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Pentagon: China’s ‘bullying tactics’ won’t win DATELINE USA trust, respect of international community Bill to help reduce FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

landfill waste at festivals signed

by Calif. governor

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

THE United States Department of Defense or the Pentagon slammed China’s “bullying tactics� in the South China Sea. The Pentagon called out Beijing following its “coercive interference� in the oil and gas activities of Vietnam in the disputed South China Sea. Law will allow reusable “China will not win the trust of its neighbors nor containers and food ware to the respect of the international community by mainbe used at temporary events, taining its bullying tactics,� the Pentagon said in a concerts, fairs, and restaurants statement released Monday, August 26.

Acts of coercion toward Association of Southeast SACRAMENTO — A bill authored by Assem- Asian Nations claimants, including the Philippines, blymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) to al- raise doubts over Beijing’s credibility, the statement low the use of reusable food ware at temporary read. food events like concerts or fairs was signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom on July 12.

Assembly Bill 619 will also clarify previous law to make it easier for consumers to bring their own reusable containers to restaurants for food service. “Having fun at a concert or festival does not have to result in a sea of trash,� said Assem-

The Pentagon also noted that China has stationed offensive military systems on its outposts in the contested waterway, where it also enforces “unlawful� maritime claims. “The United States will continue to support efforts by our allies and partners to ensure freedom of navigation and economic opportunity throughout the entire Indo-Pacific,� the Pentagon said.

Washington has expressed concern over China’s violation of the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

China’s latest actions in Vietnamese waters contradict the previous pronouncement of Chinese Minister of Defense Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue in June that Beijing would “stick to the path of peaceful development.� “China’s actions stand in contrast to the Unied

States’ vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific region, in which all nations, large and small, are secure in their sovereignty, free from coercion, and able to pursue economic growth consistent with accepted international rules and norms,� the Pentagon said.

Just last week, the White House also accused China of “bullying� tactics in the South China Sea that threaten peace and security in the region.

China has been deploying warships and arming artificial island outposts in the South China Sea, which is also being contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Brunei and Malaysia. “China’s recent escalation of efforts to intimidate others out of developing resources in the South China Sea is disturbing,â€? US national security advisor John Bolton tweeted. â–

No EU funding for NGOs with communist links — envoy

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Trump says he’s ‘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,

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by AJPRESS NO funding has been provided by the European Union (EU) to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) supposedly serving as fronts of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), EU Ambassador to the Philippines Franz Jessen said Tuesday, August 27.

He cited a series of audits on EU’s contracts with NGOs flagged by the Philippine government as “potentially questionable� showing that the funds were not given to groups with alleged communist links.

A standard review of expenses and a “specialized audit� aimed at detecting the financing of terrorist organizations were also included in the audits.

When asked about the results of the audit, Jessen responded: “In terms of spending we

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COMMITMENT TO LAND REFORM. President Rodrigo Duterte greets Social Welfare and Development Secretary Rolando Bautista, as Senator Imee Marcos looks on, during the 31st anniversary celebration of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) and distribution of certiďŹ cates of land ownership award (CLOA) at the Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Gymnasium in Quezon City on Tuesday, August 27. During the event, Duterte noted that it is only by empowering farmers that the country would achieve the sustained growth of its rural economies and eventually the nation’s inclusive progress.

MalacaĂąang photo by King Rodriguez

WHO: PH ranks 3rd with the highest number of measles cases Filipinos challenged to be ‘everyday’ heroes

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

THE Philippines ranked third worldwide with the highest incidence of measles over a 12month 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.Ă‚ “Major outbreaks are ongoing in Angola, Cameroon, Chad, Kazakhstan, Nigeria, the Philippines, South Sudan, Sudan and Thailand,â€? WHO said.

It also noted that the largest 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

Duterte pushes for revival of family planning ibalik ninyo ‘yung family planning (One thing we lack is actually how to get it started and you know get PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte it rolling beginning at least in the on Tuesday, August 27, reiterated next three years. Let’s bring back his support for family planning and family planning),� he said in a pushed for the program’s revival in speech during the 31st anniversathe next three years. ry of the Comprehensive Agrarian “Ang isang kulang na lang natin Reform Program (CARP). actually na how to get it started and “I know of only two guys, presiyou know get it rolling beginning at dents, who did it and it was [former u PAGE A3 least in the next three years, ‘yang

by RITCHEL

MENDIOLA AJPress

highest incidence with 7,213 cases, or a 1,000-percent 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 antidengue vaccine Dengvaxia. â–

well,� the chief executive said.

Vice President Leni Robredo, for her part, asked Filipinos to be TOP government officials on heroes to each other. She stressed Monday, August 26, called on those honored on National HeFilipinos to be heroes to their fel- roes’ Day were ordinary people lowmen by standing up for other who decided to make a stand when the country needed it. people’s freedom and rights. “Magsilbing paalala sana ang In his National Heroes’ Day message, President Rodrigo araw na ito na walang iisang Duterte urged Filipinos to become bayani ang makapagsasalba sa “everyday heroes� who will reach out to those who are in need, especially those who have been neglected by society. “I truly believe that every Filipino is a hero who can build on our vibrant legacy of fortitude and resilience. As we face the future together, I encourage everyone to embody solidarity and sustain our momentum towards positive change not only for ourselves, but for the succeeding generations as !.$2%7 " 3().

by GAEA

KATREENA Philstar.com

CABICO

atin mula sa ating kinalalagyan.

Wala sa kamay ng iisang tao ang solusyon sa lahat ng ating mga suliranin at walang iisang pinuno ang makapagbibigay sa atin ng mas magandang bukas (May this day be a reminder that there is no one hero who will save us. The solution to our problems does not lie in the hands of just one person

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From the Front Page Bill to help reduce landfill waste at festivals... Filipinos challenged to be ‘everyday’...

PAGE A1 blymember Chiu. “I am grateful Governor Newsom saw the need for this new law that will give event organizers the ability to make greener choices and reduce landfill waste.”

Despite valiant efforts by many temporary event organizers to reduce waste, most single use food and beverage containers used at these events end up in landfills where they do not decompose and leach toxic chemicals creating public health concerns.

While significant advancements have been made to create recyclable or compostable single-use products, few single-use containers actually are fully recyclable or compostable. Further, outside of a select few municipalities, most localities in California do not have the capacity to recycle plastic food containers, and most localities do not have composting programs.

To solve this problem, further work can be done to create greener single-use products or to advance recycling and composting capabilities. However, the simpler

solution is to not create any waste to begin with by allowing event organizers to make greener choices and shifting consumer behavior.

Before AB 619 was signed, California law prohibited the use of reusable food ware at temporary events. AB 619 will remove this restrictive provision and give vendors at temporary events the option to serve food and beverages in multi-use washable containers.

This will give food and beverage vendors the ability to save money, protect the environment, respond to shifting consumer preferences, and market their efforts to reduce waste.

Under AB 619, temporary event vendors will be required to meet strict food safety standards and get authorization from local public health enforcement authorities in order to use reusable food ware.

Additionally, the law will clarify a confusing provision in code that was supposed to address when consumers can bring their own containers to restaurants for food service. AB 619 allows consumers to bring reusable containers to be

//",

filled but gives clear guidance to restaurants on how to serve food using the container while still ensuring adequate food safety standards are maintained.

The Clean Seas Lobbying Coalition was a sponsor of AB 619.

“Hooray! One small step for solutions to the plastic pollution crisis, one giant leap for paving the way for reusables in California!

AB 619 is a crucial step in reducing our reliance on single-use disposable items that plague inland and coastal communities and ecosystems,” said Genevieve Abedon, on behalf of the Clean Seas Lobbying Coalition. “The Clean Seas Lobbying Coalition is pleased to have sponsored this bill and work alongside Assemblymember Chiu and his staff to expand consumer choice, help local businesses and advance California’s longstanding goal of reducing landfill waste and plastic pollution. Thank you Assemblymember Chiu, Governor Newsom, and all of our supporters along the way.”

The law will go into effect January 1, 2020. n

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PAGE A1 difference to your country and to the lives of others).”

‘Flame of nationalism’ In his National Heroes’ Day message, Gen. Benjamin Madrigal, Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, expressed hope the observance will “fan the flame of nationalism” among Filipinos.

“The AFP hopes that the observance will fan the flame of nationalism among Filipinos; and that the spirit of this national holiday will remind every citizen that it is our duty to ensure that the legacy of our heroes will live on,” Madrigal said.

Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana on Sunday called on Filipino youth to serve the country as he highlighted the importance of Reserve Officers’ Training Corps program.

“To perpetuate the culture of patriotism and heroism, it is our responsibility to teach the youths love of country and service to our people,” Lorenzana said.

He added: “One good way to instill and nurture love of country is through the ROTC program in our school system. I believe that

ROTC can teach our youths discipline, respect for authority and service to country.”

