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O C T O BER 19-25, 2018 Volume 11 - No. 52 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

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Duterte tells new DFA chief Teddy Locsin to ‘be truthful’

by PATRICIA LOURDES Philstar.com

NEW DFA CHIEF. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte administers the oath to newly-appointed Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. during a ceremony at the Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, October 17. Also in the photo is Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea.

Malacañang photo by Ace Morandante

USA

DATELINE PH election to UN rights committee draws criticisms FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

DESPITE rights groups’ complaints, the Philippines has been re-elected in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) on Friday, October 12, through an uncontested balloting in the UN General Assembly.

According to the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), the country’s election “puts pressure” on the administration of President Rodrigo Duterte to “address numerous allegations of rights violations.”

The Philippines is one of the 18 countries that made it to the 47-member council. It received 165 out of the 192 votes cast by UN member states and would serve another threeyear term in the council starting next year.

Presidential spokesperson and chief legal counsel Salvador Panelo said, “The Philippines’ election … is a recognition that our government respects human rights and will not tolerate abuse by those in authority.”

“Getting a seat in the [UNHRC] is a repudia-

MANILA — President Rodrigo Duterte has given his marching orders to new Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro “Teddy” Locsin Jr., who took his oath of office on Wednesday, October 17.

Locsin will be taking over the Department of Foreign Affairs’ top post, which was vacated as his predecessor Alan Peter Cayetano will be running as representative of Taguig City in the 2019 elections.

“The conversation is like ‘I’m honored for your appearance today and there is only one message

retaries have been appointed in the Department of Foreign Affairs from former secretary (Perfecto) Yasay to former Secretary Alan (Cayetano) and to him (Locsin),” Panelo said.

Locsin served as the Philippines’ permanent representative to the United Nations for more than a year before being appointed as the country’s top diplomat.

After taking his oath as the new DFA chief, Locsin flew to Belgium for his first overseas event as top diplomat.

As soon as he assumed office in 2016, Duterte declared that his administration would pursue an

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by AJPRESS ACCORDING to Jose Ma. Sison, peace during our lifetime is possible.

In an interview with The Manila Times, the founding chairman of the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP), the umbrella organization of the National Democratic Front (NDF) and the New People’s Army (NPA), is hopeful that peace with the government will be achieved sooner or later in spite of a series of reversals.

“Kung maganda ang kasunduan and for the benefit of the people, bakit hindi? Kung makukuha sa usapan bakit kailangan pang tumuloy sa pukpukan o santong paspasan? (If we are able to reach a fine

Dr. Dante Acebo Cubangbang

Photo from Facdbook

Filipino doctor among ‘drug In fight vs brother, Abby Binay shows who’s daddy’s girl dealers in white coats’ arrested for illegal prescription mill 3-way battles for mayor emerge in Manila, Pasay; u PAGE A2

CPP founding chairman Jose Ma. Sison

Inquirer.net photo

still a one-family affair in Taguig

by MOMAR

by DEXTER

CABALZA Inquirer.net

US gov’t announces new P1.35-B Marawi project

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I would like to give you and that is to be truthful, nothing more,’” presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a press briefing, recalling the encounter between Duterte and Locsin.

The Malacañang spokesman added that Duterte appoints his Cabinet members on the basis of truth and competence.

Asked about Duterte’s orders on his independent foreign policy, Panelo said there was no change on the administration’s policy.

“With respect to the foreign policy, I think the new DFA (secretary) knows the marching orders of the president. There has been no change from the time that sec-

Joma: Peace possible in our lifetime

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THE United States government has a launched the Marawi Response Project, which aims to improve economic and social conditions of communities affected by the conflict last year.

In May 2017, ISIS-inspired local terrorists sieged Marawi City, resulting to a declaration of martial law in Mindanao.

U.S. Ambassador to the Philippines Sung Kim announced the P1.35-billion project that expands livelihood activities in the city and nearby areas, the U.S. Embassy said in a statement.

The Marawi Response Project is a threeyear project of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) that will offer micro grants to displaced and host communities in the war-torn city.

These grants will address short-term needs, support employment readiness for the youth and help connect them to Mindanao’s service sector.

“The U.S. government shares the concern of the Philippine government for ongoing economic, social, health and education needs of the people of Marawi and neighboring munici-

VIRAY

Seeking another term, Makati Mayor Abby Binay and her running mate Monique Lagdameo file their certificates of candidacy on Wednesday, with the backing of Abby’s father, ex-Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Inquirer.net photo by Joan Bondoc

G. VISAYA

AJPress

MAKATI Mayor Abby Binay not only made her political faceoff with her brother Junjun official. She also showed who’s “daddy’s girl” in the city that their family had been dominating for more than 30 years.

Former Vice President Jejomar Binay accompanied his daughter as she filed her certificate of candidacy (COC) at the local Comelec office on Wednesday, a telling gesture that “surprised” Abby since the patriarch earlier

THE United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York announced last week that five doctors and two medical professionals were charged in Manhattan federal court with illegally distributing oxycodone.

Among the five New York doctors charged was Dr. Dante Cubangbang, 50, of Franklin Square, New York.

Cubangbang and the other doctors were charged in an indictment with one count of conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

He is also charged with one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

Cubangbang, who operated a medical clinic in Queens,

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Businesses still ‘confused’ over Boracay re-opening plans THE government’s guidelines for popular tourist spot Boracay Island still have many Boracay businesses confused.

Elena Brugger, president of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry - Boracay, said in a DZRH interview on Tuesday, October 16, that many establishments are still unaware of the progress of their permit applications.

“Hinihingi ng business sector na bigyan kami ng kopya. Be transparent. We in the business sector have the right to know. Confused pa ang business community dahil marami pa ring hindi naklaruhan. (The business sector is asking for a copy [of compliant businesses].

Be transparent. We in the business sector have the right to know. The business community Residents of Aklan run on Boracay beach after being granted the privilege of taking the first is confused because there are a lot of things that need to be clarified),” she said. steps on the island’s white sand during the soft opening on Monday, October 15.

Boracay was partially opened for local Philstar.com photo by Walter Bollozos

tourists on Monday, October 15, and it will be officially opened to the public again on October 26. This is six months after it was closed down due to environmental problems caused by tourism-related businesses dumping raw sewage directly into the ocean.

According to Brugger, the bulk of the applications stay on the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ (DENR) desk because they have to review of compliance to five laws.

“Ni-lift na ng DENR ang [suspension] ng ECC (environmental compliance certificate) pero hindi pa rin klaro. Meron pa ring mga nakapila pa rin na naghihintay ng certificate of compliance. (DENR has lifted the suspension of the ECC but it’s still not clear. There are still some businesses waiting for their certificate of compliance),” she said.

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october 19-25, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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

From the Front Page

Duterte tells new DFA chief...

PAGE A1

independent foreign policy, which is already mandated in the 1987 Constitution.

Under Duterte’s administration, the Philippines has forged ties with China and Russia at a time that the United States is reinvigorating its

engagement in the Asia Pacific.

Critics have urged the president to revisit his foreign policy following reports that Beijing has installed surface-to-air missiles and electronic jamming equipment on its bases in the South China Sea.

“What may we call one that acquiesces to the abuses against it? Answer: a willing victim. What may we call one that defends an aggressor at every opportunity?

Answer: an abettor,” former Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario said in a forum in July. n

PAGE A1 was arrested Thursday evening and presented in Manhattan federal court Friday. His co-defendants in the case include John Gargan, 62, of Manhattan, a nurse practitioner who also prescribed pills, and employees Michael Kellerman, 54, of Queens, and Loren Piquant, 37, of the Bronx.

“These doctors and other health professionals should have been the first line of defense against opioid abuse, but as alleged in today’s charges, instead of caring for their patients, they were drug dealers in white coats,” said U.S. Attorney Geoffrey S. Berman said.

According to the allegations in the indictment unsealed on Thursday, Cubangbang, a physician, and Gargan, a nurse practitioner, prescribed over 6 million oxycodone pills to individuals they knew did not need the medication for any legitimate medical reason.

Their clinic allegedly took in $5.7 million in cash over 3 1⁄2 years and was the largest New York prescriber of oxycodone pills tracked

by Medicaid and Medicare.

They prescribed more than twice as many oxycodone pills that were paid for by Medicare and Medicaid than the next highest prescriber in New York and doled out these prescriptions during office visits that lasted no more than a few minutes and involved little to no physical examination.

Together with Kellerman and Piquant, who worked in the clinic and recruited patients, the defendants collected more than $5 million in all-cash office visit fees, which they laundered and divided amongst themselves.

The Wall Street Journal, citing the city’s health department reported that New York City is in the midst of what law enforcements have described as an opioid epidemic and that every six hours, someone in New York City dies of a drug overdose.

While the rate at which people are dying from drugs slowed in 2017, the number of fatal drug overdoses rose for the seventh straight year to 1,487, up 62 from a year before, according to the city’s health department. The rise

has been driven by opioids, particularly the powerful, synthetic opioid, fentanyl, according to city officials.

Informant Prosecutors disclosed on Wednesday that a confidential informant visited the clinic of Dr. Cubangbang multiple times. A video bug was also installed in his office.

“The confidential informant was not asked any questions about pain, but nonetheless received a large prescription for 30-milligram oxycodone pills,” prosecutor Michael Krouse told U.S. District Judge Paul Gardephe as reported

by Newsday.

“They hid behind their medical licenses to sell addictive, dangerous narcotics. This Office will do everything in its power to bring to justice anyone responsible for fueling the opioid epidemic that has taken so many lives,” Berman said.

Cubangbang is out on a $1 million dollar bail after pleading not guilty at a brief hearing Thursday. n

Filipino doctor among ‘drug dealers in white coats’...

CLIMATE ACTION. Speaking at the launch of the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA) at The Hague, Netherlands, Senator Loren Legarda, who is among the Commissioners, stresses that the GCA should guide nations into realizing that it makes good socio-economic sense to mainstream adaptation and resilience in national budgeting processes, but it should also be implemented by local governments. The GCA, which is headed by former UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, Bill Gates, and World Bank CEO Kristalina Georgieva, aims to elevate the political importance of climate adaptation and encourage bold solutions to become more resilient to climate-related threats, especially for vulnerable countries and communities. The Commission is composed of 17 convening countries and 28 commissioners representing all regions of the globe and all sectors of development and industry.

Senate photo

Joma: Peace possible in our...

PAGE A1 agreement and if it’s for the benefit of the people, why not? If we can talk and settle our problems, why do we have to resort to violence and fierce fighting?)” he asked.

Sison also said that at the people’s level in his organization back home, they have laid out their views and programs and considered everything, and have reached a degree of understanding about the emergence of the Duterte adminis-

tration when it started.

They have even welcomed the election of then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency, as Duterte’s past experience in cooperating with the Left was “OK” with them.

The Manila Times interview with Sison showed that the CCP founding chairman supports the Duterte agenda.

Sison said that it would be quite an achievement for Duterte if he could industrialize the Philippines like South Korea and Japan have become, and “establish an independent political track.” After all, the country is still “semi-feudal, controlled by the ruling class,” and that the “the super-rich are all land-based and they use and accept people’s land as collateral even now.”

He cited Duterte saying he wanted the country to industrialize, create jobs, and for Filipino workers overseas to come and settle back in the Philippines. He agreed that the Filipinos living overseas as OFWs can be given jobs in the Philippines if the country is able to industrialize.

Willing to participate in honest election According to Sison, the CPP/NDF group is willing to participate in an open, free and honest election under a peace agreement.

“If the agreement becomes substantial, sabay na reconciliation, mayroon pang explicit agreement, may ceasefire pa (it will have provisions for reconciliation, an explicit agreement, plus a ceasefire),” he said.

He also said that the constitutional conditions should allow all parties to compete in the elections, except the fascists.

Sison acknowledged that the people want to elect their leaders and that the time is ripe for a federal form of government, as reported by The Manila Times.

“Magandang pagkakataon (It is a good opportunity) that Duterte wants a federal form of government. (It’s a) win-win, provided the democratic provisions of the 1987 Constitution are carried over, with the provisions against political dynasty and foreign bases,” he said, also stressing that there must be constitutional reform to make sure the economic programs are carried out.

The CCP is willing to help “cofound the federal government of the Philippines,” Sison said, but they were excluded from the framing of the draft of the new Constitution.

They were disappointed when they found that they weren’t given five seats out of the 25 members of the ConCom (Constitutional Commission).

Opposing localized peace talks “To achieve a permanent truce, madali (is easy).”

Sison said once peace is achieved, members of the NPA can be given jobs as environmental guards, industrial guards or security guards.

He opposes the localized peace talks initiated by the government,

according to The Manila Times.

He said Jesus Dureza, presidential adviser on the Peace Process, was “negotiating on a super-big table, but that the peace process may not even be included in the localized peace negotiations. They are simply offering goodies to the surrenderees.”

Sison said he doesn’t think the government has money, undermining the government’s capability to pay off all the rebel returnees who would lay down their arms and surrender to the government.

He also doesn’t believe that localized peace talks will succeed. He said it doesn’t amount to doesn’t amount to peace negotiations as they do not cover the national issues.

No precondition to peace talks resumption According to The Manila Times, the CPP/NDF/NPA would welcome the resumption of the peace talks if the president wanted it. Sison said it is the policy of the NDF to continue the peace negotiations despite his hostile exchanges with President Duterte and the communist group’s bloody confrontations with the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Philippine National Police.

