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AUGUST 1-7, 2019 Volume 30 - No. 31 • 16 Pages

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

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Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY

DATELINE

USA

Palace open to resuming Dengvaxia use

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

US senators ask Trump gov’t to counter Beijing’s behavior in South China Sea UNITED STATES senators called on the Trump administration to do more in countering China’s aggressive activities in the disputed South China Sea. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts), Patrick Leahy (DVermont) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) asked U.S. State Secretary Mike Pompeo to prioritize discussions on the South China Sea in the upcoming ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand this week.

Menendez and Markey are minority members of the U.S. Senate foreign relations committee.

“While the Administration has rightly highlighted China’s militarization of the South China Sea – and we welcome the regular and routine conduct of Freedom of Navigation assertions – we are concerned that much more is needed to counter China’s aggressive activities and im-

by ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

to revive the Dengvaxia vaccination program, saying the vaccine would have prevented the dengue MANILA — Malacañang is open outbreak in some provinces. to making the Dengvaxia vaccine Garin said the vaccination proavailable again if experts declare gram, which was launched while it to be effective in addressing the she was health chief, intended to rising cases of dengue fever in the cut dengue-related hospitalization country. by 80 percent and to reduce the Former health secretary and severe cases by 93%.

“If the weight of findings A health worker shows unused packs of anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia at now Iloilo Rep. Janette Garin has the Manila Health Department on Dec 5, 2017.

Inquirer.net photo asked the Duterte administration show that there is benefit using

Dengvaxia against dengue, then certainly the government should consider it,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a chance interview on Wednesday, July 31.

“We’re always open to anything that will benefit the Filipino people. We’re not closed to any suggestion,” he added.

Panelo said the proposal to re-

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PH fires off diplomatic protest vs Chinese vessels circling Pag-asa Island

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

FOREIGN Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. on Wednesday, July 31, said the Philippine government has “fired off” a diplomatic protest over recent reports that some 113 Chinese vessels were spotted circling Pag-asa Island in the West Philippine Sea.

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Fil-Am mail bomber Cesar Sayoc was obsessed with Trump and mentally ill, say new court filings THE Filipino American man who pled guilty for mailing explosives to high-profile Democrats and President Donald Trump’s critics suffered from mental illness and had a years-long obsession with Trump, his lawyers claim.

In a 39-page sentencing memo to U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff of the Southern District of New York, attorneys for 57-year-old Cesar Sayoc pointed to a troubled childhood, isolation, and steroid addiction as having played a role in his obsession and ultimately mailing the explosives.

“In this darkness, Mr. Sayoc found light in Donald J. Trump,” wrote defense attorney Sarah Baumgartel in the memo, adding that the infatuation with Trump initially started off as something personal.

She added that Sayoc often relied on taped self-help books, including those written by the businessman and former reality TV star.

“Mr. Sayoc relied on self-help books on tape to keep going,” read the memo. “Donald Trump’s books on success and business were

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Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr.

Inquirer.net photo

TESDA911. Appreciating innovation, President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, July 30, led the launch of Technical Education and Skills Development Authority’s (TESDA) 911TESDA Program aimed at opening thousands of employment opportunities to TESDA graduates. The president hopes that by providing efficient and reliable means of job application, matching and hiring, the government could promote ease in doing business and, at the same time, augment workers’ income and increase the demand for employment in the country.

Malacañang photo by Alfred Frias

PNP: Global Witness survey ‘missed point’ on PH being ‘bloodiest’ country for land rights activists

by KATRINA

HALLARE Inquirer.net

PNP chief General Oscar Albayalde inquirer.net photo

MANILA — Philippine National Police (PNP) chief General Oscar Albayalde on Wednesday, July 31, said international rights watchdog Global Witness might have “missed the point” when it came out with a report that tend to show the Philippines as the “bloodiest” country for land rights activists.

“The reality is that the activities of the local communist movement in the countryside is also a factor in this armed conflict over land rights, and many tribal leaders, community officials and government security

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Senator Grace Poe

Philstar.com photo

Lotto resumes operations as Duterte lifts suspension order Poe now keen on supporting divorce bill

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA

AJPress

MALACAÑANG on Tuesday night, July 30, announced that the suspension order imposed on the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office’s (PCSO) lotto operations has been lifted

by President Rodrigo Duterte.

“The suspension of lotto operations is lifted immediately,” said presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo in a TV interview.

However, the rest of the PCSO’s games with franchises, licenses and permits, such as the Small Town Lottery, Keno and Peryahan ng Bayan will reA PCSO Lotto outlet, which had been operating since 1999, was closed on Saturday, July 27, main suspended. after President Rodrigo Duterte declared all PCSO gaming illegal. On Tuesday, July 30, the Panelo said Executive Secpresident lifted the suspension of Lotto operations.

Inquirer.net photo by Leo Udtohan retary Salvador Medialdea was

the one who relayed the information to him.

“Only with respect to lottos.

The rest of the gaming operations are still undergoing investigation. Pending results of that, per the executive secretary, the suspension on the lotto operations is lifted,” he said.

Medialdea, in a text message, confirmed the lifting of the suspension order.

“Investigators found no [irregularities] in the conduct of its operation, its sanctity remained untainted and proper regulatory rules followed,” he said.

On July 26, Duterte ordered the suspension of gaming activities operated, licensed and

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by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

Senator Grace Poe on Wednesday, July 31, said she is now more inclined to support the proposed divorce bill, after having a change of heart.

The senator admitted that she initially supported making annulment more accessible, instead of legalizing divorce, but reconsidered after learning about the unfortunate cases of other women.

“Subalit sa ngayon, pag nakikita ko na rin na marami sa ating mga kababaihan ang medyo naagrabyado at saka hindi makapagsimula muli sa kanilang buhay, parang naiisip ko na rin na siguro maganda na ngang pag-usapan yan, napapanahon na (When I learn of cases of many women who are disadvan-

taged and can’t start a new life, perhaps it is time to think of, and discuss the divorce law),” Poe said in an interview on dzMM. “Ang pinag-iingatan lang natin ay hindi ito [divorce] abusuhin at gawing nakapadali… (We just want to make sure that the divorce law will not be abused),” she added.

Poe also stressed the need for a thorough study of the proposed legislation, specifically pertaining to safeguards.

“Pero kung tatanungin mo ako ngayon ha, ano ba talaga…parang mas gusto ko nang mayroon [divorce] (If you ask me now, I am more partial to having divorce in the country),” she said.

“Kasi kapag sinabi mo ring annulment, ang dami pa e, may

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August 1-7, 2019 • LAs VEgAs AsIAN JOuRNAL

From The FronT Page

Lotto resumes operations as Duterte lifts...

PAGE 1 franchised by the PCSO due to alleged “massive corruption” in the agency.

The order led to the closure of more than 30,000 gaming outlets since July 27.

Alternative sources Following the closure of all gaming outlets of the PCSO, the government said it would

look for other sources of funds to continue providing medical assistance to the poor.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III pointed out that new funding sources must be identified by the administration’s economic managers to augment PCSO funds.

“They have to be imaginative on where to get the funds.

The PCSO funding is huge and can render anemic the capacity of the Malasakit centers to be able to maximize support to poor patients,” Duque said.

“The shortfall must be filled,” he added.

Duque noted that one of the possible fund sources could be revenue collection from sin taxes.

He also said the Department of Health (DOH) could lend a hand through its medical assistance programs for the poor.

According to the health chief, nearly half a million people receive financial support from the PCSO yearly for their hospitalization and other medical needs.

He added that the charity agency provides P1.5 billion yearly for the implementation of the UHC law as well.

Duque said he would have informed Malacañang of the possible impact of the suspension of PCSO gaming outlets on healthcare services had the Palace consulted him.

He remains hopeful that the closure of small town lottery (STL) draw centers would be temporary. n

BATANES QUAKE DAMAGE. Aerial photo shows the temporary shelters and area damaged by the earthquake that hit Batanes last Saturday (July 27, 2019). President Rodrigo R. Duterte conducted an aerial survey of the affected areas and held a situation briefing with members of his Cabinet and local government officials at the Basco Airport on Sunday, July 28, to discuss disaster response measures in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Malacañang photo

Palace open to resuming...

PAGE 1 sume the vaccine program has to be discussed “thoroughly” and “extensively.”

“We need experts to support any call for the return of Dengvaxia,” the presidential spokesman said.

The Duterte administration stopped the P3.5 billion vaccination program after its manufacturer French company Sanofi released a study stating that Dengvaxia could increase the health risks of those who have yet to be infected

by dengue. Garin is one of the officials facing charges over the deaths of children who were given the vaccine.

The health department has recorded more than 106,000 cases of dengue fever this year. n

PAGE 1 iba-iba pang mga question so tingnan natin. Pero kung bibilangin mo na rin ang inclination ng mga mambabatas, mas inclined PAGE 1 po ako na suportahan yun sa Locsin said this on Twitter ngayon (Because if you say anafter National Security Adviser nulment, there’s a lot, there are Hermogenes Esperon, Jr. recdifferent questions so let’s see. ommended the filing of such But if we’d count the inclination protest. of lawmakers, I am more inclined “Diplomatic protest fired off,” to support [divorce] now),” Poe he tweeted.

Esperon, at the weekly Kapihan sa Manila Bay forum, pointed out: “Napakaraming Chinese fishing vessels doon, ang PAGE 1 bagong record February…du- forces have died protecting land mating sila umabot sila ng 61. rights against insurgents who Noong July 24 umabot sila ng want to place these communities 113, ‘yun ang aming tinitignan under their control,” Albayalde and I have recommended filing said in a statement. diplomatic action in regards to “Global Witness may have that (There are too many fishing missed this point in its survey.” vessels in the area. In February, In the watchdog’s annual rethere were 61 boats. Last July port released in 2018, the Phil24, 113 boats were spotted, and ippines was found to have 30 we are looking into that).” n people killed for protecting their

added.

Two other female senators namely Pia Cayetano and Risa Hontiveros have also refiled separate measures to legalize divorce in the Philippines.

Sen. Cynthia Villar, on the other hand, thinks it is not yet time to pass the measure.

“Kasi we’re predominantly a Catholic country. Medyo ‘di ba ayaw ‘yan ng Simbahan, mad-

aming gulo (Because we’re predominantly a Catholic country.

The Church does not want it, there are many issues),” Villar said on Tuesday, July 30.

“But I think it will be filed every Congress and there will come a time that we will pass it.

But I don’t think this is the time that we will be able to pass it. It’s a matter of adjusting the mind of the people,” she added. n

PH fires off Poe now keen on supporting divorce... diplomatic protest vs...

PNP: Global Witness survey ‘missed point’ on... land from encroaching industries.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo reacted on the study on Tuesday, saying that the killings happen because of the “viciousness” of the claimants With this, the PNP chief said that the police force “takes strong exception” to the labeling of the Philippines by Global Witness as a deadly nation for land

rights.

“Land dispute has always been a perennial source of conflict among people, and this has been among several motives behind some homicides investigated by the PNP,” Albayalde said.

He also assured that every incident of violence stemming from whatever motive is investigated by the police” with the utmost priority.” n

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Dateline USa

Winning the ‘drug war’? US think tank says effectiveness of violent campaign ‘unclear’ IT is unclear whether the Philippine government is “winning” the “war on drugs,” a US-based think tank said, adding however that it is apparent the campaign that has killed thousands has had an immediate impact on the lives of many.

In a 2019 report on contemporary drug policies in Asia, Rand Corp.—a non-profit research group based in Santa Monica, California—stressed there is no empirical basis for the effectiveness of the violent sweeps of urban poor communities under President Rodrigo Duterte’s antinarcotics campaign.

“It is unclear what impact aggressive law enforcement efforts have on drug markets. Given that such extreme measures are rarely adopted, such a policy is not well researched,” Rand Corp. said in a report published in May. It added: “Furthermore, the threat and use of violence against those accused or convicted of drug law violations lack any empirical evidence base when compared with effective treatment and innovative crime-reduction initiatives.”

Latest government data showed the number of drug personalities killed in 134,583 antidrug operations stood at 5,526.

The count is significantly lower than the estimates by human rights watchdogs of as many as 27,000 killed.

Authorities have countered that

In this Feb. 3, 2018 file photo, police officers visit homes in Tondo, Manila to ask suspected drug users to undergo rehabilitation at the relaunch of Oplan Tokhang.

Philstar.com photo by End Gumban

the operations have also resulted in 193,086 arrests and more than 1.5 million who surrendered.

“In addition to creating opportunities for law enforcement to extort compromised individuals, the policy of recording the names and details of suspects might violate rights and create a stigmatizing and fearful environment,” Rand Corp. said of the “Tokhang” or “knock-and-plead” anti-drug operations.

“Although these surrenders are voluntary, it is unclear how much autonomy suspected drug users or dealers have in the matter; some surrender in hopes of entering treatment.”

The Rand report said that while the drug crackdown has not been evaluated to determine its impact on drug dealing and

use, it stressed that “early counts of those killed in the street and detained in prison indicate that costs have been substantial.”

“Although effects in the Philippines have not been empirically evaluated in terms of changes in drug distribution and use, early reports suggest substantial impacts on rehabilitation services, human rights, prison overcrowding, spread of contagious disease, and a general fear of government officials,” the Rand Corp. report said.

Inmate overcrowding Rand Corp. stressed that inmate overcrowding is a “serious problem” in the Philippines and the surrender of hundreds of thousands suspected drug personalities to authorities has conPAGE 5

US senators ask Trump gov’t to counter Beijing’s...

PAGE 1 pede its drive to operate with impunity in the South China Sea,” the senators said in a letter addressed to Pompeo.

The U.S. senators noted that China has been encroaching in the exclusive economic zones of other claimant states, using militarized artificial islands as “platforms for coercion”, and pressuring the ASEAN to negotiate a “restrictive” Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Beijing also continues to ignore the July 2016 of a United Nationsbacked arbitral tribunal, which invalidated its historic nine-dash line claim over the South China Sea. China’s actions in the contested waterway deserves greater attention from the U.S., along with cooperation with allies and partners, the senators said.

“China’s intimidation, coercion, rejection of peaceful diplomatic arbitration, and threats of the use of force over the past several years represent a serious challenge to those interests,” the letter read.

