieting initiated in the crib, entitled Let’s Stop “Killing” Our Children (view at philipSchua.com).

If we do not protect our children and prevent them from acquiring diseases as they grow older in spite of all the information easily accessible today, then we are hurting them by unwittingly, albeit unintentionally, contributing to their unhealthy lifestyle, which will increase their risks for diseases and shorten their life. Hence, the title of that book which is a primer and home reference in disease prevention and healthy lifestyle. This book of health wisdom, together with my weekly column, is part of my personal public health educational campaign for a healthier society.

Practical garden and household tips Most of these tips and pointers are truly interesting, very useful, and quite easy to follow, besides being money-savers.

Microwave cooking corn on the cob: Remove husk, wrap a corn cob in a paper towel and wet thoroughly. Place in microwave oven for 5 minutes. Wait for 2 minutes before taking it out.

For potatoes: Wash thoroughly and wrap in paper towel. Wet

FACC Tri-County to hold presentation in Ontario, CA The Filipino American Chamber of Commerce Tri-County (Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties) will host a ‘Land Banking Presentation,’ a free workshop on July 18, 6 p.m., at the Inland Valley Church of Christ Conference Room (1550 N. Palmetto Avenue, Ontario, CA 91762). “Southern California’s next major land boom is underway!” says speaker Tony Taverrite, Director of Sales & Marketing-Professional Land Corp. “Don’t you owe it to yourself to learn more?” added another speaker, Femie Cupit, Land Banking Sales Agent, a member of FACC Tri-County. For more information, contact Femie (858) 220-5487 or FACC Pres. Merwynn Montenegro (909) 319-3145.

J U LY 1 9

FACCGLA hosts import and export seminar in Sherman Oaks, CA Join the Filipino American Chamber of Commerce of Greater Los Angeles (FACCGLA) on Thursday, July 19 for the e-commerce, logistics, and compliance seminar. Learn how to import and export to and from the Philippines! This will be a prelude to the Trade, Trade & Consumer Roadshow on Aug. 4-5 at the SouthBay Pavilion. It will be held from 6:30 to 8:20 p.m. at 5121 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks, CA 91403. To join and register, please go to www.faccgla.org or call (888) 670-7717 or visit www.ecferrer.net / call (562) 422-6492.

J U LY 22

Valentine in July concert in Los Angeles This two-and-a-half hour concert on Sunday, July 22 will feature two of the music industry’s best Singer-Songwriters then and today, David Pomeranz and Rey Valera. Their timeless and classic love songs became the movie/tele-serye themesongs in the Philippines. The event will be held at the Aratani Theater (244 S San Pedro St, Los Angeles, CA 90012) at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available via www.thesgprod.com or by calling (424)232-6781.

J U LY 28

LA Builder Lions Club to hold installation of new officers The Los Angeles Builder Lions Club will hold their 28th Installation on new officers on Saturday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. at the Oxford Palace Hotel (745 S. Oxford Ave, Los Angeles, CA). Music will be provided by Lion Willie Manacsa. Please RSVP to any of the following officers: Lion President Ken Marchand (818)749-1076; Lion Tita James (818)203-2325 or PZC Lion Yoli Ramo at (213)305-1332.

AU G U ST 2-1 1

SIPA presents Filipino Summer Program (Session 2) in LA Join SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program that showcases LA youth the beauty of Filipino culture and history. Every single day students will learn and gain a better understanding of different aspects of the Filipino culture and community, such as Filipino food, Pilipinx cultural dances, Filipino Martial Arts, etc. The last day of the program will be a SIPA Summer Party where the families can come join SIPA as we celebrate the end of the program with food, music, and fun! Youth ages 615 are eligible for the program. Those over the age of 16 can volunteer. Participants do not need to be Filipino. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks are served for all students! Session 2 is from August 211 (excluding Sundays). Registration ends on Thursday, July 26 at 11:59 p.m. Drop-Off of children begins at 8 a.m., and pick-up ends by 6 p.m. at SIPA Office (3200 W Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026). The application and more information is at bit.ly/sipasummer18.

AU G U ST 3 - 4

University of the Philippines International Nursing and Healthcare Forum in New Jersey Join the 2nd annual University of the Philippines International Nursing and Healthcare Forum on August 3 and 4 at the Double Tree by Hilton (2117 Route 4 Eastbound / Fort Lee, NJ 07024).