The Senate and the House of Representatives are tackling proposed legislations seeking to make the ROTC program manda-

tory among Grade 11 and 12 students.

Groups opposed to the measure say the ROTC program would expose students to the abuse and corruption that led to the program being made optional in 2002. n

House Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano greets a veteran during the National Heroes Day celebration at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City on Monday, August 26.

Photo by Gelaine Louise Gutierrez/PIA InfoComm

Trump says he’s ‘seriously’ looking to...

PAGE A1 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).”

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 candi-

date 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) n

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Dateline USa

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A

No EU funding for NGOs with communist links...

PAGE A1 are fine... We asked them [specialized auditing company] to look into the expenditures and see if they could find anything that looked awkward and they couldn’t.”

This comes following the Philippines’ claim back in February that donations of the EU have found their way into the hands of alleged fronts of the CPP-New People’s Army, which prompted a review on the EU’s end.

According to Jessen, the audit was conducted on the EU’s 10 contracts it financed yearly with NGOs like the United Nations Development Programme and

University of Tawi-Tawi.

He also said that there would be future funding for the contracts worth around 10 million euros yearly.

Jessen gave reassurance to the Philippine government that the EU would not support the CPP in “any way or form” as it had been included in its list of foreign terrorist organizations since 2005.

“From the outset, it should be very clear to everybody that we would never do that because we would be going against our institution, our own legal framework,” he said.

“We share the same objective: we don’t want to support a ter-

rorist organization. We’d be violating our own government and we’d be going against what the Philippine government is looking for. So obviously this is not what we are doing and not what we want to do,” Jessen added.

Apart from the EU, the Belgian Foreign Ministry was also asked by the Philippines to cut funding for groups that the Philippine military alleged were CPP-NPA fronts such as the Rural Missionaries of the Philippines, Ibon Foundation, Karapatan, and Alcadev (Alternative Learning Center for Agricultural and Livelihood Development), among others. n

PAGE A1 t 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 jobseeking 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 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

Duterte pushes for revival of family...

Fil-Am caregiver faces charges for taunting 91-year-old dementia patient

by Rae

ann VaRona AJPress

A YOUNG Filipina American caregiver faces charges in a lawsuit filed by an Illinois family this week 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

Fil-Am caregiver Jamie Montesa Photo courtesy of Glenview Police Department

as state privacy laws for posting on social media.

The lawsuit was filed 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 PAGE A4

‘TAGAYAN’ RITUAL. Tina Decal (center) past president of the Tourism Organization of Quezon Province Philippines Inc., (TOQPPI), offers a toast of ‘lambanog’ (coconut vodka) for the invited members of the media, bloggers and other guests during a ‘tagayan’ ritual, in celebration of the Niyogyugan Festival at the Quezon Provincial Capitol grounds in Lucena City on Sunday, August 25. The ritual, which used to be a form of resolving conflicts among community members, is now an act that aims to build friendship and serves as a symbol of the province’s hospitality to its visitors.

PNA photo by Ben Briones

Pastor’s wife deported to Philippines after 20-year quest for US citizenship — report THE United States deported a 66-year-old Filipina after a twodecade quest for U.S. citizenship, a Chicago-based 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, Au-

gust 23.

Ten-year wait 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 PAGE A4

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Separate OFW deparment may send ‘wrong message’ – Villanueva Latest California greenhouse gas inventory shows alternative energy surpasses fossil-powered electricity

by Christia

marie Inquirer.net

FIBA WORLD CUP-BOUND. Gilas Pilipinas head coach Yeng Guiao (right) talks about the national team’s upcoming campaign in the FIBA World Cup in China, during the Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Amelie Hotel in Malate, Manila on Tuesday, August 27. Guiao said Gilas Pilipinas has to shoot well from the outside if it wants to win against the top basketball powers in the prestigious tournament slated from Aug. 31 to Sept. 15, 2019. Also in photo are Gilas team manager Gabby Cui (left) and team captain Gabe Norwood center).

PNA photo by Jess M. Escaros Jr.

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 that the American would be deported

“for being an undesirable 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 Cir-

cuit Court in Benton County, 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

ramos

THE creation of a separate Department for Overseas Filipinos might send the wrong message, Sen. Joel Villanueva said on Tuesday, August 27.

“We might be sending a wrong message that it is the policy of the state to send Filipinos abroad, because our main goal is to actually bring them back here and create more jobs here, create more opportunities in the country,” Villanueva told reporters after an organizational meeting between the Senate labor committee, which he chairs, and officials of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) on Tuesday.

“So these are the issues that we need to address in the coming hearings,” he added.

During the meeting, the DOLE officials expressed support for the President’s call to create a new department that would focus on addressing the concerns Filipinos overseas.

I think a lot of us are still in the dark as to whether or not the Department of Labor and Employment is supportive of this initiative,” Villanueva said. “This is the first time that we hear from them that they are supportive of the measure or initiative to create a new department.”

“It’s not so clear also as to the

policy of the administration. They were saying [something about] right-sizing, but at the same time here we are we’re creating another department,” he added.

Labor Undersecretary Jacinto Paras said the proposed department would “streamline the bureaucracy by consolidating all the agencies that are functioning to serve and safeguard our OFWs (overseas Filipino workers).”

Villanueva also pointed out the there might have been a lack of consultation with other concerned agencies regarding the establishment of a new department.

Several agencies have mandates concerned with overseas employment and the concerns of overseas Filipinos — the DOLE, the 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).

“It appears there’s not much consultation from [the] CFO [Commission on Filipinos Overseas], from the DFA, etc. I think if you are to create a department of Filipinos abroad, then they should be consulted,” Villanueva said.

“Earlier, that was what came out: Things were not yet ironed out,” he said, speaking partly in Filipino. “Obviously, they’re not yet ready. So, we’ll find out in the

next hearings their positions and even [those of] the [undersecretaries] of the different agencies.”

Villanueva noted, however, that there was definitely a need to improve government services extended to OFWs. “There’s a huge room for improvement, I think all of us will agree with the statements of the CFO: If there’s an OFW whether a worker or Filipinos abroad needing assistance from the government, they still don’t know where to go,” he said.

But while there have been a lot of concerns raised, Villanueva said: “We are not closing our doors. We are all ready to listen to the arguments being raised by the different departments.”

President Rodrigo Duterte, in his fourth State of the Nation Address last July 22, called for the creation of a department of OFWs. But Villanueva said the Senate was “an independent institution.”

“As a policy-making body, we have a mind of our own and we respect the positions and the policies of the president. In fact, we prioritize the position of the executive, especially the head of the executive which is the president,” he said.

“Perhaps, we need more substantial information coming from the executive department namely the different agencies attached to the [DOLE] including that of other agencies as stakeholders of this initiative,” he added. n

NASA works with Philippine agencies to intensify study on weather, climate science

by Consuelo

marquez Inquirer.net

THE National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will collaborate with Philippines’ research agencies to conduct a comprehensive study on weather and climate science.

In a statement on Monday, August 26, NASA said it would work with Manila Observatory Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the Department of Science and Technology for the study called Cloud, Aerosol, and Monsoon Processes Philippines Experiment (CAMP2Ex).

NASA said the study aims to tackle the “most difficult weather and climate phenomena to understand, monitor and forecast.”

NASA noted that they launched a P-3B science aircraft over the Philippines on Sunday to start a two-month long probe on the impact that smoke from fires and pollution on clouds.

The U.S.-based research facility said this was a key factor in improving weather and climate forecasts.

NASA’s U.S. Naval Research

Inquirer.net file photo

Laboratory (NRL) research meteorologist Jeffrey Reid said CAMP2Ex would help in understanding atmospheric composition and weather predictions.

“Numerous studies have linked the presence of pollution and smoke from agricultural fires and fires from deforestation to changes in cloud and storm properties, but we lack the observations of the actual mechanisms taking place,” Reid said.

“CAMP2Ex provides a muchneeded crucible for satellite observing systems and model predictions to monitor and understand how atmospheric composition and weather interact,” he added. n

Fil-Am caregiver faces charges...

PAGE A3 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 WGN-TV. “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

Pastor’s wife deported...

PAGE A3 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 interview Bartolome was arrested and taken into custody last month after the couple was called in for the I130 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?”

Pastor’s wife 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 re-enter 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. n

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Duterte, Misuari eye ‘bigger’ meetings –­ Go by catherine

s. Valente

ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte met anew with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari to advance the peace process in Mindanao, his former top aide Sen. Christopher Lawrence “Bong�

Go said on Monday, August 26.

The meeting between Duterte and Misuari took place in Davao City on Friday, August 23. The two agreed to meet again with “bigger groups� to further discuss the peace agenda, Go said. “Siguro parang panel na ‘yung makikipag-usap on both sides kung papaano ipagpatuloy ‘yung kapayapaaan sa Mindanao. Tutulong po si Nur Misuari (Maybe panels from both sides will hold talks on how to sustain peace in Mindanao. Nur Misuari will continue to help),� he added.

