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S E P T E MBER 28-OCTOB ER 4, 2018 Volume 11 - No. 49 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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Duterte tells soldiers: Give me a good reason to step down and I’ll resign

by AJPRESS CLAIMING that some government forces are involved with the opposition to oust him from his post, President Rodrigo Duterte said that he is willing to step down if they give him a good reason to do so.

“There are talks about coup d’état, mutiny, they want to oust me. The irony of it all is I really want to step down,”

DATELINE

Duterte said on Thursday, September 27 in Malacañang.

“In front of all the officers of the police and the Armed Forces I said, ‘Sayang naman ‘yung pagod ko wala man ring mangyayari (I will just be wasting my efforts since nothing is happening), since I cannot stop corruption, I am now offering to step down as president,’” the president said as he admitted that he once

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Trump administration plans to cut green cards to immigrants on public assistance programs

considered resigning from his post because of corruption in the government.

“Not because I am afraid of you or I am afraid to die. We will all die. I said if you do it, do not do it with a melodramatic thing. Do not bring your armor there outside. You just can call me, we will have coffee and I think if I like your NEW VEHICLES. President Rodrigo Duterte leads the turnover of the keys to the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) transport strategy, your plan, you can vehicles to BJMP Chief Director Deogracias Tapayan during a ceremony at Camp General Vicente Lim in Calamba City, Laguna on Wednesday,

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September 26. Joining the President is Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Officer-in-Charge Eduardo Año.

Malacañang photo by Rey Banquet

Trillanes: Democracy lost today

by AJPRESS THE Makati Regional Trial Court (RTC) on Tuesday, September 25, ordered the arrest of Senator Antonio Trillanes IV on revived charges against him for failed uprisings in 2003 and 2007.

Trillanes is the second opposition senator to be arrested under the Duterte presidency.

Judge Elmo Alameda of Makati RTC Branch 150 issued the arrest warrant 21 days after Duterte voided the former Navy officer’s 2011 amnesty and set the bail at P200,000.

“Democracy lost today. Officially, we have no democracy. This case goes be-

yond me,” Trillanes said as he left his Senate office to go with police officers and post bail at the Makati City Central Police Station. He was accompanied by fellow opposition senators Kiko Pangilinan, Paolo Benigno Aquino IV, and Risa Hontiveros; as well as his Magdalo party mates.

Respect warrant — Palace According to Trillanes, his arrest was a clear example of the President harassing his critics — “the ones telling the truth who he could not face.”

“For all intents and purposes, darkness and evil prevailed in our country.

So whatever happens next is in the

UNDOCUMENTED immigrants who receive food stamps, Medicaid, housing vouchers or other public benefits may be Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV’s mug shot is taken at the Makati City Police Office, after Makati Regional Trial denied green cards, the Trump administra- Court Branch 50 ordered his arrest on rebellion charges related to the 2003 Oakwood mutiny. He posted tion announced on Friday, September 22.

P200,000 bail and returned to the Senate right after.

Photo courtesy of NCRPO u PAGE A2 The Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) said that a new proposal would classify current and previous recipients of some public benefits as a “heavily weighed negative factor” if they apply to be lawful permanent residence, a key step on the pathway toward naturalization, and seeks to fulfill the primary goal of ensuring that those who enter THE Asian Development Bank (ADB) has trimmed

by AJPRESS the U.S. or adjust their status are “self-sufits Philippine growth forecasts for this year and the ficient.”

SENATE President Vi- rious criminal offense,” “This proposed rule will implement a law next, citing an unexpected slowdown in the first half of 2018. cente Sotto III continu- Sotto said in a statement u PAGE A4 The growth outlook, however, “remains stable … ously sought to lower the on Tuesday, September as the country’s economic fundamentals are strong,” minimum age for crimi- 23, as reported by the ADB Country Director Kelly Bird said in a statement. nal liability from 15 to 12 Philippine Daily Inquirer.

“We’re expecting growth to slowly pick up as public years old as he filed the Sotto filed the SB 2026 investment in infrastructure and social sectors accel- Senate Bill 2026 on Mon- in order to amend Repuberate and key economic sectors continue to perform day, September 24. lic Act 9344 or the Juvesolidly,” he added.

“This bill will finally nile Justice and Welfare In an update to its Asian Development Outlook for give clarity to the true Act of 2006, which labels 2018, the Manila-based lender said it had revised its intention of the law. The that the lowest minimum gross domestic product (GDP) growth forecasts for amendment to the law age for criminal liability the Philippines to 6.4 percent for 2018 and 6.7 per- will institutionalize the to 15 years old. The said Senate President Vicente Sotto III tells reporters during a press cent for 2019, down from 6.8 percent and 6.9 percent criminal liability of teen- law no longer applies to conference Tuesday, September 25. u PAGE A3 agers who commit a seu PAGE A3 Senate photo by Cesar Tomambo

ADB cuts 2018, 2019 Sotto suggests revision of PH growth forecasts Philippine National Anthem

Screen grab from a Facebook video shows Sierra Measelle making racial taunts from her car in Portland, Oregon. Filipina Selina Cairel (inset), the target of the rant, posted the video online so others may see ‘this kind of behavior and how people of color encounter this all the time.’

Video of white woman yelling racist remarks at Filipina goes viral Fil-Am tells the Asian Journal that the encounter is a reminder that racism and harassment ‘can really happen anywhere’

WHAT began as an innocent outing for donuts in turned into an upsetting, but familiar affair of bigoted attitudes and racist verbal harassment toward a person of color.

Last week, Selina Cairel, who is half-Filipina and half-English, posted a video on her Facebook page of a young white woman, Si-

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Filipina environmental defender Joan Carling earns ‘champion of the earth’ title

by AJPRESS FOR years, the United Nations awards people from around the globe with the title “champion of the earth.” The said title is considered the institution’s highest environmental honor as it recognizes people both from the public and private sector who played a significant role in promoting ways to help the environment.

This time, one Filipina gained the spotlight as she shared the Joan Carling is the winner of the Champions of the Earth Award for lifetime struggles she encountered in deachievement.

Photo from Unenvironment.org fending the environment in her

mother country, the Philippines.

As an indigenous rights activist and environmental defender, Joan Carling never had it easy.

For more than two decades, she has been defending land rights from grassroots to international levels. However, despite the obvious concern she has been dedicating to a just cause. She still earns the ire of government officials to the point where she was somehow labeled as a terrorist.

“I have dedicated my life to teaching about human rights. I have spent much of it campaign-

ing for environmental protection and sustainable development.

So, I was surprised to learn that I was labeled as a terrorist,” Carling recalled.

Since her work revolved around the protection of land rights of indigenous peoples, ensuring sustainable development of natural resources and upholding human rights of marginalized people, she most certainly fought against the norm and status quo. She did not let those in power trample the rights of those in the vulnerable

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September 28-october 4, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte tells soldiers: Give...

PAGE A1

have it,” he added.

On Monday, September 24, Duterte alleged that some of his troops were supporting Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV, and were involved in plans to remove him from power.

“Ang sakit ko dito, kayong mga Liberal pati ‘yung ibang sa military, nakipag-ugnayan sila…yung mga sundalo na rebelde…Hindi ko maintindihan ang utak kung saan ang loyalty nila (I was hurt because some people in the military are communicating with the Liberal Party, those rebel soldiers. I can’t understand their loyalty),” he said.

“That’s my ill feeling toward those soldiers. I have no problem with them being angry with me. That’s nothing. But to go into a cahoots with the enemy? I can step down anytime. But the problem is the nation…If you are true to your country, do not bed with the enemy,” he added.

Duterte also said that if the opposition is determined to remove him from office, it should wait for the elections in 2022.

“If you do not like me as president – Duterte is inept, clueless, it’s okay. Fine. Just wait for the elections three years away,” he said.

Duterte dared the military to launch a coup if they think he is no longer capable of leading

the country earlier this month.

According to Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, the dare was made because Duterte was confident that the soldiers would not join destabilization plots against the government.

Last week, Armed Forces Deputy Chief for Operations Brig. Gen. Antonio Parlade claimed members of Trillanes’ Magdalo group, the Liberal Party, and the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) have hatched a plot dubbed “Red October.” This movement aims to destabilize the government next month, and would coincide with the international celebrations for Marxism and communism.

Duterte said unless it is supported by government forces, a destabilization plan would not succeed.

“You know, this plot, plot, plot. I have one thing to say: Nothing will succeed without the help of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. If the military, the armed forces and the police think I am no longer fit to become president, they just have to tell me,” he said.

“No more fights. They will end up fighting each other.

If they want me replaced, I’ll go,” he added.

Robredo not involved in ouster plot According to Malacañang,

Vice President Maria Leonor “Leni” Robredo was not connected with the ouster plans.

This was on Tuesday, September 25, after Robredo claimed that the Red October plot was a “dangerous and baseless” claim.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said, “Well, as far as VP Leni is concerned, that’s a fair statement, because as far I know, she was not amongst those specifically named to be part of the conspiracy. She is after all the second highest elected official.”

“She took an oath to support the Constitution and she’s expected not to support any unconstitutional means to remove the president,” he added.

He said Robredo’s name was never mentioned by the military as part of the plot. He also stood by the accuracy of military intelligence information.

“We stand by the intelligence information as gathered by the Armed Forces of the Philippines, these are documents seized from members of the CPP and NPA (New People’s Army). It clearly provides for creating a broad coalition with Liberal Party members and the Magdalo. But again, I stress: you can do everything, nothing will happen. The support of the people is overwhelming for the president,” Roque said. n

ANGARA PUSHES FOR BOOKS TO REMAIN TAX-FREE. On Wednesday, September 26, Senator Sonny Angara has assured that his committee will not touch any provision that grants incentives and tax exemptions to the book publishing industry.

Senate photo

Trillanes: Democracy lost...

PAGE A1 hands of the Filipinos,” he said.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque, for his part, told ANC, “That warrant of arrest is immediately executory and he should show respect for our court processes, voluntarily surrender and face the charges against him.”

“Whatever Senator Antonio Trillanes IV has to say can be addressed to the court. Let us stop the drama by presscon and allow the legal process to take its course,” he added.

Trillanes said he wanted to fulfill his promise that he would

honor a warrant of arrest issued by a civilian court — “no matter how unjust that warrant may be,” he stressed — which is why he decided to go with the arresting team.

He claimed his arrest had nothing to do with anything except Duterte’s anger and vindictiveness.

In the past, Duterte had vowed to imprison Trillanes after the senator disclosed what he called secret bank accounts of the then mayor of Davao City that contained hundreds of millions of pesos in unexplained wealth during the 2016 presidential election campaign.

Trillanes also linked one of the president’s sons, Paolo Duterte, and his son-in-law, Manses Carpio, to drug smuggling from China and extortion last year.

Failed democracy “They forced and twisted the law, which is why democracy and our institutions failed,” Trillanes said after he had debunked all the arguments that the Duterte administration had raised to justify the revoking of his amnesty.

Vice President Leni Robredo said Trillanes’ arrest was a sad development.

“We feel that dissent is important in a healthy democracy. We should give space for dissenting views,” she said.

“Blackeye for democracy,” was how Hontiveros described the arrest of Trillanes.

Aquino urged the Duterte administration to stop intimidating and attempting to scare its critics,

while Sen. Grace Poe pointed out that if Trillanes’ amnesty could be questioned, all other amnesty grants would also be in peril.

“So how can there be trust?,” Poe asked.

House reactions According to Magdalo Rep. Gary Alejano, Trillanes’ arrest was “an assault to the whole Philippine justice system.”

“With the issuance of the warrant of arrest against Senator Trillanes, the pretensions of the Duterte administration that we are still in a democracy has been removed. We are in a dictatorship now,” Alejano said.

Meanwhile, Albay Rep. Edcel Lagman said that instead of issuing a warrant of arrest, the lower court should have reported the results of its “fact-finding” to the Supreme Court, which is hearing Trillanes’ challenge to the legality of Proclamation 572.

Justice Secretary Menardo Guevarra, on the other hand, said the order to arrest Trillanes was significant. According to him, it showed “the court’s recognition that the rebellion case is still alive.”

The Makati RTC Branch 148 has recently been asked by the DOJ to reopen the coup d’état case and order the arrest of Trillanes.

“As it is, we are waiting for a miracle from Branch 148.

We’re slightly more hopeful, but we have to expect the worst,” Trillanes said.

“You have to expect the worst because the enemy is the devil,” he added. n

Filipina environmental defender...

PAGE A1 communities. Threats against her life and security did not stop her from fighting with and for the people.

“In February this year, I was placed on a list of alleged armed rebels in the Philippines. I haven’t been home since. It has uprooted me: I fear for the safety of my family and friends. But I need to stay more motivated than ever. I cannot give up the fight for my people,” the environmental activist added.

As a global advocate in UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and REDD+, one would expect that she would be treated high up the pedestal. Not only did she served as the Secretary General of the Asia Indigenous Peoples Pact (AIPP) twice, she also became a local Chairperson of the Cordillera People’s Alliance in the Philippines. A feat not many would dare to achieve, let alone take on as a responsibility.

“I am from the Kankanaey tribe of the northern region of Cordillera: the land of gold. Our land sits on a mineral belt, rich in gold, copper and manganese.

It belongs to us, the indigenous peoples of the Cordillera. Yet, our natural resources and way of life are threatened by mining companies and other so-called “development projects,” Her love for her homeland perhaps became her motivation to continue the cause. She could have broadened her horizons as she was appointed by the UN Economic and Social Council as an indigenous expert and also served as a member of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. However, her love for the place she grew up in remained. Her memories of the place pushed her to become the defender she is now.

“I spent my childhood in a remote forest under logging concession. Nomadic communities from the forest often visited, traveling up to six hours to exchange their sweet potato or other crops for rice or sugar, which they couldn’t grow themselves. My parents would offer a meal, and it was from these simple exchanges that I learned humility, reciprocity, and respect for our diverse indigenous communities and cultures,” Carling narrated.

“I was struck by their sense of community; their simple life-

styles, their cooperation and selflessness. Their culture and values are intrinsically linked to the land, their livelihood and identity just like my own kankanaey people. The way these people care for each other and the environment deeply moved and inspired me,” she added.

As a member and co-convenor of the Indigenous Peoples Major Group for the Sustainable Development Goals, she became exposed to the communities in the Philippines, Asia and different parts of the world. She noted the militarization indigenous people were experiencing and so it strengthened her fight to promote human rights and environmental sustainability.

“I’ve seen indigenous peoples living in remote villages silenced, unable to raise their voice to protect their land and the environment. I have worked with them for more than a decade to raise awareness, through protests and dialogue. We engaged with mining companies, dam builders, local authorities and the media, and formed support groups alliances for the protection of human rights and the environment. Despite the threats, risks, and more repression, I persevered in my work, along with other dedicated leaders,” Carling explained.