“Wala kaming preconditions (We have no preconditions),” Sison stressed. However, he said that the president has to reaffirm all previous agreements between the Philippine group panel and the CPP/NDF/NPA since 1992.

He talked about the difference between now and the first time they met Duterte as Davao City mayor.

He said they embraced Duterte’s promise of a general amnesty to release all political prisoners early on as they were reluctant to clash with him.

“He showed some flexibility,” Sison said.

But then he started calling Duterte a ‘thug’ when the peace talks were terminated and the word war between them escalated.

He said it is now up to the president to continue the peace negotiations. They are open to holding talks with Duterte, he added.

The NPAs, however, are not willing to lay down their arms as a prelude to lasting peace.

Sison said the NPA is a revolutionary force and the only way to achieving peace is to satisfy the people’s demand for social and economic reform.

He told The Manila Times he is willing to come to the Philippines from his Utrecht base to sit down with the president face-to-face when the conditions obtaining are favorable.

“At a certain point in time when the end of hostilities [is at hand] at pag naayos na ang (and when the) comprehensive agreement on social and economic reform is all ironed out, I will come to the Philippines very confidently,” Sison said.

“I have to heed the advice of my lawyer and Congress on whether it is legal and the security arrangements are ensured,” he added. n

Businesses still ‘confused’...

PAGE A1 The suspension of the ECC has already been lifted by the DENR. It also issued 159 Certificates of Conditional Approval to businesses that are 90 to 95 percent compliant with environmental laws.

Businesses can only proceed to get accreditation from the Department of Tourism after the DENR’s green light.

“We want transparency because we want to work together and cooperate since Day 1. They should have told us from the very start the guidelines kasi marami pang agam-agam ‘yung iba (because others are still unsure),” Brugger said.

Only the list of 68 hotels and resorts (with 3,519 rooms) approved as of October 12 were provided by the government, as reported by

Rappler. The government will be limiting the number of accredited establishments in order to bring down the total number of rooms in the island to 8,355 from 14,456 rooms prior to the tourist spot’s closure.

The decision will affect the Philippines, and Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia estimated that the country would lose P1.96 billion due to this.

Despite Boracay Island’s closure, international tourist arrivals in the country rose by 9.7 percent to 4.3 million visitors for the period January-July 2018 compared to its level in the same period last year, as stated by the Department of Trade and Industry. Tourism officials are confident that the Philippines can achieve its target of 7.5 million by the end of the year. (AJPress)

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Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OctObER 19-25, 2018

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Trump administration releases Voter enthusiasm soars as the proposed public charge regulations midterm elections approach New proposal could affect 24 million immigrants, including those previously eligible for green cards

LAST week on Wednesday, October 10, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its proposed changes to the public charge regulations.

The proposal seeks to expand what will be scrutinized on the “public charge” test, which is a measure used to identify those who depend on certain public assistance programs, and a person deemed a public charge via this test may be denied a green card or visa.

According to the proposals which have been posted to the Federal Register, the “DHS seeks to better ensure that [undocumented immigrants] subject to the public charge inadmissibility ground are self-sufficient, i.e., do not depend on public resources to meet their needs, but rather

rely on their own capabilities as well as the resources of family members, sponsors and private organizations.”

Unsurprisingly, many lawmakers and immigrant rights organizations condemned the changes as another attempt by the Trump administration to deter undocumented immigrants from the possibility of citizenship.

The test previously did not include health, nutrition and housing programs like Medicaid and Section 8, but the proposed changes seek to include such public assistance programs. The proposal also identifies a likely public charge as someone who has an income below 125 percent of the federal poverty level, which as of 2018, is $25,975 for a family of three.

That means that an individual making less than $15,000 a year, or a family of four with a total income less than $31,000, would be unfavorably weighted and could be denied a visa or green card.

“This is another attack on immigrant families by the Trump administration,” U.S. Rep. Judy Chu (D-CA27) said at a press conference on Monday, Oct. 15 at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. “What’s worse is that the proposed changes set up an elitist system [and] essentially puts a price tag on staying in this country. An immigrant’s worth should not be measured by how much they make — that has never been an American value.”

Nearly 40 percent of green card holders each year are of Asian and

bers of the city council, as well as officials of 21 out of the 33 barangays, withdrew their support for Abby and instead called on Junjun to run against her in the 2019 polls.

Erap vs Lim vs Isko In Manila, it’s now a threeway fight for the mayoral seat, with the incumbent Joseph Estrada and a familiar rival, former Mayor Alfredo Lim, filing their certificates of candidacy (COCs) on Wednesday.

Last week, Isko Moreno — the vice mayor during Estrada’s first term — resigned as social welfare undersecretary to also enter the derby for City Hall’s top post.

Estrada has tapped former Rep. Amado Bagatsing, one of his opponents in the last election, as his running mate. Lim did not field a vice mayoral candidate.

Gunning for a third term, Estrada hopes to continue his winning streak against Lim, whom he defeated in the 2013 and 2016 elections. Meanwhile, just before filing his COC, Lim abandoned his longtime membership in the Liberal Party (LP) to join Partido Demokratiko PilipinoLakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), the vehicle that brought Rodrigo Duterte to the presidency in 2010.

In media statements, Moreno, indicated the general theme of his campaign: Estrada and Lim, now well into their senior years and who have governed the country’s capital city for years, should now take a “rest.”

Cayetanos switching places In Taguig City, Alan Peter Cayetano formally resigned as foreign affairs secretary and filed his COC for 1st District congressman of Taguig-Pateros on Wednesday.

He said he wanted to wrest the Speakership from Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Cayetano’s wife, Lani, seeks

by Klarize

Medenilla AJPress

IT’S election season, and voters are fired up.

Recent events in Washington have mobilized American citizens to exercise their rights to vote.

The bi-yearly national public service announcements by lawmakers, celebrities and organizations to vote are spreading through social media.

Although the midterm elections, historically, draw significantly less voter turnout, the preponderance of voter encouragement has been on the rise with a vast majority of voters unhappy with many Congress decisions: the passage of the tax code last year, the Cabinet u PAGE A4 appointments and the recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court.

The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, as to join him in the House as previously reported by the Asian the last-termer mayor filed her Journal, has steadily become a COC as congresswoman of the more viable electorate; the Unit2nd District. ed States Census Bureau found Pia Cayetano, the incumbent from the 2010 census results that 2nd District representative is the AAPI electorate is the fastest running for senator. The young- growing demographic, and the est Cayetano sibling, Lino, population is slated to double by wants to be the next mayor.

2040.

The incumbents in Pateros, A coalition of AAPI groups led Mayor Miguel “Ike” Ponce III by APIAVote released its quaand Vice Mayor Gerald German, drennial midterm election survey are running unopposed. n of Asian American voters this

In fight vs brother, Abby Binay shows who’s ...

PAGE A1 said he would refrain from endorsing either of his competing children.

Abby formally entered the race as frontrunner of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA), the party chaired by their father, a day after younger brother Junjun filed his COC to lead the slate of local party Una ang Makati.

After a family meeting over the weekend, Jejomar decided to let both of them run, despite Abby’s request for Junjun, whose second term as mayor was cut short by corruption charges in June 2015, to give way.

The Binay patriarch on Monday, October 15, said he would leave it up to the voters to decide who between Abby and Junjun should have the next turn at the mayoralty. But when asked by reporters on Wednesday who he would be campaigning for, Binay answered: “Let’s just say that I’m supporting her.”

The elder Binay is running for congressman of Makati’s first district under UNA. Junjun’s team did not field a candidate to go against him.

Thanking her father, Abby said she was surprised that he showed up and that it was “heartwarming” to see him joining her at the COC filing.

Also on Abby’s team are Vice Mayor Monique Lagdameo and Abby’s husband, 2nd District Rep. Luis Campos, both eyeing another term.

According to an UNA official, however, a number of party members are still backing Junjun, not Abby.

“Our presence yesterday [October 16] with Mayor Junjun (when he filed his COC) speaks for itself,” said JV Bautista, UNA secretary general. “Just like the councilors and barangay captains who have expressed their support for Mayor Junjun, we believe he is the best person for the job.”

Last week, 13 out of 16 mem-

New survey finds increased enthusiasm among the Asian American electorate, Filipinos’ intention to vote ranks highest among surveyed groups

The 2018 Asian American Voter Survey found that 92 percent of Filipinos are planning to vote.

week, and it found that 48 percent of participants are “more enthusiastic about voting this year.”

In 2014 — which received a poor showing of votership in general — the APIAVote survey only found 28 percent of AAPI voter enthusiasm.

“We have seen great enthusiasm from Asian American voters increase as community organizations and college campuses participate in our regional trainings and organize voter registration and engagement programs,” said Christine Chen, executive director of APIA Vote.

When broken down by ethnicity, Filipino Americans are the

group with the highest intention to vote in November; 92 percent of the surveyed Pinoys said they are planning to vote while 6 percent and 4 percent said they were planning not to vote or don’t know, respectively.

The more-opaque-than-usual voter enthusiasm overall could be attributed to the possible partisan majority/minority shift in Congress if voter turnout increases this year.

In 2016, the Republican Party gained majority of the Senate and the House, which resulted in legislative decisions essentially dependent on the GOP, but with

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october 19-25, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

US gov’t announces new P1.35-B...

PAGE A1 palities,” Kim said.

Kim was in Marawi City when he announced the project. He met with Lanao del Sur Gov. Bedjoria Adiong, Vice Gov. Mamintal Adiong Jr. Marawi Mayor Majul Gandamra and Joint Task Force Ranao commander Brig. Gen. Ramiro Rey. The latest USAID project in Marawi brings the total funding commitment of the U.S. to Marawi response to nearly P3.2 billion.

The American envoy also announced the launch of the Empowering Madrasa Educator 2 program, which is worth an estimated P12.7 million.

This is a second iteration of the U.S. Embassy’s project that provides long-term training to 175 madrasa educators and 24 madrasa administrators from Marawi, Lanao del Sur and other

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

Drugmakers funnel millions to lawmakers; a few dozen get $100,000-plus

by EmmariE

HuEttEman and SydnEy Lupkin Kaiser Health News

U.S. Ambassador Sung Kim laid a wreath at a memorial for soldiers killed in action during the Marawi Siege.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila

Mindanao communities.

The program seeks to improve English proficiency and computer literacy among the madrasa.

“This effort, along with the U.S. Embassy’s training for Mindanaoan public school teachers

through American English workshops and online courses, will help educators in Mindanao improve their students’ educational and economic opportunities by enhancing the quality of instruction,” the U.S. Embassy said. n

PH election to UN rights committee...

PAGE A1 tion of the critics and detractors on the president’s unrelenting war [on] illegal drugs,” he added.

Meanwhile, former Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano said that the fresh mandate from the UN General Assembly is a “vindication” of the president’s anti-drugs campaign.

“Our successful bid to keep our seat in the council is proof that the Philippines respects and protects human rights, and has seen through the efforts of some to politicize and weaponize the issue,” Cayetano said.

‘Hypocritical’ While the Malacañang is pleased with the country’s re-election, it drew sharp criticism from rights groups and the United States.

According to former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley, Friday’s vote demonstrated why the United States was right to withdraw from the council, which Washington called a “hypocritical” body that “makes a mockery of human rights.”

Each voting region agreed in advance on 18 candidates to be in the running for 18 seats, “thus removing competition” — this is the first time this happened since the council was created in 2006.

Activists were quick to criticize the election of the Philippines, as well as Somalia, Bahrain, Cameroon, Bangladesh and Eritrea.

They dismissed the countries as “unqualified” due to their human rights records.

Dateline USa

New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) earlier urged the United Nations and its members to keep the Philippines and several other countries out of the council.

The rights groups said the Duterte administration had left thousands of drug suspects dead in a “killing frenzy.”

HRW and other groups claim the death toll in the country is much higher than the 4,800 recorded by the administration itself.

‘Help the government’ Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Director General Oscar Albayalde on Monday, October 15, asked critics of the country’s election to the UNHRC to help the government instead.

According to him, the detractors of the Duterte administration should not shame the country when other countries have not found any proof of human rights violations. “‘Iyong ibang bansa wala silang nakikitang paglabag sa karapatang pantao. Siguro tayo, kung meron, might as well help the government instead of pinapahiya na lang natin ‘yong ating bansa in other countries (Other countries cannot find human rights violations in our operations. We might as well help the government instead of shaming our country),” the PNP chief said.

“Mas maganda pa sigurong magpasalamat and probably help the government na kung talagang

meron silang nakikita (It may be advisable to thank the government and probably help if they can see any human rights violation),” he added.

Albayalde said the PNP is honored with the country’s election to the UNHRC as it indicates that international communities recognize the improved approach of the country to human rights.

“The Philippines’ election to the UNHRC is a clear manifestation of the international community’s recognition of our steady progress in fulfilling international human rights obligations,” he said.

The PNP chief also urged the critics to thank other countries for recognizing the Philippines’ effort.

“Dapat nga magpasalamat tayo dahil majority of the countries worldwide ay ni-recognize ang ating bansa, I don’t know kung anong reason kung bakit ‘yong ibang tao ay iba ang pananaw kapag ganyan, pabor iyong desisyon sa ating bansa. Dapat siguro tayo ay magpasalamat (We should be grateful that majority of countries worldwide recognized our country. I don’t know why other people have different views. The decision was favorable to us),” he said.