It was Duterte’s fourth meeting with Misuari this year. They met in Malacaùang on February 25, March 19 and July 9.

The Duterte administration is exploring the possibility of creating a regional government in areas under the influence of the MNLF. The President had repeatedly expressed hope of reaching an agreement with Misuari, who

A

Albayalde: More NPA leaders to fall after arrest of ‘powerful one’

by Darwin

Pesco ManilaTimes.net

MORE leaders of the New People’s Army (NPA) will be arrested, said Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde, a day after a “powerful� one was apprehended in Quezon City.

Esterlita Suaybaguio, 60, was an alleged recruiter of members for the NPA as head of the Metro Manila regional committee. “Malaki ito (This is big). Remember she was the secretary Manilatimes.net file photo of the Metro Manila Committee, Philippine National Police Chief Oscar Albayalde “Alam mo mga yan malilikot gust 26 by virtue of a search mataas na party leader (she is a ranking party leader), malak- yung mga yan [You know, these warrant released by the Quezon ing tao ito (she is someone big), leaders are hard to catch], “Al- City Regional Trial Court Branch 89. especially dito (here) sa Metro bayalde said.

Albayalde said the president Seized from Suaybaguio were Manila na (that is a) white area,�

Albayalde said in a press confer- (Rodrigo Duterte) wanted to fin- a 9-mm pistol, a grenade and President Rodrigo Roa Duterte chats with Moro National Liberation Front Founding Chairman Nur ence on Tuesday, August 27. ish insurgency. some allegedly subversive docuMisuari at a meeting at the MalacaĂąan Palace on March 19.

MalacaĂąang photo In a joint police and mili- ments allegedly subversive.

Albayalde said the PNP The alleged NPA leader was warned of war should govern- Mindanao (BARMM) interim was monitoring other NPA lead- tary operation, Suaybaguio ers hiding in Metro Manila, es- was arrested at the Escalades facing charges of illegal possesment fail to pursue a shift to fed- chief minister.

BARMM was created through pecially the top ranking officials. Condominium on Monday, Au- sion of firearms and explosives. n eralism.

Early this month, Duterte the ratification of the Bangsamsaid he was hoping that Misuari oro Organic Law, a product of would accept “the same terms� peace negotiations between the given to Murad Ebrahim, Moro government and MILF. The MILF split from the MNLF Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) chairman and Bangsamoro Au- in the 1980s over leadership distonomous Region in Muslim agreements. n

PNP, education, school officials hold talks on ‘pressing national issues’

by Darwin

Pesco ManilaTimes.net

THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Tuesday, August 27, sat down with some education and school officials to discuss a common protocol for peace and security and information sharing, inside campuses.

The informal exploratory dialogue was “a confidence-building measure to foster better understanding on some pressing national issues,� PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde said in a press briefing.

The meeting, Albayalde said, would set the tone for the collaboration.

Dr. Prospero De Vera, Com-

mission on Higher Education (CHEd) chairman, said that information sharing between the universities and police was helpful against criminality and illegal drugs inside campuses as part of the “healthy and safe campuses� campaign, which started last year.

While on the proposal of police presence inside campuses, De Vera said that it has not been discussed yet as the dialogue would be ongoing. This was echoed by Albayalde.

Albayalde said that the police were only aiming for “limited� access and not encroachment.

He also dismissed the accusation of “militarization� inside universities. “Not militarization na masyadong abuso paggamit (that is abusive.) Napagkasuduan wala

nang (It was agreed that there would be no) militarization in different schools,� Albayalde told the reporters.

DILG Secretary Eduardo AĂąo; De Vera; University of the Philippines President, Dr. Danilo Concepcion and members of the UP Board of Regents; Polytechnic University of the Philippines President, Dr, Emmanuel De Guzman, and representatives from the Ateneo de Manila University and Dela Salle University were also present.

The next meetings will be directly with the universities concerned. “We only have the best interest of the youth backing our pure good intention to establish police presence in schools against crime, exploitation and abuse,� Albayalde said. n PAUNAWA TUNGKOL SA BLOKENG GAWAD SA PAGPAPAUNLAD NG KOMUNIDAD NG LUNGSOD NG ALAMEDA (COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT-CDBG)/HOME FY 2018-2019 PAG-UULAT NG PAGSASAGAWA Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay magsusumite ng kanyang Pinagsamang Ulat ng Taunang Pagsasagawa at Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad FY 2018-2019 Pagsusun sa (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report-CAPER) sa Kagawarang Pederal ng Pagpapaunlad sa Pabahay at Urban sa Setyembre 27, 2019. Ang CAPER ay nagbibigay ng impormasyong pampinansyal at pamamalakad sa mga aktibidad sa Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME at nagsusuri ng isang malawak na hanay ng iba pang pabahay, komunidad, at aktibidad sa pagsusulong sa ekonomiya para sa panahon ng Hulyo 1, 2018 hanggang Hunyo 30, 2019. Ang layunin ng paunawang ito ay upang gawin na mabatid ang mga pag-uulat ng CAPER para sa pampublikong komento.

Ang CAPER ay maaaring suriin ng publiko sa opisina ng Klerk ng Lungsod, ng Awtoridad sa Pabahay, at Pangunahing Aklatan ng Lungsod ng Alameda mula Setyembre 9 hanggang Setyembre 23, 2019, at ang mga mamamayan ay inaanyayahan at hinihikayat na magbigay ng mga komento. Ang CAPER ay maaari ring makita sa website ng Awtoridad sa Pabahay, www. alamedahsg.org. Ang mga nakasulat na mga komento tungkol sa mga aktibidad ng CDBG/HOME at ng CAPER ay tatanggapin mula 5:00 p.m. sa Setyembre 23, 2019 sa City of Alameda Housing Authority, 701 Atlantic Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501, o sa pamamagitan ng email kay Lisa Fitts, OÂż WWV#DODPHGDKVJ RUJ 3DUD VD NDUDJGDJDQJ LPSRUPDV\RQ WXQJNRO VD SDXQDZDQJ LWR WXPDZDJ sa (510) 747-4349 (tinig) o 711 (TYY/TRS).

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA TAONG MAY KAPANSANAN Kung ang sinumang taong may interes sa paglahok sa programang Blokeng Gawad sa Pagpapaunlad ng Komunidad (CDBG) / HOME ay isang taong may kapansanan gaya ng nilinaw ng Seksiyon 504 ng Batas ng 1974 sa Rehabilitasyon na nag-aatas ng isang kaluwagan upang lumahok o magkainteres, ang isang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay maaaring gawin kay Lisa )LWWV VD %RVHV 7<< 756 R PDJSDGDOD QJ HPDLO VD UD#DODPHGDKVJ RUJ Ang naturang kahilingan ay dapat kabilang ang isang paglalarawan ng kaluwagang hinahangad, kasama ang isang pahayag ng kapansanan na nangangailangan ng kaluwagan. Anumang kahilingan para sa kaluwagan ay dapat suriin at ang isang sagot ay ipagkaloob sa loob ng limang araw ng trabaho pagkatapos matanggap ang naturang kahilingan. Ang paunawa ng anumang kaluwagan na iginawad ay agad ipagkakaloob sa humiling. Ang tagapag-ugnay ng Seksiyon 504 ng CDBG/HOME ay si Tonya Schuler-Cummins. Ang isang kopya ng pamamaraan ng karaingan ng 504 ay matatagpuan online sa www.alamedahsg.org.

MGA TADHANA PARA SA MGA RESIDENTENG HINDI NAGSASALITA NG INGLES Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay may ugnayan ng mga empleyadong nagsasalita ng 45 wika na maaaring gumanap bilang mga tagasalin para sa mga residente na naghahangad ng impormasyon na nauukol sa mga programa ng CDBG/HOME. Kung binigyan ng paunawa nang maaga ng limang araw ng trabaho, makikipag-ayos ang Lungsod upang makakuha ng isang tagasalin. Mangyaring NRQWDNLQ DQJ /XQJVRG VD 7LQLJ 7<< 756 R HPDLO OÂż WWV#DODPHGDKVJ RUJ PATAKARANG WALANG-DISKRIMINASYON Ang Lungsod ng Alameda ay hindi nagdidiskrimina laban sa sinumang mga tao dahil sa lahi, kulay, relihiyon, bansang pinagmulan, angkan, sekso, kasarian, kinikilalang kasarian, pagpapahayag ng kasarian, oryentasyong sekswal, katayuang marital, katayuang pampamilya, pinagkukunan ng kita, henetikong impormasyon, kondisyong medikal, kapansanang pisikal o kapansanan ng isipan, o anumang ibang kategoryang protektado ng batas.

A

August 30-september 5, 2019 • NOrCAL AsIAN JOurNAL

OpiniOn

Because they can

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

Features

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.

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

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

Trump spreads ‘bug’ that makes people resistant to facts, compassion, and social responsibility on the world stage 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 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

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 highlevel report commissioned by the United nations.