Carling used the spotlight not to show the things she had achieved but to shed light on the issues with the least attention given. She urges the leaders globally to campaign for human rights and sustainable resource management, community-based climate change adaptation and renewable energy.

“Indigenous peoples are not the enemies. We are not against development. We are conserving our environment for the future of humanity. But we cannot do this alone. The global community, governments, companies and civil society must act in solidarity, and assume responsibility for realizing sustainable development for all,” Carling urged.

Carling may be the champion of the earth but we are all its inhabitants. Whatever happens to this living sphere will be experienced by everyone no matter how welloff one can get. To be apathetic is a choice, but it does not sound like a good one if you think about it. (With reports from United Nations Environment Programme)

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 28-OctObER 4, 2018

Fil-Ams tend to favor Trump travel ban in immigrant-friendly Hawaii

by DJ

Yap Inquirer.net

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel G. Romualdez poses for a group photo with the audience after his lecture on Philippines-U.S. alliance at the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies, Brigham Young University, Utah, on September 13. Photos by Clark Morley

PH ambassador engages communities in Utah WASHINGTON, D.C. – Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel G. Romualdez undertook an official visit to Utah on September 12-15 upon the invitation of Brigham Young University (BYU).

As the featured speaker of BYU’s Ambassadorial lecture series, Ambassador Romualdez talked about developments in the Philippines and the enduring alliance between the Philippines and the United States. Previous speakers in the lecture series include former Philippine Ambassadors to the US Albert Del Rosario, Willy Gaa, and Jose Cuisia, Jr. Ambassador Romualdez was warmly received by BYU officials, led by University President Kevin Worthen and International Vice President Sandra Rogers. He also met with state officials, including Michael Mower, Deputy Chief of Staff of Utah Governor Gary Herbert; Ben Hart, Deputy Director at the Utah Governor’s Office of Economic Development; and Attorney General Sean Reyes, the first Filipino American to hold a statewide office in Utah.

Ambassador Romualdez likewise had the opportunity to engage the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He thanked the Church for its assistance to the relief efforts in the wake of Ty-

phoon Haiyan in 2013, and the sustained humanitarian work that the Church has been doing in the Philippines. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has more than 765,000 members in the Philippines, who constitute the Church’s largest congregation in Asia.

The World Trade Center Utah, the Governor’s Office of Economic Development, and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce also hosted a luncheon for the Ambassador, during which the Philippine envoy answered questions about the state and prospects of the Philippine economy, and offered observations regarding the possibility of increasing trade and business links between Utah and the Philippines.

In between the meetings, the Ambassador was able to visit the important sites such as the Missionary Training Center, Welfare Square and Temple Square. He was also treated to wonderful performances by the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir and BYU Chamber Orchestra.

“I would like to thank the BYU community, and the church, government, and business leaders in Utah who warmly welcomed me to their state and gave me the opportunity to present Philippine advocacies to their stakeholders.

Indeed, the visit proves the long-

ADB cuts 2018, 2019 PH...

PAGE A1 previously.

Both estimates are lower than the government’s 7.0-8.0 percent target for this year up to 2022.

GDP growth slowed to 6.0 percent in the second quarter from 6.6 percent three months earlier, bringing the first half expansion to a below-target 6.3 percent.

The revised forecasts, the ADB said, reflect “a moderation in agricultural output and exports, as well as higher inflation and continued global monetary tightening.”

“Inflationary pressures are expected to taper off next year as tighter domestic monetary policy begins to take effect,” it added.

The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) policymaking Monetary Board is expected to announce another rate increase today, adding to three adjustments beginning May that raised key interest rates by a total of 100 basis points, to address above-target inflation.

Consumer price growth hit a fresh nine-year high of 6.4 percent in August, well over the BSP’s 2.0-4.0 target for the year.

The ADB said it expected inflation to average 5.0 percent this

year and 4.0 percent in 2019.

It noted that rising global prices for oil and other commodities had contributed but said that proposed reforms to replace quantitative restrictions on rice would help stabilize rice prices, leading to lower inflation.

Risks to the outlook include a faster-than-expected US interest rate tightening, heightened global financial market volatility and the impact of “uncertain trade policies in some advanced economies.”

The Philippines, however, is expected to “remain resilient, helped by its sound external payments position and relatively low national government debt.”

GDP growth, the lender said, will continue to be drive by industry and services, and agriculture was forecast to recover from the first half’s “almost stagnant” 0.7 percent.

The investment outlook for 2018 and 2019 remains positive, it added, with the recently approved Ease of Doing Business Act expected to attract private funds.

The government’s “Build Build Build” program will also provide an economic boost, with the ADB noting that infrastructure spending had increased by 47 percent as of end-August.

(Ed Velasco/ManilaTimes.net)

Sotto suggests revision of...

PAGE A1 the present condition according to Sotto.

“The aforesaid law must be further amended to lower the minimum age of criminal liability in order to adapt to the changing times,” he said.

Sotto showed viral videos of minors committing criminal acts. He even cited a study conducted by the Child Rights International Network wherein the average minimum age of criminal responsibility in Asia and Africa — 11, in the U.S. and Europe — 13 and in some U.S .federal states — none.

“It theoretically allows a child to be sentenced to criminal penalties at any age,” Sotto added.

Sotto said that SB 2026 “is consistent with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goal to curb criminality in the country.” Early in his campaign back in 2016, it can be recalled that Duterte sought to change the said Juvenile Justice Act of 2006 to lower the minimum age.

“Not only was the law abused by criminals but the innocence of these youngsters were deliberately taken from them,” the Senate president said.

The current Juvenile Justice Act RA 9344 was amended in 2013 through RA 10630. It basically retains the minimum age at 15 but allows children as young as 12 to be institutionalized for serious crimes such as rape, murder, and homicide.

Sotto further proposed to allow children as young as 10 years old who committed grave crimes to be detained in youth care facilities. However, there is a possibility that lowering the age of criminal liability would lead to an increase of children in conflict with the law (CICL) in facilities.

In the said Senate bill, Sotto explained that the funding for construction of juvenile facilities which comprises a total of P400 million should now be issued directly to the local government units (LGUs) and not anymore to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon filed a similar bill in 2017 to the committee on justice and human rights but no committee hearing has been conducted to date.

The proposal of the two lawmakers in terms of the minimum age requirement for criminal liability is higher than the proposal of the lower house which was 9 years old. Psychologists, prochild groups and social workers deemed this as problematic since a child’s brain, according to them has not yet fully developed during adolescence.

Pulse Asia March 2017 survey proved that most Filipinos are against the said bill. The said survey stated that 55 percent of Filipinos believe that the age should be kept at 15 years old. n

Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose Manuel G. Romualdez and Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes, the first Filipino-American to become Attorney General and hold a statewide position in Utah.

standing friendship and deep connection between the Filipino and American peoples,” Ambassador Romualdez said at the conclusion of the visit. n

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HONOLULU — Maria, a university staff worker living in Hawaii for more than three decades, would not give a direct answer when asked if she supports U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on Muslim-majority countries.

“It’s a very complicated issue,” the Filipino-American said with a laugh.

But when encouraged to speak her mind, Maria (name changed), who immigrated to the U.S. after the Edsa People Power Revolution of 1986, said she thought the travel ban was a necessary evil to ensure the security of the state.

“You know, there are all kinds of problems with terrorists and ISIS (Islamic State) and all that, so it’s only for security,” she said.

It’s a controversial opinion in Hawaii, a highly liberal, ethnically diverse state, but Maria is not alone.

More than any other immigrant group, Filipino-Americans were more likely to support Trump’s travel ban on Muslimmajority countries, according to Doug Chin, Hawaii’s lieutenant governor who had challenged the widely-reviled policy.

Chin, the former attorney general, said the large Filipino population in the state favored Trump’s “Muslim ban” despite initial fears in 2017 that the Philippines — a Muslim-minority nation grappling with religious conflict on the southern island of

Mindanao — might be added to the list of banned countries.

Speaking to visiting journalists earlier this month, Chin said he observed such a sentiment among the Filipino community, even as other immigrant populations, especially Japanese-Americans and Chinese-Americans, stood up to oppose the ban.

“I think what quickly got around the citizens [who] were here, the people who live here in Hawaii was this idea that when you attack one group, you’re attacking all of us, that is, essentially if you attack one group, what’s to stop another type of attack?” he said during the 2018 East-West Center Senior Journalists Seminar.

The ban, whose third iteration was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court in June, suspends indefinitely the issuance of travel visas for Muslim-majority countries Libya, Iran, Somalia, Syria and Yemen, as well as North Korea and Venezuela.

Chin, as the attorney general, led one of the legal challenges to the Trump administration’s immigration policy, which was seen as having been motivated by anti-Muslim sentiment, arguing that the ban discriminates on the basis of nationality and prevents Hawaii residents from receiving visits from relatives in the Muslim-majority countries.

In late June, the Supreme Court affirmed the legality of the travel ban in a controversial 5-4 decision.

Chin said he received a “small degree of criticism” for bringing

the lawsuit against the president.

“And that small degree of criticism had much to do with the fact of ‘why are you getting Hawaii involved?’ ‘There’s hardly any Muslims in the state of Hawaii’,” he said.

By and large, however, he said he got ample support from Hawaiians, especially among the Japanese and Chinese who were reminded of racial segregation during and before the war.

On the other hand, most of the almost 200,000 Filipinos residing in Hawaii appeared not to think the same way, according to Chin, who is of Chinese descent. “[I] will say that the criticism that you’re describing is valid and it’s something I would hear,” the Hawaii official said when asked by the Inquirer to confirm whether Filipinos reacted positively to the ban.

Hawaii is the most demographically diverse among the 50 U.S. states with more than 320,000 multiracial Americans; 310,000 Caucasians; 198,000 FilipinoAmericans, who comprise about 15 percent of the population; 185,000 Japanese-Americans; and 55,000 Chinese-Americans.

Chin suggested that the relatively small support for the travel ban among Hawaiians might be explained by a cultural aversion to antagonize government.

“Speaking as an Asian-American myself, I think the usual cultural reaction among AsianAmerican populations is ‘trust

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September 28-october 4, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

Dateline USa

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

Video of white woman yelling racist remarks... Filipino freed after 3 months in ICE detention PAGE A1 erra Measelle, hurling racist and xenophobic remarks at Cairel outside a donut shop in downtown Portland, Oregon on the evening of Tuesday, September 11.

That video, which was posted the following day, quickly circulated throughout social media when national news outlets picked it up, garnering more than 2 million views.

According to Cairel, after getting donuts that Tuesday, she and her three friends got into her car and started to back out of the spot. That was when Cairel saw Measelle and her friend walked behind her car, so she pressed the brakes. Cairel said that she “wasn’t even close to hitting them” but asked the two girls if they were OK. That was when the insults began. “[Measelle] literally took one good look at me and started laughing and was like, ‘She’s Asian. She can’t see that’s why she can’t drive,’” Cairel, 22, told the Asian Journal in a phone interview. “I didn’t know this person, she didn’t know me and she knew nothing about me, but said that.”

Although the remark was shocking to Cairel (who was the only person of color in the car), she “wanted to be the bigger person” and just leave. But she felt compelled to ask Measelle, who is reportedly in her mid-twenties, why she would say that to her, to which Measelle laughed, pulled out her phone first to start recording and said, “this is going on Instagram.”

“So, she pulled out her phone first, and began saying these nasty things about Asian folks, saying, ‘You’re all illegals.’ She made fun of my accent because she thought I’d have an Asian accent, and both she and her friend just kept on laughing,” Cairel recounted.

That was when Cairel decided to record the interaction because she wanted people to “know that this kind of behavior shouldn’t be accepted.”

In the 30-second video, Measelle, laughing, tells Cairel, “Before you say anything, you might want to make sure you’re actual legals, and then call the cops.”

After Measelle drove away, Cairel recounts an insistent feeling of shock that this had happened to her. She decided to post the video on her Facebook page for her friends and family with a caption detailing her dis-

turbance by the interaction with a complete stranger. But after her friends and family shared the video, people across the country did, too, and they mirrored that sense of shock and disgust at Measelle’s comments.

“I was really overwhelmed, and I kind of didn’t expect anyone to care at all,” Cairel shared. “I was so surprised that actual people cared and I felt very appreciated by that. And it got my hopes up that there are good, nice people out there in the world!”

Portland — which is famously branded as a liberal’s haven — is Cairel’s “home away from home.”

Cairel — who was born in the Philippines, but relocated with her family in Washington state when she was 11 — lives about an hour’s drive north of Portland in Vancouver, Washington and regularly visits the Rose City.

But this is the first time she’s ever had an encounter like this before, and it opened her eyes to the sobering reality that racism and bigotry “can really happen anywhere and to anybody at anytime.”

Shortly after Cairel’s video went viral, Internet sleuthers doxxed (Internet speak for the foraging and release of someone’s personal information) Measelle and publicly posted her full name, address, occupation and her place of work. (Because of the video, her employer reportedly fired her.)

This opened the door to bullying, threats and general hostility towards Measelle, who ended up deleting her social media accounts, a consequence that Cairel doesn’t agree with.

“I felt a little bit of guilt because people just started exposing her. It did not feel good, and it was uncalled for, regardless of what she said to me and what she has done. It’s still not OK,” Cairel affirmed.

After the video went viral Measelle apologized to Cairel via Instagram direct message, and later publicly, writing in an Instagram post on Sunday, Sept. 16: “I am sorry for the ignorant, hateful comments I made to [Cairel] and her friend. I’m ashamed that I let my emotions get the best of me, and I reacted in such a hurtful manner that goes completely against my beliefs and morals.

I’m extremely disappointed in myself and my lack of empathy.”

Cairel decided not to respond to Measelle, remarking, “It was all still fresh and it just kept replaying in my mind: what she

said to me, her laughing, her voice. It’s going to take some time for me to find forgiveness.”

The ubiquity of social media has captured these moments has given a rise to the exposure to the taunting of certain minority groups all throughout the country. Like Cairel, the individuals posting the videos — who are often the targets of such bullying and harassment — do so to expose the prevalence of racism.

Though Asians aren’t the most targeted minority group, according to FBI hate crime statistics, Filipinos have been more frequently subjected to racist and xenophobic heckling by strangers, as reported by the Asian Journal.

In Las Vegas last year, a woman called a Filipino-American man and all Filipinos “orange savages,” launching into a tirade: “If it weren’t for Teddy Roosevelt needing a f—ing port in the Philippines, you’d be speaking Chinese or Russian now.”

