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A U G U ST 30-S EPTEMB ER 5, 2019 Volume 12 - No. 45 • 16 Pages 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 • Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858
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Duterte, Xi reaffi rm PH-China ties but DATELINE USA no word yet if arbitral ruling tackled Trump says he’s FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA
‘seriously’ looking to end US birthright citizenship
PRESIDENT Donald Trump said he is “very seriously” considering putting an end to U.S. birthright citizenship, which grants legal citizenship to those born in the country regardless of where their parents were born. “Where you have a baby on our land — you walk over the border, have a baby. Congratulations, the baby is now a U.S. citizen,” Trump told reporters outside the White House on Wednesday, August 21. “We’re looking at that very seriously, birthright citizenship,” Trump added. “It’s — It’s, frankly, ridiculous.” Trump last publicly criticized birthright citizenship in October 2018 in an interview with Axios, describing birthright citizenship as “a magnet for illegal immigration” and what he called “anchor babies.” He suggested the idea of eliminating it via executive order and argued that the U.S. was “the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States.” Many were quick to correct Trump in pointing out that at least 30 other countries recognize birthright citizenship or “jus soli (law of the soil).”
on Thursday night, August 29. It was not clear, however, if Duterte was able to discuss the international arbitral BEIJING — President Duterte and Chinese court ruling and the existence of Philippine President Xi Jinping assured each other of offshore gaming operations with Xi during continued cooperation and stronger diplomatic their bilateral meeting at the Diayutao State relations between the Philippines and China as Guesthouse. “Let us reaffirm the value of our relationship, they witnessed the signing of six agreements by MARLON
RAMOS Inquirer.net
both personal and official, as well as the trust and respect pursuant to mutual benefit that we have been building for the last three years,” the president said in his opening statement. Among the documents signed by representatives of both countries was the “preferential buyer’s credit loan agreement” for the Philip-
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8 PH companies among Forbes’‘Best Over a Billion’ by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
EIGHT Philippine companies secured spots on Forbes Asia magazine’s inaugural “Best Over a Billion (BOB)” list, which highlights the 200 top-performing listed companies across the Asia-Pacific region with revenues of more than $1 billion. “The goal is to find the region’s best-run companies that are doing well on not just one metric but across many of them. The result is a list that represents the best of Asia-Pacific’s big companies,” said Forbes Asia. The local firms included in the 2019 roster are: Ayala Corporation, Cosco Capital, GT Capital Holdings, JG Summit Holdings, Jollibee Foods Corporation, Megaworld Corporation, San Miguel Food and Bever-
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WHO: PH ranks 3rd with the Duterte pushes for highest number of measles cases revival of family planning by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
In this file photo, dengue patients are seen at a hospital in Cavite. ManilaTimes.net photo by Rene Dilan
REAFFIRMING TIES. President Rodrigo Duterte and People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping discuss matters during the bilateral meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Thursday, August 29. Malacañang photo by Robinson Niñal
THE Philippines ranked third worldwide with the highest incidence of measles over a 12-month period up to June this year with 45,847 cases, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). It noted that, in just the first six months of 2019, the reported cases worldwide were the highest they have been
in any year since 2006, with outbreaks straining health care systems, and leading to serious illness, disability, and deaths in many parts of the world. “Major outbreaks are ongoing in Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and Thailand,” WHO said. It also noted that the largest
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by RITCHEL
MENDIOLA AJPress
PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, August 27, reiterated his support for family planning and pushed for the program’s revival in the next three years. “Ang isang kulang na lang natin actually na how to get it started and you know get it rolling beginning at least in the next three years, ‘yang ibalik
ninyo ‘yung family planning (One thing we lack is actually how to get it started and you know get it rolling beginning at least in the next three years. Let’s bring back family planning),” he said in a speech during the 31st anniversary of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP). “I know of only two guys, presidents, who did it and it
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From the Front Page
Duterte, Xi reaffirm PH-China ties... PAGE 1 pine National Railways project and another loan facility between the Department of Finance, and the Export-Import Bank of China and the China International Development Cooperation Agency.
The parties also entered into two separate memoranda of understanding between the Commission on Higher Education and the Department of Science and Technology with their Chinese counterparts.
The Bureau of Customs likewise signed two agreements for improving the coordination between Chinese and Philippine customs authorities, including the contract for the “container inspection equipment” project. n
WHO: PH ranks 3rd with the highest number...
PAGE 1 outbreaks happen in countries with low measles vaccination coverage, currently or in the past, which has left large numbers of people vulnerable to the disease. Lack of access to quality health care or vaccination services, misinformation about vaccines and the low awareness about the need to vaccinate are among the reasons for the low vaccination coverage. Madagascar ranked first with more than 150,000 of reported measles cases, followed by Ukraine with 84,300 cases. DOH: Infants and toddlers
most affected group Based on the records from the Department of Health (DOH), 80 percent of the deaths due to measles in the country in the first half of the year were children aged 1 to 4 and infants below 9 months. As of July 13, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon provinces) had the highest incidence with 7,213 cases, or a 1,000percent increase from just 632 cases in the same period last year. The region also recorded 123 fatalities — highest figure recorded with an increase of close to 2,000 percent from just six
in 2018. Other regions aside from Calabarzon that reported high incidence of measles were Metro Manila (6,969 cases and 114 deaths), Central Luzon (6,350 cases and 115 deaths), Western Visayas (2,379 cases and eight deaths) and Northern Mindanao (2,118 cases and 16 deaths). The DOH noted that the immunization rate in the country dropped to just 40 percent early this year following the public’s growing fear of vaccines due to the controversy surrounding the use of the anti-dengue vaccine Dengvaxia. n
INTRAMUROS SCOOTER. Department of Tourism (DOT) Secretary Bernadette Romulo-Puyat tries the Grabwheels scooter which will roll next month in Intramuros as part of DOT and GrabPH’s freshly-forged partnership on Wednesday, August 28. GrabPH committed to deploy 30 scooters inside the walled city. PNA photo by Gil Calinga
8 PH companies among Forbes’‘Best... PAGE 1
age, and SM Investments Corporation. Candidates for the BOB list were picked from a universe of 3,200 listed firms across the region and evaluated based on various metrics such as their average fiveyear sales, operating income growth, return on capital and projected growth over the next one to two years. “The Best Over A Billion list provides an incredible insight into which are Asia’s bestrun big companies. Nearly
two-thirds of the companies on this list are controlled by or connected to families or individuals who have appeared on Forbes Asia’s rich lists,” Justin Doebele, editor at Forbes Asia, said. Among the eight companies, the most valuable was SM Investments Corp., the Philippines’ biggest conglomerate with market-leading positions in retailing, property development and banking with a market capitalization of $22.8 billion. This is followed by San
