101118 - Las Vegas Edition

LAS VEGAS

We’ve got you covered from Hollywood to Broadway... and Online!

OCTOBER 11-17, 2018

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

Volume 29 - No. 38 • 2 Sections – 20 Pages

2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, NV 89109 Tel: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

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

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Kavanaugh sits on Supreme Court bench after weeks of debate over sexual misconduct JUST weeks before the midterm elections are to take place, Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh sat on the Supreme Court bench for the first time on Tuesday, October 9 after weeks of debating accusations of sexual assault and alcohol abuse.

Kavanaugh, 53, was confirmed on Saturday, October 6, and replaces retired Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy who resigned earlier this year. Swearing Kavanaugh in was Chief Justice John Roberts.

The 50-48 Senate confirmation vote to approve Kavanaugh was the closest of such kind in over a century, and was a major victory for President Donald Trump and Republicans who with Kavanaugh may now see a 5-4 majority vote in nine seat Supreme Court.

Kavanaugh was Trump’s second nomination to get a seat on the court since the president took office in 2016.

On route to a campaign rally in Kansas, Trump said of Kavanaugh, “We’re very honored that he was able to withstand this horrible, horrible attack by the Democrats.”

In the weeks leading up to the confirmation,

u PAGE A4

Cubs’ Addison Russell suspended 40 games for domestic abuse allegations

Duterte assures China: PH won’t join US ‘show of force’ According to Roque, the naval drills, which will coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Manila visit next month, PRESIDENTIAL spokesman Harry were discussed at a meeting between Roque at a press briefing assured China President Duterte and Chinese Ambasthat the Philippines will not be joining sador Zhao Jianhua at Malacañang on the military exercises the United States Monday, October 8.

“China, of course, expressed concern is planning to conduct in the South over a naval military exercise that the U.S. China Sea.

by AJPRESS

Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano

u PAGE A5

Cayetano to resign, mulls post in PH House in 2019

by AJPRESS

ON Wednesday, October 3, the Major League Baseball league suspended Chicago Cubs shortstop Addison Russell for 40 games for violating the league’s policy on domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse after Russell’s ex-wife opened up to investigators regarding alleged domestic abuse by Russell.

Melisa Reidy-Russell, who filed for divorce from Russell (who is half-Filipino on his mother’s side) in June 2017,wrote an emotionally-charged blog post last month that detailed years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her ex-husband.

This week, she spoke with ESPN and said

u PAGE A2

u PAGE A5

MEETING AT THE PALACE. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte discusses matters with House Speaker Gloria Arroyo during a meeting at the Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, October 9. During their meeting, Duterte discussed several legislative measures pending at the House of Representatives with Arroyo. Duterte requested Arroyo to include in the 2019 budget the funding for the housing projects for members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and Philippine National police, as well as the water system for the housing project for the victims of super typhoon Yolanda.

Malacañang photo by King Rodriguez

Robredo insists role as Duterte’s successor

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

VIRAY

MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo has insisted that she is constitutionally mandated to take over the presidency in case President Rodrigo Duterte will not be able to do so.

The draft federal charter at the House of Representatives excludes the vice president from the line of succession in the transition government.

The transitory provisions of the

u PAGE A2

NBI arrests ‘notorious forger’ Pacquiao not interested over fake US visa application in fighting McGregor

by AJPRESS THE National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has arrested a previously convicted master forger for allegedly falsifying documents once again.

Dubbed as the “golden hand,” Manuel Bala has already served time in prison after being convicted in 2000 for violating Article 172 of the Revised Penal Code.

Bala was arrested by operatives of the NBI’s Anti-Organized and Transnational Crime Division (NBIAOTCD) in an entrapment operation in Paco, Manila on October 5.

NBI Deputy Director Ferdinand Lavin at a press conference said, “The notorious and famous Nonoy Bala is back in the arms of the

law.”

The arrest was executed after the NBI was alerted by the United States Embassy in Manila over a falsified document submitted to them by two Filipinos applying for a U.S. tourist visa.

Kevin Keith Fajardo and Jarra Rowella allegedly posed as a married couple after Bala convinced the two that the guise will expedite the process of their application. He provided them the fake documents.

“When this was checked by the U.S. Embassy, it turned out that there was no marriage on record with the Philippine Statistic Office,” Lavin said.

Aside from the nonexistent records at the PASO, Lavin also

u PAGE A4

President Rodrigo Duterte discusses matters with Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines Zhao Jianhua who paid a courtesy call on the president at the Malacañang Palace on Monday, October 8.

Malacañang photo by Simeon Celiacs

Inquirer.net photo

PHILIPPINE President Rodrigo Duterte revealed on Tuesday, October 9, that Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano is eyeing an elective position in the May 2019 elections.

“Alan Peter Cayetano is also running and (Guiling) Mamondiong at TESDA is also running,” Duterte said in a Palace press conference as reported by Rappler.

The president said that Cayetano will run as a Taguig City representative. Consequently, Cayetano would have to resign by October 17, the last day of filing of certificates of candidacies for the elections.

According to Senator Cynthia Villar, incumbent Taguig Representative Pia Cayetano — the DFA secretary’s sister — will run for senator next year.

Duterte said he had found a replacement for the foreign secretary. However, the chief executive chose not to name the new DFA head just yet.

“I have a name. He agreed, but he did not authorize me to name him now,” Duterte said.

Aside from Cayetano, Duterte confirmed that the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority

Ex-wife of Fil-Am shortstop opens up to MLB investigators, speaks publicly for the first time since divorce filing

will be conducting in the area at about the same time that the Chinese president will be in the Philippines,” Roque said.

“The president said that we will not take part in that military exercise,” he added.

CNN had earlier reported about the U.S. Navy Pacific Fleet’s proposal to con-

by AJPRESS REIGNING World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao on Sunday, October 7, said that he has no interest in fighting Irish mixed martial artist Conor McGregor in a boxing match.

“Hindi dapat nangyari yun tapos na ang laban at naghihintay na lang ng decision (I think it shouldn’t have happened anymore since the fight was over and they’re waiting only for the decision),” Pacquiao said.

It can be recalled that the fight between McGregor and Khabib Nurmagomedov during the weekend was a brawl-filled Ultimate Sen. Manny Pacquiao

u PAGE A2

Photo from Instagram/@mannypacquiao

BOARD CERTIFIED, INTERNAL MEDICINE

Call for An Appointment

Vice Pres. Leni Robredo

Philstar.com photo by Joven Cagande

A2

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

OCTOBER 11-17, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

Cubs’ Addison Russell suspended 40 games for...

PAGE A1 that league investigators reached out to her last year in response to a since-deleted Instagram post suggesting Russell was unfaithful and abusive. She said she wasn’t ready to speak then, but after her September blog post is ready to speak publicly.

“Last year when the MLB contacted me, I wasn’t ready,” Reidy-Russell, 24, told ESPN this

week. “I didn’t know what was the right thing to do. I didn’t even believe in myself enough to think I should do that. I just left my husband and all this blew up.”

On Wednesday, MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that the league had completed the investigation and concluded that Russell violated league policy “and should be subject to

discipline in the form of an unpaid suspension that will cover 40 games.”

Chicago Cubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein gave a news conference on Wednesday condemned domestic violence and when asked if Russell will return to the team next season Epstein answered, “I don’t know. With all of our words and actions going forward, whether we know it or not, we’re sending messages to our fans.”

“Domestic violence is everyone’s problem,” Epstein added.

“Because of that, we all have an obligation to be part of the solution as well. Discipline, in a case like this, is part of the solution going forward.”

Russell, 24, initially denied his ex-wife’s allegations, but in a statement released on Wednesday, he said that he has “gained better understanding” of the situation.

“I have concluded it’s the best interest of my family to accept MLB’s proposed resolution of this matter,” Russell said through his lawyers “I wish my ex-wife well and hope we can live in peace for the benefit of our child.

Reidy-Russell, with whom Russell has a 3-year-old son, alleges that the Cubs shortstop has been unfaithful to her. On the Instagram photo posted June 2017, a user, who is reportedly a close friend to Reidy-Russell, claimed that Russell “hit” his wife.

On Sept. 19, 2018, Reidy-Russell published a blog post titled, “you no longer have a secret, you have a story” which details her emotional and psychological distress allegedly brought on by physical, emotional and verbal abuse and infidelity on Russell’s part.

“The way I was treated and the way he made me feel about myself, tore me down to nothing,” Reidy-Russell, a licensed cosmetologist from Bay Minette, Alabama, wrote. “No matter who you are or what you’re going through, you should not be afraid or ashamed to speak out about any type of abuse regardless [of] who it will offend.”

Less than 12 hours after the blog post was published, the MLB announced that Russell had been put on paid leave under the league’s domestic violence policy. (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

BREAK FREE FROM PLASTIC. Greenpeace Southeast Philippines Campaigner Abigail Aguilar (2nd from left) gives an overview of the global plastic waste problem during the launching of #breakfreefromplastics Global Report on Brand Audits at Salu Restaurant in Quezon City on Tuesday, October 9.

PNA photo by Oliver Marquez

Robredo insists role as Duterte’s...

PAGE A1 draft charter appoints the Senate President as acting president in case of vacancy by removal, resignation, permanent incapacity or death.

“The mandate of the vice president, is that whatever happens, she will take over. If you remove that mandate, what will be left?”

Robredo said at the sidelines of an event in Bacolod City.

Rep. Vicente Veloso (Leyte), chair of the House Committee on Constitutional Amendments, said this provision was included to avoid instability due to the pending electoral protest that former Sen. Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos filed against Robredo.

Robredo stressed that an ongo-

ing protest has not hindered her from fulfilling her duties as vice president.

She also pointed out that Veloso himself faced an electoral protest when he won by a slim margin in the 2016 elections.

“I would just like to remind him that my gap against Mr. Marcos was more than 200,000 votes. While he won by more than 100 votes. There is also a protest against him,” Robredo said in Filipino.

“Does that mean that before the protest was done, he should not sit as a congressman and he should not do his mandate because of the protest?” she added.

The vice president noted that other lawmakers, including Senate President Tito Sotto, did not

approve of the proposal, which she tagged as a desperate attempt to steal power from her office.

Romulo Macalintal, Robredo’s election lawyer, earlier said the proposal was a mere “political calisthenics” that would never happen as both chambers of Congress do not have enough time to make a final draft charter.

“The Senate and the House could not even resolve how they would vote, whether jointly or separately. There is still the need to submit the proposed charter for people’s ratification and the process would involve substantial time and public funds which will never be achieved till the next presidential polls in 2022,” Macalintal said. ■

Pacquiao not interested in...

PAGE A1 Fighting Championship (UFC) 229. McGregor then submitted so Khabib was named the winner.

“Mali naman si Khabib sinugod niya pa ang mga tao. I think magkakaroon ng suspension or multa (Khabib was wrong to attack the people. I think there will be a suspension or fine),” Pacquiao said.

The 39-year-old boxer and senator, who holds a 60-7-2 record with 39 knockouts, admitted that there were talks about a fight sometime next year against wel-

terweight boxer Adrien Broner, who himself holds a 33-3-1 record with 24 knockouts.

“We are still finalizing everything (about Broner fight). Hindi pa sigurado (It remains uncertain),” the welterweight champion said.

Pacquiao also admitted that a possible rematch with the undefeated Mayweather Jr. was also set next year. However, the eight-weight division champion said that the possibility that he could still face either former sparring partner Amir Khan or

American Keith Thurman early next year would still depend on the negotiations.

“It still depends. We are still fixing that,” Pacquiao said as reported by The Manila Times.

The Filipino boxer was said to consider the possibility of joining forces with Mayweather Promotion as co-promoter in the upcoming fights.

Pacquiao’s last fight was on July 15 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, wherein he scored a seventhround technical knockout against Lucas Matthysse. ■

JACKY ROSEN FOR U.S. SENATE

A Loyal Friend of the AAPI Community

Jacky has always stood up for equal rights and equal treatment of every Nevadan and always makes sure all voices are heard.

She has also worked to: • provide equal access to benefits for Filipino veterans.

• recognize the contributions of Korean Americans.

DEMOCRAT SENATE

• provide a Congressional Gold Medal to Chinese American World War II veterans.

Endorsed by the

Asian American Group and the

Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Rising & Empowering PAC www.rosenfornevada.com

rosenfornevada

Paid for by Rosen for Nevada

RosenforNevada

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

DATELINE USA

NaFFAA sees record-breaking turnout at candidate meet and greet ahead of midterm elections

THE National Federation of Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA) is proud to announce an unprecedented turnout at its nonpartisan candidate meet and greet on Friday, October 5 at Texas Station. NaFFAA held the event to promote voter participation in the 2018 midterm elections and encourage dialogue between candidates and members of the Filipino-American community. A recordbreaking number of attendees surpassed not only previous years’ attendance but this year’s goal.

Candidates who attended the event include Steve Sisolak, Danny Tarkanian, Jacky Rosen, Aaron Ford, Susie Lee to name a few. Each had a chance to speak to attendees and discuss

their policy positions, as well as hear about some of the issues most important to members of the Filipino-American community.

“It is an important opportunity for Filipino American voters to learn more about the candidates and have their voice heard. The extraordinary turnout shows a higher level of engagement compared to previous years, highlighting the importance of the upcoming elections,” expressed Grace V. Mactal, President, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, APALA-NV Several organizations also participated in the event. The partnership with the Asian Community Development Council (ACDC) was key to the success of this Candidates’ Meet and Greet.

ACDC’s grassroots operation will engage numerous community members who participate in its health fairs, ESK classes, naturalization workshops and other critical programs for the Asian Pacific Islander American community.

“We’re proud to partner with NaFFAA and the Filipino-American Community and to see a record-breaking crowd will demonstrate the power of showing up and speaking out. We hope to see similarly unprecedented numbers at the polls in November.” said Vida Lin, President and Founder, Asian Community Development Council.

AJPress photos by Robert Macabagdal

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 11-17, 2018

A3

A

OctOber 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JOUrNAL

Dateline USa

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

Kavanaugh sits on Supreme Court bench...

PAGE A1 protesters throughout the nation rallied behind Dr. Christine Blasey Ford, a university psychology professor, who accused Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her in an upstairs bedroom in one of Washington’s upscale suburbs in 1982.