Earlier this year, a FilipinoAmerican family was taunted by a woman in the line of a grocery store in Daly City, California, where the woman scoffed at the amount of food the family bought and falsely classified the family as immigrants and accused the family (and all immigrants) of “taking our food” and “taking our jobs.”

In Los Angeles, a Filipina nurse was verbally harassed by a white couple in the parking lot of the Eagle Rock Plaza, where the woman of the couple actually went up to the nurse and struck her, causing swelling and bruising on her temple.

Though Cairel said that she still feels shock from the encounter with Measelle, she said it hasn’t broken her spirit and, actually, has faith that society is actually moving towards acceptance of all people and hopes that people who has similar incidents stands up for themselves.

“I have a really positive view of the world, believe it or not, that we’re progressing towards leaving all the racism, discrimination and prejudice behind, especially with [millennials],” Cairel beamed. “It made me proud of who I am as a Filipino and as an American and proud of my parents who worked so hard to bring us here. Be proud of who you are and stand up for yourself if this happens to you. Don’t let this disrespectful behavior go unseen.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

A FILIPINO legal immigrant, who has a valid green card and has lived in the United States for 30 years, was freed from an immigration detention facility after 3 1/2 months.

Cloyd Edralin of Highland Park, New Jersey, who was arrested in June for deportation due 12year-old weapon conviction, was released last week after a judge ordered a “Cancellation of Removal.”

Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested Edralin outside his home June 4 as he got ready for work.

“They were asking if I had the A judge released Cloyd Edralin of Highland weapon, so I was a bit confused.

And then when they said, ‘You Park, New Jersey from ICE custody.

Photo screengrabbed from have weapons charges,’ I said, Youtube/TFCBalitangAmerica ‘That’s back in 2007.’ ‘So, where’s

the weapon?’” Edralin told News 12 New Jersey.

Edralin had been cited for possessing a BB gun when he was pulled over by police for a traffic stop in 2007. He was put on probation for four years. He is among many immigrants detained by ICE since President Donald Trump came into office.

Members of his community rallied around his wife and children.

He can now apply to become an American citizen.

Edralin’s attorney, Justin English, told News 12 New Jersey that it has been a difficult climate for immigrants under the Trump administration. “Under a different administration Cloyd would not be on the radar of ICE.” (Inquirer. net)

ICC chief ignores critics, says work continues

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

THE head of the International Criminal Court (ICC) maintained that the Court cannot be distracted by critics and would continue to do its work.

ICC head Judge Chile EboeOsuji pointed out that there are more conflicts in the world today than in 1998, when the Rome Statute established the ICC to address genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

He also urged countries to focus on why the Rome Statue was adopted.

“We cannot be distracted, by whatever reasons some people feel irritated by what the Court does,” Eboe-Osuji said.

In March, President Duterte announced the Philippines’ pull out from the Rome Statute that created the ICC after the tribunal announced it would initiate a preliminary examination of alleged crimes against humanity under his war on drugs.

The ICC expressed regret over the Philippines’ withdrawal from the Rome Statute and encouraged the country to remain part of the ICC. A withdrawal, the ICC said, has no impact on ongoing proceedings or any matter which was already under consideration by the Court prior to the date on which the withdrawal became effective

nor on the status of any judge serving at the Court.

Eboe-Osuji said that everyone should keep in mind that there are strong systems in place around the Rome Statue that ensures that there is no unfair prosecution against anyone.

“Humanity cries for justice, adding that no country can do it alone. The world needs a collective effort to solve collective problems,” he said.

The ICC said it remains committed to its independent mandate to help end impunity in a complementary manner with states and contribute to the prevention of future atrocities.

The ICC was officially notified on March 19 by the United Nations that the Philippines deposited on March 17 a written notification of withdrawal from the Rome Statute, the Court’s founding treaty, with the United Nations Secretary-General as the depositary of the Statute.

Withdrawing from the Rome Statute is a sovereign decision, which is subject to the provisions of Article 127 of that Statute, that becomes effective one year after the deposit of notice of withdrawal to the UN Secretary-General.

The Court stressed that the participation of states in the Rome Statute and their continued support for the ICC in the discharge of its independent and impartial mandate is essential to

global efforts to ensure accountability and strengthen the international rule of law.

The Philippines ratified the Rome Statute on Aug. 30, 2011 and the statute took effect Nov. 1, 2011.

Petitions were filed before the Supreme Court to invalidate the country’s withdrawal from the ICC following Duterte’s order, since the Senate did not concur through a two-thirds vote.

The ICC president deflected the significance of remarks reportedly made by US National Security Adviser John Bolton earlier this month, that the ICC was an illegitimate court.

In response to Bolton’s reported remarks indicating that the U.S. would be prepared to ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the country should a proposed investigation into alleged U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan proceed, the judge responded that it was unfortunate that kind of threat was made, but again stressed the importance of focusing on the Rome Statute.

The U.S. is not a party to the ICC and has consistently opposed an international court that could hold U.S. military and political leaders to a uniform global standard of justice.

The U.S. underscored it has a strong and independent judicial system and recognizes that “every situation is different.” n

Fil-Ams tend to favor Trump travel ban...

PAGE A3 the government.’ That’s how my parents raised me,” he said.

“So I grew up believing that’s the course of action for everything: Just trust government and keep doing your own thing, and everything will work itself out,” he added.

What’s ironic about FilipinoAmerican sentiment about the travel ban, according to Chin, is that there was a time when Trump might have seriously considered including the Philippines on the list of banned countries.

In early 2017, “there was buzz going on among various different groups where people were starting to think what if now that he’s banned these Muslim-majority countries into the United States, if we allow that to happen, what’s to stop him from banning the Philippines?” he recalled.

“You know, if he woke up one morning and said, for national security reasons, I’m mad at President Duterte who’s scary and dangerous, therefore, I’m going to ban people from the Philippines,” he said.

In such a case, “I think people in Hawaii would be very concerned about that because we have so many people who live here who were from the Philippines,” Chin said.

Before he won the election, Trump lumped the Philippines together with other “terrorist nations,” whose citizens he said should be denied entry to the United States during a anti-immigration speech in Maine in August 2016.

But he and President Duterte

Doug Chin (in blue), Hawaii’s lieutenant governor who had challenged U.S. President Donald Trump’s widely-reviled travel ban on Muslim-majority countries, in dialogue with visiting journalists as part of 2018 East-West Center Senior Journalists Seminar.

Inquirer.net photo by DJ Yap

have been on friendly terms since then, each publicly expressing admiration toward the other despite the Philippine leader’s frequent anti-U.S. rhetoric.

In July 2017, the Philippines was also one of the few countries in the world that viewed Trump in a positive light.

A Pew Research Center study found that only eight of 37 countries surveyed had confidence the U.S. leader would do the right thing in world affairs, with the Philippines emerging on top.

Some 69 percent of the Filipino respondents expressed trust in Trump, though this was well below the 94 percent his predecessor Barack Obama registered in 2015.

The seminar organized by the Honolulu-based East-West Center is an annual fellowship for journalists in the U.S. and countries with substantial Muslim populations, who go on a threeweek tour of U.S., Asia, and Africa to study the role of religion in the public sphere. n

Trump administration plans to cut green cards...

PAGE A1 passed by Congress intended to promote immigrant self-sufficiency and protect finite resources by ensuring that they are not likely to become burdens on American taxpayers,” DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said.

The proposal would primarily affect immigrants applying for green cards through familybased petitioning. According to DHS’ 2016 Yearbook of Immigration Statistics, most individuals who immigrate to the U.S. are immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or have a sponsor who can petition them.

The DHS published the 447page proposal last weekend and will appear in the Federal Register “in the coming weeks.” A 60day public comment period will commence before the measure takes effect.

According to the department, the proposal “will clearly define

long-standing law to ensure that those seeking to enter and remain in the United States either temporarily or permanently can support themselves financially and will not be reliant on public benefits.”

Current federal law already requires green card applicants to prove that they will not be a “burden” or “public charge” to taxpayers, but the new DHS rules detail specific programs that could disqualify applicants, including food stamps, Section 8 housing vouchers, Medicaid and Medicare Part D Low Income subsidy which helps lower costs for prescription medication.

The DHS proposal was announced weeks before the crucial midterm elections on November 6, and the Trump administration’s mission to cut legal and illegal immigration has become a contentious issue that could motivate voters. Trump has proposed to eliminate the

diversity visa program as well as family reunification programs in which family members who are related to U.S. citizens can be petitioned for a green card.

Immigration advocates warned that withholding these benefits from undocumented immigrants who opt not to apply for public benefits for fear of denied visas. That could put them at risk for homelessness and worsening health issues.

“How you contribute to your community, and not what you look like or the contents of your wallet, should be what matters most,” said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.

“This proposed rule does the opposite and makes clear that the Trump administration continues to prioritize money over family unity by ensuring that only the wealthiest can afford to build a future in this country.”

(Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

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

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • SEptEmbER 28-OctObER 4, 2018

Dateline PhiliPPines

A

Former VP Binay to run for Congress in 2019 Palace defends Cabinet members’ UK trip: They are marketing PH by aJPress

FORMER Vice President Jejomar Binay on Monday, September 24, decided to once again return to public office and run as the second district representative in Makati City in the upcoming May 2019 elections.

Binay’s spokesperson Joey Salgado confirmed that the former vice president is eyeing for a government position along with three of his family members — his daughters Senator Nancy Binay and Makati Mayor Mar-Len Abigail Binay-Campos, and son-in-law, Makati City Second District Representative Luis Campos — all of whom are vying for a reelection.

“I am confirming that former VP Binay will run as Representative for the First District,” Salgado said in a statement as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The spokesperson also said that Binay would be a constructive voice should he be elected in office.

“He does not believe in obstructionist politics or opposing just for the sake of opposing. The former vice president will be a constructive voice in Congress,” he added.

Salgado believed that the former vice president will be able to help alleviate the situations of those who live in poverty.

“He intends to support policies and programs that will improve the lives of the poor and the middle class. In the same manner, he will point out policies and programs that could burden our countrymen. But he will also propose solutions,” Salgado said.

Salgado also announced that the former long-time mayor

by Darryl John

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay

would join “the ticket of Mayor Abby” as they are members of the political party United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), presided by Senator Nancy.

However, the senator claimed to be as surprised as everybody when her father publicly announced that he will return in government service.

“We haven’t talked about it. All I knew was that he would go to Italy to pray,” she said.

The current Makati City mayor, Abby, also welcomed her father’s plan as she honored her father onstage during a flag ceremony.

“It’s a big honor to stand on a stage with a person who taught and showed me the true essence of faithfulness in service, the beloved of Makati City, my father Jojo Binay,” she said as reported

by The Manila Times.

Undoubtedly, the Binays were often accused of perpetuating a political dynasty given that everyone in their family has been in power at some point. Senator Nancy said that they were elected officials and that the people

Inquirer.net photo

must have placed them there for a reason.

“At the end of the day, the people will choose who they will vote for. It’s still the will of the people,” she said.

She also expressed her support in his father’s plan. She firmly believed that the public still trusts her father because of his service to them.

“I don’t think that could be erased. It will always be there,” the senator said.

Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDPLaban) member and action movie star Monsour del Rosario is the current representative of the first district Makati. However, he is rumored to be vying for a Senate run. There are also claims that former Makati Vice Mayor Romulo “Kid” Peña Jr. would become the former vice president’s opponent.

The said first district is labeled as the wealthy part of the city. It encompasses the areas of Forbes Park, Dasmariñas, Magallanes, Bel-Air, San Antonio, San Lorenzo, and Urdaneta villages. n

DLSU joins UP among top 1,000 universities in the world MANILA — De La Salle University entered this year’s Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings, joining University of the Philippines.

Last year, UP was the lone tertiary education institution included in the list of top 1,000 universities in the world.

UP moved up to the 501-600 bracket this year, a jump from last year’s 601-800 bracket. The state university registered an overall score of 33.5 to 37.

DLSU, on the other hand, placed in the 801-1,000 bracket, according to the London-based publication. It obtained an overall score of 19 to 25.9.

In the latest rankings, DLSU had the highest score in industry income while UP scored the highest in citations with 69.1.

UP was also the only Philippine tertiary education institution in the 2018 THE Asia University Rankings, which was released in February. The country’s premier state university ranked 156th in the region.

China’s Tsinghua University emerged as the top university in Asia, ranking 22nd with an overall score of 82.8. The Chinese university has overtaken National University of Singapore, which ranked 23rd with an overall score of 82.4.

“It is the first time that a Chinese university has topped Asia’s representatives under the current methodology of the world rankings (since 2011).

NUS led the continent between 2016 and 2018, while the University of Tokyo was pre-eminent between 2011 and 2015,” THE said Meanwhile, the University of Oxford maintained the top spot in the world, followed by the University of Cambridge, Stanford University, Massachussetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology.

(Patricia Lourdes Viray/ Philstar.com)

Former senators Enrile and Marcos can’t twist history, says Palace by aJPress AMID the recent commemoration of the atrocities brought by the declaration of Martial Law in 1972, Malacañang on Monday, September 24, refuted the accusations that former senators Juan Ponce Enrile and Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. could twist what transpired in history.

Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said that in order to change the facts on what really happened during the regime of late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, the two former lawmakers would go against the Constitution.

“I don’t think they can twist history when there’s a law and when there are court decisions attesting to what happened during martial law,” Roque said as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The spokesperson said that the executive office strongly acknowledges the abuses suffered by the martial law victims. He said that the government recompenses for those affected by that dark period in Philippine history.

“As far as the palace is concerned, there are decisions affirming that there were grave human rights violations committed during the Marcos regime.

There’s even a law in Congress which provides compensation for victims of martial law,” the spokesperson added.

The said law, Republic Act No. 10368, otherwise known as the Human Rights Victims Reparation and Recognition Act of 2013, mandated a compensation for victims of human rights violations of the Marcos rule.

The Human Rights Victims’ Claims Board (HRVCB), the agency that is responsible for evaluating and providing reparations to the victims of gross human rights violations committed during the period from September 21, 1972 to February 25, 1986, said that it will issue monetary payment to more than 11,000 people after completing its final list.

The HRVCB is also tasked to recognize those whose rights

EsguErra

Inquirer.net

MALACAñANG on Thursday, September 27, defended the United Kingdom trip of several Cabinet members amid the soaring inflation in the country, calling it a “very well-justified” visit.

In a Palace briefing on Thursday, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque argued that the trip was meant to boost the economy by encouraging foreign investors to come to the Philippines.

“Sa tingin ko po, very welljustified po iyong presensiya, lalung-lalo na ng mga economic managers because they are marketing the Philippines. (I think that their presence was very well-justified, especially the economic managers because they are marketing the Philippines),” Roque said.

