110218 - New York & New Jersey Edition

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

NO VEMBE R 2-8, 2018 Volume 12 - No. 2 • 2 Sections – 16 Pages

133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 • 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Also published in LOS ANGELES, ORANGE COUNTY/INLAND EMPIRE, LAS VEGAS, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

DATELINE

USA

FROM THE AJPRESS NEWS TEAM ACROSS AMERICA

Fil-Am mail bomb suspect reportedly kept list of over 100 potential targets Sayoc makes first court appearance CESAR Sayoc, the man suspected of sending at least 15 potentially explosive devices to high profile Democrats and Trump critics, had a list of over 100 potential targets, according to recent reports.

The reports came as the 56-year-old halfCesar Sayoc Jr. Filipino, half-Italian Photo courtesy of the U.S. citizen appeared Broward County Sheriff in federal court in Florida for the first time on Monday, October 29 where he was ordered held without bail after being arrested by FBI last Friday, October 26.

u PAGE A3

Fil-Am media ‘game changers’ share stories, inspire young creatives to follow their passion WHEN Ricky Nierva was a young boy, he loved to draw. Inspired by the cartoons he would rush home to watch as a kid, he would draw pictures on his bedpost, around his room and the walls of his home.

His mother, instead of forbidding him to draw altogether, came home one day with stacks of paper and asked him to express his creativity on paper.

“I will never forget that. My parents, instead of getting angry at me for destroying the house, they allowed me to express myself and were really supportive of me,” Nierva said. “But I never knew that it could actually be a job.”

Nevertheless, he decided to pursue fine arts, eventually landing a job at Pixar Animation Studio in 1997. He started as a visual development artist and did storyboarding for “Toy Story 2” in 1999 and then shortly after became the lead character designer for “Monsters, Inc.” (2001).

u PAGE A4

‘Correct,’ Duterte says of supposed militarization of PH government legal acts.

Duterte has drawn flak for filling his administration with former military ofMANILA — Claims that the govern- ficials and for appointing retired solment is being militarized under his diers to posts that are not related to watch are ‘correct,’ President Rodrigo national security. Opposition lawmakDuterte said, as he claimed that it was ers have claimed the appointment of his way of preventing the corrupt from retired soldiers to key posts makes the rendering him inutile against their il- bureaucracy vulnerable to incompeby ALEXIS

ROMERO Philstar.com

A REPORT from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) revealed that the Philippines, for the second time in a row, remained fifth among the countries with the worst prosecution of journalist killers.

In the recent CPJ’s 2018 Global Impunity Index report, the Philippines followed countries in the Middle East and African regions, namely Somalia, Syria, Iraq and South Sudan. The said report ranked countries that exempted and/or failed to prosecute alleged journalist killings.

Afghanistan, Mexico, Colombia, Pakistan, Brazil, Russia, Bangladesh, Nigeria and India ranked next to the Philippines in the same CPJ report.

render me inutile as you continue with your corruption there in Customs right in front of me. P***** i** niyo (sons of b******). Now you have a problem. They say it’s militarization of the government, correct,” the president said during the distribution of land certificates in Cagayan de Oro on Wednesday.

u PAGE A2

Trump declares he can end birthright citizenship through executive order

Nevada lawmakers, AAPI leaders respond to proposal that directly violates the 14th Amendment which guarantees “equal protection of the laws”

by KLARIZE

MEDENILLA AJPress

U.S. PRESIDENT Donald Trump on Tuesday, October 30 announced that he is preparing to issue an executive order that would eliminate birthright citizenship in the U.S., a concept that is widely interpreted as a constitutional guarantee.

In an exclusive interview with Axios, the president falsely claimed that, “for 85 years,” the U.S. is “the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and that baby is essentially a citizen of the United States...with all the benefits.”

But 38 other countries do grant birthright citizenship,

u PAGE A2

AGRARIAN REFORM BENEFICIARY. President Rodrigo Duterte hands over the Certificates of Land Ownership Award (CLOAs) to the beneficiaries from the Province of Lanao del Norte represented by Jessie Alger during a ceremony at the USTP Gymnasium, Claro M. Recto Avenue in Cagayan de Oro City on Wednesday, October 31. Accompanying the President is Agrarian Reform Secretary John Castriciones.

Malacañang photo by Albert Alcain

Barely a week after reopening, litter found on Boracay beach

by NATHALIE

ROBLES

AJPress

THREE days after its reopening, Boracay island once again faced problems as visitors flocked the world-famous destination.

Piles of trash were seen along its coastline while businesses and establishments were fined for violating environmental laws.

Tourists and locals witnessed the improper trash disposal seen on the newly-rehabilitatIsland visitors walk through the temporary port set up by the Boracay Inter-agency Task Force. ed island, which had been closed for the past PNA photo by Jay Rome Pablo six months.

PH named 5th worst country for the prosecution of journalists’ killings

by AJPRESS

tence because the appointees are not suited for the tasks assigned to them.

But Duterte, who recently ordered the Armed Forces to take over what he described as a “corrupt” Customs bureau, claimed his appointment of “honest” men from the military would help him stamp out corruption.

“I will not sit as president and let you

For four years, specifically from 2011 to 2014, the Philippines ranked third on the same list. However, the rank favorably dropped to fourth in the years 2015 and 2016.

In 2017, the country moved down to fifth place as reported by The Philippine Daily Inquirer.

The New York-based organization noted that at least 324 journalists worldwide have been murdered with 85 percent of those cases, or about 275 of them, having perpetrators who remain unconvicted of their crimes.

CPJ Impunity Campaign Consultant Elisabeth Witchel said that the report revealed that the majority of the crimes were concentrated only in the few countries listed in the index.

“It is an emboldening message to those who seek to censor and

u PAGE A2

A report from The Philippine Daily Inquirer stated that first-time Russian visitors were dismayed by a pile of uncollected trash they saw on the roadside of D’Mall Plaza at Barangay Balagbag.

Aside from that, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has yet to enforce a ban on single-use plastics on the said island. Stores and restaurants still contain their food and drinks on disposable materials such as plastic plates, cups and straws. DENR Undersecretary Benny Anti-

u PAGE A3

Jollibee pursues aggressive push in US, Canada

by LAWRENCE

AGCAOILI Philstar.com

NEW YORK — From London last week, the busy bee has flown to the “City that Never Sleeps.”

As it moved to aggressively expand in the United States and Canada and be among the top five restaurant chains in the world, popular fast-food restaurant Jollibee took another bite out of the “Big Apple” when it opened its first store in Manhattan in New York City last Saturday, October 27.

Jose Miñana, Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) group president for North America, led the opening of its second store in New York state after the first in Woodside, Queens in 2009.

The opening drew long lines of customers who queued for hours and braved the heavy rains as

well as the three-degree-Celsius temperature to be among the first to finally get their hands on the “crispylicious” and “juicylicious” Chickenjoy.

Justin Callan of Coney Island in New York and his Filipina fiancée Faye Javier of Taytay, Rizal in the Philippines waited for about 20 hours, beating the 18-hour waiting time during the opening of the Jollibee store in London last Oct. 20.

“I have never seen any opening and we have never opened in the history of Jollibee somebody who has lined up the morning before, it is the night before, the day before but not the morning before,” Miñana said.

The couple, who queued at exactly 11:58 a.m. last Friday, has Jollibee and JFC North America president Jose Miñana (right) mingle with the crowd who been to different Jollibee stores queued up for as long as 20 hours and braved the heavy rains as well as cold weather to

u PAGE A4

witness the opening of its first store in Manhattan, New York.

Philstar.com photo

A

november 2-8, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

From the Front Page

‘Correct,’ Duterte says of supposed...

PAGE A1 Late last month, Duterte said the military had missed a chance to implement reforms in the country after popular ousters in 1986 and 2001. Gen. Carlitos Galvez Jr., Armed Forces of the Philippines chief of staff, said he saw the president’s statement as an expression of trust in the military.

The president has also said that he would prefer a military junta to replace him over Vice President Leni Robredo, the constitutional successor.

Duterte: ‘Almost everyone’ in Cabinet from military Duterte admitted only a few people with no military back-

to working under harsh conditions and can performing their tasks despite the risks they face.

“The salaries of the military and the police have been doubled. But I’ll ask you now, what’s the job of the military? Fight the enemies of the state and die.

That’s their job,” Duterte said.

“Now if there’s a flood...who would you call? When the digging starts—you can see it on TV— who dug through the landslides in Cebu? Who? The military. They are utility boys. They are the first to die. They are the ones whom you call to pave the road if no one else is there to pave it. If there’s a civilian who would help with the digging, it would only be up until a certain point,” he added.

“You instruct the military to take turns sleeping and continue digging. That’s their job. So that’s why most of the people I face are generals.”

Duterte also noted that former military officials—Interior and Local Government officer-incharge Eduardo Año and Environment Secretary Roy Cimatu led the rehabilitation of world famous tourist spot Boracay.

“Do you think Boracay would have been cleaned up if it weren’t for Año and Cimatu?” the presiNEW CUSTOMS CHIEF. President Rodrigo Duterte administers the oath of newly-appointed dent said.

Bureau of Customs Commissioner Rey Guerrero during a ceremony at the Presidential Guest The president also praised House in Davao City on Tuesday, October 30. As a marching order to Guerrero, Duterte Housing chief and retired miliinstructed him to “double the zealousness” in performing his mandate of ridding the agency tary general Eduardo del Rosario, of corruption. The Chief Executive also expressed optimism that Guerrero would be able to who oversees efforts to rebuild do his job well, noting that he was a “good and honest” man. ground have remained in his administration. He justified anew his preference for military men, saying they obey orders promptly unlike some civilians in the bureaucracy who question their superiors.

“They will really do it. You know, that’s why I like military men. There are very few of us remaining who are (not from the military) Almost everyone are from the military except for me, Dabs (Presidential Adviser on Overseas Filipino Workers and Muslim Concerns Secretary Abdullah Mama-o) and (Executive Secretary Salvador) Medialdea,” the president said.

Duterte said soldiers are used

Malacañang photo by Karl Norman Alonzo

TYPHOON ROSITA’S WRATH. Workers remove electric posts toppled by Typhoon Rosita that made landfall in Isabela on Tuesday, October 30.

The typhoon dumped heavy rains and forced hundreds of families to seek shelter in evacuation centers. Ricardo Jalad, NDRRMC executive director, said 2,928 families or 10,122 persons in Ilocos Region, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) were moved to evacuation centers.

ManilaTimes.net photo by DJ Diosina

Trump declares he can end birthright...

PAGE A1 including Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and many other countries in the American continents.

Trump’s announcement directly coincides with his long-desired mission to cut family reunification (wherein family members who are U.S. citizens can petition undocumented relatives) and prevent the proliferation of “anchor babies,” a pejorative used to describe children born on U.S. soil to undocumented parents. u PAGE A3 The president told reporters

on Wednesday, October 31 that his plan “is not a constitutional amendment.”

“Now, I’d rather do it through Congress because that’s permanent. But we can certainly do it through…executive order,” he said, adding, “One other thing, if President Obama can get DACA approved...we can do this by executive order.”

Birthright citizenship has been widely accepted as law since the implementation of the 14th Amendment. Ratified in 1868 after the abolition of slavery, the 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship, and the rights that come with it, to all persons born on U.S. soil.

Section 1 of the amendment states: “All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”

In 1898, Chinese-American Wong Kim Ark, who was born in California to Chinese nationals, won a Supreme Court case that ruled that he was a citizen, a milestone that established an important precedent and laid the foundation for modern interpretation of the Citizenship Clause in the 14th Amendment.

Trump’s announcement a week before the midterm election was met with intense pushback from both sides of the aisle.

House Speaker Paul Ryan (RWisconsin) said in a radio interview with WVLK in Kentucky that Trump “obviously” does not have the power to eliminate birthright citizenship.

“I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution, and I think in this case, the 14th Amendment is pretty clear, and that would involve a very, very lengthy constitutional process,” Ryan explained.

Democratic Nevada Sen. Catherine Cortez-Masto issued a statement condemning Trump’s executive order saying, “Our president continues to promote hate in America, undermine our country’s values, and attack our Constitution.”

Cortez-Masto added that the president “should be uniting our country in the wake of violence and tragedy of the past few days, not attacking immigrants for political gain,” referencing the recent mass shooting in a Pittsburgh synagogue and the Kentucky supermarket shooting in which the shooter --- who was white --- shot and killed two black people and told a white bystander, “whites don’t shoot whites.”

Rep. Jacky Rosen, who is running for the U.S. Senate this upcoming election, joined Cortez-Masto in denouncing Trump, writing in a statement, “President Trump continues to undermine

our American values as a nation of immigrants and attack immigrant families using fear and bigotry to divide us for his own political gain.

I reject these partisan attacks on immigrant communities, and I’ll fight the President’s irresponsible plan to try to end birthright citizenship.”

AAPI groups condemn Trump’s announcement Though nearly all of the Trump administration’s immigration practices and proposals have sparked outrage across the country and the world, the president’s declaration of ending birthright citizenship brought upon notably angered responses, especially from the Asian American community.

“Denying children their birthright citizenship would have a devastating impact on the AAPI community by making it harder for immigrant families to integrate and pursue the American Dream,” John Santos, AAPI media director for the Democratic National Committee, offered in a statement. “This proposal is just one of many anti-immigrant ideas that have been introduced by Trump in order to distract voters from his administration’s failed policies.”

The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA), a Washington-based coalition of national APA groups also chimed in on the issue, interpreting the announcement as a “stunt” and reminded the president that the APA community and other communities of color “aren’t going anywhere.”

“Under normal circumstances, we would likely not respond to obvious, incendiary political stunts that are intended to provoke and polarize, rather than unify; however, these are not normal circumstances,” Gregg Orton, national director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans, said in a statement.

“If President Trump is serious about his proposal, and this is not a desperate attempt to galvanize his political base a week before the elections, he should release it, so all the world can see that there is no question that white nationalism has found a home in the White House.”

The APA Labor Alliance (APALA) also declared the executive order an “unconstitutional” and solely a “scare tactic” designed to pander to Trump’s base of alt-right conservatives, many of whom have shown to possess white nationalist, anti-immigrant and xenophobic values.

“We are not fooled,” APALA Executive Director Alvina Yeh said in a statement. “We will continue defending the 14th Amendment as the Supreme Court did in 1898, when white nationalists tried to revoke 14 Amendment rights for Chinese people.”