He reiterated that respecting human rights is part of the police’s policy, as well.

“Human rights is well-entrenched, it is an institutional policy actually, it is a part of our standard,” he assured. (AJPress)

BEFORE the midterm elections heated up, dozens of drugmakers had already poured about $12 million into the war chests of hundreds of members of Congress.

Since the beginning of last year, 34 lawmakers have each received more than $100,000 from pharmaceutical companies. Two of those — Reps. Kevin McCarthy of California, the House Republican majority leader, and Greg Walden of Oregon, a key Republican committee chairman — each received more than $200,000, a new Kaiser Health News database shows.

Republicans are not the only beneficiaries of drugmaker largesse, however. In California, seven of the top 10 recipients are Democrats, including Rep. Linda Sanchez, whose $144,500 in pharmaceutical contributions puts her second to McCarthy among Golden State congressional members. Rep. Scott Peters, also a Democrat, tallied more than $100,000 in drug company donations, as did Rep. Mimi Walters, a Republican.

California’s senior U.S. senator, Dianne Feinstein, a Democrat, has received $35,000 in pharmaceutical money since the start of 2017. The state’s junior senator, Democrat Kamala Harris, has received nothing from the industry.

In April, Harris joined other Democratic 2020 presidential prospects vowing not to accept money from corporate PACs. As voters prepare to go to the polls, they can use a new database, “Pharma Cash to Congress,” tracking up to 10 years of pharmaceutical company contributions to any or all members of Congress, illuminating drugmakers’ efforts to influence legislation.

The drug industry ranks among lawmakers’ most generous patrons. In the past decade, members of Congress have received $79 million from 68 pharma political action committees, or PACs, run by employees of companies that make drugs treating everything from cancer to erectile dysfunction.

Drugmakers’ campaign contributions have reached recordbreaking levels in recent years as skyrocketing drug prices have become a hot-button political issue. By June 30, 52 PACs funded by pharmaceutical companies and their trade organizations had given about $12 million to members of Congress for this election cycle.

It is unclear whether drugmakers will top their previous 10-year record of $16 million, given during the 2016 election season.

While PAC contributions to candidates are limited, a larger donation frequently accompanies individual contributions from the company’s executives and other employees. It also sends a clear message to the recipient, campaign finance experts say, one they may remember when lobbyists come calling: There’s more

where that came from.

The KHN analysis shows that, as in the case of California, pharmaceutical companies tend to play the field, giving to a wide swath of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

The drug industry favors power. Since the beginning of 2017, drugmakers contributed to 217 Republicans and 187 Democrats, giving only slightly more on average to Republicans, who currently control both chambers of Congress. This was also the case for Democrats during the 2010 election cycle, when they controlled Congress.

As with other industries, drugmakers tend to give more to lawmakers in leadership roles.

For example, Rep. Paul Ryan, a Wisconsin Republican, became speaker of the House halfway through the 2016 election cycle, prompting drugmakers to pour $75,000 more into his war chest than they had the previous cycle.

Money also tends to flow to members of congressional committees with jurisdiction over pharmaceutical issues that can affect things like drug pricing and FDA approval. Walden, a nineterm Republican congressman, has watched his coffers swell with help from drugmaker PACs since he became chairman of the powerful House Committee on Energy and Commerce in early 2017.

With six months to go in the 2018 cycle, Walden had already raised an additional $71,000 over the 2016 cycle — or 11 times more than drugmakers gave him a decade ago.

Asked to comment on the increase in Walden’s contributions from drugmakers, Zach Hunter, his committee spokesman, called attention to Walden’s work to lower prescription drug prices and said “no member of Congress has done more” to end the opioid crisis.

Pharmaceutical company PACs also gave to dozens of other members of committees, such as the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

And they appear to target congressional districts that are home to their headquarters and other facilities.

The PAC for Purdue Pharma, the embattled opioid manufacturer, gave to only a handful of members this cycle. However, it focused much of its giving on lawmakers from North Carolina, its headquarters for manufacturing and technical operations.

This election cycle, 28 percent of lawmakers did not receive any contributions from pharmaceutical PACs. Under federal law, corporations cannot donate directly to political candidates. Exploiting a common loophole, they instead set up PACs, funded by money collected from employees. Those PACs then donate to campaigns, which are free to spend that money as they wish on necessities like advertising or campaign events.

Campaign contributions tell only part of the story. Drugmakers also spend millions of dollars lobbying members of Congress directly and give to patient advocacy groups, which provide patients to testify on Capitol Hill and organize social media campaigns on drugmakers’ behalf.

A previous investigation by Kaiser Health News, “Pre$cription for Power,” examined charitable giving by top drugmakers and found that 14 of them donated a combined $116 million to patient advocacy groups in 2015 alone.

And like other industries, pharmaceutical companies wield their political power in ways veiled from the public, giving to “dark money” groups and super PACs — independent groups barred from directly donating to or coordinating with campaigns — bent on swaying lawmaking.

Brendan Fischer, who directs federal reform programs at the Campaign Legal Center, cautioned that a campaign contribution from a corporate PAC does not directly translate into a vote in the drugmaker’s favor.

“Contributions help keep the door open for company lobbyists,” he said.

Kaiser Health News data editor Elizabeth Lucas contributed to this story.

This story was produced by Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent program of the Kaiser Family Foundation. n

Voter enthusiasm soars as the midterm...

PAGE A3 key Senate and House seats up for grabs this election and the vast disapproval of congressional decisions since the 2016 election, the partisan sway may begin to veer blue.

In terms of party preference, a high proportion of AAPI voters — 38 percent — do not identify with either major political party, while 38 percent identify as Democrat and 22 percent identify as Republican.

Within the Filipino-American electorate, it’s more of an equal distribution with 34 percent identifying as Democrat, 30 percent Republican and 32 percent not identifying with either party.

“These data show why it’s vital to survey the Asian American community,” Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder and director of AAPI Data, said in a statement. “Not only is the Asian American community the fastest growing racial group in

the country, it is also a politically dynamic population whose vote still remains up for grabs.”

On the approval for President Donald Trump, 3 in 5 Asian American voters disapprove Trump’s job performance since he got elected, a significant shift from AAPI Data’s 2014 midterm survey wherein half of the AAPI votership approved of President Obama’s performance and onethird disapproved.

The Democratic Party has claimed the Asian American vote in elections past, which runs true for many minority groups. Generally, the Democratic Party brands itself as a champion for workers’ rights, pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, affirmative action, gender equity and other social justice causes which Asian American voters tend to prioritize and favor.

“Our communities will not stand for the extreme anti-im-

migrant, anti-worker agenda that has disproportionately impacted communities of color, including Asian American workers and families,” said Alvina Yeh, executive director of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA), who added that the AAPI electorate is “uniquely positioned to be the margin of victory in key races across the country this November and in 2020.”

Are you registered to vote? If not, your application for voter registration must be postmarked or submitted on or before Monday, October 22. To vote by mail, the deadline to apply is Tuesday, October 30.

If you are a new citizen and would like to vote in the midterms, the deadline to apply for New Citizen Eligibility registration is Tuesday, October 23. For more information, please visit: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/ voter-registration/. n

Trump administration releases proposed...

PAGE A3 Pacific Island (API) descent, and large swaths of undocumented APIs rely on Medi-Cal, according to Penny Chen, member and community service manager at Asian Pacific Health Care Ventures.

Chen said that 62 percent of her organization’s Medi-Cal patients are API patients, and “many of them are scared and confused because of the proposed public charge rule,” and that the new changes have discouraged patients — even those with green cards — from applying for MediCal. Other programs that could affect a person’s public charge test include Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Overall, the changes could affect an estimated

24 million people, including 9 million children, according to the Fiscal Policy Institute.

Currently, the proposal is open for public comments and the proposed changes are not in effect.

Immigrant families are still encouraged to apply for and utilize public benefits while the proposal pends authorization.

“We will not stand for this xenophobic attack on our communities. This is the time to take action and prevent the proposed public charge rules from taking effect,” Reshma Shamasunder, vice president of program strategy at Advancing Justice - LA, said on Monday, urging the public to call their representatives or submit a comment to the proposal.

The public has until Dec. 10 to submit comments to the proposal.

After that, the DHS will review the

Pres. Donald Trump

White House file photo

comments and publish the final order, after which the changes will be valid. (Klarize Medenilla/ AJPress)

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

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL • OCTOBER 19-25, 2018

DATELINE PHILIPPINES

A5

Comelec: ‘Not enough’ women PH ranked 5th most competitive economy in ASEAN running in 2019 elections

by AJPRESS

by AJPRESS

election documents to the poll body between the October 11 to COMMISSION on Elections 17 filing period.

Only 13 out of the 104 senato(Comelec) Commissioner Rowena Guanzon on Wednesday, rial aspirants are women. MeanOctober 17, said there are not while, out of the 313 candidates enough women running for na- for House membership, only 77 tional and local positions in the women filed their certificates of 2019 polls. This is after the final candidacy. Only nine women are records showed that barely one- vying for a gubernatorial posififth of 25,000 certificates of can- tion.

According to Guanzon, the didacies were filed by women.

Comelec data showed that turnout of female candidates “is only 5,465 women are running very low” because the country is “still a patriarchal society where in the 2019 polls.

Official records said this is men control the economy of the only 21.12 percent of the 25,872 family and remain as the gatetotal candidates who submitted keepers of political parties.”

A proposal requiring a “women’s quota” for political parties is currently being studied by the Comelec’s law department in order to encourage more groups to be more “gender responsive.”

“Personally, I am asking the political parties to have a women’s quota, field more women candidates,” Guanzon said.

She also said that candidates were asked to sign pledges that guarantee that they will not allow their supporters to “harass female politicians, especially on social media” to encourage more women to join politics. ■

Robredo: Political skirmishes with Duterte no hindrance to OVP work MANILA — Vice President Leni Robredo said that political skirmishes with a sometimes “combative” President Rodrigo Duterte will not deter her work to help the Filipino people.

In a summit with Washington’s Center for Strategic and International Studies—a transcript of which was sent to reporters—Robredo recalled that her working relationship with Duterte “has been civil most of the time.”

There were, however, times when the firebrand leader would issue “statements...that are a little combative” that have put their supporters at polar opposites.

Robredo and other administration critics have often found themselves at the end of Duterte’s tongue-lashing.

Short ‘honeymoon’ period The vice president said that a lot has happened since they were elected in 2016, including a short “honeymoon” period when she was given the task of Housing czar. But she opted to resign af-

ter she was accused of instigating the mass demonstrations against the burial of the remains of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos at the heroes’ cemetery.

Marcos’ burial—Duterte’s campaign promise—was hurriedly and stealthily done shortly after the Supreme Court affirmed the constitutionality of the president’s order.

It was met with strong condemnation and sparked widespread protests although Robredo did not attend those protests.

Robredo resigned early in December, citing the efforts that were meant to derail her from doing her job. She had already been told not to attend Cabinet meetings prior to her announcing her resignation from the Cabinet.

‘Most vilified of national government officials’ “Even after I resigned, I continued to try looking for avenues where we could be amicable,” Robredo said, adding that she

believes that “it would be best to the best interest of the country if we can work together.”

“We have been surviving pretty well. I am, I think, the most vilified fo all the national government officials. But it’s not... I have not allowed it to affect the work that I’m doing,” Robredo also said.

“Most of the adopted communities that we have under our Angat Buhay [program] are in the farthest islands of the country.

We have been focusing all our efforts on that. So, despite the political skirmishes, I think it has not affected that I’m doing,” she added.

Angat Buhay is a program under the Office of the Vice President. It focuses on public education, rural development, food security and nutrition, women empowerment, universal healthcare, housing and resettlement, and disaster response and rehabilitation. (Kristine Joy Patag/ Philstar.com)

ment will be able to sustain these policies, and factors that detergains and address the concerns mine the level of productivity of THE World Economic Forum of efficiency in doing business,” a country. revealed that the Philippines Chua added.

World Economic Forum foundranked fifth among the most The said Global Competitive- er and executive chairman Klaus competitive economy in South- ness Index 4.0 assesses the Schwab implemented a new ineast Asia with a score of 62.1 microeconomic and macroeco- dex to cope up with the fourth percent in the latest Global Com- nomic foundations of national industrial revolution (4IR) as it is petitiveness Report released on competitiveness, which is de- an ever-changing landscape.

Wednesday, October 15. fined as the set of institutions, PAGE A7 The report also indicated that the country ranked 56th out of 149 countries globally. The said results were not comparable to previous reports as the said study adopted a new competitiveness index.

Among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries, Singapore ranked the most competitive with 83.5 percent and also the second globally after the United States of America (USA) with 85.6 percent.

The other ASEAN countries on the world’s top 50 list were Malaysia on the 25th place with 74.4 percent, Thailand on the 38th place with 67.5 percent and Indonesia on the 45th place with 64.9 percent.

The report mainly focused at 12 pillars, namely: institutions, infrastructure, information and communication technology adoption, macroeconomic stability, health, education and skills, product market, labor market, financial system, market size, business dynamism and innovation capability.