“At kapag naman po sila ay nakakalap ng investors, magkakaroon tayo ng mas maraming trabaho, mas maraming kapital at mas maraming kita para sa mga Pilipino. (And when they have gathered investors, we can increase employment and capital, as well as earnings for the Filipinos),” he added.

The UK delegation included Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Budget Secretary Benjamin Diokno, Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia, Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, and Tourism Secretary Bernadette Romulo Puyat.

The trip, which was from September 24 to 26, was highlighted by the Philippine Economic Briefing where they sought to convince British company representatives to invest in the Philippines.

Aside from the forum, the Cabinet delegation also dropped

by London’s first Jollibee branch which drew the ire of labor groups who claimed that the popular fastfood chain was listed

by Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) as one of the top three local companies suspected of engaging in labor-only

contracting services.

The Federation of Free Workers (FFW) said the visit was illtimed, especially as “the peso continues to weaken and there they go purchasing expensive foreign currency at the expense

of our national coffers.”

It added that given Jollibee’s issues on contractualization, the visit “sends a signal that all is well with the company even if it is not complying with labor laws.” n

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were violated by enshrining their names in the Roll of Human Rights Violations Victims. The agency believed that honoring their heroism and sacrifices is the state’s moral and legal obligation.

Enrile denies human rights violation during martial law The palace’s statement was intended to assure the public that there will be no successful attempt to distort the details of the 1972 dictatorship. This was after Enrile appeared on an interview with Marcos Jr. denying the atrocities of martial law. The said interview aired on Marcos’ social media accounts on Thursday, September 20 — a day shy from the 46th anniversary of martial law declaration.

“Name me one person that was arrested because of political or religious belief during that period. None. Name me one person who was arrested simply because he criticized Marcos.

None.”

The 94-year-old former lawmaker, who was the defense chief and the one who implemented martial law during the Marcos administration was asked in the video “JPE: A Witness to History” what was the greatest fallacy being fed among young people.

“They claim that we killed a lot of people. When I was interviewed by someone some time ago, I challenged her, name me one that we executed, other than Lim Seng,” Enrile said.

Inquirer.net photo

Critics debunk Enrile’s claims The said interview was criticized by several lawmakers and human right groups. One most prominent critic is former President Benigno Aquino III, son of late Senator Ninoy Aquino who was assassinated in 1983, for being Marcos’ archrival.

“May edad na si Senator Enrile pero hindi naman siguro pwedeng gawing parang dahilan ‘yun para maniwala tayo sa gusto niyang pagbabago ng katotohanan. Pwede nating unawain pero pasensya na, ang totoo ay totoo; ang pambobola ay pambobola pa rin (Senator Enrile is old but we cannot use this as an excuse to believe his attempt to change the truth. We can respect him, but I’m sorry, truth is truth, deception is deception),” the former president said Senator Nancy Binay shared her family’s experience since his father — former Vice President Jejomar Binay was imprisoned for being an activist during martial law.

“Based on what I experienced growing up, this was what I saw during that period. It’s a fact my father was jailed. I grew up joining rallies,” the senator said.

She recalled that their family would join rallies where they walked from Gil Puyat Avenue to Liwasang Bonifacio in Manila.

They would also visit her father’s friends who struggled to defend PAGE A7

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SEPTEMBER 28-OCTOBER 4, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FEATURES

OPINION

Changing the anthem

THE national anthem has undergone changes since Julian Felipe wrote the melody in 1898 and Jose Palma wrote the original lyrics in Spanish in 1899. Apart from being translated into English and finally Filipino, the beat of “Lupang Hinirang” has also been slightly modified.

Its current version, however, is now protected by Republic Act 8491, the 1998 Flag and Heraldic Code of the Philippines, and altering the anthem when it is sung in public can warrant a court indictment and penalties. Any change in the lyrics, as proposed

by Senate President Vicente Sotto III, will require amending RA 8491 and must be approved in a public referendum.

Another senator has proposed to change the design of the flag, adding a ninth ray to the sun to represent Muslims. At least one historian has pointed out that this would destroy the historical significance of the design, which symbolizes the eight provinces suspected by Spain of joining the revolution against the colonial government.

If Congress approves the addition of a ninth ray, there is another valid concern: how much will it cost taxpayers to change all flags in government offices and on official documents? This leads to another question: why is any design

change needed?

The same questions are being asked in the proposal to tweak the lyrics of “Lupang Hinirang.”

Specifically, Sotto is proposing to change the last line from the current one that declares the Filipino’s readiness, when faced with an oppressor, to die for the country — ang mamatay nang dahil sa iyo — into one that vows to defend freedom — ang ipaglaban ang kalayaan mo.

Perhaps concepts of patriotism and heroism are evolving, and should be reflected in national symbols. Opponents of any change, on the other hand, point out that these symbols reflect significant events in the history of the nation and must be preserved rather than changed.

National symbols can be dynamic and the debate over the possible changes is fine. But various quarters are also asking: with so many problems besetting the country and limited time for legislation, don’t senators have more urgent things to do? (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Confirming SC nominee Brett Kavanaugh: Do or die for Trump and the GOP’s political survival

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS LESS than six weeks before the consequential midterm elections, President Donald Trump and the members of the Republican Party are urgently scrambling, moving heaven and earth to confirm Trump’s nominee for Supreme Court (SC) Justice after the retirement of Justice Robert Kennedy.

Brilliant legal mind with stellar credentials Kavanaugh has, they assert, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says the SC nominee will get up-or-down vote in the “near future”, blasting Senate Democrats for delaying the confirmation of Trump’s chosen one.

“The Democrats have already made up their minds and chosen their tactics,” McConnell said on the august chamber of the Senate.

“Delay. Obstruct. Resist.”

Such strong words against his Democratic colleagues are so antithetical and even hypocritical for the party that would not even conduct confirmation hearings for President Barack Obama’s highly qualified Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland to fill the seat vacated by the passing of Justice Antonin Scalia, one of the most conservative members of the highest court.

President Obama said when he announced Garland’s nomination: “I have selected a nominee who is widely recognized not only as

one of America’s sharpest legal minds, but someone who brings to his work a spirit of decency, modesty, integrity, even-handedness and excellence. Presidents do not stop working in the final year of their term; neither should a Senator.”

Obama stated: “To suggest that someone as qualified and respected as Merrick Garland does not even deserve a hearing, let alone an up-or-down vote, to join an institution as important as our Supreme Court, when two-thirds of Americans believe otherwise— that would be unprecedented.”

The Senate Republicans nevertheless obstructed and resisted to vote on Garland’s nomination.

McConnell then said “the decision the Senate made weeks ago remains about a principle, not a person.”

That newly hatched principle he was referring to was that no nomination should be confirmed for a lifetime position like that of a Supreme Court Justice during an election year, and that President Obama was a lame duck president.

“The American people are perfectly capable of having their say on this issue, so let’s give them a voice. Let’s let the American people decide,” argued McConnell.

“The Senate will appropriately revisit the matter when it considers the qualifications of the nominee the next president nominates,

whoever that might be.”

That nominee now happens to be Kavanaugh, whom Trump picked so speedily and wanted confirmed right away, despite allegations of sexual assault he made against women years ago.

Trump, Kavanaugh and the Republicans immediately dismissed the allegations as “tactic” and “lies”, despite the call of one credible woman who spoke out to give material information she believes the American people to know about Trump’s nominee to be SC Justice. Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s called for an FBI investigation on Kavanaugh and expressed her willingness to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The same vilification, victim blaming and shaming had also been done by Trump and his Republican cohorts against the second woman who came forward with allegations of sexual misconduct against Kavanaugh Deborah Ramirez - who attended college with the SC nominee.

See the pattern here from Trump and the party who claim they value and respect women, fair investigation and transparency?

Senate Democrats assert that no vote on Kavanaugh should be in order until these serious allegations and questions against the Supreme Court nominee had been looked into, but Trump and the GOP want to railroad the due

process to really examine the man vying for the lifetime job of being a Supreme Court Justice.

WHY THE RUSH? Because Trump needs Kavanaugh to be sworn in as SC Justice so that if Special Counsel Robert Mueller indicts Trump to testify in the Russia probe and this legal battle goes all the way up to the SC, then the vote of Kavanaugh— who has written about his legal opinion that no sitting president should be indicted — could save Trump.

Because Trump and the Republicans know that if Kavanaugh is not confirmed before the midterm elections and the Democrats take over the majority of the Senate and the House, then Kavanaugh would never be in the Supreme Court.

The Dems taking over the majority could also mean they will have the numbers to impeach Trump.

Now who are these Republicans in Congress really serving and protecting - we, the American people, or Trump and their political agenda?

Think about it. *** 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.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh

Admiral John McCain and the unprecedented PH Dollar Remittance Program PeaceMaker FORMER SPEAKER JOSE C. DE VENECIA, JR. (Part 3 of 3)

AFTER the session, Calalang and Benedicto remarked: “Had the Dollar Plan been devised and implemented since 1946, there would have been no need in the past for import and exchange controls.” We were tasked to supervise the dollar-plan’s implementation.

Newspaper columnists and opinion makers reacted with profuse praises for the remittance program. “It is the most brilliant monetary maneuver in recent times,” observed the Daily Mirror. The Manila Times, in its editorial, praised the plan as “one of the most outstanding Philippine achievements” and gave us due

recognition. Joe Guevarra, a Manila Times columnist wrote, “The first $100 million project was a successful assertion of Philippine economic sovereignty without irritation to both sides.”

In its final form, the large-scale dollar remittance proposal with the seal of American approval included five main items: First was the “lipstick formula.” Red overprints — much like lipstick smudges — were used on the checks and treasury warrants to ensure they would be cashed only with the CBPNB and authorized commercial banks and cashable only in pesos. This would dry up the black market through which veterans and pension checks had been channelled for years.

Second was the payment in pesos from exclusive sales of U.S. dollars to the Central Bank, allowing the CB-PNB to maintain an exchange market at a fixed negotiated rate.

Third were the salaries, hence-

forth to be paid in dollars, of about 16,000 Filipinos employed worldwide by the U.S. Navy.

Fourth was a provision that included expenditures of U.S. military transients in Philippinebased U.S. military installations as a dollar source.

Fifth was the large-scale remittance to the Philippines of dollar earnings of Filipinos in the Pacific U.S. bases, in Hawaii, etc. and the U.S. mainland.

Our economic diplomacy was a smashing success. The legendary Foreign Secretary Carlos P. Romulo, who succeeded Narciso Ramos, himself one of the original architects of the now successful ASEAN, said economic diplomacy was a “basic plank” of the country’s foreign policy and praised us for what he called our “stellar performance.” He instructed Philippine missions and embassies abroad “to stress trade promotion and the search for markets and investments.”

We took a more expansive view

that a diplomat’s principal task in a developing or underdeveloped economy is to “utilize and harness foreign affairs to help solve economic problems at home.”

In 2007 alone, remittances from overseas Filipino workers hit over $14 billion, part of almost $200 billion that had already made its way through to the Philippine banks. This was unimaginable in 1967, at the program’s launching, when the Philippines total bank reserves were about $400 million. Whatever the political environment at home, the economic impact of the remittances came to be felt strongly especially in times of crisis: the 60 percent peso devaluation in 1970, the oil shocks of the 1970s, the economic depression in the many years of the Marcos administration, the crisis years of the rightist military rebellion against President Cory Aquino, the Asian financial crisis that ravaged the Philippines in 1997-98 of the Ramos period, the

ouster of Estrada, the series of coup and impeachment attempts against President Arroyo.

The dollar remittance model has encouraged copies of the system in India, Pakistan, Turkey, and Bangladesh, among other nations, enriching their foreign-exchange reserves, financing economic development, mass housing, and the small businesses of recipients in the countryside.

In 2005, believing the program could be more successful, we wrote the Central Bank, “The remittances are substantial but there is about 20-30 percent left that’s not remitted here.

We have to create an Overseas Filipino Fund for the Filipino technicians abroad, who could put their monies in safe investments, instead of keeping them in saving deposits in banks abroad that pay 1 to 2 percent in high-yielding instruments, mass housing, etc. The international banks like ING Bank, HSBC and

others can assist us in its implementation because they have global reach, and if we can get the Filipinos in America, Europe, and the Middle East through the Bank of America or Citibank and European banks, you can see the numbers add up fast. The sky is the limit.”

On July 8, 2005, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas under the outgoing Governor Rafael Buenaventura and his incoming successor, Governor Amando Tetangco Jr., honored us with a rare national decoration. The man who conceived and carried out the program, negotiated with the U.S. state treasury and defense representations, finally won effusive praise from the very institution that had almost succeeded in killing it. (From the book, “Global Filipino” the Jose de Venecia Jr. biography by former Wall Street Journal Editor Brett Decker, published in Washington D.C., 2008).

(To be continued next week)

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A

Robredo camp: End of Marcos protest nears

by JanVic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Following a major victory on the voter shading threshold issue, the camp of Vice President Leni Robredo believes that the protest filed by former senator Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will soon end.

In an interview with Radyo5 Thursday, Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s legal counsel Emil MaraĂąon III expressed confidence that the ongoing recount in the selected pilot provinces will show the votes tallying with the election returns from every precinct.

Citing the rules of the Supreme Court sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET), he said the recount in the other contested provinces will not push through if the votes in the pilot provinces tallied. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are very confident that the moment the Supreme Court (sitting as the Presidential Electoral Tribunal) used the correct basis in counting the votes, it will tally not just in the election returns in every precinct,â&#x20AC;? he said in Filipino. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In other words, this will be the end of the protest of Bongbong Marcos. For us, we are very confident that that will happen in this case,â&#x20AC;? he added.

In a 21-page resolution dated Sept. 18, the PET partially granted Robredoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s motion for reconsideration seeking the applica-

Vice President Leni Robredo has earlier asked the tribunal to apply the 25-percent threshold, not 50 percent, in determining the validity of votes.

Philstar.com photo

tion of the 25 percent shading threshold as used by the Commission on Elections (Comelec) in 2016.

The PET said the 50 percent shading threshold used in 2010 could not be applied after it was informed by the poll body that it used a range of 20 to 25 percent shading threshold for the 2016 elections.

The tribunal also denied Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; opposition to the use of decrypted ballot images, noting that he has failed to submit proof that would back his claim that the images were not faithful reproduction of the paper ballots.

In the same radio program, Marcosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; lawyer Vic Rodriguez

reiterated their interpretation of the PET ruling, saying it did not side with the 25 percent shading threshold. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They (PET) were never informed of the alleged existence of the resolution containing the reduction of the threshold from 50 to 25 percent,â&#x20AC;? he said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And since they were not informed, and they were never given a copy thereof, what the Supreme Court says is that they have no basis to amend the rules,â&#x20AC;? he added.