Yeh added: “Birthright citizenship is a part of the foundation of our Constitution and American values. We stand united with other immigrant communities who will continue to oppose and resist this Administration’s white supremacist, anti-immigrant agenda.” n

PH named 5th worst country for...

PAGE A1 control the media through violence. More than three quarters (82 percent) of these cases took place in the 14 countries that CPJ included in the index this year,” Witchel said.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS), however, saw the silver lining in the country’s ranking, claiming that the Philippines’ rating can be seen as an improvement.

PTFOMS Executive Director Undersecretary Joel Egco claimed that the results of the Global Impunity Index report were somehow predictable since it made use of figures from unsolved mediarelated murders over a ten-year period.

The said period would include the Maguindanao Massacre that

transpired in 2009 wherein 32 media workers were killed. The massacre has been named as the world’s deadliest single attack on media workers, journalists, civilians, and members of the Mangudadatu family.

The independent nonprofit organization is made up of about 40 experts around the world. CPJ is in charge of mobilizing a network of correspondents who will report and take action on behalf of those who are victimized and targeted especially when press freedom violations occur.

Its task is to report on violations in repressive countries, conflict zones, and established democracies alike. It is also composed of a board of prominent journalists from around the world that aid CPJ’s activities. n

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

Dateline USa

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

cordero Philstar.com

ADRIEN Broner has put on his game face two months before his WBA welterweight title showdown with Manny Pacquiao.

“I will be war ready,” said Broner, 29, on Instagram Wednesday, his short message accompanied by a video of him while in training.

Broner, a four-division world champion, used the hashtags “MannyVsAB and #VegasJan19, indicating that the fight is on.

If plans push through, Pacquiao and Broner will come face to face in a two-city press tour later next week.

Meanwhile, renowned boxing trainer and analyst Teddy Atlas, US Navy Chief of Naval Operations Admiral John M. Richardson meets with Commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ (AFP) Western who calls it the way he sees it, Command, Lieutenant General Rozzano Briguez, in Palawan.

Photo courtesy of the U.S. Embassy in Manila said Broner will be a real test for

ADM. John Richardson, United States chief of naval operations, received an update on the situation in the South China Sea during his recent visit to the Philippines.

Richardson went to Palawan to get an update on the disputed waterway from Lt. Gen. Rozzano Briguez, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ Western Command.

The U.S. Navy top officer visited the country from October 28 to 29 with a focus on US and Philippine maritime domain awareness and naval capabilities.

“The work the U.S. Navy does with the Philippines every year is critical to the peace and stability of the region and the development of both our militaries,” Richardson said.

Richardson’s two-day visit to the country also placed emphasis on the importance of the two countries’ alliance to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.

“It’s important that we continue to collaborate with our partner and ally. We look forward to further strengthening our longstanding security cooperation,” he said.

AFP chief Gen. Carlito Galvez, meanwhile, said the Philippine Navy is looking forward to future engagements with its American counterpart.

“Admiral Richardson and I discussed possibilities on how the U.S. can contribute to the Philippine Navy capabilities,” Galvez said.

Part of Galvez and Richardson’s discussion included how the U.S. Navy could provide trainings

Fil-Am mail bomb suspect reportedly...

PAGE A1 Sayoc faces five federal charges—interstate transportation of an explosive, illegal mailing of explosives, threats against former presidents, threatening interstate communications, and assaulting federal officers — and could receive up to 48 years in prison if convicted.

Federal authorities have not yet publicly released the names of the targeted individuals and organizations on the list, but have begun privately notifying those listed.

The Associated Press reported that more elected officials were included in the list.

The FBI also reported early Monday that authorities intercepted a suspicious package on Monday that was addressed to CNN’s office in Atlanta. They said the package looked “similar in appearance to the others” that were previously addressed to other intended targets.

“The FBI has confirmed a package has been recovered in Atlanta, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to CNN,” tweeted the FBI Monday afternoon.

FBI Director Christopher Wray said Friday that each mailed device contained six inches of PVC pipe, battery, a clock, wires, and potentially explosive material.

CNN’s president, Jeff Zucker, said in a statement on Monday that there was “no imminent danger” to CNN Center.

The New York Times on Monday also reported that Sayoc may have been considering threaten-

ing other media outlets, as one of the names on the list recovered by authorities Monday was an editor for the Times.

“While the agents urged the employee to exercise caution, they also played down the likelihood of any imminent threat,” the Times reported.

Authorities were led to Sayoc last week via DNA from fingerprints, and social media posts. He was later revealed to be a half-Filipino registered Republican with a long criminal background dating back to 1991.

Officials said that as of Friday, October 26, authorities intercepted 14 packages sent by Sayoc to potential targets, many of which were sent through the U.S. mail system.

Potential political targets revealed earlier included former President Barack Obama, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former CIA director John Brennan, and Rep. Maxine Waters (DCalif.), and Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), among others.

The first of last week’s 14 packages was found in billionaire Democratic donor George Soros’ mailbox in New York. A number of law enforcement officials said that federal authorities believed it to have been left by someone, and not delivered by mail.

Sayoc, as of Monday, was being held at a federal detention center in Miami. His next hearing is slated to take place on Friday in New York where many of the explosives were sent, and where prosecutors are seeking to transfer him. n

Barely a week after reopening...

PAGE A1

porda said that the strict implementation of the ban would start after November 2.

As of this writing, Boracay has five garbage collection points wherein tourists and locals would drop their segregated trash and will be collected from 2 am until sunrise. A “no segregation, no collection” policy has been implemented by Alberto Rodriguez who oversees the disposal.

“If I say I will not accept their garbage, they cannot do anything. I am just doing my job,” Rodriguez said as reported by the Philippine Daily Inquirer.

DENR fines 219 businesses A hefty amount of P43 million worth of fines was collected by the DENR’s Pollution Adjudication Board (PAB) on 219 businesses and establishments in Boracay for violation of environmental laws just days after they resumed operations.

DENR Undersecretary and PAB’s presiding officer Rodolfo Garcia said that the collected fines ranging from P10,000 to millions depending on the weight of the offense.

“We at the DENR believe that anyone who pollutes or destroys the environment must pay the cost for that destruction,” Garcia said as reported by The Manila Times.

Garcia was adamant on the reprehension of those who fail to follow the rules and guidelines of the rehabilitated island. He added that the other branches of the government are in support of the said move to rid the destination of people with no regard for the environment.

“The DENR, together with other concerned government agencies, is firm in its resolve to clean not only the waters and air of Boracay and to manage its solid waste. It also wants to clear Boracay of irresponsible and greedy business people who have placed care for the environment their least priority,” Garcia said.

The PAB officer also stated that the institution will maintain the guidelines and disciplinary actions so that the businesses and establishment will continue to abide by them “We will continue to monitor all establishments and impose the necessary penalties should they be found breaking laws,” Garcia added.

More than half of the fined establishments violated the Clean Air Act of the Philippines which requires a permit to operate all sources of air pollution from the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB). The 110 businesses fined a total of P1.5 million.

A total of P2 million was collected from 72 establishments for violating The Philippine Clean Water Act. Another P39 million was collected from five businesses that discharged untreated wastewater.

President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the cleanup and rehabilitation of the famous tourist spot due to the widespread disregard for cleanliness exhibited on the island. Government officials recommended a month-long shutdown of Boracay annually to reestablish its beauty amid the influx of tourists it welcomes on a regular basis. n

and technical support to achieve knowledge in connection to maritime domain awareness.

“We are optimistic that our efforts in developing our defense ties will continue towards providing mutual capability assistance, information sharing, and maritime cooperation,” the AFP chief said.

As the U.S. Navy’s senior military officer, Richardson is in charge of its command and operating efficiency. He has held the post since September 2015.

Richardson is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, where he is the principal naval adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, as well as the Secretary of Defense, National Security Council and Homeland Security Council. (Patricia Lourdes Viray/Philstar.com)

A

Broner ready for war against Pacquiao

by AbAc

US Navy chief visits PH, receives updates on South China Sea

NOvEmbER 2-8, 2018

Pacquiao.

Atlas said Broner is not Lucas Matthysse, whom Pacquiao stopped in seven rounds last July 15 in Kuala Lumpur.

That fight, according to Atlas, is not indicative of Pacquiao’s current status as a boxer, despite the fact that he’s the current champion.

Atlas described Matthysse as a “heavy (punching) bag” and did not come to fight, “a passive guy who looked like he was just getting paid.”

“Matthysse had nothing left.

Don’t go by that,” Atlas told ESNews earlier this week.

“I don’t know how much Pacquiao (who turns 40 on December 17) has left but you might find out in the Broner fight because Broner is young enough, physical enough, talented enough and fast enough,”

he said.

Atlas had worked a handful Pacquiao fights from the broadcast panel, and in 2016 he trained Timothy Bradley for the third showdown with the Filipino.

Atlas has no problem saying what he thinks is right.

In 2017, when Pacquiao dropped a very controversial decision to Jeff Horn in Brisbane, Atlas did not hide his displeasure of the officiating.

Atlas told Horn straight to his face, “Congratulations. Great effort. I thought you lost. But great effort.”

This time, Atlas is telling fight fans that what they saw in Pacquiao against Matthysse is not exactly what they’re going to see against Broner.

That’s how Atlas sees it. n

‘Correct,’ Duterte says of supposed...

PAGE A1 areas affected by the Marawi siege.

“Would the project in Marawi have been done so quickly if I hadn’t assigned Del Rosario?

He’s a military man who was also assigned in Davao. Would there still be money? I’ve been in government for a long time so I know how funds can be manipulated,” Duterte said.

“The temptation to earn more money is really there. But if you tell the military,’Do that without corruption. Finish it in 60 days’, then it’s done.”

Duterte has ordered a revamp in the Customs’ leadership as the bureau is mired in a controversy

over the entry of at least P6.8 billion worth of shabu in the country.

He appointed former Customs Commissioner Isidro Lapeña as chief of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority but officials insisted the reassignment was not related to the controversy.

The president also relieved all heads of Customs units and directed the military to take over their functions.

A former military chief, Rey Leonardo “Jagger” Guerrero, succeeded Lapeña as Customs commissioner.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo previously said

the military takeover in Customs would remain “until it is necessary” and “until the President is satisfied that everything is in order at that bureau.”

The actual paperwork for the “takeover” has yet to be released.

Duterte said his order to cleanse the Customs bureau of corrupt personnel has something to do with the legacy he would leave behind.

“I will not end my political career by leaving people something to talk about particularly corruption. Bureau of Customs...do you want to apply? There are plenty of available positions in the Bureau of Customs now,” he said. n

A

november 2-8, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

Dateline USa

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

Fil-Am media ‘game changers’ share stories, inspire... China to speak up for Philippines’ rights PAGE A1 t For two decades, Nierva has worked as character art director and production designer for many of Pixar’s beloved Disney films, including the award-winning films “Finding Nemo” and “Up.” Now he’s left Pixar after 20 years to start a new company.

“It was this thing where it really was my passion. Nobody told me to do it, and so I kept trying to keep that passion alive,” Nierva said. “So now, I get to do the thing that nobody told me to do because I had such a supportive family who encouraged me to do what I love.”

As Filipino-American History Month comes to a close, the office of Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo hosted a special panel event called “Filipino American Game Changers” to inspire “a new generation of media talent” within the Filipino-American community.

Nearly a hundred FilipinoAmericans gathered at the city council chambers at LA City Hall on the night of Thursday, Oct. 25 to listen to and take heed of the advice from a panel of seasoned players in music, film, radio and television.

Notably, many of the audience members were young FilipinoAmerican college students hailing from Cal State Northridge (CSUN), UCLA and Pasadena City College who have strong interest in pursuing careers in media.

On the dais were singer/songwriter AJ Rafael, television personality and actor Giselle “G” Tongi, radio personality PJ Butta and Nierva who all shared their stories of ambition, failure, getting over failure and using their inherent talents to succeed and provide a voice for the FilipinoAmerican community.

In his early YouTube videos, Rafael would only film himself off the to the side and faced away from the camera, but as he started to gain more subscribers and listeners, he began to put a face to his videos, a crucial moment in the 29-year-old’s music career.

“I was, like, literally hiding away from the camera, but then I realized how important it is for people of color, especially young Filipinos, to see themselves represented,” Rafael said. “That confidence is key because you never know who’s going to look up to you and is going to see you as a sign that tells them, ‘Hey, if they can do it, I can do it, too.’”

All panelists agreed that a cohesive community is crucial for

record at UN, foreign minister says

by Ryan

MacaseRo Philstar.com

As Filipino-American History Month comes to a close, the office of Los Angeles Councilmember Gil Cedillo on Thursday, October 25 hosted a special panel event called “Filipino American Game Changers” featuring singer/songwriter AJ Rafael, television personality and actor Giselle “G” Tongi, radio personality PJ Butta and Ricky Nierva, who was an art director and production designer for many Pixar movies. The conversation was moderated by media personality Karmina Landicho.

AJPress photo by Klarize Medenilla

younger Fil-Ams to kick start their careers. Both Tongi and Butta said that one of the most important moments for them was discovering their community, and Tongi said that it’s important to have mentors to help guide you along the way.

But you can’t just wait for it.

“You just have to get over it, the fear,” Tongi told a young member of the audience who asked how to deal with fear. “You have to work on recognizing your worth, because, guess what? You are enough, but you have to find that confidence in yourself and ask for what you want.”

Butta mirrored that sentiment and added, “You also can’t be afraid to fail. Every single one of us up here has had some kind of failure, but failure is how you learn. You are going to fail, but that doesn’t mean it’s the end for you.”

Building off the momentum of “Crazy Rich Asians,” the increasing popularity of the KoreanCanadian sitcom “Kim’s Convenience,” and rapper/actress Awkwafina’s historical hosting of Saturday Night Live earlier this month, Asian representation in mainstream Western entertainment seems to be experiencing an upward march.

The industry-wide reckoning of the lack of diversity in music, film, tv and other media avenues has been called into question for the last few years, and with studios looking to be on the right side of history, are slowly conforming to people’s demands for more and better representation

of Asians.

Ryan Duenas, a 20-year-old student of CSUN, is currently majoring in finance, but has aspirations in the music industry.

Showing videos from his phone of him singing with a guitar, his music style seems directly inspired by the Filipino YouTube stars of the early aughts.