Two other women, Deborah Ramirez and Julie Swetnick, also accused Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct in the 1980s.

On Saturday, Ford’s lawyer, Michael Bromwich, described the final week of an FBI investiga-

tion that culminated the hearings in tweet saying, “A week that will live in infamy for the U.S. Senate, permanently diminishing its stature.”

“It treated serious allegations as nuisance to be sidestepped rather than a call to investigate seriously,” Bromwich continued. “It then deemed a perfunctory investigation sufficient when it was not. Appalling.”

For Republican senators — including a few who showed hesitance over voting Kavanaugh

forward — a brief weeklong FBI investigation that found no corroborating evidence of Ford’s accusations was enough to get their vote.

But Democrats and other protesters, the FBI probe — given its time limit to one week — was simply not enough.

On Capitol Hill Saturday, protesters briefly interrupted the confirmation vote in the Senate gallery by chanting “Shame on you!” and “November is coming!” Several protesters, many of who were women behind the widespread #MeToo movement, were arrested.

Kavanaugh’s hearing drew stark similarities to the also controversial 1991 confirmation hearing of current Supreme Court Justice Clarence who was also subject to sexual harassment allegations by law professor Anita Hill.

According to Nielsen data released about a week before his confirmation, roughly 20.4 million people tuned into the hearings on broadcast and cable networks. #NovemberIsComing While the bitter battle over Kavanaugh’s confirmation came to an end, it has fueled Democrats and Republicans who are now using its outcome in encouraging people to go and vote in the upcoming midterm elections on November 6.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican, told reporters that the hearing and its result will be boost to Republicans at the ballot box.

“We have noticed some kind of energy pick-up on our side,” McConnell said at a Monday press conference in Kentucky. “It provided the adrenalin shot that we had not been able to achieve in any other way.”

Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts told protesters before the vote, “It hurts every survivor of sexual assault who has been ignored.”

Warren continued with encouragement to “take back the House” and “take back the Senate.”

“We have forged a bond that will make us stronger in the next fight,” added Warren.

With seats in both the House and the Senate at stake for both parties, Democrats are looking to gain at least two Senate seats, and 23 House seats during the midterm elections in order to be a majority in each chamber.

u PAGE A5

FLOOD DEFENSE SYSTEM. Workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) rush the Improvement/ Sheet Piling for flood defense system or bank protection along Roxas Boulevard channel (East Side) Phase II, Parañaque City.

PNA photo by Gil Calinga

China not likely to eclipse US power soon — analyst

by Pia Lee-Brago Philstar.com

THE United States’ leverage is becoming “nebulous,” but an easy transition of power from Washington to China in the near future is unlikely, according to a professor of International Relations at Tokyo University.

Speaking about the future of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-Japan relations, Mie Oba said an easy transition of power from the US to China is not seen because Washington “continues to keep its commitment to Asian affairs alive.”

The ASEAN and Japan, according to Oba, are facing challenges at present with a “seismic shift in the balance of power that has become obvious.”

“The rise of China has had big impacts on regional circumstances,” she said.

Oba was among the speakers at a symposium on the “Fukuda Doctrine,” a cornerstone of Japan’s ASEAN diplomacy, held at the Fiesta Pavilion of Manila Hotel, the same venue where the late former prime minister Takeo Fukuda first pronounced the Doctrine on Aug. 18, 1977.

Former Japan prime minis-

ter Yasuo Fukuda on Monday underscored the significance of the Fukuda Doctrine as Japan remains committed to its guiding principle that it will never become a “military power,” engraved in a memorial plaque installed at the hotel in commemoration of the doctrine’s 40th anniversary.

Oba said China first achieved large-scale economic development and is now mobilizing that expanding power to promote the further buildup and modernization of its military.

“More importantly, China is pursuing a two-pronged, proactive foreign policy. First, China is asserting sovereignty in regions such as the South China Sea and the East China Sea, something that began at the end of the 2000s,” she said.

China is also demonstrating a regional vision as found in its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), according to Oba. She stressed that this kind of idea and the leadership to actually promote such could lead to the construction of a “new regional order in Asia.”

In August, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo proposed an Indo-Pacific Fund to support infrastructure development and

financial assistance for security cooperation.

“With tactics such as these, I do think that the US is working to hold onto its hegemonic power in Asia and the world,” Oba said.

Oba warned, however, that the current administration’s “America First” policy has obviously had a negative effect on Asian countries’ trust toward the US. “In addition, from a long-term perspective, its hegemonic power is on the decline relative to the rapid rise of China,” she said.

This shift in the balance of power, she said, is only part of the main challenge, noting that it is more important to direct the gaze to the weakening of the liberal international order, which currently contains liberal internationalism, including components such as restrictions on the use of force, peaceful settlement of disputes, respect for international cooperation and multilateral institutions.

The mounting tension between the US and China over trade and digital hegemony could lead to the dominance of protectionism in Asia, according to Oba. These two powers also seek to strengthen their sway over ASEAN membernations. n

NBI arrests ‘notorious forger’ over fake...

PAGE A1 verified that Fajardo has no records in the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) for a business he supposedly owned.

The visa applicants admitted

they were promised by Bala that he will hand over to them original documents at a hotel in Paco, Manila — which is how the NBI hatched the operation leading to Bala’s arrest.

According to the NBI, Bala has already undergone inquest proceedings for violation of Articles 171 and 172 — falsification by public officer and by private individual, respectively. n

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

Dateline USa

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

A

Cayetano to resign, mulls post in PH House...

PAGE A1 (TESDA) chief Guiling Mamondiong is also seeking for an elective post.

Other Cabinet members who were running in May 2019 are Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Secretary John Castriciones, Presidential Political Adviser Francis Tolentino, Special Assistant to the President Bong Go, and Presidential Spokesman Harry Roque.

Duterte to shuffle cabinet positions Since a lot of his cabinet members will run in the 2019 elections, Duterte said that he will most like rearranged their designations.

Duterte said that he had picked Chief Presidential Counsel Salvador Panelo to be his press secretary.

“I’m going to reorganize. Press secretary,” Duterte replied when asked on what position he’ll grant Panelo.

Duterte said that given his plan A rigid-hulled, inflatable boat deployed off the USNS Wally Schirra (T-AKE 8) circles a distressed and adrift boat in the South China Sea, October 8. Five Filipino fishermen survived for five days aboard a makeshift boat after their fishing boat sank at sea and they were rescued by the for Panelo, he would need to look crew of USNS Wally Schirra.

Photo courtesy of U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet for a new chief Palace counsel.

However, current press secretary

US Navy ship rescues stranded Filipino Kavanaugh sits fishermen in West Philippine Sea on Supreme...

A UnITED STATES navy vessel came to the rescue of five Filipino fishermen who have been adrift in the West Philippine Sea for five days.

Cargo ship USnS Wally Schirra was conducting a routine mission when the distressed Filipinos were spotted adrift in the sea, according to a report from the U.S. 7th Fleet.

Wally Schirra’s master Capt.

Keith Sauls said the Filipino fishermen were waving their arms and a flag in the air when the watch officer and a lookout saw them.

“Luckily, we were going at a slow enough speed to have spotted the fishermen,” Sauls said.

“They were also flashing a white light that was previously thought to be a fishing buoy. The watch officer notified me, then the chief mate of a possible rescue situation.”

The fishermen’s boat sank on October 3 after the bill of a six-

feet long blue marlin punctured the hull of their boat.

“The fishermen salvaged what they could from the rapidly sinking boat, removing the outriggers and planks to turn it into a raft with floats and barrels underneath for floatation,” USnS Wally Schirra chief mate Leon Hadley said.

The Filipinos were able to take with them some rice, clothes, batteries, a light bulb, an AM-receive only radio and a handheld GPS but they did not have water.

Hadley noted that they were lucky to have found the fishermen when they did as they may have died after two to three days without water.

“On average, death results two to three days after a diet of drinking undiluted salt water or urine in survival-at-sea events as it takes more water than is consumed for the body to process the waste and salt out of the kidneys, leading to a build-up of salt and toxic ammonia in the body which only

deepens the cycle and quickly leads to death if not stopped,” Hadley said.

The Filipinos swam toward the U.S. ship when it came close to the boat. The Wally Schirra crew then deployed an inflatable boat along with search and rescue swimmers to pull the fishermen to safety.

An initial assessment and security search was conducted among the rescued fishermen when they came aboard the U.S. ship.

They were transferred to the Philippine Coast Guard after the U.S. navy vessel received clearance to go into Subic Bay. The Filipino fishermen expressed their gratitude to their rescuers for housing them and providing them with spare clothes and cash donations.

The Wally Schirra is operating under the area of responsibility of the U.S. navy’s 7th Fleet, which is part of the Pacific Fleet. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

PAGE A4

As House and Senate candidates across the U.S. voiced their opinions with the outcome, so too have some running candidates of the Fil-Am community.

“Kavanaugh’s confirmation reminds us that there are still those who think of our voices and our experiences as inconvenient distractions, versus life experiences equally deserving of respect,” tweeted Gina Ortiz Jones for Texas District 23. “Women deserve to be represented, and we’ll remember those who sold us out.”

Running for California’s 14th District, Fil-Am GOP nominee Cristina Osmeña urged people to “Stop bullying Susan Collins,” in a tweet linking to an article Senator Susan Collins who as a result of voting for Trump’s nomination of Kavanaugh, has been called by many a “betrayer of women.”

Osmeña shared her thoughts throughout the hearing once saying, “Dr. Ford seems likeable and trustworthy. So does Brett KavaPAGE A1 naugh. I hope he shows compasThe report said the U.S. navy waters under the plan. duct exercises in the South China would sail ships and fly aircraft However, the Pentagon and the sion for her experience when he Sea to warn China and to demon- near China’s territorial waters and U.S. Pacific Fleet have declined to testifies. She has been truly vicstrate its capability to respond to Taiwan Strait to highlight the right comment on the plan, according timized by someone.” (Rae Ann Varona/AJPress) adversaries. of free passage in international to Cnn. n

Duterte assures China: PH won’t join US ‘show of...

Martin Andanar would become a consultant instead.

“He will remain a consultant.

So many things they have to reconfigure in PTV4, many changes there probably to make it more responsive,” Duterte said.

Duterte also revealed that besides running for Senate, Roque had other reasons why he deemed it necessary to resign.

“He said he would resign because he did not know I was in the hospital. He was not informed. He felt he was placed in a bad light

Atty. Kimberley Schaefer

like he was lying,” Duterte said.

The president knew that Roque felt bad when he was kept out of the loop. However, it became even more confusing when Duterte said that Roque won’t run anymore.

“Hindi na siya tatakbo. Hindi ko na alam kung saan siya ilalagay (He isn’t running anymore so now I don’t know where to put him),” the president added.

The current presidential communications secretary had earlier confirmed that Roque was offered the position of press secretary. n

Atty. Moonee Lee

We Help Future Americans Become Citizens with our flexible immigration assistance options for green cards, fiance visas, immigrant visas, citizenship, and waivers

Schedule a free consultation appointment at

ImmigrationNevada.com/Consultation-Appointment/

or call (702) 844-6945

Learn more about your immigration options with our free immigration guides at ImmigrationNevada.com/Free Address: 701 N. Green Valley Parkway, Ste 200 Henderson, NV 89074

ImmigrationNevada.com

Find us on Facebook at Facebook.com/groups/VisaCasePrep/

A6

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

OCTOBER 11-17, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

OPINION

‘The war is over’

FEATURES

LAST Saturday, October 6, some 6,000 members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front lined a five-kilometer stretch of road from Cotabato City to Sultan Kudarat in Maguindanao, to welcome a visiting group from the Armed Forces of the Philippines led by chief of staff Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. MILF chairman Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim led those who welcomed the AFP officers to the MILF’s Camp Darapanan, where Galvez declared that the war with the Islamic separatists is over. This is a most welcome development for peace efforts in Mindanao.

Even before the Bangsamoro Basic Law or BBL was enacted earlier this year, the MILF had been cooperating with the government in various aspects particularly in law enforcement and counterterrorism in the conflict zones of Mindanao.

Unfortunately for the peace process, long before the BBL was passed, a faction had broken away from the MILF. And just like the MILF when it broke away from the original secessionist group the Moro National Liberation Front, the breakaway Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters is conducting armed attacks in several provinces in Mindanao. BIFF fighters are believed to have teamed up

with Islamic State-inspired Maute terrorists who laid siege to Marawi City for five months last year.

Besides the Mautes and BIFF, the AFP also continues to battle the Abu Sayyaf, whose terrorist activities have hampered development and poverty alleviation efforts in the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-Tawi. The Abu Sayyaf is still keeping several hostages, most of them foreigners. Kidnapping for ransom is a major source of funding for the group.

The Mautes, on the other hand, are believed to be raising funds through drug trafficking and various types of business fronts.

The continuing activities of these threat groups mean sustained conflict in Mindanao, even if the BBL is ratified in the plebiscite set next year. The war with the MILF is over, but the battles with threat groups in Mindanao continue on other fronts. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS THE CONFIRMATION process of Justice Brett Kavanaugh just all the more highlighted how divided and angry this nation has been, especially in the last two years.

If you are happy where the country is right now, or whether you have serious concerns how the democratic process has increasingly been hijacked, then do NOT fall into the trap of either complacency or paralysis and resignation. Channel your passion into a mission to give the power back to us, “We the People”, as stipulated in the U.S. Constitution.

“Government of the people, by the people, for the people”, is

Give the power back to ‘we the people’: Go out and vote in the November 6 midterm elections

what democracy really is. This is why if you think the balance of power is now leaning toward one ideology and/or party, and that the system of checks and balance provided for by the Constitution seems to not functioning as it should, then we all need to VOTE in the November 6 midterm elections.

As we have witnessed in the Kavanaugh confirmation process, it is important for us to have informed decision on who to elect into positions of public trust. This should not be limited to the top positions of the executive branch of our government.

The legislative and judiciary are co-equal branches of government and have a lot of power as well in making consequential decisions on how to

run the government, the bills to pass, the services to be given to the people, the nominees to be confirmed, the impeachment of the people in power who abuse public trust, etc.