Rodriguez failed to mention that tribunal has recognized the new threshold used in the 2016 elections, and that it specifically underscored the purpose of the revision process which is to recount the votes by mimicking how the machines counted the votes.

To address issues on voter threshold, the PET considered the proposal of Comelec to use the decrypted ballot images to determine if a vote was counted by the machine.

It also noted the possibility of referring to the election returns generated by the machines to verify and confirm how the votes were counted.

Rodriguez said their legal team would meet to discuss the possibility of filing an appeal with regard to the use of decrypted ballot images and the electronic election returns. n

Filipinos conflicted on police â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nanlabanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; claims â&#x20AC;&#x201D; SWS

by Patricia Lourdes Philstar.com

Viray

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A similar number of adult Filipinos share different views on claims of police that killed drug suspects resisted arrested, according to the latest Social Weather Stations survey.

The poll released on Tuesday, September 25, found that 26 percent of adult Filipinos do not believe police claims of â&#x20AC;&#x153;nanlabanâ&#x20AC;? drug suspects while 27 percent of the respondents said the police are telling the truth.

A plurality or 47 percent of the respondents were undecided on the matter.

The net opinion on the truthfulness of police claims go down to net zero in June 2018, similar to the -1 in September 2017. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was at -20 when SWS first asked the question in December 2016,â&#x20AC;? SWS said.

Net opinion on police claims

are lowest in Metro Manila at 25, followed by balance Luzon at -6, then Visayas at -4 and Mindanao at +31.

The latest survey also found that President Rodrigo Duterte had lower net satisfaction among those who said they do not believe police claims.

The president had an excellent +77 among those who said the police are definitely telling the truth while he only scored a neutral +3 among those who said they are definitely not telling the truth.

Meanwhile, 96 percent of Filipinos said it is important for the police to capture drug suspects alive while 4 percent said it is not important. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is similar to 95 percent (76 percent very important, 19 percent somewhat important) when the question was first surveyed in September 2017,â&#x20AC;? SWS said.

The poll also showed that 86 percent of Filipinos believe it is important for the police to capture drug suspects alive while 14 percent said otherwise.

A few days ago, SWS also released a survey which found that 78 percent of adult Filipinos were satisfied with the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s so-called war on drugs. It also showed that 13 percent were dissatisfied, which garners a net satisfaction score of +65.

The survey was conducted from June 27 to 30 using faceto-face interviews among 1,200 adults nationwide, with sampling error margins of Âą3 percent for national percentages. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Social Weather Survey items on public satisfaction with the administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campaign against illegal drugs are not commissioned. They are done on SWSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own initiative and released as a public service,â&#x20AC;? the survey firm said. n

ANTI-BOMB ROBOT. Members of the Special Action Force of the Philippine National Police look at an Explosives and Ordinance Disposal robot on display at the 3rd Asian Defense, Security and Crisis Management exhibit at the World Trade Center. Among the exhibitors are South Korea, the United States, Russia, Czech Republic, Indonesia, India, Germany, Italy, Brazil, Turkey and Israel.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Roger RaĂąada

Human rights not popularity contest â&#x20AC;&#x201D; CHR

by JanVic

Mateo Philstar.com

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Policies that impact on human rights should not be implemented simply because they are popular with the public, Commission on Human Rights (CHR) chairman Chito Gascon said in reaction to survey results showing high publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s approval for the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s war against illegal drugs.

Gascon stressed that the high public approval will not stop the CHR from calling for investigations on the thousands of deaths related to police anti-drug operations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We have been well aware that the President and his antidrug efforts have been popular with the people,â&#x20AC;? said Gascon on Monday. â&#x20AC;&#x153;But this does not and cannot constitute a license to run roughshod on the Bill of Rights and the rule of law as human rights are too important to be subjected to a popularity contest.â&#x20AC;?

A recent SWS survey showed 78 percent of Filipinos supporting the war on drugs. It also

Gascon stressed that the high public approval will not stop the CHR from calling for investigations on the thousands of deaths related to police anti-drug operations.

Philstar.com photo by Michael Varcas

showed that 60 percent believe that the arrests of tambays or loiterers constitute human rights violations.

CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia said the commission has always been supportive of measures addressing the illegal drug trade and use in the country due to its ill effects to the lives of people. However, she stressed, this support is qualified by issues relating to how the government implements its anti-illegal

drug campaign. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is important to probe if Filipinos also approve of the ways in which the campaign against illegal drugs is carried out on the ground. If we recall in September 2017, Social Weather Stations also released a survey noting that half of Filipinos donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe in our policeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alibi of â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;nanlabanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; (resisting arrest) to justify deaths during anti-drug operations,â&#x20AC;? she added. n

Former senators Enrile and Marcos canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t...

PAGE A5 human rights violations. Her experience proved different from Enrileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s claim.

Senator Leila de Lima also slammed Enrile for perpetuating â&#x20AC;&#x153;lies about martial law.â&#x20AC;? She at-

tacked his old age as she reminded him of those victims who lived to tell their accounts.

Commission on Human Rights (CHR) Chair Chito Gascon noted that Enrileâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s denial of the dark part in history â&#x20AC;&#x153;is a lie and will

still be a lie even if said a million times.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;Such attempt at historical revisionism will continue on the part of those who want to forget that sad part of our history,â&#x20AC;? Gascon said. n

Pilgrimage to Some of ITALYâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Highlights and Miracles of the Eucharist 6SLULWXDO 'LUHFWRU 5(9 -2(/ %8*$6 ĹĄ 1RYHPEHU WR 1RYHPEHU 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; 86$ 520( 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH Upon our arrival in Rome, our Tour Escort will welcome us to Italy. Rome is the heart, home and the spiritual capital of over one billion Catholics all over the world. After a short panoramic orientation of this Eternal City to us Roman Catholics, we will have our dinner and overnight rest at this great ancient City.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 3DSDO $XGLHQFH 5RPH This morning before we continue with our tour, we will have a Papal Audience.

Then after, we will visit the famous Coliseum and see the Forum, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon, one of the best preserved ancient monuments in the world. Celebrate the Holy Eucharist at St Peter Basilica St Joseph Chapel .Short stop in Trevi Fountain, before heading to our Hotel. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D)

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH %DVLOLFDV We will visit the Vatican Museum this morning and the Sistine Chapel to admire the awesome masterpieces of Michaelangelo, and even ancient Greek and Roman artists. the largest church in Roman Catholicism, St. Peterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Basilica. Holy Eucharist at ST Mary Major, Followed by visit of the Basilica. We continue to visit the rest of the major Basilicas within the walls of Rome, and St. John Lateran, St Paul Outside the Wall. We will also pray at the Scala Santa or the Holy Stairs. St. Helena transported the steps from Jerusalem; the same steps that Christ ascended to receive Pilateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s unjust condemnation.

DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN ROME (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY )UL

Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR 2018 is the 100th Anniversary of the stigmatization of St Pio. Church Will have Monthly Pastoral Program of Activities for the whole year. San Giovanni Rotondo, the home of St Padre Pio of Pietrelcina from 28 July, 1916 until his death on 23 September, 1968. Enjoy the drive going to San Giovanni, after we check in our Hotel. vWe visit the Shrines of St Padre Pio of Pietralcina as well as the places associated with him, such as the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace that contains his tomb. Here, we spend some time meditating, see his room, his confessional box and the cruciďŹ x that gave him his supernatural Crucifying stigmata, Celebrate Holy Eucharist (Hotel Gran Paradiso) DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN San Giovanni Rotondo (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6DW Ĺ&#x; 6$1 *,29$11, 52721'2 This Morning we visit the new and Modern Basilica of St Padre Pio, See his uncorrupt body. Celebrate Holy Eucharist Spend some time meditating in this awesome Basilica. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN SAN GIOVANNI ROTONDO (Hotel Gran Paradiso)

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 6XQ Ĺ&#x; 6DQ *LRYDQQL 5RWRQGR /DQFLDQR /RUHWR MASS AND BREAKFAST. We arrive at Lanciano, famous for the Miracle of the Eucharist. Near the Piazza Plebiscito, the Miracle is inside the Sanctuary of the Eucharistic Miracle. The miracle took place during the 8th century when a Basiline monk doubted the Real Presence of our Lord in the Eucharist. He found himself holding the host that had changed into Real Flesh and the Wine on the altar had changed into Real Blood. We continue our pilgrimage to the great Marian shrine of Loreto to see the famous sacred home of the most Holy Family, Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. Since 1294 the holy home has been located inside the Basilica of Loreto. Celebrate Holy Eucharist in Lanciano. DINNER AND OVERNIGHT IN Assisi.

'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 0RQ Ĺ&#x; /RUHWR $VVLVL Today we explore the hilltop birthplace of St Francis of Assisi. In the Crypt of St Francis Basilica lies the tomb of one of the most humble and beloved Saints of all times, St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Eucharist at the Crypt of St. Francis See the Basilica of St Clare, with her incorrupt body, and the little Church of St. Damiano and its CruciďŹ x from which Jesus spoke to Francis about his mission in 1206: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Go, Francis, and rebuild my house, which as you see is falling into ruin.â&#x20AC;? We visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, located in the lower plains of Assisi, and the place where the miracle of the Eucharist of Assisi took place in 1240. The small Church of the Porziuncola is inside the Basilica itself. Pope Honorius III granted a plenary indulgence for those entering this humble Church on August 1st and 2nd every year, with Confession, reception of the Eucharist and no attachment to venial sins. (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7XHV Ĺ&#x; $VVLVL 6LHQD )ORUHQFH We will spend half day in Siena. Begin in the old town center with a visit to the Basilica of San Domenico. Built in the 13th century, it is a treasure chest of the Renaissance art and dedicated to St Catherine of Siena. You will learn about the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s history while admiring itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s cathedrals, Museum, and libraries .Also you will admire the famous piazza del Campo, one of Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great medieval squares. Continue to Florence. (BB,D) We start with a guided walking tour of Florence, this fascinating city with its Piazza, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, Giottoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bell Tower, the Baptistery of St. John the Baptist.

Rest of the day free (BB,D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY :HG Ĺ&#x; )ORUHQFH 5RPH Leave Florence around 2PM Arrived Rome almost dinner time (BB.D) 'D\ Ĺ&#x; 1RY 7KXUV Ĺ&#x; 5RPH 86$ End of our wonderful Pilgrimage

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

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September 28-october 4, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 28 , 20 1 8

Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral screens in NYC, New Jersey

by MoMar

G. Visaya /AJPress

THREE years after the highly successful run (both commercial and critical) of Heneral Luna comes the much-awaited sequel, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral, a historical biopic that focuses on the last months in the life of Gregorio del Pilar (Paulo Avelino), one of the youngest generals of the Philippine Revolution (against Spain) and the Philippine-American War. Goyo picks up immediately right after Heneral Luna’s ending and it follows the young general’s life up to the point where he died at the battle of Tirad Pass. A short film uploaded on YouTube entitled Angelito acts as a bridge to connect both films and provides a clearer transition by showcasing the story of Manuel and Jose Bernal after Luna’s death.

Goyo was the most trusted ally of Emilio Aguinaldo, the Philippine President and Commander-in-Chief during the Revolution and War. To his critics though, he is nothing but Aguinaldo’s lapdog.

A crucial scene, and one of my favorites, shows Manuel Bernal (masterfully played by Art Acuna) defying the authorities and getting into Goyo’s mind rent free as he asked the young general, “Are you a soldier or are you a dog?” before taunting him with “Tahol, Goyo, tahol!” (“Bark, Goyo, bark!”)

This and a few flashback scenes later would humanize Goyo’s character and reveal how he tries and copes with the questions that bother him and keep him up at night. There were scenes that reveal his personal battle against post traumatic stress disorder, one that he got after a near-death experience defending Kakarong de Sili in Bulacan. This, added to Bernal’s taunts would haunt Goyo endlessly.

Quickly, the film moves and after five months of relative peace, the U.S. Army begins its final push to crush the Philippine army and capture Aguinaldo. Goyo faces the biggest challenge of his life as he oversees the large caravan of officers, soldiers and civilians making their perilous escape through the mountains of the Northern regions.

If you have seen Heneral Luna and expect a loud, hotheaded and boisterous lead character, you’d be disappointed.

If at all, Goyo as portrayed in the film is anything but loud, but

don’t be fooled by that because Avelino delivers a powerful yet nuanced and subdued performance. It could very well be a study in contrast as both heroes’ characterizations are like night and day.

“For many, Gregorio del Pilar was a true hero of the revolution, but for some, he was nothing more than an arrogant henchman of Revolutionary President Emilio Aguinaldo. Yet his willingness to give up his life reveals a level of determination and perhaps humility that cannot be easily dismissed,” director Jerrold Tarog said. “For someone so young and popular to face death head on, Goyo, as del Pilar is known to his friends, deserves to be examined using both a wider and a more intimate lens.”

As the second part in the envisioned ambitious historical trilogy that began with Heneral Luna, Goyo: Ang Batang Heneral continues an attempt to examine Filipinos’ faults as a people by using the past as a reflection of the present.

With multiple points of view and the same characteristic freedom to move between historical fact and fiction as in Heneral Luna, Goyo expounds on themes of maturity and responsibility, contrasts the naivete of youth with sobriety of adulthood, and attempts to ask questions about our readiness for a task of nation building.

The film was shown in New York City and Elizabeth, New Jersey over the weekend and followers of Filipino films went out to watch.

Lawyer Elizabeth Cueva has always supported Filipino films with historical significance. She has also seen Heneral Luna and a preview of the bridge short film Angelito.

“They were [all] well made.

General Gregorio del Pilar has always been both a charismatic and enigmatic personality in Philippine history -- a tragic hero. There was a buzz on “hero” worship that was predicated on this film,” Cueva told the Asian Journal. “I was curious about how Jerrold Tarog would treat the character and his place in history.”

“It stirred a sense of nationalism in me,” she added.

She also cited the film’s cinematography, production design, costume, music and acting by the lead and ensemble actors and saying they were all

Carlo Cruz

Remedios and Goyo

Captain Juan del Pilar

Carlo Cruz relishes his Goyo experience

Emilio Aguinaldo and Gregorio del Pilar

excellent.

“I like how the overhead sweeping vistas actually transported the audience to the battle scene and terrain of the Battle of Tirad Pass and the military maneuvers of both parties. There is a good balance of dreamy romanticism and war action scenes,” she said.

“There is sympathy for the character of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar as well as criticism for his misplaced sense of loyalty in Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo. This is both good and bad, because it already “preaches” to the audience that Gen. Aguinaldo was a bad or selfish leader. There is definitely no sympathy for him here in this film,” Cueva added.

“I thought it should allow the audience to think and judge for themselves. I am not sure if a foreign audience with no background of the Philippine Revolutionary War would easily grasp the film. But those with background and interest will surely enjoy it,” she concluded.