“I actually grew up listening [to] and watching AJ [Rafael]’s music and it was really inspiring to see someone who looked like me get that many views and become pretty famous,” Duenas told the Asian Journal. The Arcadia-native said that his family isn’t “super supportive” of his wanting to become a musician, but he said that he has enough “love for the music” to pursue his passion.

“I agree with what a lot of the panelists said to day, and I resonate with that feeling of not necessarily being supported by my family,” Duenas lamented.

“Most of my cousins are doing things like medicine, accounting and all these jobs that guarantee financial security, but I’m more concerned about what makes me happy. I don’t want my career to feel like a job, you know? I want to feel happy and proud of what I do, and that’s singing and writing songs.”

When asked why he was so drawn to singing, Duenas said, “I really don’t know. I just picked up a guitar and knew that’s what I wanted to do. And there’s nothing else that gives that same feeling.” (Klarize Medenilla/AJPress)

CHINESE State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi has vowed to defend the Philippines at the United Nations and in other international human rights forums.

“China is continuing to provide support in terms of assistance in intelligence sharing and capacity building. We are going to speak up for the just causes of the Philippines in the United Nations, UN human rights organizations and other multinational occasions,” Wang was quoted by state news website Xinhua.

China’s foreign minister made the statement amid questions over reports of mass camps in the western territory of Xinjiang, where members of its Uighur minority are reportedly being held as part of a counterterrorism program.

China has, in the past, defended the Philippine government’s campaign against illegal drugs against concerns on alleged human rights abuses. In 2017, its Foreign Ministry told the UN that “drugs are the common enemy for all human beings.”

“We hope the international community can respect the judicial sovereignty of the Philippines and support its efforts in fighting drug-related crimes through cooperation,” a ministry spokesperson also said then.

The Philippine National Police said in June that it had recorded 22,983 cases of “deaths under inquiry” since President Rodrigo Duterte took office in 2016. The Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency said earlier this month that 4,948 “drug personalities” have been killed in anti-drug operations since the “war on drugs” started.

China, in March, also expressed support for the Philippines’ decision to withdraw ratification of the Statute of Rome and leave the International Criminal Court after

its prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, announced a preliminary examination into alleged abuses in the Philippines’ campaign against illegal drugs.

“The international community should give more understanding and support to those efforts instead of pointing fingers and casting blames,” China’s foreign ministry said then.

The ICC prosecutor’s preliminary examination remains a sore point for the president, who rants against Bensouda and the court in his speeches.

Duterte has also been slammed by human rights organizations for his mysogynist comments and for attacking women’s rights defenders.

Economic, security cooperation China’s foreign minister was in the country to highlight strengthening of economic and security cooperation between the two Asian neighbors.

He emphasized China’s support of the Philippine president’s campaign against narcotics and terrorism.

“President Rodrigo Duterte has launched fights against illicit drugs and terrorism. This is a just cause which is conducive to providing a tranquil environment for the economy and peoples’ lives,” Wang said.

Duterte has been pursuing warmer ties with China since 2016, when he announced his “separation from United States” while also saying, perhaps in jest, that the Philippines would “be dependent” on the regional power.

Since then, the Philippines has secured at least $24 billion in investments from its neighbor, while an estimated 3 million Chinese nationals have been allowed entry into the Philippines for both travel and work.

Sea dispute The West Philippine Sea, the part of the South China Sea that Manila claims, remains a point

of contention between the two countries.

Despite winning a favorable ruling at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague in 2016, the Philippines has opted to pursue investments and economic ties with China, citing the country’s inability to go to war over the dispute. Critics of the apporach have said that there are other ways, like diplomacy, to assert Philippine sovereignty without going to war.

In July, Duterte said that he would commit to defending the Philippines’ territory, but without resorting to war.

Wang: Situation in South China Sea has improved Both Wang and newly-appointed Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin, pledged on Monday to continue joint efforts to advance consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea. Wang says that thanks to the reneewed ties between the two countries, the situation in the South China Sea is improving compared to previous years.

“Countries concerned have returned to the track of dialogue and negotiations and consultations to properly handle the differences, together with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries, China and these countries are jointly upholding peace and stability in the South China Sea,” Wang was quoted as saying in the Xinhua report.

Philippine and Chinese officials on this visit have lined up at least five economic agreements with China ahead of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s November visit.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez said the agreements include loans and guarantees, economic and technical cooperation, support for the feasibility studies on Philippines’ infrastructure projects, and documents promoting cooperation on Mindanao infrastructure projects. n

Jollibee pursues aggressive push in...

PAGE A1 around the world, including the Philippines, Toronto and Hawaii.

“We came in [last Friday morning, October 26] we just wanted to be out here, experience this in person and we powered through it between the rain and the weather was alright. Jollibee is all about family and love,” Callan said.

Callan and Javier received a one-year free supply of Chickenjoy, a limited edition Jollibee Funko Pop figures, Jollibee dolls and other collectibles.

The line of customers stretching along 8th Avenue and 40th street braved the heavy rains, strong winds and cold weather leading to the opening of the Manhattan branch at 8 a.m. of Saturday.

Paolo Bautista, another Filipino from Malabon City and whose family is now based in New York, queued wearing his Jollibee costume at around 4 a.m. or four hours before opening time.

Bautista, together with other customers who wore Jollibee costumes, were rewarded exclusive Jollibee Funko Pop figures.

Barely two hours after it opened its doors, the new store was already servicing its 150th customer.

Miñana said Jollibee’s Manhattan branch opening brings the number of Jollibee stores in North America to 41 – 37 in the U.S. and four in Canada.

Maribeth dela Cruz, vice president and general manager for JFC North America, said the store in Manhattan has 67 employees, of which 15 are foreigners and the rest are Filipinos.

“We hope that the people of Manhattan will come and experience for themselves why people line up for a taste of Jollibee,” she said.

Jollibee opened its first store in London, where there are around 125,000 Filipinos, last Oct. 20.

The largest restaurant company in the Philippines and Asia,

however, is not about to stop yet serving the world-famous Chickenjoy, Jolly Spaghetti and Peach Mango Pies to about 3.5 million Filipinos in North America, according to Miñana.

“Definitely we have aggressive plans to expand both in the U.S. and Canada. We are finalizing our plans in terms of the number, etc., but we are laying out our plans looking at sites in different areas,” he said.

Jollibee opened its first store in North America in Daly City, California in 1998. Now, it has presence in the states of Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada, New Jersey, Texas, Washington and Virginia in the U.S. as well as Manitoba and Ontario in Canada.

Miñana said Jollibee is opening another store in Las Vegas next month as it continues to look for additional sites in the U.S. and Canada.

“We are opening still a few more this year. We are opening in Las Vegas this November, and next year, we will also be opening a good number in the US and Canada. This will continue in the next five years,” he said.

Jollibee has 222 international branches in the U.S., Canada, Hong Kong, Brunei, Vietnam, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Italy, Macau and the United Kingdom. It has more than 1,000 stores in the Philippines.

“We are excited to finally open our doors in the heart of bustling Manhattan, which is not just a center of business and finance but a major cultural entertainment hub that receives millions of visitors from around the world each year. The diversity of the food culture and the fast pace of living here make it perfect for our new Jollibee store location,” he said.

Miñana pointed out that the company is also targeting to cross to non-Filipino customers.

“This is one step toward that,” he said, referring to the Manhattan branch opening.

“There are only 10,000 Filipinos here in Manhattan, but we are beside the Port Authority and the subway to capture those from Jersey and Queens who come here. Filipinos can bring other friends,” he said.

The Jollibee Group, including Jollibee, Chowking, Greenwich, Red Ribbon, Mang Inasal, Yonghe King and Hong Zhuang Yuan, currently has 4,200 stores in 20 countries worldwide amid its aggressive international expansion plan.

It plans to open 50 stores across Europe in the next five years, with 25 in the United Kingdom alone, while the other half will be scattered across the continent with Madrid or Barcelona in Spain as the next targets.

The fast-food giant also plans to expand in Asia, including Vietnam, Brunei, Singapore and Hong Kong. It also plans to expand to Malaysia, particularly in Kota Kinabalu this year.

“We have our dream and vision to become one of the top five restaurant companies in the world. When our founders said they wanted to be number one in the Philippines, with the giants, and we are. Later on, we said we wanted to be number one in Asia and then we are. So, now we want to be one of the top five in the world,” Miñana said.

JFC recently acquired an 85percent stake in Smashburger as well as a 60-percent stake in SuperFoods Group that owns Highland Coffee and PHO24. It recently entered into an agreement with award-winning chef Rick Bayless to build a Mexican casual restaurant business in the U.S. JFC has investments in Titan Dining LP, the ultimate holding company of Tim Ho Wan Pte Ltd., the master franchisee of Tim Ho Wan in the Asia-Pacific region, excluding Hong Kong. n

FIT ‘ZOMBIES’. Mandaluyong City Councilor Charisse Abalos-Vargas (center) leads spooky costume-clad residents in this year’s Zombie Zumba, held in a covered court near the Garden of Life Cemetery in Barangay Vergara, Mandaluyong City on Tuesday, October 30. More than 500 residents joined the event that is now on its fifth year.

PNA photo by Joey O. Razon

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

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL •

Dateline PhiliPPines

NOvEmbER 2-8, 2018

A

Over a dozen rescued from mountain rubble Duterte signs EO on nat’l drugs strategy

by Artemio

DumlAo Philstar.com

NATONIN, Mountain Province — Rescuers on Wednesday, October 31 pulled out four survivors and three bodies as they raced against time to find more people after a massive landslide set off by Typhoon Rosita crashed down on a government building here.

Officials said four have been confirmed dead in the avalanche on Tuesday, October 30, while 14 others have been rescued.

Regional police director Chief Supt. Rolando Nana said rescuers are trying to locate at least 18 more people still missing from the landslide that buried a building of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Barangay Bannawel.

Smaller landslides and rockslides on roads leading to Natonin have slowed the advance of rescuers and earth-moving equipment.

Officials said there could be up to 24 people still trapped in the landslide, which occurred as Typhoon Rosita pummeled the region. At least nine people have died due to the typhoon, which blew out of Northern Luzon on Tuesday.

Rosita’s winds and rain set off landslides in the mountainous north and caused massive power outages in Isabela and outlying provinces, officials said.

In Ifugao province, Baltazar Pinay and his three young daughters died in a landslide in Banaue, which is famous for its mountainside rice terraces.

Separate landslides in the upland province of Kalinga and Mountain Province killed a 40year-old man and a young girl.

Three men were reported missing in the region, including one who tried to cross a rampaging river and was swept away by the current.

Reports from other regional disaster offices showed a total of 18 people perished in the typhoon-affected areas in Northern Luzon, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), however, said there were only nine typhoon-related deaths as of yesterday.

NDRRMC spokesman Edgar Posadas explained that regional and local disaster officials are still collating and verifying the reports.

“Around 31 people were trapped in the buildings – 20 laborers, one project engineer, two to three security guards and six to seven evacuees from neighboring houses. The laborers are workers under two contractors (RAF and Moment Diagram construction firms) working on the building,” the provincial disaster report said.

DPWH engineer Junel Emengga said more than 100 workers, police, firefighters and volunteers were scrambling to find more survivors in the avalanche

by CAtherine

VAlente ManilaTimes.net

Handout photo shows rescuers looking for survivors on Wednesday, October 31 after a landslide buried a DPWH building in Natonin, Mountain Province at the height of Typhoon Rosita.

Philstar.com photo

using shovels and their bare hands because earth-moving equipment could not go through roads blocked by landslides.

“It’s a massive landslide and boulders also came rolling down the mountain. The buildings got demolished and they were entombed. They’re gone,” he said.

One new building was being constructed and an old one was being expanded, he added.

Emengga said he and other staffers of the DPWH did not report for work at the four-story buildings on Tuesday because of the typhoon but other workers from a private company continued to work.

Nearby residents also sought shelter in the buildings when their homes were hit by landslides and fierce winds, he said.

Malacañang expressed its sympathies to the families of those who perished in the landslide in Natonin.

Presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo said President Duterte has directed all government agencies to immediately respond and undertake measures to help the victims and families.

He said Duterte stressed the need to rehabilitate the typhoon ravaged areas, including the clearing and repairing of roads that have become impassable. “(Duterte) is on top of the situation, and he, together with the rest of the members of Cabinet, will visit the affected areas to assess the situation. The public can count on the government that it will undertake all necessary actions and not take a load off, if need be, during this time of adversity,” Panelo said.

Typhoon Rosita (Yutu) weakened considerably from its earlier super typhoon status over the Pacific Ocean before slamming into Isabela before dawn Tuesday.

Aside from the landslides, it also knocked down trees and power posts and ripped roofs off houses and stores, officials said.

Rosita weakened as it blew across mountains and then bar-

reled westward through provinces still recovering from the death and devastation wrought

by Typhoon Ompong (Mangkhut) in mid-September.

Rosita blew out into the South China Sea later Tuesday and weakened into a tropical storm, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) senior weather specialist Chris Perez said.

Perez said fair weather is likely to persist until the weekend.

He said no low-pressure area or tropical depression is expected to enter the country in the next two to three days.

Typhoon Rosita affected a total of 11,878 families, or 38,398 persons, in Regions I, II, III and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), the NDRRMC said.

A total of 8,864 families, or 32,519 persons, were pre-emptively evacuated in these regions.

The NDRRMC recorded a total of 10 incidents during the storm, which include landslides and flooding in Regions II and CAR. The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) said it had provided a total of P834,304.90 worth of assistance to the families affected.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) said Rosita left P112million damage in rice and high value crops.

The DA said 7,429 hectares equivalent to 6,560 metric tons of rice were damaged, affecting 4,917 farmers in Benguet, Ifugao, Kalinga, Mountain Province, Aurora, Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Zambales.

Meanwhile, the National Food Authority (NFA) gave assurance it has enough rice stocks in its warehouses nationwide, particularly in Northern and Central Luzon. (With reports from Associated Press and Raymund Catindig, Christina Mendez, Jaime Laude, Victor Martin, Michael Punongbayan, Louise Maureen Simeon, Elizabeth Marcelo, Rainier Allan Ronda/Philstar. com)

Filipinos flock to cemeteries for dearly departed on All Saints’ Day ABOUT 1.2 million people visited their departed loved ones in Metro Manila’s four major cemeteries on Thursday, November 1, according to police data.

Data released by the District Tactical Operations Center of Manila Police District (MPD) said that as of 2 p.m. 1.14 were inside Manila North Cemetery in Sta. Cruz, considered the largest in the country; 95, 178 were at the Manila South Cemetery in Makati; 60,030 at the La Loma Cemetery and 3,000 at the Chi-

nese Cemetery.