The report suggests that it is necessary for the Philippines to exert extra effort in improving its business dynamism as reported

by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

Time to start a business ranked If you’re an Asian with Type 2 Diabetes, participate in a new 115th place, cost of starting a business at 97th place and inopportunity: a research study that pays you for your time. solvency recovery rates at 112th No matter what your schedule, you can participate from the place. Such ranking remained as comfort of your own home—so it’s really convenient! You’ll weak indicators and are still seen receive Type 2 Diabetes study medication delivered right as disruptive factors for doing to your home. It’s free to join the study, and you may get business, according to the Makati Business Club (MBC). paid up to $675 for completing all the study activities.

“While time and cost of starting a business remain as probCall (310) 692-9222 or visit lematic factors for the business Sci37.com/diabetes to sign up today! community, it is worthy to note that the Philippines ranks high in e-participation, or the use of onA New Research Study For Type 2 Diabetes Powered By line platforms to link government information to citizens,” said MBC chair Edgar Chua.

“With the recently passed Ease of Doing Business Act, we remain optimistic that the govern-

DIABETES RESEARCH STUDY

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JK8E; FLK =IFD K?< G8:B% Armed Forces chief Gen. Carlito Galvez lays a wreath to honor fallen soldiers on Wednesday, October 17, during a ceremony at Kampo Ranao in Marawi commemorating the city’s liberation from terrorist influence.

Photo Provided By Joint Task Force Marawi

Liberation of Marawi City remembered

by CHRISTINA

MENDEZ

Philstar.com

MANILA — A year after its liberation from Islamic State (IS)linked militants, Marawi City is inching its way to total recovery and freedom from terrorism and violence, with P20 billion earmarked to help its citizens rebuild their homes and livelihood, Malacañang said on Wednesday, October 17.

“Today we commemorate the liberation of Marawi from the malevolent hands of terrorists,” presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said from Davao City.

“As we celebrate the triumphs of our government troops against the Daesh-inspired Maute rebels, we pay tribute to those who have fallen in the fierce battles during the siege of Marawi and gave the ultimate sacrifice to make our nation safer and more secure,” he said.

He was mum on the whereabouts of President Duterte, who skipped the anniversary rites attended by Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) chief Gen. Carlito Galvez and other ranking officials.

“Our people stand — and will unceasingly stand — united against the evils of terrorism,” Panelo said.

He also lauded the military’s action that led to the death of suspected terror leaders Omar Maute and Isnilon Hapilon.

Scars of months-long fighting were still visible in most parts of the country’s only Islamic city.

The government’s military action – including aerial bombing and massive infantry attack – had thwarted the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in the area and staved off the possibility of vio-

lence spreading to other parts of the country, Duterte’s spokesman said.

He assured the public that the government will not waiver in the fight against terrorism.

“Despite this feat, the government, with the help of its armed forces, will remain vigilant in the midst of quiet for possible terrorist threats that may again strike our nation,” Panelo said.

Duterte has not withdrawn his declaration of martial law in Mindanao. Armed men held the city under siege on May 23 last year, while the Chief Executive was on an official trip to Moscow. Congress would later approve martial law extension until the end of the year.

Duterte also issued administrative order No. 3 creating Task Force Bangon Marawi.

“Efforts to build a vibrant and prosperous Marawi from the rubble of war and conflict will soon come into fruition as we expect the groundbreaking of reconstruction activities, designed with due recognition of the cultural sensitivities of its residents, by the end of the month,” Panelo said.

“We therefore ask everyone to remain fully supportive of the government’s initiatives in this regard,” he said.

Honoring the dead Galvez said there is much to celebrate for the “liberation of Marawi City from the siege that had destroyed a beautiful city and ruined the lives and dreams of many of our beloved countrymen.”

In commemorating the first year of Marawi’s liberation, the nation – Galvez said – is also honoring the memory of 168 government troops who died in the fighting.

He led a wreath laying cere-

mony for the fallen soldiers at the Heroes’ Wall inside the headquarters of the Army 103rd Brigade at Kampo Ranao.

Assisted by Maj. Gen. Roseller Murillo, commander of the 1st Infantry Division, and other key ground military commanders, Galvez also pinned medals on 20 officers and enlisted personnel.

Also present during the ceremony was Catholic priest Chito Suganob, one of the civilian hostages who escaped his captors.

Galvez pointed out that by winning the peace, “it is but fitting to honor the fallen ones and reward those who have valiantly fought the terrorists with all their hearts, blood, sweat and tears.”

“One year ago, we showed the world our bravery. Every terrorist fighter lured to Marawi City by false promises and extremist ideology of hate saw our bravery and felt our wrath,” Galvez said.

Galvez was the overall commander of the five-month battle, being the commander of the Zamboanga City-based AFP-Western Mindanao Command (AFPWescom).

“They continue to see our fearlessness as we stand watch over our country, ever vigilant against the resurgence of terror on our shores,” Galvez said, referring to the terrorists.

But despite the government’s promise of massive reconstruction and rehabilitation of the devastated city, hundreds of displaced families are still staying at various evacuation camps.

The military said it has to restrict the movement of civilians in the city as troopers have yet to complete their bomb clearing operations, especially at ground zero. ■

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OCTOBER 19-25, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FEATURES

OPINION

A seat in the UN rights council IF a country belongs to the international body whose mandate is to promote and protect all human rights around the planet, it is expected to serve as a model in pursuing that mission.

In this sense, human rights advocates should welcome the Philippines’ retention of its seat in the 47-state United Nations Human Rights Council, where members serve a three-year term. The Philippines was first elected to the council in 2007, and then in 2012 and 2015.

Human rights advocates had opposed the retention of the Philippines in the council, citing the “killing frenzy” in the continuing war on drugs waged by the Duterte administration. But the country garnered 165 out of 192 votes at the United Nations General Assembly in New York last week.

The UN Human Rights Council is tasked to promote adherence to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Around the world, human rights have been under threat, with even liberal societies debating policies on the curtailment of rights to fight terrorism, regulate migration,

and curb transnational crimes including drug trafficking. Women continue to fight for greater gender equity even in advanced economies. But rights advocates believe that “serious rights violators” such as the Philippines do not deserve a seat in the UN council.

Members of the UN Human Rights Council are held to a higher standard in promoting rights. A spokesman for the president of the General Assembly, responding to criticisms of the election of the Philippines and several other states to the council, declared, “It’s clear that the world expects that members of international bodies will abide to a certain set of standards of behavior consistent with the bodies they have Philstar.com photo been elected to.”

It’s now up to the Philippines to show that it deserves this seat. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Poll insights: Fil-Ams may prefer Republicans in Senate races & be split in House races, but stand with Democrats on issues

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS KABABAYANS from both sides of the aisle expressed strong sentiments, questioning the results of the 2018 Asian American Voter Survey by the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Vote, which found that while 58 percent of registered Asian Americans overall disapprove of President Donald Trump’s performance as president, registered FilipinoAmerican voters were split 48-48 on presidential approval.

The poll had asked respondents, “Do you approve or disapprove of the way Donald Trump is handling

his job as president?”

Filipinos in America and elsewhere around the world who follow politics in the United States likewise question why Fil-Ams prefer Republican Party candidates (46 percent) in the Senate Race over Democrats (36 percent), while divided in the House Race (40-40). (Poll question: If the election were held today [who] would you be inclined to vote for?)

Fil-Am Republicans even questioned the poll and demanded that I should report on the specific questions asked, especially with reference to Filipino voters’ responses.

My former classmate at the UP

College of Mass Communication Ed Arguelles pointed out, “The survey has some ironic results.

Although there are more who [openly] identify as Republicans, they largely favor issues that Democrats support.” Very true.

The detailed poll results MAY indicate how the Fil-Am vote will turn out to be in November, especially on public policy issues.

Party Favorability [In General] Asian-Americans: Republicans - 34%; Democrats 58% Filipinos: Republicans - 48%; Democrats 50%

A message to Fil-Am voters: Go back to basics grown terror acts. But again, EACH election season reone has to go back to the fact veals not only the character of Commentary that the lack of a quality relathe candidates, but the values tionship at home contributes of every voter as well. Regardto the uncontrollable hatred less of one’s race or religion, for what is sacred — life that what can truly make America is. It is this lack of God that great again is the premium pushes the inner demon in that every individual places on every gun carrier. Again, the fundamentals, to the way ANJ CAB this leads us to go back to things were before. The roots, the basic American family values. There were so they say, determine the fruits.

Going back to basics. The United States no mass shooting incidents in the past even used to be the sender of missionaries to na- though the men used guns for hunting or even tions which did not know God, including the just for safekeeping for future protection.

It is common knowledge that clan by clan, Philippines in the early 1900s. God, who, as any deity-believing religion knows, catapulted America is a melting pot. Sojourners from all the U.S. to being a superpower. The Creator of over the world, including the very first Filipinos the Universe is the same Being that bestowed and other Asian migrants, arrived and stayed all human talents and natural resources that all the way down to their second and third the America now utilizes for its enjoyment and generations. There were no rigid laws back richness. Preaching aside, only an atheist could in ancient history when one would look at an deny this fact. But a majority of the population immigrant and say that he or she should leave believes in a Supreme Power that began every- the U.S. judging merely by skin color. Suffice thing. Isn’t it that the national motto is still “In it to say, it is because of this openness that the United States has become what it is now God we trust?”

From this belief springs forth the rest of the in terms of manpower.

However, order and security dictate that it is genuine American values that were passed on by the forefathers. The commonality between time to follow the law and protect what is left Filipinos and Americans is the belief in the for the legal citizens and migrants. This ensures sanctity of marriage and family. Traditional that the future generations of real Americans American families have become the ideals of (those who followed the rightful immigration other families around the world. Father and process) will have access to jobs, health care, mother roles, especially in raising children, education, and basic government services. To have become the epitome of a model family be fair and just; equity versus equality — that as shown in American classic films and books. is what is right for all who follow the law.

This equity-equality difference can bring us One would argue that it is from the obsolete past, wherein now a family can be seen with to the issue on capitalism and socialism; then two females or two males doing mother and lower taxes versus higher taxes. All these diffather roles. Whom to love and marry is the ferences manifest the two extremes in the U.S. heart of the issue. Since the beginning of time, political debate. The list is long. Emotions are a man and a woman have been mandated by high. But the more sensible choice is up to you God to subdue every creature and procreate. as a thinking Asian voter.

Are you for the Democratic Party that knowEven science cannot make a biological man get pregnant and deliver a child! So much so, ingly or unknowingly eradicates the original American values also advocate pro-life prin- American identity in order to embrace a more ciples. Abortion might be able to save you from generalized global view for the benefit of a few? your cares and burdens only temporarily. One Or are you for the Republican Party that keeps who has gone abortion has a whole life to spend the genuineness of America, protects its core values in order to become great and bless the facing each day in guilt and shame.

Moving outward from the confines of a future generation? Just go back to basics and typical American home with American family you can never go wrong. *** values, the society is a combination of all these sorts of moral compasses stemming from familThe writer is a former public diplomacy foreign service ial cultures. It is with this belief of protecting national senior staff of the U.S. mission in the Philippines the family and its members that Americans and is now a media relations consultant based in Malaysia. are allowed by law to carry registered guns. She also has experience as a marketing practitioner for radio Anti-gun advocates argue that this causes the and TV networks in Manila before immersing in global political chaos in regard to recent incidents and home- affairs.

If you had to choose, would you rather have a smaller government providing fewer services, or a bigger government providing more services?

Asian Americans: Bigger 44%; Smaller 24% Filipinos: Bigger 42%; 32% Healthcare for All immigrants Regardless of Legal Status Asian Americans: Disagree 32%; Agree 46% Filipinos: Disagree 42%; Agree 40% Support for Stricter Gun Control Asian Americans: Agree 78%; Disagree 12%

Commentary

CHRIS LU, FORMER DEPUTY LABOR SECRETARY WITH the end of summer, college students have now returned to campuses around the country, and high school seniors are beginning the dreaded process of college applications.

Meanwhile, a trial is set to begin this month in a federal case challenging the admissions process at the nation’s oldest university, Harvard University. Within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, this case is being closely watched, as it involves allegations that Harvard’s affirmative action policy is biased against AAPI students.

Given the Democratic Party’s longstanding support for affirmative action, some conservatives are using this case as a wedge issue to appeal to Asian Americans, who increasingly have supported Democratic candidates over the past quarter century.

This cynical ploy won’t succeed.

Because on a broad range of issues – including health care, the economy, immigration and civil rights – the values of the Asian American community are far more in sync with the positions of the Democratic Party.

Asian Americans believe in hard work and education. We understand the importance of diversity. We want to create strong, healthy families and communities. And we work tirelessly to build a country where everyone has a shot at achieving the American Dream, whether it’s starting a business, buying a home or saving for retirement.