Carlo Cruz relishes his Goyo experience New York based actor Carlo Cruz was still based in Manila late 2012 when he auditioned for Heneral Luna.

He didn’t get a call back. He moved to New York to further hone his craft. Three years later, he got a call from him and they offered a role for Goyo.

“No questions asked, I said yes. Tell me when and where, I’ll be there,” Cruz shared with us over coffee and mochi in Koreatown.

“I was really excited when I found out that I was going to be a part of the sequel. It is definitely one of my memorable experiences so far.”

Cruz plays the role of Captain Juan del Pilar, a younger cousin of Goyo’s. He did his part researched about the man but there’s not

Photos from Goyo.ph

Apolinario Mabini

AJPress Photos by Momar G. Visaya

much in history books.

“The lack of material to work with in a way opened doors for me to be creative and look at the script with a fresh perspective, free of bias,” he shared.

Prior to Goyo, Cruz was last seen in Toto, a film by New York based director John Paul Su. Cruz started his career in Manila doing commercials, then he got into independent films.

He did a Cinemalaya film called The Animals and worked on a few more.

In New York, he decided to hone his craft by enrolling in Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, the same school that Jake Cuenca attended a few years ago. He decided to stay in New York for a while to learn and absorb the working culture.

The shoot for Goyo took the cast and crew all over northern and central Luzon. They shot from May to November 2017. Cruz’s first day was end of June until October.

“Direk Jerrold followed the schedule, we would do 12 hour days so we would have enough time to rest and recuperate for the next shooting day. The energy on the set was always good, laging ganado. They were meticulous and organized as far as scheduling is concerned,” Cruz said.

Working on the film and gaining the entire experience made him realize just how much potential Philippine cinema has.

“This has been the biggest project I’ve been on, beautiful script and passionate people, I saw what else we could do and strive for to reach that level of filmmaking,” he shared. “What I love about the movie is that it is a very internal kind of film, it shows the internal conflict that the characters in the movie have to go through. You see the humanity of these individuals along with their own flaws and weaknesses.

It’s up to the viewers to decide.”

For now, his main goal is to grow as much as an artist and to absorb, take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. The process may feel a bit chaotic but he feels there’s a benefit because he is always evolving.

“I consider myself as a journeyman. I try to evolve as an artist, as a person. I try to work on my craft and better myself and wherever the meaningful work is, I’m there, whether it’s in the Philippines or here, I will follow my dream,” he said.

Cruz considers himself very lucky to be a part of a project such as Goyo, where everybody is pushing each other to get better.

He is also thankful that the Philippines has a lot of filmmakers who are very brave.

“It’s not always about entertainment, the social commentary aspect, that’s the power of film and that is extremely necessary as well,” he said.

by MoMar G. Visaya AJPress

NEW York based actor Carlo Cruz was still based in Manila late 2012 when he auditioned for Heneral Luna.

He didn’t get a call back. He moved to New York to further hone his craft. Three years later, he got a call from him and they offered a role for Goyo.

“No questions asked, I said yes. Tell me when and where, I’ll be there,” Cruz shared with us over coffee and mochi in Koreatown. “I was really excited when I found out that I was going to be a part of the sequel. It is definitely one of my memorable experiences so far.”

Cruz plays the role of Captain Juan del Pilar, a younger cousin of Goyo’s. He did his part researched about the man but there’s not much in history books.

“The lack of material to work with in a way opened doors for me to be creative and look at the script with a fresh perspective, free of bias,” he shared.

Prior to Goyo, Cruz was last seen in Toto, a film by New York based director John Paul Su. Cruz started his career in Manila doing commercials, then he got into independent films.

He did a Cinemalaya film called The Animals and worked on a few more.

In New York, he decided to hone his craft by enrolling in Lee Strasberg Theater and Film Institute, the same school that Jake Cuenca attended a few years ago. He decided to stay in New York for a while to learn and absorb the working culture.

The shoot for Goyo took the cast and crew all over northern and central Luzon. They shot from May to November 2017.

Cruz’s first day was end of June until October.

“Direk Jerrold followed the schedule, we would do 12 hour days so we would have enough time to rest and recuperate for the next shooting day. The energy on the set was always good, laging ganado. They were meticulous and organized as far as scheduling is concerned,” Cruz said.

Working on the film and

Joven Hernando

Carlo Cruz with two of his Goyo co-stars, Rafa Siguion-Reyna and Mon Confiado taken during a promotional stint in Cebu.

gaining the entire experience made him realize just how much potential Philippine cinema has.

“This has been the biggest project I’ve been on, beautiful script and passionate people, I saw what else we could do and strive for to reach that level of filmmaking,” he shared. “What I love about the movie is that it is a very internal kind of film, it shows the internal conflict that the characters in the movie have to go through. You see the humanity of these individuals along with their own flaws and weaknesses. It’s up to the viewers to decide.”

For now, his main goal is to grow as much as an artist and to absorb, take risks, make mistakes and learn from them.

The process may feel a bit chaotic but he feels there’s a benefit because he is always evolving.

“I consider myself as a journeyman. I try to evolve as an artist, as a person. I try to work on my craft and better myself and wherever the meaningful work is, I’m there, whether it’s in the Philippines or here, I will follow my dream,” he said.

Cruz considers himself very lucky to be a part of a project such as Goyo, where everybody is pushing each other to get better.

He is also thankful that the Philippines has a lot of filmmakers who are very brave.

“It’s not always about entertainment, the social commentary aspect, that’s the power of film and that is extremely necessary as well,” he said.

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 28 , 20 1 8

Immigration Corner

October 2018 priority dates The Priority dates for the Philippines are as follows: Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

February 15, 2008

December 22, 2006

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

December 01, 2017

August 22, 2016

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

December 15, 2007

May 15, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

June 01, 1997

June 08, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

April 08, 1996

June 08, 1995

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

FAMILY CATEGORY: Atty. MichAel gurfinkel, eSQ EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, “ABANDONED” PETITION SUCCESSFULY REOPENED 10 YEARS LATER BY ATTY. MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL. Elsinore (left) was petitioned by his the priority dates for that father back in 2001. However, when his younger sister, Elvie (center), checked the petition status online in 2005, she found out it was particular month, for the various denied due to “abandonment.” USCIS had sent a notice to petitioner’s old residence requesting additional documents, but the petitioner family and employment based never received the notice because he had moved, and therefore did not respond. Their first lawyer’s motion to reopen was denied for being categories. A priority date is a untimely, so their mother, an avid viewer of “Citizen Pinoy,” suggested they retain leading U.S. immigration attorney Michael J. Gurfinkel. person’s “place in line” for a visa, Watch this success story on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising supplement) meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is Immigrant earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was Living: 101 “current,” but later retrogressed and Beyond (or “moved backwards” and (16th of a series) became unavailable) before your Monette immigrant visa was issued (or AdevA MAglAyA before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

TRAVEL is a pure metaphor for Beginning last October our life’s journey.

2015, the format of the Visa at the get-go from a very young stuff while on the road, at sea or in There are two choices in the Bulletin changed, in that a new age. flight, is to get to our destination way we can travel. We can travel For most of us ordinary beings column was added, called the light or we can load up on stuff and fast so we can rest our weary “Application Filing Date.” If a who have to learn from scratch, literally become a beast of burden. bones and aching muscles and person’s priority date is earlier our learning curves can be steep. put our feet up. The fun is gone The reality for most of us is that It takes a long while for us to know than the Application Filing because tedium and fatigue have we heft and carry far too much Date, they can already file for the difference between a NEED taken over. physical and emotional baggage adjustment of status and work and a WANT. It shouldn’t be so because over time. I am focusing on the authorization (provided they We all know the drill. Needs there is truth in what they say physical baggage aspect only. The are otherwise eligible and USCIS are the things required for basic about any journey. Half the fun emotional baggage aspect is yet human existence: food, shelter and indicates on its website it will should be getting there. for another day. use the Application Filing Date clothing. Wants are those that our Very few of us are born wise Our journey becomes tedious for that month). This could ego or an infomercial tells us we old souls who already know what and cumbersome. All we want when we are too heavily laden with is important and what is frivolous Continued on Page 6 allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***

The bucket list

First Preference

Travel light

“He who must travel happily must travel light.”

— Antoine de Saint-Exupery

A family petition denied due to abandonment was successfully reopened, and a family reunited on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy!”

ELSINORE was petitioned by his father in 2001. However, years later, they discovered that his petition was denied due to “abandonment” when the USCIS sent a notice for additional

documents to their old address and they never submitted the documents.

The reason the family failed to respond to the notice was because they never received

it. The family changed address, and did not notify USCIS of their move. However, USCIS still sent the notice to the old address on file. Their first attorney’s motion to reopen was denied as being

untimely.

Elsinore’s mother was a regular viewer of TFC’s immigration program “Citizen Pinoy,” so she suggested they get leading U. S. immigration attorney MICHAEL J. GURFINKEL as their new lawyer. Initially, Elsinore’s younger sister, Elvie hesitated,

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

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 01, 2017

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 01, 2017

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: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

worried about the expensive fees.

However, when their mother’s health failed and one of her last wishes was that they take care of Elsinore’s petition and make sure he gets to the U.S., Elvie went ahead and retained Atty.

Gurfinkel.

Watch how the Law Offices of

Michael Gurfinkel, Inc. was able to get the case reopened, and how the family was finally reunited in Hawaii, realizing their mother’s dream, on a brand-new episode of “Citizen Pinoy” –– on Sunday 6:15 pm PST/EST (9:15 p.m. EST thru select cable/satellite providers).

(Advertising Supplement)

(Advertising supplement)

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 28 , 20 1 8

IFAW Season 3 at New York Fashion Week York, influence trends for the current and coming seasons.

Although later, Fashion Week has also invaded Los Angeles, Madrid, People, Events, Rome, Sao Paulo, Copenhagen, Places Tokyo, Monaco, Dubai, Berlin, and Manila.

BoBBy T. yalong Fashion memoirs recorded that the first ever New York Fashion Week was held in FINALLY, the euphoric 1943 (earlier called “Press hullabaloo over the much Week”) through the initiative of celebrated semi-annual New York Fashion Week came to an end with Eleonor Lambert with one main purpose: to give fashion buyers the International Fashion & Arts Week-Season 3 pulling the curtains alternatives to French fashion during World War II when workers down to officially conclude the in the fashion industry were global event. unable to travel to Paris.

As a fashion industry But in 1993 The Council of event, Fashion Week gives the Fashion Designers of America opportunity to designers, brand (CFDA) led by its President Stan names and fashion houses to display their latest collections and Herman and Executive Director Fern Mallis, came up with the idea fashion predictions in runway of centralizing fashion week and shows for buyers, the media, and aptly tagged it “New York Fashion the buying public. These events, Week,” although London was which are held in the fashion already using the term “Fashion capitals of the world like London, Week” as early as the 1980s.

Milan, Paris and of course, New

In 2001, IMG bought the rights to the event and when Olympus, the top selling camera company became the major sponsor of the fashion event in 2004, the week-long episode was named “Olympus Fashion Week.” In 2007 Mercedes-Benz became the title sponsor and expectedly, the event was called “MB Fashion Week New York.”

New York Fashion Week (NYFW) is a semi-annual (February and September) lavishly eminent clothing and fashion arts exhibition formerly held at the Skylight Clarkson Square, then at the Industria before it found its home at Bryant Park (6thAvenue and 42nd Street) until 2010, then it was moved to a new location at the Lincoln Center for only 4 years. After having loss its notable hosting sites, NYFW became wandering dew with no specific central location. The recent years saw the event being held at Spring Studios in 2015, a waterfront carnival, a converted railway terminal and a former post office.

In 2013 IMG and its New York Fashion Week events were sold to William Morris Endeavor (WME) and Silver Lake Partners for a monstrous amount of $2.3 billion. After a year, CFDA acquired FashionCalendar. com from Ruth Finley who had managed it for more than 6 decades.

Recording superstarperformer-producer Kanye West took over the sponsorship of the NY Fashion Week after MercedesBela Alberto in another Marco Not Polo Facu Herlein dons a Marco Not Polo Benz left. ensemble Sportwear Now included in the crammed-full roster of the FashionCalendar.Com is Indonesian designer-fashion show producer Vanny Tousignant’s International Fashion & Arts Week (IFAW) now on its third season. Passionately driven and devotedly dedicated to her craft, Vanny’s unrivaled enthusiasm to whatever she does is contagious. Her infectious assiduousness and indefatigable

On the PEP Front

A pose for posterity... models and IFAW-3 organizaers

Joshua Dela Cruz Photo from Instagram/@j_deecee

IFAW Founder-CEO Vanny Tousignant

Fil-Am Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz headlines ‘Blue’s Clues’ as new host

he was so cool.”

Dela Cruz further shared that it was “Blue’s Clues” that taught him to be curious and also what NEW York-based Filipinogot him into singing. Dela Cruz is American actor Joshua Dela a Broadway actor and is currently Cruz was recently announced as understudying for Aladdin on the new host of beloved 1996 Broadway. children’s show “Blue’s Clues.”

Being the new host of “Blue’s The official Twitter account Clues” still hasn’t fully sunk in for of Nickelodeon’s NickSplat!

Dela Cruz, as he still thinks of it made the news known last all as a dream. “It’s a wild, wild Sept. 13 when it shared a video dream. One day I’ll wake up. I Another Marco Not Polo original modeled by on the social media platform don’t plan on doing that anytime introducing Dela Cruz as the Aileen Sison Aromin soon because this is amazing. To show’s new host. It’s a feat that attitude are more than enough be part of such an iconic show, I requires some big shoes to fill to inspire everyone in her circle, am over the moon happy.” as Dela Cruz replaces Steve models included… a great But while Dela Cruz may Burns, the original host of the motivator, indeed! show, and Donovan Patton (Joe), find himself still in disbelief, Other than being the owner former host Burns shared that who succeeded Burns after his and CEO of Vanyo Fashion, Vanny he knew Dela Cruz was the departure in 2002. is the USA Director at Beauty In the video, Dela Cruz shared right person for the role the of Arts International Magazine, moment he walked in during his journey in becoming the Director of Miss Woman Kebaya auditions. And he beat out “Blue’s Clues” host. “My journey Indonesia USA, and Founder & CEO to get here was really wild,” Dela the thousands of people who of IFAW. Cruz said. “When I auditioned for auditioned, including American Altruistic and humanely wrestler and actor John Cena.

‘Blue’s Clues,’ Steve was in the philanthropic, the amiable fashion room.”