Fernando Poe Jr., “The King of Philippine Movies,” former presidents Sergio Osmeña Sr., Ramon Magsaysay, and Manuel Roxas; and historian Epifanio Delos Santos are among those buried at the Manila North Cemetery.

Despite repeated warnings, police confiscated banned items from cemetery-goers.

Seized were 844 items from the Manila North, South, and Chinese Cemeteries consisting

of bladed weapons, flammable materials, cigarettes, and gardening tools.

Other prohibited items are illegal drugs, liquor, karaoke machines, radio, and playing cards.

The PNP is expecting about 14.6 million Filipinos to visit their dead, an annual tradition in the country.

It deployed 32,092 policemen to monitor and ensure peace and security during the four-day weekend. n

EARLY VISITORS. Family members visit their departed loved ones hours ahead of the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day celebration at the Manila South Cemetery on Wednesday evening, October 31.

PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan

PRESIDENT Rodrigo Duterte institutionalized the Philippine Anti-Illegal Drugs Strategy (PADS) with the signing on October 29 of Executive Order 66 which directs all government agencies, bureaus, and offices, including government-owned or -controlled corporations (GOCCs) and state universities and colleges (SUCs) to implement the national strategy on drug prevention and control.

The anti-drug strategy includes the implementation of “drug-free workplace programs” and “authorized drug testing.”

The president encouraged nongovernment organizations, civil society organizations, and private institutions to actively support the anti-drug programs.

“The proliferation of prohibited drugs and their precursors is a serious national concern, encompassing social, economic, psychological and economic interests, which necessitates the active and unified involvement of various government and nongovernment agencies,” the order said.

“To ensure the successful implementation of the PADS and to demonstrate our country’s resolve in confronting the issue on illegal drugs, it is necessary to ensure that government and non-government entities carry out their respective functions and tasks under the PADS,” it added.

The PADS, formulated by the Dangerous Drugs Board (DDB), outlines the government’s comprehensive and integrated efforts to strengthen the campaign against illegal drugs and contribute to global efforts to counter the drug problem.

Under EO 66, the president designated the DDB as the lead agency in the implementation of the PADS. All government departments and agencies were directed to formulate and submit to the DDB their respective implementing and operational plans relative to the PADS, within 60 days from the implementation of EO 66.

They were also required to formulate and adopt drug-free workplace programs, and conduct authorized drug testing among

their respective officials and personnel, in accordance with the provisions of Republic Act 9165 or the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act. The Department of Labor and Employment, on the other hand, was instructed to ensure the formulation and implementation of drug-free workplace programs.

EO 66 also urged local government units (LGUs) to formulate and submit their own implementation and operation plans and establish or strengthen their AntiDrug Abuse Councils.

LGUs were also asked to work in partnership with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and PAGE A7

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

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

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

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

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

A6

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2018 • NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL

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

FEATURES

OPINION

Military takeover

UNDER two former military officers, the Bureau of Customs saw traffickers smuggle billions of pesos worth of shabu last year and in mid-2018 through the Port of Manila, home of the BOC main office. The head of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency says that over a ton of smuggled shabu has found its way to the streets of Metro Manila.

Now another retired military officer has been named BOC chief, with key Customs officials relieved and replaced — temporarily, according to Palace officials — by military officers in the active service.

President Duterte has explained that unlike bureaucrats, military officers follow orders quickly and mostly without question from their commander-in-chief. The military officers will be on temporary deployment in the BOC, with their main task to ferret out the corrupt, particularly those responsible for shabu smuggling.

It’s the Philippine National Police, not the military, that is carrying out the brutal Oplan Double Barrel against drug personalities. But perhaps the military presence can scare the crooks in the BOC. The scare tactic, however, must be accompanied by a relentless effort to implement structural reforms that will eliminate opportunities for corruption. Even military officers can be vulnerable to bribery, especially where massive amounts of drug money are involved.

Certain former BOC officials have said that opportunities for corruption can be plugged by re-

ducing to a minimum human intervention and individual discretion in valuation and other Customs procedures. Equipment such as x-ray machines can also be upgraded to improve the capability to detect contraband.

Reforms must come not only from within the BOC but also from the public. Politicians must also avoid pulling rank to break the law and BOC rules. Corruption is a two-way thing; those who do business with the BOC must avoid paying bribes.

Many, however, are compelled to pay “facilitation fees” because of the red tape that is designed into BOC procedures precisely to compel the payment of grease money.

The takeover of BOC posts by military officers must not result in worse red tape and further delays in shipment processing, which could increase the need for “facilitation fees.”

The Christmas season is the busiest time for the BOC, with shipments piling up in the country’s principal port. Efficiency in BOC processes is a premium requirement at this time. Efficiency must not be compromised as military officers take crash courses on a complex system that is critical in trade and industry. (Philstar.com)

Editorial

Philstar.com photo

Trump to subvert the Constitution by terminating birthright citizenship using an executive order

The Fil-Am Perspective GEL SANTOS-RELOS ONE WEEK before the consequential midterm elections — amid the news cycle being dominated by criticisms against the massacre of 11 people in a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; the sending of pipe bombs via mail to prominent Democrats critical of Trump, including news organization CNN by a FilipinoItalian American Trump fanatic; the deaths of two black men killed because of the color of their skin; and the threat of sending the military at the border to stop the asylum seekers from Central America hoping to save their families from violence and hunger in their countries — Trump is at it again, this time, reigniting the contentious issue of birthright citizenship.

In an interview with Axios on HBO, the president said, “that he

has run the idea of ending birthright citizenship by his counsel and plans to proceed with the highly controversial move, which certainly will face legal challenges.”

“It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don’t,” Trump said, declaring he can do it by executive order.

When told that’s very much in dispute, Trump replied: “You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they’re saying I can do it just with an executive order.”

He continued, “We’re the only country in the world where a person comes in and has a baby, and the baby is essentially a citizen of the United States ... with all of those benefits. It’s ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. And it has to end.” (More than 30 countries, mostly in the Western Hemisphere, provide birthright

citizenship.)

“It’s in the process. It’ll happen ... with an executive order.”

The truth and facts: Trump CANNOT terminate birthright citizenship using an executive order as this is stipulated and protected by the 14th Amendment of the Constitution of the United States.

“All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.” (Fourteenth Amendment,

Whom can President Duterte trust?

THE smuggling of shabu worth P11 billion into the country in August right under the very noses of our customs officials is yet another compelling evidence of the national malaise that is gripping our country today.

At the root of the problem is corruption. The crime of smuggling thrives because of corruption. Corruption, however, is not exclusive to the low-ranking policemen or customs personnel, or to their superiors, or the ordinary government employees.

Corruption at their level can be categorized as petty. But they are picayune compared with the corruption that is embedded or has almost become a way of life in high places in government. It is more organized, more sinister and more debilitating as it brings untold misery to our people.

Smugglers masquerading as businessmen Corruption cannot thrive without the active participation of both those in government and the private sector. There are big, “successful” businessmen who are reportedly into the business of smuggling. Remember those 2,000 container vans that left the Port of Manila ostensibly for the Port of Batangas but went missing during the early months of the presidency of Noynoy Aquino? Whatever happened to that? What was the result of the

Commentary

DR. DANTE A. ANG investigation? Who was the importer? Who was the consignee?

Who processed the release of the vans that reportedly contained consumer goods?

As always, the same names of smugglers masquerading as businessmen come up each time the problem of smuggling gets mentioned in private discussions among members of the press and small groups of businessmen.

Yet, these same smugglers-cumbusinessmen go around town flouting their illegal wealth. Their tentacles run deep and wide and spew venom that infect people in government, from the lowly customs employees, to their superiors, to investigators, to the Philippine National Police, the fiscals and the judges. I admit, however, that naming the smugglers posing as businessmen is one thing, and proving that is another.

The situation is dire. We may not like it, but the reality is that our country is on the cusp of becoming another Colombia. Eighty (80)

percent of barangay (villages) in Metro Manila are under the influence of illegal drugs, according to official documents. Say what you want to say but President Duterte’s campaign against illegal drugs has effectively interdicted the country’s march to the precipice of hopelessness and despair.

He is the only president in living memory who has stood up against the powerful and deadly drug syndicates.

At the same time, I sympathize with the loss of countless innocent lives. One death is one death too many. Admittedly, there are loose ends in the President’s war against illegal drugs. One of them is the involvement of the rogue policemen who are members or assets of the drug syndicates in the war against illicit drugs.

Some detractors accuse them of waging a war against illegal drugs only as a ruse to eliminate their “competitors.”

Surely, there are ways to improve the government’s war on drugs. Foremost is the protection of the innocents and for another, to catch the “big fish,” not just the small fry. Alongside the twin concerns, there must also be a nononsense cleansing or purging of scalawags from the PNP and the Armed Forces of the Philippines.

To his credit, the president has waged a war against the corrupt for he knows that the success of

Section 1 of the U.S. Constitution ) The Fourteenth Amendment was adopted on July 5, 1868, and as history.com chronicled, “was one of three amendments passed during the Reconstruction era to abolish slavery and establish civil and legal rights for black Americans.”

This law has been challenged in court and upheld by the Supreme Court for more than 200 years. The only way to terminate it would be through Congress. However, despite efforts by the GOP to end birthright citizenship through bills filed in Congress, these never advanced even during the times when the House or Senate was under Republican control.

TRUE. There are those who abuse this system, even among our kababayans. “Sa States ka na manganak para U.S. citizen na and anak mo at puwede kang

mapetisyon,” is an advise many Filipinos give to those who want to seek better opportunities for their families.

Valid argument to look into this abuse of the system by some, but Trump’s way to do it is unconstitutional. And now the president is pushing to knowingly subvert the Constitution of the United States by issuing an executive order.

CNN reported that Trump’s own party mate, House Speaker Paul Ryan, refuted in a radio interview the president’s claim that he can end the right to citizenship for the children of noncitizens and unauthorized immigrants born on U.S. soil.

“As a conservative, I’m a believer in following the plain text of the Constitution and I think in this case the 14th Amendment is pretty clear,” Ryan said.

Critics ask, what is Trump up to in spewing more of these anti-

immigrant statements just days ahead of the midterm elections?

A desperate attempt to fire up his base to win, win, win, at the expense of dividing the country even more?

Omar Jadwat, director of the ACLU’s Immigrants’ Rights Project, had this to say: “The president cannot erase the Constitution with an executive order, and the 14th Amendment’s citizenship guarantee is clear. This is a transparent and blatantly unconstitutional attempt to sow division and fan the flames of anti-immigrant hatred in the days ahead of the midterms.” ***

his war against illegal drugs is conditioned upon the elimination of the scumbags from the ranks of the police and the military.

Whom can we trust?

Sometime in 2001 and in the early weeks of the Arroyo Administration, I met one-on-one with the erstwhile President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on the matter of illegal drugs.

At that meeting, I suggested to her to consider hiring unofficially a retired drug enforcement agent from the United States. I reasoned that while there were good, honest policemen and members of the military, the question still persisted: “Who are untainted, honest among them?” In short, “Whom can you trust?” The problem is that we are not sure who among the police and the military are not involved in the illicit trade, I said.

I then explained to her the arrangement. I would talk to a retired U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agent, look for a group who can finance the expenses, and the outcome of the investigation would be forwarded to her directly. That way, I said, she would know the right people to tap in her campaign against illicit drugs. She would then be able to identify the PNP and AFP personnel involved in the illegal drug trade.

I proceeded to suggest that she must allow me to seek an audience in my private capacity

but with her imprimatur, with the representatives of the U.S. DEA. If the plan got exposed, she could disown me, I said.

Meet with US Representatives A little over a week after my meeting with President Arroyo, I met with two or three staff at the U.S. embassy. My opening statement to them was, “This is an official, yet unofficial call. The president knows I am meeting with you but that she can’t officially say so.”

They understood and promised to look for a retired DEA agent and get back to me after I had explained to them that the project was so sensitive and should the project be exposed, she would “disown it.”

Sure enough, after a few days, I received a call from a source from the U.S. Embassy to tell me that they had identified a retired U.S. DEA agent based in Hong Kong.

He assured me that they were already set to talk to him and that he would update me on the decision of the retired agent.

Meet with Chinese financiers I hurriedly assembled a group of Chinese who were concerned about the growing threat of illegal drugs to the people, especially the youth. During our first meeting in one of the Chinese restaurants in Manila, I explained the plan to them and the wisdom of hiring a retired U.S. DEA agent who would investigate and identify who among the ranks of the police

and the military were involved in the illicit drug trade. The findings would then be submitted only to the president.

The group readily agreed to finance the expenses in the hiring of a retired American DEA agent.

Many of them were living in fear — fear from the kidnappers, who, according to a Chinese who was present, could also be involved in illegal drugs.

I also briefed them on what the U.S. representative told me over the phone. We were all gung-ho.

The big disappointment Just when I thought the identity of the drug lords and their assets in the PNP and the AFP would be finally exposed, and the guilty charged in court, I received a call from my contact in the U.S. Embassy informing me that the retired U.S. DEA agent felt that the drug problem in the Philippines was too big for him to handle, saying that people in high places were directly involved.

The long and short of it — the retired U.S. DEA agent was scared of the powerful figures behind the illegal drug trade that included ranking PNP, AFP and government officials.

We can either support President Duterte’s war on illegal drugs or run the risk of turning our country into another Colombia. It is now or never.

Corruption and illegal drugs are two sides of the same coin.

(ManilaTimes.net)

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

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

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

Main Office: 1210 S. Brand Blvd Glendale, CA 91204 Tels: (818) 502-0651 • (213) 250-9797 Fax: (818) 502-0858 • (213) 481-0854 e-mail: info@asianjournalinc.com http://www.asianjournal.com Northern California: 1799 Old Bayshore Hwy, Suite 136 Burlingame CA 94010 Tel.: (650) 616-4150 • Fax: (650) 239-9253

Manila Office: 2nd Floor Units D&E, Fort Palm Springs 30th Street, Cor. 1st Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig Tel.: (632) 856-4921 • Fax: (632) 856-1661 New York and New Jersey: 133-30 32nd Ave., Flushing, NY 11354 Tel.: (212) 655-5426 • Fax (818) 502-0858 2500 Plaza S. Harborside Financial Center, Jersey City, NJ 07311 Tel. (212) 655-5426 • Fax: (818) 502-0858

Las Vegas Sales Office: 2770 S. Maryland Pkwy., Las Vegas, NV 89102 Tel.: (702) 792-6678 • Fax: (702) 792-6879

CORA MACABAGDAL-ORIEL President

ELIZABETH HILARIO SISON Chief Financial Officer MOMAR G. VISAYA Executive Editor and Editor-in-Chief New York/New Jersey Asian Journal

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

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

Publication of a Client’s Material does not constitute an a greement to continue publication.