In Congress and statehouses around the country, Democratic lawmakers are fighting for policies that reflect the values of the Asian American community. That means protecting the Affordable Care Act, which helped two million AAPIs gain health care coverage. That means pushing back against the Trump administration’s efforts to roll back

Filipinos: Agree 70%; Disagree 24% Raise Minimum Wage Asian Americans: Disagree 18%; Agree 64% Filipinos: Disagree 24%; Agree 66% Undocumented immigrants should have the opportunity to eventually become U.S. citizens Asian Americans: Agree 64%; Disagree 20% Filipinos: Agree 70%; Disagree 22% Restrict Green Cards for Immigrants Using Government Assistance Asian Americans: Disagree 50%; Agree 26%

Filipinos: Disagree 50%; Agree 34% Party Identification Asian Americans: Democrats 38% Republicans 22% Independent 30% Filipinos: Democrats 34% Republicans 30% Independents 22% ***

Gel Santos Relos is the anchor of TFC’s “Balitang America.” Views and opinions expressed by the author in this column are solely those of the author and not of Asian Journal and ABS-CBN-TFC. For comments, go to www.TheFilAmPerspective.com, https://www.facebook. com/Gel.Santos.Relos

Is Harvard University’s affirmative action policy biased against AAPI students? family-based immigration policies that have allowed Asian families to reunite in this country.

Democrats are also fighting to make higher education more affordable, protect clean air and water, create greater economic opportunities for minority-owned businesses, and most importantly, ensure that everyone can exercise the most important right of all – the right to vote.

As the fastest-growing racial group in the country, the Asian American community isn’t monolithic, and we certainly don’t agree on every issue. One of those issues is affirmative action.

While AAPI groups have staked out positions on both sides of the Harvard case, national surveys find that two-thirds of Asian Americans support affirmative action in higher education – a position that is backed by over 150 AAPI organizations. And in the Harvard litigation, prominent AAPI civil rights groups and academic experts have filed friend of the court briefs explaining how affirmative action helps Asian Americans.

One of those civil rights groups, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, explained in filing its brief: “The heart of this lawsuit is whether Harvard can continue to value racial diversity in ways in which our country has consistently fallen short: acknowledging the entrenched racism that still pervades every aspect of life, bridging racial divides, and developing racially diverse leaders in every sector. This lawsuit has nothing to do with discrimination against Asian Americans.”

There are certainly strongly held views on both sides of the affirmative action debate, and questions have been raised about Harvard’s policies for evaluating Asian American applicants. As an alumnus of Harvard Law School, I will be the first to criticize my alma mater if its policies are found to be unfair.

However, the media’s disproportionate focus on one elite university’s admissions policies doesn’t re-

flect the view of most AAPI parents, who are far more concerned about rising college costs. And while many parents do aspire to send their children to an elite institution, it’s worth nothing that about half of AAPI college students attend community colleges.

At its heart, this new-found conservative interest in Asian American college admissions is nothing more than an attempt to drive a wedge in the coalition of communities of color. Fortunately, most AAPIs understand full well that restricting access and opportunity for one racial group affects all groups.

That’s why Asian Americans have united against the Trump administration’s Muslim ban, the separation of immigrant families at the border, and the despicable embrace of white nationalists after Charlottesville. When Asian Americans hear about border walls, we remember more than 80 years of exclusionary laws that cut off Asian immigration to this country. When we hear the president scapegoating immigrants, Muslims and people of color, we remember the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. That’s why we’ve fought every step of the way to promote tolerance and progress. That’s always been the spirit of Asians in America. Our families came to the U.S. from dozens of different countries, and they faced many challenges upon their arrival. But when they climbed the ladder of success, they understood their obligation to lend a hand to the next generation climbing up the ladder.

No matter our background, Asian Americans work hard not only to better our own lives, but to better the lives of our fellow Americans.

That’s why we refuse to be pawns in this shameless effort to divide communities of color. *** Chris Lu was a former senior official in the Obama administration. He is now a senior fellow at the University of Virginia Miller Center and an at-large member of the Democratic National Committee.

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

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NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘ OctObER 19-25, 2018

A

Trillanes insists on plea for new hearing before Makati court that issued arrest MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The camp of Sen. Antonio Trillanes IV called on Judge Elmo Alamedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s â&#x20AC;&#x153;sense of justiceâ&#x20AC;? in asking for a testimonial hearing to reverse the courtâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s earlier issuance of arrest against him.

Trillanes lawyer Reynaldo Robles is asking Alameda, judge of Makati Regional Trial Court Branch 150, to set aside his September 25 ruling that granted the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plea for a warrant and travel ban against the senator.

The DOJ opposed Trillanesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; motion, saying the court has â&#x20AC;&#x153;comprehensively and correctly ruled uponâ&#x20AC;? their plea for warrant.

But the senatorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lawyer, in urging the court to reconsider, said: â&#x20AC;&#x153;Former Accused Trillanes earnestly appeals to the sense of justice of the Honorable Court to grant his humble request to set this case for hearing for the proper presentation of evidence by the parties to prove their respective claims and assertion.â&#x20AC;?

They added that setting the hearing â&#x20AC;&#x153;is the least that the Honorable Court could do before it gives its final blessing to the re-opening of this case, a case which has been dead for nearly seven years.â&#x20AC;?

Alameda in September: Proc-

Judge Elmo Alamedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling dated September 25 effectively reopened the rebellion case, over his involvement in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, against the senator.

Philstar.com photo by Mong PIntolo

lamation 572 has legal, factual basis On September 25, Alameda ruled that Proclamation 572â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that said that Trillanesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; amnesty is void from the beginningâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;has legal and factual basis.

The judge also said that Trillanes â&#x20AC;&#x153;failed to convince the Court that he indeed complied with the minimum requirementâ&#x20AC;? in applying for amnesty. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Evidently, he failed to present the original hard copy, duplicate copy, or even a photocopy showing that he personally accomplished and filed with the DND Amnesty Committee his Of-

ficial Amnesty Application Form duly acknowledged and stamp marked received by said office,â&#x20AC;? the court order read.

Alamedaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ruling effectively reopened the rebellion case, over his involvement in the 2007 Manila Peninsula siege, against the senator.

Alameda, during the October 12 hearing on Trillanesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; motion, said that the DOJ may file their Rejoinder on Trillanesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; comment. After the pleading would be filed, the proceedings on the motion would be deemed submitted for resolution. (Philstar. com)

Corrales Inquirer.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte is â&#x20AC;&#x153;evaluatingâ&#x20AC;? the pros and cons of the proposal of the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB) to release the names of the socalled â&#x20AC;&#x153;narco-politiciansâ&#x20AC;? ahead of the 2019 midterm elections, MalacaĂąang said on Tuesday, October 16. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Given that the DDB is strongly pushing for the release, [Duterte] is making an evaluation of the pros and cons,â&#x20AC;? Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said in a text message to INQUIRER.net. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Right now, consistent with his arrival statement, he is not inclined to order its release,â&#x20AC;? he added.

During his speech in Davao City on Friday morning after

his arrival from Bali, Indonesia, Duterte said the government â&#x20AC;&#x153;will notâ&#x20AC;? release the names of the politicians allegedly involved in the drug trade.

In a statement, Panelo said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;the President has yet to categorically announce if he will approve the release of this list amid the forthcoming elections.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;The President, pursuant to its mandate to serve and protect the people, is taking into consideration all rights and interests involved in order to ensure that the 2019 elections is not only credible and peaceful but also one that is truly reflective of the peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s desires and aspirations,â&#x20AC;? he said.

The release of the narco-list, he added, â&#x20AC;&#x153;should not be perceived as a verdict against those candidates named therein as they are free to seek recourse

Duterte: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Inday maneuvered Alvarez ousterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; by ralph

VillaNueVa ManilaTimes.net

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday, October 18, admitted that it was his older daughter who â&#x20AC;&#x153;maneuveredâ&#x20AC;? the ouster of then Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez after he was quoted early this year as calling her a â&#x20AC;&#x153;member of the oppositionâ&#x20AC;? for creating another party.

In a speech during the Philippine Business Conference and Expo in Manila on Thursday, the President warned his audience to â&#x20AC;&#x153;be careful with that woman,â&#x20AC;? referring to Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio. and object to the findings of our â&#x20AC;&#x153;She can even oust the Speakauthorities in clearing their rep- er. She operated in Davao. Look utations.â&#x20AC;? what happened in Congress, he â&#x20AC;&#x153;To be sure, the sole purpose was ousted,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said. of releasing such lists is for votHe said Alvarez was a close ers to be informed of person- friend of his. alities involved in destroying Duterte said that he learned of or ravaging our nation through the move from Tourism Secretary facilitating the proliferation of Bernadette Romulo-Puyat. dangerous drugs in our societâ&#x20AC;&#x153;[Puyat] said Inday told her, ies,â&#x20AC;? Panelo added. they saw each other in the washNarco-lists prepared by law room, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Tell my father, Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m sorry.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; enforcement agencies, including the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, â&#x20AC;&#x153;are not products of mere conceptions but are based on intelligence PAGE A5 reports which underwent a seâ&#x20AC;&#x153;These developmentsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the ries of comprehensive assess- 4IR and the consequences of the ments.â&#x20AC;?

Great Recessionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;are redefinâ&#x20AC;&#x153;The public can thus be as- ing the pathways to prosperity sured that these lists are cred- and, indeed, the very notion of ible and not propaganda tools prosperity, with profound implito taint the characters of candi- cations for policy-making. Condates,â&#x20AC;? he said. n cerned leaders are grappling for

Duterte mulls release of narcopoliticiansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; names ahead of 2019 polls

by Nestor

COURTESY CALL. President Rodrigo Roa Duterte skims through a document presented by Special Adviser for Foreign Affairs to the President of the Liberal Democratic Party of Japan Katsuyuki Kawai, who paid a courtesy call on the President at the MalacaĂąang Palace on Wednesday, October 17.

MalacaĂąang photo by Simeon Celi Jr.

So I did not know the implication of that. I have noâ&#x20AC;Ś honest to God. It was Inday, she maneuvered it,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said. Inday is the monicker of the Davao City mayor.

Alvarezâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ouster came on the same day of Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s third State of the Nation Address in July.

Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo replaced Alvarez.

Duterte-Carpio and Alvarez had a highly-publicized spat earlier in the year.

Alvarez, the secretary general of the ruling Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban), allegedly called Duterte-Carpio a â&#x20AC;&#x153;member of the oppositionâ&#x20AC;? for creating the Hugpong ng Pagbabago.

Duterte-Carpio countered in an Instagram post in February: â&#x20AC;&#x153;You told the crowd, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;he is the President, he is different. I am the Speaker. I can always impeach him!â&#x20AC;&#x2122; And you call me opposition? Somebody should really tell the President about the truth.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;If you are an a*@#&%e in

Congress, do not bring that to Davao, leave it in Manila. Somebody should tell the President what you are doing. How dare you call me part of the opposition. The nerve. You messed with the wrong girl,â&#x20AC;? Duterte-Carpio said.

Duterte said that while he did not want a political dynasty, he was â&#x20AC;&#x153;forcedâ&#x20AC;? because his children all wanted to run.

His eldest child, Paolo, will run for Davao City representative. Duterte-Carpio will re-run for Davao City mayor, while his other son, Sebastian, will run as vice mayor.

Duterte said that Paolo would run because he was embarrassed by the Congress hearings on the P6.4-billion shabu shipment, which allegedly linked him to the smuggling.

Duterte said he did not know what entered the mind of Sebastian, but joked that he was thankful for it since his son only thinks about women. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I do not like dynasty, but we are forced,â&#x20AC;? Duterte said. n

PH ranked 5th most competitive economy... answers and solutions, aiming to go beyond short-term, reactionary measures,â&#x20AC;? Schwab said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;In this context, the World Economic Forum is introducing the new Global Competitiveness Index 4.0, a much-needed economic compass, building on 40 years of experience in benchmarking

the drivers of long-term competitiveness. After having conceptualized the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the World Economic Forum is contributing to global thinking and policy-making by integrating the notion of the 4IR into the definition of competitiveness,â&#x20AC;? he added. n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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october 19-25, 2018 • NeW YorK AND NeW JerSeY ASIAN JoUrNAL

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An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY O C TO B E R 1 9, 20 1 8

How did we get here? Celebrating historical milestones of Filipinos in America This October, honoring Fil-Am ‘Turning Points’ and the successes they empowered

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AND RAE ANN VARONA /AJPress

IN the United States, October is Filipino-American History Month, and it is just what the title denotes: looking back at the historical achievements and milestones of the Filipino-American experience as it relates to American history.

This year marks the ninth Filipino-American History Month since the U.S. Congress officially recognized it in 2009.

The Filipino American National History Society (FANHS) has chosen the 2018 Fil-Am History Month theme to be “Turning Points” in honor of the three biggest events that changed the lives of Filipinos and Fil-Ams: the declaration of the Philippine independence and the establishment of the First Philippine Republic, the Spanish American Way, and the establishment of Ethnic Studies in the states.

In 1988, the FANHS designated October to celebrate FilipinoAmerican history in honor of the first Filipinos to arrive to North America on Oct. 18, 1587 in California.

This year in particular marks the 120th anniversary of the declaration of Philippines independence from Spain in 1898, and by relation, the 120th Anniversary of the SpanishAmerican War. On June 12, 1898, Emilio Aguinaldo, the leader of the Philippine Revolutionary forces, declared Philippines’ independence from Spain, and established the First Philippine Republic.

But as many Filipinos know, the freedom was short-lived as the Philippines was then given to the U.S. as part of the 1989 Treaty of Paris Agreement. The Philippines, thus became a U.S. territory

with the PhilippineAmerican War rising up a year after.

Although the month of celebration has mistakenly been called “Filipino American Heritage Month,” it goes without saying that celebrating the very specific history of Filipino-Americans,

the centuries-long emotional rollercoaster, elicits a certain brand of cultural pride throughout the community.