In line with this, the U.S. lawmakers asked Pompeo to use the upcoming ASEAN meeting in Bangkok to come up with a regional consensus to protect the rights of U.S. allies and partners under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. The Trump administration was also asked to form a strategy that would end Chinese infringement of rights of other coastal states and counter its efforts to “undermine” a freed and open Indo-Pacific.

“It is not too late to hold China to account for its behavior, and to deter further Chinese aggression in the maritime domain,” the sena-

tors said.

In a tweet early Wednesday, Pompeo said he is looking forward to reaffirming Washington’s commitment to the ASEAN and strengthening bilateral relations in the region as he lands in Thailand for the ASEAN Regional Forum.

Earlier this year, Pompeo assured the Philippines that the U.S. will back its long-time ally in case of any armed attack on Filipino forces in the West Philippine Sea or the South China Sea. “As the South China Sea is part of the Pacific, any armed attack on Philippine forces, aircraft or public vessels in the South China Sea would trigger mutual defense obligations under Article 4 of our Mutual Defense Treaty,” Pompeo said during his visit to Manila in March.

(Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar)

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August 1-7, 2019 • LAs VEgAs AsIAN JOuRNAL

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Dateline USa

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LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 1-7, 2019

Fil-Am mail bomber Cesar Sayoc was obsessed...

PAGE 1 his favorites.�

With the goal of getting a minimum sentence of 121 months, Sayoc’s attorneys said that a “series of traumatic events� including abandonment by his father and sexual abuse by his Catholic school teacher as a child, pushed him “further and further into the margins of society.�

Having become more isolated as he grew older along with increased anxiety and paranoia from his excessive steroid use, it wasn’t until Sayoc came across the community of ardent Trump supporters that he “found a Photo shows mail bomber Cesar Sayoc at a campaign rally for Donald Trump, whom defense sense of community that he had lawyers say Sayoc had a longstanding obsession with before Trump was elected to the been missing for so many years,� presidency.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) held a roundtable with ethnic media reporters in Los Angeles on Friday, July 26. He spoke about health care, said his attorneys.

Obama, former Vice President In response to the claim that immigration and other issues relevant to the city’s ethnic populations.

AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla “He conflated his personal sit- Joe Biden, and current 2020 Sayoc did not have the intention uation with the perceived strug- presidential candidate Sen. that the devices explode, prosegles of Trump supporters across Kamala Harris, Sayoc’s attor- cutors said that such claims were the country, and even the Presi- neys said that while the devises a “hoax� and a “desperate effort dent himself,� it continued. “His “were designed to look like pipe to avoid accountability.� paranoia bled into delusion and bombs,� he had “no true grasp of Acknowledging that the exploMr. Sayoc came to believe that the severity of his crimes� due to sives would not have exploded prominent Democrats were ac- his mental state. as they were, prosecutors hightively working to hurt him, other Also included in the sentenc- lighted that real dangerous comTrump supporters, and the coun- ing memo from Sayoc’s attorneys ponents were included. from, last I heard everybody at try as a whole.� were photos of the explosive de“Deficient as the defendant

by Klarize Medenilla some point in their lives is goThe memo said Sayoc be- vices, photos from the accused’s may be as a bomb maker, hoaxes AJPress ing to need health care,� Sandcame politically radicalized as childhood, of his medications, do not involve real explosives, DURING the first Democratic ers told the Asian Journal. he began watching Fox News and of his van and Trump memo- real shards of glass, and real toxSanders noted that the U.S. debate in early July, a handful religiously and closely following rabilia. ic chemicals, as the defendant’s of the candidates shared their spends “twice as much per persocial media accounts of Trump Sayoc pleaded guilty in March IEDs did,� wrote the prosecustances and policies related to son on health care� than Canasupporters and conspiracy theo- to a total of 65 felony counts from tors. a variety of issues, including da, which has free health care, rists online. four sets of charges including il“Thus, in addition to the seriguaranteeing free college edu- and despite “that expenditure, “Mr. Sayoc was an ardent legally mailing explosives with ousness of the offense conduct, a cation, legalizing marijuana and we have 80 million who are Trump fan, and when Trump intent to kill or injure another, life sentence is necessary to procombating the restrictive immi- uninsured or who are underinannounced he was running for and using weapons of mass de- tect the public from the defengration policies laid out by the sured.�

President, Mr. Sayoc enthusi- struction. dant due to his lack of remorse “I think time is long overdue Trump administration. astically supported him,� read With a sooner sentencing and lengthy criminal history,�

It was the first official face- for the United States to do what the memo. “He began watching scheduled for August 5 rather they added, referring to previous off among the candidates, and every other major country on Fox News religiously at the gym, than the original date of Sep- run-ins with the law, including a though specific plans vary Earth does and that is guaranplanning his morning workout to tember 12, prosecutors in the 2002 conviction for making bomb among the candidates, there is a teed health care for all people as coincide with Fox and Friends Southern District of New York threats. “Such a sentence is also percolation of further left-wing, a human right, not a privilege,� and his evenings to dovetail with have maintained the request that appropriate in order to promote progressive policies being ad- Sanders, 77, said, adding that, Hannity.�

Sayoc get the maximum sentence respect for the law and to achieve opted by historically moderate if elected, he plans to revamp As for the 16 explosive pack- of life in prison. To “adequately general deterrence of others who American health care and “not candidates. ages that were sent to 13 politi- deter acts of domestic terrorism may contemplate similar acts of For example, four years ago have a system that is primar- Andrew Yang cal targets and public figures in- aimed at silencing and intimidat- domestic terrorism.“ (Rae Ann discussions on free public edu- ily designed to make insurance federal government “needs to cluding former President Barack ing government officials.�

Varona/AJPress) cation would have been deemed companies and drug companies do much more� and “needs to far too radical to work, but it is billions of dollars.� be engaged in making commuYang, the son of Taiwanese nities more resilient. now a salient issue supported by a growing number of, not immigrants, shared in a teleHe noted that the National just presidential candidates, but conference on Wednesday, July Parks System — which has PAGE 3 in Bureau of Jail Management monthly using data largely deDemocrats in Washington and 24 hosted by Ethnic Media Ser- been threatened by the Trump tributed to the issue. and Penology-manned jails and rived from governmental or other “International groups report 47,707 in Bureau of Corrections- official sources. in public offices all over the na- vices that he values immigrants administration by cutting funds and promises to expand the — only invests about 5% of the increasing incidence of such manned prisons—in facilities tion. “There seems to be no official The current pool of Demo- ways in which Asians can enter necessary resources to maintain communicable diseases as HIV capable of housing only 40,610 effort to evaluate these policies crats running for president is the country legally. in terms of their effectiveness or forests and parks and prevent and tuberculosis in inmate popu- individuals. lations,� it said. “I am very pro-immigrant, natural disasters like wildfires. the most progressive in United This puts the occupancy level harms caused. Furthermore, it is The Philippines topped the of the country’s prison system at unclear what consideration has States history. It signals the and we’ve seen that the U.S. “The federal government is emergence of a party that em- has historically benefited from the natural leader,� Yang said, World Prison Brief’s list of the 464.6%. been made to measures of sucbraces grassroots campaigns immigrants, and I would greatly lamenting that the recent fires most overcrowded incarceration According to its website, the cess or to the opportunity costs that promise to deliver far-left expand H1-B visas because the all over California last year systems in the world. It was fol- World Prison Brief is a “unique of utilizing scarce public security values and principles and that U.S. needs to compete for out- could have been averted “if we lowed by Haiti, El Salvador, Gua- database that provides free ac- and health resources to round temala and Comoros. appeal to younger generations side talent,� Yang said. cess to information about prison up suspected drug-involved perprovided better resources.�

As of May 2018, there were systems throughout the world.� sons,� Rand Corp. said. (Gaea The cornerstone of the camof American voters.

Sanders noted that climate prisoners—144,871 Country information is updated Katreena Cabico/Philstar.com) Two such candidates include paign for Yang, a 44-year-old change should not only be a 188,278 Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and venture capitalist in the start-up federal issue to be taken serientrepreneur Andrew Yang, space and first-time candidate, ously in Washington, but one of both of whom shed more light is a proposal to impose a form the most pressing global issues SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY on their stances and policies in of universal basic income (UBI) that would require negotiation Procurement Dept. respective roundtables with eth- for every American citizen 18 with other world leaders. years old and older. nic media this week.

But the Vermont senator 340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 What he calls his “Freedom also noted that as president, he Immigration has proven to be PUBLIC NOTICE the principal issue for Demo- Dividend� promises a monthly would “call out� authoritarian crats given the crisis at the stipend of $1,000 to all eligible leaders who threaten human southern border and the de- individuals and is a response to rights and democracy, adding EFFECTIVE AUGUST 30, 2019 THE FOLLOWING WAITLISTS WILL CLOSE, tention centers as well as the the projections and widespread that Trump’s “comfortable� reNO NEW APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED Trump administration’s threats fear that workers in various in- lationships with authoritarians to the Deferred Action for Child- dustries will soon be replaced like Philippine President Ro- The Southern Nevada Regional Housing Authority (SNRHA) provides subsidized hood Arrivals (DACA) and fam- by technological automation, drigo Duterte and Kim Jong-Un housing for low-income persons who meet both the Department of Housing and Urban i.e. robots. ily reunification programs. of North Korea are among his Development’s (HUD) and SNRHA’s admission criteria. “If Americans get our fair “deepest concerns.�

Democrats have also been usThe waitlists below will be closed and no new application ing the president’s incendiary share, there’s lots to go around,� “In my view, what the Unitwill be accepted for the following programs: Yang said, explaining that the rhetoric regarding immigrants ed States has historically been as ammo to push forth that the Freedom Dividend would be about at its best has been a Democratic Party is one that funded through taxes on big cor- beacon of hope for poor people ESPINOZA TERRACE (PBV-RAD/Henderson) – 1 & 2 Bedrooms, Head, Spouse or values unity, equity and social porations like Amazon that Yang and struggling people, and that Co-tenant must be 55 years or older at the time of application. says “doesn’t pay taxes though includes people who live in opjustice. “We believe that we have a it’s a trillion-dollar company.� pressive, undemocratic societ- ROSE GARDENS (PBV-RAD/North Las Vegas) – 1 & 2 Bedrooms, Head, Spouse or Combatting comments that hell of a lot more in common ies,� Sanders affirmed. “What I Co-tenant must be 55 years or older at the time of application. as human beings than we do the Freedom Dividend is “too will do as president is call out because we came from differ- communist� and would disin- authoritarianism and dictator- LUBERTHA JOHNSON (Future PBV-RAD) – 1 & 2 Bedrooms, Head, Spouse or ent countries or the color of our centivize unemployed Ameri- ships wherever it exists, and Co-tenant must be 55 years or older at the time of application. skin,� Sanders said at a meeting cans from seeking work, Yang that doesn’t mean war and it in the Larchmont district of Los said that UBI would cover an doesn’t mean you don’t negoti- DESIGNATED SENIOR (James Down, Sartini Plaza and Levy Gardens) 1& 2 Angeles on Friday, July 26. “We individual’s basic needs and of- ate, but our goal and our vision Bedrooms, Head, Spouse or Co-tenant must be 55 years or older at the time of bring people together not only fers flexibility to allow them to for the future is human rights application. to appreciate and respect and search for better education and and democracy. So whether it’s enjoy our diversity, but also to employment.

Duterte in the Philippines or MARION BENNETT (Future PBV-RAD) 1 & 2 Bedrooms, Head, Spouse or Co-tenant Yang pointed out that Alaska come together to fight for an Kim Jung-Un in North Korea or must be disabled or 62 years or older at the time of application. economy and a government that has a program similar to UBI in Putin in Russia, we’re going to which every resident receives do our best to bring our coun- Applicants meeting the following criteria will be assigned preference points. SNRHA must works for all of us.�

As a way of fusing his sup- an annual dividend — between tries together to fight climate UHFHLYH YHULÂżFDWLRQ RI DOO SUHIHUHQFHV 3UHIHUHQFH SRLQWV ZLOO LPSDFW \RXU SODFHPHQW RQ WKH port for immigrant rights and $1,000 and $2,000 — through change and to solve global con- waiting list. universal health care, Sanders the state’s oil royalty program flicts without violence.â€? confirmed that under his Medi- which generates revenue from The 2020 Democratic hope- The following is a list of possible preference points: care-For-All plan, undocument- oil and mining leases. ‡ $SSOLFDQWV ZKR ZRUN RU PRUH KRXUV SHU ZHHN fuls returned to the debate On climate change, Yang stage this week in Detroit on ed immigrants would be eligible ‡ )XOO WLPH VWXGHQWV $JH DQG ROGHU LQ DQ DFFUHGLWHG VFKRRO described it as “an existential Tuesday, July 30 and Wednesfor free health care coverage. or training program “No matter where you come threatâ€? and insisted that the day, July 31. n

Presidential hopefuls Sanders, Yang join ethnic media to discuss immigration, health care and the economy

Winning the ‘drug war’? US think tank says...

Margielyn Didal finishes 5th in Street League Skateboarding World Tour

by MarK

GionGco

Inquirer.net

Margielyn Didal

Photo from Instagram/@margielyndidal

MARGIELYN Didal continued to make a name for herself in the international skateboarding scene.

Didal finished fifth—the highest finish by a Filipino—in the 2019 Street League Skateboarding World Tour in Los Angeles, California on Sunday, July 28.

The 20-year-old Didal barely missed the podium but she nonetheless boosted her chances to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Didal, the 2018 Asian Games gold medalist, scored a total of 21.7 points, just less than a point shy from finishing in the top three.

Brazil’s 11-year-old sensation Rayssa Leal topped the competition with a score of 23.3.

Another Brazilian in decorated star Pamela Rosa came in second with 22.8 while American Alana Smith registered a 22.5. n

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

AUGUST 1-7, 2019 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

While we’re sleepin

FEATURES

IT was a tragic, dramatic illustration of the importance of being prepared for disasters, especially in the most unguarded moments.

Last Saturday, as authorities carried out what was touted as a nationwide “shake drill” at 4 a.m., a real earthquake rocked the country’s northernmost province of Batanes.

Like many other people across the country, most of the Batanes residents were still asleep. The quake at 4:16 a.m. lasted only a few seconds. But with a magnitude of 5.4, followed by a magnitude 5.9 temblor about three hours later, the quakes were powerful enough to destroy a Catholic church and several dwellings, some of them heritage houses in picturesque Itbayat town.