Soiree and welcome reception will be from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Friday (registration fee is $50). On Saturday, there will be a breakfast educational program from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. (registration fee is $50 with CH Credits and $30 without CH Credits). The day will end with a dinner & dance from 6:30 to 11:30 p.m. (registration fee is $100). Mail your registration and payment to UPINHF c/o Iren Bobis Roldan at 26931 Fort Apache Circle, Lake Forest, CA 92630. Make checks payable to UPINHF INC. For more information, please visit www.upinhf.org.

AU G U ST 4 - 5

Travel, Trade and Consumer event in Carson, CA The Travel, Trade and Consumer Exhibition will encompass the bustling SouthBay Pavilion (20700 S Avalon Blvd, Carson, CA 90746), and is free to the public. Presented by the Department of Tourism & the Department of Trade and Industry, the public can participate in promotions and raffles offered by the exhibitors in booths that will line the main mall. Aside from chances to win plane tickets and other exciting prizes, the Mainstage will host a variety of entertainment and interviews by TV personalities. Outdoor food booths shall be serving Philippine delicacies. A B2B area is also available for business presentations. For exhibitor inquiries, please visit www.traveltradeconsumer.com and contact info@asianjournlainc.com.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the

Features

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City of Las Vegas senior special events this August

Las Vegas residents invited to celebrations, luncheons & activities at city centers

ESPERANZA’S HOLY WATER. The Holy Sacrament of Baptism was received by the beautiful baby, Esperanza Doctora Comparan, inside the St. Peter The Apostle Catholic Church in Henderson, NV on Saturday, June 30. Proud parents Vivian and

Sergio, with grandparents Victor Doctora, Evelina Doctora, Martha Maldonado and Sergio Comparan Gomez posed for a quick family photo. At the luncheon feast, a whole suckling pig (lechon), pancit (Filipino noodles) and many more different delicious dishes

THE city of Las Vegas active adult and senior centers offer exercise, fitness, craft, arts, dance, music and computer classes; cards; games; discussion and social groups; luncheons; sports; and special events Monday through Friday to residents age 50 and better. Many of these activities contribute to wellness and a healthy lifestyle. A listing of classes and activities is published in the Beyond the Neon Leisure Guide, available online at www. lasvegasparksandrec.com and in the centers. All activities are subject to change. Most activities require $10 annual membership in city of Las Vegas Active Adult/Senior Citizen Programs, available at all senior and active were served to over 100 Filipino- adult centers. Active adults ages Mexican-American guests who 50+ can subscribe here to receive attended the holy occasion. Lolo a monthly email about upcoming Victor and Lola Evelina are from events and activities, or text LV Bicol while paternal grandpar- SENIORS to 468-311. ents Martha and Sergio are from Indoor Garage Sale Mexico.

Thursday, Aug. 2, 10 a.m. to Photos by Raoul Gatchalian 1 p.m.

Free and open to the public to shop.

Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road, 702-229-6454.

Join us for our semi-annual indoor garage sale. Find just what you need while helping seniors with a little extra cash and space! Call 702-229-6454 for information.

Registration for Safekey/IGNITE before- and after-school enrichment programs begins july 23 for 2018-2019 school year Learning beyond the bell starts with City of Las Vegas programs REGISTRATION for Safekey and IGNITE beforeand after-school enrichment programs, for youth in kindergarten through middle school, begins July 23 and affords students the opportunity to learn beyond the bell. Registration and enrollment forms can be completed at the Safekey/IGNITE Office, located at 416 N. Seventh St., the Safekey or IGNITE program office at the school your child attends, at many local back-to-school fairs, and at the open house event for your child’s school.

The Safekey program is offered at 69 Clark County School District elementary schools within the city of Las Vegas. IGNITE is a similar program for teens that is housed in five middle schools in the city.

There is an annual $20 registration fee per participant per account for these programs. The daily cost is $7 for a before-school (A.M.) pass and $10 for an after-school (P.M.) pass. Financial aid applications will be accepted only at the Safekey/IGNITE office, beginning July 16; download the application at www. lasvegasnevada.gov/safekey. Limited financial aid will be available to qualified applicants.

Safekey and IGNITE are youth enrichment programs outside of school hours, designed for children grades K-5 (Safekey) and grades 6-8 (IGNITE). Daily and weekly scheduled activities include physical fitness, arts and crafts, music, drama, games, reading time, special events, homework time and a nutritional afternoon snack.

Payments can be made one of two ways:

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• Online at www.lasvegasnevada.gov/safekey, beginning July 23.

• In person at the Safekey office, beginning July 23; office hours are Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Safekey and IGNITE operate as pre-paid programs; participants must have a valid pass before they can attend. For financial assistance or for other questions, please contact the Safekey office at 702-229-KIDS (5437) or visit www.lasvegasnevada. gov/safekey. Safekey and IGNITE follow the school district calendar and operate on days that school is in session.