FANHS has cited in the past that, rather than heritage, the month should focus on history, i.e. dated events, experiences and the lives of the people who impacted the community, rather than elements and traditions that cultivate cultural pride.

Filling gaps in history lessons Filipinos today make up the third largest Asian American group in the entire United States with nearly four million Filipino-Americans in the country, according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s latest American Community Survey (ACS) data.

Narrowing the scope, Filipinos have become the largest Asian group in 11 states being Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, Wyoming, and South Dakota.

With a demographic impact such as that, it’s no wonder there’s a whole month celebrating the history of Filipinos in America. For more than a hundred years, Filipino-Americans have been making strides to cement the Filipino-American identity within the overall American experience.

Like many minority groups’ lived experiences in America, the history of the Filipino-American is intricate and ample, but, often, neglected and overlooked; Filipinos are rarely mentioned in school textbooks across the U.S. But its non-existence in textbooks doesn’t negate the formidable impact Filipinos have made in the fabric of American history.

Many of us who grew up in the American school system didn’t learn much (if at all) about the colonization

of the Philippines by America at the turn of the century.

Filipinos were the first undocumented Asians to arrive to the continental United States in 1587, 33 years before European Pilgrims touched down at Plymouth Rock and 200 years before the founding of the U.S. In the mid-1500s, Spain began its conquest to officially colonize the Philippines, which led to the Manila galleon trade that sailed from Cebu, Philippines (and later, Manila) to Acapulco, Mexico.

During one voyage from the motherland, a galleon containing Spaniards and Filipinos — called by the Spaniards Indios Luzones — touched down into what is now known as Morro Bay, California.

It wasn’t until the late 1800s that the first Filipino was naturalized as an American citizen, Ramon Reyes Lala, a Londoneducated writer from a wealthy, upper-class family.

The first major wave of Filipino migrants came during the period when the Philippines became a U.S. territory from 1898 to 1946, when the country gained independence.

We didn’t learn about prolific Filipino-American writer and poet Carlos Bulosan who once said, “We...recognize the forces which have been trying to falsify American history—the forces which drive away many Americans to a corner of compromise with those who would distort the ideals of men that died for freedom.”

We certainly didn’t get a just account of the Filipino war effort in World War II, and how that shaped the profound stake Filipinos have in the U.S. Armed Forces that persists today.

During this time, Filipinos lent their services to the U.S. Armed Forces during World War II in which more than a quarter million Filipinos responded to thenPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt’s call-to-arms.

For decades, these brave men and women who fought under the American flag would not get the recognition they deserved until the Obama administration, which began offering benefits to the surviving Filipino WWII Veterans and their families.

In 2017, these brave veterans and their families received the Congressional Gold Medal to commemorate their powerful, yet forgotten efforts in the war.

Even Itliong, along with fellow FilipinoAmerican labor

leader Philip Vera Cruz, has been often relegated to a footnote of classroom lessons about the Delano grape strike, often overshadowed by his MexicanAmerican counterpart Cesar Chavez.

But that is slowly changing as public schools are slowly incorporating more FilipinoAmerican history curricula. CA Assemblymember Rob Bonta, a Filipino-American, introduced legislation that would include the role of Filipinos in the labor movement in California.

“It’s about time,” Johnny Itliong, Larry’s son, said after Gov. Jerry Brown signed the bill into law in 2013. “I’ve waited most of my life for people to give my father credit for his work. This is a dream come true.”

Fast forward over a century later through years of Filipinos creating their lives in the U.S., this year also marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of a number of Filipino ethnic studies programs in U.S. universities such as San Francisco State University, UC Berkeley, and UC Davis.

Just a couple days before FilAm History Month commenced, UC Davis launched the pioneering Bulosan Center for Filipino Studies — named after Filipino author and activist Carlos Bulosan — which is believed to be the first of its kind not only in the University of California system, but in the nation.

Empowered success In 2008, the State of Hawaii became the first state to officially observe Filipino-American History Month in October. California followed in 2009 when the State Legislature passed a resolution officially recognizing the monthlong celebration.

In 2016, former U.S. President Barack Obama said during a White House celebration of Fil-Am History Month, “Filipino-Americans have long played an integral role in shaping the life of our country.

They have been the artists who challenge us, the educators who keep us informed, and the laborers of our growing economy.”

“Their immeasurable contributions to our Nation reaffirm that as Americans, we will always be bound to each other in common purpose and by our shared hopes for the future,” he added.

Through the turning point events and the struggles of the previous generations of Filipinos, Filipinos in the following years have found a way to not only thrive and become a part of the

U.S. identity, but be contributors to it.

These Fil-Ams include Pedro Flores, a Ilocos Norte native, who spent the years between 1929 and 1932, inventing and popularizing yo-yos while living in Santa Barbara, California.

A few years later in 1936, another Filipino was making waves on the nation’s east coast.

Manila-born Fe del Mundo not only became the first Filipino, but the first Asian and first female to ever attend Harvard Medical University. While del Mundo was accepted into the program under the administrator’s mistake of her gender, she was able to keep her enrollment because of her strong records. She of course also found success back home as the first woman to ever be named the National Scientist of the Philippines in 1980. She also founded the first pediatric hospital in the Philippines.

When it comes to music, Filipinos to this day continue to find ways to shine in the music industry. In the 1950’s, halfFilipina singer Sugar Pie DeSanto (Umpeylia Marsema Balinton) found success as a R&B singer with many songs landing on the Billboard’s Hot R&B chart. Giving her the name Sugar Pie was none other than the famous American musician Johnny Otis.

In the world of social activism and civil rights, there were of course Larry Itliong and Philip Vera Cruz, Fil-Am farm workers who most notably pioneered the 1965 Grape Strike and Boycott and were leading voices in the agricultural strikes throughout Central and Southern California.

Entering the early 2000s, Fil-Ams saw the successes of creatives like Philippine-born animator Van Partible, who animated and created the classic Cartoon Network series Johnny Bravo; and Cristeta “Cris” Comerford

who at the age of 21, moved to the U.S. where she ended up becoming the first Asian and first ever female White House Executive Chef, a position she still holds since starting over 10 years

ago.

And then there’s Fil-Am historian, activist, and professor Dr. Dawn Mabalon who inspired many of today’s young Fil-Am generation through her writings, teachings, and enthusiasm for FilAm histories and experiences.

The FANHS has this year dedicated this year’s Fil-Am History Month to be in memory of Dr. Mabalon, who suddenly passed away in August while on vacation in Hawaii.

“Collecting, preserving, and spreading knowledge about Filipino American history for our community was an honest and vibrant labor of love for Dr. Dawn Mabalon,” wrote the FANHS. “As she noted, ‘History is about the events, experiences and lives of people in our community (in the U.S.) and their impact upon society and the political, cultural and economic events and moments that shape their lives,’” the FANHS quoted Mabalon once saying.

As we celebrate Fil-Am History Month, let us not forget the turning points, the people those events involved, and the opportunities they provided us in the following years.

History is an ongoing account of the human experience as it relates to social and political change, and Filipino-American history continues to manifest itself as a story of continued resilience and respect; it’s a book with no conclusion, a sentence without a conclusion.

We all play a part in the history of the Filipino-American, and the reckoning of immigrant rights, intersectional feminism and representation of Filipinos in public roles

is currently being written and will be written in our history.

Understanding the history of Filipino-Americans helps us understand how we got here and gives us an idea of what we’re capable of in the present and future.

What Ejay has learned from his Korean show

By MARINEL

R. CRUZ

Inquirer.net

Regine Velasquez has formally signed a contract with ABS-CBN on Wednesday, October 17.

WHILE actor Ejay Falcon said he was proud of how, even with limited resources, local production teams were able to come up with quality TV shows, he also thought we could learn a thing or two from our Korean counterparts.

ABS-CBN photo Ejay was recently featured in an episode of the Korean drama series “Where Stars Land,” which premiered on the SBS network on Oct. 1. He was part of the show’s fourth episode, which aired on Oct. 9, also on VIU. account of Gerrome Ramos Ejay stayed in Seoul for a week Esguerra on Oct 17. Esguerra also and worked for a total of four noted in the caption that the two shooting days. singers’ dressing rooms were “No one was carrying any beside each other. cell phone on the set, so I felt As for Velasquez’s former uncomfortable holding mine,” co-workers from GMA, which was he recalled. “Walang petiks (no her network home for 20 years procrastinating). Picture-taking of her career, she said they were wasn’t allowed. The actors on the supportive and happy for her. set were always in character; and Velasquez said, “They are even when they weren’t seen in the happy, they are genuinely shots, they still had to act just to happy for me so ako I only have show support to their costars.” gratitude. I am so grateful to them.

He admitted to feeling Twenty years ‘yun, inaalagaan nila unsatisfied when he left Seoul. ako. I am so grateful.”

“The whole time I was there, I was The singer will make her first thinking, ‘Maybe there are other appearance under the Kapamilya roles here that I could audition for.’ banner on Oct. 20 in Sydney, I really liked how I was treated by Australia, for the special of Sunday that production team. They’re very music variety show “ASAP,” which professional,” he said, adding that will be held at the ICC Sydney he was pleased with how fast and Theater.

Regine Velasquez clarifies move to new network her own choice

By ALFRED

BAYLE Inquirer.net

REGINE Velasquez clarified the decision to move to ABS-CBN was hers alone and not influenced by husband Ogie Alcasid’s own transfer to the network.

Velasquez had her contract signing on Wednesday, October 17 to formally induct her as the newest member of the Kapamilya network. During the press conference, Asia’s Songbird took the opportunity to set the record straight regarding rumors on why she moved, as reported by Push.

“I just want to clarify because people have been blaming him that this was his idea, actually hindi. It is really my idea. I did ask for his help. I know tita Cory (Vidanes), I know all of them here

pero I asked for his help if he can set up a meeting with them. But it was not his idea. It was really me who decided,” explained Velasquez.

She added, “Tsaka if you know me like my husband knows who I am, you know na gagawin ko kung ano ang gusto ko.”

(Also if you know me like my husband knows who I am, you know that I’ll do whatever I want.)

On her way to the press conference, Velasquez received an early welcome hug from fellow singer Sarah Geronimo, whom she ran into within the network compound.

Being a big, longtime fan, the Pop Star Princess didn’t let the opportunity pass to get a selfie with her idol. The snapshot was then shared on the Instagram

Ejay Falcon with actress Chae Soo-bin

efficient the Koreans were. “They’re very advanced in terms of the equipment they use. They move fast because everything is wireless.”

When his director Shin Wu-chul (“Lovers in Paris”) asked him about the difference between making Korean and Filipino TV shows, Ejay said: “While they shoot an average of only four sequences a day, we Filipinos shoot 40 sequences. He was so amazed that he said, ‘That’s crazy!’ I guess Filipinos are indeed amazing to be able to come up with quality shows, with how we work.”

Ejay described lead actress Chae Soo-bin (“I’m Not a Robot”)

With actor Lee Je-hon Photos from Instagram/@ejaythefalcon

as “very respectful. She would bow and greet everyone whenever she arrived on the set. She’s petite and beautiful. She would ask me questions like, ‘Are you famous in the Philippines?’ I just smiled.”

Lead actor Lee Je-hon, meanwhile, had been very gracious to Ejay. “He gave me a chair to sit on whenever he saw me standing.

When I was done with my dramatic scenes, and he saw that I was still crying, he gave me tissue,” Ejay recalled.

Ejay said he was thrilled to have been part of the series, where Filipino actress Lauren Young Continued on Page 6

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Immigration Corner

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

Visa Issuance Date

February 15, 2008

February 1, 2007

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

December 01, 2017

September 15, 2016

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

December 15, 2007

June 01, 2007

Third Preference

Married sons and daughters of US Citizens.

June 01, 1997

June 22, 1995

Fourth Preference

Brothers and sisters of US Citizens.

April 08, 1996

June 15, 1995

LABOR CERTIFICATION:

Application Filing Date

Visa Issuance Date

Second Preference Advanced Degree (Masters)

Current

Current

FAMILY CATEGORY: Atty. MichAel Gurfinkel, eSQ

FRAUD WAIVER DENIAL TURNED AROUND TO APPROVAL WITH NO FRAUD WAIVER REQUIRED, ON THIS SUNDAY’S “CITIZEN PINOY!” Wilma entered the U.S. on a C-1 “transit” visa, on her way to work in Guantanamo, Cuba. She remained in the U.S., married a U.S. citizen, and filed for adjustment of status. A “consultant” gave her hope and said he would take care of Wilma’s papers. Unfortunately, the consultant altered Wilma’s documents and put down false information (that she entered on a visitor’s visa), to cover up that she actually entered on a C-1 transit visa. Her case ended up being denied because of fraud! Wilma then consulted with the Law Offices of Michael Gurfinkel, who took over the case, and filed an appeal with the Administrative Appeals Office (AAO) in Washington, DC. Atty. Gurfinkel convinced them that Wilma committed no fraud, and was eligible for a green card, despite her entry on a transit visa. Watch how Atty. Gurfinkel’s determination won the day for Wilma, when her name was cleared, and she got her green card with no fraud waiver required, on an encore episode of “Citizen Pinoy” – on Sunday at 6:15 p.m,. (PST) on TFC. (Advertising Supplement)

Immigrant Living: 101 and Beyond Monette AdevA MAGlAyA (This is the third and final installment of the 15 Tips on How to Build A House of Bricks in Any Season Series.)