The special report on climate

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

communities 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

Eat less meat, says UN climate report

Commentary

Yen Makabenta

Philstar.com photo

change and land by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) describes plantbased 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 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 Hans-Otto 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 pro-

ducing 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 we would reach the point of 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 one-eighth 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 strato-volcano, 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 possibility of a complete lack of summer sea ice in the Arctic by as early as 2013.” Fact-checker 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 tem-

perature” 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 them. (ManilaTimes.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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‘Special treatment’: Revilla slams Filipinos spend ‘most time’ on social media in the world — poll proposal to let De Lima join sessions

by Rosette

Adel

Philstar.com

A RECENT flagship report on the latest trends in social media revealed that the Philippines is the leading country that spends the most time on social media globally.

The latest survey of market research company Global Web Index released mid-August showed that Filipinos spend, engage with or connect to social networks for an average of four hours and five minutes during a “typical day.”

This record was hours higher than 44 other countries in the world as the survey found out that digital consumers spend only an average of two hours and 23 minutes per day on social networks and messaging.

The Philippines was followed

by Brazil with an average of three hours and 45 minutes of social media usage daily. Colombia and Nigeria were tied at the third spot with three hours and 36 minutes spent on social networking sites.

Argentina also ranked fifth on the list with three hours and 27 minutes of social media usage.

The global poll revealed that the Philippines has been topping the list for seven years now.

Here’s a breakdown of social media usage of Filipinos (in hours and minutes) since 2012: • 2012 – 2:49 • 2013 – 3:06 • 2014 – 3:25 • 2015: 3:41 • 2016 – 4:07 • 2017 – 4:00 • 2018 – 4:08 The flagship report also found that in the first quarter of 2019, the time spent on social media has either decreased or stayed the same compared to the 2018 data on the majority of the 48 countries they surveyed. This was similar to the previous survey in the third quarter of 2018 when the poll showed that time spent on social media hit a plateau.

The report explained that the decrease in social media usage could be caused by the “proliferation of digital well-being tools.”

“A look at the trended data here suggests that we might be approaching saturation in social media consumption,” Global Web Index said in its report.

Senator Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. Philstar.com file photo

“This is likely a result of many internet users having a better awareness of the time they spend looking at screens, as well as the perceived negative effects associated with social media usage, and wanting a digital detox as a result. This trend has continued,” it added.

‘Younger groups more enthusiastic about social media’ Global Web Index said that “younger groups are the most enthusiastic about social media.”

Majority of the social media users across the world are aged between 16 to 24 years old.

Of which, 72% said they use social media while they are watching television.

“The importance of messaging apps to this demographic is a key reason behind this, as is the centrality of smartphones to their digital lives. Additionally, it is important to note that this consumption is simultaneous rather than sequential,” the report said.

The marketing firm added that “the internet populations of fast-growth markets tend to be younger than most mature markets.”

“This provides clear context for why the topline figures for daily time spent on social media differ so significantly between countries, from a high of 4 hours in the Philippines, to much lower figures of around 1 hour 15 min-

utes in some European countries,” the report said.

“But the effects aren’t down to age alone. Even among 16-24s, certain markets primarily in Asia and Latin America stand out for their occupation with social media. Particularly notable are Argentina (4:17), the Philippines (4:16) and Colombia (4:12),” it added.

In 2017, special reports from MSNBC and Bloomberg said that social media, particularly Facebook helped in handing the chief executive position to Rodrigo Duterte.

Facebook also took down several pages, accounts, groups and Instragam accounts early this year for “coordinating inauthentic behavior. These pages—a combination of authentic and fake accounts that frequently post about local and political news—were linked to a network organized by Nic Gabunada, who handled Duterte’s social media campaign.

The Palace, however, shrugged off criticisms on the suspected links between Duterte and the fake pages, citing that he would have won the election even without social media because “most of his supporters are not even online.”

Global Web Index conducted waves of research from the fourth quarter of 2018 and the first quarter of 2019. They surveyed 278,359 respondents from across 45 countries. n

by GAeA

KAtReenA CAbiCo

Philstar.com

MANILA — Sen. Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr.—once jailed for plunder—opposed the proposal to allow detained Sen. Leila de Lima to participate in Senate sessions remotely.

In a statement Tuesday, August 27, Revilla said De Lima’s situation is no different to what he had experienced before.

“Halatang halata naman ang special treatment ‘pag pinayagan ‘yan ngayon,” he said.

(The special treatment is obvious if she is allowed to join Senate sessions.)

“Equal protection and fair play dictates that Leila De Lima cannot be allowed to participate in Senate proceedings, even if remotely,” Revilla added.

He said that allowing De Lima to join sessions would amount to “giving her favor over and above other detainees” and allowing her to vote in absencia would be a “travesty” against the upper chamber.

“And even if the rules are amended, it will lead to absurd results,” Revilla said.

The actor turned lawmaker issued the statement after eight former senators—including former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III—expressed support for the resolution seeking to allow the detained senator to participate in plenary sessions through teleconferencing.

Philstar.com file photo

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon and Sen. Panfilo Lacson filed the resolution in July, stressing that De Lima remains entitled to enjoy her constitutional rights even while in detention.

“The double standards and sense of entitlement of some people are frankly quite disheartening. When I was incarcerated due to politically motivated charges, which the court has finally settled in my acquittal, a very vocal group were against my participation in Senate proceeding,” Revilla said.

He added: “In fact, it was the official position of the Senate leadership at that time that the absence of three senators would have no impact on legislation.”

Revilla is one of the lawmakers—along with colleagues Juan Ponce Enrile and Jinggoy Estrada—accused of misusing P517 million of their Priority Development Assistance Fund and funnelling it to bogus non-government organizations.

The Sandiganbayan acquitted Revilla from the government’s plunder charge in December 2018.

He is still facing 16 counts of graft. He paid P480,000 worth of bail bond for the pending cases last year.

Recto: Let De Lima work from her prison cell Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto expressed support for the resolution tabled by Drilon and Lacson.

“Her being behind bars, on

charges she has not been convicted yet, should not be a bar in the performance of her duties, especially the aspect which, thanks to technology, can be rendered remotely,” Recto said in a statement Tuesday.

He added: “If ordinary workers can now work from home, courtesy of the Telecommuting law which President Duterte signed into law last December, then Sen. De Lima can certainly do it from her prison cell.”

De Lima has been detained since Feb. 24, 2017 for allegedly having a hand in the proliferation of drug trade in the New Bilibid Prison during her stint as Justice chief. She has vehemently denied the allegation, saying the charges were prompted by her criticism of the Duterte administration.

Former Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV—one of the former lawmakers who back the proposal to let De Lima work remotely—spent part of his first term as legislator in detention on coup charges and was not allowed to attend sessions.

He was, however, allowed to hold legislative hearings at the Philippine National Police Custodial Center until he was provisionally released in 2010 while the amnesties granted to him and others implicated in mutinies against the Arroyo administration were being processed.

The Duterte government has since said the amnesty was void, effectively reviving the cases against Trillanes. n

A

AUGUST 30 - SEPTEMBER 5, 2019 • NORCAL ASIAN JOURNAL

http://www.asianjournal.com • (650) 689-5160

SF The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

Friday, August 30, 2019

AJPress Photos by JosePh L. PerALtA

SF

cover story The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

Filipino designers present world-class products at SF pop-up exhibit Bags, shoes, jewelry, accessories make use of unique, recycled, upcycled materials

W

by

Joseph L. peraLta / AJPress

oven textiles and beadwork from indigenous tribes.

Hardwoods and plants from the Philippine countryside.

Food bags from favorite snacks. Plastic bags from the grocery and supermarket. Thrown out brass or other metals.

What do all these materials have in common?

These items, by themselves or in combination with other each other and other materials, are used to make world-class products that come straight from the enterprising minds of a group of designers and business owners based in the Philippines.

From bags and totes, to jewelry (earrings, bracelets, necklaces), to shoes, to scarves and wallets, these products show how forward-thinking Filipinos and their design aesthetics can compete and flourish in the global market.

Products from six companies – Agsam Fern, Calli, Ken Samudio, Maco Custodio, vesti and virtucio – were featured recently at a pop-up exhibit called The Artisans village presented

by Fashion Philippines in the Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco. Aside from having an exhibit and business matching portion, the event also gave a chance for Philippine Center Building visitors to peruse through tables from the exhibitors and even purchase items.

To the surprise of many Filipinos who visited the pop-up, some of the companies offered products made of recycled and upcycled materials. Customers marveled at how discarded plastic bags, foil, and brass could be repurposed to new, eye-catching products – wearable, usable items that belie their humble origins. one man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, right?

Here’s a brief look at the products and companies featured at the pop-up exhibit: Virtucio Coming from the mind of founder Christine virtucio, the products offered by 10-yearold Bohol company virtucio (facebook.com/ChristinevirtucioDesigns) include handbags, bracelets, bangles, necklaces and other fashion accessories made from… wait for it… upcycled, used, single-use grocery bags which are collected, cleaned and processed by a group of women who turn these into sheets. The sheets are then used to manufacture bags, jewelry and other home accessories and products.