Miguel Food and Beverage with $11.86 billion and Ayala Corp. with $11.17 billion. JG Summit, led by the Gokongwei family, has a market capitalization of $9.04 billion while Jollibee, with its goal to become one of the most valuable restaurant operators in the world, has $4.83 billion. Megaworld and GT Capital are valued at $3.76 billion and $3.74 billion, respectively; meanwhile, Cosco Capital was valued at $942 million. n
Trump says he’s ‘seriously’ looking to end... PAGE 1
Following Trump’s Wednesday comments, many again also emphasized that birthright citizenship was a right granted through the U.S. Constitution since 1868. Section 1 of the Constitution’s 14th Amendment says: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and the state wherein they reside.” Ending birthright citizenship through executive order has been said to be unconstitutional, including by James Ho, a conservative federal appeals court judge who was appointed by Trump to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Prior to Ho’s appointment in 2006, he wrote a paper highlighting how revoking birthright citizenship despite
the clear language of the amendment would raise constitutional questions. “Opponents of illegal immigration cannot claim to champion the rule of law and then, in the same breath, propose policies that violate our Constitution,” wrote Ho. “The birthright is protected no less for children of undocumented persons than for descendants of Mayflower passengers,” he added. On Twitter, several lawmakers criticized Trump for considering stepping over his Constitutional powers. Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris responded to Trump on Wednesday in a tweet that read, “The President should ‘seriously’ consider reading the Constitution.” “Trump said he’s ‘seriously’ considering ending birthright citizenship — a
right guaranteed by the 14th Amendment,” she said in another tweet on Friday. “This type of attack isn’t new, which is why I’ve been discussing this issue since 2010. We must fight back.” Former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke, another Democratic presidential candidate, suggested on Twitter that Trump’s comments were being made to distract people from other issues resulting from the current administration. “Trump is talking about Greenland and racist policies like ending birthright citizenship to take your eyes off the ball — off an economy that’s beginning to crater; off a trade war that’s wreaking havoc on farmers across America; off his cruel desire to take away your healthcare,” tweeted O’Rourke. (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress)
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Dateline USa
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Pastor’s wife deported to Philippines after Fil-Am caregiver faces charges for taunting 91-year-old dementia patient 20-year quest for US citizenship — report by Rae
ann VaRona
AJPress
A YOUNG Filipina American caregiver faces charges in a lawsuit filed by an Illinois family earlier this month for a Snapchat video that showed her and another caregiver taunting an elderly woman with dementia. According to court filings, Filipina American certified nursing assistant (CNA) Jamie Montesa recorded a Snapchat video of fellow CNA Brayan Cortez repeatedly throwing a hospital gown at 91-year-old Margeret Collins who tried to wave it away. Typed on the video along with two laughing emojis was a caption that read, “Margaret hates gowns!” Family members of Collins were alerted of the incident after another worker at the Abington of Glenview Nursing and Rehab Center shared the video with them last December. Collins has since been moved to another facility, but family members said she suffered anxiety and nightmares from the incident. Montesa and Cortez were arrested and charged with misdemeanor disorderly conduct in January, but face a new civil lawsuit along with the nursing home facility for violating the Illinois Nursing Home Care Act, as well as state privacy laws for posting on social media. The lawsuit was filed
Fil-Am caregiver Jamie Montesa Photo courtesy of Glenview Police Department
Wednesday, August 21 for over $1 million and states that the nursing home administrators and managers allowed Montesa and Cortez to “mentally and emotionally” abuse Collins. Instead of providing care to Collins, the lawsuit added that the two workers further used their “position of power and influence to harass, taunt, bully, degrade and take advantage of Margaret.” Levin & Perconti, the law firm representing Collins, added that residents with dementia like Collins are often targets of elder abuse due to their diminished ability to speak up and communicate. “This was a sick game the two CNAs decided to play for
their own enjoyment,” attorney John Perconti told local Chicago news outlet WGNTV. “By filing this lawsuit and pursuing this lawsuit, we will prevent this from happening to other individuals in this facility as well as other facilities.” Collins’ daughter, Joan Biebel, told WGN-TV that staff at the Abington were aware that Collins disliked wearing gowns and preferred wearing her own clothes. “If they were in her room, they should have been there for a reason — to help her, assist her — not to exploit her and threaten her and demean her and post it on social media,” Biebel told WGN-TV. The Washington Post reported police records showing that Cortez told police that he and Collins had an inside joke about her not wanting to wear hospital gowns, and that he was unaware of Montesa recording the video. Montesa reportedly told police that she secretly filmed the incident because she thought Collins was uncomfortable. In a statement, the nursing home said, “Privacy and dignity of our residents are of the utmost concern at The Abington.” It added that Montesa and Cortez, after a six-day suspension, were fired for violating the nursing home’s standards and policies. n
US fugitive linked to illegal drugs, human trafficking arrested by William
B. Depasupil
ManilaTimes.net
AN American fugitive long wanted by U.S. federal authorities for alleged involvement in illegal drugs and human trafficking back in his home country was arrested by Bureau of Immigration (BI) operatives after more than a year of hiding. Corey West Glenn, 43, was arrested by operatives of the BI’s Fugitive Search Unit (FSU) following an operation in Makati City last Sunday, August 25. Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said on Monday, Augsut 26, that the American would be deported “for being an unde-
sirable alien whose presence here poses a risk to public safety and security.” Glenn’s passport had been revoked by the U.S. government, thus making him an undocumented and illegally staying alien in the country. Information received by the BI from U.S. authorities showed that Glenn was wanted in the states of Missouri and Arkansas where he was the subject of outstanding arrest warrants issued by the U.S. courts. Immigration intelligence officer and FSU chief Bobby Raquepo said a bench warrant was issued against Glenn by the Judicial Circuit Court in Benton Coun-
ty, Arkansas on July 18, 2018. The warrant was issued after Glenn allegedly failed to appear in the hearing for charges of trafficking in persons and delivery of controlled substance that were filed against him. Raquepo also said that on August 16, 2018, the Judicial Circuit Court in Taney County, Missouri issued another warrant against Glenn, also for his failure to appear in a scheduled hearing. Glenn faces multiple felonies and misdemeanor charges before the Missouri court, which pertain to various traffic violations and aggravated offenses. n
THE United States deported a 66-year-old Filipina after a two-decade quest for U.S. citizenship, a Chicagobased radio station reported. According to a WBEZ 91.5 report on Wednesday, August 21 attempts to stop the deportation of Julita Bartolome by two Democratic lawmakers failed. Bartolome came to the United States in 1988 as a domestic worker but overstayed her visa. Her lawyer, Katherine Del Rosario, told WBEZ that Bartolome lacked access to a good counsel and did not know how to navigate the immigration system until recently. “This case is about a woman with no criminal history and actually a very long history of benevolent volunteerism and involvement in her church and her community. She’s being sent back to a country she hasn’t called home for 30 years,” Del Rosario was quoted as saying in the report. Bartolome’s flight departed Chicago at 1:20 a.m. Friday, August 23.