11. Pray without ceasing to the God of your being. Realize that when you do, you will never be alone. The single, most important foundation of any life begins with the realization that by yourself alone, without help, you can do nothing of real meaning and lasting value. No obstacle is too big, no situation too difficult, or setback too overwhelming that cannot be helped by constant, heartfelt prayer and a foundation of faith so strong, it can move mountains. In the physical world, gravity holds everything together. In the spiritual world, where transitional human life is ultimately headed, prayer is the most powerful force there is.

12. Bring it all together.

Once your circumstances become stable and you are able to choose the type of work you love to do and more importantly, that which makes you happy — GO FOR IT. The shift will be uncomfortable

How to Build a House of Bricks in Any Season Third of 3 parts

“I build my house of stone.

I build my house of bricks.

I’ve had no chance to sing and dance.

Cause work and play don’t mix.”

—Practical Pig and unnerving at first. Seek the path that makes use of the abilities and the talents that you were born with. Listen to what your whole being says you were meant to do and enter that rare, enviable state of being that finally feels like coming home.

13. Rein in the spirit of the crab. Put a number of live crabs in a basket and witness how crabs behave. Any crab successful enough to rise above the heads of the other crabs to escape the confines of the basket will be pulled down by the pincer claws of the other crabs underfoot. The crab mentality is nothing more than envy in disguise— alive and well in human nature. Lest you think the Severe Acute Crab Syndrome (SACS) — a name I coined for this social phenomenon — is endemic or unique only to a specific

community, take heart, for we’re not alone. Other immigrant communities report the same thing. To counteract this, try and be happy for others (even if it kills you).

14. Strive to learn any way you can. Learning is a lifelong process of adaptation. To copy Yoda’s transposed way of making a point, “Adapt, you must. Or die early, you will.” The dodo bird of the Galapagos never learned to adapt, never learned to defend itself against predators and became extinct.

It’s been said that the human mind is like a cup with a hole at the bottom. You just have to keep trying to fill that bottomless cup.

But be warned: intelligence alone is sorely inadequate. The whole person’s mind and heart must evolve.

Of the two, the heart should

First Preference

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

EACH month, the Visa Office of the State Department publishes, in the Visa Bulletin, the priority dates for that particular month, for the various family and employment based categories. A priority date is a person’s “place in line” for a visa, meaning immigrant visas (or green cards) would be available for persons whose priority date is earlier than the cut-off date listed below. If your priority date was “current,” but later retrogressed (or “moved backwards” and became unavailable) before your immigrant visa was issued (or before you adjusted status in the U.S.), you would have to wait until it becomes current again.

Beginning last October 2015, the format of the Visa Bulletin changed, in that a new column was added, called the “Application Filing Date.” If a person’s priority date is earlier than the Application Filing Date, they can already file for adjustment of status and work authorization (provided they are otherwise eligible and USCIS indicates on its website it will use the Application Filing Date for that month). This could allow people to obtain work authorization much sooner than before, where they had to wait for the priority date to be current (in the Visa Issuance Date column) in order to both file for adjustment and be eligible for a green card. ***

Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.

All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a

prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook. com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @ GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: (866)—GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES · SAN FRANCISCO · NEW YORK · PHILIPPINES

lead. A good heart has a wisdom all its own. Blaise Pascal, a noted French philosopher noted: “The heart has its reasons that reason does not know.” Draw from the strength of one’s native culture and weave it into the new one.

The hybrid is often better suited to the new environment. Yet,

we must never lose sight of the fact that in the end, all learning means nothing if we never learn how to love.

15. See the BIG PICTURE. Between birth and death is life.

How you live your life is up to you. Many of the wisest men who have pondered the meaning

and the purpose of life over thousands of years, have defined life according to their own perceptions and circumstances.

In the end, if you are in full control of all your faculties as an average human being, you and you alone define your own life Continued on Page 6

Third Preference

Professional/ Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 08, 2017

Other Workers

Non-Skilled Workers

July 1, 2017

June 08, 2017

(Advertising Supplement)

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PACCAL 26th Anniversary exalts human endeavor & community service On the PEP Front

Photo from Instagram/@iammajasalvador

Maja Salvador: I’m not a third party

People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong AFTER having remarkably established and conscientiously demonstrated its full capacity effort to serve the community and enthusiastically promote the very essence of the mission and vision of its advocacy for a quarter of a century, PACCAL (the Pan American Concerned citizens Action League, Inc.) assiduously continues to serve and deliver the services expected of it.

This Sunday, October 21, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ramada Plaza Hotel (160 Frontage Road, Newark, NJ 07114) PACCAL holds another grandiose affair, this time to celebrate its 26th Founding Anniversary and Awards Night. Exuberantly inspired by this year’s color motif of black and fuchsia, the much-awaited event is assured of formally clad attendees, a specially prepared sumptuous dinner, highly spirited ambience, and certainly, extended hours of ballroom dancing.

A 501(c)3 non-profit

Take The Stage

EMPLOYMENT

isyung tao. Tapos ayoko kasi yung kaibigan ko bina-bash si Angelica na parang, ‘Ba’t kasi third party ACTRESS Maja Salvador finally yung gamit?’”

Salvador surmised that broke her silence after weeks of keeping mum over the revelation Panganiban must’ve been carried away as is common during of Angelica Panganiban on Dr. Manny & Ditas Malasig interviews.

“Gandang Gabi Vice.” In the Sept.

“Diba minsan sa mga 23 episode of GGV, Panganiban interviews kadalasan minsan yung revealed to Vice Ganda that exdire-direcho ka, yung di mo na boyfriend Carlo Aquino broke up na-aayos yung sentence mo, diba, with her after six years of being pero yun yun. Hindi po ako third together for another woman— party.”

Salvador.

She added that Panganiban Salvador, on her end, had been silent about the matter until and Aquino must’ve had a “Magandang Buhay” co-host Melai rough patch in their relationship before breaking up. “Bago po Cantiveros asked her in their Oct. manligaw marami silang siguro 17 episode about Aquino. It was during this moment that Salvador naging problema, may mga ibang niligawan pa si Carlo, ibang girls decided to settle things, as she bago siya nanligaw sa akin.” shared that she and Panganiban “Bagets na bagets pa yun, ano have been getting bashed lately. ba yan,” quipped Karla Estrada, “Sige, ito na siguro ang Dr. Allan Renier Mendez who was sitting right next to pagkakataon… Yung GGV, may Cantiveros. lumabas na GGV, okay, may President since its inception “Ang sa’kin ate, na-appreciate mga nag-agree at disagree, while simultaneously being its ko yung mga nagtatanggol kasi Executive Director implementing may mga nangbabash sa akin yun nga pinagtatanggol nga din may nangbabash kay Angelica,” programs and services until the ako,” Salvador said. “Tapos yung Salvador told the audience and Executive Director title was duly mga may nag-babash din kay bequeathed to this writer in 2012 the co-hosts of the show. “Pero Angelica, tama na, kasi sobrang sabihin na natin na nagamit yung and just recently, the title CEO tagal na po nung issue na yun. Past term na third party.” was also handed to me in April is past.”

As per Salvador, Panganiban of this year following her lengthy It’s palpable that Salvador duration of physical rehabilitation explained in the GGV episode harbors no hard feelings toward that Aquino broke up with her after suffering from stroke in Panganiban, as they are friends, first before pursuing Salvador.

December 29, 2017 after all. In the end, she praised What isn’t clear, she said, is that Incidentally, being ably funded and supported by various Panganiban failed to mention that Aquino and Panganiban for the success of their latest movie, Aquino also pursued other girls sectors straightforwardly give “Exes Baggage,” which earned a before her.

PACCAL the advantage of having whopping P206 million on its first “Ang di lang na-klaro kasi the necessary strength and siguro, kaibigan ko kasi si Angelica, nine days. capability to be of service to the She said, “Congratulations to community. With these strengths hindi na nag-banggit ng ibang Carlo and Angelica kasi successful babae, ako nalang kasi alam coupled with volunteerism and ang ‘Exes Baggage.’” naman niyang hindi ako maContinued on Page 6

by Cody Cepeda Inquirer.net

Cherry Marmes Smyth

Dr. Kevin Obate

Dr. Restituto Estacio

Dr. Romulo A. Aromin

organization and holds the distinction of being the only Asian Provider Agency duly recognized by the Hudson County Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office on Aging.

PACCAL is a member of the Hudson County HIV / AIDS Planning Council and currently a recipient of

grants from the City of Jersey City, Division of Community Development, Department of Health and Human Services, Hudson County Office of Cultural & Heritage Affairs, Office of the Tourism Department.

PACCAL is also a community partner of Asian American Federation for the US Census 2010 and NYU-Project AsPIRE and Kalusugan Coalition in the study of hypertension in the Filipino community in Jersey City.

Linda M. Mayo, being the pioneering force and founder of PACCAL (aside from being the only Asian elected as Jersey City’s Deputy Mayor) fittingly held the position as the organization’s Founding

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

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Health@Heart

Photo courtesy of Airbus

PAL gears up for nonstop flights to New York!

ON October 29, 2018, 4Star carrier Philippine Airlines will mark another milestone in aviation history as the first airline to mount a direct nonstop service to the Big Apple from the Philippines.

A brand-new PAL Airbus A350-900 will commence the historic flight when it departs as PR126 from Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport for a 16-hour nonstop journey across the North Polar regions, to land at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on the evening of the same day.

PAL President and COO Jaime J. Bautista said “We look forward with eager anticipation, as we prepare to fly almost halfway around the world on the longest route ever to be served by a Philippine carrier.

What’s in store for travelers is a journey unparalleled - an ultra-comfortable flight on one of the world’s most advanced commercial airplanes.”

“The maiden nonstop 16 hour Manila-New York journey will usher in a long-haul travel experience marked by comfort, convenience and efficiency,” he added.

For his part, PAL VP Sales Ryan Uy noted brisk sales for this newest product offering.

“People want to experience this much-talked about A350 aircraft. They want to sample the spacious cabin designed for rest, relaxation, fine dining and wide choices of video entertainment.

Now they can enjoy the A350 on a flight that takes them directly to the U.S. East Coast, with no

more time-consuming stop-overs and no inconvenient transfer connections along the route. One take-off and one landing, and you’re in the Big Apple.”

Tourists and balikbayans based in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut states will now find it easier and more convenient to visit the Philippines. Prior to the new PAL service, Manila-bound passengers had to go through intermediate stop-overs in Canada, the U.S. West Coast or airports in other Asian countries, usually by connecting from one flight to another.

The PAL service between Manila and New York City gives passengers the flexibility to choose from a wider selection of departure days.

From October 29 to November 3, PAL will operate a four times weekly service (Monday / Tuesday / Thursday / Saturday) from Manila to New York.

PR126 departs from Manila at 8:10PM and arrives in New York JFK at 11:15PM (local time) on the same day. By November 5, Manila departure will shift to 9:00PM and arrival in New York JFK remains at 11:15PM. Starting December 6, PAL will start serving the MNL-NYC route five times weekly with the introduction of the 5th frequency (every Wednesday).

From October 30 to November 5, PAL will serve the New York to Manila route four times weekly (Tuesday/ Wednesday / Friday / Sunday).

PR127 will leave New York JFK at 1:45AM (local time) and touch

down in Manila is at 6:25AM the following day. By November 7, arrival in Manila will be at 7:25AM (note: departure from New York remains at 1:45AM local time.)

PAL will operate the 5th frequency (every Thursday) out of New York starting December 13.

All PAL flights to New York will depart from NAIA Terminal 2. PAL flights from New York will arrive at NAIA Terminal 1.

(However, PAL flights to and from Canada, i.e. Vancouver and Toronto, will use NAIA Terminal 1 as their point of departure and arrival in Manila.)

The new long-range A350 that will serve the Manila-JFK route boasts outstanding characteristics: -- Can fly up to 8,000 nautical miles (14,800 km) and boasts a quieter cabin up to 4 times less noise, making it the quietest twinaisle aircraft to date -- Has an all-new design and state of the art technology, with the aircraft’s advanced Rolls Royce Trent XWB engines producing unparalleled range and efficiency -- Has a light weight but very strong structure which also costs significantly less to maintain: 70% of which is made of advanced material including 53% composite -- Offers Wi-Fi service for all passengers (subject to time and volume caps), with affordable renewal plans -- Features special LED mood lighting, customized especially for PAL, giving passengers a more intimate in-flight experience that helps them adjust to time zone and day vs. night changes (Advertising Supplement)

PhiliP S. Chua, MD, FaCS, FPCS WHEN a handful of hair falls out each single day, clogging the drain, it is scary. While it is normal to lose 50-100 strands of hair a day, it is a source of serious concern when one loses clamps of hair daily.

The human head has between 100,000 to 150,000 hair strands on it. There are three stages (phases) of hair growth, the anagen, catagen, and telogen.

After completion of the cycle, each strand restarts a new growth in the same follicle. Hair grows about 1.25 centimeters or half an inch per month, or about 6 inches a year. Greater than 50 percent of

Hair falling out?

men age 50 or older will suffer hair loss (male pattern baldness), and 80 percent of them by age 70.

What causes hair loss?