ğ įōíľ ÀðıÃæµįPçį ʼn æIJįıÀ ØÃĉÃæîÂ ß ğÃqPç qíß߼æÃıŎįĤÀíĽØ ÕæíŊįPdíĽIJĕ If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, email us the details (title, description, time & date, location, etc.) at info@asianjournalinc.com.

And for consideration in our print calendar, please send submissions at least three weeks before the date of the event.

To be included in our online calendar/ e-newsletter, please allow at least two to three weeks' notice.

The Asian Journal would be delighted to list your event in our Calendar of Events.

Chillin’ With Santa Luau and Back-To-School Drive (ages 50+) Friday, Aug. 3, 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $5.

Derfelt Senior Center in Lorenzi Park, 3343 W. Washington Ave., 702-229-6601.

Aloha! Come in your best Hawaiian attire to enjoy a luau and entertainment. Donations of school supplies will be accepted for nearby schools in need.

Ice Cream Social (ages 50+) Wednesday, Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost: $3.

Lieburn Senior Center; 6230 Garwood Ave., 02-229-1600.

Enjoy a bowl of ice cream with your choice of toppings. Registration opens July 2; call 702-2291600 to register by Aug. 5.

Lefthanders Luncheon (ages 50+) Thursday, Aug. 9, 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $5 includes a meal; city of Las Vegas senior programs membership required.

Las Vegas Senior Center, 451 E. Bonanza Road, 702-229-6454.

Celebrate all lefthanders at this annual luncheon. Enjoy this backwards meal that will start with dessert and end with a salad! You can also learn some amazing facts about lefthanders and what famous people are left-handed! Advance registra-

tion required; registration opens July 2.

Thrift Shop Trip (ages 50+) Thursday, Aug. 16, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Cost: $5.

Lieburn Senior Center; 6230 Garwood Ave., 702-229-1600.

Tour some local thrift shops.

Bring lunch money so you can eat while on the trip. Registration opens July 2; call 702-229-1600 to register by Aug. 9.

National Waffle Day (ages 50+) Thursday, Aug. 23, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost: $6.

Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St., 702-229-6125.

Waffles are such a popular breakfast item they need their own day! Enjoy a warm, fluffy waffle with your choice of bacon or sausage. Call 702-229-6125 to register by Aug. 21.

Hawaiian Luau (ages 50+) Tuesday, Aug. 28, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost: $6.

Doolittle Senior Center, 1930 N. J St., 702-229-6125.

Aloha! Enjoy and celebrate Hawaiian culture with food, music and dance. Wear your Hawaiian attire! Must register for this event by Aug. 24; call 702-229-6125 to register and for more details.

The bucket list

arranging transport, choosing hotels and navigating their way in strange countries. Their experiences over the years can fill a travelogue but they go for the sheer love of adventurous travel, having gone to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas in Peru and other exotic destinations.

There are 3 things required for travel. These include health, time and money. You need to be in relatively good health to have the stamina for the rigors posed by walking, hefting luggage, prepping and being on your toes for activities and the stresses that come with travel.

Particularly post 9/11, travel has become so tiresome because of tight security measures to counter terrorism. The second factor, especially for those who are still working for a living, is finding the time to squeeze travel in the limited amount of vacation days.

The third factor is, of course, probably easier than the first two — finding the money required to fund travel. If still employed, then you can still make the money to fund the trip. Depending on the destination and the duration chosen, travel can require very little money or a lot of it.

The most basic of travel gear is a good pair of broken-in walking shoes. Your feet will love you for it.

While you can travel alone, it is certainly much more fun and safer, if you go with a traveling companion who shares your spirit of fun.

If you are straddling the issue of whether to travel or not and you have at least 2 of the 3 basic

requirements, I say, GO FOR IT, while you can still walk on two feet and have good eyesight and in relatively good health. If this is important to you, don’t hesitate. You can perhaps wangle the time, save the money or charge it to your credit card and pay it down later.

But if one has serious health challenges that require being close to a medical facility, it can be a bit tricky to pull this off as part of your bucket list. It is still possible to travel even if wheelchair-bound or if one uses a walker or a cane, but the level of difficulty for yourself and your companions will be a tad higher.

Still, it may be worth a try. As in any circumstance. the mind can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven.

A lot of people wait for retirement age to do this because there is available time and more often than not, there is expendable money for travel. The problem in many cases, is that when the time comes, there may be health challenges to contend with But who says one has to travel far in order to check this off from our bucket list? You can certainly explore the wonders in your own backyard or in your own neck of the woods.