Bartolome lived in Florida until 2000 when she married Edgardo, a widowed father of two. WBEZ reported that Bartolome was granted a voluntary departure and given 30 days to leave the U.S. after overstaying her visa. She appealed the case but lost. Del Rosario said Bartolome’s lawyer at the time did not notify his client that the appeal was junked and that the removal was still in effect. During that period, Bartolome moved to Illinois. In 2002, the couple filed a family petition called I-130, which was granted. Because of the removal order, Bartolome had to wait 10 years to receive a green card. They refiled the I-130 petition a decade later to apply for a green card. Taken into custody at inBartolome was arrested and taken into custody last month after the couple was called in for the I-130 interview by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. “Everything about her case is approvable except for the
fact that she didn’t get the right advice from the right people at the right time. She tried her best for the last 20 years to gain legal status in the U.S.,” Del Rosario was quoted as saying. She added: “If [this administration] is not going to exercise discretion on a person like this, who would they exercise discretion for?” Bartolome’s husband is a pastor at Filipino Immanuel Baptist Church of Chicago. “They go together to minister to people, visit people in the hospital, counsel people or lead Bible studies. And now my dad is planning to resign because he can’t do these things without her,” Aaron, Bartolome’s stepson, told WBEZ. The family now plans to seek an immigrant visa and a waiver so Bartolome can reenter the United States after the deportation. The U.S. deported more than 256,000 people in 2018 as part of U.S. President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigrants. (Philstar. com)
Duterte pushes for revival of family... PAGE 1 was [former President Fidel] Ramos who was a Protestant and ako na talagang pinipilit ko sa aking siyudad (and me who pushed for it in my city),” he added. During Ramos’ term, he emphasized reproductive health and human rights as a policy framework for the implementation of family planning programs. Meanwhile, Duterte gave away birth control pills and urged job-seeking mothers to undergo ligation when he was mayor of Davao City. The president also urged everyone to not depend on religion when it comes to family planning methods. “Do not place too much importance about religion. Tutok ka lang sa Diyos (Focus on God). When you are in a moral quandary, do not go to your religion. It cannot help you. Maniwala kayo (Believe me),” Duterte said. “At 74 years old, I’m telling you. You go direct to your God and pray and ask for guidance, especially in matters of — ‘yang kasalanan ‘yang mag-family planning (that family planning is a sin),” he added. On the other hand, Duterte ruled out the possibility of
President Duterte has pushed for the revitalized implementation of the family planning program in the next three years. Inquirer.net photo
abortion being legalized in the country, saying he will not allow it. “Of course, abortion is out of the question. I will not allow it,” he said, before proceeding to slam Iceland for allowing abortion for up to six months of the pregnancy. Duterte criticized the country for worrying more about the drug pushers who he said cause “social dysfunction” while allowing the “slaughter” of unborn babies, referring to Iceland’s push for a United Nations probe into the human rights situation in the Philippines. “Iceland allows the slaughter of the fetus inside the womb of the mother up to six months.
They worry more of the drug lords at itong mga who are pushing drugs, killing our citizens, and creating a social dysfunction in almost all,” he said. “Tapos tinuturuan ako kung ano ang gawin ko (And then they are dictating me what to do). I am sorry for you. That’s why you are condemned there in the ice forever. I hope you will freeze in time,” he added. Recently, Iceland passed a law allowing the termination of a pregnancy up to 22 weeks for any reason. “Just imagine. Six months. You allow an innocent human being already thriving and living inside the mother’s body and… just pull it,” Duterte said. n
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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • AUGUST 30-SEPTEMBER 5, 2019
OPINION
FEATURES
Because they can THE Department of Foreign Affairs has reportedly “fired off” another diplomatic protest to Beijing, this time over intrusions by Chinese warships into Philippine territorial waters in Tawi-Tawi. Security officials say the intrusions were detected as early as February this year. The incidents are remarkable because they herald the start of the entry of Chinese military ships instead of maritime militia vessels ostensibly engaged in fishing, environmental or research activities. The waters in Tawi-Tawi are also part of Philippine territory as defined under international laws, and not just within the country’s 200-mile exclusive economic zone. Equally worrisome for Philippine security officials was that all the warships switched off their Automatic Identification Systems, in violation of international protocols on innocent passage. This is normally done by military vessels only during wartime, Philippine officials stressed, to avoid detection by the enemy.
5
Philippine officials also noted that the warships, instead of sailing in a straight line as is normally done during innocent passage, were on a zigzag course, as if on patrol or exploration, between islands in Tawi-Tawi — an area that is not covered by conflicting territorial claims. Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana said he had called the attention of Chinese authorities when the incursions started, but more warships continued to enter in July and this month. So it may be reasonable to expect the incidents to continue despite the diplomatic protest. The best deterrent to trespassers is to stop them from doing so. Lorenzana said the country currently has weak capability to prevent such incursions. But each intrusion must be documented, even as the country beefs up its capability to protect its own territorial waters. If intruders keep entering without any by-yourleave, it is because they can. (Philstar.com)
Editorial
Trump spreads ‘bug’ that makes people resistant to facts, compassion, and social responsibility on the world stage The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS SCIENTISTS from the University of Minnesota have discovered “a powerful new strain of fact-resistant humans who are threatening the ability of Earth to sustain life”. The research “identifies a virulent strain of humans who are virtually immune to any form of verifiable knowledge, leaving scientists at a loss as
to how to combat them.” “These humans appear to have all the faculties necessary to receive and process information. And yet, somehow, they have developed defenses that, for all intents and purposes, have rendered those faculties totally inactive. As facts have multiplied, their defenses against those facts have only grown more powerful,” lamented Davis Logsdon, one of the scientists who contributed to the study. We do not have to talk in abstract terms because we see that in our own country, and unfortunately, the president of the United States is leading
that “new strain of fact-resistant humans who are threatening the ability of Earth to sustain life.” The United States used to play a role in the Western alliance, being looked up to by other world leaders for leadership and direction in global affairs, but that has changed since Donald Trump became president. His previous attendance at the G7 Summit in France is yet another testament to how isolated the United States has been from our allies in terms of the focus and vision of the seven largest and advanced PAGE 7
Philstar.com photo
Eat less meat, says UN climate report Commentary
YEN MAKABENTA WITH the September UN climate summit in New York just a month away, the climate alarmists and proponents of climate apocalypse are stepping up their propaganda on climate change. Having committed to monitor the climate debate both ways, I owe it to readers to report the developments on the alarmist side, even when I disagree with their conclusions.