“I know that they saw designer has her hands loaded thousands and thousands of Dela Cruz shared that he felt with activities yet still finds time “starstruck” upon seeing Burns in people. And when we saw Josh, to extend professional help to I turned to everyone and said the flesh. aspiring designers and pushes we can start filming tomorrow,” “I was starstruck, but at the them to higher level for their Burns told the Huffington same time immediately felt own career growth. Easy to say Post last Sept. 13. “He was comfortable with him. He was that this affable lady, filled with an just so generous with his time phenomenal from Day One.” animating and exalting influence, Well, it seems it won’t and his energy. It was a huge, is indubitably an inspirer. huge moment for me to meet the just be kids who’ll be tuning Innately creative with person that I was watching on TV in on the upcoming reboot.

Congratulations, Josh!

Continued on Page 6 growing up and to find out that

by Cody Cepeda Inquirer.net

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Health@Heart

Aspirin: Anti-cancer, etc.?

manageable by pills, instead of by a knife in the operating room.

Can vasectomy be reversed?

PHILIP S. CHUA, Vasectomy is a sterilization MD, FACS, FPCS procedure in the male where the left and right vas deferens (about 4 mm in diameter) are Does caffeine hurt our surgically cut and tied to prevent health? the sperm from getting through, Researchers have found that thus rendering the man infertile. coffee chasers have increased The ejaculation thereafter blood pressure, faster heart rate, contains seminal fluids devoid and higher stress hormone level, of sperm. With modern surgical compared to non-coffee drinkers. technology utilizing microsurgical The substance responsible for procedure with the aid of surgical these changes is caffeine, which loops (magnifying eye lenses is also found in cola drink and with built-in light), vasectomy chocolates. These changes in can be reversed. The cut ends of the physiology of the body are the vas deferens on both sides considered harmful to health.

Somehow, tea, which also contains are prepared (trimmed and cleaned) and re-anastomosed (reone variety of caffeine, has been connected) together, like joining deemed to be good for our body, two water pipes end to end. especially green tea.

This will then allow the sperm to Does aspirin protect us pass through, making the man against cancer? fertile once again. This reversal is Yes, according to clinical desired by men whose only child studies conducted on patients taking daily aspirin (Acetylsalicylic had died, or by those who had remarried, etc.

Acid) for conditions like arthritis, Why is the combination of etc., or among heart patients viagra and nitrates fatal? taking aspirin to thin their Viagra (Sildenafil citrate) is blood to prevent blood clots the very effective “anti-impotent” and blockages in the coronary (heart) arteries. The findings show pill prescribed for male erectile dysfunction, whose chemical that those taking daily dose of action allows the veins in the aspirin (as low as 81 mg a day) penis to dilate and fill with more have almost 43 percent lesser blood to cause engorgement and risk in developing pancreatic erection, enabling the individual cancer, compared to those who to successful penetration and do not take aspirin daily. More intercourse. Nitrates are heart investigation is underway to medications that also dilate blood find out the explanation for this vessels (arteries and veins in the apparent link, and also if aspirin similarly protects us against colon heart and all over the body).

When the blood vessels in the cancer, other malignancies and body are dilated “too much” against other conditions. Indeed, (as the combination of Viagra our longtime household friend, and nitrates will do), the blood aspirin, so commonly simple and pressure of the person falls very inexpensive medication for the usual headaches and pains, is truly low, and uncontrollably leads to shock, and death in some an amazing wonder drug.

What is the cause of stomach patients. Viagra is a very safe drug to take, as the millions and ulcers? millions of men taking it could In the past, the medical community thought that stomach attest, as long as it is taken under ulcers were caused by hyperacidity the supervision of a physician and (high acid content in the stomach), not taken by heart patients who are on medications that contain by eating spicy food, alcohol nitrates. ingestion, or even by prolonged Do we really need sleep? hunger. This was what physicians Many times, we hear people and other healthcare personnel (young and old) claiming that were taught, and the prevailing they do not need sleep, or that scientific opinion at the time.

Today, we know better. The cause an hour or two was enough sleep for them. It is unhealthy not to of majority of stomach ulcers is have adequate sleep. While there an infection, caused by H. pylori is no magic number, having at bug. When the researcher who least 8 hours of a restful sleep is discovered this initially presented considered good for the body. his theory and findings to the This brief “hibernation” gives our world medical community, he body time to recharge and repair was scorned and literally laughed itself, including our immune at, until various independent system. With inadequate sleep, and extensive laboratory and our body functions less than clinical studies proved him right. optimal, our brain and other He became a hero who had organs less efficient, and our revolutionized the treatment of disposition a bit cloudy and gastric ulcers, transforming this irritable. Those who have enough disease entity from a surgical restful sleep also feel and look illness to a medical condition

better, and are more pleasant, positive and productive. On the other hand, sleeping more than 10 hours daily (except for babies and young children) does not confer extra benefits, and might even make one lazier and more sluggish.

Is it bad to wash our face often?

Washing our face 2 or 3 times a day, and as needed, on top of a daily shower, is not bad; provided we do not use harsh soap and we replace the moisture that is lost with washing by applying moisturizing cream or lotion after each wash or shower. Washing our face cleanses our face of bacteria and dirt, so it is healthy to do it at least twice a day, followed by a facial moisturizer.

Why does blood not clot inside our blood vessels?

This is one of the wonders of our body, which is replete with various multi-layer defensive mechanisms (and offensive ones against bacteria, viruses and other intruders or potential diseases or injuries), mediated by chemical reactions within us, all aimed at protecting us and keeping us healthier by constantly maintaining homeostasis (physiologic balance within our body). Blood circulating in our arteries and veins does not clot because we have natural built-in anticoagulant (anti-clot) substances produced by our body. Also, the smoothness of the endothelium (lining of the inner wall of the blood vessels), which contains negatively charged protein, repels the clotting factors and platelets to maintain the fluidity of blood. These chemicals keep our blood “just right,” not too thin for us to have spontaneous bleeding and not too thick to produce clotting and blockages in our blood vessels.

Our lifestyle (including smoking or medications we take) could adversely affect this homeostasis and throw it helter-skelter. When this homeostasis is off-balance, an unphysiologic condition ensues and an ailment develops. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.

He is the chairman of the Filipino United Network – USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States. For more data, visit philipSchua. com; comments questions: scalpelpen@ gmail.com.

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5

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E P T E M B E R 28 , 20 1 8

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS S E P T E M B E R 29

Laoguenian Association of Southern California to hold induction ball in City of Industry, CA The Laoaguenian Association of Southern California, Inc. (LASC) will hold its induction of new set of officers on Saturday, September 29, 2018 at the Pacific Palms Resort & Hotel (1 Industry Hills Parkway, City of Industry, CA 91744). The new inductees are headed by Mario Medina, president-elect. Music will be provided by Willie Manacsa & The Midnight Motion Band. For other related questions, please call Sonny Siazon, past president & adviser, at (714) 720-3913.

PBRC 30th Anniversary in South San Francisco, CA The Pilipino Bayanihan Resource Center (PBRC) will celebrate its 30th Anniversary on September 29, 2018 at the Holiday Inn along South Airport Blvd. in South San Francisco, CA starting at 6 p.m. According to PBRC President Ray Satorre, the event will recognize the organization’s outstanding volunteers, as well as honor Perla Gange Ibarrientos and Monica Abello for their continuous service to the PBRC. Both Ibarrientos and Abello were among the founders of the organization about 30 years ago. Money raised from the event will enable the nonprofit organization to continue their projects, including legal immigration clinics, Tai Chi classes for seniors, senior cultural dance, Eskabo (Filipino martial arts) classes for youngsters and adults, Tagalog classes, and the PBRC outreach project for the Daly City Public Library children and their parents (parol-making or bamboo lanterns). For more information about the 30th Anniversary celebration of the PBRC, call (650) 992-9110 or send email to pbrc333@ sbcglobal.net.

PHII and JPRMM symposium on modern-day heroes in Rosemead, CA The Philippine Heritage Institute International and the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument Movement invite the youth, ages 15-35, to the 12th Annual PHII Youth Congress on Saturday, September 29, 2018, from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Garvey Community Center (9108 Garvey Ave., Rosemead, CA 91770-3337). Join to celebrate the stories and achievements of modernday heroes that inspire our youth to dream, to act, to find, to emulate, or to be just their own heroes. Keynote speaker is Dean Tanglao, Doctor of Physical Therapy; CEO/Founder of Kinda Fit Kinda Fat®. Joining him are featured speakers: Josef T.D. Madrigal, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA; Christelle Narvasa, nursing student, Mount San Antonio College; Cristina Narvasa, undergrad student at Cal State Univ., Fullerton majoring in Biological Science; Delilah Dijamco, Financial Advisor, The Prudential Insurance Co. of America; and soon-to-be teen Ryan dela Cruz, 3-time Taekwondo national champion. PHII’s vision is to improve the quality of life affecting Filipino American communities through research, education, and recognition, with the youth as its main focus. Breakfast and lunch will be served. To RSVP, please contact: Josie E. de Jesus (714) 272-0300; Dr. Anna A. Chickey (562) 900-0379; Email Amelia Carpio at ameliacarpio33@yahoo.com or freyabnish@gmail.com.

O C TO B E R 6

Asian Small Business Expo in Montebello, CA The Asian Small Business Expo is the only business-to-business expo that engages the Asian business community and brings this growing economic force into the mainstream to connect and utilize your company and its services.Don’t miss the opportunity on Saturday, October 6 to connect with small businesses, market your organization and tap into a network of entrepreneurs, service providers, financial organizations, franchises and governmental and legislative representatives. This year’s theme is “Growing your business online: Standing out in the digital world,” featuring 40+ exhibitors and workshops. It will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Quiet Cannon (901 Via San Clemente, Montebello, CA 90640). Visit https://www. eventbrite.com/e/annual-asian-small-business-expo-free-event-tickets-45785739379 to register for free. Walk-ins are also welcome.

City of Carson kicks off 9th annual Fil-Am History Month festivities On Saturday, October 6 the City of Carson will have the kick-off ceremonies for its 9th Annual Filipino American History Month festivities. The day starts at 8:00 a.m. by the Dr. Jose P. Rizal Monument outside the Carson Community Center on 801 E. Carson St. in Carson, California. This will be followed by a wreath-laying ceremony, and a program from 9:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. that highlights their leadership awards in three categories: Community Leadership, Youth Achievement, and Heroism. Headliners for the program are singers Fe de los Reyes and Miguel Vera. Other performers are the CSU Long Beach Filipino American Coalition, Shane Selloria, Jason Farol, Kindreds of Carson, and former “Fil-Ams Got Talent” champions Charishma Marquez, Shekinah Austria, and Therese Masangcay. Keynote speaker is Asian Pacific Studies Professor Dr. Mary Talusan-Lacanlale. Consul General Adelio Angelito Cruz and Councilmember Elito Santarina will also grace the kick-off. For more information, please call (310) 952-1743.

O C TO B E R 7

Serenata Filipina Ver. 2 at LA’s Ford Amphitheater Philippine Welfare Officer Josephine Tobia briefs the audience about the programs of the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration. Joining her on the panel are (L-R) Consul General Renato Villa, Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad, and Economic Minister Jose Victor ChanGonzaga.

Photo courtesy of the Philippine Embassy

POLO-WDC gathers Filipino local hires, HSWs at DC town hall

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Philippine Overseas Labor Office in Washington DC (POLO-WDC), through the leadership of Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad, organized a town hall meeting and fellowship event for Filipino nationals who are working as local hires and household service workers (HSWs) at the different diplomatic missions and international organizations in Washington, D.C. on Saturday, September 22 at the Carlos P. Romulo Hall, Philippine Embassy.

The gathering provided an opportunity for this specific set of Filipino workers in the DCMaryland-Virginia (DMV) area to meet and dialogue with Embassy officials about their issues and concerns.

In his inspirational message, Philippine Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez emphasized the Philippine Government’s

unwavering commitment to safeguarding the welfare of kababayans overseas. He expressed pride in representing the Filipino people who have earned the trust and high esteem of Americans and their foreign employers in the United States.

“Lagi natin gawin ang tama at sumunod sa batas.

Ang magandang imahe ng mga Filipino sa Amerika ay nakakatulong sa ating lahat na maitaguyod ang inyong kapakanan,” Ambassador Romualdez told the audience.

The town hall featured a panel of speakers that include newly-arrived Philippine Consul General Renato Villa, who assured the Filipino workers that the Philippine Embassy stands ready to extend assistance if needed; Welfare Officer Josephine Tobia who gave a briefing on OWWA’s programs;

Economic Minister Jose Victor Chan-Gonzaga who shared the good news about the sustained growth of the Philippine economy and encouraged investments from Filipino overseas workers; and the main organizer, Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad, who explained POLO’s mandate and contract verification processes.

The speakers engaged the participants in a Q&A session after the formal remarks.

“Engaging in outreach activities and open dialogues with Filipino workers are critical components of our work at POLO. We want to make sure that our services continue to be relevant and responsive to the needs of our kababayansand that they have access to the services and resources of POLO should the need arise,” Labor Attaché Angela Librado-Trinidad said in a post-event statement.

“Serenata Filipina Ver. 2” is the only Filipino music concert at the famed Ford Theatres’ Summer Season. Features female OPM stalwarts: jazz diva Louie Reyes, vocal powerhouse Annie Nepomuceno, hitmaker Odette Quesada and many more, backed by a live band. Part of the proceeds benefits Philippine Patrons of the Arts USA, and other community partners.

Grounds open for picnicking at 4:30 p.m., show is at 6:30pm. Tickets are $100 VIP, $70, $55, $40 and $35 for students. Buy online at www.fordtheatres.org or by calling the box office at (323) 461-3673.

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Daly City hosts Fil-Am History Month celebration Daly City celebrates Filipino-American History Month via Kasayahan sa Daly City at the Marchbank Park (2001 Junipero Serra Blvd., Daly City, CA 94014) from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. There will be food trucks, a family fun zone, arts and crafts, a jump house, a beer garden, several vendor booths, a bubble machine, and entertainment from homegrown talent. Parking is free at the DC Station Garage on 2001 Junipero Serra Boulevard, and Marchbank Park is accessible on the second floor. This is a free event, and everyone is invited.Entertainment throughout the day will be provided by Melvinsings! Maddie B, Kariktan Dance Company, American Center of Philippine Arts, Rudy Kalma, Mike Dayao, Guji, and more. Headliners to perform at the TFC Hour are “Queen of Freestyle” Jocelyn Enriquez and rapper and spoken word artist Ruby Ibarra. For more information about this event, call (650) 991-8001 or go to their Facebook events pagehttps://www.facebook.com/events/264867907630476/.