Aside from upcycled grocery bags, virtucio also recycles other materials like beads and metals like brass which they incorporate in their various product lines. They also get their other materials from junk yards.

According to Christine,

Consul General Henry Bensurto, Jr. poses with exhibitors and a representative from Citem.

it takes one processed sheet to make one bag, equivalent in weight to about five to 15 grams of plastic. She estimates that to be equal to more than a dozen plastic bags.

Aside from bangles, the most sellable item for virtucio, Christine revealed, is their Luna Bag, which is a half-moon shaped bag that goes for $180.

Prices for their handbags range from $150 (for their belissima size) to about $280 (for the bigger size). virtucio also presented their Bursita line (bursita is the visayan word for cellophane) at the pop-up event.

Vesti Ceo and founder Martha Rodriguez of vesti (www.vestifashion.com) presented both its Disco Collection, and its nikki 2.0 and Jetsetter 2.0 Series that feature the different weave patterns from indigenous tribes in Southern Philippines. vesti is a global grand of luxury bags and prestige accessories that enshrine the artisanal craftsmanship of Philippine design.

The Disco Collection features the multi-hued weave of the Tausug tribe, accented by the beadwork of the T’boli tribe in spherical bags that come in what vesti describes as “a burst of eye-catching pigments, a scintilla of vivid styles, and a cascade of folk nuances.”

The nikki and Jetsetter collections, meanwhile, feature Yakan fabrics incorporated with leather and metal.

According to a CITeM representative, vesti products retail from $200 to $350, depending on the size of the bags. The company deals primarily with production and selling of bags.

Ken Samudio According to Mark Samudio, brother Ken Samudio (www. ken-samudio.com) derives his inspiration from his work before as a marine biologist, which is featured in his products that run the gamut of clutch bags and necklaces that resemble underwater coral, as well as accessories like their in-demand flower earrings. What is particularly

AJPress photos by Joseph L. Peralta

The Rosa Clutch from Calli.

noteworthy is that the products are fashioned out of recycled plastic materials.

They order the recycled plastic materials according to their color specifications and shapes, and fashion them into the different products. The clutch bag, Mark revealed, takes more than a week to put together due to its intricate, coral-like design.

Aside from recycled plastic, Samudio also uses indigenous materials. According to his website, he creates artwork from upcycled beads made from water plastic bottles, recycled sea glass and other sustainable materials indigenous to the Philippines. He also employs mostly disadvantaged women in his small production house becoming the strong work force of skilled artisans working behind the label.

Maco Custodio For the pop-up exhibit, Maco Custodio introduced his Lalapatos venture (Lala for weave, and patos which is short for sapatos or shoes in english), which is a collaboration of three distinct communities: the Baseco community where pre-consumed foils are manually cut and folded into strips; the small town of Pililla, Rizal where the organic weaving of sabutan has been the traditional livelihood of many; and the city of Marikina, which is known for its shoe-making industry where the artisanal shoes are assembled.

According to Custodio, they

currently use two types of foil: the preconsumed foil for bags, and the used foil for shoes. The designer revealed that it takes about 20 bags of Clover Chips to make a pair of size 10 shoes.

His unique pair of shoes, Custodio reveals, has been with him for about a year. even the outsole, he says, which is made in the Philippines, is holding up even with his constant use.

The shoes offered by Lalapatos (www.zapateriahub. com/lalapatos) cost from about Php7,800 to about Php15,000 [for custom-made shoes]. They even name custom-made shoes after the person who ordered it, and they give that person Php500 for every pair that is ordered.

Custodio says that people who learn about the shoe composition and the processes involved in making the product are amazed at Filipino ingenuity, patience and ability to create these unique shoes and bags.

Calli Perhaps the most recognizable of the bunch at the pop-up exhibit is Calli, which produces wooden handbags.

According to Tessa nepomuceno, the main wood that Calli uses is acacia wood. Calli was featured as recently as in the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant when the Philippines’ own Catriona Gray was featured in photos holding a round woven bag with natural rattan from Calli, which she had christened “Sampaguita” in her Instagram

Gina Ty of Agsam Fern shows off one of her collections.

post. Catriona has since collaborated with Calli to create a Catriona Clutch. nepomuceno also featured her own jewelry line at the Calli table of which she has a codesigner. The jewelry is handmade, and features natural shells and semi-precious stones. nepomuceno told the Asian Journal that she was inspired to create the Calli handbags out of furniture designs and carvings she saw executed in narra and other woods, which she thought she could translate into handbag designs.

The Rosa Clutch, she says, is her most sellable item. Calli handbags are available in small boutiques worldwide, and prices range from $280 to $550.

Calli can be found in Facebook and Instagram.

Agsam Fern Founder Gina nebrida

Clockwise, from top left: Vesti table showing off its handbags; Maco Custodio with his Lalapatos offerings; Ken Samudio’s coral handbags and accessories; and Virtucio’s handbags and fashion accessories made from recycled and upcycled materials.

Ty’s company is named after the agsam plant, which can be found only in Surigao del Sur, and which are used by indigenous women to create delicate, fashionable bracelets, necklaces, earrings and hair accessories.

Ty discovered the agsam weavers five years ago and encouraged them to go mainstream and make products that can be sold globally in order for them to earn more. She happily mentioned that most of the weavers currently work for them, and some have turned this livelihood into other opportunities like owning their own sari-sari store.

The intricate nature of the weave means expert weavers can only make five pieces a day, while junior weavers can only finish three pieces a day. one of the items featured at Agsam Fern’s table is the Agsam Mutuc Limited edition which is a collaboration of Agsam Fern with eduardo Mutuc, who is deemed one of the Philippines’ national Living Treasure. The items in the collection feature metalwork done

by Mutuc using the “pukpok” system from a design given by Ty, combined with the intricate agsam weave.

The most sellable items in their collection is the pearl and coral collections, according to Ty. Price points reach about $75 to $150 wholesale, and prices depend on the components included in the products. Agsam Fern (www.agsamfashionfern. com) accepts custom work – Ty can design exclusive collections for a specific wholesaler or retail store.

The Artisans village was a collaboration of The Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) - Silicon valley, Center for International Trade expositions and Missions (CITeM), the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), The Philippine Center-San Francisco and Spark*Connect*empower of the Philippine Consulate General of San Francisco.

Date of marriage on illegitimate child’s birth certificate should not harm single parent’s petition Immigration Corner Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ 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 late-registered birth certificate from Recto Street, showing no date of marriage?

Very truly yours, 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 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 immigrated 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

Ria Atayde serves children during the feeding program sponsored by Corazon Foundation and Willing Hearts at the Justice Muñoz Palma High School in Payatas, Quezon City.

Contributed photos

Ria’s unknown big heart

by Christina alpad ManilaTimes.net

IT is no secret that Ria Atayde is a young actress who continuously proves her mettle with powerful portrayals, an effective endorser carrying brands of different nature, a supportive sister and a dutiful daughter to both award-winning actors Arjo Atayde and Sylvia Sanchez — an over-all role model to young Filipinos.

But what many people may not know is that behind the camera and beyond social media, the entertainment industry’s newest darling is just as admirable.

Not too long ago candid photos of Atayde serving food to children during an outreach surfaced online, but not on her social media accounts.

Atayde, seemingly unaware that happy citizens were taking evidence of her goodwill, was described as joining the feeding program of Justice Muñoz Palma High School in Molave Street, Payatas B, Quezon City.

Details of the online posts were not complete so reporters had to reach out to confirm that she was indeed part of the program which turned out to be sponsored by Corazon Foundation and Willing Hearts.

“Ay hala! Don’t really want to make that a public thing!”

Atayde answered in surprise.

The humility was expected

as along with the photos of her helping out were accounts of other netizens who spotted the young Atayde as early as 2009 extending her helping hand to victims of Typhoon Ondoy, proving that she is not the type to trumpet her good deeds.

Corazon Foundation, as it turned out, has been feeding 300 to 1,000 public school students in cooperation with local government units and the outreach program wherein Atayde was recently spotted was actually the launching partnership of the foundation with the Singapore-based Willing Hearts.

Atayde was chosen as the face of the latter foundation.

“Launching yun, nung nandun si Ria, August 9. Nagtayo ng kusina para lang sa project na yan. The plan is to feed at least 20,000 students all over Manila and also do medical assistance to sick children. Ang mga Singaporean ang nagtap kay Ria dahil nakita nila na mahilig siyang tumulong. Every birthday niya or Christmas may pinapakain siyang mga bata,” explained the foundation’s insider who refused to be named.

Willing Hearts further did research on Atayde before signing her up and saw more photos of her visiting child institutions on her own will.

With this new capacity, it can be expected that Atayde will further her role beyond the spotlight.