Eight people were killed while about 100 were injured. On Monday, July 29, a ninth fatality was found in a cave. Fearing aftershocks, families fled to safety, learning belatedly the inadequacy of the mass evacuation capability of their province.

July is the same month in 1990 that the magnitude 7.7 earthquake devastated large swaths of Luzon, killing at least 1,621 people mostly in Nueva Ecija and Baguio City. Some areas felt the quake at up to Intensity 9. The quake was so powerful it created a ground rupture 125 kilometers long from the province of Aurora to Cuyapo in Nueva

Ecija. Soil liquefaction partly swallowed residential and commercial structures in Pampanga.

Since the catastrophe, there have been improvements in earthquake preparedness. The impact of the recent quake in Batanes, however, shows that more can be done. Structural experts are reminding residents or custodians of buildings made of limestone – a typical material used in heritage churches across the country – to fortify the buildings against earthquakes. The inadequacy of evacuation centers in Batanes also gives urgency to proposals for the upgrading of such facilities across an archipelago that is visited regularly by powerful typhoons and earthquakes, torrential floods and killer landslides.

The Batanes earthquake is just the latest reminder of seismologists’ warning that Metro Manila and neighboring areas are ripe for the so-called Big One along the East and West Valley Faults.

The fault system runs from Doña Remedios Trini-

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS TWELVE YEARS ago, my family had just settled in California, coming from Minnesota where we lived for four years as my husband completed his training in surgery.

I thought my career in broadcasting was over after I said goodbye to my very fulfilling career in radio and television at ABS-CBN headquarters in Manila to immigrate to the United States with my family in 2001.

I started my real estate business while raising my kids in the United States without yayas, a driver, and extended family support to help my husband who was then just getting a humble stipend as a resident in surgery.

On the side, I also ventured into the distribution of The Filipino Channel (TFC) satellite and subscription.

TFC then was just growing after it was launched in 1994 in the United States and based in California, giving kababayans access to Filipino television programs from ABS-CBN, the parent company of TFC. I would even give my Filipino clients — mostly Filipino nurses in Minnesota — TFC satellites as gifts for their new houses and they were so grateful as it helped ease away their homesickness and kept their parents longer to take care of their kids as husband and wife worked.

During this time in 2002-2005, I would also file stories for the weekly “Balitang America,” which was launched on September 28, 2002, post 9/11 tragedy and in preparation for the upcoming elections in the United States,

Philstar.com photo

dad in Bulacan through parts of Rizal and Metro Manila up to Cavite and Canlubang, Laguna. When the faults finally move, experts estimate that some 35,000 people could die in Metro Manila alone from the earthquake itself apart from the fires that are bound to break out, with thousands more injured and displaced. Millions would suffer from

disruptions in basic services and supply chains, and health facilities could be overwhelmed.

Local government units play a critical role in disaster preparedness and mitigation around the clock. The earthquake in Batanes is the latest sad reminder that disaster can strike, even while we’re sleeping. (Philstar.com)

Revealing inside story of Gel Santos Relos’ 12 years as anchor of ‘Balitang America’ and 25 years as kapamilya at TFC under the leadership of Ms. Ging Reyes, who was then the North America News Bureau Chief.

When my husband finally finished his surgical training in 2005, my family moved to Northern California upon his acceptance of a job with Kaiser Permanente. His service area then was in Stockton, where I also eventually practiced real estate. But before this, we visited the Philippines for the first time since we left in 2001.

Our visit to Manila coincided with the “Hello Garci” scandal of the Gloria Macapagal Arroyo presidency. When my colleagues at ABS-CBN knew I was in town, they invited me to be a guest on a talk program where I shared how kababayans in Minnesota felt about the chaos in politics in the Philippines.

Little did I know that this TV appearance would open the doors for me to go back to my first love — broadcasting.

Upon returning to California from our visit to Manila, I was contacted by one of TFC’s production bosses Maritess Militar to invite me to co-host “Citizen Pinoy” with Atty. Michael Gurfinkel.

Even earlier than this, TFC chief Rene Encarnacion called me and talked about the future plans of TFC to produce more local programs and he said he could see me moderating town hall meetings and hosting talk shows. When I heard this, something lit up within me, fired up my belly and made me feel like flying. This was how I knew where my passion was even after my hiatus from broadcasting.

And so that started my comeback to ABS-CBN as an on-cam

Commentary

personality after four years, cohosting “Citizen Pinoy” from 2005 to 2008. But I did not know then something bigger was coming.

During the first quarter of 2007, Ging Reyes and ABS-CBN big boss Gabby Lopez had a teleconference with me to invite me to anchor “Balitang America” daily newscast, which they wanted to launch in the second quarter of that year in the new studio and headquarters of TFC in Redwood Shores, California.

While I was thrilled by the prospect of anchoring the news daily again as I used to do in Manila, I had some reservations within me.

My family just bought a house in Stockton and the TFC studio was more than 90 miles away from Redwood Shores. And, I had a booming career in real estate in Stockton which I was doing full time. I had to decline the offer.

BUT Ging Reyes was relentless and even pleaded with me to just help establish the daily newscast and then I could leave anytime. She said I should just look at it as a “long lunch break” from my real estate day to day grind. TFC offered to help me in every way possible to make it worth my time and effort to anchor the news again albeit the distance.

AND SO on May 7, 2007, we launched the “Balitang America” daily newscast, starting off with just 15 minutes airtime. I would drive from Stockton to Redwood Shores, every day from Monday to Friday, around noon time, traversing more than 180 miles round trip, taking me easily about a four-hour round trip commute amid all the road constructions

and traffic, passing through so many hills and valleys — all this for 15 minutes of taping every day.

And then the newscast became 30 minutes in length, and we started doing town halls and specials in the service to the Filipino American community. That light in my spirit, that fire in my belly, that feeling that I could fly when Rene Encarnacion talked to me about the future of TFC — they all manifested not just with a vision, but with the realization of that vision.

And so, I left my real estate business. We moved to the San Francisco Bay Area near TFC. With the support and blessing of my husband, I put my wholehearted commitment to my relationship with TFC and the shared mission we have — to be of service to the Filipinos in America, empowering them with news and information, giving them a platform to make their voices heard.

For 12 years I had been a part of the evolution of “Balitang America,” recalibrating, reinventing and keeping up with the demands, challenges and opportunities of the changing times — from the end of the George W. Bush years to Barack Obama’s two terms as president to Donald Trump being catapulted to the presidency.

“Balitang America” has been serving the Filipinos in North America daily for more than 12 years, through recession and recovery, through the failures and triumphs of our kababayans in America, through the changing culture brought about by leaps and bounds changes and innovations in technology, through

analog to digital.

And now 12 years hence, “Balitang America” has to change with the times, and maximize the use of digital technology to expand our reach to even more Filipinos in America and around the world.

Hence, on July 26, I taped my last episode as the anchor for “Balitang America,” as the newscast transitions to being taped and anchored in Manila using news stories gathered by our reporters in different parts of North America.

This is a strategic business decision so that beyond the newsroom and the conventional newscast, TFC can venture further into digital news, creating new ways of storytelling that cater to the younger generation as well.

HOWEVER, TFC carries on with its strong commitment to be of service to our core audience, who has been our loyal subscribers and viewers of our programs for decades.

This is how my partnership and collaboration with TFC continues and evolves beyond “Balitang America,” maximizing the use of digital technology to serve our Filipino American community and help them even better as they navigate their new life here in the United States.

I have almost come full circle in TFC’s 25 years of service - being watched by Fil-Ams through my programs produced in Manila like “Hoy! Gising!”, “Tatak Pilipino”, “Compañeto y Compañera”, “Pulso”, “Headlines”; on TFC’s locally produced programs “Citizen Pinoy” and “Balitang America; and listening to me on radio DZMM while they

were still living in the Philippines for news and information. Moving on and looking forward to the future, I will reach out to our kababayans through this new platform and format that will deliver all the value and service of the programs I have been a part of on radio and television in the past to serve our kababayans using digital technology.

ABANGAN: A podcast/teleradyo para po sa inyong lahat, mga Kapamilya! We will talk about information you need to help you in your day to day challenges in America, all the heartaches and pains and worries that keep you up at night, and all the problems we are facing hoping to find help and solutions.

I will continue to serve you as a true Kapamilya — your “Ate,” “Tita” or simply your kapamilya “Gel,” who will strive to make you feel you are not alone as you adapt to your new life in the United States.

Send your topic requests, messages to: Facebook.com/Gel. Santos.Relos. You may also email me: gelrelos@icloud.com.

That light in my spirit, that fire in my belly, that feeling that I could fly — they are all here in me burning stronger than ever as we embark on this new adventure together.

“Change is inevitable but growth is optional”. Let us continue to grow together, Kapamilya. Maraming salamat po! *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https://www. facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Reincarnating the death penalty

vengeful anger.

When it’s the government that’s confronted with the question, however, the query becomes secondarily an emotional JOEL RUIZ BUTUYAN inquiry, and primarily a probe IF your wife or daughter is into policy. The objective of obraped or murdered, would you taining retribution or revenge not want to kill the culprit?” in behalf of the victim’s famThis is the leading question ily remains a crucial purpose usually asked by advocates of in imposing a penalty against the death penalty by way of con- the offender. But the overridfronting those who are against ing consideration for the state it. “Of course I would want to” is whether the penalty imposed would be my ready answer. But is an effective instrument of dethat’s my answer, because the terrence against future commisquestion solicits an emotional sion of the crime. response.

There’s an abundance of reThe question is no different search findings showing that from this: “If you are punched in the imposition of the death penthe face, wouldn’t you feel like alty has never been an effecpunching back?” I will not only tive deterrence against heinous punch back, but I will also kick crimes. These findings are valiand stomp on the offender in dated in studies across nations.

Death penalty supporters rely on two grievously wrong assumptions.

First, they sweepingly assume that criminals are always caught red-handed, or the evidence against them is airtight.

However, so many cases are filed based mainly on testimonial evidence. Many policemen are either indolent in gathering forensic evidence that is more reliable than verbal evidence, or they have inadequate equipment, budget and training to gather such evidence. Consequently, judges rely on “he said, she said” evidence that is so prone to manipulation.

It’s very difficult to distill truth from oral statements laden with the imperfections of the witnesses’ behavior, education and morals, as well as the

competence or incompetence of the lawyers, prosecutors and judges.

Second, death penalty advocates fatally assume that our courts are infallible when they convict a criminal and impose the death penalty.

However, our Supreme Court has essentially revealed that our justice system is a dreadfully imperfect institution unworthy of being given the power to divine life or death for accused criminals. In the case of People v.

Mateo (July 2004), our Supreme Court disclosed that in 71.77 percent of lower court decisions imposing the death penalty, the judges were wrong. That’s a staggering number of errors.

The Supreme Court made these revelations: “Statistics would disclose that within the

eleven-year period since the reimposition of the death penalty law in 1993 until June 2004, the trial courts have imposed capital punishment in approximately 1,493, out of which 907 cases have been passed upon in review by the Court. In the Supreme Court, where these staggering numbers find their way on automatic review, the penalty has been affirmed in only 230 cases comprising but 25.36% of the total number. Significantly, in more than half or 64.61% of the cases, the judgment has been modified through an order of remand for further proceedings, by the application of the Indeterminate Sentence Law or by a reduction of the sentence. Indeed, the reduction by the Court of the death penalty to reclusion perpetua has been

made in no less than 483 cases or 53.25% of the total number.

The Court has also rendered a judgment of acquittal in sixtyfive (65) cases. In sum, the cases where the judgment of death has either been modified or vacated consist of an astounding 71.77% of the total of death penalty cases directly elevated before the Court on automatic review that translates to a total of six hundred fifty-one (651) out of nine hundred seven (907) appellants saved from lethal injection.”

So why do the President and Congress insist on giving our courts the power to impose the death penalty, when our highest court has confessed that hundreds of lives came very close to being erroneously put to death?

(Inquirer.net)

The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.

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D ateline PhiliPPines P189-B subway project in Makati gets going yet be started as landowners were reportedly “not responsive.”

Binay said city residents would Inquirer.net be given priority in the more than 10,000 jobs up for grabs once the MANILA — It’s all systems go subway line starts operating. for the $3.7-billion (P189-billion) Under the deal approved by Makati City subway, the first and city officials on July 19 through most ambitious underground railOrdinance No. 2019-A-020, the way project in the country. local government would not spend “This is not a sketch or a proma single centavo for the project ise. The Philippines’ first subway and would instead allow the land will be a reality,” Makati Mayor it owns to be used for the subway Abby Binay said on Tuesday, system.

July 30.

City revenue share Binay led city officials in signIn a text message, businessing a joint venture agreement man Antonio Tiu, majority owner for the project with Philippine of Infradev, estimated the city Infradev Holdings Inc., chaired government’s revenue share

by Ren Jinhua, at City Hall after of close to 25 percent from the the company posted a $350-milproject, commensurate with the lion performance bond under a valuation of land to be contributed public-private partnership (PPP) to the venture. framework.

The board of Infradev, formerly Also referred to as a contract IRC Properties Inc., approved the bond, a performance bond is isresolution to proceed with the joint venture following payment of the bond based on the company’s disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Tuesday.

The project is targeted to be finished by 2024 or 2025. It will complement other mass transport systems, such as the Metro Rail Transit 3 on Edsa, the Pasig River Ferry System and the proposed Metro Manila Mega Subway.

Infradev said it planned to extend the subway out of Makati, possibly to the neighboring cities of Pasay, Pasig, San Juan, Mandaluyong or Manila.

Apart from the revenue share, the subway system is seen to Makati Mayor Abby Binay inspects a model train with lawyer Claro Certeza, Rep. Luis Campos, improve the flood system of the Richard Amurao, Antonio Tiu, Ren Youmin and Ren Jinhua following the signing of a joint participating city, given that good venture agreement for the subway project with Philippine Infradev Holdings Inc. at City Hall pumping and drainage system will on Monday, July 30.

Inquirer.net photo by Earvin Perias be installed underground. n by dexter Cabalza doris duMlao-abadilla

sued to one party of a contract as a guarantee against the failure of the other party to meet obligations specified in the agreement.

Faster travel The 10-kilometer subway aims to provide commuters faster travel by connecting key points in the city, including the central business district. It can ferry up to 700,000 passengers per day with its six-car trains.