About 80 million people in the United States develop alopecia, the partial or complete of loss of hair from areas of the body where it normally grows; (baldness).

There are many possible causes of abnormal hair loss. Here are the more common factors: genetic, age, medical conditions (auto-immune disorder, diabetes, thyroid illnesses, and lupus, etc.) medications, major surgery, stress, vitamin/nutritional deficiency and/or bad habits.

Male pattern baldness and thinning hair among women, especially beyond the age of 50, are usually hereditary in nature (androgenic alopecia).

After menopause and majority

of women age 65 and older will experience hair loss to varying degrees. Medications that induce hair loss includes Vitamin A (when taken in excess), beta blockers (for high blood pressure), antidepressant, anti-convulsant, hormones (male: testosterone) and female: (birth control pills), blood thinners, cholesterol lowering drugs, drugs for dieting and weight loss, medications for ulcer or acid reflux, fungal infection, gout, eyedrops for glaucoma, anti-inflammatory pain meds, like NSAIDs (for arthritis, etc.), and chemotherapeutic drugs. Like tobacco and alcohol, street drugs (marijuana, cocaine, amphetamines, etc.) can aggravate shedding of hair.

What is Telogen effluvium?

Telogen effluvium is a phase Continued on Page 6

6

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Hair falling out...

From Page 5 where some stress factors cause hair roots to be forced prematurely into the resting state. When clamps of hair suddenly fall out, the hair loss is acute telogen effluvium.

There are actually two associated conditions leading to hair loss: (production) inefficiency in growing hair and (destruction) hair falling out of its follicle.

The aim of the treatment is to stimulate hair growth and the other is to strengthen the health of the follicle and hair root by first eliminating any substance and conditions toxic to hair together with bad practices in hair care, and the second is by providing whatever nutrition that is deficient.

What are the aggravating factors?

The issue and bad habits that contribute to hair loss are: stress and traumatic events leading to hair loss called telogen effluvium, which occurs 6 weeks to 3 months after the severe stress or trauma of personal tragedy, like financial dilemma, death in the family, childbirth, or major surgery, etc.

The bad habits include: too much blow-drying, combing or brushing hair when wet, too tight braids or ponytails (especially using a rubber band), forceful combing or hair brushing (leading to traction alopecia), and eating unhealthy foods. Wearing a wig, curling rollers, and using chemical to color, curl, or uncurl hair, are also culprits.

How does one minimize hair loss?

Albeit less effective for androgenic alopecia, which is due to genetic predisposition, most hair loss could be minimized, to one degree or another, especially the type that is caused by substances toxic to hair growth, our unhealthy habits and behavior.

Experts recommend the following: Allow hair to dry naturally, instead of using a hair dryer, gentle combing and brushing, not brushing hair when

wet, avoid using rubber band and making ponytail or braids too tight, use of multivitaminmineral supplement if not eating properly to make sure that the blood level of the following are normal: Vitamins A, D, K, B1,2,3, etc., biotin, folic acid, zinc, iodine, iron, pantothenic acid (B5), folic acid (B9). Caution: Vitamin A is good for vision and hair, but excess could lead to hair loss. Low level of Vitamin D or iron leads to hair loss.

What are foods good for hair health?

Plant-based foods are generally good for hair health. The following items are considered favorable: green leafy vegetables and multicolor veggies, olive oil, salmon, herring, mackerel, shrimp, oyster, berries, oatmeal, almonds, walnuts, flaxseed, chia, sunflower, avocados, beans, sweet potatoes, eggs, red meats, and yellow pepper.

How is hair transplant done?

When medication and good hair care are not enough to stop hair loss, hair transplantation is an option, albeit expensive. The procedures moves individual hair follicles from fuller area of the head (donor site, typically the back or sides of the head) to the balding or bald spot of the head (recipient site), like the receding hairline in male pattern baldness. This is supposed to be permanent but the results vary among different individuals. The final result after the transplant has matured successfully is quite impressive, making the person look much younger, which socially could be life changing. The only downside is that the procedure is tedious, time-consuming, not totally painless, and is not cheap.

What is the treatment for hair loss?

If hair loss is not from bad habits, like smoking or alcohol intake, hair pulling, or from faulty hair care/styling, talk to your doctor, who might refer you to a dermatologist. The most commonly used medications

are Minoxidil (Rogaine) and Finasteride (Porpecia), besides the various “herbals” advertised for treatment of hair loss.

The past few years witnessed the introduction of new treatments to regrow or promote hair growths for people losing hair. These include hair transplant, Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) infusion and Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT). In PRP, blood is withdrawn from the person and span to separate platelets from the other blood components, and the concentrated platelets are injected back to the individual, which has been found to promote healing in wounds, tendon tears, arthritis, and perhaps in problem hair follicles. Supposed to promote hair growth in 6 months, LLLT uses light (laser) therapy in the physician’s office. While PRP and LLLT both show promise, their precise doses, applications, and results are still under clinical scrutiny. More studies are needed, with a greater number of patients to provide evidence-based results and more positive outcomes in order to be an acceptable standard in medical care.

Healthy lifestyle, which includes good diet, habits, and behavior, exercise, rest and relaxation, and meditation and prayers for inner peace, help not only our hair but also our body and soul. *** Philip S. Chua, MD, FACS, FPCS, Cardiac Surgeon Emeritus in Northwest Indianwa and chairman of cardiac surgery from 1997 to 2010 at Cebu Doctors University Hospital, where he holds the title of Physician Emeritus in Surgery, is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Philippine College of Surgeons, and the Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.

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

AS you may know, on McDonald’s 11th year, it is hosting Education Workshops all across the country. The McDonald’s Education Workshop Series will help provide Asian American families with tools and resources designed to navigate the higher education system. McDonald’s is committed to sharing in-

give tips to students on how to be successful in college.

The video is available to view on DANakaDAN’s YouTube channel, and provides another opportunity for students and families to learn more about the higher education system through McDonald’s.

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What Ejay has learned...

From Page 2 plays his pregnant wife. “More than giving my career a boost, I learned a lot from working on the show, especially discipline.”

Ejay said what he found most difficult was changing acting techniques in order to satisfy his director. “They wanted me to scream while doing my fight scenes. I found that really awkward because we don’t do that here,” he

explained. “It’s hard for me because even though my character is in Korea, he is still a Filipino. They have preconceived ideas about how things should be acted out.”

Locally, Ejay’s drama series “Blood Sisters” recently finished its run. The actor said he intended to use his free time to travel with his family. They recently visited Hong Kong, and he has plans to fly to the United States in November

with his longtime girlfriend, former “StarStruck” contestant Jana Roxas.

He said that while they’re already preparing for the future, tying the knot won’t happen anytime soon.

“It’s still too early for me. I’ll turn 29 this year. I’ll know when it’s time—I will feel it. But I wish that whoever I am with right now will be the one I’ll spend forever with,” he pointed out.

How to Build a House of Bricks...

From Page 3 with the set of gifts, talents and the circumstances that GOD gives you.

Remember what someone wise wrote so succinctly long ago about the essence of any worthwhile life and that is — TO LIVE WELL, LAUGH OFTEN AND

more importantly, LOVE MUCH! May the house of bricks you build allow you to do ALL THAT and perhaps, even for the most sensible and square among us, even sing and dance, when all is said and done. *** 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 link Online: http://issuu.com/ asianjournaldigitaledition or you can do searches in the least invasive search engine duckduckgo or bing or yahoo even before google.

PACCAL 26th Anniversary...

From Page 4 innately benevolent exertions from its officers and members, PACCAL effectually channeled its vision into success.

Twice a year, the organization holds two big fundraising events: the International Celebration of Women’s History Month every last week of March and its Founding Anniversary Gala every October.

The said gleeful social occurrences are duly highlighted with awards ceremonies that honor distinguished various personalities from different fields.

As a traditional procedure, awardees passed through the process of nomination, systematic (Advertising Supplement) scrutiny, and final elimination.

This year PACCAL’s Screening and Awards Committee came to a noteworthy conclusion of recognizing 19 personalities (from 16 categories) who distinctly excelled in their chosen fields. The true nature of their personalities, how they benefit the most from where they outrivaled their peers, how they influence others by the positive aspects of their status, and how they were able to serve and give back were just a few of the criteria considered.

Understanding one’s purpose in the world is not only setting one up for success in the financial sense, but in the spiritual and the way he gives back to the community, as well.

Here are the 19 awardees and the categories they outclassed the rest: 1. Sabrina Ramos – Teen Beauty with a Purpose 2. Ruffy Ronas (Kalye O C TO B E R 2 1 Solutions) – Excellence in UAAP-NCAA Alumni Friendship Games USA in Carson, CA Advertising & Promotions 3. Ray Maranan – Excellence in Join on Sunday, October 21 for the 2018 University Athletic Association of the Philippines Photography (UAAP)-National Collegiate Athletic Association (UAAP-NCAA) Alumni Friendship Games 4. Michelle Pross – Vocal USA. It will be held at Cal State Dominguez Hills Gym in Carson, CA beginning at 8 a.m.

Spectator fee is $10.

Entertainer of the Year 5. Peter Marco – Excellence in O C TO B E R 23 Visual Arts & Prints 6. Jan Paul Pablo – Excellence Asian Business Association - LA hosts business policy discussion in in Teaching Profession Monterey Park, CA 7. Take The Stage – Most Promising Teen Band of the Year Many business owners understand that elected officials makes rules and regulations for 8. Cherry Marmes Smyth businesses. These regulations do affect the way in which businesses are conducted. However, – Excellence in KIDS Education 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 Advocacy Tuesday, October 23, hear from Monterey Park City Manager Ron Bow, Alhambra City Mayor 9. Kevin Obate, DPTJeff Maloney, and Public Affairs Expert Thomas Wong to gain some insight on how small busiExcellence in PT & Sax Virtuoso ness can better engage City Hall to shape business policy. Join the Asian Business Association 10. Ogie and Mel Mendoza (ABA) for this intriguing panel discussion from 6 to 8 p.m.! Appetizers will be provided. It will – Entertainment Producers of the be held at Cafe M Park, Monterey Park Golf Course (3600 W. Ramona Blvd., Monterey Park, Year CA 91754). For more information, please visit http://abala.org/events/policy.

11. Dr. Restituto Estacio – Exemplary Civic & Social Services O C TO B E R 26 -28 12. Myrna Young – Excellence in Nursing Profession Wellspring gathering in Palm Springs, CA 13. Allan Renier Mendez, DPT The creators of Wanderlust bring the first annual Wellspring, a first-of-its-kind wellness – Excellence in Physical & Sports gathering, featuring the world’s leading innovators, teachers and socially conscious compaTherapy nies from Friday, October 26 to Sunday, October 28 in Palm Springs, CA. From invigorating 14. Dr. Romulo A. Aromin workouts and hands-on treatments to inspirational, actionable workshops, Wellspring con– Excellence in Medical Profession nects us to a common goal: fostering healthy individuals, a healthy society and a healthy planet. Events will take place from October 26-28, 2018 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Palm 15. Dr. Manny & Ditas Malasig Springs Convention Center (277 N. Avenida Caballeros, Palm Springs, CA 92262) and Renais– Parents of the Year sance Hotel (888 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262). Wellspring Sage badges 16. Salvacion Carungay are on sale now at https://wanderlust.com/wellspring/. The 3-day badges include unlimited – Senior Citizen of the Year access to all event areas, advance scheduling for all sessions; guaranteed access to any preThe awarding ceremonies scheduled session, access to lodging at the on-site Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel and select will be headed by three Honorary partner hotels (first come, first served), a premium gift bag and more. For a limited time, Chairs in the persons of Dr. Francia receive a $150 hotel credit when you purchase your Sage badge. Special savings and scholarDe Vera, Dr. Rosemary Parreno, ships are available for wellness professionals, locals to the Palm Springs area, active students, and Mark Alvarez while Mrs. Josie and active and retired military and their families.

Harrison, former Las Vegas Lions Club President, will be the guest If you have an upcoming event and would like us to post it, please email us the speaker and Hon. Vice-Consul details at info@asianjournalinc.com or calendar@asianjournalinc.com Tanya Faye Ramiro will induct PACCAL’s new set of officers.

Calendar of Events across

language resources to parents who are seeking information on college enrollment and financial assistance while providing engaging and inspiring resources to students.

This year, we partnered with rapper and internet influencer, Dan Matthews, and Actor/YouTuber Mike Bow to

Jan Paul Pablo

Michelle Pross

Myrna Young

Ogie & Mel Mendoza

Peter Marco

Ray Maranan

Ruffy Ronas

Sabrina Ramos

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

Amid the merriment, dancing, and socialization, the entertainment portion will be provided by world-class performers, a couple of whom are current awardees: Take The Stage, Kevin Obate, Michelle Pross, Asia, and Lirazen Rose.

To add glamor and that distinct glitz to the already dazzling event, outgoing PACCAL beauty queen Denine Miess is set to tender her farewell walk and relinquish her crown and title to Sabrina Ramos, Miss PACCAL 2019.

With PACCAL resident hosts and tested tandem Fiorello Salvo and Amira Allah Arcangel, and music provided by DJ Magic Ed O’Donnell, what more is there to

Salvacion Carungay

expect?

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

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY O C TO B E R 1 9, 20 1 8

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY O C TO B E R 1 9, 20 1