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 attorney-client 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)

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SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

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)

SF

celebrityworld The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

celebrity world

Matinee idol Miguel Tanfelix heads list of September birthday celebrants

By Ferdie Villar MIGUEL Tanfelix, one of the youngest and talented actors in Philippine showbiz today, heads the list of birthday celebrants for the month of September. The GMA 7 Kapuso talent will be 21 years old on September 21.

Other personalities celebrating this month are: September 1 - Singeractor Ariel Rivera, senior tax specialist at Fremont Group Myrna Diaz Cabrera, former Batanguenos of Northern California leader Rudy Manalo, former Mutya ng Pilipinas winner Azenith Briones, and former Fiesta Filipina executive producer and LBC president Isidro “Sid” Protasio; September 2 - Philippine Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares, and recording artist Nonoy Zuniga; September 7 - Journey lead singer Arnel Pineda; September 8 - Hillsborough fashionable lady Virgie Corpuz Gualberto, and Filipina certified public accountant Connie Protasio; September 9 - Actor JM de Guzman; September 10 - Former Miss RP-USA winner and singer Fatima “Helga” Yusuf; September 11 - Former Fil-Am San Mateo Democratic Club president Dorie Cachuela Paniza, and Costway business associate Jonathan Tan; September 14 - Actor and TV host Edu Manzano, and Kapamilya actor Patrick Garcia; September 15 - Former RP-USA winner Patricia Torres of Hayward, and the late multi-award winning director Wenn Deramas;

EMPLOYMENT

September 16 - San Francisco community leader Violet Orence; September 18 - Asian Journal-Northern California editor in chief Malou Liwanag-Bledsoe; September 20 - Kapamilya actress Christine Reyes, and teleserye star Erich Gonzales; September 22 - Handsome actor Jericho Rosales; September 23 - Philippine Delicacies owner Lina Quiambao, and Daly City well-loved political and com-

munity leader the late Lina Mesina Susbilla; September 25 - Computer analyst Jun Jun Villar; September 27 - Host and TV commercial announcer Dave Rodriguez; September 29 - Entertainment producer Frank Sityar, and veteran actress Miriam Jurado (now residing in Las Vegas); September 30 - Former “Pinoy Got Talent” winner Marcelino Pomoy.

To all celebrants, a very happy birthday!

Kapuso actor Miguel Tanfelix will celebrate his 21st birthday on Saturday, September 21.

FOR RENT

Senator Grace Poe Llamanzares will celebrate her birthday on Tuesday, September 3.

Talented actor Patrick Garcia will be celebrating his birthday on Saturday, September 14.

Singer-actor Ariel Rivera will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, Septemer 1.

Dorie Cachuela Paniza, former president of the San Mateo Fil-Am Democratic Club, will celebrate her birthday on Wednesday, September 11.

Frank Sityar, entertainment producer here in Northern California, will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, September 29.

San Francisco community and religious leader Violet Orence will celebrate her birthday on Monday, September 16.

SERVICES

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond

Whatever happened to ‘happily ever after’?

(Part 2 of 3)

Monette AdevA MAglAyA (Continued from last week’s issue …)

There is an onslaught of overwhelming assaults that come in all forms from just everywhere, facilitated by the startling phenomenon of social media and the ease of anything going viral through the internet.

This warped, perverse world we live in today seems to delight in mischief and mayhem.

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

The result - there seems to be far too many lonely, alienated people these days. The suicidal stage is the most dreaded period of such a state of mind, when intense loneliness descends to a deep vortex of hopelessness and darkness. Suicide signals the end of a futile human struggle.

There is available help — a sliver of hope. Psychotherapy and the safe and judicious use of antidepressants can help keep deep depression at bay. That may very well be. But one cannot help but think that there has to be a better way when an alarming percentage of those who take antidepressants still throw in the towel and end it all.

In simpler times, if you can call and label adversity by name, you can figure out simple ways of defeating it. Yet now because of the complexity of the world we live in, we don’t call people lonely. We call them depressed.

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

Two thousand years ago, our ancestors called the whole gamut of mental diseases and bizarre behavior, possession by the devil. One is no longer in charge of one’s soul but has been over-

“Suicide, contrary to the lyrics of a popular song, is never painless.” powered by a sinister, evil force.

The soul is its habitat.

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

The greatest lie perpetrated by the devil during modern times is to make people believe that evil does not exist. It does.

People lulled by a false sense of security in believing they are not in the sights of that sinister, unseen force, have become like the dodo, fat sitting ducks for evil, unwary and often caught off guard when tested.

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

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

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

There are far too many news of suicide these days and its horrible spawn, murder-suicide.

Consider the recent case of that deranged, suicidal German-

wings pilot who planned and deliberately slammed a planeload of passengers against an Alpine mountain, causing the death of 149 people.

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

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

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

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

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

Dennis, Janno and Andrew to bring old-school comedy back

by Ricky caLdeRon ManilaTimes.net

WE don’t know why Viva Films is bringing back the old style of comedy popularized by Ben Feleo via the Dennis Padilla, Janno Gibbs and Andrew E starrer titled “Sanggano, Sanggago, Sangwapo,” under the direction of Al Tantay.

We wonder why Viva thinks the old-school comedy will be appreciated by the millennials. Do they really surely believe that the comedy of Dennis,Janno and Andrew E, which made millions during the ’90s, will have an appeal to the millennials?

Some comedy flicks that had been released lately bombed at the box-office.

Then comes this movie that has an outmoded title. Slapstick is no longer the genre that can attract viewers.

We are now in the future

‘Old school’ comedians Dennis Padilla, Janno Gibbs and Andrew E. reunite for Viva Films’ newest comedy movie ‘Sanggano, Sanggago, Sangwapo.’

Photo from Instagram/@jannolategibbs

and we should adapt to the times. Some comedy films failed to make money then you come up with a comedy film that has a very unimaginative title. Kumbaga, kumita na ito noon. What makes you think it will have the same appeal to the audience of today?

If you are part of the mil-

lennial audience, will you be interested to watch a film starring Dennis, Janno and Andrew E? They say they are bringing back the old style comedy.

What for? If the new style of comedy doesn’t click, what makes them believe the old style will do the trick.

Andi on daughters Ellie, Lilo growing up too fast: ‘It scares me a little bit’ by cody cepeda Inquirer.net

ANDI Eigenmann, who is now a mom-of-two, cannot believe her daughters Ellie and Lilo are growing up too fast.

“I went from wondering when I would ever get proper-enough sleep again to worrying that my children are growing up way too fast real quick!” Eigenmann said via Instagram today, Aug. 26.

Her baby daughter Lilo, born Keliana Alohi Eigenmann Alipayo, had just turned 4 weeks old yesterday, Aug. 25.

Seven-year-old Ellie, on the other hand, has been making friends of her own in Siargao.

“I am so so glad that Ellie has been adjusting well on the island and is making friends.

But having friends = having

And Eigenmann with daughters Ellie and Lilo

plans of her own,” she said.

“It scares me a little bit but thats a part of growing up.”

As a parent, Eigenmann understands she has no right to demand Ellie to stay with her for her own comfort and accepts she must let Ellie grow into her own person.

“Besides, it is more than enough consolation to witness her grow into such a wonder-

Photo from Instagran/@andieigengirl

ful human, and I am just in awe,” she said.

Lilo, on the other hand, may still be far from making friends of her own, but Eigenmann proudly shared that she slept on her own for six hours straight the previous night.

“Oh how fast time flies,” she said. “But I have no complaints there! Sana (hopefully) always.”

community SF Honestly now, Derek!

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

by Ricky Lo Philstar.com

LAST Tuesday afternoon, Aug. 20, Derek Ramsay dropped by the StAR office accompanied by the pretty PR girls of Dunkin’ Donuts. They made a quick tour of the departments and distributed boxes of the sweet stuff that he’s endorsing with Piolo Pascual and Dingdong Dantes. At the same time, he obliged requests for selfies, ever ready with a friendly smile that easily endeared him to the StAR employees.

At the Entertainment Section, Conversations pinned down Derek for an honest-togoodness interview, not unlike the “grilling” of an accused in the courtroom in an alimony case. Derek sat on a swivel chair that startled him when it swang backward under his weight.

Derek was game in the noholds-barred interview, flashing a “not guilty” grin and cleverly fielding questions about his true relationship with Andrea Torres, his leading lady in the steamy GMA series “The Better Woman”, and why he turned down a choice role in “(K)ampon”, produced for the 2019 Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF)

by Quantum Films which was behind the 2014 MMFF sleeper hit “English Only, Please” that won Derek Best Actor (and Best Actress for his leading lady, Jennylyn Mercado).

After the interview, Derek had to leave for Batangas for a basketball tournament, to be joined by Andrea (“I’m picking her up at her home”) who will root for him just like what she did last month in Shanghai where Derek and his team competed in the Frisbee championships. Derek and Andrea were staying for two days to shoot for the soap whose set happened to be also in Batangas.