The Inquirer earlier reported that plans for eight of the 10 airconditioned underground subway stations were already finalized.

These are at Makati fire station (which would be relocated), Circuit Makati, City Hall, Century City-Rockwell Center, Makati Bliss Housing, University of Makati, Cembo and Ospital ng Makati in Pembo.

The first two stations envisioned on Ayala Avenue could not

Security adviser Esperon sees influx of Chinese nationals as ‘threat’

by PatriCia lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA — National Security Adviser Hermogenes Jr. admitted that he considers the influx of Chinese nationals in the Philippines as a threat.

“I have the tendency to look at it as a threat,” Esperon said when asked about the matter at the “Kapihan sa Manila Bay” forum on Wednesday, July 31.

The nation’s top security adviser added that he was concerned if immigration and labor rules are being followed by the Chinese nationals.

“I’m on the cautious side because when foreigners, regardless of nationality, come in and their intent is not clear or when some of them are undocumented or have wrong documentation, forged documentation meaning some of them would come in as tourists and yet end up as workers,” Esperon said.

Esperon said he would ask Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morante if his agency has been strictly implementing immigration rules on the Chinese nationals entering the country.

According to Esperon, the Department of Labor and Employment, Bureau of Internal Revenue, Bureau of Immigration, Department of Finance and Ninoy Aquino International Airport have been holding interagency meetings to look into this matter.

While Chinese nationals have been buying properties and spiking up tourism in the country, the government must stay wary.

“We want healthy investment opportunities in terms of housing and all these condominiums.

We want more tourists but there is always another side of the coin... We must not let our guards down,” he said.

Earlier this year, President Rodrigo Duterte said he is in favor of allowing Chinese nationals to

Duterte to Cayetano: When will your dynasty end?

by Christina

Mendez

Philstar.com

MANILA — President Duterte took a jab at Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano, asking when the Cayetano family’s political dynasty would end in Taguig City.

“Kailan kaya matapos ang dynasty ninyo? (When will your dynasty end?)” Duterte asked the Cayetanos shortly after acknowledging the members of the Cayetano clan present during an event of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) in Taguig on Tuesday, July 30.

Duterte led the launching of 911 TESDA, a free web-based linking program or app that aims to provide employment opportunities for TESDA graduates and where TESDA services can be availed online by individuals, households and enterprises.

The House speaker was seated on stage while his wife, Rep. Lani Cayetano of the 2nd district, and

Alan’s brother, Lino, who is city mayor, were seated in the crowd.

Another sibling, Sen. Pia Cayetano, was absent from the event.

Alan Peter, who won as Taguig’s first district representative, had just slugged it out in the race for the speakership where he won after courting the support of Duterte.

The siblings are children of the late senator Rene Cayetano.

Mayor Lino Cayetano, a showbiz director, merely smiled when the TV cameras focused on him while Duterte mentioned their family’s reign in Taguig.

Duterte was quick to say the same proposition can also be asked of his family since his three adult children with former wife Elizabeth Zimmerman are also holding key posts in their hometown in Davao City.

“Well you can ask the same question safely with me, yung mayor si Inday, the vice mayor si Baste (the mayor is Sara, while the vice mayor is Baste),” he said. Sara is incum-

President Rodrigo Duterte with House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano

BRINGING GOVERNMENT CLOSER TO CITIZENS. Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Undersecretary Martin Diño speaks on behalf of Secretary Eduardo Año during the Dagyaw: Open Government and Participatory Governance Townhall Meetings held at Cuneta Astrodome, Pasay City on Tuesday, July 30. The Dagyaw 2019 series of events aims to communicate the good governance reforms of the Duterte administration; provide a platform for citizens to clarify “Issues of the Day” and raise concerns through direct interfacing between senior government officials; and provide a venue for citizens to access a one-stop-shop of frontline government services and national programs down to the regions. PNA photo by Gil Calinga

House stalwarts push for creation of dep’t for OFWs, foreign recruitment

by PathriCia

ann V. Inquirer.net

roxas

MANILA — The idea to create a government department that will solely tackle issues concerning overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) is moving at the House of Representatives.

No less than Speaker and Taguig 1st District Rep. Alan Cayetano, his wife Taguig 2nd District Rep. Ma. Laarni Cayetano, and presidential son Davao 1st District Rep. Paolo Duterte have co-authored House Bill No. 2, which was filed at the lower chamber last July 29.

HB No. 2 seeks to create the Department of OFWs and Foreign Employment and ensure that the agency would “manage, harmonize and strengthen existing policies and programs on migration.”

The three pro-administration legislators believe that the creation of such a government would provide an integrated and more comprehensive approach to address the problems and concerns National Security Adviser Hermogenes of OFWs as well as their families.

Currently, there are five major Esperon Jr. Philstar.com photo work in the country.

The president likened the presence of Chinese workers in the country to Filipinos working in China.

“Iyong mga Chinese dito hayaan mo ‘yan na dito magtrabaho.

Hayaan mo (Allow the Chinese here to work. Let them),” Duterte said in February.

Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo later on clarified that immigration laws against illegal Chinese workers will be enforced. n

bent city mayor, while Sebastian is vice-mayor.

The president then uttered good words for Sebastian, who had gotten a haircut and now appeared to act more responsibly.

“Bilib na ako ngayon, may haircut na, at walang ginawa yun sa buhay niya kung di babae. Ngayon, he worries about the public interest and that is, I am grateful to God na… (I’m impressed with him now, with a haircut. Before, all he cares about are women. Now, he worries about the public interest and that is, I am grateful to God),” he said.

Duterte vouched for his daughter’s integrity, while he also challenged congressman Paolo to be more circumspect in his political dealings.

While he cited the importance of TESDA in providing better jobs and opportunities and decent living for Filipinos, Duterte also noted how the agency contributes to the country’s overall growth as a nation. n

Philstar.com phto

agencies that have mandates relative to overseas employment and overseas Filipinos concerns.

These are the Department of Labor and Employment (Dole), Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA), Commission on Filipinos Overseas (CFO), and the Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers’ Affairs (OUMWA) of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“The absence of a single agency to address foreign employment concerns has made it difficult for the government to focus on the needs and demands of migration in general and of OFWs in particular,” Cayetano said in a statement on Wednesday, July 31.

The ex-DFA Secretary also said the bill proposes to provide P5 billion to address the needs of regular and irregular OFWs in distress, and those OFWs returning to the Philippines.

Under the proposed law, the Secretary of the Department of OFW and Foreign Employment shall be assisted by six undersecretaries who would handle the fol-

lowing areas: Administration and Finance, Foreign Employment, Reintegration and Social Services, Overseas Filipinos, Assistance to Overseas Filipinos in Distress, International Labor Affairs.

An Emergency Response and Action Center Unit will also be created to operate a 24/7 call center as well as media and social media monitoring center to respond to the emergency needs of Filipinos abroad, OFWs and their families wherever they may be.

To further expand the support mechanisms for OFW families, OFW assistance centers dubbed as “OFW Malasakit Centers” will also be created in all provinces and major cities, according to Cayetano.

The House leader hopes that if the measure is passed, the Philippines “can better fulfill the objectives of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), which is an inter-governmentally negotiated agreement aimed to promote the rights of migrant workers.”

HB No. 2 is among the legislative agenda of the Duterte administration. n

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PNP eyes stronger ties between public, drug-free communities

and wellness programs. “the pnp is always ready to reach out to the Filipino people manILa — the philippine and to show them a role model national police (pnp) it wants in communities to whom the the public to forge a strength- public may entrust their lives ened partnership with drug-free and who will guard their rights communities and police in yet and ensure safety to live and another bid to end the country’s do business,” Banac said in a drug problem. statement. pnp spokesman Brig. Gen. Banac attended training at Bernard Banac said anti-drug the mid-Year training Institute partnerships and stakeholders on July 14 to 18 in Dallas, texas will promote evidence-based together with Undersecretary approaches to reducing drug Jose marlowe pedregosa of the demand by improving prevention Dangerous Drugs Board. by eMManuel

tupas

Philstar.com

In this July 25, 2019 photo, some Metro Manila mayors and officials of the Metro Manila Development Authority and Department of Interior and Local Government meet ahead of the Metro Manila Council meeting.

Contributed photo

DILG orders mayors to clear roads in 60 days

by Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary eduardo año on monday, July 29, ordered mayors nationwide to clear roads of illegal structures and illegally obstructing activities within 60 days. “all local officials are enjoined to exercise their powers essential to reclaim public roads which are being used for private ends and in the process, rid them of illegal structures and construction,” said año in his order.

“Within 60 calendar days, significant results must be achieved, documented, and reported together with the efforts of the lgus to sustain the same,” he added. año urged metro manila may-

ors to prioritize the clearing of primary and arterial roads that contribute to vehicular congestion on main roads — Commonwealth avenue, Osmeña Highway, aurora Boulevard and C5 road in particular. the DILG order came from president rodrigo Duterte who asked local chief executives nationwide to reclaim public roads which have been used for private purposes. “my request, my pleading to the mmDa (metropolitan manila Development authority) and all concerned local officials in metro manila to undertake immediate action to ensure smooth flow of traffic…reclaim all public roads that are being used for private ends,” Duterte said in his fourth State of the nation address

(SOna) on July 22. according to año, “significant results” will be measured in the clearance of roads, with the priority for high-traffic roads.

He also warned mayors who would fail to reclaim roads of administrative complaints, using the Local Government Code. “there is no room for compromise on this issue. It’s either black or white. I will not hesitate to submit to the president the names of stubborn local chief executives. If it all leads to a suspension, so be it. It is for the benefit of the people anyway,” año said.

He also reminded mayors to take measures to provide alternatives for the displaced persons that would be affected with their clearing operations. n

‘Terrorists wiped out in 3 to 6 months’ DeFenSe Secretary Delfin Lorenzana has set an ambitious deadline to wipe out extremists in Sulu — three to six months.

Lorenzana came up with the timeframe as he disclosed that the seven foreign terrorists, who linked up with the abu Sayyaf Group and other local terrorist groups in mindanao, came from Syria. the Defense chief, in an interview with Cnn philippines, said security experts believed that the foreign jihadists in Sulu were Indonesians and malaysians, while a few came from egypt and

Singapore.

“We are really monitoring them [in Jolo, Sulu]. We are bringing in more troops for the operation,” Lorenzana said.

“We are giving [the troops] three months to six months, or the rest of the year,” he added. this was not the first time a deadline was established to clear a particular area of terrorists despite the declaration of martial law in mindanao.

When marawi City was under siege by the Islamic State-inspired maute Group in 2017, the military

the training, wih the theme “transforming Communities, the power of prevention,” was organized by the Community anti-Drug Coalitions of america through the efforts of the International narcotics and Law enforcement affairs Office of the U.S. embassy in manila. “the training is timely and applicable as it gives importance to initiatives in forming broad anti-drug coalitions to sustain the gains we have achieved in our campaign to reduce drug demand and abuse,” Banac said. n

State of calamity eyed for Batanes by deMpsey

Reyes ManilaTimes.net

tHe national Disaster risk reduction and management Council (nDrrmC) has recommended the declaration of a state of calamity in quake-hit Batanes, as the death toll rose to nine on monday, July 29. nDrrmC executive Director ricardo Jalad made the recommendation during the briefing for president rodrigo Duterte on Sunday, July 28.

Duterte and Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go conducted an aerial inspection of the island on Sunday.

“I suggested that the local government unit [of Batanes] declare a state of calamity,” Jalad said in a television interview.

Declaring a state of calamity would enable the municipality of Itbayat to gain access to “any financial assistance from the national government,” he explained.

Jalad noted that the town of Itbayat would need more financial aid because it was greatly affected by the tremors. the death toll rose to nine after rescuers found edwin ponce, 32, who was earlier reported missing. ponce took shelter in a cave, but then died when rocks cascaded

repeatedly imposed deadlines in crushing the extremists, but failed to meet them.

Lorenzana said foreign terrorists enter the philippines through the Sulu Sea. to stop the entry of extremists, the Defense chief said the military would deploy small boats, aircraft and drones to patrol the area.

by Glee Jalea “Soon, we will get the delivery ManilaTimes.net of these drones that would be used in the southern part, until SeVeraL members of Conwe do that, we’ll put Coast Guard [personnel],” he said. (ManilaT- gress are pushing for the creation of the Department of Disaster imes.net) resilience (DDr) following the strong earthquakes that recently shook the northern philippines. the House approved House Bill 8165, or the “Department of Disaster resilience act in 2018,” which seeks to augment the capacity of local government units, in collaboration with national government agencies and stakeholders to prepare and act on disasters. It failed to get Senate approval in the 17th Congress.

down, burying him.

Itbayat mayor raul de Sagon said aftershocks continue to shake the island.

“Fear is still lingering, of course.

So far, there are no outward appearances that the people are fighting,” de Sagon said. most evacuees were at the town’s plaza and around 2,000 people were still in evacuation centers set up by local government units and some national agencies.

Go pushes disaster resilience law Go, who commiserated with the quake victims, called on the government to improve facilities and implement better disaster risk and resilience programs He pushed for the passage of Senate Bill 205 or the “Disaster resilience act of 2019,” which he filed early this month. the measure aims to establish “an empowered, highly specialized and responsive Department of Disaster resilience with clear unity of command.” the proposed department will focus on natural disasters, and disaster risk reduction, preparedness and response. It will also focus on recovery.

“By establishing this department, faster government services in response to calamities and natural disasters will efficiently

help alleviate the devastating effects of natural calamities to our Filipino brothers and sisters,” Go explained.

He added that, currently, disaster-related responsibilities were shared among various government agencies, thus there is a need for an agency that would be primarily responsible for ensuring safe, adaptive and disaster-resilient communities.

Go said emergency services must also be improved in areas that were hard to reach such as Batanes. the senator is also pushing for the creation of a fast and more responsive emergency medical services system nationwide.

Senate Bill 394, or the “emergency medical Services System act of 2019,” also filed by the senator, seeks to establish a 24-hour emergency hotline for Filipinos nationwide. this is in support of executive Order 56, which was signed by the president last year, providing for the 911 official nationwide emergency hotline.