On November 6, each vote — your vote — matters and has consequences.

As the New York Times reported, the 2018 midterm elections, which rolled out “with hundreds of congressional, state and local primaries, will culminate with the Nov. 6 general election to decide whether Democrats can gain control of Congress or if Republicans will keep their hold on the legislative branch.”

What are the chances of the “blue wave “ changing the seascape in the Senate? According

sity authorities and students have already denounced the government’s allegation as baseless.

Both threats to the President deserve an objective, cold-blooded look. What are the real prospects of each? First, let us consider DU30’s physical health.

Since the 73-year-old DU30 assumed office on June 30, 2016, he has been bothered by various maladies. His recurring and unexplained disappearances from official public functions have been blamed on these ailments.

He has complained of continuous migraine, Barrett’s esophagus, Buerger’s disease, and some spinal injury sustained during an early motorcycle riding accident.

He was recently reported to have suffered severe coughing and vomiting spells, before and after his July state of the nation address.

An endoscopy is an examination of the esophagus, stomach and small intestine, using a tube with lighting and camera at the end. It is usually performed on patients who are complaining of dyspepsia or heartburn, constant bleeding or vomiting. A colonoscopy on the other hand is an examination where the doctor inserts a colonoscope from the anus up to the hole of the large intestine. Both procedures have been performed on the President.

Some doctors, however, point out that if the patient’s problem is the throat, this would require a separate examination; it is not known whether the President needs such an examination or that he has had it.

What’s serious illness?

DU30’s own revelation has triggered a demand for more information about his actual state

of health. Section 12 of Article VII of the Constitution provides that “in case of serious illness of the President, the public shall be informed of the state of his health.

The members of the Cabinet in charge of national security and foreign relations and the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, shall not be denied access to the President during such illness.”

Section 11 of the same article provides that “whenever the President transmits to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives his written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, and until he transmits to them a written declaration to the contrary, such powers and duties shall be discharged by the Vice President as Acting President.”

Likewise, “whenever a majority of all the Members of the Cabinet transmit to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House…a written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”

No enabling law has been enacted to define what “serious illness” means. Who decides when the President is seriously ill? Is cancer, whether treatable or not, considered a serious illness that should instantly trigger the implementation of the constitutional provision? Who can compel the release of the President’s medical records if he decides not to release them? Does the President have to order or authorize the PAGE A8

DESPITE the disturbing presidential admissions in the last few days, most Filipinos, I believe, continue to hope that President Rodrigo Duterte would serve his full term until 2022, without any incident. But for some, the next three years will be a toss-up between his physical health and his political health. Will he ultimately fall because of failing health or will he be ousted by the CPP/ NPA/NDF? This question can no longer be avoided.

An endoscopy and colonoscopy recently performed on DU30 have shown a “growth,” which doctors are still trying to determine whether malignant or benign.

The complete reading is not yet known, but DU30 told the Philippine Military Academy Alumni Association on October 4, “if it’s cancer, it’s cancer. And if it’s third stage, no more treatment. I will not prolong my agony in office or anywhere.”

The physical vs the political While DU30 is battling such serious health issue, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) has claimed that the CPP/NPA/ NDF plans to oust DU30 soon, and that 18 universities and colleges had become the hub of its destabilization effort. We have not seen anything remotely resembling the storm that raged inside the universities during the Marcos years, but if DU30 believes they had become the hotbed of an oust-DU30 movement, then the relevant “facts” will not be slow in rising to the surface. Univer-

to the analysis of the Times, “Democrats hope to win at least two new seats to regain control of the chamber, but their margin for error is slim. A majority of the seats up for election in 2018 are currently held by Democrats.”

Meanwhile in the House race, “Democrats need to flip 23 seats to capture the 218 seats necessary for control of the chamber.

There are 194 likely or solidly Democratic seats and 173 likely or solidly Republican seats. The competitive races below are listed by state and district number.”

In the state elections, “there are also 36 governor’s races on the ballot in 2018. With the next redistricting process set for after the 2020 election, winning

gubernatorial and state legislative control will be crucial for both parties.”

The exercise of our right and obligation to vote are so sacred and important as they keep our elected officials accountable. If we do not exercise this right, we give abusive officials a pass and become complicit to their transgressions against our democracy.

So, register to vote if you haven’t yet and go to your polling places on November 6.

Some states allow early voting and mail-in ballots.

Vote for candidates who represent your values and priorities, who consider the good of ALL AMERICANS and not just a chosen privileged few, who think not only of short-term

gains but of long-term benefits to yourself, your family, your community, our nation, and our planet.

Vote for candidates who value honesty, accountability, and respect for all, especially for our Constitution, our democratic principles, institutions and processes.

For more information, go to: https://www.rockthevote.org/ voting-information/ or https://www.usa.gov/election-office. *** Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFil-AmPerspective.com, https:// www.facebook.com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Is the end imminent? Our community needs Jacky Rosen, Susie Lee, &

Commentary

FRANCISCO TATAD

Philstar.com photo

Steven Horsford to be elected this November Commentary

KARL CATARATA NO state was hit harder by the Great Recession than Nevada.

From the housing crisis to unemployment, our community experienced firsthand the impact of bad economic policies after years of Republican control of the White House. Their irresponsible policies helped crash the economy, leave our schools hanging out to dry, and risk our future.

A decade later, it’s clear that we need leaders who will fight for us and make sure that our community doesn’t have to go through all of that again. That is why we need to elect Jacky Rosen to the U.S. Senate, and Susie Lee and Steven Horsford to the U.S. House of Representatives.

While the Asian Pacific Islander community like our own is resilient and strong, we are being targeted by President Donald Trump and his allies. Republicans like Sen. Dean Heller wrote a tax plan that gives most of the benefits to the rich at the expense of the middle class.

They are trying to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and have supported unqualified Trump nominees like Betsy DeVos to dismantle the Department of Education from within. Dean Heller, Danny Tarkanian, and

Cresent Hardy want to go to Washington so they can be rubber stamps that approve of Donald Trump’s toxic agenda for Asian community here in Nevada.

Jacky Rosen understands what communities like our own need in order to do better: a diverse economy, affordable health care, more protections for workers and unions, more good-paying jobs, and more smart investments in our public education system. She understands these fights because of her life experiences. Jacky was the first in her family to graduate from college, having to take out student loans and working to pay for school, and she is fighting to reduce the burden of student loan debt and make higher education more affordable. As someone who cared for her parents and in-laws as they aged, she understands the importance of affordable health care and protecting programs like Social Security and Medicare that support Nevada seniors. Similarly, as someone who had a successful career as a computer programmer, she has been fighting for the business community and was even given the Spirit of Enterprise award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for her pro-growth voting record. She’s been working to cut red tape for small businesses, support startup jobs, and enhance the ability of entrepreneurs to grow and expand.

Congressional candidate Steven Horsford has spent his career fighting for working families in Nevada. For more than a

decade, Steven led the Culinary Academy and Nevada Partners, the largest nonprofit job training program in Nevada, helping thousands of workers find good jobs and quality careers in hospitality, healthcare and technology. A unique partnership between labor and business, the Culinary Academy under Steven’s leadership placed 80 percent of graduates into good paying jobs, including thousands of unemployed, laid off and underemployed Nevadans, even in the darkest days of the recession. Steven has seen first hand the difference that education and job training can make on someone’s life and he’ll never forget who he is fighting for in our community.

Susie Lee is running for Congress because she wants every child to have access to a high-quality education without overwhelming student debt.

Susie’s work as the President of Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS), a leading dropout prevention organization, speaks to her commitment to helping every child thrive. Under Susie’s leadership, CIS has grown to serve over 64,000 students in 63 schools in Nevada. Susie believes that education is the backbone of a strong economy — that’s why she supports investing in the best teachers and teacher development right here in Nevada.

Voting for the midterm elections starts on October 20th. We need more independent voices at the federal level fighting for us — people like Jacky Rosen, Susie Lee, and Steven Horsford. ■

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

ADVERTISING AND ADVERTORIAL POLICIES ROGER LAGMAY ORIEL Publisher & Chairman of the Board

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com

Manila Office: 2/F D&E Fort Palm Springs Cond.

30th St., Cor. 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • 856-0397 • Fax: (632) 856-1661

Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 Burlingame, CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 689-5160 • Fax: (650) 239-9253

New York office: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (213) 481-0854

Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Suite 200 Las Vegas, Nevada 89109 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

New Jersey office: 2500 Plaza 5, Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel: (212)655-5426 • Fax: (818)502-0858

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer ROBERT MACABAGDAL Vice President & General Manager Las Vegas Asian Journal MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor German P. Palabyab Advertising and Business Development Director

Asian Journal Publitions, Inc. (“AJPI”) reserves the right to refuse to publish, in its sole and absolute discretion, any advertising and advertorial material submitted for publition by client. (“Client’s Material”) Submission of an advertisement or advertorial to an AJPI sales representative does not constitute a commitment by AJPI to publish a Client’s Material. AJPI has the option to correctly classify any Client’s Material and to delete objectionable words or phrases.

Client represents and warrants that a Client’s Material does not and will not contain any language or material which is libelous, slanderous or defamatory or invades any rights of privacy or publicity; does not and will not violate or infringe upon, or give rise to any adverse claim with respect to any common law or other right whatsoever (including, without limitation, any copyright, trademark, service mark or contract right) of any person or entity, or violate any other applible law; and is not the subject of any litigation or claim that might give rise to any litigation.

Publition of a Client’s Material does not constitute an agreement to continue publition.

Client agrees and covenants to indemnify AJPI and its officers against any and all loss, liability, damage, expenses, cost, charges, claims, actions, uses of action, recoveries, judgments, penalties, including outside attorneys’ fees (individually and collectively “Claims”) which AJPI may suffer by reason of (1) Client’s breach of any of the representations, warranties and agreements herein or (2) any Claims by any third party relating in any way to Client’s Material.

AJPI will not be liable for failure to publish any Client’s Material as requested or for more than one incorrect insertion of a Client’s Material. In the event of an error, or omission in printing or publition of a Client’s Material, AJPI shall be limited to an adjustment for the space occupied by the error, with maximum liability being ncellation of the cost of the first incorrect advertisement or republition of the correct advertisement.

Under no circumstances shall Asian Publitions, Inc. be liable for consequential damages of any kind.

ASIAN JOURNAL PUBLITIONS, INC. publishes the Los Angeles Asian Journal, published twice a week; the Orange County and Inland Empire Asian Journal, Northern lifornia Asian Journal, Las Vegas Asian Journal and the New York / New Jersey Asian Journal which are published once a week and distributed to Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Orange Counties, Northern lifornia, Las Vegas and New York and New Jersey respectively.

Articles published in this paper do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher. Letters to the Editor are welcome. Letters must contain complete name and return address. The materials, however, are subject to editing and revisions.

Contributions and advertising deadlines are every Mondays and Thursdays. For advertising rates and other informations, please ll the L.A. office at (213) 250-9797 or the Las Vegas Sales Office at (702) 792-6678 or send us an email at info@asianjournalinc.com

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

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

D ateline PhiliPPines Palace: Duterte tested negative for cancer

A

AFP declares the end of the war with MILF

by AJPress MalacanaĂąg on Tuesday, October 9, said President Rodrigo Duterte has tested negative for cancer. christopher lawrence “Bongâ€? go, Duterte’s top aide, made the statement amid the clamor for the president to publicly reveal the state of his health as required by the constitution. “Sorry to disappoint his critics. the president is very healthy and in high spirits. I know for a fact that he is cancer-free. He will finish his term and live beyond 2022.

Tuloy lang po ang aming trabaho.

Salamat po sa inyong concern sa kanyang kalusugan (We will continue our work. Thank you for your concern on his health).

I assure you, there is nothing to worry about,)� go said in a chance interview before the presentation of signed laws on occupational safety and health hazards and on personal property security act.

Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque Jr. during a press briefing echoed go’s statement saying, “It is not serious. It does not have to be divulged.� “We will abide with the provision of the constitution. We take it that whatever the president has

is not serious for the constitutional provision to apply. So we leave it at that,� he added.

Duterte himself on Tuesday, October 9, assured the public that he is healthy and cancer-free after tests on his Barrett’s disease came out negative. “Hindi pa ako cancerous (I’m not yet cancerous), so don’t be afraid to go near me. I will not contaminate you,â€? he said during the induction of the new batch of officers of the MalacanaĂąg Press corps at the Palace. “lumabas na (The result is out)... If you mean I was found positive of cancer? no, it’s not the colon; it’s my Barrett‌ It’s badly eroded because I was told to stop drinking years ago,â€? he added.

Duterte also made some jokes about his health, likening it to a battery. “‘Yang health natin, parang baterya ‘yan, may positive at saka negative. (Our health is like a battery, there is positive and negative),� he said.

Following his statements were accounts from his top aide and government officials confirming his good health.

Senate Majority leader Juan Miguel Zubiri said, “The president had said he has polyps, he has

growth in his intestines, but it’s nothing. It’s benign. It’s a polyp but not cancer, and he was in high spirits. He was very happy yesterday (Monday, October 8), cracking a lot of jokes.�

Zubiri had met with Duterte at the MalacanaĂąg on Monday night, along with Senators loren legarda, chiz Escudero, cynthia Villar, Sonny angara, Richard gordon, Sherwin gatchalian, and JV Ejercito to discuss legislative matters. They all had dinner together afterwards. “The president is as strong as an ox. We saw it yesterday. He was in good spirits,â€? Zubiri added. acting Interior Secretary Eduardo aĂąo also told reporters that the president volunteered the information on his health in the middle of their cabinet meeting on Monday night. “In the middle of the meeting, (the president) said, ‘By the way, the test is negative’ and we all applauded and told him, ‘congratulations, Mr. president!â€? aĂąo said.

Duterte is the oldest person ever to be elected president in the Philippines and speculation about his health has regularly cropped up since he took office in 2016. n

Senators reject Arroyo’s draft constitution ManIla — The draft federal charter of House Speaker gloria Macapagal-arroyo will not thrive as time is running out under the 17th congress, senators said on Tuesday, October 9.