This way, I can freely discuss the reports of climate realists, which debunk the alarms. The most eye-catching stories of the alarmists are these two reports: 1. Eat less meat — On August 8, the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change came up with a new report in time for the UN climate summit on September 23. The special report bears this startling message: “Eat less meat: UN climate-change report calls for change to human diet.” 2. Al Gore claims his predictions have come true. But he is challenged to prove that one of his predictions has been proven true. Greenhouse-gas emissions
and the impacts of global warming will fall significantly short without drastic changes in global land use, agriculture and human diets, leading researchers warn in a high-level report commissioned by the United Nations. The special report on climate change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plant-based diets as a major opportunity for mitigating and adapting to climate change and includes a policy recommendation to reduce meat consumption. On August 8, the IPCC released a summary of the report, which is designed to PAGE 10
The views expressed by our Op-Ed contributors are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect the predilection of the editorial board and staff of Asian Journal.
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Dateline PhiliPPines
Duterte declares 4 new PH tourist destination sites by Nestor
Corrales Inquirer.net
MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has signed new laws that declare four sites in the Philippines as new tourist destinations. Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11406 declaring Mount Bulaylay in Cuyapo Nueva Ecija as a tourist destination. The President also signed Republic Act No. 11407 making the Candon City Ecotourism Zone in Ilocos Sur as a tourist destination. He also declared the Santiago Cove in Santiago, Ilocos Sur as a tourist destination through Republic Act No.
11408. Republic Act No. 11409 also made in Santa Maria in Ilocos Sur a tourist destinations. The new laws were all signed in August 22 but copies of the law were released to the media only on Thursday, August 29. Under the new laws, the Department of Tourism, in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways and other concerned government agencies, should “prepare a tourism development plan involving the construction, installation and maintenance of such appropriate facilities and infrastructure that will improve the
overall feature” of the areas, to ensure “the accessibility and security of tourists.” The new laws said “the development plan shall ensure the preservation and conservation of the historic significance of the area.” The Tourism Secretary, the laws said, should include in the National Tourism Development Plan the tourism development plans for the said areas. Funding for the implementation of the new law should be included in the annual General Appropriations Act and from internally generated funds of the Department of Tourism. n
In this June 2019 photo, the Filipino crew of fishing boat F/B GemVir 1, involved in the allision incident near Recto Bank, are being briefed at the Coast Guard sub station in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro. Photo courtesy of Philippine Coast Guard
Philippine envoy says Chinese ship owner’s sorry doesn’t excuse abandonment of Filipino fishermen by elizabeth
MarCelo Philstar.com
Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between Premier Asia Pacific Real Estate and Development Corp. and Omnicor Industrial Estate & Realty Center, Inc.
BEIJING, China — The apology by the owner of the Chinese ship that hit and sank a Philippine boat near Recto (Reed) Bank last June does not remove responsibility for the abandonment of Filipino fishermen who were afloat for three hours before they were rescued by another vessel, an envoy said on Monday, August 26. Philippine Ambassador to China Jose Santiago Sta. Romana said the Recto Bank incident is “on the cusp of a closure” but the compensation for 22 Filipino fishermen and the accountability of the Chinese ship crew would be subject to further discussions. “It (apology) does not excuse them for their responsibility. Their responsibility includes that by the way, the fact that they did not rescue our fishermen. And it is something that
a subject for further discussion in the sense that how do we avoid this in the future,” Sta. Romana said in a press briefing here. “I think we have made a breakthrough. This apology of course represents the ship owner. But in a sense, I think through diplomatic discussions with the Chinese side we have made it clear that this had a negative impact, had an adverse impact on the bilateral relations particularly on Chinese image,” he added. Sta. Romana said the incident’s negative impact on the ties between the two countries could be corrected through a public explanation by the Chinese ship owner, an investigation, and an apology. The envoy revealed that the Philippines had insisted that the Chinese ship owner issue a public apology for the incident. He said the public apology by the Chinese ship owner was
a result of an “intense negotiations” between the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Chinese foreign ministry and the two countries’ embassies. “But it was clear to us that not only from the president but also from the secretary of foreign affairs, he made it clear what we want is a public formal apology, written not verbal. And that’s what took a bit of time,” Sta. Romana said. “What we didn’t want was, you know, they’ll tell me I’m sorry and then I’ll be the one to tell the Filipino, he said I’m sorry. We wanted them to explain to the Filipino people. And that I think that’s why we wanted something not in the name of DFA or not in the name of the result of the discussion,” he added. Sta. Romana said the Chinese government had requested that it be allowed to send a
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Dateline PhiliPPines
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Senate kicks off hearing on 2020 P4.1 trillion national budget MANILA — A briefing from members of the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) on Thursday, August 29, marked the start of the Senate Finance Committee’s deliberations on the proposed 2020 P4.1 trillion national budget. Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary Gil Beltran, acting Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Wendel Avisado, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) Deputy Governor Francisco Dakila Jr., National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary General Ernesto Pernia and other officials
attended the hearing of the committee chaired by Senator Sonny Angara. The DBCC is the interagency body that determines the overall economic targets, expenditure levels and budget of the government. Dakila, representing BSP Governor Benjamin Diokno, presented the country’s monetary, financial and external developments and the outlook for 2019 and 2020. Pernia, meanwhile, provided an overview of the economic performance of the Philippines and prospects for growth and development for 2019, 2020 and over the medium term. Beltran, representing DOF Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, presented the country’s