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9th annual Larry Itliong Day celebration in Carson, CA On Saturday, October 27, the 9th Annual Larry Itliong Day Celebration will be held at the Veterans Park, 22400 Moneta Avenue, also in Carson, California. The event is from 8:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. with the 2018 Larry Itliong Labor Awards as highlight of the day. Speakers for the day are: Johnny Itliong, director of the Larry Itliong Foundation through Education, and son of labor leader Larry Itliong; Fernando Chavez, founder of the Chavez Law Group and son of union leader and labor organizer Cesar Chavez; and Historian Roger Gadiano, who is also a member of the Filipino American National Historical Society (FANHS) – Delano chapter.

Silakbo sa Mik Tinig, a local group who performs socially relevant raps about immigration, women, and demilitarization will be performing on that day.

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

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The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 28 , 20 1 8

Pia Wurtzbach becomes first Filipino to get Madame Tussauds wax figure

By Ritchel

Mendiola AJPress

FORMER Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach makes history again as the first Filipino to be immortalized as a wax figure at Madame Tussauds Hong Kong.

Wurtzbach, who recently went through the MTHK sitting where they took up detailed measurements of the beauty queen and photos of her from every angle to capture the perfect reference, took the news to Instagram.

“I have a big announcement!

Starting early next year, I’ll be residing in Hong Kong! Well, my wax figure will! So excited to be the first Filipino part of Madame Tussauds! What a birthday treat!

Please visit me there. Will be waiting for you!,” her post read.

Madame Tussauds General Manager Jenny You said, “Leading up to this moment, we of course did our own research, and this is our way to showing the Filipino community living and visiting Hong Kong as well as our neighbor SEA cities that we heard them well. With Pia’s sweet, positive and fun personality, we really could not have imagined having anyone but her to represent the Philippines in this way.”

Dingdong Dantes chooses growing family with Marian Rivera over politics By niña

Guno Inquirer.net

DINGDONG Dantes has denied anew that he would run in the 2019 elections.

The actor released a statement on Tuesday, September 25, following his wife Marian Rivera’s announcement that the couple is expecting their second child.

Dantes said he crafted the formal statement after receiving many queries on his political aspirations. He mentioned that he had given thought to do further public service after working with the National Youth Commission and his organizations YesPinoy Foundation and YesPH Community Development Inc. He said it was after discerning through prayer that he received his answer in the form of Rivera’s pregnancy.

“And in the process of my Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach gets her hair matched with samples by artists of Madame discernment, I received His Tussauds Hong Kong. response in the most surprising “More than being a queen, statement. and beautiful way. With she has all the makings of an icon She also told Preview that it overflowing joy, Marian and I are and we’re proud to be able to gives her “more motivation to happy to share with everyone house her wax figure at Madame keep on doing better” and “just that we have been blessed with Tussauds Hong Kong for the rest keep representing the Philippines another child,” he wrote. of the world to be able to interact as best as I can even after Ms. “My discernment revealed with,” she added.

Universe.”

“When I found out, I was so Madame Tussauds is a wax excited. I couldn’t believe it! In museum that first opened in my head, this is something only Europe back in 1835. It has since happens to big stars. I go to opened museums in major cities From Page 3 Madame Tussauds, so I know what all over the world. should acquire to feel better, look it’s like and how fun it is there. And Wurtzbach’s wax figure is now, thinking that I’m going to be slated to be unveiled in early 2019. better and improve our status in society such as the latest car model, one of them, I’m very honored, I’m She will be joining the likes of the new smartphone, large screen very grateful, and I can’t wait to Michael Jackson, Barack Obama, TV sets or luxury items or anything see it,” Wurtzbach said in a press Anne Hathaway, and many more. else that advertisers tell us we ought to have to make our lives better or feel important.

The distinction should be easy enough if our mental faculties are grounded in common sense and just basic understanding of what is important and what isn’t. *All donations are TaxWalnut, CA 91773 Tel: (909) 595Those of us who have wise Deductible – CA 501c(3) Non7441).

Profit Corporation. PMASC Tax ID: parents may try to tell us so until Registration starts at 11am, they are blue in the face but for 23-7264511 while the tee-off will be at the most part, unless and until we For inquiries, please call: 12:30pm. For only $120.00, you go through life experiences that Chairman – Dr. Bob Mungcal may enjoy the 18-hole golfcourse, shape our understanding and (562) 243-8895 or Co-Chairman riding cart, practice balls, – Dr. Manuel Baculi (310) 408-7968 appreciation of what truly matters various prizes and dinner! Tee in life, it is guaranteed that we Dr. Andy Ebilane (424) 201sponsorship is available for only will bungle our way through just 9848 or Dr. Ray Abejuela (909) $150.00. Deadline for registration learning to distinguish between a 859-4865 is on October 15, 2018. basic need and a frivolous want.

A need is probably owning one quality watch to help us manage our time. A want is having 12 different watches to match what we wear.

We will acquire mountains of stuff through our lifetimes. It’s not our fault we live in a consumer

what is truly important in my life—Panahon ito para suportahan ang pagdadalang-tao ng aking asawa (This is the time to support my wife’s pregnancy),” he said.

He made the assurance that he would find other ways to serve: “My humble service to the public will continue and it could take a different form or level in the future; but first, I have to ensure that my home is protected and secured before I can take care

Photo from Instagram/@dongdantes

of others.”

The Liberal Party released Dantes’ name as a possible 2019 senatorial candidate in early September. However, the “Alyas Robin Hood” actor said days after that he wouldn’t run.

Last April, the actor’s name was included in the Pulse Asia survey of senatorial preferences with 95 percent awareness and 16.8 percent of votes. His name has since been left out of subsequent surveys.

The bucket list...

Philippine Medical Association of Southern California’s ‘Charity Golf Tournament’ PLEASE join Philippine Medical Association of Southern California as they hold a Charity Golf Tournament of which proceeds will support the medical mission and other humanitarian projects of PMASC and its Auxiliary.

The Charity Golf Tournament will be held on Saturday, October 27 at the Royal Vista Golf Course (located at )20055 Colima Rd.,

Dingdong Dantes and Marian Rivera

society where acquiring stuff is the default behavior. Consider the success of companies that rent out public storage spaces. If you are one of those who rent such spaces in addition to your home’s bulging garage and storage spaces for long periods of time, it may be time to assess the quality of your life’s journey and begin divesting promptly, either gradually or drastically and choosing to travel light. The stuff we acquire is just that. Stuff and nothing more ……

When we own something, that something owns us. We are responsible for its care and maintenance to keep it functioning and useful. When that something has outgrown its usefulness or has become passé, we are responsible for its disposition. When we acquire something new, we probably need to dispose of 3 other items, just to keep us in balance.

One day, if we let ourselves listen and learn from that small, quiet and wise voice within us, we will discover that important things are not stuff. They are largely intangible things — like health of mind, body and spirit, faith, hope

and love, joy, sacrifice, a sense of wonder and humor to cushion us from the rough shocks of life.

So next time we find ourselves meandering about armed to the teeth with credit cards in those huge shopping malls, outlets or flea markets, try to go on browsing mode only. Hold off on splurging next month’s paycheck. This is likewise true for those who go online shopping, indulging themselves in retail therapy in the comfort of their own homes in their pajamas. Look at the merchandise and appreciate the craftsmanship and give yourself time to decide if owning it will answer a need or just satisfy an impulsive want.

Window shop, if you must. It would be like going to a museum where you can look, appreciate beauty and quality while having a great time and leaving as light and unencumbered as you came in, without a shopping cart full of stuff. *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com

IFAW Season 3 at New York Fashion Week From Page 4 unparalleled ingenuity, Vanny cannot merely sit on her laurels and watch everything pass by.

Aptly armed with her consummate capacity to build and lead, she formed International Fashion and Arts Week to co-exist with the already globally established NY Fashion Week, and her ambitious move wasn’t disposed to squander. Her promising idea saw the full realization of its objective which is to be recognized by mainstream event institutions.

Just last Sunday, September 16, 2018, Vanny’s IFAW-Season 3 made it to the closing of the 2018 NYFW at the NYC Event Spaces along #4 43rd Street in Manhattan, NY. ‘Though days beyond NYFW’s official finale, IFAW’s event was a fitting postscript and a significantly ostentatious display of innovative fashion ideas by thirteen international designers.

Get to know the thirteen equally art-endowed designers that dressed up more than 40 models that participated in the eventful showdown of arts and designs as ably hosted by Steve Silver and Fatena Qassem.

Mary Indo’s Indonesian Javanese Bridal Collection was an impressive curtain raiser which was met with deafening approbation by the audience.

Avon Clothing Co.-USA exhibited its ready-to-wear collection while heavy weights found solace in Nataljia’s Elite Plus-Size Couture, Nigerian Plus-Size Collection, and Built By Stacy.

Fantasy creations of Concept Designs (by Marcie Concepcion) which are products from the flight of her imagination, showed Disney and Superheroes-inspired collection, MT Collections took pride in presenting her headpiece and jewelry assortments, Nature Collection for 2019 Spring & Summer were Adriana Boutique’s ace creations, and Divaa Jewels

Aileen in a Marcie Concepcion’s Disneyinspired outfit

Facu Herlein in a Jude Charles Collection

Miss Uganda 2018 Quiin Anenakyo in a Vanyo creation

Vanny Tousignant with actor-model Gio Delavicci and Fatena Qassem

Continued on Page 7 Intan Sahrini (seated center) heads her crew of make-up artists

Book on Filipino American theater history now available

A book detailing the history of Filipino American theater groups and artists is now available.

Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History has information on Tony Award winners such as Lea Salonga (‘Miss Saigon’), Lena Hall (‘Hedwig and the Angry Inch’), Clint Ramos (‘Eclipsed’) and Robert Lopez (‘Avenue Q,’ ‘Book of Mormon’).

Written by Walter Ang, it also has interviews with Fil-Am theater makers such as directors, playwrights, set and costume designers and actors.

Currently on Broadway, Ali Ewoldt is in ‘The Phantom of the Opera.’ Arielle Jacobs and Don Darryl Rivera are in ‘Disney’s Aladdin.’ Robert Brill designed the sets of ‘Summer: The Donna Summer Musical.’ Lea Salonga just finished her stint in ‘Once on This Island’ with costumes designed

by Clint Ramos. Robert Lopez composed and wrote songs for ‘Disney’s Frozen.’

There are Fil-Am actors in touring productions: Jose Llana and Joan Almedilla just finished ‘The King and I,’ Isa Briones in ‘Hamilton,’ N’Jameh Camara in ‘The Color Purple,’ Lissa deGuzman and Jay Paranada in ‘Disney’s Aladdin’ and Emily Bautista and Christine Bunuan with visiting Filipino actor Red Concepcion in ‘Miss Saigon.’

Through the decades “Fun fact: Fil-Ams have been performing on Broadway since the

It then details seminal FilAm theater groups in California such as Ating Tao and Sining Bayan and in New York City such as Philippine Educational Theatre Arts League, as well as Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American profiles Fil-Am artists who either Theater History features Lea Salonga founded or were early members and other Tony Award-winning Filipino of the pioneering Asian American Americans. theater companies of the 1960s and 1970s like Northwest Asian a Filipino term used to designate American Theatre (Seattle), Pan districts. “In pre-colonial times, it Tony Award winner Lea Salonga.

Tony Award winner Clint Ramos.

Asian Repertory Theatre (New meant ‘settlements.’

It symbolizes (Photo from Leasalonga.com) (Photo from Clintramos.com) York), and East West Players (Los the Philippines and the term Angeles).

‘Broadway’ symbolizes the USA It also mentions the unique and theater. Both terms symbolize Filipino American performance all the different kinds of Filipino tradition Pilipino Cultural Night American theater communities or PCN, annual shows staged in listed in the book,” he said. campuses featuring dances and Pioneers skits.

The book begins with the Trailblazers performers of the 1900s and The book continues with the 1910s, moves on to the immigrant establishing of trailblazing Fil-Am community productions of the 1920s and 1930s, then lists the first theater companies in the 1980s and 1990s, such as Ma-Yi Theater few Filipino American performers in New York (which eventually Filipino American theater groups and artists from the 1900s to the 2010s are discussed in on Broadway in the 1950s. the book Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History.

late 1940s, Barbara Luna was in ‘South Pacific,’ Neile Adams was in ‘Kismet’ and Patrick Adiarte was in ‘The King and I,’” said Ang, a journalist who covers Filipino American theater. The book includes some of his previously published articles and features new interviews and additional research.

“And as early as the 1930s,

there was already a Fil-Am theater group. Baltazar Flor immigrated from the Philippines and founded the Filipino Catholic Club Drama Guild in Seattle and staged plays in English,” he said.

The book has information on other groups and individuals that have comprised Filipino American theater throughout the decades.

The ‘barangay’ in the title is

IFAW Season 3 at New York Fashion Week From Page 6 showcased her Couture Indian Jewelries.

Mama Theodora’s exceptionally rare Fish Scale Jewelries were revelation while Jude Charles of JC Collections dumbfounded the audience with his suits, jackets, bags, and accessories made from authentic animal furs and prints.

What could be a more appropriate ante-finale than something exceptionally avantgarde by Marco Not Polo. Oneof-a-kind prints from the original artworks of world-renowned artist Peter Marco found swaggering

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the runway while Vanny’s Vanyo Fashion took the final slot and brought the curtains down.

IFAW-Season 3 is composed of an unflagging team of equally dedicated and hardworking members: Vanny Tousignant (Producer), Jeanette Marco (Marketing), Andrene Williams (Coordinator), Bobby T. Yalong (Choreographer) and Chankasingh (Photographer). and Intan Saharini (Make-up) who led a crew of make-up artists and hairdressers.

With the way Vanny Tousignant’s IFAW is progressing while simultaneously inching its

path to where it could be fully recognized and (be) catapulted to a stature it deserves, it won’t be surprising if the world’s best models and designers will come from its fold.

Fashion authorities relentlessly stand firm to their notion that fashion itself remains obscure to find its true historian and identify its exact origin.

But regardless, fashion will still endure as long as there are passionately fashionable and stylishly conscious fanatics.

For comments and suggestions, please email to: gemini0646@yahoo.com.

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY S E p T E m b E R 28 , 20 1 8

broadened its focus to an Asian American theater company), CIRCA-Pintig in Chicago, Sining KilUSAn in Seattle, QBd Ink in Washington, DC and Bindlestiff Studio in San Francisco; and goes on to follow the emerging groups and leaders of the 2000s and 2010s.

“Hopefully the book will be useful to Filipino Americans,” said Ang. “Whether they be casual theatergoers, passionate theater fans, new or seasoned theater makers seeking information about the paths carved by their fellow artists, or parents and educators looking for resources to help younger generations become more aware of the rich heritage and artistic work that has been and continues to be created by Filipino Americans.”

Barangay to Broadway: Filipino American Theater History has hardcover, paperback and ebook formats at Amazon.com.

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