The arroyo-led proposal, which is different from the draft constitution submitted by President Rodrigo Duterte’s consultative committee, removes the vice president from the line of succession in the transition government. It also aims to keep a presidential form of government while empowering congress to create federal states and keep a Senate where members are elected at large, instead of by region.

Senate President Vicente Sotto III and Minority leader Franklin Drilon said there is simply no time to tackle charter change. “We don’t have time to even talk about it. We don’t even know if I’m still Senate president by then,�

Sotto said.

The Senate is scheduled to go on break from October 13 to novem-

ber 11 and again from December 15 to January 13 in 2019. congress still has to deliberate on and approve the general appropriations Bill for 2019.

Drilon reiterated that the House draft federal charter will be “dead on arrival� in the Senate. “We are still awaiting the report of the committee whether or not the recommendation is to amend the constitution and if it is through a constitutional assembly, before we consider the substance of the proposal. There is simply no time.

Kaya pagdating dito wala na kaming panahon in order to look at it,� he said.

Instead of discussing charter change, the congress should instead focus on the problems of soaring inflation, lack of jobs and rising criminality, the Senate minority leader said.

Drilon and Sen. Risa Hontiveros also thumbed the provision, which excludes Vice President leni Robredo in the presidential line of

succession. It, instead, puts Sotto as next in line should President Rodrigo Duterte be unable to lead the transition government. “If they want stability, then the more that we should follow the well-defined succession to the Office of the President in charge in case the president is unable to lead the transition government,�

Drilon said.

Hontiveros called the draft charter of the House “not only absurd and unjustifiable, it is also colossal, shameless affront to long-established, recognized and practiced democratic processes.�

The opposition lawmaker said she is confident that the majority of senators, including Sotto, will not support the move. “[I am confident that the majority of my fellow senators] will see it for what it is: an attempt not just to coopt, but to weaponize, the Senate in aid of their agenda. It must not see the light of day in the Senate,� she said. (Philstar.com)

SOUTHERN NEVADA REGIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY Procurement Dept.

340 N. 11TH Street, Las Vegas, NV 89101 INVITATION FOR BID (IFB) IFB NO B19005 DECK REPAIRS-COATING PROJECT @ LUBERTHA JOHNSON ESTATES 3900 PERRY STREET, LV, NV 89022 SNRHA CONTACT PERSON(S) ONLY: Note: Contact with any other SNRHA Staff, Consultant, Resident, Board of Commissioners other than the named within this document is prohibited and will result in your Proposal being rejected.

HOW TO OBTAIN THE SOLICITATION DOCUMENTS ON THE APPLICABLE INTERNET SITES: NOTE: Copies of bid documents received from sources other than the SNRHA will cause your bid to be deemed invalid.

PRE-BID MEETING AND SITE VISIT:

QUESTION & ANSWER SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

BID SUBMISSION DEADLINE:

Wanda Beckett Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3145 TDD: (702) 387-1898 Email: procurement@snvrha.org, - OrLinda Price Simpson, Contract Administrator Telephone: (702) 477-3144 Email: procurement@snvrha.org 1. To Download this Bid: Go to www.snvrha. org click on Procurement tab, click on “Current Bid Invitations� and scroll down to the appropriate solicitation number. Any Problems downloading the Bid document, notify our IT Department at (702) 477-3160.

2. This solicitation document, and all attachment is also available on CD at no charge and may be obtained ONLY from the SNRHA Procurement Department (702) 477-3145. Bidders must and schedule a pick up date and time. Contractor are responsible for the FRVW RI UHSURGXFWLRQ RI WKH ELG SDFNDJH VSHFLÂżFDWLRQV and any applicable drawings .

October 12, 2018, 10:00 AM (PST) Lubertha Johnson Estates – Community Center 3900 Perry Street, LV NV 89022 This is a gated community to enter the gate just follow the instructions on the “call boxâ€? to call the 0DQDJHPHQW 2IÂżFH 3XVK WKH FDOO EXWWRQ DQG ZDLW IRU WKH GLDO WRQH WKHQ HQWHU WKLV ZLOO FDOO WKH RIÂżFH DQG VWDII FDQ EX]] DWWHQGHHV LQ October 26, 2018, 9:00 AM (PST) All questions and answers shall be submitted in writing to the SNRHA contact listed above. Questions and/ RU UHTXHVWV IRU FODULÂżFDWLRQ VKDOO QRW EH UHVSRQGHG WR after the Q & A deadline date and time to the SNRHA contact listed above.

Bid Submission Deadline: November 6, 2018, 10:00AM All sealed bids must be submitted to: SNRHA - Procurement Department 340 N. 11th Street, Suite 180. Las Vegas, NV 89101 Public Bid Opening: November 6, 2018, 10:15 AM Sealed Bids must be received by SNRHA by the deadline date and time noted above. Mailed bids must be post-marked prior to the submission due date to be considered for award.

by AJPress aRMED Forces of the Philippines (aFP) chief gen. carlito galvez Jr. has officially declared that the war is over between the Philippine military and the Moro Islamic liberation Front (MIlF). “I can now declare that the war between the armed Forces and the MIlF is finally over,� galvez said as reported by The Manila Times. galvez announced this during his visit to MIlF chairman al Hajj Murad Ebrahim on Saturday, October 6, at the MIlF’s camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat. “To my commanders, let us embrace our brothers and sisters and give them respect and lasting peace that the Moro people deserve,� the military chief added.

Many high-ranking military officials from the national headquarters and the Western Mindanao command (WestMincom) accompanied the aFP chief. There were about 6,000 MIlF supporters lined up along the Sultan Kudarat highway that welcomed galvez and his party.

In return, Ebrahim expressed joy on the visit of galvez to their camp, describing it as “historical.� “This visit represents the degree of progress we have made over the years in bringing significant cooperation between our military officers in our quest for peace in the Bangsamoro homeland,� Ebrahim said.

The MIlF leadership awarded

Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez Jr. shakes hand with MILF Chairman Al Hajj Murad Ebrahim at Camp Darapanan in Sultan Kudarat.

ManilaTimes.net photo

galvez with the “Soldier of Peace award. galvez was said to be the first military officer to receive such an award from the group. “I came back to one [of] the most revered place[s], a place I can call home because here lived those gallant men I considered my brethren, those whom I had been working with for a peaceful Mindanao,� galvez said. galvez’s meeting with the MIlF leadership came months after President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Bangsamoro Organic law (BOl), which creates the Bangsamoro autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. as the former head of WestMincom, he was one of the key military officials during the fivemonth Marawi city siege in 2017 and the Philippine army’s 6th

Infantry Division. Both of which were deals with the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters in central Mindanao. galvez was also the Philippine government’s chairman for the coordinating committee on the cessation of Hostilities in 2015. galvez also compared the MIlF to the communist Party of the Philippines (cPP). He noted that the communist rebels have been “deceptive, manipulative and insincere.� “They burned road project equipment, they executed thousands, even their own comrades.

They extort and always wanted to take advantage,� he said. “[The communist rebels] do not have the sense of honor or ‘Maratabat’ of the MIlF,� he added. n

DEEP DEVOTION. Devotees pray and join the veneration of Saint Padre Pio’s Heart Relic inside the Santisimo Rosario at the University of Santo Tomas in Manila on Monday, October 8. The visit of the heart relic of St. Padre Pio is organized by the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines-Episcopal Commission on the Clergy (CBCP-ECC), in coordination with the National Shrine of Padre Pio in Santo Tomas, Batangas.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

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

NOTICE TO ELECTORS OF CLOSE OF REGISTRATION FOR GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY NOVEMBER 6, 2018 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Registrar of Voters of Clark County, Nevada, will conduct a registration of qualified electors for the General Election to be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2018.

Any qualified elector whose name does not appear on the official registry list may apply for registration in person, by mail, or online in the manner approved by law according to the deadlines listed below.

2018 GENERAL ELECTION VOTER REGISTRATION DEADLINES AND EXTENDED OFFICE HOURS Clark County Election Offices

Clark County Election Department 1st Floor Clark County Government Center 500 S. Grand Central Pkwy.

Las Vegas, NV

Method of Registering

Dates

Hours

Both Mail And Over the Counter

Tuesday, October 9

8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, October 10 thru Friday, October 12

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, October 13; Sunday, October 14

8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday, October 15; Tuesday, October 16

8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Tuesday, October 10

8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Wednesday, October 10 thru Friday, October 12

8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday, October 13; Sunday, October 14

8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Monday, October 15; Tuesday, October 16

8 a.m. – 9 p.m.

In-Person Registration Only

Both Mail And Over the Counter

Clark County Election Department 965 Trade Drive, Suite A North Las Vegas, NV

In-Person Registration Only

(702) 455-VOTE(8683)

Voter registration applications and registration information updates will be accepted that are completed or mailed up until 28 days before the election. Thereafter until 21 days before the election, voter registration applications and registration information updates must be filed online at www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/votetag or in-person at either office of the Clark County Registrar of Voters.

A qualified elector who possesses a Nevada driver license or DMV-issued Identification Card may register or update his/her voter registration information online until 11:59 p.m., October 18, 2018, exclusively at only one website (Nevada Secretary of State), which is accessible through www.ClarkCountyNV.gov/votetag.

Nevada and federal law require first-time registrants to provide an identifying number (Nevada driver license number or the last four digits of their social security number). If these do not match the records maintained by the Department of Motor Vehicles or Social Security Administration, the registrant will be required to present identification before being allowed to vote. Forms of current and valid identification include a Nevada Driver’s License, Nevada I.D. Card, military identification card, OR a copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, paycheck, or document issued by a government entity, listing the registrant’s name, and residential address. These individuals have been notified by mail of this requirement.

In person registration for electors for the 2018 General Election will be closed after 9:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 16, 2018. Online registration for electors for the 2018 General Election will be closed after 11:59 p.m., Thursday, October 18, 2018.

DATED September 6, 2018

JOSEPH P. GLORIA Registrar of Voters PUB: September 20, 27 and October 4 and 11, 2018 Las Vegas Asian Journal

A

Dateline PhiliPPines

october 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

Pulse Asia survey: 88% of Filipino Internet 6 Cabinet secretaries plan to run in 2019 users aware of fake news on social media

by Alexis

RomeRo Philstar.com

MANILA — Almost 9 out of 10 Filipinos who surf the internet to access their social media account are aware of fake news.

The latest survey of Pulse Asia showed that 47 percent of Filipinos have access to the internet. Almost all of them, or 98 percent of them, use the web to access their social media accounts.

Eighty-eight percent of those who go online to check their social media accounts were aware of fake news, and most of them (79 percent) said “they consider fake news to be widespread on social media.”

Pulse Asia noted: “A lower level of awareness is posted in June 2017, with 74 percent of those who use the internet to check their social media accounts saying they have read, heard, or watched at least one piece of fake news on social media.”

The sentiment that the social media contains mostly fake news was shared across all geographical and social class.

Eighty percent of respon-

dents from Mindanao believe in such, 79 percent in Luzon while 78 percent in the National Capital Region and Visayas.

Meanwhile, 96 percent of Class ABC, 89 percent of Class D and 75 percent of Class E shared the same sentiment.

Comparing survey results from a June 2017 survey, Pulse Asia said: “Agreement with the view that fake news is widespread in social media becomes more pronounced at the national level (+20 percentage points).”

The survey was conducted from September 1-7 and covered 1,800 respondents, in face-toface interviews.

The same survey showed that half of Filipinos who use the internet for social media have changed their views on government and politics based on what they see online.

Philippines and fake news The spread of fake news has been widely seen by experts as a major global threat with its reported ability to manipulate elections and imperil democra-

cies. Critics have also expressed fear that the phenomenon can lead to historical revisionism, as in a renewed nostalgia for the Marcos regime, which some now call the best years for the Philippines.

In April, social media giant Facebook said that it cannot prohibit fake news but it will try to reduce its distribution.

Facebook released its updated “community standards,” a longer rule book that outlines the types of posts that can be shared on the social network and the kinds of users that are banned from sharing contents.

While Facebook cannot weed out false information from the platform, the company said there is “a number of different ways” that it can do to dramatically diminish the spread of such contents.

The Senate has held two hearings in aid of legislation on fake news, however, Sen. Grace Poe said that Congress “cannot legislate thought control.” (Kristine Joy Patag/Philstar.com)

De Castro exits after hiking court salaries

by CAtheRine

modesto ManilaTimes.net

MAKING sure her short stint will be remembered by the judiciary, Chief Justice Teresita Leonardo de Castro promoted a number of court personnel and increased the salary of trial court employees.

“We have upgraded the salary of our first-level courts in keeping with the heavy responsibility that they perform,” de Castro said in a speech on Monday, October 8, during her last flag ceremony as chief justice.

“We granted overtime pay for court employees who are helping in the continuous trial of cases,” which was pushed by Associate Justice Diosdado Peralta, she said.

She also announced that high court employees would receive “tokens of appreciation” from the justices “for their dedicated service to the court.”

These are bonuses or additional fringe benefits subject to tax, as later clarified by the court’s public information office.

She also took a swipe at Maria Lourdes Sereno, who was

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday, October 9, disclosed the names of six Cabinet members who might run in next year’s elections.

Duterte said among the officials who are seeking electoral posts are Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Cayetano, presidential spokesman Harry Roque, political affairs adviser Francis Tolentino, Agrarian Reform secretary John Castriciones, presidential aide Christopher Go and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority Director General Guiling Mamondiong.

“I’m sure these will be guys running,” Duterte told members of the Malacañang Press Corps when asked whether he was expecting a Cabinet revamp because of the 2019 polls.

Duterte said Cayetano is running for congressman in his district in Taguig. He said he has already identified Cayetano’s possible successor.

“I have a name. He agreed but he did not authorize me to name him,” the president said.

Duterte: Roque ‘flip-flopping’ on political plans Duterte also said he believes that Roque will push through with his plan to run for senator.

Roque has said he has not yet decided whether to seek an electoral post.

The president said Roque had been flip-flopping on his political plans.

He said he is considering Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador Panelo to become press secretary, a post that would be revived once he issues an executive order reorganizing the Presidential Communications Opera-

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque with fellow Cabinet secretaries on Monday, October 8, the day he said he was on indefinite leave.

Philstar.com photo

tions Office.