fiscal revenue collection performance and how the budget will be financed for 2020 and over the medium term. Avisado, as of posting time, is presenting the proposed National Expenditure Plan for 2020 and the agency’s priority expenditures for 2020. Last week, the DBM transmitted the copies of the 2020 NEP to both houses of Congress. Angara earlier predicted a “tough and thorough” scrutiny of the proposed 2020 budget while Senator Panfilo Lacson, vice chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, asked the public to help expose and scrutinize “pork” and other insertions in the 2020 national budget. n
PAGE 6 delegation to visit the fishermen of the sunken boat F/B Gem-Ver 1. The two countries did not have further discussions on the request because “the atmosphere was just not too favorable” that time, he added. Not yet off the hook? Asked if the owner and crew
of the Chinese ship are not yet off the hook, Sta. Romana replied: “I have to consult my legal advisers on this issue.” Pressed if the issuance of apology can be viewed as an admission of guilt, the ambassador did not give a direct answer. “Well, they accepted responsibility. As to the nuance
whether you go into legal niceties here, I’d rather stick to what they said. They accepted the major share of responsibility,” Sta. Romana said. Sta. Romana said the fact that the Chinese foreign ministry was “deeply involved” in the discussions means that it shares the “moral responsibility” for the incident. n
by Christia
Marie Inquirer.net
CLOSURE OF LUMAD SCHOOLS. Datu Awing Apuga, a former teacher at a Salugpongan school, and Bea Magdalena Iligan tell their stories of being taught how to handle guns at a young age, during the Senate Committee on Cultural Communities hearing on the proposed closure of Salugpongan schools on Tuesday, August 27. The Department of Education earlier ordered the suspension of the permits to operate of the 55 Salugpongan schools in Davao Region. PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan
raMos
Trump spreads ‘bug’ that makes people resistant... Philippine envoy says Chinese ship owner’s sorry... PAGE 5 economies in the world — Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. This growing isolation of the United States stems from the fact that Trump himself does not subscribe to research and science-based facts if they do not fit his personal values, narrative and objectives, exactly how he governs the United States of America. One of the agenda items of the summit was the climate crisis and how the world can help save the Amazon from the fire that has been burning the rainforests so critical to the planet. “The Amazon are the lungs of the planet, and the consequences are dire for the planet,” French President Emmanuel Macron said in announcing the aid fund earlier this week. This assistance intended to help not only Brazil, but also the nearly dozen states that make up the Amazon region in South America, including French Guiana. During the G7 Summit, Canada and Britain pledged an additional $11 million and $12 million in aid, respectively, during the G7 summit, in addition to the $20 million in aid money offered Monday by G7 nations to battle the massive fires that have threatened one of the world’s greatest sources of biodiversity. Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro rejected the aid, and said he would only accept this offer if Macron, who openly criticized him, would apologize. ‘In our territories, on my Earth, on the soil of our ancestors, destruction is menacing us.’ — This, despite the plea for help from indigenous com-
munities and their chief to save their rainforests. As Politico reported, “President Donald Trump gave Brazil’s Jair Bolsonaro his full backing Tuesday as South America struggles to contain wildfires wreaking havoc in the Amazon rainforest and as Bolsonaro rejected a pot of international aid to fight the blazes.” “Critics have accused Bolsonaro, a right-wing populist dubbed the ‘Trump of the tropics,’ of facilitating the fires and of taking a lax approach to preventing mass deforestation of the rainforest while also being too slow to respond to the fires. Macron last week threatened to upend a major trade deal between the European Union and the South American Mercosur trade bloc over the issue, claiming Bolsonaro was not living up to environmental commitments that had been made under the deal.” Then Trump skipped a session devoted to climate change at the G7 summit, and instead had a press conference where he again attacked former President Barack Obama and boasted about the United States’ wealth for which he said he is more responsible for than President Reagan and other predecessors. But Trump asserted in response to the question on climate change,”I’m not going to lose that wealth. I’m not going lose it on dreams, on windmills — which, frankly, aren’t working too well. I’m not going to lose it.” Trump claimed, “I’m an environmentalist. A lot of people don’t understand that. I have done more environmental impact statements, probably, than anybody that’s — I guess I can say definitely, because I have done many, many, many
of them.” INSTEAD, Trump advocated for Russia to be invited back to the G7, formerly G8 with Russia, until Russia President Vladimir Putin’s illegal annexation of Crimea. Think about this: The president of the United States is fighting against our allies, abandoning the leadership of the United States in global affairs and our shared values and advocacies, cozying up with dictators, and is acting as an “attorney” for Russia’s interest - the country which has been attacking our democratic processes and institutions and interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election to help Trump win. WHEN will this madness end? Does Trump speak for you? Does he represent your values? Is he stearing the nation in the direction you want it to go? OR, have you been part of that human species that “appears to have all the faculties necessary to receive and process information. And yet, somehow, they have developed defenses that, for all intents and purposes, have rendered those faculties totally inactive. As facts have multiplied, their defenses against those facts have only grown more powerful?” Are you among those “powerful new strain of fact-resistant humans who are threatening the ability of Earth to sustain life”? ***
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
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august 30-september 5, 2019 • NeW YOrK aND NeW JerseY asIaN JOurNaL
Dateline PhiliPPines
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‘Designated survivor’ bill filed in House Eat less meat, says UN climate... A LAWMAKER at the House of Representatives has filed a bill allowing the delegation of an emergency successor to the President apart from the constitutional line of succession in case of unforeseen circumstances such as death and permanent disability. Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Precious Hipolito Castelo filed House Bill (HB) 4062 or the “Presidential Succession Act” or an Act giving the President the power to delegate his successor in the event that the President, the Vice President, the Senate President, and the Speaker die or become incapacitated to fill the role of the Chief Executive. Castelo filed the measure on August 20, a week before Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed Senate Bill (SB) 982 or his own version of the “designated survivor” measure. While Lacson’s bill allows for the inclusion of “the most senior senator,” “the most senior representative,” and a Cabinet member in the presidential succession, Castelo’s version emphasizes more on the delegation of a successor from among the Cabinet officials to take over the highest post.