Under the bill, local government agencies are required to establish dispatch centers and a unified emergency medical service system, and ensure that there will be an adequate transport system to respond to these emergencies. n

Creation of disaster resilience department pushed albay Second District rep. Joey Salceda and Quezon City Second District rep. alfred Vargas on Sunday, July 28, reiterated the need for the creation of the department after the recent earthquakes in Batanes that left eight people dead and scores injured.

In a radio interview, Salceda stressed the need for “an integrated, comprehensive and advanced [policy-making body] that could improve the capacity of the country to face calamities instead of the government delegating task forces from various departments.” “nature keeps on reminding us to the necessity of [the proposed

DDr] in order for us to have a sound sleep knowing that we are prepared for any disaster,” Vargas said in a statement. the measure seeks to create a national Disaster Operations Center and alternative Command and Control Centers, which will oversee disaster operations nationwide and create a Disaster resilience research and training Institute, which will provide training and manage information resources. president rodrigo Duterte reiterated his call to lawmakers during his fourth State of the nation address to approve the measure “with utmost urgency.” n

‘Bikoy’ now under police custody after surrender tHe hooded narrator of a video series linking president rodrigo Duterte’s family and allies to illegal drug activities has surrendered and is now under police custody, philippine national police (pnp) Chief Oscar albayalde said. peter Joemel advincula, alias “Bikoy,” who appeared in the “ang totoong narcolist” videos, gave himself up before the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) at 7 p.m. on monday, July 29 amid a pending arrest warrant.

“Yes, sumuko siya kasi lumabas yung cyberlibel in connection the complaint of mr. Co na inimplicate niya na sinasabi na nagmemaintain ng drug lab sa Bicol (Yes, he surrendered because of [the] cyberlibel [case] in connection with the complaint of Mr. Co, who accused him of maintaining a drug lab in Bicol),” albayalde said in a chance interview with the reporters. the Legazpi City regional trial Court Branch 5 released the arrest warrant dated July 11 against advincula with a recom-

mendation for a p10,000 bail.

Co is Bicolano businessman elizaldy “Zaldy” Co who, on may 14, filed a p1-billion cyber libel suit against advincula and rodel Jayme, owner of metroBalita. net, which uploaded the controversial videos.

Facebook and Google are also co-respondents in the case. advincula accused Co in the fifth installment of the video series of being the leader of Quadrangle Group operating in Bicol, alleging that a basement inside misibis resort and Hotel management Inc. was used as a drug laboratory. aside from the cyber libel case, advincula is also facing sedition. albayalde said that the arrest warrant was for the violation of republic act 10175 under Cybercrime offenses in relation to article 353, 354, and 355 of the revised penal Code.

In his affidavit, advincula claimed that the videos were part of a plot to oust Duterte, which Vice president maria Leonor “Leni” robredo and 35

Peter Joemel Advincula, alias “Bikoy,” who appeared in the “Ang Totoong Narcolist” videos Inquirer.net photo

others were allegedly involved in. robredo, former senators Benigno “Bam” aquino 4th and antonio trillanes 4th; Otso Diretso candidates Jose manuel “Chel” Diokno, romulo macalintal, former Solicitor General Florin Hilbay, Samira Gutoc and former congressman erin tañada are co-respondents in the sedition charges which the pnpCIDG and the Department of Justice (DOJ) had filed. (Darwin Pesco/ManilaTimes.net)

From Magdalo to magturo: Trillanes set to teach at UP, Ateneo

manILa — after serving two terms at the Senate of the philippines, former opposition Sen. antonio trillanes IV is now living a “more relaxed life” as he is set to teach at the University of the philippines Diliman and ateneo de manila University.

“It’s a more relaxed life after the Senate and right now I’m preparing for my teaching work these coming semesters,” trillanes said on anC’s “early edition”. trillanes said he would teach public policy in Up Diliman—he has a master’s degree from the national College of public administration and Governance—while the specific courses that he would teach in ateneo “are still being deliberated on.”

‘Never not vulnerable’ asked if he feels more vulnerable to legal actions lodged by

the Duterte administration now that he is out of office, trillanes, a known critic of president rodrigo Duterte, said he “never felt not being vulnerable under this administration.”

“Since 2016, when Duterte assumed office, I already had, I think, 10 to 14 cases and counting.

Whether I’m a senator or not, it didn’t stop mr. Duterte from persecuting people like me from the opposition,” trillanes said. trillanes, Vice president Leni robredo, and other opposition members including detained Sen. Leila De Lima and Sen. risa Hontiveros now face sedition charges. the former senator also faces another inciting to sedition case for his remarks against the president after the issuance of proclamation 572 that declared trillanes’ amnesty void from the

beginning. trillanes believes Duterte is behind the cases against him and others critical of the administration. “everything that’s happening that’s targeting the opposition Duterte would have a blessing, at the very least. and, in some instances, he’s the brains of such moves like when they canceled the amnesty that was given to me and they tried to have me arrested late last year,” he said. trillanes said the government made similar moves against Sen. Leila De Lima, who is in police custody on drug-related cases.

“Duterte is very consistent. He needs to put away any semblance of opposition. that’s the only kind of governance that he thrives in,” he said. (Rosette Adel/Philstar. com)

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VEGAS&STYLE

Journal Gerald admits courting Julia Anatomy of a marriage according to Michael V.

by Ricky Lo

THIS is the story of a boy and a girl, two right people who meet at the right place at the right time. The girl is going through “rough sailing” (may pinagdadaanan) with her boyfriend. The boy gives the impression that he and his girlfriend are okay (smooth sailing, that is). Away from their respective loves, they find themselves in a place conducive to “what-might-be.” The boy willingly lends the girl his shoulder to cry on. Cry she does. And you know what happens next…

Is that the plot of Between Maybes, the recently shown Blacksheep movie starring Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto?

No, it’s not the story of Gerald and Julia’s onscreen characters; it’s the real story of how Gerald and Julia fell for each other while shooting the movie in Japan in the same manner that…remember?...

John Lloyd Cruz and Angelica Panganiban found love in Vietnam while shooting the Kapamilya film 24/7 in Love?

The Funfare DPA (yes, it means Deep Penetration Agent, for the information of Maricel Laxa who was wondering what those initials meant) is chronicling the events to put in proper perspective the now much-talked-about Gerald-Julia love story that has caught the fancy of showbiz-watchers here and abroad.

“It’s summer love,” related the DPA who waxed romantic, “and it began to bloom amidst the ephemeral sakura (Cherry Blossoms). Obviously, after the shoot, the two stars didn’t bid each other sayonara even as the sakura gently vanished as if into thin air.”

As early as end of May, rumors

A. TARiMAN Philstar.com

Gerald Anderson and Julia Barretto

circulated that there was a crack in Julia’s relationship with Joshua Garcia and they would “jointly” confirm the rumor and that, despite the split-up, they have remained good friends (for the sake of their forthcoming movie Block Z?).

The whole thing turned messy when Gerald’s girlfriend Bea Alonzo posted a cryptic message (“You can’t make the same mistake twice, the second time you make it, it’s not a mistake anymore, it’s a choice. ENOUGH.”) on her Instagram and that made the world feel for her.

While Gerald and Julia (and those around them) wisely kept mum on the matter, the DPA confirmed reports that when Julia’s dad Dennis Padilla saw Gerald, he asked Gerald pointblank, “Are you courting my daughter?” And, according to the DPA, Gerald was man enough to say, “Yes.” Did he insinuate that he and Bea have broken up?

There’s a word that describes Bea’s condition — yes, “blindsided.” The new, millennial word for that is “ghosting,” which

Contributed photo

means that all too suddenly your partner doesn’t bother with you anymore and simply disappears like the…sakura?

Which brings us to Paulo Avelino, the sawsawero who got bashed when he posted, “Na-Bea Alonzo na ba kayo?,” #ghosting. Keen observers said that Paulo should know “ghosting” very well since he’s suspected of “ghosting” LJ Reyes, mother of his love son and now happy with Paolo Contis with whom she has a child. They tease Paulo with the derivative question: Na-LJ Reyes na ba kayo?

Moral of the story? Look before you leap; open your eyes and ears before you open your mouth.

Meanwhile, Joshua has refrained from commenting on the Gerald-Julia issue.

“Why does Gerald attract women, younger and older (including two senior actresses)?” the DPA asked and proceeded to answer it herself, “because he’s charming, nurturing, caring and is ever ready to offer his shoulder to cry on.”

Let’s face it: Gerald is showbiz’s current lady killer!

Jessica’s web series wins US award

SHE was just as alluring and controversial as the talents she managed in the late ‘90s, but she turned her life around after starting a family and moving to the U.S., and even has an award to prove it.

Now an online reality series star, U.S.-based Jessica Rodriguez just won the Telly Award for Best Scripted Online Web Series for her show “The Polished Woman.”

The 40-year-old Telly Awards is a prestigious award-giving body that honors excellence in video and television across all screens as judged by leaders from video platforms, television, streaming networks and production companies such as Vice, Vimeo, Hearst Digital Media, BuzzFeed and A&E Networks.

Rodriguez, who received news of the win via a phone call from her manager-director and producer Max Tucci said in an interview, “Max called me about the award and we both started crying. Polished Woman is really my baby.

It is an ideology that I created to express that I am more than my past. Everything is possible in resilience and faith. Max and I put our all into creating conscious content that will help inspire, motivate and encourage women to be the best version of themselves. We are grateful to all the judges for acknowledging our work.”

Rodriguez shared she created “The Polished Woman” as a collective brand to represent her many hats as a celebrity, author, businesswoman and social media personality. The podcast is therefore part of the franchise

Jessica has turned her life around when she moved to the U.S. and now shares her lessons learned.

Photo from Instagram/@jessicarbunevacz

which has evolved into more than just a social media account that gives advice to women on issues affecting their femininity, fashion, lifestyle, relationships and faith.

Besides having its own website, The Polished Woman can be accessed via Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The actual web series meanwhile airs every Monday at 1 p.m. (Pacific Standard time) on LA Talk Radio (www.latalkradio.com).

In the Telly Awards, five of Polished Woman’s webisodes — tackling women-centered issues such as relationships, marriage, motherhood, survival, and challenges like suicide, depression, anxiety, drugs and sexual abuse — were cited by the award-giving

body. The Polished Woman web series is a show that first aired in May, 2018 on LA Talk Radio, based in Los Angeles, CA. Rodriguez, who recently starred along with her youngest daughter Breanna Bunevacz (by her athletehusband David Bunevacz) in the reality TV show “Making A Model

by Yolanda Hadid” on LifeTime Channel, got her break on radio after several guestings discussing women’s topics. During one of the sessions, she promoted her first book “Date Like A Girl, Marry Like A Woman,” and was told by the station her stint pulled in a huge audience and invited her to do podcasts for them.

“It’s already been a year since I started this and this award is truly unbelievable. I never expected to win anything,” she gushed.

Currently, Rodriguez is finishing up her second book, a faith project as she calls it, titled “The Polished Woman Journal.” In it she bares much about her life and faith and how she struggled and overcame depression and anxiety in the last three years.

“Writing this book was sort of a catharsis for me. It will be a 52-week guide to introspection, prayer and meditation. They will know from reading this book that my deep faith in God saw me through every valley in my life and I am really grateful to God that He never left me nor forsook me. That is mainly what I wanted to share in this new book. It helped me a lot and so I thought maybe it can also help other women out there who are suffering the same way I did,” she ended. (ManilaTimes.net)

Zephanie wins ‘Idol Philippines’

by NeiL

ARwiN MeRcAdo Inquirer.net

TEEN singer Zephanie Dimaranan was hailed as the winner of ABS-CBN singing reality competition “Idol Philippines” on Sunday night, July 28.

Garnering the highest combined score of 100 percent, Dimaranan beat fellow finalists Lucas Garcia and Lance Busa.

Dimaranan was known all throughout her stint as the person who never gave up despite her previous losses in other television singing competitions such as “The Voice Kids” and “Tawag ng Tanghalan”.

During the show’s grand finals, Dimaranan performed “Maghintay Ka Lamang” in the first round where the finalists were asked to perform a song that sums up their journey.

Dimaranan then continued to impress the crowd in the second round when she performed an original song “Pangarap Kong

Zephanie Dimaranan

Pangarap Mo” composed by Jonathan Manalo.

Dimaranan, who hailed from Biñan town in Laguna, started her Idol journey with Sarah Geronimo’s rendition of the song Forever’s Not Enough.

Hitting the high notes of the song, Dimaranan impressed the judges who noted her “down to Earth” nature and her potential

Photo from Instagram/@zaphdimaranan

with her “crystal clear” voice earning her all the judges’ approval.

Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda, Moira dela Torre and James Reid served as the judges of Idol Philippines. Host Billy Crawford announced before the show’s conclusion that the hit reality competition would be coming back for another season.

of an unhappy wife.

We are able to see him as a dedicated working man, a thoughtful husband and a loving father.

But as the storytelling peaks, the writer allows as to see moments of truth he overlooks busy as he is with earning a living.

His wife (Dawn Zulueta) dutifully attends to him in bed asking how his day was and then in another frame, she sees a partner off to slumber land.

This scene must have been going on for sometime and what can the poor wife do?

Michael V. knows his characters inside and out and makes an interesting way to present their moments of vulnerability. This is another tale of a husband focused on his work at the expense of his wife. But the most endearing thing about this movie is that serious concerns are taken up with a sense of humor as contagious as the characters in Pepito Manaloto.

As actor, the comedian-writer is probably playing himself with a lot of variations that will make his real life unrecognizable. His

funny antics remain but the good thing is he is able to pose serious issues without being melodramatic. While he remains funny TRUTH to tell, one did not in every frame of the movie, he expect much from Michael V.’s is able to carve another portrait latest movie output. One initially of melancholy of a husband in dismissed it as probably another distress. I cannot think of other improvised episode from his hit actor-comedians who can pull this TV sitcom, Pepito Manaloto. off with aplomb.

But close to its first 20 minutes, As director, Michael V. is the storytelling takes a curious pretty much in control. His stoturn and at once you see a rarely rytelling is straight to the point discussed anatomy of a marriage and indeed it is an advantage that from the point of view of the funhe wrote the screenplay himself. nyman.

He even penned the theme song In the beginning, it did look which like it or not blended quite like another scene from Pepito poignantly in the story.

Manaloto but as the story zeroes Of course, the other members in on every member of the family of the cast did just as well. in their respective work-a-day Ina Feleo is so natural as the routine, you see a hidden crack in concerned neighbor Meryl Streep the profile of a supposedly happy comes to mind in all her frames. marriage.