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

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

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

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

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

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

(212) 655-5426 â&#x20AC;˘ http://www.asianjournal.com

Dateline PhiliPPines

NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY ASIAN JOURNAL â&#x20AC;˘

NOvEmbER 2-8, 2018

A

Group calls government: Protect Sister Patricia Fox set to leave Philippines childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights amid drug war by evelyn

Macairan Philstar.com

by Kristine Joy

Philstar.com

Patag

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; A childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights group on Thursday, November 1, called on the government to prevent children being used as collateral damage in its brutal war against illegal drugs.

Child Rights Network Philippines, in a statement, urged the government to thoroughly investigate the case filed against a rookie cop accused of raping a teen. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We call on the government to not only thoroughly investigate the crime and obtain justice for the child, but also acknowledge that the war on drugs only exposes children to grave danger because of the abuses by people in authority that go unchecked,â&#x20AC;?

CRN said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Law enforcement agencies should purge its ranks of these abusive officials and focus on increasing these institutionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; capacity to protect citizens, especially the most vulnerable. No commitment is better articulated than bringing to justice these predators in uniform and having a more child rights sensitive approach to law enforcement,â&#x20AC;? they added.

Police have detained and filed

a rape complaint against Police Officer 1 Eduardo Valencia, after he was accused of solicited sex from a 15-year-old girl whose parents were arrested by authorities in a drug sting.

Valencia denied the allegations, but medical examination showed that there was a laceration on the girlâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s private parts which indicate that she was sexually abused.

The group also joined the call to raise the minimum age of consent to at least 16 years old, from 12 years old.

Sens. Risa Hontiveros, Leila de Lima and Nancy Binay are among the lawmakers who have filed measures proposing the same move. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Doing so would protect more children from child rape, and arm our justice system with vital powers to bring justice to abused children,â&#x20AC;? they added.

The group cited a study by the Ateneo School of Government last August that showed that â&#x20AC;&#x153;up to 32,395 children were orphaned because of the anti-illegal drugs campaign, while close to half a million children are now estimated to be deprived of parents who were imprisoned on drug-related charges.â&#x20AC;?

Meanwhile, Center for Womenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Resources has recently released data where they documented 33 cases of violence against women committed by policemen since President Rodrigo Duterte took office. Fifty-six cops were involved in these cases, which range from catcalling, acts of lasciviousness to rape.

Of the 33 cases, 13 involved victims who are 17 years old and below. Almost half of the cases monitored (16) were on rape, while seven cases were on acts of lasciviousness. â&#x20AC;&#x153;To continue turning a blind eye to child rights violations linked to the war on drugs and treating child abuses as mere collateral damage is to renege on this commitment,â&#x20AC;? CRN stressed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We call on all child rights advocates and organizations to unite in demanding immediate action to prevent further violation of childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rights. Crime committed against any child cannot be labeled and condoned as mere â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;collateral damage,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? CRN added.

In December 2016, Duterte said he is sorry for the innocent people, who include children, killed in his brutal war against drugs. n

Poe questions hike in airport terminal fees MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Sen. Grace Poe on Thursday questioned the increase of terminal fees for passengers boarding flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The Manila International Airport Authority announced on Tuesday a hike on terminal fees charged to passengers, bringing terminal fees to P300 from P200 for domestic passengers and P750 from P550 to international air travelers.

Poe, in a statement, said that there should be â&#x20AC;&#x153;real public consultationsâ&#x20AC;? before this move that would affect 42 million people, which is the number of passengers who flew through the Philippinesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; main airport in 2018. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Another reason why the holding of public hearings is a must is the recent imposition of fuel charges on Filipino air travellers.

There are multiple taxes and fees embedded in a ticket, including travel tax,â&#x20AC;? she also said.

MIAA general manager Ed Monreal said that hiked terminal fees would be collected starting next year. He added that the increase is necessary to cover the rising maintenance and operational costs at the NAIA. But Poe questioned where would the fund collected as terminal fees or â&#x20AC;&#x153;passenger service chargeâ&#x20AC;? go. â&#x20AC;&#x153;What are they going to do if ever it increases? We canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t simply take it hook, line and sinker and give it them,â&#x20AC;? she said.

The senator also raised that it has not been long since the Xiamen Airlines incident happened that left paralyzed operations at NAIA for nearly 36 hours. She added that passengers who testified at the Senate legislative inquiry said that NAIAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sound system was not working and they were not informed of their boarding time and gates. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Before focusing on the

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;chargeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; part, maybe it is best for MIAA and NAIA to first focus on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;passenger service,â&#x20AC;&#x2122;â&#x20AC;? she also said.

Monreal said that air travelers will be notified of the new terminal fees through publication on newspapers. The increase would also be included when they purchase their plane tickets.

In September, Philippine Airlines and Cebu Pacific announced that they started the imposition of fuel surcharge in their ticket prices.

Alexander Lao, president and CEO of Cebgo Inc., a unit of Cebu Pacific, was quoted in a STAR report as saying: â&#x20AC;&#x153;It is quite important because of the soaring fuel prices and the weakening of peso against the dollar.

Actually, the Philippines is one of the last few countries, at least in destinations where we are flying, that implemented the fuel surcharge.â&#x20AC;? (Kristine Joy Patag/ Philstar.com)

MANILA â&#x20AC;&#x201D; After nearly six months of battling government efforts to have her deported, Australian nun and human rights advocate Patricia Anne Fox has finally decided to leave the country on Saturday, November 3.

Fox said on Wednesday, OCtober 31, she had no choice but to leave the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201D; her home for the last 27 years â&#x20AC;&#x201D; after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied the extension of her temporary visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visa that is set to expire on Nov. 3. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I am sad and I will goâ&#x20AC;Ś I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe that they have any grounds to the decisionâ&#x20AC;? to downgrade her missionary visa.

Her appeal on her deportation case is still pending before the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Fox was at the BI on Wednesday hoping to secure an extension for her temporary visa, but the BI denied her request. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do much nowâ&#x20AC;Ś They have an intelligence agent at the airport to make sure that I am gone by the third (of November). Otherwise, deportation proceedings for overstaying if I donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go by the third,â&#x20AC;? she said.

When her missionary visa expired last Sept. 5, BI issued her a temporary visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visa valid for 59 days or until Nov. 3.

She believes a better option for her is to voluntarily leave the country on Saturday, so that she would not be placed in the Immigration blacklist and would

Sister Patricia Fox said she had no choice but to leave the Philippines â&#x20AC;&#x201C; her home for the last 27 years â&#x20AC;&#x201C; after the Bureau of Immigration (BI) denied the extension of her temporary visitorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s visa that is set to expire on Nov. 3.

Philstar.com photo by Edd Gumban

still be able to return.

She said she could take a couple of monthsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vacation in Australia and return early next year. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I will look at the situation. It depends on the deportation case. I could have a couple of months, if I could come back I will come back,â&#x20AC;? she said.

There is â&#x20AC;&#x153;nothing I can do about the visa. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m really hoping that DOJ Secretary (Menardo) Guevarra would really side (with me) in the deportation case.

If they really look at the arguments because it is about freedom of expression, freedom of movement, freedom of assembly, freedom of religion, (these are) the basic freedom for everybody under the Constitution and international law,â&#x20AC;? Fox, the provincial superior of the Sister of Our Lady of Sion, said.

The missionary said she was hoping the â&#x20AC;&#x153;DOJ would still look

at the legal arguments because the BI has never looked at the legal arguments against my deportation.â&#x20AC;? She said she understands itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prerogative to give her a visa. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Of course you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t force a country to give you a visa,â&#x20AC;? she maintained.

She also expressed her gratitude to those who have supported her.

Fox was arrested by the BI last April 16 for allegedly engaging in partisan politics. The â&#x20AC;&#x153;evidenceâ&#x20AC;? against her included photos showing her in the company of protesting farmers, prisoners and indigenous people.

Lawyers of Fox said in a statement that she might return after the end of President Duterteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s term, especially if a new administration that is more receptive to dissent, missionary work and human rights takes over. n

Police, Army to work together vs terror groups in ARMM MAGUINDANAO â&#x20AC;&#x201D; The police and military agreed Tuesday to work together to secure areas vulnerable to bomb attacks by local Islamic State-inspired blocs.

Major Gen. Cirilito Sobejana of the Armyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 6th Infantry Division and Chief Superintendent Graciano Mijares of the Police Regional Office-Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao signed the agreement at Camp Siongco in Datu Odin Sinsuat, Maguindanao.

The 6th ID and PRO-ARMM are bracing for possible attacks by terror groups operating in the fashion of the Islamic State after the surrender in recent months of more than 20 militants through local officials.

More than 30 IS-inspired terrorists have also been killed in encounters with the military in Maguindanao and North Cotabato since January.

The 6th ID and PRO-ARMM will

implement joint security measures to keep groups like the Bangsamoro Islamic Freedom Fighters, the Maute and the Ansar Al-Khilafa from moving around Maguindanao and Lanao del Sur. Chief Superintendent Eliseo Tam Rasco, Region 12 police director, and Maj. Gen. Noel Clement of the 10th ID signed a similar agreement in General Santos City on Tuesday, October 30.

(Philstar.com)

Duterte signs EO on natâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;l drugs...

PAGE A5 the Philippine National Police in implementing the PADS. The President also directed the DDB, in consultation with concerned government entries and LGUs, to develop perfor-

mance standards to ensure compliance of concerned agencies with PADS. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The PADS shall be continuously reviewed and studied by the DDB. For this purpose, all government entities shall submit

to the DDB every month of February of each year, an Annual Report outlining or detailing accomplishments relative to their respective tasks, undertakings, programs and projects under the PADS,â&#x20AC;? the order said. n

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A

november 2-8, 2018 • neW YorK AnD neW JerSeY ASIAn JoUrnAL

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

NOVEMBER 2-8, 2018

people events arts culture entertainment

Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Ã&#x2013;Ã¥Â&#x2019;¿¯Â&#x201C;Â&#x2020;â¯Ã&#x160;Ã&#x2026;Ã&#x153;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿Â&#x201C;Ã&#x160;Ã&#x201E;

Ç&#x2020;Â&#x2020;Ã&#x153;¯Â&#x2020;Ã&#x2026;ºÃ&#x160;Ã¥Ã&#x2122;Ã&#x2026;Â&#x2020;¿

XXX BTJBOKPVSOBM DPN -PT "OHFMFT Ç&#x2021; -BT 7FHBT Ç&#x2021; 0SBOHF $PVOUZ *OMBOE &NQJSF Ç&#x2021; /PSUIFSO $BMJGPSOJB Ç&#x2021; /FX :PSL /FX +FSTFZ

2

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

From bean to bar: Fil-Am chocolatier Hernan Lauber finds joy in native Philippine cacao On promoting the Philippines as the “Napa Valley of cacao” product, so it is influenced by how and where it’s grown,” said Lauber. “Since much of the FILIPINOS love chocolate. And common Trinitario and Forastero cacao beans. country is still agrarian, especially sure, that affinity includes the Situated along the cacao in the provinces, the cacao can be Hershey’s, M&M’s, and Toblerone growing sweet spot dubbed found among many other types of bars that fill up balikbayan boxes the equatorial “Cacao Belt,” the fruits including bananas, mangoes, sent by loved ones abroad, but Philippines nonetheless found and guavas, all of which have an there’s also the traditional tablea impact on the flavor of the beans.” chocolate disks whisked in boiling itself laying low in the modern global cacao market, unable to Growing up on chocolate water to make hot tsokolate, or meet even its local demand. As Born in the Philippines, mixed in with glutinous rice to a result, the Philippines began Lauber spent the first two years make champorado. importing much of its cacao of his life in the country and grew To Fil-Am chocolatier Hernan beans from nearby Malaysia up in other parts of the world Lauber, the Philippines is what he and Indonesia, and its chocolate like Geneva, Toronto, and New describes as the “Napa Valley of products from the U.S. and York, before moving outside cacao” — a big claim, given that Singapore, according to the Philadelphia where he spent the the country may not initially be Philippine Statistics Authority. bulk of his middle and high school one that comes to mind when But the country has recently years. He then went on to get a talking about the bean. been showing global ambitions degree in mechanical engineering, “The Philippines currently for its chocolate to capture a larger before getting his MBA in produces less than one-percent of the world’s supply of cacao but slice of the growing global market. international business.

In 2015, the Philippine “I spent my childhood it’s been a part of Filipino history government’s Department of bouncing around the U.S., the for as long as it’s been part of Agriculture and the Mindanao Philippines, and Switzerland European history,” said Lauber, Development Authority signed an which sounds glamorous when the chocolatier behind the new ambitious agreement to increase I tell people, but it really wasn’t,” bean-to-bar chocolate brand, cacao bean production tenfold to shared Lauber. “When I was a “Oodaalolly”.

100,000 metric tons by 2020. By kid and spent summers in the According to some historical 2017, the Philippines joined the Philippines with my mom’s family accounts, cacao first came to the — there was no running water, no Philippines aboard Manila galleons international Cocoa of Excellence Programme for the first time electricity, so it was humbling to by way of Acapulco, Mexico in where it snagged a spot in the have that experience.” the 1670s. The first cacao plants top 50.

Yet despite all the moving, in the Philippines yielded pure On what makes the Philippines there was one thing that remained aromatic and mild Criollo cacao the “Napa Valley of cacao,” Lauber rather constant and that was his beans which have a distinct said it goes back to the country’s exposure to quality food and most reddish color, and are today very unique agricultural landscape. importantly chocolate by the rare and generally regarded as “Cacao is truly an agricultural influence of his dad who worked the superior bean over the more as a Swiss-trained pastry chef.

Lauber described how his dad, after finding a business partner at Swiss hotel in Toronto, decided to start a chocolate business in the early ‘80s. As the ‘90s came around, Lauber’s dad decided to pursue his own venture.

“He is a traditional chocolatier, importing bulk chocolate from Switzerland, melting it down, and creating chocolate confections. It wasn’t necessarily something he intended to do, but being an immigrant and having no higher education, it was what he knew best,” said Lauber.