Presidential Communications Secretary Martin Andanar, nominally the head of the agency that had reaped criticisms over a series of blunders, previously said Roque was being eyed to become press secretary.

“It’s not my fault. He (Roque) said he is not running. Then he is running. I said I would choose someone else so there would be no paralysis in the functions,” Duterte said.

“I do not know where to place him. I did not wait a minute longer,” he added.

Duterte said Panelo would become press secretary once he revives the office and he finds a new chief legal counsel. He said Andanar would remain as a consultant after the PCOO is replaced by the Office of the Press Secretary.

“He (Andanar) will remain a consultant....They have to reconfigure sa PTV 4. They need to change a lot there perhaps to make it more responsive as sounding board of the Republic of the Philippines,” the president

said.

‘Tolentino a good point person, Go could be friend of the public’ Duterte heaped praises on Tolentino, a former Metro Manila Development Authority chief, saying he has been efficient as a point person during disasters.

“He (Tolentino) is a very good administrator...He was always my point man. He was my always my contact sa outside world,” the president said.

Duterte said Go, who sometimes represents him in public engagements, has been a “faithful assistant” who can be a “friend” of the public in the senate.

Sources said Castriciones is planning to run for senator while Mamondiong is considering running for a local post.

Duterte also said that he wants a Chinese-Filipino businessman to lead the National Food Authority. Retiring Army chief Lt. Gen. Roland Bautista was initially eyed to become NFA administrator but Duterte later on decided to name him as Social Welfare secretary. n

‘PH-China ties to improve with Xi’s visit’ Outgoing Chief Justice Teresita de Castro waves goodbye to her colleagues at the Supreme Court, on the day of her retirement on Monday, October 8.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

removed as chief justice in May for lack of qualification, leaving many positions unfilled.

“We have also promoted immediately our officials to fill vacant positions and opened up positions of assistant chiefs of office, numerous positions [that went]unfilled for many years, in order to not disrupt the delivery of public service,” she added.

De Castro served as top mag-

istrate for only 44 days. She has served in government for 45 years.

Her last day in office was on, Tuesday, October 9, but her mandatory retirement will be on Wednesday, upon reaching 70.

De Castro will attend the oral arguments on the case involving the country’s withdrawal from the International Criminal Court. n

:8IG< ;@<D 8KK<EK@FE @DD@>I8K@FE C8NP<IJ C<>8C @DD@>I8K@FE `j X 9@> @JJL< k_\j\ [Xpj% D8EP `e fli Zfddle`kp E<<; pfli j\im`Z\j% K_\i\ Xi\ k_fljXe[j n_f dXp nXek kf \og\[`k\ k_\`i i\j`[\eZp fi glijl\ ]lcc Z`k`q\ej_`g Ylk [feËk befn _fn kf Y\^`e Xe[ n_\i\ kf ^f%

JK8E; FLK =IFD K?< G8:B% 8J@8E AFLIE8CËJ GIF=<JJ@FE8C J<IM@:<J ;@I<:KFIP# n`cc efn Y\ ilee`e^ n\\bcp# \m\ip K_lij[Xp f] CXj M\^Xj <[`k`fe%

8AËj GJ; ZXe _\cg PFL i\XZ_ flk kf k_\d X]]fi[XYcp Xe[ \]]\Zk`m\cp%

:8CC PFLI 8::FLEK D8E8><I .') .0)$--./ 8jb XYflk fli GIFDFK@FE8C @EKIF;L:KFIP G8:B8>< GI@:@E> n_`Z_ ilej pfli X[ n\\bcp ]fi dXo`dld \ogfjli\ Xk kilcp X]]fi[XYc\ iXk\j%

Fli gi`ek \[`k`fej ile `e kXe[\d n`k_ 8AËj Gi`ek <[`k`fe Fec`e\% Fec`e\1 _kkg1&&`jjll%Zfd&Xj`XeaflieXc[`^`kXc\[`k`fe

THIS statement came a day after President Rodrigo Duterte met with Zhao in Malacañang on Monday, October 8.

Xi will visit the Philippines after the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Papua New Guinea.

The statement said Duterte promised to work with the China to ensure that Xi’s first visit to Manila will be smooth. “[This] would surely be remembered as another milestone in Philippine-China relations,” it added.

According to the statement, both Zhao and Duterte “had an in-depth exchange of views on China-Philippines relations” as they discussed the latest developments and future plans of China-Philippine relations and practical cooperation.

The progress of bilateral practical cooperation was also discussed.

Duterte has kept ties with China cordial since taking his oath as

President in 2016.

Also on Tuesday, October 9, he promised China that the Philippines will not be participating in a “show of force” reportedly being planned by the United States Pacific Fleet in the South China Sea. According to a report from news outlet CNN, several U.S. defense officials bared that the U.S. Navy is proposing a major “show of force” in disputed waters to “warn China” during a single week in November.

Roque, in a news briefing, said the Philippines’ skipping the activity was discussed during Zhao’s meeting with Duterte on Monday.

He added that Zhao voiced apprehensions on the military drills.

“China, of course, expressed concern over a naval military exercise that the United States will be conducting in the area at about the same time that the Chinese President will be in the Philippines,”

Roque said.

“The President said we would not take part in that military exercise,” he added.

Roque said the Philippines would not want anything to mar the visit of Xi. “I think that the DFA [Department of Foreign Affairs] will do all it can to make sure that President Xi’s visit will be fruitful and as productive as we would want it to be,” he added.

The spokesman said both parties agreed that a joint exploration in the South China Sea would greatly benefit the two countries.

“China reiterated that they do not desire any military confrontation as a result of the West Philippine Sea [dispute], either with any of the claimant states or with any other powers because China is the biggest user of the West Philippine Sea,” he added. (ManilaTimes. net)

PAGE A6 issuance of regular medical bulletins? Who can authorize such bulletins if the President refuses to have them?

Roque in the dark No complaint has been heard from the Foreign Secretary, the Defense Secretary, the National Security Adviser or the AFP Chief of Staff that they have been denied access to the President at this time, but the presidential spokesman Harry Roque has complained that he has been kept in the dark about DU30’s endoscopy and has threatened to resign. Roque has made known his desire to run for the Senate in the May 2019 elections, but DU30 has said he has no way of winning because the armed forces, who are supposed to be politically neutral in any election, are not inclined to support him.

DU30’s medical condition has triggered instant discussions about his possible successor, but his gratuitous remarks about Vice President Leni Robredo have provoked speculations about the possibility of an extra-constitutional process. However the President goes, the choice of his successor is defined by the Constitution, not by anybody else. The line of succession begins with the Vice President, down to the Senate President and the Speaker of the House. Vice President Leni Robredo’s election is under protest from former senator Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., but if the presidency falls vacant now, Robredo automatically assumes the office.

Bongbong Marcos will have no claim to it, and Robredo’s right to succeed will not be affected

by DU30’s opinion that she lacks his murderous qualities to become president. Neither will the military be obliged to listen to DU30’s musings about a military junta, unless perhaps a military conspiracy or a foreign invasion threatens to overrun the government and the military decides to act as the constitutional protector of the people and the state.

The communist threat This brings us to the second question: What are the chances of DU30 being overthrown by the

communists?

It is safe to presume that the CPP/NPA/NDF considers the university classroom or campus a fertile ground for recruiting new members. Even foreign intelligence and corporate “headhunters” look to them as possible sources of fresh recruits. But the government cannot just assume “it is highly likely” that communist recruitment is going on; it must show it is indeed happening there, and build up its case against the suspects. This is best done through police investigative work, not simply by making a blanket accusation against the universities and colleges.

Irresponsible and dangerous The statement, coming from the AFP, is regrettably so unintelligent, irresponsible and dangerous. It tars all the academic institutions, makes every student and faculty member in those institutions suspect, and threatens a military crackdown that will make the slightest tinge of academic freedom a thing of the past. Far from preserving the university classroom and campus as places where the young can explore new ideas, it turns them into places where they could build and throw bombs instead. It creates the very situation which academic learning is supposed to prevent.

Under Marcos, the “university belt” became the seat of the student protest movement. University of the Philippines President Salvador P. Lopez, a nationalist patriot who wrote the last words (“Bataan has fallen”) for the Filipino wartime defenders of Bataan against the savage Japanese onslaught, and who long after the war served as one of the nation’s more consequential Secretary of Foreign Affairs, led the student marches from Diliman to Malacañang in an effort to showcase the nationalist character of their protest.

But there were no clear dividing lines between the nationalists and the communists. Their common objective was to remove Marcos, even though Joma Sison and Commander Dante alone had a concrete plan of setting up a Maoist dictatorship.

Irony of ironies, Marcos virtually broke the back of the communist movement by capturing and jailing Sison and other top communist leaders during Martial Law, only to fall in a civilian-supported military putsch in 1986. Then Cory Aquino, his revolutionary successor, released and amnestied all the dissidents.

When the Soviet empire disintegrated and the Cold War ended in 1991, Sison and his companions remained the only communist holdouts in Europe, specifically in Utrecht.

Was DU30 ever anti-Red? In 2016, DU30 began his presidency with an express desire to forge a coalition government with the communists. His most notable Cabinet appointees were members of the CPP central committee, without the benefit of any peace agreement. He pursued his peace talks with the communists in a farcical dance between NDF1 and NDF-2, driven by his previous personal association with Sison as his professor in college.

Then the talks broke down on a bed of personal insults. Most of his communist appointees failed to hurdle the confirmation process, but he kept his top communist aide, rebel ex-priest and NDF vice chairman Leoncio Evasco Jr., who continues to run the Office of the President.

If DU30 is determined to go after the alleged communist recruits in the universities, what will he do to his communist partners and subordinates in government?

Given his relationship with the Communist Party of China, which now feeds into the broad conduct of his national security and international relations, is it unthinkable for DU30 to accelerate his original plan of building a coalition government with Evasco’s communists, while abrogating his ties with the Sisonite forces, who accuse him of running a “brutal, corrupt and mendacious” dictatorship? His revelations on “Red October” and on his precarious state of health may have compelled various political forces to come out of the woodwork, but they have not necessarily put DU30 entirely on the defensive.

(ManilaTimes.net)

Is the end imminent?

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

Dateline PhiliPPines

House to reprimand Bertiz for NAIA terminal tantrum MANILA—The House of Representatives on Wednesday, October 10, voted in favor of a motion to reprimand Rep. Aniceto “John” Bertiz III (ACTS-OFW Party-list) over misconduct at the airport.

It was House Minority Leader Danilo Suarez (Quezon) who moved for Bertiz to be reprimanded over the incident caught on video where he was seen not following the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s security protocols and intimidating airport security personnel.

Suarez said the airport incident was Bertiz’s first offense and pointed out that the lawmaker has already “admitted his mistake and has profusely apologized for his conduct.”

“The punishment should be commensurate to the act,” Suarez said.

A source of The Star earlier said the sanction for Bertiz’s tantrum could range from a “reminder, a reprimand to suspension.”

The House and the Senate have the sole power to discipline one of their own. The chambers rarely do.

The House voted 159-1 with three abstentions in favor of the motion to punish Bertiz with a reprimand.

Prior to the nominal voting for the motion for reprimand, Bertiz delivered a privilege speech and apologized for his misbehavior.

Bertiz said he expected fairness from his colleagues in dealing with his airport misconduct.

“Naiintindihan ko po, at buong puso ko pong tinatanggap ang aking mga pagkakamali. Patawarin po ninyo ako (I understand and whole-heartedly admit to my

mistakes. Please forgive me),” Bertiz said.

“Patawad po dahil bilang isang lingkod-bayan, hindi ako naging ehemplo ng tuwid at magandang asal (Forgive me that, as a public servant, I was not an example of good behavior),” he added.

Bertiz claims children receiving threats The lawmaker, who has been the butt of jokes and online commentary since the incident, called on the public to stop involving his family in the controversy. He said that his children are receiving threats and are being attacked online.

“Ako ay pulitiko, isang public figure, at nagkamali ako. Obligasyon at karapatan po ninyo na ako ay tuligsain. At ano man ang nais na parusa mula sa inyo, aking mga kasama, upang ituwid ang pagkakamaling iyon ay maluwag ko pong tatanggapin (I am a politician, a public figure, and I made a mistake. It is your obligation and right to criticize me. I will willingly accept any penalty form you, my colleagues, to right that wrong),” the solon said.

“Isa lamang po ang aking pakiusap, sa mga naririto at sa lahat ng ating mga kababayan: Ako ang parusahan ninyo, huwag na po ang aking pamilya. Ang aking asawa at mga anak, wala po silang kinalaman dito. (I have just one request. To thise who are here, and to all my countrymen: Punish me but not my family. My wife and my children have nothing to do with this). You cannot even imagine what I and my family have to go through. Do what you want to me, but please spare my family,” he added.

Rep. John Bertiz (ACTS-OFW party-list) on Tuesday, October 9, admitted that his “monthly period” remark was “stupid.

Photo from Facebook/Rep. John Bertiz

Migrante files ethics complaint Last week, migrant workers’ group Migrante International filed an ethics complaint against Bertiz for his alleged misconduct.

The complaint was filed before the House of Representatives and was supported by Makabayan bloc.

In a press conference, the two groups also presented an overseas Filipino Worker, Shiela Mabunga, who worked as a house helper in Riyadh in 2014. She was recruited

by Bertiz’s recruitment firm Global Asia Alliance Consultant Inc. which she accused of “human trafficking.”

“I found out that I have different employer in my contract and working visa. This is a proof that Congressman Bertiz is a human trafficker,” Mabunga said in Filipino.

Mabunga’s father also faced the members of the press to attest to her daughter’s ordeal. (Philstar. com)

UNVEILING OF MARAWI HEROES MURAL. Lt. Gen. Rolando Joselito Bautista (right), Commanding General of the Philippine Army, led the blessing and soft inauguration of the Marawi Heroes Memorial Murals at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig City. The event also commemorated the first anniversary of Marawi City’s liberation from the Islamic State-inspired Maute Group.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

A

A10 october 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

VEGAS&STYLE Journal

The raw, unapologetic candor of Jose Antonio Vargas The journalist and activist explores the meaning of home, internal identity struggles and the power of speaking up in new memoir “Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen”

By Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

TWO things happened to Jose Antonio Vargas after Donald J. Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States of America.