While acknowledging Section 8, Article 7 of the 1987 Constitution in her explanatory note, Castelo said that should there be an unlikely chance when the Vice President, the Senate President and the Speaker become unavailable to fill the role of the President, especially in a major public or private event, someone else must assume the post for security purposes. “Apart from tightening security and safety during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) and other official functions that requires the presence of all upper and lower House members as well as the Vice President and the President, we have to consider putting our affairs in order in such a way that we are prepared for the worst and try to avoid chaos in a worst case scenario,” Castelo told The Manila Times. HB 4062 requires that the delegated successor be kept in a secure and undisclosed place during the occasion or gathering for which his appointment was made. The measure also noted that his appointment would be pro hac vice (for the occasion) and would only be limited to the
circumstances under which it was made. “The appointment will be of no effect in case the President and/or any of his Constitutional successors survive the occasion or gathering,” the measure read. Castelo cited the practice of the U.S. of keeping a “designated successor” during the Cold War era and securing him from events at which numerous high-ranking federal officers were convened. “We have to ensure a smooth and orderly constitutional succession in an event that the constitutional successors after the incapacity of the President were likewise incapacitated for whatever reason,” Castelo told The Times. The concept of the designated survivor is similar to the hit American television series “Designated Survivor,” which revolves around the character of a lower-level Cabinet member who was catapulted to the presidency in a fictional US scenario of an attack that led to the death of the U.S. President and other top officials on the night of the State of the Union Address. (Glee Jalea/ManilaTimes.net)
PAGE 5 inform upcoming climate negotiations amid the worsening global climate crisis. More than 100 experts, around half of whom hail from developing countries, worked to compile the report in recent months. “We don’t want to tell people what to eat,” says HansOtto Pörtner, an ecologist who co-chairs the IPCC’s working group on impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. “But it would indeed be beneficial, for both climate and human health, if people in many rich countries consumed less meat, and if politics would create appropriate incentives to that effect.” Issues and Insights was dismissive of the report: “It will eat up more than 1,000 pages and be hailed as the finest document since the Magna Carta. But the United Nations’ land-use report will free no man, save not one life, lift no one out of poverty, nor have any perceptible impact on the global climate. “It’s not science, folks. it’s a consensus devoid of any scientific methods used to validate a theory. The [Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change] is a political body, not a research facility. “The UN’s IPCC has been producing junk for decades. Its ‘findings’ have consistently pressed the narrative that human activity, in particular the use of fossil fuels for energy, is warming the planet to dangerous temperatures through the greenhouse effect. Yet we look around and observe that nothing is happening outside of the natural variations. The data tell us the same.” Tim Ball and International Climate Science Coalition Executive Director Tom Harris published a Washington Times op-ed: “Why UN climate report cannot be trusted.” “The IPCC was formed for the purpose of seeking solutions to man-made global warming and is therefore always in search of a problem. Its mission ‘was never to study the causes of climate change,’ according to the Heartland Institute, but to instead frighten the world into submitting to policies the ‘experts’ tell us will avoid the inevitable disaster. So it will always produce work that bolsters the global warming narrative. It’s really more of a propaganda shop for the UN and marketing firm for progressive policies than a scientific body seeking facts.” When asked by ABC TV about his 2006 prediction that
no return in 10 years if we didn’t cut human greenhouse gas emissions, climate alarmist-in-chief Al Gore implied that his forecast was exactly right. “Some changes unfortunately have already been locked in place,” he told ABC’s Jonathan Karl.“Sea level increases are going to continue no matter what we do now. But, we can prevent much larger sea level increases. Much more rapid increases in temperature. The heat wave was in Europe. Now it’s in the Arctic. We’re seeing huge melting of the ice there. So, the warnings of the scientists 10 years ago, 20 years ago, 30 years ago, unfortunately were accurate.” So what has Gore been predicting for the planet? In his horror movie “An Inconvenient Truth,” he claimed: Sea levels could rise as much as 20 feet. He didn’t provide a timeline, which was shrewd on his part. But even if he had said 20 inches, over 20 years, he’d still have been wrong. Sea level has been growing for about 10,000 years and, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, continues to rise about oneeighth of an inch per year. Storms are going to grow stronger. There’s no evidence they are stronger nor more frequent. Mt. Kilimanjaro was losing its snow cap due to global warming. By April 2018, the mountain glaciers were taking their greatest snowfall in years. Two months later, Kilimanjaro was “covered by snow” for “an unusually long stint. But it’s possible that all the snow and ice will be gone soon. Kilimanjaro is a stratovolcano, with a dormant cone that could erupt. Point of no return. If we have truly gotten this far, why even care that “virtually all” of the Democratic candidates have agreed that global warming is a top issue? If we had passed the point of no return, there’d be no reason to maintain hope. The fact that Gore is looking for a “savior” from among the candidates means that even he doesn’t believe things have gone too far. A year after the movie, Gore was found claiming that polar bears’ “habitat is melting” and “they are literally being forced off the planet.” It’s possible, however, that there are four times as many polar bears as there were in the 1960s. Also in 2007, Gore started making “statements about the
of summer sea ice in the Arctic by as early as 2013.” Factchecker Snopes concluded that “Gore definitely erred in his use of preliminary projections and misrepresentations of research.” A British judge found that “An Inconvenient Truth” contained “nine key scientific errors” and “ruled that it can only be shown with guidance notes to prevent political indoctrination,” the Telegraph reported in 2007. Gore has been making declarative statements about global warming for about as long as he’s been in the public eye. He has yet to prove a single claim, though. My last item here is devastating for the alarmists. IPCC is quite certain Earth will be in trouble if the global temperature exceeds pre-industrial levels by 1.5 degrees Celsius or more. But how can anyone know? According to university research, “global temperature” is a meaningless concept. “Discussions on global warming often refer to ‘global temperature.’ Yet the concept is thermodynamically as well as mathematically an impossibility,” says Science Daily, paraphrasing Bjarne Andresen, a professor at the University of Copenhagen’s Niels Bohr Institute, one of three authors of a paper questioning the validity of a ‘global temperature.’” A “temperature can be defined only for a homogeneous system,” says Andresen. The climate is not regulated by a single temperature. Instead, “differences of temperatures drive the processes and create the storms, sea currents, thunder, etc. which make up the climate”. While it’s “possible to treat temperature statistically locally,” says Science Daily, “it is meaningless to talk about a global temperature for Earth. The globe consists of a huge number of components which one cannot just add up and average. That would correspond to calculating the average phone number in the phone book. That is meaningless.” So if global temperature is unknowable, how can the IPCC and the entire industry of alarmists and activists be so sure there exists a threshold we cannot pass? The global warming alarmists have a credibility problem. Humans have been watching Doomsday prophets fail throughout history. They’re so common we hardly notice
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COMMUNITY Journal
Date of marriage on illegitimate child’s birth certificate should not harm single parent’s petition
Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ
A JOURNEY THAT FELT LIKE GOING “TO HELL AND BACK” REACHES A HAPPY CONCLUSION WITH ATTY. MICHAEL GURFINKEL’S HELP. Roselyn (center) married her U.S. citizen husband and acquired her green card. Unfortunately, their love did not last forever, and Roselyn left her abusive husband. Unknowingly, she became involved in felony forgery – a crime that made her subject to deportation. When she applied for citizenship, it was denied because of this past crime. After hiring three other attorneys and consulting with Atty. Gurfinkel at least four times, Roselyn decided to finally retain leading U.S. Immigration Attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. Watch this success story on how Roselyn retained her green card, terminated her deportation, and paved the way for her naturalization in an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)
All set for Filipino American Festival Inc. (FAFI)
THE 7th Annual Filipino American Festival will take centerstage once more on Sunday, September 1, 2019 from 1:00PM to 9:00PM at the Overpeck Bergen County Park (199 Challenger Road, Ridgefield, NJ 07660). Ludi Hughes, the founder and chairwoman of FAFI is happy to announce that the 7th year is one of a kind. “Our headliners mostly are YouTube sensations and they will give the audience extraordinary performances,” she said. Among the performers are the Pambansang Kolokoy, Joel Mondina, one of the most-watched vloggers today. He has 1.3 million followers on Facebook. A Pinoy hiphop artist named HBom known for hit songs like Babaeng Misteryosa and Mr. Disco will also perform. Another performer has the “whole package” according to Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez as Julianne Manalo now Jules Aurora showcased her jazz roots singing Ella Fitzgerald’s “Cry Me a River” on American Idol. PAGE 13
DEAR Atty. Gurfinkel: I was petitioned as “single” by my immigrant (green card) parent in 2008. The priority date is now current, and I am getting paperwork and forms from the NVC to fill out. I have a live-in partner, and we had a child together. Although we never married, we put a date of marriage on our child’s birth certificate, because we wanted to save
our child from shame and embarrassment of being illegitimate when he would go to school. I’ve been getting advice from relatives and friends to not disclose my child on the immigration forms, because the date of marriage on my child’s birth certificate will mess up my case. Therefore, I should simply tell the Embassy I have no children. Is it true that it will mess up my case to declare my child because of the date of marriage on his birth certificate, since I’m being petitioned as single? Should I get a lateregistered birth certificate from Recto Street, showing no date of marriage? Very truly yours,
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VR Dear VR: I have heard this rumor many times (that a date of marriage on an illegitimate child’s birth certificate will mess up the parent’s case). That is NOT true! Having an illegitimate child, even with a date of marriage on their birth certificate, should not affect the single parent’s eligibility for a green card. The real problem is when a person who is being petitioned as single, is actually (secretly) married. In that case, they would NOT be eligible for a visa as “single” whether they have children or not, or whether their child’s birth certificate has PAGE 12
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August 30 - september 5, 2019 • NeW YOrK AND NeW JerseY AsIAN JOurNAL
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 pintsized battle axe. When she puts her mind to anything, she got it done— like a miniGeneral 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
Once UpOn a Time SerieS
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 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 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-maycare, 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.