Do you believe that honesty is the best policy?

“Yes, of course!”

Good. You will have to

Derek with Andrea Torres

answer as honestly as you possibly can.

“Okay, I will…honestly!”

What’s the real score about you and Andrea?

“Well, we’re getting to know each other. She went with me to Shanghai to show support for me. I would say that we are more than friends; we are not ‘official’ or anything yet, but hopefully, it goes down that way. I really like who she is… hmmm, very talented and very family-oriented. For Andrea, family always comes first which is the way I live my life. So, we match in so many ways…” …and physically… “…well, physically, hmmm, yes, that’s a bonus. She’s beautiful! I just came from a six-year relationship so I’m not rushing.”

Oh, only six years. Hindi umabot ng seven, so it wasn’t a case of seven-year-itch, was it?

“No, it wasn’t something like that. I wanna make sure this time because the next one has to be my last. Ayoko na, nakakapagod mag-invest ng ganoon.”

Really? Naka-ilan ka na ba?

“Konti pa lang. Everyone says na babaero ako but actually you can count in the fingers of one hand kung ilan.”

GMA photo

Sige, let’s call the honor roll.

“I had Solenn (Heussaff, now pregnant with her and husband Nico Bolzico’s first child. — RFL).

We lasted together for four years. We have a good relationship up to this day. I’m super happy to know that she’s having a baby. There’s Angelica (Panganiban), six years kami. And then there’s Joanne Villablanca (the model), six years din ‘yon. teka, sino pa ba?”

Nobody in-between, maybe one-night stand or something?

“None. There’s no time. Oh yes, there’s also Cristine (Reyes, rumored to be separated from her husband Ali Khatibi by whom she has a child). We were best friends. I don’t want to say that it was a mistake. We both came from breakups. We were together almost every day because we were doing a movie that took two years to shoot.

Sabi namin, ‘Maybe we should get together because we are such good friends.’

“But then, it’s different pala. In the years that we were friends, we didn’t fight. nang magkasama na kami, away kami nang away. It was different pala if you are just friends from when Continued on Page SF6

SF

people & events

From Page SF5 you live together. So we decided to be just friends again. Now, we are still the best of friends.

So ‘yon, ilan lang ‘yon…Solenn, Angelica, Cristine and Joanne.

Konti lang.”(Note: Derek forgot to mention his ex-wife Mary Christine Jolly with whom he has a teenage son.)

No more second time around in your case?

“No. Kung pinaabot mo na sa hiwalayan, bitawan mo na.

Kung meant to be talaga kayo, hindi mo paaabutin sa hiwalayan.”

What about Andrea?

Would you know how many boyfriends she has had?

“Hmmm, as far as I know only one…si Sef Cadayona.”

Have you introduced Andrea to your parents?

“Yes, and vice-versa.”

I heard that Andrea’s mom is now your textmate.

“Actually, I just texted her.

She also always texted my mom.

I’ve introduced a few girls to my mom. First time na nagpakilala ako ng babae sa mom ko na nagustuhan kaagad niya. My mom is very ano, eh…Either she likes you or she doesn’t. If she likes you, mararamdaman mo; and if she doesn’t like you, mararamdaman mo rin.”

What does your mom like about Andrea?

“Her first impression about Andrea, her exact words: ‘I like this girl. You can tell na may breeding and family is important to her.’ Moms know best, di ba?”

So how would you describe your relationship with Andrea?

“I guess we are more than friends.”

How soon would your relationship go, ehem, beyond “more than friends?”

“Siguro, we can give more attention to it kapag tapos na ang teleserye namin. Maybe that’s when we can go deeper (Top L-R) Aida Sarmiento, Atty. Teodoro Laguatan, Benito O. de Lumen, PhD, Cirilo Reyes Jr., DVM, into it. It’s hard if something Constancia Somera-Uy, Cristeta Gomez Pasia-Comerford, Dennis R. Labayen, MD, Diosdado Banatao, Dr. happens between you during Wilfrido Feliciano, Edward C. Mader Jr., MD, Emmanuel Cris B. Liban, D. Env., Josefino B. Tunac, PhD, the teleserye. We are both proJuanita E. Caccam, PhD, Luisito S. Pablo, DVM, MS, Olive Rocha-Aliga, Polly Santiago-Cortez, MBA, Roy B. Guinto, MD, Venus Veronica Bacatan-Leighton, and Winston C. Umali, MD. fessional so we don’t want it to affect our work.”

President of the University of Awardees How was your hotel in the Philippines Vanguard Corps Leadership, Gender EqualShanghai? ity and Women Empowerment of Sponsors Alumni Internation“It was nice. We stayed at Continued on Page SF7 Olive Rocha-Aliga is the

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

UPAAA announces 2019 Distinguished Alumni and Special Recognition awardees

by Joe Garbanzos MPH/EMBA

THE University of the Philippines Alumni Association in America (UPAA) announced its list of 2019 Distinguished Alumni and Special Recognition awardees. These awardees will be honored at a Gala during the 20th Grand Reunion at the Crowne Plaza Hotel San Francisco Airport, Burlingame, CA on Sunday, September 1, 2019.

These awardees represent the best in their chosen field and live up to this year’s theme: “Lead, Elevate, Advance and Participate.”

To register, visit www.upaaagrandreunion.com/register.

To learn more, visit Facebook page UP Alumni Association in America @OfficialUPAAA. Tickets to the Distinguished Speaker Series are available at www.upaaagrandreunion. eventbrite.com.

Special Recognition Awardees Philanthropic Services Diosdado (Dado) Banatao is an entrepreneur and engineer, credited with having developed the first system logic chip and the first Windows Graphics accelerator chip for personal computers, he earned his BS in Electrical Engineering cum laude from the Mapúa Institute of Technology and his MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford University in 1972. He was conferred an honorary doctorate degree by UP in 2000.

International Medical Services Aida Sarmiento is a Practice Manager at Midwest Pediatrics, Ltd., Lombard, Illinois. She is the UPAAA Vice President for Midwest, 2017-2019 and served as its board secretary 2015-2017. She earned her graduate degree in Nursing from UP-PGH in 1967.

2019 Distinguished Alumni

Honestly now, Derek... the Grand Hyatt. Beautiful!”

Twin beds, queen-size bed or king-size bed?

“Hahahaha!!! Wala silang twin beds noon, eh! Hahaha!!!

King-size bed.”

Did you, well, behave?

“No hanky-panky. Yes, I behaved, super! You said, ‘Honesty is the best policy,’ so that’s the truth. I have much respect for her. Nothing like that happened.

That should happen kung talagang kayo na.” (Adding in jest) “Besides, I didn’t want something to happen kasi ayoko manghina ang aking tuhod. May laro pa kasi ako, eh!”

Why, does it weaken the knees?

“I believe so. Bawal.”

You have such a strong selfcontrol.

“Yes, strong self-control.”

You stayed for five days in Shanghai, enough time for you to know more about each other. What did you do, where did you go after the game?

“It was really tiring but I was able to bring her around. She was able to see across the river between the old Shanghai and the new Shanghai. Sight-seeing and wondering at the amazing architecture. Kain kami nang kain…Din Tai Fung, you know.”

Who snored, you or Andrea?

“Neither. That’s good. Mahirap kapag may naghihilik, so we had a good night’s sleep.”

Did you exchange only “good nights” before going to bed?

“Wala na ngang hanky-panky, hahaha!!!”

Mabait ba si Andrea?

“Super! I admire her for that.

She has been through a lot of intrigues and through it all she never talked back nor talked against anybody. Tahimik lang siya.”

It looks like you are about to find your Miss Right.

“I hope so. She has all the qualities that I want in a woman.

Physically, she’s my type… morena. She’s maalaga (solicitous/caring). She babies me all the time, especially on the set.

Mahina ako uminom ng tubig so she always brings me water and drinks, plus food. She always re-

minds me to eat because when I’m busy, I forget to eat. She’s like my mom.”

In what way?

“Thoughtful. Even without any occasion, or for no reason at all, she sends my mom fruits and flowers, kaya tuwang-tuwa sa kanya ang mom ko.”

Are you the same with Andrea’s mom?

“Yes, of course! I’m trying to make her quit smoking but I haven’t succeeded yet.”

You yourself don’t smoke, do you?

“I don’t. Against ako dyan.”

What’s the best gift you have given each other?

“From me, that trip to Shanghai. It was her first time to go to Shanghai. She was so happy. She went with me not just to support our team during the game, patalon-talon pa siya in the background, she was really into the trip. For five days straight, we enjoyed each other’s company, never mind if one time she stood in the rain but she never complained.”

You are both so fit.

“On our days-off, we work out together. Tinuturuan ko mag-golf and how to drive a car. By the way, she’s going to Batangas not only to watch the (basketball) game. Early the next morning before 7 o’clock, we have a shoot also in Batangas.”