First, he found himself without a permanent residence. On the day after the election, on Nov. 9, 2016, Vargas was living in an upscale apartment building in Downtown Los Angeles. The building’s manager, with whom Vargas had a friendly acquaintance, texted him saying “I’m not sure what we could do if you showed back up here,” suggesting the likelihood that Vargas would be apprehended under Trump’s stringent immigration reforms. “[James] Baldwin once said, ‘All safety is an illusion,’ and that never felt more real than that day,” Vargas told this writer in a recent phone interview. Vargas proceeded to move out of that apartment building.

The second thing that happened was a sudden f lood of emails, tweets and messages f rom young, undocumented immigrants to Vargas, who for the last decade has become a reverberating voice in the fight for immigration reform and immigrants’ rights.

Across the country, the undocumented community feared for their futures in the U.S. and turned to the strong-willed, defying voice that Vargas lent in the national dialogue on these issues, and the 37-year-old writer and activist wanted to deliver in the form of a book.

Originally, he had planned on an issue-based book of the global impact of immigration policy, but his editor, instead, asked him to list out the top 10 most painful experiences of his

Vargas holds up a sign during Mitt Romney’s speech at the Iowa caucus in 2012.

Photos courtesy of Jose Antonio Vargas

When Vargas was 16, he found out his green card was fake when he tried to apply for a driver’s permit.

life, “all of which had to do with lying, passing or hiding,” Vargas said in the interview.

This became the foundation of his newly-released first book, “Dear America: Notes of an Un-

documented Citizen,” a powerful, unmitigated memoir which has less to do with immigration policy and the politics surrounding it, but more to do with the PAGE B2

B

EntErtainmEnt

B october 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

The raw, unapologetic candor of...

PAGE B1

“A Star is Born” director Bradley Cooper and Filipino-American cinematographer Matthew Libatique.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

Oscar-nominated Fil-Am Matthew Libatique is cinematographer of Lady Gaga’s ‘A Star is Born’ HOLLYWOOD — He served as Director of Photography for Darren Aronofsky’s daring films “Requiem for a Dream,” “The Fountain,” “Noah,” “Black Swan” and, most recently, “mother!”

Now, Oscar-nominated cinematographer, Filipino-American Matthew Libatique, lenses director Bradley Cooper’s critically-acclaimed romantic drama, “A Star is Born.”

In this new take on the iconic love story, Cooper and Lady Gaga fuse their considerable talents to depict the raw and passionate tale of Jack and Ally, two artistic souls coming together, on stage and in life. Theirs is a complex journey through the beauty and the heartbreak of a relationship struggling to survive.

It was important for Cooper that “A Star is Born’s” cinematic style have a first-person perspective, with the hope of giving the audience the ability to experience the intoxicating energy of performing live before a crowd.

To achieve this sensation, Cooper and director of photography Libatique chose to film all performance sequences from the perspective of the performers: that meant the singers’ and musicians’ immediate POV and onstage interactions with each other. No wide shots of concerts from the audience perspective;

EMPLOYMENT

the lens would live inside the performance.

Producer Bill Gerber states, “Bradley took a very specific approach with how he told the story cinematically. There are certain angles from traditional concert movies you’ll never see in this film. Instead, he and Matty put you in the middle of what it feels like to start becoming famous, what it feels like to have been famous for a long time, and what it feels like to lose that. It’s very visceral.”

Libatique has shot his fair share of music and concert videos as well as feature films.

“He’s an artist,” Cooper said of Libatique. “I got to meet him through Darren Aronofsky, who he has done many films with, and we hit it off right away. I told him we wouldn’t have a lot of days and we’d be moving fast, here’s the color palette I see, here’s a little about the opening composition, and he just got it.”

Libatique incorporated various shooting techniques, including handheld, Steadicam, long tracking shots following Jackson Maine from backstage to onstage, and so on, frequently keeping the focus extremely up close and personal on its subjects.

“Thank God for Matty and his crew, they were incredible,”

Cooper emphasized. “And our camera operator, Scott Sakamoto. I found myself watching him operate, he’s like a dancer. One of the greatest of all time.”

“Black Swan” earned Matthew Libatique his first Academy Award nomination, as well as nominations from BAFTA and The American Society of Cinematographers. He was honored with both the New York Film Critics’ and Los Angeles Film Critics’ awards, as well as the Independent Spirit Award in cinematography for the same film.

Libatique has ongoing collaborations with several directors, including Spike Lee, for whom he photographed “Chi-Raq,” “Miracle at St. Anna,” “She Hate Me” and “Inside Man”; Joel Schumacher, with “Tigerland” and “Phone Booth”; and Jon Favreau, with “Iron Man,” “Iron Man 2” and “Cowboys & Aliens.”

His other feature film credits include “Venom” for Ruben Fleischer; “Straight Outta Compton” for F. Gary Gray; “Gothika” for Mathieu Kassovitz; “Everything Is Illuminated” for Live Schreiber; and “Ruby Sparks” for directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris. “A Star is Born” marks his first collaboration with director Bradley Cooper.

(Philstar.com)

psychological and emotional implications of living in America as an undocumented person.

Vargas has propelled his message through the affecting cogency of his journalistic writing (like in his 2011 New York Times essay in which he made public his citizenship status) and documentary filmmaking that thematically challenges social and political norms. He’s harnessed his message into founding Define American, a non-profit media and culture organization focused on immigrants and their stories rather than politics.

Vargas began “Dear America” after he left his downtown LA apartment and began his nomad lifestyle, staying with friends or renting out hotel rooms and Airbnbs. As he writes in the prologue, the book appeals to the feeling of homelessness and living a life where he had to hide from the government and lie about his citizenship.

But this time around, Vargas wanted to strip the story of policy jargon and political rhetoric and put together a narrative with language that’s “more accessible and relatable” to relay a more human element of an oft-dehumanizing topic.

“After twenty-five years of living illegally in a country that does not consider me one of its own, this book is the closest thing I have to freedom,” Vargas writes in the book’s prologue.

In the book, Vargas details — through succinct, but stirring chapters — his mother sending him from Antipolo, Philippines (where he was born) to Northern California in 1993 to live with his lola and lolo. He recounts the shock and horror he felt as a teenager when he found out that he was undocumented and how coming out as undocumented was more difficult than coming out as a gay man.

For those of us who haven’t gone through life as an undocumented immigrant of color, it’s difficult to imagine the emotional rigmarole that comes as a requisite for undocumented peoples in an America where the emergence of nativism and xenophobia continues to manifest itself in the ugliest ways.

“Dear America” delivers a perspective that has endured institutionalized and socialized racism and internal struggles and identity crises as an undocu-

Vargas was detained and later released by Border Patrol in Texas in the summer of 2014.

Photos courtesy of Jose Antonio Vargas

mented gay immigrant of color.

“The book is kind of owning up to my own depression that I don’t really talk about. I wanted to create something relatable, but I wrote the book, really, for myself, and it’s probably the closest I ever got to going to therapy,” Vargas quipped in our interview.

Impactfully, he references his literary idols — celebrated black American writers Toni Morrison and James Baldwin and legendary Filipino-American writer and poet Carlos Bulosan — writers of color who, unapologetically, claimed their identities and reverberated their truths through their writing — and, it’s evident throughout “Dear America” that he’s following suit.

He began writing the book at the dawn of 2018 and chronicled the invisible existence he’s lived throughout his life as the Trump administration rolled out its most controversial immigration measures.

“We are flooded with news about immigration, and sometimes the media makes it seem like all of this is happening all at once, but the reality is that Trump is only the culmination and manifestation of every bad policy on immigration. This did not happen overnight,” Vargas says.

When news came out that migrant families were being separated at the border in the early summer, he was simultaneously recounting his own detention

EMPLOYMENT

PSYCHIC

FOR RENT

SERVICES

Vargas with his mother Emelie in the Philippines before he was sent to live with his grandparents in the U.S.

long before Trump’s election, in the summer of 2014 when he was detained with young Hispanic boys in a jail cell in south Texas, when “the media didn’t care and there were no hashtags or marches to bring families together,” he laughingly tells me.

In this poignant chapter, Vargas details the language barrier between these boys and him and the desire to assure them colonialism was the root cause of the unjust, inhumane immigration practices that America, a country founded by immigrants, has adopted.

“If I spoke Spanish, I could have told the boys that none of this was their fault,” Vargas writes in the book. “I could have made sure t hey understood — even if most Americans do PAGE B8

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

B

B october 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

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

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

B

B october 11-17, 2018 • LAS VeGAS ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

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

Community Journal Your Immigration Solution atty. MariDex e. abrahaM ON June 28, 2018, the United States Citizenship & Immigration Services (“USCIS”) issued a new policy memorandum that will affect individuals who apply for immigration benefits in the United States. In the memo, USCIS announced that immigration officers will have more authority to issue a Notice to Appear (“NTA”) to people whose applications for immigration benefits have been denied.

This new policy took effect on October 1, 2018, and USCIS officials anticipate that more NTAs will be issued in cases where the person does not currently have the lawful authority to reside in the United States. The NTA policy may seem intimidating and confusing to understand, but you should not be discouraged from applying for immigration benefits. A qualified immigration attorney can help you navigate the immigration processes as policy changes begin to take effect.

First, an NTA is the document issued by the Department of Homeland Security that initiates Removal proceedings, commonly referred to as Deportation proceedings. If you have been issued an NTA, you are required to appear in Immigration Court. The NTA will list the date, time and place of your hearing before an Immigration Judge. It is the Immigration Judge who will ultimately decide whether you may remain in the United States.

The USCIS’ new policy allows an immigration officer to issue an NTA to any person who is not lawfully present in the United States. This includes individuals who have been convicted of certain crimes, committed fraud or misrepresentation, used public benefits, or who have simply failed to maintain lawful immigration status in the U.S. The NTA

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette aDeva Maglaya (Second of 3 parts) (The first 5 tips came out in last week’s issue. Here’s the second installment of 5 more.)

6. Simplify. Simplify. Simplify. Know the difference between needs and wants. Use the Pareto principle in pinpointing the vital few (20 percent) and the trivial many (80 percent). When you let your wants overrule your life, you will end up trading your time and therefore, your life away to get those material things you thought will make you happy.

For those of us with big egos who cannot resist the urge to impress others with the latest gizmos, this can be a serious problem. Stuff is just stuff. If we don’t watch it, we can clutter up our lives with junk. Browsing leads to buying.

There is a back end to each item we acquire as personal property. After its use, we MUST CHOOSE ANY OF THESE OPTIONS: THROW, DONATE, SELL, DESTROY or KEEP them.

Keeping a great chunk of stuff we acquire over a lifetime can make pack rats out of us and deprive us of breathing space.

Health@Heart PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS IN this era of health consciousness, people, in general, are seeking ways to live healthier and maximize longevity through prevention. This was one of the reasons why I wrote the book, “Let’s Stop ‘Killing’ Our Children,” a primer on healthy lifestyle and disease prevention at the cellular (DNA-telomere) level pre-emptively and proactively to protect damages to our DNA and severely minimize the risk for the development of hypertension, diabetes T2, heart attack, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and even cancer.

Our society seems to have surrendered and accepted the development of these diseases as natural, a matter of course, and expected as normal as humans grow to midlife and older. There is nothing farther from the scientific truth.

No one needs (or is destined) to have high blood pressure or diabetes or any of the major cardiovascular illnesses, or even cancer. These are preventable to a great extent. And lifestyle plays a great role in what happens to our body and to our life. The strategy includes diet, exercise, and staying away from toxins and

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 11-17, 2018

B

Expect more deportations with new USCIS policy policy memo does not directly impact the way officers review an application for immigration relief.

In light of the USCIS’ new policy, it is extremely important that you follow instructions correctly and submit all the required documents when applying for immigration benefits. Because despite the new policy, USCIS may still approve your application if your filing contains enough information that establishes eligibility for the benefit you are seeking.

However, it is essential that you pay close attention to details and be aware of any issues that may affect your case. A knowledgeable immigration attorney can help you confirm your eligibility for the requested benefit, as well as making sure that you are providing all the information needed for USCIS to approve your case.

An immigration attorney will also identify any problems that might come up and help make sure that your application addresses these issues so that the officer has enough information to approve your case.

If your application is unfortunately denied, you may have the opportunity to appeal the denial.

It is important to note that appeals are not available for all types of denied applications. In addition, you may also be able to persuade the USCIS to reopen your case and review your application again. However, without successfully appealing or convincing the USCIS to reopen your case, USCIS will consider the positive and negative factors in your case to determine whether to issue you an NTA. The USCIS’ new policy is also applicable to people who submit applications to extend or change their non-immigrant status. If your application to extend or change your non-immigrant status has been denied, USCIS will give you a grace period to

leave the U.S. before issuing an NTA. The denial letter will provide warning language that tells you how long you are allowed to depart. It is especially important to immediately discuss any denials with an attorney before you depart the U.S., as an appeal may be possible if the application was denied incorrectly.

Finally, if USCIS issue an NTA in your case, you do not have to appear in immigration court alone. An immigration attorney can represent you in removal proceedings to help you explain your case to the immigration judge. An experienced attorney understands how immigration courts work and can assist you in requesting relief from deportation, including filing all necessary documents and writing legal briefs in support of your case.

Even though USCIS can issue a Notice to Appear in more types of cases, this should not prevent you from pursuing your immigration dreams. However, it is more important than ever to be represented by an experienced and knowledgeable immigration attorney. In addition to making sure you are eligible for the requested benefit, they can also make sure that your application and supporting documents are thorough and complete. *** REEVES IMMIGRATION LAW GROUP is one of the oldest, largest and most experienced immigration fi rms in the United States with offi ces in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Manila and China.

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

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

(Advertising Supplement)

How to build a house of bricks in any season “I build my house of sticks.

I build my house of twigs.

With a hey-diddle-diddle, I play on the fiddle.

And dance all kinds of jigs” — Fiddler Pig Empty space can be beautiful because it presents possibilities. The truth is, life’s journey is easier when we travel light. This was the bucket list elucidated on in a previous article.