He continued, “So I basically Oodaalolly chocolate is made in small batches using Swiss techniques. grew up in a chocolate factory, as did my two sisters,” adding that time at the family-run factory was a typical after-school activity that continued into college.

“I first started as a dishwasher in the fourth grade, then I got to start decorating truffles, then feeding the enrobing machine, then making shells, and from that point on, I helped out with whatever was needed,” said Lauber. “You could say I apprenticed with a Swiss Samples of the almond and sea salt chocolate chocolatier for over a decade.”

Oodaalolly By the early 2000s, Lauber decided to try his hand at the chocolate business and create his own chocolate company that got rid of the melting of imported bulk chocolate, and focused more on bean-to-bar.

After running the idea through with his dad who had a few hesitations given that the bean-to-bar market was rather small, Lauber decided still to go ahead with it and got a loan from the Small Business

by Rae

ann VaRona /AJPress

Chocolatier Hernan Lauber creates chocolate bars with Filipino cacao.

Photos courtesy of Hernan Lauber / Oodaalolly

Oodaalolly’s products include dark chocolate and dark milk chocolate

Administration. But just as he was ready to launch, he got an offer to move to Europe with his engineering job and decided to take the opportunity.

However, chocolate was still on his mind. After moving to Sydney, Australia with his wife who he met in Europe, and then back home to the U.S., plans of his chocolate business were put back on the table.

“One thing to keep in mind is 15 years ago, there were probably only a few U.S. chocolate makers being Hershey’s, Scharffen Berger, and a few other companies,” Lauber said of the market when they returned.

He added that today, there are close to 300 U.S. bean-to-bar makers.

Lauber and his wife—who being half-Italian, also grew up with an affinity for good food— decided to try all the bean-to-bar makers they could get their hands on before deciding that entering the chocolate business was indeed what they wanted to do.

“I just thought we could make bars as good as what we tasted, but we would only use Filipino beans and focus only on them,” said the second generation chocolatier.

One thing that distinguishes oodaalolly from other chocolate makers is that they source their own cacao beans directly from the Philippines without using any distributors, he said.

The cost and logistics of sourcing their own beans have as a result been more challenging, but that has also meant having direct access to supply which Lauber holds important. Lauber said he spent a year working on the process before launching their original collection of bars in December of 2017.

Currently, the maker has three bars: 60-percent dark

Hernan displays his products at Undiscovered SF, a monthly night market in San Francisco that celebrates the rich cultural heritage of the SOMA Pilipinas district.

milk, 70-percent dark chocolate, and 70-percent dark almond and sea salt. All bars are single roast, single origin, and use 100-percent Filipino cacao.

Yet oodaalolly’s bars are only the beginning as the maker is taking the next step in making sure its products come as close from the source as possible.

In 2018, oodaalolly planted about 4,000 cacao plants on his grandfather’s land in Western Visayas after testing some out on his mom’s property a few years ago.

“They sprouted pods rather quickly so hopefully in a few years, we can start harvesting some of our own plants,” said Lauber.

As for the definition of ‘oodaalolly’? The name, Lauber shared, is a play on a phrase from his older son’s favorite cartoon when he was about a year old during their days moving back from Sydney.

“Oodaalolly is an expression of joy, surprise, delight, ecstasy, and effervescence, and is often shouted or sung repeatedly,” said Lauber.

He added, “That’s what we want people to feel when they eat our bars. A bit of joy, and a bit of delight. If it causes you to sing—even better. But if it makes you smile, even a little bit, then we have achieved success!”

In the meantime, Lauber hopes that oodaalolly helps make true Philippine chocolate a more common part of everyday life.

“When I met my father-inlaw for the first time, he had this magical ability to pull out a bar of chocolate at the most random times. While waiting for a train, when sitting on a park bench, while enjoying an espresso. It always put everyone in a good mood,” said Lauber. “The best way to enjoy oodaalolly is by sharing a bar with those you love.”

Mario J. Delos Reyes Photo courtesy of Star Cinema

Bernardo Bernardo

of the best Filipino films ever made.

Bernardo Bernardo Due to pancreatic cancer, the veteran theater and film actor, comedian, and director passed away on March 8. Apart from being respectable in the theater scene, Bernardo has also gained acclaim for his film roles. His portrayal of Manay Sharon in the film “Manila By Night,” earned him a Gawad Urian Award for Best Actor. His passing was considered

a loss to the entertainment industry due to his numerous contributions, which in turn has led to tributes by actors and directors. In fact, Lea Salonga called him “my very first leading man,” pertaining to his role as the King of Siam in “The King and I,” Salonga’s first theater role as one of his daughters.

Mark Salling The actor once played a tough but kindhearted Noah Puckerman Continued on Page 6

Celebrities who have gone ahead too soon By nika

Roque ManilaTimes.net

SO far, 2018 has been a year of controversy and heated exchanges in show business.

Even not personally knowing the celebrities, fans would still express their emotions if their favorites won awards, landed new roles, released new songs, got into legal trouble, or sadly have passed away.

On this day to remember the dead, The Manila Times looks back on those favorites who have gone too soon.

Spanky Manikan After battling Stage 4 lung cancer, the veteran film and theater actor succumbed to the disease on January 14 at the age of 75. Manikan’s rise to fame began when he portrayed Orly in “Himala,” the filmmaker doing a documentary on Elsa (Nora Aunor) and her struggling town.

The iconic film led him to receive a Best Supporting Actor Award at the 1981 Metro Manila Film

Spanky Manikan

Inquirer.net photo

Festival. Since then, Manikan has had 59 film and television credits to his name, all highlighting his talent as an actor who can portray diverse characters.

Pitoy Moreno Called the “pillar of Philippine fashion” and the “Fashion Czar

Pitoy Moreno

Inquirer.net photo

of Asia,” the world-renowned designer died from heart attack on January 15 at the age of 92.

Moreno was one of the first advocates of preserving and advancing the use of Maria Clara or terno, helping pave the way for Filipino fashion designers to

be known worldwide. Moreno’s signature includes beading, embroidery, and hand paintings, which have been worn by both Filipino and foreign first ladies, and some queens and princesses. His creations have been published in international fashion magazines Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar.

Maryo J. Delos Reyes The popular film and television director died on January 27 after suffering a heart attack at 65 years old. Being a director for almost 40 years, Delos Reyes made films that left a huge impact on the youth. The 1984 coming-ofage film “Bagets,” featuring an allstar cast made up of Aga Muhlach, Herbert Bautista, William Martinez, and Yayo Aguila became a classic during its time and the future generations. He also helmed “Magnifico,” starring Jiro Manio as the nine-year-old determined to give his family a better life. This 2003 film bagged numerous local and international awards during its time and is considered as one

Philstar.com photo

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

What is ‘extreme hardship’?

must show that the refusal of admission would “impose more than the usual level of hardship that commonly results from family separation or relocation.”

That’s an important point: Atty. MichAel “extreme” simply means “more gurfinkel, eSQ than usual,” or more likely than not, or 51% probability.

IF a person commits certain Among the items to be considered are: AN ENCORE EPISODE ABOUT A ‘SPECIAL CHILD’ ON CITIZEN PINOY! When Mommy Conchita (center) immigrated to the U.S. in 2007, she had immigration violations (such • Hardship to the qualifying to make a difficult decision of leaving her special needs daughter, Nina (left) behind in the Philippines. It was a difficult time, because as fraud, or overstaying in the mother and daughter had never been separated before. Nina was left behind with her older sister Ruth, who was later about to migrate U.S. for over six months and relative if they had to relocate to Australia in May 2016. With Mommy Conchita and Ruth gone, who will take care of Nina? Find out how leading U.S. immigration attorney then departing, etc.), the person overseas (to be with the Michael J. Gurfinkel was able to bring Nina to the U.S. through Humanitarian Parole, on an encore episode of Citizen Pinoy on Sunday 6:15pm may not be eligible to receive applicant), or, in the alternative, PST on TFC. (Advertising Supplement) a green card, unless the person remain in the U.S., (separated applies for, and is granted, a from the applicant). “waiver of inadmissibility” (or • Strong family ties in the U.S. Immigrant “forgiveness”) on a Form I-601.

• Social and cultural impact Living: 101 To be eligible for the waiver, the if the qualifying relative had to (2 of 2 parts) person must demonstrate he or relocate overseas to be with the and Beyond she has a spouse or parent who applicant is a U.S. citizen or a green card • Economic impact on the Monette holder (“qualifying relatives”), qualifying relative if the hardship AdevA MAglAyA and the qualifying relative would waiver is not granted suffer “extreme hardship” if the • Health conditions and applicant is not granted the medical care of the qualifying (CONTINUED from last week’s up with his father who was intently painstakingly worked for in one waiver. relative issue …) impetuous decision or action. It flying on a steady speed and But what is extreme hardship?

• Country conditions, “Pay attention, Icarus. Stick is as if their overwhelming sense altitude.

How does a person demonstrate and State Department travel close behind me and watch your of freedom, newly-attained As Icarus swooped, dived and altitude. Fly too low and the sea independence and sense of power or prove extreme hardship on the warnings for the country where indulged frivolously in his aerial qualifying relative? How should the qualifying relative would with its moisture will make your goads them to “fly close to the acrobatics, Icarus soon forgot his the immigration officer evaluate have to relocate. wings too heavy. Fly too high sun.” father’s words and flew higher the qualifying relative’s extreme The PM lists dozens of and the heat of the sun will melt Humility gets torpedoed and higher towards the noonday hardship? specific factors which could the wax in your wings. Take heed and overweening pride rules. sun. Then the wax in his wings The USCIS has a policy constitute extreme hardship on a and stay close.” Icarus nodded They feel they no longer need melted, the wooden framework qualifying relative, and points out agreement but he was far too guidance from anyone. Sometimes manual (PM), to provide some broke apart and the feathers blew guidelines on establishing numerous factors which would excited and his mind was already a good scare or a tiny thorn of away. Wingless and panicking, extreme hardship. In the past, not be considered extreme in the sky. bad experience can be humbling Icarus plunged headlong like applicants had to rely on hardship. The PM provides some Daedalus took off flapping and worth more than a lifetime of deadweight into the blue waters. hypothetical examples where his wings faster and faster to get warnings, advice and admonitions published immigration cases Daedalus swooped down in hot that discussed extreme hardship, the claimed hardship would be vertical lift-off and escape gravity. to nudge prideful youth back to pursuit to save his son but it was memos, etc. to figure out what considered normal or a “common Icarus followed suit and took off reality and on the straight and much too late. All he saw were constitutes extreme hardship and consequence of relocation”, as shortly after. As they flew, the narrow. a few feathers floating on the how to prove it. USCIS’s PM on opposed to being “extreme.” people on the ground in Crete While we may think that this surface. extreme hardship aims to clarify Many people, when watched in amazement wondering tendency of the youth today is Daedalus, with a heavy heart whether the winged creatures are unique to our times, we only have how USCIS should make extreme faced with having to file a at the tragic loss of his beloved hardship determinations. waiver of inadmissibility, do the gods themselves flying. to look back several thousand Icarus, managed to fly to Sicily.

But even with this PM, it on his or her own, rather Icarus trailed his father closely years to know that the scenario In his grief, Daedalus retired his figuring out what constitutes than seeking the advice or at first, following his flight pattern may have changed, the cast of wings, lost his love for life and extreme hardship can still be guidance of an attorney. While and struggling to take heed of his characters in every generation never flew again. confusing. Even USCIS admits hiring an attorney does not father’s admonitions. But feeling in every nation may be different, Over and over again through that the term “extreme hardship” “guarantee” approval, the an overwhelming sense of growing the generations, we see this but the predilection for hubris is not expressly defined in the determination and evaluation power in his ability to fly, reveling particularly in the young, remains tendency of some of the young law, regulations, or in case law. of extreme hardship can be a in his freedom and giving in to his the same. ones to “forget” the things they USCIS further states that to complex and complicated task. impetuous, youthful nature, Icarus have been taught and allow hubris Notice the youth within your meet this “extreme hardship” Putting together an effective deviated a little at first, taking little and folly to rule. Some throw away immediate daily orbit. With few requirement, the person presentation is also critical. swoops and side trips and catching everything they have learned and Continued on Page 6

Immigration Corner

Children Just Like You “The deepest definition of youth is life as yet untouched by tragedy.”

—Alfred North Whitehead

The PM is 48 pages long. The instructions for filling out the Form I- 601 are 21 pages. The I-601 form itself is 13 pages long. The stakes are so high in applying for the waiver. If a person is not granted a fraud waiver, it could result in a lifetime ban. If the 3/10 year bar waiver is not approved, the relative may not be able to apply for a visa to come to the US for at least 10 years.

That is why when you have something as complex as a waiver of inadmissibility, you should seek the advice and guidance of an attorney, rather than doing it on your own.

Learning immigration law (or figuring out what is “extreme hardship” and how to prove it) by doing the waiver on your own could have lifetime consequences on your relative. *** Michael J. Gurfinkel has been an attorney for over 35 years and is licensed, and an active member of the State Bars of California and New York.

All immigration services are provided by, or under the supervision of, an active member of the State Bar of California. Each case is different and results may depend on the facts of the particular case. The information and opinions contained herein (including testimonials, “Success Stories”, endorsements and re-enactments) are of a general nature, and are not intended to apply to any particular case, and do not constitute a prediction, warranty, guarantee or legal advice regarding the outcome of your legal matter. No attorney-client relationship is, or shall be, established with any reader.

WEBSITE: www.gurfinkel.com Follow us on Facebook.com/GurfinkelLaw and Twitter @GurfinkelLaw Call Toll free to schedule a consultation for anywhere in the US: 1-866-487-3465 (866) – GURFINKEL Four offices to serve you: LOS ANGELES ∙ SAN FRANCISCO ∙ NEW YORK ∙ PHILIPPINES (Advertising Supplement)

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

Halloween: its origin and universal observances On the PEP Front

People, Events, Places BoBBy T. yalong AMONG the numerous holiday celebrations worldwide, Halloween takes a remarkable spot in the roster… contending with Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, Easter, and Thanksgiving Day while taking a notable third spot in America.

It is irrefutably considered to be exciting while stirringly electrifying because of the bevy of colorful costumes and inimitable accessories to choose from: Disney character, super heroes, assorted facsimiles of creatures from the animal kingdom, atrocious images drawn from the wildest imaginations from beneath the darkest crypts and harshest abysses like witches, werewolves, vampires, zombies, and black fairies, and almost anything and everything conceivable and imaginable.