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Date of marriage on illegitimate... PAGE 12 a date of marriage or not. it is the fact or existence of the marriage that makes the parent ineligible for the visa, not the existence of children. Even if a single parent has a date of marriage on their child’s birth certificate, the parent could still be eligible for their visa. Not only that, but their child could be included under the petition if the child is still under 21 (or CsPa eligible). What is necessary is to prove you truly are single, and the date of marriage was made up. my office has encountered many cases like that, where the family’s impulse was to process the case without declaring the child. in fact, not declaring the child could actually mess up the case: • it would require you to lie, by signing papers stating you have “no children.” • Later on, if you try to petition the child, the UsCis or Embassy may look back at your file and wonder how it was that when you immigrat-
ed you had “no children”, and then later, you have a grown child, who was obviously born before you immigrated. • When you apply for U.s. citizenship, there are also questions about children. How are you going to fill that out? Continue to lie and say you have no children? Then after you become a citizen, and try to petition the child, your lie will be uncovered that you claimed you had no children. • most important, by declaring the child and demonstrating you were truly single, you would able to bring the child with you. if you are under petition as single, but have an illegitimate child with a date of marriage on the birth certificate, i would recommend that you consult with an attorney, who can evaluate your case and straighten things out so you would not be committing fraud and possibly be able to bring your child with you. ***
Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York. All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorneyclient relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader. WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)
all set for Filipino american...
PAGE 11 although she didn’t quite make it on the show, Jules aurora did not stop from getting elusive golden ticket and another chance to wow them in Hollywood. also performing for the segment of the program called Pinoy Broadway Ballyhoo are members of the Broadway Barkada, Filipino performers who have professional credits in the performing arts on Broadway. The five members of Broadway Barkada who will perform are Catherine Gloria, Carol angeli, audrey Dalio, Eric Dalizaga and roy Flores. The newly crowned miss Young Philippines 2019 amanda russo will also have an appearance at FaFi. For the signature’s FaFi special program on the runway, “The Fashion show” will be showcased by Tracy Dizon. Dizon is a Filipina designer who became her own dream. Her design on the
Filipiniana dresses are very modern that will inspire the young generation Filipino americans. she is well on her way to putting her vision of Philippine women’s wear on the global map. The arato Brothers who just became the WYCOPa’s Junior Grand Champion Vocal Group of the World will also perform as well as The Band of Brothers. “The overwhelming support of our local performers and artists will make FaFi’s event one of a kind. FaFi will launch the Pinoy Band Fest featuring Filipino bands who have been performing at FaF,” Hughes said. “This year we extended our time until 9:00 Pm to give way to the Pinoy bands. so come, see and relax and bring your blankets to witness for the first time Pinoy band groups to play and perhaps give tribute to famous bands.” FaFi cannot continue to give a free event without the help of its major sponsors
like Hmart, 1st 2nd mortgage Company, Hackensack meridian Health, Blue Cross Blue shield of NJ, Westfield Garden state Plaza, Wells Fargo Bank and Bergen County. FaFi’s media partners are TFC, Filipino reporter, asian Journal and Filipino Express. “We also recognize the hardworking board members of FaFi: rowena aquino, Jessica Herb, Cristy Gania, mert Lezaron, madeline Bansil and abe aquino and committee members for their unselfish dedication to volunteering their time year after year we are in existence,” Hughes said. Please call (201) 841-3070 for inquiries or email them at filipinoamercanfestival@ gmail.com . You can also visit their website: www. filipinoamericanfestival. com, Facebook Page: Filipino american Festival, instagram: Filipino american Festival, Twitter: @fafi810. (Advertising Supplement)
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 goings-on 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 PAGE 15
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Mga Dahon ng Lahi: Art Exhibit opens Lolita Valderrama Savage’s at the Philippine Center in New York solo exhibition set in Florence
New York CitY –the exhibit of the works of celebrated Filipino artist Fernando “Pando” Manipon dubbed “Mga Dahon ng Lahi”(Pages of Heritage)opened on August 27 at the Lobby Gallery of the Philippine Center. the one of a kind exhibition features 43 of his unique artworks made mostly from dried leaves and other natural materials. in his welcome remarks during the opening reception, Consul General Claro S. Cristobal applauded how Pando’s works reflect the beauty of nature and the strength of our faith as highlighted by the fact that some of the artworks are made of leaves that fell during the devastation of typhoon Haiyan. Pando graduated from the University of the Philippines before he became a successful fashion designer who represented the Philippines in various trade shows across the fashion capitals of the world. After decadeslong career in fashion, he
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Consul General Claro S. Cristobal, H. E. Bernardito Auza, the Holy See’s Permanent Observer to the United Nations in New York, featured artist Fernando “Pando” Manipon, Fr. Erno Diaz, Mr. Jose Ramos and Atty. Dean Suba, Regional Commander of Knights of Rizal – USA Eastern Region cut of the ribbon at the opening of the Mga Dahon ng Lahi art exhibit at the Philippine Center in New York on August 27.
reinvented himself and pursued leaf mosaic. His gift to Pope Francis “Basilica of St. Peter in Vatican,” a dried leaf mosaic collage on an ostrich egg showing the dorsal view of St. Peter’s Basilica, earned him his title ”papal artist.” Pando’s works have been exhibited at the Senate of the Philippines, the San Agustin
Museum, and the National Commission for Culture and the Arts. His exhibit in New York was organized by the San Lorenzo ruiz Global Ministry of New York and Philippines in coordination with the Philippine Center Management Board. the exhibit runs until 30 August 2019.