7. Refuse to live in the shadows. If you’re illegal, exhaust every available avenue open to you to GO LEGIT. The gates have cracked open for the time being. Life is tough enough without you having to look over your shoulders and feeling edgy all the time fearing you’ll be put on the next plane back to the home country. Surely you didn’t go through all that trouble just to live a short, harried, hapless life. After 9/11 and the dangers of soulless terrorism, whether we accept it or not, after years of abuse, a new system, is now firmly in place and “the times, they are a-changin.”

The political axis has shifted, perhaps for the better, and the

times call for nations to build walls and constrain the movement of people in the face of real threats to their national sovereignty. A one-world, unelected government, with wealth and absolute power as their global goals, has zero interest in upholding the average person’s human rights. Economic migrants will be hit the hardest. Terrorism has reared its ugly head and fluidity and movement of people is now constrained.

Get legal and go the whole nine yards towards American citizenship. Shop, ask around and get the best legal representation you can get if you have to.

Not all immigration lawyers are cut from the same cloth. Choose wisely. Inspect track records.

8. Get physical. Make diet and exercise a regular part of your life. We maintain our cars and use high-grade fuel to PAGE B9

Life is wonderful poisons, and anything harmful to our body.

Most diseases are “self-inflicted” Have we programmed our mind and our being to self-destruct? Many of us, including the most educated ones, often disregard well-publicized evidence-based medical guides for a healthy life style. Although we know that a certain habit or practice or behavior is unhealthy, we still do it. Examples of these involve three culprits: food, alcohol, and tobacco (FAT).

Scientific articles abound about the hazards of smoking, where zero tolerance is the rule, including vaping (e-cigarettes), which has been found to be as dangerous as regular cigarettes.

Even the tobacco industry, indicted by the United States government, now admits that cigarettes are harmful to health and could cause various types of cancer, and yet many continue to smoke or vape.

Alcohol use is another. While it was medically recommended in the past that it was safe for non-pregnant women to have one drink a day, and men to have two drinks a day, new medical studies reveal that there is really no safe level of alcohol. Ethyl alcohol (the ingredient in our cocktails) is still an alcohol, which is toxic to our liver. Of course, it is a matter of

dose, but why even have a tiny burn in our liver at all?

Occasionally, I love to have Beefeater’s martini during lunch and pinot noir with my dinner especially during my younger years, but my burning GE reflux now punishes me when I indulge even with one drink. Perhaps, my liver and I should thank my acidreflux for my abstinence today.

Diet of confusion The various types of so-called healthy diet are confusing. There are the Adkins, South Beach, DASH, ketogenic, vegan, vegetarian, lectin-free, gluten-free, Stillmans, Hacker, raw foodism, etc.

To simply put it, what is important are two factors: quality and quantity. Basically, all of these diets aim for us to eat anti-inflammatory food items, those high in anti-oxidants and nutrition, those that lessen oxidative processes in our body that cause illnesses and speed up aging. There are foods that induce inflammation in our body, and damages to our DNA, and those are to be avoided.

Low carbohydrate (especially in rice), high plant-based food items, low fat, high protein diet with at least eight glasses of filtered water daily is the easiest rule to remember. I was a rice addict (three meals a day) until last March, when I stopped PAGE B9

B8 OCTOBER 11-17, 2018 • LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

Calendar of Events across

PEOPLE AND EVENTS

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

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 O C TO B E R 9 - N OV E M B E R 9

FASGI presents FAIR art exhibit in Los Angeles FASGI is pleased to announce FAIR – FASGI Artists Impressions & Reflections – an art exhibit to be held from October 9, 2018 to November 9, 2018 at the FASGI Bayanihan Center (135 N. Park View St., Los Angeles, CA 90026). FAIR is presented as part of FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program. FAIR will showcase five internationally-acclaimed artists who will unveil new and original artworks: Rafael Maniago, Cesar Devera, Johnny Otilano, Mat Relox, and Tiinz Taruc. FASGI’s Arts Incubator Program was created in 2016 to promote and uplift Filipino and Filipino American arts and culture. The program’s mission is to: (1) help Filipino American artists to be properly recognized and given economic opportunities for advancement; (2) enable Filipino Americans to get in touch with their culture; and (3) to educate mainstream America on Philippine/American art. The program currently includes a permanent gallery, special exhibits, portraiture, parol-making, and an artist-in-residence program. Art workshops, instruction, and live projects are currently being planned for commencement in 2019.

O C TO B E R 1 3

48th year anniversary retreat and rosary rally in Tujunga, CA October is the month of the Holy Rosary and what could be fitting is to pray to the Blessed Virgin Mary and offer flowers of mercy and compassion to others. On Saturday, October 13, the Federation of Filipino Rosary Groups is sponsoring the event which will include a variety of retreat speakers: Monsignor Lorenzo Miranda, Rev. Stephen, Rev. Robert Victoria and Rev. Rene Panlasigui, RCJ. Topics will revolve around the theme: “Mary and the Church”.

Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. Registration will start at 8:00 am at the patio. Procession will begin from the Grotto leading to Church. Come one, come all! All are welcome. Be refreshed and be renewed. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish (7344 Apperson Street, Tujunga, CA 91042). For information, please call: Tess Domingo at (909) 855-2208 or Rico Nosce at (818) 352-3218.

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/.

O C TO B E R 2 0

West Ranch High School hosts Wildcat Classic in Valencia, CA West Ranch High School is proud to present the 10th annual Wildcat Classic, a daylong display of musical artistry. More than 20 high school bands from the Santa Clarita Valley and around the region will gather for the Southern California School Band and Orchestra (SCSBOA) Marching Band Competition. The Wildcat Classic is happening Saturday, October 20, 2018 3 p.m.-9 p.m. at Valencia High School’s football stadium, located at 27801 Dickason Dr. in Valencia. Tickets are $10; parking is free. Each high school band will compete by division followed by an astounding showcase performance of the three-time state champion West Ranch Band and Colorguard. The day-long event culminates in an awards ceremony with awards presented in each division as decided by a panel of SCSBOA judges. The performance schedule will be announced prior to the event. Vendors will be on site with plenty of delectable food and drink options as well as gifts and apparel for the music enthusiast. For additional information, please contact West Ranch Music Director Jason Marshall at 661-222-1220 x 646 orjmarshall@hartdistrict.org or visit their website at www.westranchmusic.com.

Our Lady of Fatima celebration in Los Angeles Join on Saturday, October 20, at 5 p.m. for a special celebration in honor of our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. It will be held at the Cathedral of our Lady of the Angels (555 West Temple Street, Los Angeles, CA 90012). The main celebrant is Auxiliary Bishop Alexander Salazar.

All the faithful of the Archdiocese of Los Angeles are cordially invited to join us in October, the month of the Rosary, to pray for peace and conversion in honor of Our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima. Please share this announcement with your parish, families and schools. Together we can bring peace to our world. Together in prayer, we make a difference. All are welcome! For more information, please call (323) 578-8411 or (818) 421-6534.

Fil-Am Association of SCV,Inc. 35th Anniversary Gala The Siena College QC alumni will be holding its 35th Anniversary Gala. A black tie and hollywood glamour dinner and dance $60.00 (prepaid) on Saturday, October 20, 2018, 5 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom 24500 Town Center Drive, Valencia, CA 91355.

For details and purchase of tickets, please call: Mul (661) 253-1825, Zeny (661) 284-0181, Myra (424) 350-1056, Zony (661) 312-3422, Nic (661) 312-9077, Linda (661) 904-1365 and Emie (661) 877-2699.

Pinta*Dos Philippine Art Gallery in San Pedro, CA hosts art talk

by Christine Morla The current ongoing show at Pinta*Dos Gallery is Contemporary Filipino and Filipino American Artists Encounter Textile which presents works by Filipino American artists Cirilo Domini and Christine Morla, and Manila’s Aze Ong, all of whom have been conceptually, spiritually or formally inspired to use textiles as a starting point of inquiry. On October 20, 2018, artist Christine Morla will talk about her art and how her Philippine cultural heritage has influenced her work. Scheduled at 3:00pm - 5:00pm, the Art Talk will also include Conversations with one of the curators of the current art exhibit, Joseph Santarromana. Pinta*Dos Gallery is located at 479 W Sixth Street, Suite 107 at the Historic Arts District of San Pedro, CA. The event is free and open to the public but RSVP is requested. Call (310) 514-9139 or email Linda Nietes-Little: info@pintadosgallery.com for more details. Pinta*Dos Gallery is open on Thursday and Friday, from 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. or by appointment.

O C TO B E R 23

Asian Business Association - LA hosts business policy discussion in Monterey Park, CA Many business owners understand that elected officials makes rules and regulations for businesses. These regulations do affect the way in which businesses are conducted. However, many entrepreneurs may NOT understand, that they have the ability to shape these rules and regulations. One of the most important leverage business have is the power of their vote. On Tuesday, October 23, hear from Monterey Park City Manager Ron Bow, Alhambra City Mayor Jeff Maloney, and Public Affairs Expert Thomas Wong to gain some insight on how small business can better engage City Hall to shape business policy. Join the Asian Business Association (ABA) for this intriguing panel discussion from 6 to 8 p.m.! Appetizers will be provided. It will be held at Cafe M Park, Monterey Park Golf Course (3600 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, CA 91754). For more information, please visit http://abala.org/events/policy.

O C TO B E R 27

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) – Delanochapter.

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

Siena College QC global event in Garden Grove, CA The Siena College QC alumni will be holding its first global dinner-dance event on Saturday, October 27 at the Embassy Suites Anaheim-South, at 11767 Harbor Boulevard, Garden Grove, CA 92840. This event will be a great opportunity to catch up with all our alumni and faculty members from here and around the world. Let us all come together in the spirit of our school where we can create new memories and revisit the old. For more information please call Melba Dyquaiangco at (714) 609-1710 or email: sienaglobal2018@gmail.com.

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

Aga Muhlach and Bea Alonzo

Photo from Instagram/@beaalonzo

Bea Alonzo, Aga Muhlach say they’ve always wanted to work with each other

by ALFRED

BAYLE Inquirer.net

BEA Alonzo and Aga Muhlach were surprised to learn that they had been hoping to work with each other for the longest time.

Both actors had a long-standing admiration for each other’s work and hoped to work with each other on a future project, but years went by and the right film didn’t come until director Paul Soriano walked in with “First Love.”

“Nakatrabaho na siya ng ibang mga babae sa generation ko like sina Angelica (Panganiban), Angel (Locsin), Anne (Curtis), tapos akala ko, hindi na siya mangayayari. Pangarap ko siyang makatrabaho,” said Alonzo during an interview with Push.

(He’s (Muhlach) worked with other women from my generation

like Angelica [Panganiban], Angel [Locsin], Anne [Curtis], then I thought maybe it’ll never happen to me. I’ve always dreamed of working with him.)

Meanwhile, Muhlach had also been admiring Alonzo’s work on the big screen. The veteran actor recalled saying, “Man, I’d love to work with her,” as he watched one of her films.

Soriano would later approach Muhlach with a new project that the director had seen as a perfect movie for the two actors, such that he already labeled the raw script as “Aga and Bea.” Muhlach immediately texted and called up Alonzo to pitch the project. On her end, Alonzo quickly asked her driver to pull over just so she could answer a call from the Aga Muhlach.

“Sabi ko, ‘Sandali, sandali, tu-

migil ka, tatawag si Aga Muhlach!’

Oo, talagang sinagot ko. Tapos, tina-try kong ikalma ang sarili ko,” Alonzo recalled.

(I said, ‘Wait, wait, stop, Aga Muhlach is going to call!’ I quickly said ‘Yes.’ Then I was trying to calm myself.)

“Hindi pa niya natatapos ’yung sentence niya, sabi ko, oo, oo, opo, sige, gumawa tayo ng pelikula.”

(He wasn’t finished with his sentence yet and I was already saying, ‘yes, yes, yes, all right, let’s make a movie.’)

Muhlach also mused at how the actress called her “kuya.”

Alonzo reflected, “Siguro ngayon ’yung perfect time at siguro, ito ’yung perfect project.”

(Maybe now is the perfect time, and this is the perfect project.)

Katarina Rodriguez is Miss World Philippines 2018

by ARLO

CUSTODIO ManilaTimes.net

BEAUTY pageant veteran Katarina Rodriguez of Davao City bested 39 other candidates to win the Miss World Philippines 2018 crown on Sunday at the SM Mall of Asia Arena. The 26-yearold model was a Binibinibing Pilipinas title holder in 2017 and represented the country in the Miss Intercontinental pageant in Egypt on January 25 where she placed first runner-up. She also placed third in the second edition of “Asia’s Next Top Model” in 2014.

Rodriguez was proclaimed Best in Long Gown, and also won the Beach Beauty fast-track challenge which automatically advanced her to the Top 16.

Three Miss World winners were part of the panel of judges who were impressed by Rodriguez’ performance. They were former title holders Megan Young (2013), Stephanie del Valle (2016) and Manushi Chhillar (2017).

Mr. World 2012 Francisco Escobar hosted the glittering pageant alongside Miss World 1993 Second Princess Ruffa Gutierrez and actress Carla Abellana.

On Monday, hours after her victory the country’s official representative to the Miss World pageant in Sanya, China in December, poured out her thoughts on Instagram.

“Before I get into the conventional beauty queen victory post, I wanted to share something about authenticity. This is me. Katarina Rodriguez at 26 years old. I’ve had people from all directions, coming from everywhere and anywhere judge me like it’s their profession.

“People who know me, or don’t know me, who think they know me, or may have just heard some-

The former Binibining Pilipinas-Intercontinental is now Miss World Philippines.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Gerard Seguia

thing through some imaginary grape vine so to speak—gave me constant criticism, be it constructive or just flat out unnecessary.

They come my way day to day. I have people telling me to act this way or that way or not post, wear, or do certain things and at one point I got very confused at who I should be. “‘Just be yourself, Katarina.’

That’s me to me. ”The last two years of my life I had the chance to really get to know who I am as a person, as a woman in fact. And in the last four days that all seemed to have gone out the window. I was second guessing every breath I was taking because of the pressure.

“Don’t doubt yourself… shake that off,” someone told me. I kept

echoing these words in my mind.