You bring out the best in each other, don’t you?

“Yes. We have a good chemistry and it’s obvious in our show, di ba? I enjoy the show.

Nakakainis nga lang si Juliet, her character who pretends to be her twin sister Jasmine, my wife.”

Back to Andrea…do you have any “friendship” (if not engagement) ring?

“None. But I gave her a stuffed toy, an elephant. She likes elephants. On the set, she hugs that toy.”

Oh, not you?

“Of course not! We have separate dressing rooms. Professional kami.”

And how often do you say “I love you” to each other?

“Hardly. I save those three precious words kapag official na kami na.”

UPAAA announces 2019 Distinguished...

From Page SF5 al (UPVCSAI). She earned her Bachelor of Music degree from U.P. in 1973.

Biochemistry and Community Service Dr. Juanita F Caccam, PhD developed a laboratory screening method for neonatal hypothyroidism at the San Diego Institute of Pathology and Mass Diagnostic Laboratory. She earned her BS Chemistry from UP in 1956 and her PhD in Biochemistry from the Duquesne University in 1964.

Culture and Culinary Diplomacy Cristeta Gomez Pasia-Comerford is one of the longestserving White House executive chefs and the first female and first Asian American appointed to this position. She attended classes towards a degree in Food Technology at the UP College of Home Economics.

On November 11, 2019, UP will confer her with the Degree of Doctor of Humanities, Honoris Causa during the celebration of the 98th anniversary of the institution of the Home Economics program at UP College of Home Economics.

Finance, Institutional and Corporate Responsibility Polly Santiago-Cortez is the Vice-Chair of the Friends of UP Foundation of America (FUPFA). She retired in September 2015 after over 38 years as a Federal Banking Regulator at the U.S. Department of Treasury. She earned her BS in Business Administration from UP in 1966 and her MBA (Finance) in 1983 from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.

Science and Technology Dr. Benito de Lumen is Professor Emeritus of Nutritional Sciences at University of California, Berkeley. He is Founder and CEO of Narra Biosciences since 2012, a biotech company commercializing the anti-cancer “lunasin.” He earned his BS in Agricultural Chemistry from UP Los Banos in 1962 and his PhD in Agricultural Chemistry/Biochemistry from University of California, Davis in 1971.

Plastic Surgery and Health Care Leadership Dr. Wilfrido C. Feliciano is a plastic surgeon and was Assistant Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at St. Louis University, Missouri from 1989 to 2005.

He earned from UP his BS PreMed degree in 1961 and his MD degree in 1966.

Surgical Missions and Community Service Dr. Roy B. Guinto is a thoracic surgeon and has served as President of NJ-NY-CT Chapter of UPMASA in 2010-2012. He earned from UP his BS Pre-Med degree in 1966 and his MD

degree in 1972.

Community Empowerment and Human Development Dr. Dennis R. Labayen started as a Field Director in the Philippines for Outreach International from 1981 to 1994 and became its Chief Field Officer from 2012 to 2018. He earned from UP his BS Pre-Med degree in 1968 and his MD degree in 1972.

Immigration Law Atty. Teodoro Laguatan heads an ethics based law firm in the San Francisco Bay Area.

He is the national co-founder, Legal Counsel and Spokesperson of the U.S. Pinoys for Good Governance (USP4GG). He earned his BA in Public Administration from UP in 1968 and his law degree from University of San Francisco in 1979.

Mass Communication Ms. Venus Veronica Bacatan-Leighton is the only ethnic female journalist that carries tri-media platforms (print, broadcast and website) in North America. She earned her degree in Foreign Service from UP in 1961.

Environmental Sciences and Engineering Dr. Emmanuel Cris B. Liban is the Executive Officer, Environmental Compliance and Sustainability in Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro). He is a Commissioner of the LA City Board of Transportation Commissioners and the LA County Beach Commission. He earned his BS Geology degree magna cum laude from UP in 1989 and his Doctor of Environmental Science and Engineering (D.Env) from UCLA in 2003.

Neurophysiology and Medical Education Dr. Edward C. Mader Jr. is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the Louisiana School of Medicine in New Orleans. He is currently the Program Director for the Clinical Neurophysiology training and Co-Director of the EEG and Epilepsy Monitoring Unit of the University Medical Center. He earned from UP his BS Biology degree in 1983 and his MD degree in 1987.

Education Dr. Luisito S. Pablo is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences at University of Florida. He earned his DVM from UP in 1978. He completed a Master of Science and Large Animal Surgery and Medicine Residency at Auburn University in 1982.

Veterinary Medicine and Community Service Dr. Cirilo Reyes Jr. is the Production Veterinarian at Seaboard Foods. He is an Advi-

Iza is in for another challenging role

by Ricky caldeRon ManilaTimes.net

AWARD-winning actressturned producer Iza Calzado is feeling upbeat with her latest movie, the historical film “Culion,” penned by Ricky Lee and directed by Gawad Urian winner Alvin Yapan.

“It puts some kind of pressure on us acting out our roles but most of the time, we just feel ecstatic acting our scenes,”said Iza during a dinner break while in location in Culion, Palawan.

The actress says the excitement comes not only because the script was written by Ricky Lee but she added that there is a good feeling that they are part of a meaningful and important project.

“It is a story that needs to be told. That ‘s how all of us felt here in Culion,” said Iza. “Every scene we do is like a page taken from history.

When I did a scene where I was giving birth, one of the cast members told me she couldn’t help but cry because she felt the pain and the anguish. We are putting things in their proper perspective.”

Of course, part of the excitement in doing Culion is being paid, shooting on location, reading the marvelous script of Ricky Lee and seeing everything unfold as Direk Alvin Yapan sees it in his vision.

What adds up to the excitement, said Iza and her co-stars Meryl Soriano

In ‘Culion,’ award-winning actress Iza Calzado portrays Anna, one of the residents in the island who was afflicted with a disease. Contributed photo

and Jasmine Curtis Smith, is the three of them working together for the first time in a monumental project.

“At the center of all this is that we are telling the story of the people of Culion. We need to tell their story,”said Iza. The three ladies there were kind of noisy when they first set foot in Culion. But after visiting the museum where they learned about Culion’s history and struggle, they were silent. And they were driven to tears.

The three ladies spent more than two weeks in Culion and they easily became friends. They discovered they share a lot of things in common and got easily along well. All of them are looking forward to seeing the finished product as they proud of what they have done.

sor to the Board of Directors, Southwest Kansas FilipinoAmerican Association. He earned his DVM degree from UP in 1981.

Quantum Physics Dr. Mary Jacquiline Romero is a quantum physicist in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems at the University of Queensland, Australia. She earned her BS Applied Physics degree from UP in 2006 and her PhD at the University of Glasgow in UK. Pediatric Nephrology and Women Empowerment Dr. Constancia Somera-Uy is Emerita Professor of Pediatrics at the Rutgers- New Jersey Medical School. She earned from UP her BS Pre-Med degree in 1964 and her MD degree in 1967.

Medical Science Dr. Josefino B. Tunac is the President and Chairman of Arterez, LLC, a biotechnology group. He earned his BS Plant Pathology degree from UP in 1964 and his PhD in Medical Science in 1974 from Rutgers University.

Pediatric Medicine Dr. Winston C. Umali is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at CarePoint Health - Christ Hospital in Jersey City, NJ. He earned from UP his BS Psychology degree cum laude in 1988 and his MD degree in 1994.

people & events

SF

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019

Cecile Azarcon to perform at 20th UPAAA Grand Reunion gala night on Sept. 1 ONE of the Philippines’ most prolific songwriters, Cecile Azarcon, will perform at UPAAA’s Grand Reunion and Convention gala night on Sunday, Sept. 1.

The daughter of opera singer, voice teacher and concert pianist, Minda Azarcon, Cecile started playing the piano at the age of three and began composing at the age of six. At age 19, Cecile’s journey in her songwriting career began with her first major hit song, “Lift Up Your Hands,” originally recorded by Basil Valdez, which is now considered a timeless song. This was followed by other popular hits like “Sana ay Ikaw na Nga” (also Basil Valdez), “Ikaw ang Lahat sa Akin” (Martin Nievera), “So, It’s You” (Raymond Lauchengo), “Special Memory” (Iwi Laurel), “Even If” (Jam Morales), “I Think I’m in Love” and “One More Try” (Kuh Ledesma), “Reaching Out” (Gary Valenciano) and “How Did You Know” (Chiqui Pineda and Gary Valenciano) among others.

An alumna of the UP

Conservatory of Music, Cecile currently resides in the San Francisco Bay Area where she serves as Music Director at Faith Bible Church of Vallejo.

Cecile also holds private voice and piano lessons and produc-

es concerts and CD projects with a goal to guide, help and promote aspiring and deserving singers and songwriters.

For tickets, please contact UPAAA Board Member Joe Santos (650) 678-5871.

SF8

The Asian Jour nal SF MAGAZINE - August 30, 2019