The observance of Halloween was generally thought of as an introductory occurrence to All Saints Day and All Souls Day but a great number of observers are unknowledgeable about the origin and real essence of the occasion.

Its etymology was believed to be coined about 1745 and is of Christian origin from the word “Hallowe’en” which means “Saint’s evening.” It was derived from a Scottish term for “All Hallows’ Eve” and celebrated in a number of countries on the 31st of October, the eve of the Western Christian Feast of all Hallows’ Day which begins the three-day observance of Allhallowtide… the time in the liturgical year dedicated to remembering the dead, including the saints (hallows), martyrs, and the all the faithful departed.

It is widely believed that many Halloween traditions

EMPLOYMENT

Photo from Instagram/@jodistamaria

A masked man holds electric candles during a costume party.

ManilaTimes.net photo by Russell Palma

Children and their parents celebrate the ancient Celtic festival of Halloween during the “Trick or Treat” event at the lobby of the PIA Building in Visayas Avenue, Quezon City on Tuesday, October 30. PNA photo by Rico H. Borja

Andi Eigenmann’s Best Actress win in Manhattan film fest ‘unexpected’

by Alfred BAyle Inquirer.net

Remembering the faithful departed

originated from ancient Celtic harvest festivals, particularly the Gaelic festival Samhain; that such festivals may have had pagan roots; and that Samhain itself was Christianized as Halloween by the early Church. Some believe, however, that Halloween began solely as a Christian holiday, separate from ancient festivals like Samhain, a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the “darker half” of the year Samhain (pronounced ‘sow’inn’) is a very important date in the Pagan calendar for it marks the Feast of the Dead.

Many Pagans or Celtic people also celebrate it as the old Celtic New Year over 2,000 years ago while simultaneously being celebrated by non-Pagans who call this

ANDI Eigenmann couldn’t believe her role in “The Maid in London” would get noticed, let alone honored with a Best Actress award.

Solemnity amid darkness Eigenmann received the including attending church festival Halloween. award during the annual services and lighting candles on No Druid god was more Manhattan International Film the graves of the dead, remain powerful, nor more feared, Festival held last Oct. 23. In an popular, although elsewhere it is than Lord Samhain. The roots of interview with Push during the a more commercial and secular Halloween are traced back to the red-carpet event of horror film celebration. Some Christians Druid religion and Lord Samhain.

“All Souls Night,” Eigenmann historically abstained from meat Certainly, Halloween took aspects said, “I’m in this industry because on All Hallows’ Eve, a tradition of darkness, black color, evil I’m really passionate about what reflected in the eating of certain spirits, and people rising from the I do. I don’t expect anything in vegetarian foods on this vigil dead and roaming the earth on return, but because I did get day, including apples, potato this night something like this, sobra po pancakes, and soul cakes.

Halloween activities include ako nagpapasalamat, (I’m in Although the Bible does trick-or-treating (or the related this industry because I’m really not mention Halloween guising), attending Halloween passionate about what I do. I don’t however, both the ancient costume parties, carving expect anything in return, but origins of Halloween and its pumpkins into jack-o’-lanterns, because I did get something like modern customs show it to be a lighting bonfires, apple bobbing, this, I’m really, really thankful.)” celebration based on false beliefs divination games, playing pranks, “The Maid in London,” by about the dead and invisible visiting haunted attractions, Danni H. Ugali, also starred spirits, or demons. The Bible telling scary stories, and watching Matt Evans, Polo Ravales, Alexis warns: “There must never be horror films. In many parts of Navarro and Joshua de Guzman. anyone among you who consults the world, the Christian religious The story followed Margo observances of All Hallows’ Eve, Continued on Page 6 (Eigenmann) and her friend Faye

EMPLOYMENT

SERVICES

(Navarro) as they work as “TNT” maids in London. TNT or “tago ng tago” refers to illegal immigrants or workers without proper work permits, who risk deportation if discovered.

After the heavy drama of “The Maid in London,” Eigenmann shifts to a more sinister atmosphere with “All Souls Night.”

Eigenmann described the new horror film as something out of the ordinary.

“With horror films, it’s normal that may scare factor siya talaga mapapasigaw tayo o magulat tayo because of the certain scenes na pinapanood natin, pero itong horror movie na ito it doesn’t really try so hard to do that (With horror films, it’s normal to have a scare factor, which really makes you scream or jump, but this horror movie doesn’t really try so hard to do that),” said the actress.

“All Souls Night” was directed

by Aloy Adlawan and Jules Katanyag under Viva Films. It also stars Yayo Aguila, Alan Paule and Lhian Gimeno.

Health@Heart

Entertaining trivia

• The plaques that causes blockage inside the arteries are as hard as teeth or bones.

PHILIP S. CHUA, • A Boeing 747s wingspan is MD, FACS, FPCS longer than the Wright brothers’ first flight.

• American Airlines saved HERE are some remarkable, $40,000 in 1987 by eliminating educational, and attention1 olive from each salad served in grabbing bits of medical and first class. general factoid that could enrich • Venus is the only planet that your cerebral armamentarium: rotates clockwise.

• Arteriosclerosis (hardening • Without the mucous of the arteries) starts when a child membrane of the stomach, it is five or six years of age, and not would digest itself. after fifty.

• Apples, which are healthier • Cholesterol and saturated than caffeine, are most efficient fats (from pork, beef, eggs and at waking you up in the morning. other dairy products) have killed Coffee is a healthy drink. more people around the world • Soft drinks, all variety of than all the battles and wars them, are toxic to the body. combined.

They all increase the risk for • Rice, almost like sugars and sweets, has a high glycemic index, the development of Metabolic Syndrome. which makes it unhealthy. Eating • The first owner of the rice frequently increases the risk for the development of metabolic Marlboro Company died of lung and cardiovascular illnesses down cancer.

• Michael Jordan makes more the line. Healthy lifestyle now money from Nike annually than includes super low carbohydrate all of the Nike factory workers in and high protein (plus generous Malaysia combined. vegetables and nuts, virgin olive • Secondhand cigarette oil) diet. smokes contains 4,000 chemicals, • The female ovum (egg) is the largest cell in her body, about 200 of them are known poisons like benzene, formaldehyde and 175,000 times heavier than the carbon monoxide. male sperm cell.

• All U.S. presidents have • Our kidneys filter and clean worn glasses. Some just didn’t blood about 300 times daily, like being seen wearing them in producing urine that contains public. waste.

• Walt Disney was said to be • Urine of healthy persons, who are not on medications, is an afraid of mice.

• Pearls melt in vinegar effective fertilizer for vegetable (acetic acid). and fruit trees.

• The three most valuable • Equal amounts of 3 percent brand names on earth are peroxide and water are used to Marlboro, Coca-Cola, and treat tree root rots.

Budweiser, in that order — very • Mosquito repellents don’t sad, indeed. repel. They hide you. The spray • Pinot Noir red wine has the blocks the mosquito’s sensors so highest level of resveratrol, the they don’t know you’re there. cardio-protective antioxidant.

• Contrary to popular belief, • Richard Millhouse Nixon fish do drown. was the first U.S. president whose • Dentists recommend that name contains all the letters from toothbrushes be kept at least 6 the word “criminal.” The second feet away from a toilet to avoid was William Jefferson Clinton. airborne particles resulting from • Cardiac surgeons use the flush. surgical loop magnifying lenses • The juice inside young to do coronary bypass surgery coconuts, and other natural (joining two arteries with super fluids, are undergoing laboratory fine sutures) on arteries as small investigation as possible as the size of round toothpicks. substitute for blood plasma.

• Turtles can breathe through • Donkeys are said to kill their butts. more people annually than plane • Butterflies taste with their crashes. feet.

• Eating brown rice, instead • In 10 minutes, a hurricane of the white variety, can help prevent and control arthritis pains. releases more energy than all of the world’s nuclear weapons • A person has an average of combined.

100,000 hair on the scalp.

• On average, 100 people • You burn more calories choke to death on ball-point pens sleeping than you do watching every year. television.

• In general, people seem to • The first product to have a fear spiders more than they do bar code was Wrigley’s gum.

• The king of hearts is the only death.

• Heart attack can cause king without a mustache.

sudden death in people without any obvious symptoms.

• Elephants are the only animals that can’t jump.

• Only one person in two billion will live to be 116 or older.

• Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

• A snail can sleep for three years.

• We have about 59,652 miles of blood vessels (arteries and veins) in the body.

• The heart beats an average rate of 103,860 per day for most people.

• It might seem the heart does not rest, but it does, during the split second between beats.

• The electric chair was said to be invented by a dentist. And the dental chair by an electrician?

No way.

• In ancient Egypt, priests plucked EVERY hair from their bodies, including their eyebrows and eyelashes as part of their ritual.

• An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

• “Typewriter” is the longest word that can be made using the letters only on one row of the keyboard.

• “Go,” is the shortest complete sentence in the English language.

• A crocodile cannot stick its tongue out.

• The cigarette lighter was invented before the match.

• Americans on average eat 18 acres of pizza every day.

• One person in the United States dies of a heart attack every 60 seconds.

• In every 1000 babies born, one comes out with a tooth.

• In our lifetime, we each shed about 22 kilos (48.5 pounds) of skin.

• Hand shaking transfers germs to a greater extent than kissing does. Perhaps we should change the way we greet each other with the opposite sex.

Take good care of your body.

It’s the only one you’ve got! Life is impossible without one. *** 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.

(Advertising Supplement)

Marcelito Pomoy gets standing ovation on ‘The Ellen Show’

by IZA IGLESIAS ManilaTimes.net

ANOTHER Filipino talent drew international attention through the generosity of popular talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.

“Pilipinas Got Talent Season 2” grand winner Marcelito Pomoy received a standing ovation from the audience of DeGeneres’”The Ellen Show” on Tuesday, October 30, after showcasing his singing ability in both a male and female voice.

Pomoy performed Celine Dion’s “The Prayer” and “Beauty and the Beast” which impressed the world-famous talk show host.

In the interview, Pomoy told DeGeneres that he didn’t expect that he will get the chance to be invited to appear on the show until he received the ticket for him to fly to the U.S. “Actually, hindi ko po talaga ini-expect. Tapos one time may nag-message po sa akin sa Facebook (yung) EllenTV.com.

Hanggang dumating po yung nag-Skype kami, hindi pa rin ako naniniwala. Then dumating sa akin yung ticket going to Ellen,” Pomoy said.

“Here you are because you are amazing,” DeGeneres told Pomoy.

Asked when did he discover that he could sing both the male and female parts, Pomoy told DeGeneres, “Hindi ko rin alam sa sarili ko. Siguro ito na ang bigay ni God so ipinagpatuloy ko na lang.”

Pomoy also shared the story of his humble beginnings and recalled how he was able to become a famous singer in the Philippines. According to him, he started singing at the age of

5

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

Calendar of Events across

America

ADVERTISE YOUR EVENTS! PRE-EVENT AND POST EVENT GO DEEPER. GO WIDER. LET THE WORLD KNOW. CALL ASIAN JOURNAL: (818) 502-0651 DISPLAY AD SIZES AT SPECIAL RATES FOR NON-PROFIT GROUPS N OV E M B E R 2- 9

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

N OV E M B E R 2 - D EC E M B E R 1 2

JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles features Sou Fujimoto: Futures of the Future exhibition JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is pleased to announce the upcoming SOU FUJIMOTO: FUTURES OF THE FUTURE exhibition, taking place Oct. 27 - Dec. 12, 2018 at JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles, located at Hollywood & Highland. Named the Wall Street Journal’s Architecture Innovator of The Year in 2014, Fujimoto has designed public and private buildings around the world since establishing his atelier in 2000. This exhibition is a showcase of over 100 models and large-scale photographs of past and current projects by the celebrated Japanese architect. Fujimoto addresses many opposite concepts, including the recurring theme the “primitive future.” This apparent contradiction refers to the primordial, intuitive moments that reconnect us with our own humanity, and open us up to new possibilities. His designs often feature juxtapositions of outside and inside, nature and urbanity, objects and spaces, public and private. And, his work considers the macro and micro: when does an object become a space? Exhibition dates from Oct. 27 to Dec. 12 are from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily, except Sunday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Closed Thanksgiving Day 11/22). JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles is located at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028 (inside Hollywood & Highland).

Admission is free. For more information, please call (800) 516-0565 or visit https://www.japanhouse.jp/losangeles/events/.

N OV E M B E R 3

Association of Calambeños of Southern California holds gala night in Monrovia, CA The Association of Calambeños of Southern California (ACASCA) invites you on Saturday, November 3 to its gala night at The Courtyard by Marriott (700 W. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, CA 91016). Entertainment and music will be provided by Maricar and the 4700 Band with Val Villar. The attire is formal and cost for prepaid ticket is $55. For tickets, please contact Marcie Reyes at (323) 528-5672 or Junea Carritos at (818) 235-4155. For souvenir book sponsorship, please email fides.nagpala@cox.net. For more information, please visit http://acasca.org.

FASO@10 at Alex Theater in Glendale, CA The Filipino American Symphony Orchestra (FASO) presents, “FASO@10: A Decade of Music, Harmony and Community,” the 10th anniversary concert of the only Filipino symphony orchestra outside of the Philippines, will be held on November 3 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale, California. The program will include Fil-Am Broadway performers Deedee Magno Hall and Cliffton Hall, Malea Emma Tjandrawidjadja, the WIN (Waraynon Initiative Network) Chorale, FASO Children’s Ensemble and Alumni, and more guests! The show, presented by Espina Lawyers, APLC and Silver Saddle Ranch and Club, begins at 7 p.m. Alex Theatre is located on 216 N. Brand Blvd. Tickets and other details at:https://www.alextheatre.org/event/filipinoamerican-symphony-orchestra-presents-faso-10th-anniversary-concert.

N OV E M B E R 3 - D EC E M B E R 1 5

Art exhibit inspired by Filipino food movement in Santa Ana, CA In “Super Sarap” — from November 3 to December 15 at Gallery 6/67 — three artists Mik Gaspay, Jeanne Jalandoni, and O.M. France Viana revisit commonplace objects and food within Filipino cooking. Through sculpture and photography, the artists elicit personal and collective memories and offer cultural connections that go beyond the Philippine diaspora.