“Staying true to who you are is so important even in a performance like @msworldphil because in a world full of many false things, it’s almost like magic to be something so real. I made myself a promise that if I was going to win Miss World Philippines, I would win by being me and doing my thing. And I did exactly that. To anyone with self doubt, again,be who you are, the you of your soul. With that and kindnesss you’ll stay golden.”

Also crowned were Alyssa Muhlach Alvarez as Reina Hispanoamericana 2018, Maureen Montagne as Miss Eco Philippines 2018 and Kimi Mugford as Miss Multinational 2018. First Princess was Chanel Morales, and Second Princess was Pearl Hung.

The raw, unapologetic candor of...

PAGE B2 not — that people like us come to America because America was in our countries.”

The physical book, itself, also emphatically represents Vargas’ claim of identity and voice with the handwritten cover title and byline, Vargas’ fingerprint as the cover art and the bright, Pantone yellow book jacket that represents the given color of the Asian race.

In a chapter called “Filipinos” he writes, “Filipinos fit everywhere and nowhere at all,” and despite the rich presence of Filipinos in American history, the struggle of Filipinos in America to feel at home and to feel a sense of belonging is ubiquitous.

In our interview, Vargas notes the present reckoning of Filipino-American writers like Noel Alumit and Elaine Castillo who are “redefi ning and claiming” the Filipino identity in the 21st century. In many ways, “Dear America” is an introductory call to Filipinos in America — undocumented and otherwise — to stake a claim to the FilipinoAmerican identity and understanding how we got here.

At the time of publication of “Dear America,” Vargas is 37 years old, one year older than his

Jose Antonio Vargas speaks at a stop on his book tour at USC on Sept. 25 AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla

mother was when she dropped him off at the airport in the Philippines.

On Sept. 25, on a speaking tour for his book at University of Southern California, Vargas requested that he record the audience singing “Happy Birthday” to his mother, who turned 61 years old that very day. Vargas has not seen his mother in person since that day at the airport 25 years ago.

Publicly, Vargas is a fierce, outspoken advocate for the hu-

manization of the immigration conversation. But on that day at the Bovard Auditorium recording a crowd of strangers wish his mother a happy birthday, his demeanor softened and a modest, faint smile formed on his face.

At that moment, Vargas wasn’t an activist or a writer. He was the son of a Filipina who risked family separation for the success of her anak.

“Dear America: Notes of an Undocumented Citizen” is out now.

Features

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

Life is wonderful

PAGE B7 eating rice cold turkey. I never thought I could do it. But here I am almost eight months later, still on a rice-free diet, and my blood sugar and blood pressure well under control. Of course, depending on our weight, being aware of our caloric (volume) intake is essential, which we can always adjust. Daily physical exercise is a natural and a vital part of this regimen. Just observe our animal friends and see how active they are, always on the move. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nature teaching us.

So, letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stop self-inflicting, self-inducing harm to our body and get out of that self-destruct (almost suicidal) mode most of us, if not all, appear to have programmed out mindset to. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s be healthy and enjoy life.

Minimize harmful lectin Studies have revealed that lectin (different from lecithin, which is good for health) a protein discovered in 1888 is found in almost all food items which could cause damage to our cells and a cascade of inflammation and auto-immune reaction. It is also anti-nutrients, undigested by our body. Some people are so intolerant of lectin that they develop weight gain, leaky guts and other illnesses.

While almost all foods have lectin in them, this harmful substance is greatly reduced by cooking, sprouting, and fermenting. Nonetheless, it is best to minimize our intake of lectin.

The following are some of the food items which have high lectin levels: all soy and wheat products (most breads), most cooking oil, all varieties of rice, quinoa, barley, rye, grains, oats, dairy products, foods with gluten, and the so-called nightshade foods, like tomatoes, beans, peas, squash, lentils, eggplants, sweet and hot peppers, potatoes, peanuts, and cashews. Meats and seafoods also contain lectin. Those with low lectin levels are all vegetables not on the list above, dark chocolates, almonds, walnuts, macadamia, extra virgin oil, tea/coffee (without cream and sugar), and stevia, the only sugar substitute on the list. Again, cooking reduces lectin to a safer level. The lower, the better.

Those who continue to smoke tobacco (including e-cigarettes), which are toxic to the body, and can cause a host of illnesses, especially cancer, or those who imbibe excess alcohol, which is literally toxic to the liver, no matter how little (new studies show there is no safe level for alcohol intake), are virtually committing a slow suicide. While a bit of exaggerated, this is nonetheless a medical truism.

Together with daily exercise (low-impact brisk walking is in, and joint-busting jogging is medically discouraged), diet is vital to our health and longevity.

We are indeed what we eat. Both physical exercise and proper diet significantly reduce our risk

for the development of all major diseases, including Alzheimerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and cancer.

Dr. Google on-call If unsure or in need of information about anything, we have Dr. Google (office hours 24/7) at our fingertips, free of charge. In my case, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t need Google, because my wife knows everything,â&#x20AC;? as printed on my t-shirt from Cancun, Mexico, a gift from my eldest daughter, Sheillah.

In all seriousness, though, our state of health and longevity are greatly in our hands, within our control to a significant extent.

Disciplining our mind (and mindset), harnessing and utilizing all the information about healthy lifestyle which are readily available and accessibale today, plus regular meditation and daily prayers, are the fundamental ingredients of the recipe for a healthier, happier, more productive, and maximal longevity. Life is wonderful. Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s have more of it.

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 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; USA, a 501(c)(3) humanitarian foundation in the United States.

Email: scalpelpen@gmail.com

pressure when we feel overwhelmed is to say NO. Know your strengths and respect your limits and know when youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re spreading yourself too thinly.

10. A fool and his money are soon parted. Have this truism tattooed on the hand that keeps wielding the plastic, aka credit/debit cards, until it hits home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; just until you learn fiscal responsibility and mind your financial health. The great financial industry that runs and oils America has your number and gauges the kind of risk you are based on your track record of fiscal responsibility reflected in that all too important number called the FICO score.

This is the metric reflective of how you deal with money and your financial obligations. The gold standard is 850 and above.

Cash remains king but a good

credit history is queen. Mess with this metric and you will pay a painful price that hits your pocketbook even more when you have to buy big-ticket items, like a car or a house. Take care that in the first few years and for the rest of your life, you guard your credit history with the tenacity of a pit bull.

(Next week: The third and fi­ nal part of 15 Tips: How to Build a House of Bricks in Any Sea­ son.) *** Nota Bene: Monette Adeva Maglaya is SVP of Asian Journal Publications, Inc. To send comments, e-mail monette. maglaya@asianjournalinc.com.

To read past articles, click on the l i n k O n l i n e : h tt p : / /i s s u u .co m / asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

B

Pia Wurtzbach recalls life as waitress, factory worker

by Jan

Milo Severo Philstar.com

MISS Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach recently opened up about being her familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breadwinner since her younger years, which paved way for her to reach her dreams.

On her Instagram account, Pia shared her struggles along the way as she took on different jobs. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been my familyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s breadwinner since I was 11. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve worked countless jobs from waiting tables to packing boxes in a paper factory â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a testament that I hustled on and never gave up â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;til I reached my dreams,â&#x20AC;? Pia wrote.

For her, being crowned as the most beautiful girl in the universe is a huge accomplishment, but there are more things to learn and discover to help others. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Being Miss Universe 2015 is a big and beautiful achievement, but being my ultimate is a continuous journey of self discovery, self love, and self care so I can *** be a vessel to inspire others,â&#x20AC;?

Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac she said.

Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indiana and Apart from show business, Pia chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to is busy promoting advocacies.

2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am able to help promote a where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus healthy & balanced lifestyle, AIDS in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. awareness, women empowerment

How to build a house of bricks in...

PAGE B7 get great performance from a machine to get us from Point A to Point B. Our magnificent bodies, the crowning glory of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Creation, deserve no less. If we expect to run the full course set before us and barring unforeseen twists of fate, like being run over by a truck, struck by lightning or hit by a meteorite, we can look forward to a long stretch of happy, productive, relatively healthy years ahead.

9. Admit youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re no superhero. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take on more than you can handle. American life is demanding. We are all required to multitask at work and at home â&#x20AC;&#x201D; to do too many things all at once â&#x20AC;&#x201D;itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s enough to drive us to the edge of insanity. One technique to help us maintain our mental health and take off the

LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ OctObER 11-17, 2018

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and these are far more important to me than any crown I could ever receive. When one embraces whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful: youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re able to be you to the full,â&#x20AC;? she said.

A netizen questioned Piaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s post, saying in the comments section: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You do know youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re basically telling everyone that your parents had let you work when you were 11, let you feed and support them instead of them working and supporting you?

What were they doing when you were 11? Just sits around waiting for you to come home from work? #childabuseawareness.â&#x20AC;?

As response, Pia clarified that she was not a victim of child abuse. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What I mean was I stepped in to be breadwinner of my family because I eventually had the most income through my modeling and acting career as a kid. But at the same time I was still in school, I never stopped schooling. And my mom would be around me all the time to watch over me,â&#x20AC;? she narrated.

She stressed that she became a waitress and a factory worker when she was over 17 or as she said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;legal enough to work.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;It was my decision to help my family. They never forced me.

Miss Universe 2015 Pia Wurtzbach Photo from Instagram/@piawurtzbach

But of course mahirap yun. In the Philippines itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not uncommon for children to decide to help their families out. As long as itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s within the law and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re not hurting anyone,â&#x20AC;? Pia said.

She reiterated that her family did not violate any law. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Wala po kaming nilabag na batas. Mahirap lang po talagang lumaki sa and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not ashamed of where I came from. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sharing my story na kung kinaya ko, kaya nyo rin!â&#x20AC;? she espoused.

Kristine Hermosa on motherhood and show business by nika

roque ManilaTimes.net

ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S definitely in his blood. Vin Sotto, the youngest of child of actors Kristine Hermosa and Oyo Boy Sotto definitely knows how to catch everyoneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s attention. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kahit â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;di siya nagsasalita nga­ yon, good mood naman siya,â&#x20AC;? expressed Hermosa who continued to smile while explaining the challenges of being a working mom, most especially when her kids get sick.

Hermosaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most recent scare was when her only daughter, Ondrea, had a 49-degree fever, sending them to hospital. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kailangan kumalma kasi ang parents nagpa-panic talaga,â&#x20AC;? she explained. â&#x20AC;&#x153;And when you do that, masisira ang diskarte mo. You really have to relax and pray na God will give you wisdom to do whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s necessary. â&#x20AC;?

When it comes to allowing her kids to be part of the entertainment industry, Hermosa is keeping an open mind. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Yung eldest ko si Kiel and Ondrea, medyo may signs na

Kristine Hermosa with husband Oyo Boy Sotto Photo from Instagram/@khsotto

gusto na din mag artista â&#x20AC;&#x201C; siguro kasi nakikita nila kami sa TV and behind the scenes. They have commercials also.â&#x20AC;? Citing their faith-driven family, she continued, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Basta tapos mag­aral and they have good values, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll be supportive.â&#x20AC;?

Similarly, Hermosa proudly expressed that both she and her

husband, do not allow their children to use gadgets. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Kami ni Oyo, we are very hands-on talaga â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we work as a team when it comes to disciplining our children. â&#x20AC;&#x153;There are so many negative influences and they often come at unexpected times. We choose what they watch and we never allow them to use our phones without permission,â&#x20AC;? she explained.

Hermosa, who gained popularity for her beauty and acting skills in the early 2000s, has revealed that she has since been focusing on her growing family, which is why she has lesser projects. Her most recent role was Malaya, an antagonistic goddess in the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Baganiâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; universe.

Nevertheless, Hermosa is grateful for all of her projects and still considers acting her passion despite being more selective in her projects. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Draining kasi ang drama, ayoko din makita ng mga anak ko yung intense and nakakapagod na emotions,â&#x20AC;? said Hermosa, who goes for more wholesome roles nowadays.

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

B10 OCTOBER 11-17, 2018 â&#x20AC;˘ LAS VEGAS ASIAN JOURNAL

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

Located in Montemaria, home to the ninth largest monument in the Worldâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the shrine to Mother Mary,Tower of Peace.

A world-class township development located in Montemaria, Batangas City, the Philippines.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;For your retirement, family vacation, pilgrimage, and investment...for generations.â&#x20AC;?

THE TOTAL LAND AREA OF THE MONTEMARIA DEVELOPMENT IS APPROXIMATELY 130 HECTARES WHICH INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING TOWNSHIP* PROJECTS: 01 Condominiums, hotels, and resorts 02 Commercial developments such as a shopping center which includes restaurants and cafes 03 Golf Course and Water Park 04 Spa and Wellness Centers 05 Marina and Fishermanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Wharf 06 Housing, residential subdivision, and retirement village 6XEMHFW WR Ć&#x201C;QDO GHYHORSPHQW SODQ TOTAL LAND AREA 2.1 Hectares

INVESTMENT HIGHLIGHTS

01 Development site is adjacent to the Statue of Virgin Mary.

02 5HVRUW VHWWLQJ ZLWK PDJQLĆ&#x201C;FHQW YLHZ RI WKH ED\ 03 High-quality asset with world-class exterior and interior design.

04 Designed by award winning and internationally renowned Architecture and Design Firm, ARCH HAUS ASIA. 05 Montemaria is located on top of the Batangas Bay Peninsula facing the Verde Island Passage, reputed to be the U.N. recognized â&#x20AC;&#x153;Center of the Center of Marine Bio-Diversity of the World.â&#x20AC;?

DATE OF COMPLETION Second Quarter of 2020 TOTAL NUMBER OF UNITS PHASE 1 866 Units BUILDING 1 164 units

BUILDING 2 Clubhouse

Lombard By The Bay is a joint venture development project between 3UHPLHU $VLD 3DFLĆ&#x201C;F 5HDO (VWDWH DQG Development Corp.and Omnicor ,QGXVWULDO (VWDWH 5HDOW\ &HQWHU ,QF

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT SUSAN K. GROSS-NIEDERMEYER AT (480) 227-7782 SUSAN@SUSANGROSSREALTOR.COM I SUSAN.GROSS@PREMIERASIAPACIFIC.COM I LOMBARDBYTHEBAY.COM