But the most telling one is Michael V. as the hard-working the closet-gay played by Nonie patriarch in his mid-40s is put in Buencamino with such flourish he a situation where he can confront made the part his own with hardly the truth or look away and pretend any struggle. it didn’t happen.

Zulueta as the wife is able to It is here that Michael V.’s talkeep a face of contentment while ent as screenwriter comes into going through her own moments full flowering as he paints a manyof indiscretions. Of course, she is sided picture of a beleaguered not happy seeing herself drawn to husband haunted by nightmares another partner. Her portrayal of the unhappy wife is for the most part genuinely touching.

But the writer-director made a profound way to gently lead the audience into accepting what makes seemingly happy marriages disintegrate and telling it with humor.

The premiere night audiences were rollicking on the floor in the scene where a distraught husband asks his poor wife how many times they did their intimate moments and where. She comes up with a figure that had everyone breaking into guffaws in the movie house.

All told, Family History tackles a serious issue in a funny way.

Just when you didn’t expect it, the movie is well-written, wellMichael V. and Dawn Zulueta in a scene from the movie that he also wrote, directed and co- acted and yes, the director did his produced.

Contributed photo homework.

by PAbLo

Philstar.com

Donny: Yes, there’s life after DonKiss

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

UP to now, even with DonKiss gone (hopefully not forever but for the meantime?), the ardent fans of Donny Pangilinan and Kisses Delavin continue to shed tears, not quite above hurling darts here and there while lamenting over what-might-have-been. Sadly, it’s Donny who is getting much of the “blame” even as he claimed that he gave “my very best” to the team-up.

But fans shouldn’t fret. Even if Donny and Kisses are pursuing different directions, big things are for sure waiting for them. Yes, there’s life after DonKiss.

Let’s get to know Donny better in an exclusive post-DonKiss interview.

So now that DonKiss is over, can you share about that experience? How would you now tag your relationship with Kisses?

“I gave my very best to the partnership, as Kisses herself did. I think everyone saw that, solid fans and ‘ships,’ too. As my management and I have shared, it seemed like we had different expectations from the LT (Love Team), and so projects ended as Star Magic reviewed the partnership.”

When was the last time you talked to Kisses, and how would you now tag your relationship with her?

“I haven’t spoken to Kisses recently…not sure how to tag the situation at present, but my friendship with her will stay forever.”

I think many people don’t know you very well. Let’s talk about your family. How much are you like your mom (Maricel Laxa) and how much like your dad (Anthony Pangilinan)?

“I am a mommy’s boy. I got my physical features mainly from my mom. We are both naturally introverted as well. I think my personality though is a lot like my dad. Many of my friends who know my dad personally would say that I act a lot like him, like my gestures and the way I talk.

“My dad likes to compete as well, and he pushes himself to test his potential. I’ve seen that in me, too. Both my parents want to put God first, but admit it isn’t always so. I think that’s what I cherish the most, and I hope I really embrace that for always.”

How were you and your siblings raised by your parents?

“They raised us with love and of course discipline. ‘Love and Logic,’ they call it. Stuff they learned over time. They were the right amount of ‘strict.’ Grow-

ing up was a roller-coaster ride because we were four siblings who all slept in the same room as kids. There were times when we’d all play and have fun, but there would also be times when we would fight and our parents had to step in. Well, sometimes, they fought, too!

“We traveled a lot and did sports such as triathlon as a family. I am grateful for my parents and siblings. We are not a perfect family, but I would not trade them for the world. As my co-managers with Star Magic, my parents give my career a new dimension. We are constantly testing, redefining boundaries. Sometimes, we find ourselves in conflict. But in the end, I think the whole experience prunes us all.”

How would you describe your showbiz journey so far (mention what you think are the “upside” and “downside” of showbiz)?

“It has been a crazy ride so far.

Obviously, there are plenty of ups and downs in showbiz just like almost all things in life. When I decided to jump into it, it shocked my parents because I was the last they expected to join, me being introvert and all. I am thankful for the breaks given to me to start my career. But breaks don’t make you, they only make you stronger.

I worked and studied hard to get initial roles. My parents insisted I did my best, and it’s an ongoing thing.”

Have you become comfortable with being a public figure?

“Once you become a public figure, the more you’ll realize that you really can’t please everyone.

And that’s okay. It’s important to allow yourself to be sad. Most people see what’s onscreen and online, not backstage and discussions behind closed doors.

Sometimes, you just want to tell people all, but you choose not to since you will break trust, and hurt more hearts along the way.

“I’ve learned a lot of lessons from my family through the many years we’ve been in showbiz. One of them is to focus on positivity. I am blessed to be given an amazing support system, and supporters that are there for me through thick and thin. I met a lot of new friends that I now call family, and experienced a number of new things that I never thought I’d ever get to do. Right now, it’s more of me improving my craft, and trying out new projects. I have a lot of things to work on.

I want to be the best version of myself and by God’s grace, I am in process.”

When did you realize that you

Donny Pangilinan Photo from Instagram/@donny

are the son of a popular celebrity couple?

“Growing up, I knew my parents were somewhat (popular) in the business. We shot commercials as a family when we were really young. I also used to go with my mom to her set and just observe. And we were often in interviews on TV, print and radio.

But, one thing for sure, we were brought up just like other regular kids.”

You and Kisses have been raised well, God-fearing and respectful. It’s a pity that your “LT” didn’t prosper.

“But as I’ve said, my friendship will stay forever.” (Trivia: Donny is 21 and Kisses is 20. Both of them are engrossed in their studies, Donny at UP Open University taking up Multi-Media Studies and Kisses at La Salle taking up Accountancy. Also, they are too busy pursuing their goals to have time for love. Donny is NGSB [No Girlfriend Since Birth] and Kisses is NBSB [No Boyfriend Since Birth]. Sayang, they would have been a perfect match.)

Like your parents, you are health-conscious. Let’s do a little “body talk” for a breather. What kind of diet do you follow?

“Hahaha!!! I eat anything I want and all the McDo I can consume! I eat so much but never gain weight for some reason. I guess it’s a stage of growth and my metabolism. My dad went through it, too.”

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

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond MONETTE ADEVA MAGLAYA DAMARIS and her husband, Tom, prayed the rosary together everyday at the same early evening hour after dinner.

It wasn’t always their routine but when their son, Henry, was deployed overseas during the war on terror in the Middle East as a young marine on the front lines, they found that prayers brought an unbelievable measure of comfort, protection and peace.

And so, prayer time became a daily date with God the couple kept as regular as breathing itself. On the upside, the daily prayer kept the couple close and in synch with the seasons. Prayer was always a lifeline for them, a direct line to God. Damaris’ love for her husband, her son and his wife and everyone in her family grew beyond measure.

Damaris was a name plucked by her mother from the Bible for her when she was born. She was the sixth of seven sisters and each one of them had biblical names.

Growing up, she didn’t like her name at first but then when she realized that Damaris was one of the courageous, early women followers of Christ when it wasn’t safe nor expedient to be one, she grew to love the name her mother gave her and her faith blossomed.

Though tiny in physical stature, Damaris was larger than life. She was a pint-sized battle axe. When she puts her mind to anything, she got it done— like a mini-General Patton without the bluster and the cussing.

She placed herself last in most things. Thoughtful, kind and considerate, she made it her life’s work to share the gifts she and her husband were blessed with to as many people around their orbit. She took none of the credit.

Rarely did a cuss word slipped out of her lips, except perhaps when she stubs her toes or grazes her knuckles while scrubbing some imagined grime on her already immaculate home.

Generally, she was a happy camper as she saw the magic and miracle of very simple days.

But these days, a nagging feeling of unease gnawed at her. She noticed that her son has been showing signs of straying from the faith. It was gradual but the slide was certain. No longer did he go to mass. Faith wasn’t so important at all to Henry these days. He seems to be toying with darkness.

Damaris sought to raise him right in the eyes of God. Somehow during his teen years, he had friends who influenced him about his life’s choices and the unwanted change happened. And there was nothing they could do about it. His mind and his ears were closed off to any talk about the matter. Hubris had taken over and Henry’s heart hardened.

Henry felt he is now a grown man

Health@Heart PHILIP S. CHUA, MD, FACS, FPCS IN my book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children” (www.philipSchua.com), I have discussed the amazing value of vegetables (and exercise, fruits, nuts, fibers) in lowering the risk for cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, Alzheimer’s, and various forms of cancer.

Since man roamed the earth, vegetables have been hailed as a great health food. And even before modern science came out with the medical data proving their value, parents, especially mothers, around the world, from different cultures and traditions, had already been encouraging their children to eat vegetables, especially, broccoli, kale, spinach, garlic, the multi-colored leafy veggies, fruits, nuts, and to be active.

In this new era of health consciousness, vegetables have once again been thrust to the centerstage, under the spotlight, not only as a great food item, but one that has remarkable medical powers that bolster the immune system and prevent diseases, including cancer.

A Mayo Clinic study showed that eating lots of vegetables lowers the risk of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). This clinical investigation revealed the following eight findings: “Those who ate a higher number of vegetable servings per week had a 42 percent lower risk of NHL than those who ate the lowest number. Those who ate the most servings of green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables had a 40 percent lower risk compared to the lowest intakes. Those who had the highest intake of the carotenoids

COMMUNITY JOURNAL

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 1-7, 2019

Once upon a time series...

alendar of Events C across America Damaris and the peach tree “ Bend the stubborn heart and will...

Melt the frozen, warm the chill; Guide the steps that go astray” — Veni Sancte Spiritus

and surely he could do what he wanted.

Sometimes, her tears would fall at the helplessness of it all.

The old tried and tested pattern of showing the young ones the important things of life didn’t hold true anymore against the unrelenting deluge of liberal, popular, devil-may-care, disposable culture that washed over his son and many in his generation.

Somehow the things that Damaris thought truly mattered, like love, faith, respect, kindness, fidelity and hope didn’t matter any more.

And so over the years, her son who used to worship the ground she walked on when he was a kid became cold and distant like a stranger. On occasion, he talked with his father. He would call when he needed them of course for some reason or other. And each time, she responded with kindness and quiet generosity.

Through it all Damaris held fast. She showed quiet acceptance. “Surely, there is more that I can do than wallow in my own heartache,” she thought.

She doubled down on her prayers — not just prayers she learned by rote as a child in the parochial school she attended, but real, back and forth conversations with God whom she felt was so near she could hear him breathe. She was a devout Marian as well, believing that as the Mother of God, Mama Mary understood her pain and interceded on her behalf.

There seemed to be a groundswell within her for the steady flow of goodness that emanated from her small life on a daily basis. She discovered ways to make her life, that of her husband and those around her meaningful and dynamic. Gratitude washed over her. Though dark clouds seemed to hover in the horizon, her days were filled with sunshine and hope.

In the small garden that she and her husband, Tom, tended at the back of their house, there was a peach tree that didn’t seem to grow right. It never bore fruit and year after year, they waited. If anything, Damaris thought, it provided a little shade for the birds to shelter in. She hung a cute birdhouse in one of the branches and enjoyed hours of solitude sitting under its shade.

Through the dance of the seasons of blistering heat and dryness and of glorious rains and rainbows that followed, Damaris and Tom continued to nurture the little peach tree. They watered it, pruned it and fertilized it, tweaking their methods by looking it

up on the internet and asking the gardeners at the local nursery.

Still nothing. . .

Then one ordinary day, she saw blooms on the tree, hundreds of them, and before long —lo and behold— there grew a wild abundance of plump, fuzzy sweet peaches they gleefully harvested and gladly shared with friends and neighbors.

The garden burst to life together with the peach tree.

One summer day while sipping cold lemonade under the shade of the peach tree, her cellphone rang. It was her son. “Hi Henry, what’s up, son?” she greeted him warmly and casually adapting to his usual lingo. She expected him to ask for his dad as he always did when he called. But this time he didn’t. He seemed light-hearted as he regaled her of the goingson in his now married life in the military. Damaris listened intently. Somehow Henry sounded different.

Then, after a long pause and without preamble, Henry said, his voice unsteady and his speech halting, “Mom, if I haven’t told you lately, I love you. I love you and Dad so much. I realize I haven’t been much of a son for so long but there’s still time right?

I’ve seen so much and I know now that there is no one like you and Dad in all the world. I took you and Dad for granted. Please forgive me, Mom. I know I should do this in person but I am afraid that I might lose the courage. Or worse, I may not have time.”

Damaris froze in stunned silence. “Mom, are you still there?

Henry asked. She couldn’t speak for she was in tears and when she did, her voice cracked with deep emotion. “Henry, I love you son, more than you’ll ever know.”

She knew it took a lot of courage for Henry to do what he just did. Damaris knew too, without a doubt, that God has a direct hand in this. Her heart overflowed with gratitude for the miracle that just happened.

Then Henry said with laughter in his voice, “I’ve got some great news for you and Dad. Drumroll please…. You’ll be grandparents in about eight months.”

Then he added, “Mom, we’d like to raise the baby the way you and Dad raised me. Please pray for us.”

Damaris smiled sniffling and scrounging in her pocket for a tissue to wipe her tears, “Always, son, always……” *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

Anti-cancer: Vegetables

lutein and zeaxanthin had a 46 percent lower risk of NHL. Those who had the highest intake of zinc had a 42 percent lower risk.

Those who ate a higher number of vegetable servings per week had a 42 percent lower risk of NHL than those who ate the lowest number. Those who ate the most servings of green leafy vegetables and cruciferous vegetables had a 40 percent lower risk compared to the lowest intakes. Those who had the highest intake of the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin had a 46 percent lower risk of NHL. Those who had the highest intake of zinc had a 42 percent lower risk.”

Researchers postulated that vegetables contain antioxidants that help the body repair the damages in the DNA caused by oxidative stress, which is one of the risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma. And eating vegetables at least 3 times a day, if combined with a healthy lifestyle that includes daily exercise, confers an even a greater degree of immunoprotection. The antioxidants in vegetables also help neutralize the free radicals produced during exercise.

The following are some of the nutrients in vegetables that help lower the risk of developing nonHodgkin lymphoma and cancers, in general: Lycopene, Lutein, Folic Acid, Zeaxanthin, Gluoinolates (which are converted into isothiocyanates). Apparently, the protective substances induce a phase II detoxification pathways which minimize and help repair the damages in our DNA caused by our unhealthy and self-destructive lifestyle.