The exhibition title, “Super Sarap,” fuses both English and Tagalog together, to hold multiple meanings. It can convey something that is extremely delicious, an expression of excitement and affirmation. Artists in “Super Sarap” play with these definitions and mutate symbols, making them both strange and familiar, challenging the expectations of cultural norms. It is guest curated by Patricia Cariño Valdez, an independent curator based in Oakland, CA. In addition to the exhibit, there will be two art and culinary events: an intimate four-course gourmet dinner prepared by acclaimed Orange County Chefs, Ross Pangilinan of Mix Mix Kitchen Bar on November 15 and Chef Ryan Garlitos of Irenia Restaurant on December 9 combined with an exhibition walk-through. The opening reception for Super Sarap will be on Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. Gallery 6/67 is located at 404 West 4th St., Suite K (2nd floor), Santa Ana, CA 92701. Gallery visits are by appointment. For more information about the exhibit and related events, visithttps://www.gallery667.com.

N OV E M B E R 8 -1 1

2nd annual Cinematografo International Film Festival in San Francisco Marcelito Pomoy

seven and further discovered that he can switch his voice and sing in a higher range when he was 18 while doing chores at a poultry farm. This talent of his paved the way for him to join different contests in both amateur and professional leagues.

“First time ko kasing lumayas seven years old, tapos nagtrabaho na ako (bilang) pin boy. Then, ang kita ko sa pin boy ay P50 in US dollars ay $1 yun ang nagpa-survive sa akin na pangkain ko sa araw-araw at natulog na ako sa kalye,” said Pomoy.

Pomoy added that he was initially hesitant to join Pilipinas Got Talent in 2011, the show where he got discovered, at first since he did not believe in his talent. However, he decided to join the contest hoping that appearing on television will help fulfill his lifelong dream to reunite with his family.

As a gift to Pomoy,

Photo from Instagram/@marcelitopomoy8

The second annual Cinematografo International Film Festival will be held from November 8 to 11 in San Francisco. The Cinematografo International Film Festival is the premier event for Filipinos abroad to tell their stories and the platform to bring these films to the world stage. The festival is an annual celebration of film and culture, highlighted by Cinematografo Originals – a co-production initiative to help filmmakers realize their stories on the big screen.

On its second year, the festival’s theme is “Breaking Down Walls,” which refers not only to divisions along global political lines but also aims to empower storytellers in breaking through barriers in film and story whether in terms of subject matter, representation and cultural limitations. For more information, please visit https://cinematografofilmfestival.com/.

N OV E M B E R 1 0

PUPAA-USA Inc. to host dinner/dance and installation of officers in Glendale, CA

The ‘Pilipinas Got Talent 2011’ winner with popular American TV host Ellen DeGeneres on ‘The Ellen Show.’

Photo screen grabbed from Ellentube.com

DeGeneres gave the Filipino singer tickets to Celine Dion’s Las Vegas show and set up a meet and greet with the pop diva.

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines Alumni Association-USA, Inc., (PUPAA-USA), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, will hold its installation of officers and board members on Saturday, November 10, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at the Pacific Community Center (501 S. Pacific Avenue, Glendale, CA 91204). This will be a dinner and dance and membership night, holiday celebration. The net proceeds from this fundraising event will go to the PUPAA Scholarship Fund. This is a great opportunity to get together with former classmates, colleagues, friends, families and supporters. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn and get inspired of what PUPAA, USA Inc. has done and contributed to our Alma Mater and what it can offer for you! The Officers and Board Members to be installed are: Chairman of the Board, Dr. Oscar Jornacion, Vice Chairman of the Board, Dr. Henry Divina; President, Monette Santillan-Rivera; Executive Vice President, Vee Cristobal; Vice President-Job Placement, Honeylette Deleon; Vice President-Finance, Jun Mapoy; Vice President-Public Relations, Rosemarie Mejia; Vice Presidents-Membership, Evangeline Codilla and Sandra Dollano; Vice President-Ways and Means, Aimee Sarmiento; Secretary, Marissa Palanca; Treasurer and Accountant, Dr. Gerry Fernando; Auditor, Linda Santos; and Assistant Public Relations Officers, Connie Acosta and Virginia Herbito. For other related questions, please contact Monette Santillan-Rivera at (818) 970-8317, Sandra Dollano at (213) 570-3179 and Vangie Codilla at (818) 468-3386.

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

Celebrities who have gone ahead...

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

Children Just Like You...

From Page 3 exceptions, you might see that the egocentric self-absorption that consumes the severely distracted young these days is borne of hubris that a modern, tech-savvy culture seems to engender with short-cuts that only serve to shortcircuit.

Self-confidence and a healthy self-esteem come only after the young have paid hefty dues in life’s lessons learned in the process of becoming. Humility, erroneously perceived as meekness these days, is scoffed at and swept under the rug. And yet without humility that instinctively knows and accepts that one needs to learn from others to grow in wisdom, no real learning is possible. There are lives all around us who can serve as models that we can emulate and cautionary tales we can learn from.

On the part of adults who have been there and done all that and have the scars to show for it, achieving perspective and an empathetic bone are needed to remember we were once just as young, just as foolish, or perhaps even more so. But that we praise the God of our being and with all humility admit that we were the lucky ones who got a pass because life was magnanimous enough to let us get past that harrowing stage of youthful folly, with barely a scratch and live long enough to see the cycle repeated in our children. DEEP SIGH… Picture a flashback. You can almost see your mother, her eyes rolling upward, throwing her hands in the air in sheer frustration after you’ve committed a stupid, arrogant stunt or acted like a mindless jackass for the nth time

when you were young, quipping a line that sounds like a curse, “May you have children just like you!”

Of course, it works just as well on the flip side of the coin. When you have children who have finally become wise after being foolish, you can say the same line as a blessing and heave a sigh of relief.

Take heed, young ones. One day, you will become adults who will have children of your own.

Then you’ll know that what goes around, definitely comes around. *** 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.

From Page 2 in the teen musical “Glee,” and has been facing legal issues for years before his death on January 30.

Not long before, Salling pleaded guilty to child pornography charges with the consequences of being a registered sex offender, entering a treatment program, and spending four to seven years in prison beginning in March of this year. The 35-year-old was declared to have died from suicide by hanging.

Rolly Quizon The former actor and son of comedy king Dolphy died on March 15. He reportedly slipped into coma after collapsing in a supermarket. His passing happened 11 days after his younger paternal half-brother Dino’s death earlier in March.

Avicii The critically acclaimed DJ and music producer died from unnatural causes on April 20, only at 28 years old. Starting from his retirement from touring in 2016 and a 2017 documentary titled “Avicii: True Stories,” the “Wake Me Up” producer became more open with his physical and mental health struggles.

His family released a statement saying, “He really struggled with thoughts about meaning, life, happiness. He could not go on any longer. He wanted to find peace.”

Tributes to the DJ were present all throughout the year’s biggest music festivals, most notably BBC’s “Biggest Weekend” and “Tomorrowland.”

Kate Spade After battling depression and anxiety, the renowned fashion designer and businesswoman died by hanging herself on June 5.

Gaining inspiration from working at a fashion magazine, Spade saw a large market in handbags that were functional but also had a luxurious look. This led to her fashion empire that included stationary, phone cases, shoes, beauty products, and eyewear.

Following Spade’s death, the company announced that they would be donating a $1 million to mental health organizations.

Anthony Bourdain Perhaps the most popular chef, traveler, writer, and TV host rolled into one, the celebrity gourmand took his own life on June 8 also by hanging. The death of the

Anthony Bourdain

Inquirer.net photo

“Parts Unknown” host received a large outpour of sentiments from foodies and travelers alike, saying that he played a large role in making people appreciate food and destinations despite these not being glamorous. Former US President Barack Obama paid a tribute to the late chef on Twitter writing, “He taught us about food but more importantly, about its ability to bring us together. To make us a little less afraid of the unknown.”

Aretha Franklin Despite struggling with her health for years, it was pancreatic cancer that was the singer’s cause of death. Franklin was also considered a historical icon as she provided financial assistance to civil rights groups, performed at protests and benefits, and was the first black woman inducted to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ariana Grande, Bill Clinton, and Stevie Wonder were among those who attended her memorial service.

Burt Reynolds Rising to fame as an action star for his lead television roles in the 1960s, Reynolds suffered a heart attack on September 6. His rebellious yet likeable characters most notably in “Gunsmoke,” led to even more hits at the box office. Reynolds’ debut and breakout film was “Deliverance,” in 1972 followed by “Smokey and the Bandit,” in 1977. After another short television stint in the 90s, Reynolds returned to film in the controversial “Boogie Nights,” for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Jack Horner.

Chelsi Smith The 1995 Miss Universe titleholder succumbed to liver cancer on September 8 at 45 years old. In her first major

Rico J. Puno

Inquirer.net photo

pageant Miss Texas USA, Smith was one of the first winners to be of mixed race. She continued being a frontrunner in Miss Universe, also being the first mixed-race American who won. Her pageant wins were followed by a career as a TV host.

Smith was named an Influential Multiracial Public Figure in 2011 for breaking barriers in the beauty pageant industry.

Rico J. Puno Just two days before All Saints Day, fans, colleagues and the whole nation were in shock upon the news of the singer’s death on Tuesday morning due to heart failure. He was 65. Born Enrico de Jesus Puno on February 13, 1953, he made a breakthrough in the music scene with his rendition of the Barbra Streisand song, “The Way We Were” but incorporated spoken lines and Tagalog lyrics. His other hits included “Kapalaran.”“Buhat,”“May Bukas Pa,”“Macho Gwapito,”“Lupa,”“Ang Tao’y Marupok,”“Sorry Na Pwede Ba,” and “Magkasuyo Buong Gabi,” a duet with Elissa Chan. He was known for his tongue-in-cheek comedy and adult humor. Puno also entered politics by becoming a city councilor of Makati City in 1998 until his last term on 2007. He ran but lost in the vice mayoralty race of the country’s prime municipality in 2010. He ran and won anew as councilor in 2016 and was gunning for reelection in 2019. His last concert performance was in the “Aliw@40: The Ruby Anniversary Concert” on October 4 with fellow veteran singers that included Imelda Papin, Hajji Alejandro and Pilita Corrales. He met the press on October 18 for his supposed concert with Marissa Sanchez and Giselle Sanchez titled “Sana Tatlo Ang Puso” on November 23.

Halloween: its origin and...

From Page 3 ghosts or spirits or calls up the dead.” (Deuteronomy 18:10-12, The Jerusalem Bible) While some view Halloween as harmless fun, the Bible indicates that the practices associated with it are not.

Halloween costumes, candy, and trick or treat: According to the book Halloween -- An American Holiday, An American History, some of the Celts wore ghoulish costumes so that wandering spirits would mistake them for one of their own and leave them alone. Others offered sweets to the spirits to appease them. In medieval Europe, the Catholic clergy adopted local pagan customs and had their adherents go from house to house wearing costumes and requesting small gifts. Over time, in the United States, the costume selection extended to include popular characters from fiction, celebrities, and generic archetypes such as ninjas and princesses. The Bible, on the other hand, does not permit merging false religious practices with the worship of God. Ghosts, vampires, werewolves, witches, and zombies had been long been associated with the evil spirit world but the Bible clearly states that we should oppose wicked spirit forces, not celebrate with them.

Halloween pumpkins or jack o’lanterns In medieval Britain, “supplicants moved from door to door asking for food in return for a prayer for the dead,” and they would carry “hollowed-out turnip lanterns, whose candle connoted a soul trapped in purgatory.” Others say that the lanterns were used to ward off evil spirits. During the 1800s in North America, pumpkins replaced turnips because they were plentiful as well as easy to hollow out and carve. The beliefs and myths behind this custom—the immortality of the soul, purgatory, and prayers for the dead—are not based on the Bible, religious authorities said.

Celebrations like Halloween are in conflict with Bible teachings.

The Bible warns: “There must never be anyone among you who practices divination, who is soothsayer, augur or sorcerer, who

Inquirer.net photos

uses charms, consults ghosts or spirits, or calls up the dead.”

In view of the foregoing, it is wise for you to know about the dark origins of Halloween and similar celebrations. Having this fuller understanding may move you to join many others who do not participate in these holidays There are other festivities that are like Halloween in that they celebrate the existence and activity of spirit creatures like some of the popular holidays like Halloween around the globe such as the “Day of the Dead” in North America and Europe; “Kawsasqanchis” in South America; “Dance of the Hooded Egunguns,” (a family celebrated masquerade festival) in Africa; and the “Bon or Obon Festival” in Japan which is celebrated either end of July or early August.

But where did candies for Halloween originate? It was believed that the ancient Celts tried to appease wicked spirits with sweets then the church later encouraged celebrants to go from house to house on All Hallows’ Eve to ask for sweets or food in return for a prayer for the dead.

This custom eventually became Halloween’s trick or treat.

Most popular Halloween candies and foods for Halloween Since sweets were believed to appease diabolical spirits candy production became a lucrative business specially during the Halloween season. Now, if you want your house, particularly your doors and windows, to be spared from paints and eggs, offer trick or treaters the following favorite

candy brands: Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Snickers, Twix, Kit Kat, M&Ms, Nerds, Butterfinger, Sour Patch Kids, Skittles, Hershey bar, and Choco-Kisses.

Dinner tables are expected to be laden with a wide variety of food for the family to share which include caramel apples, caramel corn, Halloween cake, novelty candy shaped like skulls, pumpkins, bats, worms, etc., roasted pumpkin seeds, roasted sweet corn, and a lot more with the addition of colcannon (Ireland), barmbrack (Ireland), bonfire toffee (Great Britain), candy apples/toffee apples (Great Britain and Ireland), candy apples, candy corn, candy pumpkins (North America), and monkey nuts (peanuts in their shells) (Ireland and Scotland).

No matter what and how one observes Halloween, All Saints Day, and All Souls Day, our prayers and wholehearted commemoration of our departed loved ones are what truly count.

We should not forget that they just went ahead of us and whether we like it or not, we, too, shall have to go.

Here’s a quote for our dearly departed: “No farewell words were spoken, No time to say good-bye.

You were gone before we knew it, And only God knows why. Our hearts still ache in sadness And secret tears still flow, What it meant to lose you, No one will ever know.

(Additional contents researched from History.com) 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 N OV E M B E R 2 , 20 1 8

An Asian Journal Magazine

The Asian Journal N E W YO R K / N E W J E R S EY N OV E M B E R 2 , 2 0 1