If you live in California, the possibilities for day trips and short trips are endless. Become a tourist in your own backyard and explore places like there is no tomorrow. There are mountains, deserts, coastlines, forests and camp grounds to explore.

There are observatories, museums, restaurants parks and trails to discover. The truth is, we are only limited by our own sense of

adventure. There are so many places that can be explored everywhere around the world but it is probably wise to start where we are right now.

Or we can experience things vicariously as we read about travel adventures or watch travel shows or even surf virtually through the internet.

But if life gives you the chance to physically travel and the spirit of adventure is in you, just do it. Getting there is half the fun; being there with all your senses engaged in the moment is the other half.

The best thing about any kind of travel, local, domestic or international, is that it opens our eyes to the richness of our life here on earth. Yup, there is an embarrassment of riches right where we are. We just need to open our eyes and see and take it all in. Travel widens our horizons and broadens our understanding of human nature. We become aware of people of every stripe, color and persuasion.

Above all, we learn to take nothing for granted.

We come home appreciating our awfully tiny place in the universe and realize how blessed and fortunate we are to be part of all these. Don’t do it for show to post on social media.

If done in the right spirit, there is something about travel that makes us more deeply thankful of just about everything in a quiet way.

Next week: Another idea to consider for The Bucket List … *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Health and household tips

PAGE B5 fully and microwave for 4 minutes; longer, if needed. Adjust according to size. Skin of potato is edible too and nutritious.

Home cleanser for kitchen top, bathroom, etc.: Instead of expensive harsh chemicals, which are toxic also, mix 1 cup vinegar (acetic acid), 3 cups water, 1 tsp. dishwashing soap. Besides being antibacterial, this is also anti-fungus, anti-mold/algae.

Another option: Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar, 1 pint rubbing alcohol, and 1 teaspoon liquid dishwashing liquid. Add enough water to make a gallon. Pour into a spray bottle and use as cleaning agent.

To unclog a drain: Pour 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain. Rinse with water.

To clean microwave oven: Mix one cup vinegar and one cup water in a glass bowl and boil on high for about 10 minutes.

Toothpaste could be used to clean and shine faucets and showerheads, silver, bronze or gold. Rinse with water well and dry with a towel.

Regular Vinegar alone can be used in spray bottle to clean the kitchen and bathrooms, etc. Safer and cheaper than toxic chemical cleaners Coke and Pepsi are toxic to the body, and must be used only to clean toilet bowls to remove stains. The chemicals in cola drinks are good as rust remover, pesticide, window cleaner, dishwasher, bug killer,

(coins, etc.) cleaner, and paint remover.

When your cellphone falls in a pool of water, do not turn it off or on, and immediately place it in a zip-lock or any plastic bag full of uncooked rice, or silica gel desiccant that comes with some medication bottles, electronic packing or luggage. The same thing with tablet/laptop.

For infected plant leaves, mix 1 tablespoon of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and 8 ounces of water, and use this as a spray.

This is also anti-fungus.

To improve seed germination, immerse seeds in 3 percent peroxide for 5 minutes before planting. Scraping the seeds a little will also help.

Epsom salt may be used to sprinkle around plants, like fruits trees, to improve its health, every two weeks.

Save used coffee and mix with potting soil as fertilizer.

Baking soda could be used for insect bites and splinter wound disinfectant.

Baking soda paste could also be used for cleaning and making toe nail shine.

For severe sun burn, ½ cup baking soda in a tub of water for 10-20 minute bathing soothes and prevents infection.

Baking soda plus vinegar could be used for 15-minute, twice a day, foot soak to fight athlete’s foot.

Baking soda may also be used as facial cleanser.

Epsom salt may also be used a foot soak to clean and remove

Full strength regular vinegar could be used as a weed killer.

Aspirin, which is used by florist to keep flowers fresh, could be used for plant health by dissolving 4 tablets in a gallon and use it for irrigation of plants.

To scare off animals (racoons, rats, cats, dogs, deer, etc.), mix garlic, pepper and water then blend and strain. Spray the solution around plants and nearby areas.

To clean dirty cookies sheet, pour baking soda-vinegar solution in it and leave for 5 minutes.

If you run out of toothpaste, combine baking soda and lemon, and make a thick paste of it.

Warning: The following must NOT be mixed: bleach and vinegar, bleach and ammonia, bleach and alcohol, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, and baking soda and vinegar.

A caveat: Natural, organic, non-processed, wild-caught are key words that we should always remember and be conscious of for health maintenance and preservation. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

(702) 792-6678 • http://www.asianjournal.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • JULy 5-11, 2018

B

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