Besides preventing cancers, some vegetables appear to show some promise in treating some forms of tumors in experimental mice. When this is confirmed by clinical studies in humans, this could be a big boost in the

management of cancers in people around the globe.

Di-indolylmethane (DIM) is a natural compound found in vegetables (like broccoli, cabbage, turnips and mustard greens), which has not only been associated with cancer prevention, but, more amazingly, with the potential ability to treat cancer. Obviously more extensive laboratory studies and, later, clinical application in humans, are needed to validate this research observation.

While eating a lot of vegetables every day could protect us from diseases, including cancer, eating red meat and processed foods reduces the benefits conferred by the vegetables we eat. Besides being loaded with saturated fats and cholesterol, red meat and processed foods have also been implicated in the increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, and cancer. Fruits, especially berries, fiber, and nuts; also help in reducing our risk for cancer, and other major diseases. Physical exercise plays a major role in the prevention of cardiovascular/ metabolic diseases, Alzheimer’s, and various cancers.

Man has always been searching for the formula for optimal health and longevity. The market is full of non-prescription herbal or “food supplement” pills, potions, and lotions, each claiming to effective against a host of medical conditions, as preventive or as a “cure.” Not only are these items not approved by government sentinel agencies like the U.S.-FDA and the BFAD, but are cost prohibitive, ineffective, and potentially dangerous.

The manufacturing companies concerned hide behind the legal technicality by marketing their products, NOT as drugs, but as herbals or “food supplements”to escape the stringent requirements, although their infomercials PAGE 12

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 AU G U ST 1 - 9

University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International Convention & Alaskan Cruise The University of the Philippines Nursing Alumni Association International, Inc. (UPNAAI) will have its 40th convention on a cruise aboard Royal Caribbean’s Ovation of the Seas. The theme will be “In the New Millennium - UPNAAI at 40: Evolving and Emerging Nursing Roles.”

On Aug. 1. it will be UPNAAI Volunteers Service Day in Seattle, then 2-9 will be a cruise from Seattle, Juneau, Skagway, Endicott Arm & Dawes, Victoria, and back to Seattle. Convention Fee $100 for Alumni in addition to cruise pricing. No convention charge for friends and family members. Contact Hours will be provided for the educational conference. For more information/to register and view cruise rates, please visit https://www.upnaai.com/.

AU G U ST 1 -1 0

Tagalog classes in Los Angeles This Filipino Language & Culture Pilot class is hosted by Search to Involve Pilipino Americans (SIPA) and is organized by the Filipino Language Movement led by Ms. Ivy Daulo. This is the only community-based Filipino language & culture ADULT program in the City of Los Angeles in collaboration with the Filipino Language Movement. This is a 5-session program that starts July 13 to August 10, 2019. (*Schedule is subject to change based on the number of enrollees). Come and bring your entire family and learn Tagalog together! Student benefits include certificate of completion, handouts / workbook provided, learn with other peers (adults and youth are not mixed); family learning opportunity; taught by university Filipino language instructor and lifetime member of Council for Teaching Filipino; practical language learning tips & application each week Limited slots! Hurry and register now! Prices are for all 5 sessions: Individual Adult: $150 each for 5 sessions; bring a [artner: $250 for 5 sessions ($125 each adult); parent + child: $200 for 5 sessions ($150/parent + $50/child). We urge everyone to do the whole program so you can learn more but if it’s not possible to attend all 5 Saturdays, you can choose the dates you want to join us. $30 / session for adults or $10 / session for children.

Payment methods: Cash, Check (payable to: SIPA), Venmo (SIPALA) and Credit/Debit Cards are accepted. Send check payments to: SIPA at 3200 W. Temple St. Los Angeles, CA 90026.

Please register by emailing Fidji Victoriano (fidji@sipacares.org) if paying outside of Eventbrite.

SIPA is located 3200 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026. Limited free parking on surface lots along Robinson St. and Dillon St. Street parking is also available around the area. Please see posted signs for details.

AU G U ST 2

Masskara Festival in Long Beach, CA The Long Beach Bacolod Association (LBBA) will be having its second annual Masskara Festival event in Long Beach, CA at the Long Beach Marriott Hotel on Friday, August 2 located at 4700 Airport Plaza Drive, Long Beach from 6 p.m. to midnight. As a sister city organization, dignitaries from both Bacolod, Philippines and Long Beach will be in attendance. The dinner ball will also feature live entertainment and Masskara dancing. For tickets please call Malou Mariano at (562) 335-2587.

AU G U ST 3 - 4

Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo in Carson, CA The second annual Travel, Trade & Consumer Expo is back on Saturday, August 3 and Sunday, August 4 at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, CA. The two-day event is Southern California’s largest B2B expo showcasing tourism, trade, and investment opportunities in the USA and Philippines. It will feature networking opportunities for business-to-business, business-to-government, and business-to-consumer. The event is powered by the Asian Journal and Balikbayan Magazine. For more information, please visit https://traveltradeconsumer.com/.

One Global Talent, Youth Singing Competition First Round in Carson, CA Prizes await the Kiddie Champion (6-12 years old) and Teen Champion (13-19 years old in a 3-round singing competition at the SouthBay Pavilion in Carson, California on August 3 and 4. The First Round is a critique and evaluation round with vocal coaches to prepare contestants for Round 2 Elimination on Oct 5, and December 7 Finals in North Hollywood. Pre-registration only, no walk-ins, to get a scheduled spot. Visit www.musicartsevents.com/one-global-talent. html for details, instructions, waivers and to register online. For questions, please email jean@ musicartsevents.com or text or call (818) 538-4033.

Filipino American Symphony Orchestra debuts at Walt Disney Concert Hall in LA Two combined choirs gloriously singing Freddie Mercury’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” with a full 73-piece orchestra and special numbers by talented youths are among the highlights in the Filipino American Symphony Orchestra’s (FASO) historic debut in the prestigious Walt Disney Concert Hall on Saturday, August 3, 7:00 p.m. Titled “A Summer Symphony with FASO,” the concert is a major event in the 11-year history of the orchestra, the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines which has become a vital Filipino-American cultural institution. Many of the featured performers are also making their debut on the famed Walt Disney Concert Hall stage, home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Tickets to the concert, sponsored by Bank of Hope, Dr. Noli and Mrs. Nena Zosa, Pacific Western Bank, QBE and UPAA, are available online at https://www.musiccenter.org/tickets/Visiting-Artists/filipinoamerican-symphony-orchestra/. Tickets are also available by phone at (323) 850-2000 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and at the Walt Disney Concert Hall box office on 111 S. Grand Avenue, Los Angeles 90012 (corner First Street). Window hours are from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday (closed Monday). With box office validation, patrons may park free for 30 minutes in the Walt Disney Concert Hall parking garage for box office transactions. More information about FASO is available at www.fasofoundation.org.

AU G U ST 5 - 9

SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program in LA Happening from August 5-9, Search to Involve Pilipino Americans’ (SIPA) Filipino Summer Program is a fun, week-long experience that enriches, educates, and engages youth about the Filipino Culture! Youth will get to learn more about Filipino food, language, dance, arts, and music! Children ages 6-13 are able to participate, while older youth can volunteer. The program will be held at SIPA (3200 W. Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90026) from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. Drop-offs and pick-ups are at the SIPA parking lot at Dillion St. and Temple St. Each day is $30 for the first child. Every additional child will be $3 less a day (e.g., the second child will be $27/day, the third child would cost $24/day, and so on). If your family cannot fully afford the cost of SIPA’s Filipino Summer Program, the FEE CAN BE LOWERED depending on the financial situation. Families can pay by cash, credit/debit card (2.75% fee), Venmo (1% fee), or check!If interested, contact Maria Carmel Valendez by phone at 213-382-1819 ext. 107 or email at mvalendez@esipa.org.

AU G U ST 1 5 -1 8

NaFFAA’s National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA Registration is now open for NaFFAA’s 2019 National Empowerment Conference in Carson, CA on August 15 to 18. The NEC is the premier gathering of community leaders uniting to engage in dialogue about issues affecting over four million Filipinos across the United States, while building a clear and unified vision of community empowerment for 2020 and beyond.

Register before April 30 to qualify for discounted Early Bird registration prices for the full conference pass (3-day pass + gala ticket) which are $80 for students; $180 for NaFFAA members; and $200 for regular. For more information on the 2019 National Empowerment Conference, visit naffaa.org/2019nec, or email us at nec@naffaa.org.

AU G U ST 1 7-1 8 A N D 1 9 -3 0

Liliw Association of East Coast USA Celebrates 30th Anniversary The Liliw Association of East Coast USA is calling on their fellow Liliweños to join the organization as it celebrates its 30th Anniversary with a number of events. On August 17, Saturday, a welcome picnic will happen at the Ross Dock Picnic Area of the Palisades Interstate Park in Fort Lee, New Jersey from 12 noon to 7:00 pm. The following day, Sunday, August 18 is the anniversary lunch from 12 noon to 4:30 pm at Waterside Restaurant (7800 River Road in North Bergen, NJ). From August 19 to 30 is an optional East Coast Sightseeing Bus Tour. Send an email to Liliw Association of East Coast USA President Teresita Guina at tessguina3@gmail.com or call her at (201) 913-7800.

If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com

11

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August 1-7, 2019 • LAs VEgAs AsIAN JOuRNAL

EntErtainmEnt

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

Bea Alonzo is moving Carla just waiting for Tom to pop ‘magic question’ on and so should we

by Arlo

Custodio ManilaTimes.net

By Monet

Lu

THIS just in: After being silent amidst the controversies surrounding her relationship – or “supposed breakup” – with actor Gerald Anderson, actress Bea Alonzo has opened up.

These were her exact words, “Honestly to my understanding, we did not break up, he just started not talking to me.”

Hateful comments in 3… 2…

1…

Correct me if I am wrong but “to my understanding” (and maybe to everyone who read or heard her response), the guy pretty much ghosted her? Am I right or am I right?

I am not the first person who has said this but if the guy didn’t have the guts to formally break up with his girlfriend of several years, then what the heck are we still doing talking about him? So let me echo what thousands of netizens are saying, “Bea deserves better.”

And I think she knows it too.

But to further prove my point, allow me to point out the facts that would perhaps remind our dear Bea that famous line in her movie, “One More Chance,” that was ironically said by her character partner Popoy to his friend Chino. “...kaya tayo iniiwan ng mga taong mahal natin kasi baka may bagong darating na mas okay, na masmamahalin tayo. Yung taong di tayo sasaktan at paaasahin.

Yung nagiisang taong magtatama ng mali sa buhay natin, ng lahat ng mali sa buhay mo (The reason that people we love leaves us is because maybe someone better will come along. The One who will not hurt or make us hope for nothing. The one person who will right the wrongs in our life).”

Point number one: Bea was spared from a lifetime of hurts.

The way she supposedly found out about the alleged affair is so common nowadays — so common that we wish this didn’t happen when social media is in full swing and that one post can launch a thousand “likes” and with just a single like, you can already put the pieces together without looking for clues or knowing the whole story.

After Bea made a series of cryptic posts on Instagram implying that she had been betrayed,

EMPLOYMENT

Gerald Anderson and Bea Alonzo

her celebrity and non-celebrity friends have chimed in to show their support. And that is just one single cryptic post. At the same time, netizens noticed that Bea had liked an Instagram post showing Gerald and his “Between Maybes” co-star Julia Barretto, walking together outside a bar where they attended the birthday party of actor Rayver Cruz. The next thing you know, the story is conclusive: Gerald had been cheating on Bea with Julia. And there’s more.

Julia’s ex-boyfriend, Joshua Garcia, has likewise posted a cryptic post on social media, only saying, “I’m mute.” And he apparently “liked” Bea’s cryptic post.

You see, this was all going on under the prying eyes of netizens and as much as I hate to say this, I think this is the one time that I believe the truth wouldn’t have been revealed if none of those posts and likes surfaced.

Hence my point that Bea was, in fact, spared from a lifetime of hurt. Imagine if she never found out and maybe spent the rest of her life with someone who seems to keep forgetting that it’s not nice to just move onto the next girl you meet without ending the previous relationship first, which brings me to my next point.

Point number two: History doesn’t lie and if he’s had the habit of going after his leading ladies — simultaneously so it seems — it would not hurt to be cautious.

If one is to look back at all of

ABS-CBN photo

the women who have been publicly linked to Gerald, Bea would definitely have second thoughts of entertaining the guy.

First, there was Kim Chiu who was his on-screen partner for several movies before they eventually became a couple in real life until they broke up in 2010. After his four-year relationship with Kim, the actor grew close to Bea who asked him to wait and heal. Still, Gerald continued to woo her, and eventually, the relationship became official. But it didn’t last very long.

In 2011, Gerard starred in the romance flick opposite Sarah Geronimo. The actor showed interest in Sarah and started to court her—going as far as visiting their family home and meeting her parents. Around a year later, Gerald stopped wooing Sarah. Then he started a relationship with Maja Salvador in 2013. This relationship drove a wedge between Maja and Kim Chiu, who used to be the best of friends. Gerald and Maja broke up in 2015. In 2016—after six years—Gerald is back in Bea’s arms and now here we are.

I could say that Gerald is just someone who falls in and out of love easily but that wouldn’t be fair. Even if it’s the case, he should still do the proper thing and officially end a relationship before starting another one. But the best thing he or anyone could do is NOT fall for someone else while you are in a relationship. I mean seriously.

PAGE 13

EMPLOYMENT

FOR RENT

IN 2013, GMA Network shook Philippine prime time television with the first gender-bending romance drama series, “My Husband’s Lover.”

Starring Dennis Trillo as the lover, Tom Rodriguez as the husband, and Carla Abellana as the narrator-wife, each episode became a favorite topic at home, the offices, during school breaks and even on commuting hours —across the nation. Everyone was captivated regardless of gender, age and orientation.

Intended to run only for 16 weeks, its popularity pressed producers to extend the series for another three weeks, with the finale airing on October 18 that year.

The bond among the stars strengthened, especially between Abellana and Rodriguez who became real-life lovers.

Their series team-up happened again four years later in “I Heart Davao,” which ran from June 26 to August 18, 2017, but they’ve officially been together for six straight years.