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“iN cerca dei sogni – in search of dreams” is the new exhibition by the FilipinoAmerican artist Lolita Valderrama Savage and it is set to open october 1 at Palazzo Bastogi in Florence, italy. the exhibition offers a selection of drawings and oil paintings, in which the artist narrates her longstanding affection for tuscany – where her artistic education and career mainly took place. it will run until october 17. Born in the Philippines, Lolita received her degree in Bachelor of Fine Arts in Manila; then she completed her art education in Florence, italy where she was guided by Silvio Loffredo, professor of the Accademia di Belle Arti, and art, history and landscape enriched her artistic sign and her way to look at the world. the exhibition opening at Palazzo Bastogi, headquarters of the Consiglio regionale of tuscany, is meant to show the “notes” Lolita took during this artistic journey, whose absolute protagonist is the tuscan land: sunsets, landscapes,
glimpses of plants and country villas are depicted on paper or canvas as vivid memories or quick impressions; some of the exhibited artworks share a realistic language and marked brush strokes, while some other are characterized by an open composition and softer and lighter lines, that let us feel the artist’s emotions and sensitivity. According to Francesca Bertini, curator of the exhibition, Lolita’s artistic journey is like “an unrolling ribbon, where the feelings coming from the surroundings appear, let us look at them and discover our land.” “Lolita goes on excursions in the countryside, fascinated
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by tuscan landscape and culture, she explores the territory and notes down her feelings during her strolling. we like playing with these memories, comparing the way she wanders and examines nature from real life – drawing courtyards of suburban villas, rustic cloisters in ruins, small country roads – to the way the Macchiaioli (Signorini, Lega, Abbati...) depicted countryside spots and landscape glimpses,” Bertini added. this special intercultural exhibition is patronized by: the Accademia di Belle Arti di Firenze, the famous school that houses the original statue of David by Michaelangelo, PAGE 15
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AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL
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Celebrating the beautiful and memorable life of Gina Lopez BY
MOMAR G. VISAYA / AJPRESS
T
O say that Gina Lopez led a colorful life would be a severe understatement. The former environment and natural resources secretary passed away on Monday, August 19, due to multiple organ failure after a brave battle with brain cancer. She was 65. The second of seven children of Eugenio Lopez, Jr. and Conchita La’O, Regina Paz — fondly known as Gina — was born with the proverbial silver spoon and grew up in an environment where she was pampered and sheltered. At the age of 18, she moved to the United States to study. It was while at the Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Boston where she learned more about spirituality, meditation and Ananda Marga, which radically changed the course of her life. “Eventually I left home. Not because things were not good, but because I had this urge to do something. Looking back at it now, I still marvel at how I did all that I did. Leaving home, renouncing everything, having two to three sets of clothes, and taking a vow of celibacy—at 18! It’s almost like a segment of my life was cut dead,” Lopez wrote in a revealing essay published by Rogue Magazine in March 2016. For the next 20 years, she served as a fullfledged y o g a missionary in P o r -
India and Africa, among the poor and underserved, far from the rich enclave of her growing up years in Forbes Park. It was while doing these where she learned the values that would come in handy in her future life as an advocate for the environment and children’s rights, among others. It was while serving in Africa when she met her now exhusband, Sona with whom she has two sons, Roberto and Benjamin. She lived for six years in Kenya and two of
those years were in a slum area. This was where she learned to value water. She revealed that they had to stand in line for hours for a bucket of water and she had a pail, for bathing herself and for washing her clothes. “When one doesn’t have much, one treasures every little bit. I lived as the poor lived, so I learned how not to be wasteful—a trait I carry to this day where I use every bit of everything. I learned how to value empty containers, because they can be of use eventually,” she wrote further. Returning to Manila Lopez eventually decided to return to the Philippines with her husband. Missionary work forbade them from having relationships with the opposite sex. On the day of her return, she found out that she was pregnant and that’s when she knew the door of going back to Africa and the missionary life had closed. Armed now with the knowledge and values she learned in the two decades she dedicated to missionary life, Lopez decided to focus on uplifting the lives of the poor in her own country, the Philippines. She found her heart and place in the ABS-CBN Foundation, the public service arm of ABS-CBN. She spearheaded and instituted proj-
on communities in crisis, educational media (TV and radio), Bantay Bata, Bantay Kalikasan, among others. In June 2016, President Rodrigo Duterte appointed her as the secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. “Integrity, public service and common good are the key deciding factors for any decision that will be taken,” Lopez had said upon her appointment. “Any industry must bear in mind that the common good is paramount in their operations and not the money they make.” During her short-lived stint as environment chief, Lopez ordered the shutdown of 23 mines and suspension of five others. She canceled 75 contracts for mining projects located in watersheds, as well. She was the secretary for 10 months until the Commission on Appointments voted 16-8 through secret balloting to end her tenure. She went on to host an environmental show on ABS-CBN called “G Diaries,” which focused on environmental conservation, area development and innovations. She also became the first Filipino to be awarded the prestigious Seacology Prize in Berkeley, California back in October 2017 for her “exceptional achievement in preserving island environments and culture”. Advocate In a statement, ABS-CBN said: “Gina was the pillar of strength that pushed ABSCBN Foundation Inc. (AFI) to achieve what seemed to be impossible. Her caring heart and selfless kind of love inspired people within and beyond the organization to help and serve others.”
Gina Lopez devoted her life to various environmental and social causes.
Lopez, secretary for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources from 2016 to 2017, spoke at a Greenpeace-led candlelight vigil in front of the departmentʼs central office in May 2017 following the Commission on Appointmentʼs rejection of her appointment to head the agency. Contributed photos
Lopez was in the Bay Area in January 2019 to present the i.L.O.V.E. (Investments in Loving Organizations for Village Economies) organization to Filipino Americans, which aims to lift communities out of poverty through the creation of environmentally-conscious businesses at the grassroots level. She also launched the Quest for Love, which pairs eight loving organizations with their respective mentors to work together to support a community. AJPress photo by Joseph Peralta
for the environment, child protection, and the disadvantaged. She exemplified a life of service to humanity with a deep desire to improve people’s lives, rallied for social justice, and sought to bring hope and change to poor communities,” it added. Through her advocacies,
Lopez launched numerous projects such as Bantay Bata 163, Bantay Kalikasan, Kapit Bisig Para sa Ilog Pasig, Sagip Kapamilya, and the reforestation of the La Mesa Watershed. She also served as the Pasig River Rehabilitation PAGE 15
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