Although they have done projects with other stars, the couple have remained devoted to each other, even building their ideal home together ready to raise a family.

Fans and followers are happy for them but the most compelling question is, when is the wedding?

“Malapit na po. Depende kay Tom. Only God knows,” Abellana answered The Manila

PAGE 11

Times’ query during the launch of their first joint commercial for Ligo Sardines at One Space in Makati the other weekend.

“Kasi siya ang magpu-propose,” she laughed. The launch served as the 65th anniversary of the brand as well.

Rodriguez, on the hand, knelt down before his fiancee with hands clasped as a gesture of popping up the magic question, “Will you marry me?”

“Napag-uusapan namin, kasama sa plano. We are really considering it, we’re not getting any younger, mga ka-batch namin, mga ka-age namin, nag-settle down na sila, raising family, having children. But as to the exact time, si Tom lang ang nakakaalam nun,” the actress said, adding that they are already sure of each other, and decided to spend the rest of their lives together.

Rodriguez agreed, adding that it could be after their next commercial.

The shoot, according to the actress, had been one of their happiest moments in a long time. It wasn’t work at all, and everyone in the Tung household, owners of the company, is like family, said Rodriguez, who made the breakthrough commercial for Mindanao, “Lami Ligo,” singing the jingle himself. Lami is Cebuano term for delicious.

‘Mark’ celebration Ligo was introduced to the Philippine market in 1954 when Gregory Tung Sr. opened A. Tung Chingco Trading, the exclusive distributor of Ligo products in the country. The company part-

Carla Abella with Tom Rodriguez Photo from Instagram/@carlaangeline

nered with Liberty Gold Fruit Co. in California, but put up its own cannery in 1980 to manufacture its goods and meet growing demand.

It expanded its products, offering mackerel, squid, corned beef, meatloaf, and tuna flakes. It also offered variants on its line of sardines, such as Gata, Spanish, Extra Hot, Kaldereta and Afritada.

With strong acceptance among Filipinos abroad, the brand began exporting to the U.S., Europe and the Asia-Pacific region.

“We are proud to be part of the household of many Filipino families here and abroad. As we move toward our seventh decade in the industry, we are excited PAGE 13

Anti-cancer: Vegetables

state that their “health” products “are effective for” a variety of medical illnesses. If they have pharmacologic (chemical) effects, then they should be considered as drugs, and be subject to the rigorous testing and clinical studies required for drugs, prior to their approval and acceptance as safe and effective for public consumption.

It is rather most unfortunate that the government appears to be simply powerless in dealing with the perpetrator companies and dealers and their unsubstantiated claims and deceptive practices, who are bilking the unsuspecting and ignorant victims of their hardearned money.

Disease-inducing personal bad habits and unhealthy lifestyle include smoking, high-cholesterol, high fat, high-carbohydrate diet, inactivity (lack of physical exercise), alcohol abuse, and poor stress management. These factors, which are really within our control, are responsible for about 75% of all diseases afflicting man. Indeed, only 25% of these illnesses we have today are beyond our control. Most of our health problems are self-inflicted and self-induced, and therefore, preventable to a large extent.

Medical literature is replete with clinical outcomes that justify this caveat: Eating vegetables prevent diseases while regular consumption of red meat and

SERVICES

processed foods is associated with increased risk of debilitating and deadly illnesses, including cancer.

Need we say more?

Isn’t it time to start loving our body and be proactive in protecting it to maximize our health and longevity? *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society. He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

EntErtainmEnt

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

Catriona opens up on dealing with recent ‘low moments’ above the negativity as she posted a picture of herself strutting on a New York crosswalk.

To say Gray has a hectic work CATRIONA Gray exudes light and positivity as Miss Universe schedule would be an under2018, but she confessed to experi- statement. After her visit to the encing “low moments” recently. Philippines in June, she headed The beauty queen said in an to Thailand for the Miss Universe Instagram post on Monday, July competition in the country. She 29: “It’s been a really challenging then flew to New York where she last couple of weeks, I’ve felt re- keeps busy with photoshoots and ally low in my spirit. I just wanted promoting advocacies. On the to write this post to share that low weekend of July 20, she was in Las Vegas to fly the Philippine moments happen to all of us.”

Gray gave advice on dealing flag for boxing champion Manny with situations in which she Pacquiao’s fight against Keith feels “down and overwhelmed”: Thurman.

In July, she was hit with body“It helps to remind myself that the only person I can control is shaming comments from a Thai myself, to count all the things I beauty queen. She did not directly have to be grateful for and to plan address it, but when asked about and look forward to the dawn of the issue of body-shaming, she said on Twitter, “Obviously I stand a new day.”

She also left reassuring words firmly against any form of bullying to anyone facing tough times: and bashing—online and off. It is “So if you’re feeling down in the never, ever okay to put someone dumps, you’re never alone. Situ- down for the sake of ‘expressing ations and life are tough…but so your opinion.’”

After the Pacquiao-Thurman are you. #KeepCalmAndLavaW fight, a video of her and Narvaalk.”

Her latest Instagram post on can mayor Chavit Singson went Monday shows that she is rising viral as he was caught falling

by Niña

GuNo Inquirer.net

Catriona Gray Photo from Instagram/@catriona_gray

asleep beside her. The moment has been teased as Singson attempted a move on her, though he has apologized for it because he was “jet-lagged.” President Rodrigo Duterte has also weighed in on the video, to which he said, “May the next mission be accomplished.”

Bea Alonzo is moving on and...

PAGE 12

As for Bea, she is a beautiful, strong and talented woman. And she has a lot of people supporting her, especially during this emotional turmoil. She will get over this and she will survive.

As I read on the news recently, Bea put on a brave face in her interview as she said: “I feel like I’m a strong woman and feeling ko

pinalaki ako ng ABS-CBN na professional (ABS-CBN trained me to be professional) and I always have to show up regardless of whatever’s happening in my life.”

When asked if she was ok, she said, “I’m moving forward.”

That’s right Bea. You are and we should too. *** Monet Lu is a Marikina-born, award-winning

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 allnatural beauty products such as Enlighten, your solution to discoloration . To contact Monet, please visit www.monetsalon.com or email him at monetsalon@aol.com.

Carla just waiting for Tom to pop...

PAGE 12

to bring new innovations and products that will be part of the memories of future generations,” Ligo Vice President of Production Mikko Tung shared.

Ligo is now run by the third generation of Tungs, who are working together to strengthen its commitment to putting quality first. Joining Mikko are his brothers Mark, who oversees sales and marketing, and Macky, who handles advertising and promotion.

The celebration also unveiled the Klasik Museum, where guests traveled back in time to reminisce the brand’s past, including its variants, old commercials and

print ads. Its retro art style was a reminder that indeed, “Walang Kupas ang Klasik.”

Perfect choice The choice of Rodriguez as the brand ambassador came in handy — he does not have much endorsements yet, he is wellaccepted by the public and the important consideration is he speaks Cebuano. And he sings too.

According to Mark, the release of the commercial tripled sales in Mindanao, with the jingle becoming viral and sung even by choral groups, kids in the streets and grandmothers at home.

Its success was hard to top, but they came up with the per-

fect idea for Rodriguez to share his dish and happiness with someone.

“I was so happy when Tom shared the news, kasi lagi niyang binabanggit sina Mikko, Macky, Mark at naiinggit ako. It was also a challenge kasi sa storyboard kakanta pa, but I’m really hopeful this partnership will also last for 65 years,” Abellana said.

In Metro Manila market, misua is used though instead of odong, which is the popular noodle to cook with sardines as “sahog” in Mindanao.

“Fans are happy, marami nang nagsi-share ng commercial at nagta-tag sa amin,” the actress further shared.

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUSt 1-7, 2019

13

14

August 1-7, 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ LAs VEgAs AsIAN JOuRNAL

Features

http://www.asianjournal.com â&#x20AC;˘ (702) 792-6678

This Filipino chocolatier wants the Philippines to be known globally as a great source of chocolates by

MoMar G. Visaya / aJPress

IT was a sweet victory for five Philippine chocolate brands at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London last June when they garnered a total of 24 awards across various categories.

AuroChocolate (Davao), Dalareich Food Products (Bohol), Malagos Agri-Ventures Corporation (Davao), MS3Agri-Ventures (Davao), and Theo and Philo Artisan Chocolates (Davao) impressed more than 100 expert judges who make up the panel. This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s board of judges include leading chocolatiers and some of the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most prominent food writers and bloggers.

These five brands bested over a thousand entries from close to 50 countries. Their chocolates were judged not just on the taste but were marked for appearance, depth of aroma and flavor, length, and complexity over a rigorous 25 session judging process over a three-month period.

Theo & Philo, one of these PH brands, made it to this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Fancy Food Show at the Jacob Javits Convention Center where we had a chance to chat with its founder Philo Chua. For the first time this year, the Philippines had a pavilion called Food Philippines.

Before he became a chocolatier, Chua was in the Information Technology (IT) field, working as a programmer in Pittsburgh.

While writing something on the side about chocolates, he learned in his research that the Philippines is one of the few areas in the world where cocoa trees grew and that inspired him to know more about it.

That was his â&#x20AC;&#x153;aha momentâ&#x20AC;? as

he pondered on the single origin chocolate bars that he saw in stores and why there was nothing like that from the Philippines when thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plenty of cacao over there.

History After years of working in the United States, he eventually returned to the Philippines in 2007 and just after a couple of years of trial and error there, he started Theo & Philo, making premium artisanal chocolates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It became a hobby of mine when we started,â&#x20AC;? he said, laughing. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I really wanted to go back home and maybe do something with food, medyo nagsawa na rin kasi ako sa IT.â&#x20AC;?

He took a chance and gambled. â&#x20AC;&#x153;If it failed, okay lang. At least I tried,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Fortunately for him, it worked out, eventually. Theo & Philo became the first bean-to-bar, single-origin chocolate maker in the Philippines.

Theo comes from theobroma cacao, which is the cacao treeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s scientific name. That, combined with Philo, which also means love in Greek (philos), and you get Theo & Philo, chocolate and love.

Now, his goal for Theo & Philo is for it to become a global Filipino brand. â&#x20AC;&#x153;That is the ultimate dream, that when people think about the Philippines, they also think about our chocolates, specially our brand,â&#x20AC;? he said.

Summer Fancy Food Show 2019 CITEM, the marketing arm of the Philippine Department of Trade and Industry curated the list

Theo & Philoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s display at the Summer Fancy Food Show in New York.

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Theo & Philo has about a dozen variants, such as adobo, dark chocolate with calamansi, and green mango & sea salt.

of ten companies, including Theo & Philo that joined in this exhibition at the Fancy Food Show.

In the course of our interview, a number of people passed by the booth and complimented Philo for the beautiful packaging of the chocolates, and when they tried some of the variants, they all expressed their hearty approval.

Chua shared that he made a conscious effort to come up with a great product, and that included beautiful, artsy and classy packaging. â&#x20AC;&#x153;When I was younger, I was into arts and design. Part of the thing that also attracted me here was you could express your creativity not just with the chocolates but also on the packaging,â&#x20AC;? Philo explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;From the get go, we really wanted to show something different, so the flavor, the packaging reflected that.â&#x20AC;?

Theo & Philo has been in existence for about nine years now and year after year, it has been pushing Philippine chocolate in the tough and highly competitive global market. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been improving every year, and the chocolate industry in the Philippines has been growing every year as well. We can see more improvement, and more people getting into the chocolate industry in the coming years,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The government is doing a very good job in promoting the industry and the cacao industry is beginning to boom.â&#x20AC;?

Chua considers making a mark in the history of the chocolate world in the Philippines as his

biggest achievement in the past nine years or so.

They are the first one to do the â&#x20AC;&#x153;bean to barâ&#x20AC;? concept there, creating premium chocolate bars using only the local cacao beans.

Looking back, he said he is happy that he was able to help start this particular movement of chocolate from the Philippines that can compete globally.

Theo & Philo started back in 2010 with just two variants: 70% dark and milk chocolates.

The other flavors came about during the Christmas season the same year when they decided to make something special for the holidays. They realized that people responded to their special flavors so they decided to continue them and make them a staple.

He takes pride in saying that their chocolates are distinctively and Filipino, some of them inspired by classic Pinoy dishes and snacks such as adobo and turon.

Now, they have about a dozen variants, including ginger & mint, black sesame and barako coffee.

His personal favorite is the dark chocolate with calamansi and their bestseller is green mango & sea salt. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am also proud of our adobo because it is something very unique,â&#x20AC;? he stated.

The idea was to come up with an iconic Filipino flavor, so what could be more iconic than adobo, the Philippine national dish. Using soy sauce in chocolate was a bold step, something unheard of before, but Chua took the risk and it paid off.

The chocolate companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s founder, Philo Chua.

People gravitated towards this flavor because it is savory and sweet, like bacon and chocolate, and he realized that his clients are getting used to this kind of combination. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not anymore as weird as before so we decided to give it a chance,â&#x20AC;? he quipped.

Two of the variants that Chua mentioned (adobo and green mango & salt), along with their labuyo, cashew & pili and pili nuts & pinipig, were among the award winners at the 2019 Academy of Chocolate Awards in London, considered the Oscar Awards for chocolates.

Locally sourced Tony Meloto, in a speech he made in Boston about 15 years ago, talked about how Switzerland is most famous for their chocolates but they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t produce a single cacao bean. He then asked, how is it that the Philippines, which produces a lot of cacao, is not able to come up with chocolate that could compete with other world class chocolates? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Exactly! Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re the first one in Southeast Asia to have cacao because of the ManilaAcapulco Galleon Trade,â&#x20AC;? Chua exclaimed.

Theo & Philo chocolates are all locally sourced from farmers in the Davao region of the Philippines, where majority of the cacao comes from. The company has been working with Gawad Kalinga communities through the years.

They source their raw cacao and other ingredients from GK communities in the Malabog

AJPress photo by Momar G. Visaya

Theo & Philo became the first bean-to-bar, singleorigin chocolate maker in the Philippines.

area of Davao province, helping provide a sustainable livelihood for farmers and others who work on the farm. â&#x20AC;&#x153;After being in the U.S. for seven years, I saw the stark contrast of how differently some Filipino people were living and how they could use help,â&#x20AC;? Chua told NetSuite in an interview. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Growing up and in school, I was always involved in organizations that helped people out, so it was a natural thing.â&#x20AC;?

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